children of the D. R.

I was 16.  I really wanted to travel, see the world, see different people (well, in this case, see people who actually look like me), and see another way of life. Our large group of teenagers were so excited for this trip to the Dominican Republic! We were prepared to what to expect, had rules in our conduct, but….we were 16, many rules were broken. 

For instance, we weren’t supposed to ride with the locals. And we all did, but that was one way how we really connected with them. We loved them! I have so many amazing experiences from that trip; the food, the beauty of the land, but what made me smile, and what I did most of, was take photos of these kids. 

They loved being photographed, and I wanted to capture them. I loved their spirit. 

When my Dad picked me up from the airport,  I couldn’t take my eyes off our perfectly manicured laws, but not much character (so different than the D.R), and when my Mom asked about my trip, I talked about the children and said they had these dolls with no faces, because, their country is filled with so many different faces that they didn’t want to depict one, I started to bawl like a hungry baby. 

For someone who hasn’t traveled, like me at 16, it’s true that the culture shock happens when you return home. It really opens your eyes. 

The fact that they honored all these different faces to represent their country, by not choosing a single one, was beyond emotional.