The Spring 2003 SST unit in the Dominican Republic is over. But this website will remain available.

Thursday, 9 January, 2003 -- All 17 students in the Spring Dominican Republic Study Service Term (SST) group arrived safely and on time, accompanied by all of their luggage! With such a good beginning, it's bound to be more of the same over the next 3 months.

They are spending the night at the Bella Vista Hotel in the central part of the city. They already had a chance to walk around the neighborhood to check out the nightlife of Santo Domingo and to try out some Spanish phrases.

Tomorrow they will begin the orientation process, although in one sense, all of SST is a on-going orientation to DR culture. The introduction will include information about basic schedules, DR family life, getting around the city, academic and group expectations, etc. In the late afternoon on Friday, they will meet their new host families, and head off with them for the weekend. The adventure begins!

Leaders

The faculty leaders of Dominican Republic SST unit, Phil and Karen Rush, are pictured here along with their children Sarah (6 ý) and Luke (4). Phil is currently Associate Professor of Business Information Systems at Goshen College, and has also worked in the Accounting, Financial Aid, and Information Technology Services departments at Goshen College. KarenÕs background is in elementary education, and she has directed several childcare programs. Before coming the DR, KarenÕs most recent role was full-time mother and homemaker. Luke (preschool) and Sarah (1st grade) will be attending a local Spanish school during the 2002-03 year.

Phil and Karen were both SST students in China in 1984. Karen also studied Spanish in Costa Rica during a semester in college. After several years of marriage, they returned to China to teach English as a second language from 1991-1993. Phil also served as Assistant Director of the China Educational Exchange program for 2 years. Karen spent time in her younger days in Haiti. Their previous overseas experiences have convinced them of the importance of an international perspective.