Dancing With the Locals

After working hard at the community center and the local school, the From the Ground Up Winterim group departs El Mango and heads up the coast for their final two nights in the Dominican Republic. Mr. Moore sent us this update to let us know how everything went and what their plans are for the coming days:


Hello everyone,

Our final day in El Mango was fun and productive.  One group finished up at the school,  and the other worked at the construction site. Farewells at the school were emotional, and we have seen tangible results at the construction site that have given this community great momentum. Just our being here has motivated the people to come together to get this center built.

Dinner tonight was spectacular and our cooks pulled out all the stops and treated us to one incredible Dominican meal of arroz con maíz, carne de pollo guisado, puré de papas, arrepitas de yuca, pico de gallo, ensalada de tomates con vainitas, y ensalada rusa, y jugo de jagua. (Rice with corn, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, deep fried yuca, Dominican hot sauce, salad with tomatoes & green beans,  Russian potatoe salad, & jagua juice). And then we were served a Dominican sweet bean and sweet potato dessert  that was phenomenal! We have eaten very well!

After dinner entertainment included merengue dancing with the locals. Everyone in our group danced. Our guides commented that it rarely happens with a group of Americans that they all dance. We are very proud that our kids can step out of their comfort zones and have fun. And they've got good rhythm!

Tomorrow we head up to the coast for our final two nights in the DR.  The students have loved their time in the mountains and especially their work in El Mango at the school and at the construction site. We said goodbyes today in El Mango, and have given cards and gifts to some of the people that have made our wonderful experience possible.

We'll check in again tomorrow.

All the best,

Kacey and Rob