Quisqueya is the name that the Taíno people gave to the island now shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It is commonly translated as “mother of all lands.” Today, the shared island is a place where migration, identity, and belonging are deeply contested. On this itinerary, you will experience the Dominican Republic’s natural beauty and vibrant culture while exploring its complex identity and history. Who gets to belong? What are the histories behind these exclusions and erasures? What is being done to address these issues? You will get a behind-the-scenes perspective through visits to bilingual schools, human rights advocacy groups, cultural institutions, and community organizations. Meet educators, artists, activists, and lawyers making a direct impact on their communities, and learn what Dominican immigration policy can teach us about migration, culture and politics, the workings of democracy, and belonging in the United States today.
Important dates and logistics to know
The trip is scheduled to depart on Saturday, March 6, and return on Saturday, March 13. These dates are tentative and subject to change. Our homebase will be the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, where we spend the first four nights. In Santiago, will immerse ourselves in the local culture through homestays and visits to local museums, cultural sites, and community organizations. This itinerary includes a two-night excursion to the capital, Santo Domingo, where we will stay in a hotel, explore the historic city center, visit a nearby non-profit based in a batey, meet with a community leader and Ursinus alum, and enjoy the beach. Our final night in the Dominican Republic will be back in Santiago.
Center for the Humanities in Action, including Arts in Action: Students will learn how difficult topics like immigration and identity are tackled by museum practitioners, bilingual teachers, and nonprofit directors, whose work demonstrates the impact of cultural practices and policies on the everyday, grassroots construction of democracy. Students will also learn about how art reflects identity and belonging through an art workshop, architecture and street art tours, and museum visits
Hub for Civic and Global Leadership: Students will learn about immigration policy and advocacy from human rights organizations and nonprofit directors, gaining a deeper understanding of how the connection between culture and politics shapes the exercise of citizenship.
(tentative and subject to change)
Spend five nights with a local family in Santiago de los Caballeros
Volunteer at a bilingual school serving Haitian-Dominican students
Meet with human rights activists and learn about the controversial 2013 immigration ruling
Visit Miss Rizos, a social enterprise dedicated to challenging stigma around natural hairstyles, founded by Ursinus alum Carolina Contreras
Immerse yourself in Dominican culture through a street dance, cooking class, museum visits, and a decolonial walking tour
Enjoy the country’s natural beauty during an afternoon at the beach and a visit to Los Tres Ojos National Park
Passport required. If you do not have a current passport, we encourage you to take advantage of the passport event we are hosting on campus in September.
There are direct flights from Philadelphia to Santiago de los Caballeros, and the flight time is about four hours. The Dominican Republic uses Atlantic Standard Time (AST) and does not observe daylight savings. It will be one hour ahead of Collegeville (Eastern Standard Time, EST) during our trip.
This itinerary will include a homestay in Santiago with local families. CIEE, the organization coordinating the trip, has a network of host families with whom students frequently stay. At least two students will be housed with each family. In Santo Domingo, we will stay in a hotel for two nights with double occupancy (two students per room). In all of the housing options, each student will have their own bed.
The Dominican Republic is located on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola in the tropics. We will be leaving the cold weather in Pennsylvania for what is considered one of the best moments of the year to visit the Dominican Republic. Daytime weather will be in the mid 80s with moderate humidity and nighttime temperatures will be in the high 60s or low 70s. Do not expect air conditioning; however, the weather should be very pleasant.
This itinerary is not physically demanding, with the exception of the visit to the 3 Ojos National Park. There may be some barriers to mobility in the historic colonial center of Santo Domingo, but we will work with our provider to make the trip accessible for all students. Please communicate any mobility or accessibility concerns with your trip leaders in advance.
Students will have some independent time built into the schedule at varying times of day to allow for exploration and rest. Expectations for student behavior while abroad on each program will be communicated during pre-departure meetings.
All meals will be provided on this program. Group meals will be planned for local restaurants. During homestays in Santiago, students will have meals with their host families. Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated but talk with the trip leader if you have any food concerns.
The primary language in the Dominican Republic is Spanish. Both trip leaders are fluent in Spanish and English, and all activities will be accessible in English.
Spanish is not required to participate in this trip. At the same time, this itinerary would be an excellent opportunity for students with prior experience with Spanish (any level) to practice their language and cultural competency skills in an authentic context, with the support and guidance of both trip leaders.
