Dinner at JP and Joanna's House

On Saturday night, the 4-H delegates were graciously invited to our Dominican friends house for dinner. We met Jean Paul and Joanna at the shuttle bus stop and they gave us a tour of the village they lived in. We saw their school, church, several shopping spots, and a Wendy's restaurant where many citizens in their village spend their free time. At their house, we mingled with their family outside on their back lawn, but soon moved inside when it started to sprinkle. Our Dominican friends' parents prepared a traditional Dominican meal consisting of roast pork, rice and beans, a family recipe potato salad, and a traditional cassava bread. They also prepared two cakes (carrot cake and almond cake) for us as well. The entire group enjoyed the meal very much! After dinner, the family put on some traditional Dominican music and taught us how to dance. We danced the salsa, merengue, limbo, jerk, and reggaton. We were able to use our new dance moves the next night when we all had fun in the dance lounge at the resort. Everyone had a great time interacting with Jean Paul and Joanna's lovable, happy family and we all felt welcome! We interestingly observed that the Dominicans did not have any problems dancing with their own family members, like many American teens do. Jean Paul and Joanna's parents demonstrated their outstanding dance skills as they danced the merengue for us. We then learned that they had once won national dance titles! Their family has invited us to come to their home again next year. We then walked back to the shuttle bus stop, reflected on our day, said adios to our Dominican friends, and returned to the resort for a well needed long night of sleep!

Contributed by:
Addie Guthrie - Shenandoah