Dominican 10-year old Virginia Nunez Mir, a granddaughter of national poet Pedro Mir, participated in the Conde Nast Traveler annual Caribbean Tourism Organization’s essay writing contest for children 8-12 years. The 10-year old Colegio Dominico-Americano student won an expenses-paid trip with her mother to Bahamas to share with 24 other children from the Caribbean. The contest is held to encourage children to seek a travel career. This year, 26 Caribbean countries participated, sending 25 representatives. Nunez received one of the warmest rounds of applause for her description of the country in fluent English and her poise throughout the formal events. As her fellow participants, she was asked to write the essay keeping in mind she was a travel journalist. In her essay, she highlighted “the great variety of birds singing that makes for perfect mornings”, and how in the DR “we are all different so however you are we will accept you.”
During the event, the editor in chief of Conde Nast Traveler, Klara Glowczewska, announced that the Dominican Republic would be featured in the December issue of the magazine.
See her complete essay at http://www.dr1.com/travelnews/archive/2006/condenast.shtml