As the saying goes, “You don’t know how good you have it until it’s gone.” For Dominican citizens, “it” was never really there; it referred to a conventional sanitary plumbing system.
Juniors, Daniel and David Hernandez, along with hundreds of other students, traveled to the Dominican Republic under the Blue Missions Organization for one week to mitigate some of the island’s major waste issues.
The Hernandez brothers learned about the opportunity through their cousin, who had participated with his school. According to David, Blue Missions offers multiple programs, one where students travel locally with their school, or simply sign up by themselves. “We traveled by ourselves with our mom. It was a 3-hour flight and a 4-hour additional bus ride” he said.
Their tasks focused on waste treatment. It was part of Blue Missions’s initiative to improve sanitation in rural communities. The twins worked alongside other students and locals to build outhouses for families who previously relied on dangerous outdoor defecation. “They would just go into the woods before this. It was not sanitary at all,” Daniel remembered.
The weeklong change of scenery required the twins to adjust to the island’s atmosphere. The houses lacked air conditioning and each house had what David referred to as ‘makeshift showers.’ He recalled, “You just sort of stood in the bathroom stall, locked the door, and poured the water on yourself.”
Despite the hardships, the twins felt deeply moved by the community’s resilience and gratitude. “It was impactful because a lot of what we did made people happy,” David said. “When I saw their faces, they were just beaming, saying “Oh my goodness, I have this now, thank you!’”
The cultural immersion added another layer to their experience, as they bonded with locals over food, games, and language. “I played dominoes with the workers who were there,” Daniel laughed. “They were extremely good. I learned a lot.” The siblings also practiced their Spanish with the local community, though they noted some differences in the Dominican dialect.
Daniel states his favorite aspect was the food the community provided. “It was cooked by the Dominican locals who worked there. It was really good and you could see how thankful they were because of how amazing the food was.”
David on the other hand, found appreciation in the peers who worked beside him. “It was the last night. We had to stay up until 6:00 am. These girls and I were just sitting on this giant rock, looking up at the stars because there was no light pollution. It was just beautiful.”
When asked if they would consider doing another Blue Missions trip, both of the twins were uncertain. “It’s a big time commitment. It’s not something that you’ll just do on a whim. Prepare yourself because it isn’t everything you expect.” David said. The two owe it to their prior camping skills, which allowed them to reside on the island comfortably.
The trip also taught them valuable lessons about community, socializing, and adjusting to new environments. “If you’re gonna have to be there, you might as well enjoy your time there,” David concluded, emphasizing the importance of being more social and involved in the community.
This unforgettable experience not only changed the Hernandez twins’ perspectives on life but also deepened their appreciation for the privileges they often take for granted. Their time with Blue Missions in the Dominican Republic was not just about giving back, but also taking a deeper approach to the world around them.
