Serving in the United States Peace Corps has long been referred to as "the toughest job you'll ever loveGÇ¥ GÇô and as one Monroe native has found, it's also the most rewarding.
Currently working to promote literacy among youth, Sophia Dzilenski has been serving as an education volunteer at an elementary school in the Dominican Republic since 2014. While there, the 23-year-old Seattle University graduate has been advocating for additional literacy-based activities in the school, and working to obtain grant funding to purchase books for a new school library.
"In a disadvantaged community, poor reading skills and illiteracy can be common, so to promote reading at an earlier age is crucial,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "The kids at my school ask me every day to work with them and become completely captivated when I bring a picture book to their classroom.GÇ¥
Dzilenski, who attended schools in both Monroe and Everett growing up, describes herself as an avid reader. She graduated from Seattle University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in International Studies and Spanish. It was during her senior year that she began to entertain the idea of serving in the Peace Corps.
"I have always been drawn to living abroad and wanting international experience that has a purpose,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "My senior year of college, I started to consider Peace Corps more seriously as an opportunity to work in a developing country and travel.GÇ¥
A new place to call home
The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola, roughly 800 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, in the Caribbean. Known for being a geographically diverse region, the Spanish-speaking country boasts an average temperature of about 79 degrees and includes desert, mountains and miles of coastline. A popular destination among tourists, the economy is heavily supported by tourism, agriculture and industries.
While Dzilenski is a long way from home, she said there are similarities between Monroe and the rural area of the Dominican Republic where she currently resides.
"My rural community can be somewhat similar to Monroe in the sense that it is small and friendly, but also big enough not to know everyone. The natural beauty and surrounding farm life remind me of Monroe,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "My Dominican neighbors enjoy seeing photos of my hometown and learning about American culture.GÇ¥
Peace Corps volunteers serve for 27-month periods, which include two years of service with three months of pre-service training. At the time Dzilenski applied for her Peace Corps service, being placed in a Spanish-speaking country was a stroke of good fortune GÇô being half-Mexican, she grew up speaking Spanish and learning about Latin culture. She further enhanced her Spanish-speaking abilities by studying the language in both high school and college.
The three months of training are served "in-country,GÇ¥ and meant to indoctrinate volunteers into their areas of service. Once a volunteer has demonstrated that he or she can successfully navigate the country's language and culture, they are officially sworn in to begin their two years of service.
Modest living
During the pre-service training and the first four months of service, volunteers typically live with host families. After that, they are free to move out and live on their own.
Dzilenski describes her neighborhood as safe, and her living abode as modest. Her basic needs are accommodated, and her residence includes typical furnishings including a bed, table, chairs, stove top and gas tank.
"I am fortunate to have an indoor bathroom, however, I do bucket bathe and collect water daily to store in a large container,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "I have electricity and running water three times a day.GÇ¥
The Dominican Republic is known for inconsistent electrical service, an issue which is thought to be a major hindrance to the country's economic development. Dzilenski said that while she pays monthly for electricity, the times she actually has it are completely random and not necessarily scheduled GÇô and she is actually lucky to have it as often as she does.
"There have been periods where we didn't have it for three days straight, which also meant no running water,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "The whole system is completely unorganized and unpredictable.GÇ¥
Blackouts are common in the Dominican Republic. Corporations responsible for the distribution of electricity site issues with illegal connections and low bill collection rates as the major contributing factors to the erratic electrical service. Many Dominicans simply cannot afford to pay for it, explained Dzilenski, who has learned to adapt.
"When the electricity arrives, it is "go time,'GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "There is this rush to charge devices, collect water or do laundry. You will immediately hear blow dryers going, stereos blasting bachata or salsa, fans and laundry machines starting up.GÇ¥
The ethnicities of the Dominican Republic people include Taino Indian, African and Spanish, with a large number of Haitian immigrants. The culturally-rich country is plagued by income inequality, which contributes to broad economic disparity. Dzilenski explained that approximately 34 percent of the population lives below the poverty-line, with the majority of the residents in her rural community earning minimum wage.
"Their average monthly income will be between $135 [to] $156 U.S. dollars,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said.
A vibrant culture
Dzilenski has enjoyed immersing herself in the richness of the Dominican culture, and describes the country as "vibrant, loud, welcoming, chaotic and hot.GÇ¥ Cuisine and dancing figure strongly in Dominican culture, and most Dominicans are adept at both salsa and bachata dancing. Native to the Dominican Republic, bachata music and dancing is known for being upbeat GÇô which has somewhat evolved from its bluesy origins.
"The music and loudness of this country seem to be part of the rhythm of the island life and Dominicans' love for enjoying what is in the moment,GÇ¥ she said.
Dzilenski has enjoyed experiencing the cohesive sense of community that is prevalent in her region.
"There is a strong sense of community and open nature to their culture,GÇ¥ Dzilenski said. "In the rural communities here, it is common to leave one's door open for neighbors to come wandering in and out, and to share your meals or snacks with anyone who comes to sit and talk with you.GÇ¥
A typical day for Dzilenski involves spending a day at the elementary school where she volunteers. She also spends time going to the market, reading and visiting with her Dominican neighbors. So far, in addition to working with her students, Dzilenski has obtained $3,000 in grant funding that will be used to purchase books for kids in preschool through the eighth grade.
Established by John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps has approximately 174 volunteers working in the Dominican Republic. Dzilenski's fellow volunteers are engaged in projects related to public health, youth and economic development.
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