Narrative Essay
A Trip Into Unfamiliar Territory
They say ‘’who lives sees, but who travels sees more.’’ When my family decided to take a trip to the Dominican Republic, I realized this is true. My father who is Dominican and my mother is Haitian both came to America. They faced many hardships as they adapted to lifestyle changes. My parents always wanted my sister and I to see how it is growing outside of US. When spring break rolled around, it was the perfect opportunity. We had a week to ourselves no more worrying about homework and tests, we were free. Paradise was in distances reach. I remember being excited for the sandy white beaches I always saw on TV. But when we arrived it was clear I only knew the half of it. Stepping out of the airport was a big cultural shock. Looking up scanning the signs with my eyes trying to decipher what some were saying. I felt as if I was in a completely different world. And I was. Luckily my mother was there who is fluent in Spanish. As we opened the car door and drove deeper into the country. I glanced out my window trying to soak up all I was seeing such as kids playing in the streets, some without shoes. When the cab arrived at the resort. I could not believe it. Something so beautiful and luxurious built around poverty. Our room was about the average size most of the homes we passed. Waking up, I walked to the beach from our room. The beams from the sun were so bright causing me to squint my eyes. At last I was in the paradise, the same one I saw on TV. In the back of my mind I was still thinking about all the differences that this country had from back home in America. Our resort was offering a tour of the capital, Santo Domingo. On the tour we went to various locations. Such as an historical church with beautiful stained glass windows and a shopping plaza filled with souvenirs. When the bus slowed down and stopped at the market place. Everyone got off the bus. The streets were old stone that felt
They say ‘’who lives sees, but who travels sees more.’’ When my family decided to take a trip to the Dominican Republic, I realized this is true. My father who is Dominican and my mother is Haitian both came to America. They faced many hardships as they adapted to lifestyle changes. My parents always wanted my sister and I to see how it is growing outside of US. When spring break rolled around, it was the perfect opportunity. We had a week to ourselves no more worrying about homework and tests, we were free. Paradise was in distances reach. I remember being excited for the sandy white beaches I always saw on TV. But when we arrived it was clear I only knew the half of it. Stepping out of the airport was a big cultural shock. Looking up scanning the signs with my eyes trying to decipher what some were saying. I felt as if I was in a completely different world. And I was. Luckily my mother was there who is fluent in Spanish. As we opened the car door and drove deeper into the country. I glanced out my window trying to soak up all I was seeing such as kids playing in the streets, some without shoes. When the cab arrived at the resort. I could not believe it. Something so beautiful and luxurious built around poverty. Our room was about the average size most of the homes we passed. Waking up, I walked to the beach from our room. The beams from the sun were so bright causing me to squint my eyes. At last I was in the paradise, the same one I saw on TV. In the back of my mind I was still thinking about all the differences that this country had from back home in America. Our resort was offering a tour of the capital, Santo Domingo. On the tour we went to various locations. Such as an historical church with beautiful stained glass windows and a shopping plaza filled with souvenirs. When the bus slowed down and stopped at the market place. Everyone got off the bus. The streets were old stone that felt