A Note to My Friends

         By: Kim Sanchez

InteRDom Correspondent, Kim, has completed three years of her Bachelor's degree in Film and Video at the Visual Arts College at the University of Toledo in Ohio. She is participating in the 2013 10-week Caribbean Summer Program. You can read more about Kim and her participation in the Correspondent Program here.

Dear Friends, 

I'm having a wonderful time here! Work is keeping me busy. I'm editing together footage from art expositions held at FUNGLODE. This country has a lot of cultural events to offer, you would love it here. I'm never bored! There is always something to do or to see here.

Another intern and I went out to a neighborhood bar called El Secreto Musical. There, we saw professional dancers dance merengue, salsa, and bachata. It wasn't long before they pulled us onto the dance floor also. I have a terrible sense of rhythm, but it was still super fun!

We've made friends with other International and Dominican students also working within other organizations at FUNGLODE. They are all so fun loving and ready to explore the city as well. They stay at a hotel nearby, so we definitely took advantage of their pool. Also, the bars here are crazy and so much fun! We all went out until late into the morning and ate breakfast at the famous Barra Payan. 

Also, there is a variety of malls here. Of course, I hit up the frozen yogurt places. You know that I am a frozen yogurt fiend! Also, I need to go shopping for clothes. You were right, I did not pack enough clothing! 

We also had another excursion. This time we went to Santiago to visit a family farm and a museum called Centro Leon. Santiago is beautiful. When I take you to the Dominican Republic we will have to spend a lot of time exploring Santiago. Enjoy the pictures from our trip!

I miss you all. 

Much love,
Kim
 


 

Dear Family, I'm Not Dead!

 By: Kim Sanchez

InteRDom Correspondent, Kim, has completed three years of her Bachelor's degree in Film and Video at the Visual Arts College at the University of Toledo in Ohio. She is participating in the 2013 10-week Caribbean Summer Program. You can read more about Kim and her participation in the Correspondent Program here.

Dear Family, I'm Not Dead!

I was so nervous at the airport, but my anxiety quickly disappeared when I arrived to our apartment. It's much nicer than I imagined! We have lots of space, a full kitchen, and a balcony with a view of the ocean. I wanted to explore immediately!

The first weekend the other interns and I ventured out into the neighborhood. We picked up groceries from the supermarket, ate some delicious Dominican food, and hung out at El Malecon by the waterfront. At night we had some fun learning how to order from el colmado, a local carry-out that delivers anything (a much needed service back home).

There was a little bit of culture shock. For example, despite the heat many Dominicans prefer not to wear shorts (Ohioans wear shorts even in cold weather). Also, everyone speaks very fast here and I'm trying my best to keep up. However, I can feel myself getting better every day. I'm quickly adjusting with the help of the InteRDom staff and other students.

To kick off our program, we had a week long orientation that included workshops, tours, and a public transportation tutorial (It's really easy to get around here). They gave us the "low down" on some local customs and also prepped us for meeting our employers.

For my internship I will create many videos for our activities, including our first excursion to Zona Colonial, the first colonial city in the New World. I have access to use the multimedia facility (sweet!) and I even have my own cubicle (which I'm very proud of).

Anyway, I want to let you know that I'm alive and well here in Santo Domingo. I've made friends and I'm very comfortable (although I should have packed more bug repellent).

I miss you all and I hope someday I can bring you to this beautiful place!

Love,
Kim

P.S.

Please enjoy this video post-card from a festival that a few girls and I attended!

Why bother leaving home?

By: Kim Sanchez

InteRDom Correspondent, Kim, has completed three years of her Bachelor's degree in Film and Video at the Visual Arts College at the University of Toledo in Ohio. She is participating in the 2013 10-week Caribbean Summer Program. You can read more about Kim and her participation in the Correspondent Program here.


"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." St. Augustine
 
Everyone around me seems to have a fear of traveling. They believe that other countries are foreign and dangerous. However, I believe the world is simply too big to stay in one place. I have this unsettling feeling that I’m living in a cage with the door wide open and that's why I have to leave.

I'm a filmmaker. I make short films about myself and the world around me. I'm so interested in how a filmmaker can manipulate images and sounds to tell a story and be understood. Just in the past year I've travelled across the US, to Portugal, and to the Azores for filmmaking. I just can't stop leaving! I'm realizing now that my art is making me mobile, but what I really want to do is mobilize others. I want others to watch my films and then be inspired to take action in some way. This is why I'm leaving for the Dominican Republic.

For 10 weeks this summer I'll be working with La Fundación de Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), a nonprofit organization that promotes human development and globalization in the Dominican Republic. I couldn't have dreamed of a more fitting opportunity! 

As an audiovisual intern, I will be involved in shooting, mixing, and editing video productions for the organization. In addition, I will live in student housing and take classes at La Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). I'm so excited to become a part of this organization and use my skills to help educate and reach others.
 
I leave tomorrow. I am very excited to be part of this organization and to use my skills to educate and reach others. I'm really stressed out juggling work, moving into a new apartment, and preparing to travel abroad. I've been practicing my Spanish, but I'm still very nervous about speaking. I'm an adaptable person, but my deepest fear is that people will speak too quickly for me to understand. But this is exactly what I want! It's not supposed to be easy and pleasant all the time, if it were, why bother leaving home? I want to be challenged. I want to learn. I want to grow. This is why I have to leave, and it's why you should too.