Know what to expect when you go to the DR.
A Guide to Good Health in the Tropics
Learn helpful Spanish terms and phrases.
CDC information in regards to travel to the Dominican Republic "http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationDominicanRepublic.aspx#notices"
Do you have questions about fundraising and tax issues?
See a sample of a traditional type Support Letter that you might send people to request donations.
See a sample of a fun and creative Support Letter that you might send people to request donations.
Excursions:
Lake Enriquillo & Sulpher Springs
Haiti Zona Colonial
Participating in an international homestay is one of the best ways to learn about another language and culture. The Building Homes Building Hope program offers a homestay with a local Dominican host. BHBH places volunteers with hosts that enjoy learning about other cultures and appreciate the unique opportunity that hosting an international volunteer gives to their family life. Homestays are one of the highlights of our projects.
The majority of the 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 BHBH that each volunteer will fully participate in his or her family’s activities.
We will spend some time at Lake Enriquillo and the Sulfer Springs, which are about 150 miles west of Santo Domingo, outside the town of La Descubierta, our work-site, and home to Isla Cabritos National Park – and its healthy population of American crocodiles. You can see them from the lakeshore as well as the pink flamingos that flock in the shallow waters.
We will also travel to the border of Haiti at two different locations. One, at the official border crossing of Jimani. Here we travel through “no man’s land” and are able to observe what an official border crossing looks like. One year participants were at this border crossing on Fourth Of July and a trumpet player with the Haitian government began playing the Star Spangled Banner. Numerous group participants began to cry at the kind gesture of this man in honoring us and our country.
The second trip to Haiti is through the mountains; climbing past the Peace Corps site of BHBH director Lynne Moquete, participants are taken to a remote crossing in the mountains. Clearly this excursion is the highlight for the majority of people who have traveled with BHBH and is not to be missed. Horse back riding and amazing food are a part of this all day excursion. Without question, there is no danger to participants in these two locations. The border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti is as tight as the one between Mexico and the United States. Although people freely travel back and forth, political issues and other issues related to each country stay on each side of the border.
The Zona Colonial is by far the most interesting and most historic area in all of Santo Domingo. We will enjoy a leisurely day in this part of the city. Wandering about the twelve-block radius, you will see a variety of masonry houses, churches and museums mixed in with contemporary shops and dining establishments. There are just too many items of merit to mention here. You will surely enjoy your free time in the Colonial City.
