Welcome to my blog!
For the next 6 weeks (5 now!) I will be posting updates about my time here in the Dominican Republic.
I am here as a volunteer for the Vermont Institute on the Caribbean (www.instituteoncuba.org) and their Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Kids Project (HNHK). I am working at a elementary school with 4th and 5th graders helping to promote healthy and environmentally friendly living practices. Additionally, I am working with 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders teaching English.
Luckily I have the help and guidance of an very effective and hard working teacher, Edwin Gomez Francisco, a hugely talented and dedicated Peace Corps Volunteer, Sarah Parker, and the support of the VIC as well as many other Dominicans who have already been so generous.
Arriving last Saturday (Oct 11th) to Puerto Plata on the North Coast of the DR, I have just wrapped up week 1. Having now been directly exposed to the issues Dominicans face when it comes to having a healthy neighborhood, I have revised my preconceived project ideas to be more realistic and fitting for the community.
Puerto Plata is beautiful. Smoggy, littered, but beautiful. It's positioned on the North(west) Coast of the DR, lined by beaches to the north and mountain to the south.
Admittedly, my current favorite parts of the day are riding around on the motoconchos... moped/dirt bikes/motorcycles that are the main mode of transport around town (and fit a surprising number of people!)-- moments of solitude with full exposure to my surroundings.
My VIC point guy, Moreno took me on a Puerto Plata tour my first day here-- I'd share pictures except they're on my camera's internal memory to which I don't have access... BUT, from this weekend on, I'll have readily available photographic evidence (I hope).
I'm living with Nelsida, who's super welcoming and a great cook, and insists that she's my Dominican Mom while I'm here. She now has a little scraggly puppy that loves to run spastically inside if he´s allowed )see pics... so cute, and so ugly at the same time:)
School started Monday which basically consisted of me feeling about 8 steps behind, and not knowing what to do (or say) next, then being placed in front of over 8 classes of kids in 4th-8th grade, but the kids graciously accepted my introduction and a few classes sang the HKHN song (so cute!). Meanwhile I was realizing that the project I had intended on working on (cleaning the local stream that flows through the neighborhood) was ABSOLUTELY impossible due to the constant contribution of "agua negro" from all points along the rivers way, trash is one thing, but bacteria ridden black water, no thanks!! That said, I do hope that once there is more of an environmental perspective here that stream won't be the sad sight it is today.
Wednesday was a "rain day," which coming from Vermont seemed nearly ridiculous, but it was a welcomed breather from giving my first couple of health lessons to the students (did I say that they were in Spanish already? Cause that was a feat...). The roads near the school are nearly all dirt and not exactly "clean" dirt like the miles of Vermont roads surrounding my home, but impregnated with the same bacteria and garbage evident in the stream. That the belief that their "children will drown" if sent to school in the rain prevents many students from the rigors of a school day (although some grit it out...like the optional snowday I suppose). As my motoconcho ride didn't show, I too took advantage of the weather.
Yesterday (Sat.) I went with Edwin to his English class in the countryside. Teens in San Francisco signed up with Edwin and two other English teachers to learn English over the course of 2 1/2 years (on Saturdays for 3 hrs.). Surprisingly for the amount of time put in, these kids had pretty advanced English skills (I have GOT to take Spanish classes when I get back...). We drove for ~3 hrs to get there (through Santiago) and the entire countryside was so beautiful! Once we entered rice country (see pics), we pulled into a small school and I talked with 3 different groups throughout the day. Every day everyone breaks for 2 hours midday for lunch. We went to Nellie's (another Nell:-)) house and dined on the "Dominican Flag" rice, beans, and chicken (plus fried green plantains and salad). On the way home, the teachers conducted business stopping roadside to meet the photographer and videographer (separate curbs) for the pending graduation class of students. Also on the way home, the radio news alerted us to an accident not only along the way home, but minutes from the home of Edwin's family. A full bus had gone over the side of a bridge. The miraculous thing was that only one individual was killed. Sadly, it was a 9 month old baby. Edwin was certainly on the edge of his seat, concerned about his family until we got there and heard more (everyone was safe at home).
Due to lack of clean water, soap, close quarters, and knowledge, there was an epidemic of conjunctivitis last week, not just in this area but the entire DR had pink eye. The common conception that you get it by looking at someone with pink eye only propels the infections from person to person. Being prone to it myself, I can understand that wives tale, but thinking about it more, I realize that as soon as I see someone with pinkeye, that hypochondriac sense kicks in and I'm maybe a hundred times more likely to touch my eye... so far so good though (although now that I think about it, my eyes do itch a little, hmmm)...
Well, that's all for now, check back soon for updates and more pictures!!!
Yours,
Eulaila Rae
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