SST Group Has Lunch with Dominican President Mejía

With a customary slap on the table, and a hearty laugh, President Hipólito Mejía of the Dominican Republic expressed his amusement and pleasure at the conversation he was having with Adam. The President had asked Adam, who had just returned a day before from the small mountain town of Rancho Arriba, what he was studying at Goshen College. Adam replied "film," but quickly added "todólogo," a colloquial expression that in essence means a "jack of all trades". Mejía was amused by Adam's response and impressed with his command of Spanish.

The occasion was a luncheon to which the SST unit had been invited during their previous audience with President Mejía six weeks earlier.

In addition to the president, the luncheon was also attended by his sister, Isabel Mejía de Grullón (Presidential Advisor on Children's Affairs), [pictured to the left of the president] her husband Sergio Grullón, the president's personal secretary [pictured to the right of the president], and the president's administrative secretary Siquió Ng De La Rosa. In-country SST assistants Patricia Zwier and Williams Velez, and SST lecturer Puro Blanco also joined the group. Professor Blanco has many personal connections to the president's extended family, having taught his children and nieces and nephews. Blanco is a favorite lecturer among SST students.

The president asked each student in what part of the country they had spent their six weeks of service, and then responded with a fact or anecdote about many of the locations. He also asked where the students were from in the United States. As the meal progressed, students were given the opportunity to share stories from their service assignments, and general impressions of their time in the DR. Several students rose to the challenge and spoke briefly in Spanish.

Joy expressed her appreciation for the Dominican culture and described her service location outside of the town of Barahona in a poor neighborhood, one that has a large Haitian population. President Mejía was surprised to hear that she lived in such a humble location. Joy replied that she thoroughly enjoyed her time there and even learned some Haitian Creole. Adam described some of his adventures in Rancho Arriba.

President Mejía was impressed to hear that international education is a requirement for students at Goshen College and that 80% of students spend a semester abroad. He called the program an excellent experience, especially citing the value of living with Dominican families. He noted that such programs go a long way in promoting intercultural understanding.

When questioned by a student about his life before the presidency, Mejía described growing up in a rural farming family and admitted to still being a campesino at heart. President since 2000, Mejía's ability to relate to the common Dominican was a key to his being elected. He is known for his genuine personal warmth and strength of family relationships, both of which were evident in the time together.

The meal began with a chicken and vegetable consommé, rolls and Dominican cassava bread. The main course included stuffed beef, Dominican rice with pigeon peas and mixed steamed vegetables. The meal ended with coconut bread pudding and Dominican coffee.

After the meal, SST leaders Phil and Karen Rush presented the president with a small gift on behalf of the college, an oil lamp from alumni artist/potter Dick Lehman. The couple relayed that the gift was symbolic of the lamp which is part of the Goshen College seal. They expressed their appreciation for the honor of sharing a meal with the president.

After the president left the dining room (pictured here giving "high fives" to several students), The president's sister, Isabel Mejía continued talking informally with the students (pictured at right). She said that the group should note that in his daily schedule the president often meets with over 100 persons, and for him to spend an hour with the group was quite an honor. Earlier, President Mejía had mentioned to the group that next week former U.S. President Bill Clinton was coming to the Palace to meet with him.