NC State University

by junior Anna Patton

It actually all started before we arrived in country at the airport. The group began to enjoy picking on me for my constant counting and recounting to check for all of our group members, so now my team calls me Mother Goose. I would say that nickname best describes my leadership role here in the Dominican Republic. Pretty much my main responsibility here has been making sure we have everyone when we need everyone. Well, that and reflection.

I must admit Jessica, Myra, and I have had it easy because we have such an amazing team! Our group members really hold each other accountable; we, as a leadership team, barely have to say anything about time or lessons plans or anything really. We cannot be more proud. Our team has made management of this trip an absolute breeze.
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by junior Jessica Gil

Being flexible was my advice for anyone planning to participate on an Alternative Service Break trip—that is certainly what we have had to do here on Day two at the orphanage. We have been able to have time to plan lessons for the classes, from kindergarten to fifth grade. Each day has a designated topic; animals, colors, face parts, and many other basic English words that may be essential for communicating to Americans that frequently visit the island.

Although we walk into the classrooms with an immense amount of plans, they are quickly changed with the lack of education. It is not that the students are not interested in learning—it’s simply that the schools haven’t had the structure required to implement the quality of learning to which we, in the United States, are privileged to have. It can be frustrating to walk into the classroom and see all these children eager to learn, but then having to spend twenty minutes of class continuously reminding them to sit in their seats, or to calm down and stop fighting. Still, I am very excited to be in the classroom, and have the opportunity to try and impact these children’s lives for the better. Continue Reading »

by Tim Jones, director of Web Communication

Above the constant gasoline roar of the cement mixer, a group of about 20 NC State students shouted in broken Spanish and desperate English trying to communicate with the Dominican laborers working with them on a Habitat for Humanity build site in Nagua, Dominican Republic.

When spoken language failed, as it tends to on the first day of international and local teams working together, most communication turned to excited hand gestures, exaggerated arm flailing and a good bit of laughter. The combination was almost always effective.

“It’s hot, it’s labor, but at the same time, instead of there being a disconnect there, culturally speaking, it was like we were all working together to accomplish the same goal, and you really forgot about those barriers,” said junior Douglas ‘D.J.’ Godette, jr. “There were things that I didn’t quite know that they were trying to tell me to do—they would rephrase them, they would show me exactly what they were talking about, and the same with me.”
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By Mike Giancola, director, Center for Student Leadership, Ethics & Public Service

Nine years ago, in the early days of the Alternative Service Break (ASB) program, we traveled to Barahona to partner with Habitat for Humanity. Our team served in a very poor rural community on top of a hill…Alfa la Montaña. The view was unlike anything most of us had seen before—beautiful blue water and mountains in the distance, poverty and despair at our feet. The contrast was striking and hard to process in seven days. The days were long, filled with moving concrete blocks, mixing “mezcla”, and drinking more water than we could have previously imagined. But the highlight for many of the students, myself included, was spending time with the kids on the worksite. We practiced our Spanish with a forgiving audience, sang songs, taught them English and just had fun.
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Upon arrival and safe, uneventful passage through customs, the Dominican Republic Alternative Service Break teams traveled to their respective sites. Most took the advice of CSLEPS leaders and used the travel time to say little and take in a lot.

A few pictures from the first day, captured by NC State photographer Roger Winstead, can be viewed here.

A brutal pre-dawn start to spring break traveling probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a good morning. Nonetheless, more than 45 NC State students convened at Tally Student Center this morning (early morning…like 4 a.m. morning) a little frantic, a lot excited and seemingly full of energy.

At least at first.

Then there was the security check, the boarding, the two-hour flight to Miami and then the layover. As the students de-planed the first leg of their Alternative Service Break, most conversations involved the phrase “power-nap” or lamentations about a total lack of sleep. It wasn’t long before adrenaline energy waned and students realized just how tiring no sleep or a few hours of sleep feels a few hours later. In Miami, most students settled in to a comfortable wait at their next gate of departure. Some slept, some read, and some studied (ok, one person studied). Others ate breakfast. Early reports indicate that the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich “might not have been a good idea.” Continue Reading »

by Jackie Jazwa

As we are approaching departure day, I can sense the overwhelming anxiety of everyone. The week before is always the most hectic—cramming for midterms and figuring out what to pack, while trying to avoid catching the ever present flu. It seems like we just came back from winter break and now we leave in less than a week. I continuously hear from other students, “I can’t believe spring break is almost hear, I’ve hardly had time to think about.”
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by Selby Lo

T-minus three days and counting before my Alternative Service Break (ASB) team gets on a plane and travels down to the Dominican Republic for our work with Habitat for Humanity on Friday at 6:30 AM. The suspense has been building all school year long since mid-September when I found out that I made the team at the ASB Reveal Night. Since then, it’s been getting everything ready such as getting all the proper immunizations and buying all the supplies that I need. It’s been long coming and the wait is almost over. It just can’t seem to get here any faster though.

by Jessica Gil

I am very passionate about serving, and I want to be able to share my passion with other individuals. Becoming an Alternative Service Break team leader has given me the opportunity to do just that. Although there has been an immense amount of paper work and planning, it only makes the anticipation for the trip that much greater.

I would have to say my passion for service comes from my family. My grandparents grew up in Havana, Cuba and did not have much at all. They had no money, and seven other brothers and sisters, yet somehow they made everything work. Most of us in this country have enough to survive, yet we still complain. I must admit I can be one of those people at times. Continue Reading »