Cadillac hosts exchange with Dominican Republic

Mardi Suhs | Cadillac News Dentist Alexandra Martinez of the Dominican Republic recently spent a morning with dentist Timothy Reaume of Dental Health Professionals. The computer x-ray technology she views here is something she had only read about.

CADILLAC - Five visitors from the Dominican Republic recently spent five days here as part of the Rotary International Group Study Exchange (GSE), a one-month study grant designed to increase international goodwill.

While here, they stayed in the homes of local Rotarians, toured industrial, medical and educational facilities, and most importantly, had the chance to spend a morning working with someone in their chosen profession.

Team leader Alexandra Martinez is the mother of two and a dentist who runs a practice out of her home in Santiago.

“I have a family and friends practice,” she smiled. “And if somebody has a pain at night they knock on my door.”

By spending time with dentist Timothy Reaume, Martinez was able to see the latest computer x-ray technology in a large and modern setting. She said the majority of her work is fillings, and that her first impression was that here the office was very big.

Manuel Almonte has a bachelor's degree in business administration and works as a financial manager for a distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles in Santo Domingo.

“This exchange program is for young professionals,” he said. “I applied for this grant because I always find it interesting to know about other cultures.”

By spending time with Bob Marcus of Citizen's Bank, Almonte said he hoped to learn more about the inner workings of an American bank.

“I deal a lot with American people and banking,” he said. “This trip will help me see how you work and give me the chance to learn.”

Isaira Almonte is a 29-year-old college graduate with a degree in Computer Systems Engineering. Unable to find a job in her field, she manages a large jewelry store in the tourist city Puerto Plata.

Almonte visited Baker College where Brandon Butler showed her the computer systems room.

“This is amazing,” she said. “We have nothing like this at home ... the buildings, the rooms, the courses. This is very great and interesting.”

Other visitors included Jamna Polanco, a civil engineer and construction supervisor who visited Wilcox Professional Services and attorney Elaine Moscoso who met with Judge David Hoag.

The Cadillac Rotary has a history of humanitarian outreach to the Dominican Republic. In 2004 members traveled to Santo Domingo with 280 wheelchairs, plus money and supplies for visits to an AIDS orphanage, a rural school, a health clinic and a Peace Corps water filtration project.

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The Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For about a month, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, and develop personal and professional relationships.

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