At the core of the Una Vida travel experience is the relationships travelers build within the community.  It is in these cross-cultural friendships that trip participants discover the richness of life in the Dominican Republic.  The majority of our host families have small children, and volunteers enjoy playing games with the children and helping them with their schoolwork. Hosts often include the volunteer in outings and activities and teach them about culture, lifestyles, and family customs. It is the hope of Una Vida that each volunteer will fully participate in his or her family’s activities, which helps the participants achieve personal growth and a global understanding of the daily activities and home life of a Dominican family. This is a key ingredient in our immersion program, and often our volunteers’ favorite part of the experience. The more open you choose to be with your Dominican family, the more you will get out of the homestay experience.