In this interview, you’ll hear from Léa Nuevo, a Peace Corps Youth Development volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Léa shares what daily life looks like, the work being done, and how service has shaped their personal and professional growth. You’ll learn about housing, cultural differences, project work, language learning, and what it’s like to live and work in a new country. This interview offers a real look into Peace Corps service and what future volunteers can expect.
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. What do you do as a Peace Corps Youth Development volunteer in the Dominican Republic?
I serve as a Youth Development Volunteer at a community health clinic, where I work within the clinic’s adolescent program alongside a team of four health educators. Much of my day-to-day work involves traveling to local schools and delivering a four-day educational program to students ages 13–20. Each day focuses on a different topic: pregnancy prevention; sexually transmitted infections and personal health; consent and healthy relationships; and future and career planning. I work with each classroom in the school over the course of the program, and once we have completed the curriculum with all participating students, our team moves on to another school to repeat the program.
Beyond facilitating these lessons, I also help develop, revise, and expand the program’s educational curriculum based on the needs I observe among the young people we serve. I create new lessons and activities designed to address issues that may not be fully covered by the existing curriculum. For example, I developed a mental health lesson to help students better understand and manage anxiety and stress, recognize the effects of bullying, develop healthy coping strategies, and become more intentional about caring for their overall mental well-being.
2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in the Dominican Republic?
I joined the Peace Corps because I wanted an experience that would challenge me personally while allowing me to serve others in a meaningful way. I wanted to step outside of my comfort zone, push myself to do something unfamiliar and difficult, and learn how to adapt to a completely different way of life. I also hoped the experience would humble me and give me a better understanding of how people live with fewer resources, while teaching me to appreciate the small things I often took for granted.
I chose to serve in the Dominican Republic because it offered several opportunities that were especially meaningful to me. As a Spanish speaker, I knew living and working there would allow me to strengthen my language skills through daily immersion and become more confident communicating in different professional and community settings. I also speak French, which I felt could be useful when interacting with members of the Haitian and Haitian-Dominican communities, particularly because of the linguistic similarities between French and Haitian Creole.
The location was another important consideration. The Dominican Republic allowed me to fully immerse myself in a different culture and way of life while still being relatively close to home. Knowing that I could reach Miami fairly quickly if a serious family emergency arose gave me additional peace of mind as I committed to more than two years of service abroad.
Ultimately, I saw Peace Corps service as an opportunity not only to contribute to a community, but also to become more adaptable, grateful, open-minded, and comfortable facing challenges that initially felt intimidating or unfamiliar.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. What is your housing like in the Dominican Republic?
I live independently in an urban area in a small but comfortable one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment within an apartment complex. I have my own kitchen, so I usually cook for myself, although I also eat Dominican food from local restaurants and small neighborhood businesses. My apartment has the basic comforts I need for daily life, including running water, electricity, a refrigerator, and internet access, although occasional power or water outages are a normal part of life here. Overall, my housing is simple but comfortable and has become a place that feels like home during my service.
4. What moments or interactions stand out during your service?
One of the experiences that stands out most during my Peace Corps service has been helping organize and facilitate summer camps for children and adolescents living in batey communities. A batey is a community that historically developed around sugarcane plantations and sugar production, and many bateys in the Dominican Republic remain economically marginalized and have more limited access to educational, healthcare, and recreational resources.
What made these camps especially meaningful to me was knowing that we were bringing programming directly to young people whose communities are often overlooked. We traveled to the bateys and created several days of activities focused on health, pregnancy prevention, personal development, and future planning, while also giving the kids a space to play, participate, and spend time with one another.
One of the moments I remember most was simply seeing how excited the students were to take part. It reminded me that something that may seem relatively small, like bringing educational activities and a summer camp to a community, can feel much more significant when those opportunities are not always readily available. Being able to spend time with the young people, listen to them, answer their questions, and create an environment where they felt included was one of the most rewarding parts of my service.
The experience also reinforced for me why community-based service matters. It is easy for communities with fewer resources to receive less attention, but working in the bateys showed me how important it is to meet people where they are and make sure that young people, regardless of where they grow up, have opportunities to learn, feel supported, and imagine possibilities for their future.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about living or working in the Dominican Republic?
One of the things that surprised me most was how much certain cultural differences affected me once I was actually living here. I knew before arriving that machismo was present in Dominican culture, but experiencing it firsthand as a woman was very different from simply knowing about it. There were moments when gender expectations, comments, or the way people interacted with me were much more noticeable than I had anticipated, and learning how to navigate those situations became an important part of adapting to life here.
At the same time, I was surprised by how much happiness and community I see in everyday life. People here have an incredible ability to make the best of situations that might feel frustrating elsewhere. If the electricity goes out, for example, people will often simply move their chairs outside, talk with their neighbors, and continue enjoying the evening rather than letting it ruin their day. There is a strong sense of community, and people seem to place a lot of value on spending time together, sharing what they have, and enjoying the small things.
That contrast has stayed with me throughout my service. Living here has made me more aware of cultural differences that can be challenging, but it has also taught me a lot about gratitude, resilience, and finding happiness in everyday life.
6. What challenges have you faced in your Youth Development work, and how did you respond?
One of the biggest challenges I have faced in my Youth Development work has been teaching sexual and reproductive health in an environment where these topics can be very difficult to discuss openly. Subjects like pregnancy prevention, sexually transmitted infections, consent, and healthy relationships are often considered taboo, especially when speaking with adolescents. At first, some students were hesitant to participate, embarrassed to ask questions, or uncomfortable discussing the material in front of their classmates.
To respond to that, I learned that I could not simply present the information and expect students to engage. I had to create an environment where they felt comfortable, respected, and not judged. I began making the lessons more interactive, using activities, visuals, anonymous questions, and open discussion to make the topics feel less intimidating. I also adjusted my language and examples to better fit the students’ age, culture, and everyday experiences.
Over time, I became much more comfortable facilitating these conversations, and I saw students become more willing to participate and ask honest questions. The experience taught me that when working on sensitive topics, providing accurate information is only part of the job. Building trust and finding a way to communicate that feels approachable and culturally appropriate are just as important.
7. What secondary projects have you worked on during your service?
During my service, I have been involved in several projects outside of my primary responsibilities. I currently serve as co-president of the Medical Mission Initiative in the Dominican Republic, where I coordinate with nine different organizations to support American medical groups that travel to rural communities in the DR to provide free healthcare.
One of my primary responsibilities is helping coordinate Peace Corps Volunteers who serve as Spanish-English translators for these medical missions. This experience has allowed me to develop my leadership, communication, and coordination skills while contributing to efforts that improve access to healthcare in underserved communities.
In addition, I have spent time shadowing physicians at the clinic where I work, which has given me a deeper understanding of clinical practice and patient care in the Dominican Republic. I have also been involved in research by collecting qualitative data through informal interviews with physicians at the clinic. These experiences have allowed me to learn more about the local healthcare system, understand physicians’ perspectives and challenges, and explore areas of healthcare that I may want to pursue in the future.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to future Youth Development volunteers in the Dominican Republic?
My biggest piece of advice to future Youth Development Volunteers is to remember that everyone’s Peace Corps service is going to look different. Try not to compare yourself to your fellow volunteers or feel like your service needs to look a certain way. Everyone has different communities, experiences, challenges, and relationships, and that is what makes each person’s service unique.
I would also encourage future volunteers to stay true to who they are. Don’t change yourself just to fit in or to feel like you are doing service the “right” way. Be open to new experiences and step outside of your comfort zone. Try the new food, say yes to new experiences, and be willing to put yourself in unfamiliar situations. You never know what you might enjoy or what experience might become one of your favorite memories. Most importantly, give yourself the freedom to experience your service in your own way and appreciate it for what it is.
9. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?
PST (Pre-Service Training) was actually one of my favorite parts of service because it helped me build a strong bond with the cohort I came to the Dominican Republic with. It gave me a sense of community from the very beginning and helped me create friendships that have been one of my biggest sources of support throughout my service. Having other volunteers I could talk to, share experiences with, and lean on during difficult moments reminded me that I was never alone in the challenges of service.
PST also prepared me in more practical ways. It taught me about safety and security and helped me become aware of things that I might not have thought about as an American living in a different cultural environment. Learning what to look out for, how to navigate unfamiliar situations, and how to keep myself and others safe gave me confidence as I began my service. Overall, PST prepared me not only with practical knowledge, but also by giving me a community that I could rely on throughout my time in the Dominican Republic.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?
I would tell future volunteers to pack clothes that they actually love to wear. I came into service thinking I would be wearing business-casual clothes 24/7, but you will have opportunities to travel, go out, and enjoy yourself, so bring clothes that you feel comfortable and confident in. I would also recommend bringing small things that remind you of home, such as pictures, a favorite candle, spices, and, of course, your favorite snacks. Everything But the Bagel seasoning was something I definitely had to bring!
As for what to leave behind, you really do not need many long-sleeve shirts or sweatshirts. It is so hot in the Dominican Republic that you will probably rarely wear them. I would also recommend bringing darker-colored clothes and avoiding gray whenever possible, especially if you sweat easily!
There are also a few practical things I would make sure to pack: a good, bright flashlight, a rechargeable portable charger, and a large water bottle that keeps your water cold. A flashlight is especially helpful when you lose electricity, and a portable charger is useful not only during long bus rides but also during power outages. Most importantly, bring a water bottle you will actually use because staying hydrated in the Dominican heat is essential!
11. How has language learning been for you in the Dominican Republic?
I came to the Dominican Republic with an intermediate level of Spanish, and I now consider myself to be at an advanced level. PST Spanish classes were definitely helpful, especially for learning Dominican slang and becoming more familiar with the way people actually speak here. However, I think one of the biggest things that helped me improve was simply not being shy about asking questions. If someone said a word or phrase I didn’t understand, I would ask what it meant rather than pretending I understood.
I also kept a running vocabulary list in the notes app on my phone, which made it easy to write down new words and review them later. Another thing that helped me was downloading books in Spanish that I had already read in English. Since I already knew the story and context, I could focus more on understanding new vocabulary and how sentences were structured.
My biggest advice for language learning is to not be embarrassed about what you don’t know. Ask questions, write down new words, and find ways to expose yourself to Spanish outside of formal classes. The more you use the language in your everyday life, the more natural it becomes.
Social Identity
12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?
My personal identity has shaped my service experience in a variety of ways. Being a woman, being originally from France, and living and working in a different cultural environment have made me more aware of the perspectives and assumptions I bring with me. I have had to learn to listen first, be open to different ways of doing things, and recognize that my way is not always the only or best way.
My personality has also played a big role in my service. I really value building relationships and connecting with people, which has helped me develop meaningful relationships with my coworkers, community members, and other volunteers. At the same time, service has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and taught me to be more adaptable and confident in unfamiliar situations.
Overall, my identity has influenced the way I communicate, build relationships, and navigate my community, but my service has also helped me learn more about myself. Living in the Dominican Republic and being immersed in a culture different from my own has challenged some of my assumptions and made me more open-minded, understanding, and appreciative of perspectives different from my own.
13. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?
Yes, there were definitely situations where my identity played a role in my experience. Being a woman made me more aware of certain interactions and situations, particularly when navigating new environments or traveling independently. I learned to be more aware of my surroundings, set boundaries when necessary, and understand that some interactions could be influenced by cultural expectations around gender.
Being originally from France also sometimes meant that people had assumptions about me based on where I was from or would be curious about my background. At times, I had to explain that although I am French/American, I was living and serving in the Dominican Republic, which sometimes led to interesting conversations about culture and identity.
These experiences were not necessarily negative, but they made me more aware of how identity can affect the way people perceive you and how you navigate a new culture. They taught me to be adaptable, communicate clearly, and stay true to myself while also being respectful of the cultural context around me.
14. What advice do you have for volunteers who share your identity?
My advice would be to stay true to yourself and not feel like you have to change who you are to fit into a certain idea of what a Peace Corps Volunteer should look or act like. Your identity and background are part of what you bring to your community, and they can help you connect with people in ways you may not expect.
I would also encourage you to be confident in yourself and not let unfamiliar situations make you question who you are. There may be times when you feel different from the people around you or from other volunteers, but that does not mean you need to change yourself to fit in. Be open to learning from the culture around you while still holding onto the parts of yourself that are important to you.
Most importantly, remember that your service is your own. Don’t compare your experience to anyone else’s, and give yourself permission to experience Peace Corps in a way that feels authentic to you.
Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
15. If you share content online, how has that shaped your service?
I have shared pictures from my service on Instagram, which has been a fun way to document my experience and share parts of my life in the Dominican Republic with friends and family back home. It has also helped people who may not fully understand what Peace Corps service looks like get a glimpse into my community, the culture, and some of the experiences I have had throughout my service.
At the same time, sharing online has encouraged me to be intentional about what I post and to respect the privacy and experiences of the people in my community. Overall, I have enjoyed having a visual record of my service and being able to share the moments, both big and small, that have made my time in the Dominican Republic so meaningful.
16. What final advice or thoughts would you share with future volunteers?
My biggest piece of advice for future volunteers is to enjoy the experience and remember that you only get one Peace Corps service. There will be difficult days, frustrating moments, and times when you question what you are doing, but there will also be so many moments that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Don’t compare your service to anyone else’s. Everyone’s experience is going to be different, and that is okay. Stay true to yourself, build genuine relationships, and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Say yes to the new food, the unexpected adventure, the invitation you weren’t sure about, and the opportunity to try something completely different. You never know what might become your favorite memory.
Most importantly, give yourself grace. You don’t have to accomplish everything you imagined when you first arrived. Sometimes the relationships you build, the small moments you share with people, and the things you learn about yourself are the most meaningful parts of service. Be present, stay open, and appreciate the experience while you’re living it, because it really does go by faster than you think.
Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Léa, you can live abroad, work with communities, and grow in ways you didn’t expect. Apply to the Peace Corps and take the next step.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Dominican Republic Government.
