The Summer 2002 SST unit in the Dominican Republic is over. But this website will remain available.

May 2, 2002, 10.50 pm-- "Santo Domingo, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Americas has 22 new residents tonight. The Goshen students are at Plaza Colonial, a hotel at the edge of the old colonial zone. They were all in very good spirits when we left them 20 minutes ago. On arrival, they were a bit hungry since neither of their flights had meals, so we stopped on the way back from the airport for some pica-pollo (chicken and chips - both potato and platano chips). "

"Tomorrow (Friday) they will spend the day in orientation and then at 4:30 pm will meet their families who will take them to their new homes for the weekend. Monday morning, there are language evaluations and public transportation training. Then Tuesday, the routine of language study in the morning and lectures in the afternoon will begin. Ruth and I are very excited about finally having them here. We look forward to our next three months together and we feel honored to have them under our care and guidance. "

Leaders of the summer 2002 SST unit in the Dominican Republic are Galen and Ruth Graber, pictured here with their daughters Natalie and Mia. Galen has worked at Goshen College for 17 years, most recently as Director of Student Financial Aid. Ruth is a registered nurse. Mia was born, in February, in Santo Domingo.

Galen was an SST student in Costa Rica in 1982, and calls the experience "My best semester in college. It was the time in my life when I learned the most about myself and the world around me". Galen grew up in Brazil until the age of 16 where his parents were missionaries. Prior to being married, Galen (along with a colleague, Carey Miller) also led 2 groups of SST in the Dominican Republic during the 1995-96 school year. Ruth also graduated from GC in '87, and participated in SST in Belize.