As noted in a previous post, I left the country for the first time when I was 5 on a road trip to Canada. I traveled to Canada a few other times for soccer tournaments in Montreal. But the first time I left the country on my own was in 1998 when I flew to the Dominican Republic to visit my sister. She was teaching in an English-speaking school in Santo Domingo. I traveled with two friends in the front of a Penske truck from Pennsylvania to Miami, where I left them and caught a flight to the DR by way of Puerto Rico.

Once there, everyone wanted to be my taxi driver! Luckily, my sister arrived quickly and we headed back to the home she was living in with a host family. Maria Louisa and her two boys were wonderful hosts, and it was very sweet to welcome me into their home so that I could visit with my sister and explore their country. I’m also very grateful to Maria Louisa for killing the giant (I swear it was several inches long) cockroach that flew in through the window one evening. My sister and I were screaming and jumping on our beds while she battled the bug with a shoe. That was my first cockroach encounter, and it gave me quite a jolt! The rest of my experiences were much calmer and more beautiful.

My sister was the perfect tour guide. She led me to Las Terrenas on the Samana peninsula. The ride was a little hairy as we rode in the bed of an old pickup truck along narrow, mountainside dirt roads. We hiked into the rainforest while we were there. There were spectacular panoramic views of the Caribbean from the top. While on that hike we came across a double waterfall, the Salto El Limon. A hidden gem!

Above, top right, is the beach we enjoyed by our hotel. The hotel had beautiful views from the open windows. Mosquito nets hung over the beds. Uniformed men guarded the front gates with machine guns. They were especially useful when saying goodbye to the two men who we’d met on the beach earlier in the day, ran into again at the market, and then enjoyed dancing merengue with at a local discotheque that evening. The waters were warm, gentle, and crystal clear. My sister floated along singing Irving Berlin’s Cheek to Cheek. At the market I found a beautiful painting by a Haitian artist that still hangs in my home.

When we returned to the capital, my sister took me to the Colonial Zone (Ciudad Colonial) to sightsee. We did some bargaining at the marketplace and I left with some lovely pieces of amber and larimar.

Our second beach getaway was to Juan Dolio. We stayed at an all-inclusive resort (my first and only). It was what one would hope for: endless tropical fruits and cocktails, pristine beaches, peaceful atmosphere. I got my hair braided (remember to bring cash for that!). My sister also took me to a place that offered horseback rides along the beach. That is definitely one of my happiest memories. The horse could have done that walk with his eyes closed. It was so relaxing and exciting all at once.

I’d love to go back, but I’m sure it just wouldn’t be the same. I find there’s a nuance when traveling to meet someone. They know the hidden gems, the ins and outs, the language, the must-dos. And they know better than a guidebook, because they also know you. I’m grateful for the experience, and especially one provided by and shared with my sister.

When did you first leave your home country, and to where did you travel?