COLLEEN KOERNER
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH
Throughout my semester in the Dominican Republic, I had countless impactful experiences both inside and outside the realm of academics. While abroad, I studied at the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). All of my classes were taught in Spanish which, while intimidating, greatly helped me improve my language skills. I took classes in film, literature, and culture, but my favorite class by far was Dominican Folklore. It focused on the traditions of Dominican culture, and included trips around the city to sites relating to the topics discussed in class, such as food, religion, and politics.
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One such trip was to a local pottery shop. We were allowed to observe the process of making pottery that had been used for generations. The speed and skill of the potters was incredible, and they were able to render a perfectly symmetrical pot in a matter of minutes. They also took the time to not only explain to us the process, but allowed each of the students to try to make a pot themselves. Although my pot ended up being a mangled mess, the experience provided a unique insight into an aspect of Dominican culture.
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Outside of the classroom the learning continued. One of the most rewarding experiences of my time abroad was spending a morning volunteering at a children's center. The children at the center only went to school in the afternoon, and needed a place to stay while their parents were at work. I’ll never forget walking up to the center to be greeted by a stampede of smiles and laughter. I spent the next few hours giving countless piggyback rides, having my hair braided, and playing Duck Duck Goose. One girl in particular, Minerva (pictured on my back below), decided I was her new best friend and didn’t leave my side. Volunteering at the center took intercultural communication to a whole new level. Communicating with the children at the center was at times difficult due to a lack of vocabulary knowledge on both sides of the conversation, as well as cultural differences, but it revealed that despite coming from different places, we are more similar than we are different and were able to communicate despite the language and cultural barriers.
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Since I spent the spring semester in the Dominican Republic, I was able to witness and participate in the Dominican festival of Carnival. The festival lasts the entire month of February, with parades occurring in different cities throughout the country every Sunday. Although its origins are of a religious nature, the festival has evolved over time and currently resembles more of a city-wide party than a spiritual celebration. Dominican people of all ages don elaborate costumes for the parade, most of which take the entire year to create. Each city has its own costume representing a historical and/or cultural character. I was so fascinated by the festival and the origins of different characters, I decided to write my final paper for my Dominican Folklore class (linked here) on the topic. Delving into the cultural roots of the characters enabled me to develop a deeper understanding of Dominican culture today.
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