I was assigned to work in the Puerto Plata Chamber of Commerce as my main project. My assignment was to perform an assessment of the Chamber at the level of the organization and also at the level of its members in order to determine what administrative areas needed to be improved. Also, my mission was to work with the small and micro-entrepreneurs members of the Chamber providing technical business training.

I must admit that it was very difficult my first year at the Chamber. I entered the Peace Corps with no Spanish and very little business experience, except from my few internships and my finance degree from college. After three months of Peace Corps training, I was able to speak a little Spanish and had a basic idea of the business problems in the Dominican Republic. However, with limited Spanish and business experience I was very timid and not confident in my abilities. I basically dealt with what I knew best, computers. I trained the staff on the new computer they had purchased and taught them how to use the Internet. Later working with the newly formed Dominican Office of International Investment (OPI) I helped to arrange and organize a conference in Puerto Plata on International Investment and the importance of the Internet. Fifteen of the largest provincial Chambers of Commerce in the country attended. After the conference I prepared all the materials and the design for the Chambers webpage. Ofinet, a Dominican web design company, agreed to make the webpage, which is better because it leads to sustainable development.

After my first year in the country and rapid improvement of my Spanish, my confidence in my abilities grew dramatically. I realized I knew more then I thought and that often my perspectives on many topics helped to complement in the strategy of various Chamber endeavors. I worked closely in the planning and supervising of the 1 St. International Cultural Business Expo of the Chamber. The idea of the Expo was to create a commercial, cultural, and touristic relationship between the beautiful north coast of the country and the rest of the world. With over 175 local, national, and international business represented as well as many artisans the Expo was a great success for everyone.

Indeed, I am very grateful to the Chamber of Commerce for their patience and flexibility with me in my two years with them. When I first arrived, I think they had the idea (as do many agencies with Peace Corps volunteers) that I could fix and turn everything around with a magic wand. With that expectation in mind, it is easy to imagine the many ups and downs I have experienced. In the end, I probably could have done more and would have definitely done things differently had I known what I know now, but that is life. Life is not like making a movie in which you can have many takes before getting it right. However, all my failures and struggles, have made me stronger and more prepared for the next chapter of my life.

Read my adios letter to the Chamber in spanish!

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