Report

One never knows what to expect when visiting a country for the first time. To prepare for the unknown, some people advise one to get as much information as possible about the region, the people, and the culture because abundant information can help reduce one's levels of uncertainty.

Based in my personal experience, however, gathering information prior to a trip will inevitably predispose people to look for stereotypes and blind true perceptions of a country's realities. That is why, prior to my trip, I avoided gathering too much information on other's perceptions of Dominican culture or relying in other people's experiences. I was determined to construct perceptions about the second largest island in the Caribbean on my own, and to experience the new country's multiple realities without prejudice.

In this sense, I believe that I was successful. My encounter with the first established Spanish colony in "the Americas" was delicious. The Caribbean discovered a 25-year-old Latin American woman, unaware of the noise and the intense sensuality that prevail in the motherland of the "merengue" and "bachata " rhythms. Passionate conversations with new Dominican friends triggered my necessity to explore deeper on the consequences of the type of colonization practiced by the Spanish on the island, the visible hostility between Haitians and Dominicans, and the reasons behind the massive emigration of Dominicans to the United States.

The city of Santo Domingo seemed to welcome me at every street. The colonial zone of the capital enchanted me at first sight, so much, that I ended up living in the zone during my whole stay. In less than a month I made it a habit of walking almost every other night to the "colmado" facing the San Francisco Convent ruins, right after dark, to have an ice cold beer and engage in passionate conversations about current events in the Dominican Republic and the world.

The majority of the people I encountered in the Dominican Republic shared with me their ideas and opinions. Many even shared the mixed feelings they had about the Dominican dictator, General Trujillo. They let me sample the essence of their country's soul – black, white and Taína – at all times and in every town I visited. The Program gave me the opportunity, if not to fully transform into a world citizen, at least to be partially transformed by the citizens of the Dominican Republic.

After my experience with UNICEF, I have asked myself many questions about the role that the United Nations and other development agencies play in the "developing" world. Are these agencies truly contributing to the development of the most deprived nations in the world? Or are development agencies taking advantage of developing countries to ensure that the business of development keeps running? Many argue that, indeed, without developing agencies the world would be even more chaotic and that only if "aid programs" are cut we will appreciate the differences that these organizations make in the developing world. I am not quite sure. I acknowledge the need of developing organizations but I am not convinced that their methods are effective. I believe that we need to redefine our strategies and adhere to stricter ethical codes if we want to make the world a better place for everybody.

As a public relations practitioner, I had the opportunity to take a close look at many practices that would be unacceptable to scholars and experienced professionals. I learned why relying solely in press coverage and media relations does not reflect how an organization communicates with its audiences and why evaluation both prior and after the implementation of a program is key to an institution's accountability.

Photo Gallery

I visit a rural school in San Francisco de Marcoriz, Dominican Republic. (Left: UNICEF intern, Silvia Pérez).