This morning our driver kept going down the road, past the Mariposa Foundation, past the right turn for La Escuela Coral, past the now familiar shops and restaurants that line the beaches and main drag of Cabarete. "Sunday is Funday!" our itinerary told us, and there would be no work for us at all.
Diving east along the coast, we found ourselves about a quarter mile from the Atlantic Ocean on our left, and another quarter mile from steep, high cliffs on the right. The cliffs, it turns out, were once an under water reef some tens of thousands of years ago. If we were to walk across the fields to it, we'd find ourselves picking at seashells and aquatic fossils. Pretty cool, huh?
For our first stop of the day, we donned the always sexy bright orange, over-your-head, pillow-in-front lifejackets that we all thought we had outgrown and boarded a bright blue wooden boat that just fit us all on its plank seats. After casting off, our pilot cruised the mangroves and took us to a crystal clear lagoon just inside the breakers of the ocean. We watched barracuda, puffer fish, and red snapper swim underneath us while egrets and sea birds flew overhead.
After a short bus ride, we spent a few minutes watching kids about the same age as our Winteriming students leap off a seventy-five foot waterfall to splash in the seven foot pool at the bottom. Perhaps even more impressive was how quickly these divers climbed the rock face back to the top for another plunge. Awed and somewhat shaken, we moved on to a lunch of chicken, mahi-mahi, rice, beans, and pineapple.
Following three hours of swimming, sunning, and eating at the unbelievably gorgeous Playa Grande beach, we began our drive back to Santiago, where we'd be getting our plane back home on Monday. What a drive that turned out to be! Instead of taking the main roads back over well-worn territory, we climbed the mountain highway up into the clouds, passing scattered small towns—little more than houses and tiendas lining this one street, really—where families sat out front enjoying the Sunday evening air. We looked over rich green valleys, down plunging mountainsides, and back to the azure ocean in the distance. We saw new schools that marked better things to come for Dominican children, and we saw wooden shack homes that reminded us of the poverty that plagues the DR. The majesty of our trip was captured on our drive back to the central part of the island.
And now here I am, at 10:55 on Sunday night, writing the last lines of the Domincan Republic Winterim Blog, thankful to have been a part of this fantastic trip. I need to be ready to leave for the airport in under six hours, so it's time to sign off.
From Santiago, buenos noches.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
A Final Day with the Mariposas
Saturdays are different at the Mariposa Foundation. Because there is no school on Saturday, all of their girls descend on the Mariposa "campus" for a morning of decidedly less academic activities: swimming, dancing, crafts, softball. And on this Saturday, we got to be a part of that craziness.
Our students were struck by how different their second day at the Mariposa Foundation felt from their first last Tuesday. The girls knew them now, after our first visit and then three days at the Coral School where many Mariposas attend classes five days a week. All of the hesitancy and shyness was gone from the Mariposas; they ran to our kids, hugged them, held their hands, teased them, and generally did the stuff friends do with friends.
One of the things the Mariposa girls wanted most was for our kids to teach them some American dances. We had already done a little Electric Cha-Cha as a way to teach "left foot," "right foot," "two hops back," etc., so of course the Brimmer students could give them more moves from EEUU, right? Sadly, I'm not sure that we were able to grant that wish for them, but I did hear that Dougie might have been spotted on the dance floor.
Did I mention before how good these girls are at softball? Another ultra-competitive game broke out, and I know for sure that putting a few Mariposa girls on the Brimmer and May softball team would bring at least two extra wins on the season. These girls are seriously ferocious and exceptionally talented!
Saying goodbye to the girls and the staff at the Mariposa Foundation brought to an end the service component to our trip, and I feel safe in saying that none of us were ready for it to end. We wanted to spend more time at La Escuela Coral teaching, playing, and laughing with these wonderful kids. We wanted to feel the warmth, love, and respect that is palpable at Mariposa for at least one more day. We wanted a chance to keep making kids smile, and to have kids make us smile.
But the Winterim schedule doesn't allow a two-week trip, so we hugged our goodbyes and headed off for another afternoon at another perfect Caribbean beach, followed by dinner back at the Piergiorgio Hotel and a last trip to Bon helados.
Our students were struck by how different their second day at the Mariposa Foundation felt from their first last Tuesday. The girls knew them now, after our first visit and then three days at the Coral School where many Mariposas attend classes five days a week. All of the hesitancy and shyness was gone from the Mariposas; they ran to our kids, hugged them, held their hands, teased them, and generally did the stuff friends do with friends.
One of the things the Mariposa girls wanted most was for our kids to teach them some American dances. We had already done a little Electric Cha-Cha as a way to teach "left foot," "right foot," "two hops back," etc., so of course the Brimmer students could give them more moves from EEUU, right? Sadly, I'm not sure that we were able to grant that wish for them, but I did hear that Dougie might have been spotted on the dance floor.
Did I mention before how good these girls are at softball? Another ultra-competitive game broke out, and I know for sure that putting a few Mariposa girls on the Brimmer and May softball team would bring at least two extra wins on the season. These girls are seriously ferocious and exceptionally talented!
Saying goodbye to the girls and the staff at the Mariposa Foundation brought to an end the service component to our trip, and I feel safe in saying that none of us were ready for it to end. We wanted to spend more time at La Escuela Coral teaching, playing, and laughing with these wonderful kids. We wanted to feel the warmth, love, and respect that is palpable at Mariposa for at least one more day. We wanted a chance to keep making kids smile, and to have kids make us smile.
But the Winterim schedule doesn't allow a two-week trip, so we hugged our goodbyes and headed off for another afternoon at another perfect Caribbean beach, followed by dinner back at the Piergiorgio Hotel and a last trip to Bon helados.
Back to the Blog!
After some technical difficulties, we're back! Did you miss our updates?
It is a gorgeous Sunday morning—the sun is coming through the tropical trees, birds are chirping, I hear the sounds of the hotel pool being cleaned—and we're about to have our last breakfast at the Sangiorgio Hotel. Our service work is completed and, as it says on the itinerary, "Sunday is Funday!"
Our three days at the Coral School in Cabarete were transformative, both for the students of La Escuela Coral and those of us from Brimmer and May. We arrived for three days of work with several items on our to-do list. We were to complete a mural/map of Hispanola that the Coral teachers and students would use for geography lessons, we were to begin the massive task of cleaning and organizing their virtually nonexistent library, and we were to lead both English and art classes. Check, check, and check!
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, the map/mural was complete and beautiful, accented by artwork to represent something about different regions around the island: kite boarders for Cabarete, flamingos for Pedernales, a beach for Punta Cana. As we were applying the last touches, students crowded around the wall pointing and smiling.
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, our students had taught their students how to weave friendship bracelets, order food and drink at a restaurant, and what they might expect to see at a zoo. Coral students who did not get the chance to sit in a class with our kids smilingly complained to their "real" teachers about fairness.
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, the library had books accounted for, cataloged, and neatly lined up on the shelves. A new bookshelf was awaiting paint, and the once musty and dusty room had a decidedly fresher air about it.
But there was more! Our kids went beyond their tasks to complete other work as well. Check this out:
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, basketball had been restored to the playground. Our students fashioned a new backboard out of spare boards, painted the backboard as the Dominican flag, and finagled a way to attach the rim that was just waiting for somebody to figure out how to repair it. It was all we could do the get students to wait for the paint to dry before they began shooting and showing off their skills.
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, a second mural was begun and completed against another wall of the school. Deshaun created a beautiful Dominican scene of lush green grass and trees, rugged mountains, and a bright, inviting yellow sun in a calming robin egg blue sky. Once again, Coral students stood in rows two and three deep admiring Deshaun's creation and the work of our entire group.
Time for breakfast! More to come to catch you all up!
It is a gorgeous Sunday morning—the sun is coming through the tropical trees, birds are chirping, I hear the sounds of the hotel pool being cleaned—and we're about to have our last breakfast at the Sangiorgio Hotel. Our service work is completed and, as it says on the itinerary, "Sunday is Funday!"
Our three days at the Coral School in Cabarete were transformative, both for the students of La Escuela Coral and those of us from Brimmer and May. We arrived for three days of work with several items on our to-do list. We were to complete a mural/map of Hispanola that the Coral teachers and students would use for geography lessons, we were to begin the massive task of cleaning and organizing their virtually nonexistent library, and we were to lead both English and art classes. Check, check, and check!
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, the map/mural was complete and beautiful, accented by artwork to represent something about different regions around the island: kite boarders for Cabarete, flamingos for Pedernales, a beach for Punta Cana. As we were applying the last touches, students crowded around the wall pointing and smiling.
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, our students had taught their students how to weave friendship bracelets, order food and drink at a restaurant, and what they might expect to see at a zoo. Coral students who did not get the chance to sit in a class with our kids smilingly complained to their "real" teachers about fairness.
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, the library had books accounted for, cataloged, and neatly lined up on the shelves. A new bookshelf was awaiting paint, and the once musty and dusty room had a decidedly fresher air about it.
But there was more! Our kids went beyond their tasks to complete other work as well. Check this out:
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, basketball had been restored to the playground. Our students fashioned a new backboard out of spare boards, painted the backboard as the Dominican flag, and finagled a way to attach the rim that was just waiting for somebody to figure out how to repair it. It was all we could do the get students to wait for the paint to dry before they began shooting and showing off their skills.
By the time we packed up on Friday afternoon, a second mural was begun and completed against another wall of the school. Deshaun created a beautiful Dominican scene of lush green grass and trees, rugged mountains, and a bright, inviting yellow sun in a calming robin egg blue sky. Once again, Coral students stood in rows two and three deep admiring Deshaun's creation and the work of our entire group.
Time for breakfast! More to come to catch you all up!
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Day One at the Coral School
Another beautiful morning and another wonderful breakfast of fresh fruits, crusty breads, and omelets made right in front of us. Mornings in Sosua at the Piergiorgio Palace Hotel are really, really nice.
Today we headed visited La Escuela Coral (the Coral School) to do a little bit of everything. Our students got opportunities to lead English and art classes for boys and girls (more girls than boys) ranging from seven to fourteen. We had been told to expect that the English language skills of the Coral students were minimal, so we were quite taken aback when students knew every color, every number, and every simple noun thrown at them. The Brimmer and May kids responded impressively, quickly revising their lesson plans to keep the girls engaged, interested, and (hopefully) learning.
All of our students also go the opportunity to grab a brush and beautify the walls of La Escuela Coral with new coats of paint. The two main projects were a nicely patterned design that hid the raw cinder block walls of the snack area, and continuing work on a mural that depicted a map of Hispanola. As it turned out, we had to undo some of the work of the previous group before pushing on with the project, but to look at that back wall of the courtyard now compared to this morning shows clearly that our kids were committed to giving the school a map ready for both a geography lesson and a piece of artwork to admire. Of special note, Deshaun stepped up to add a wonderful picture of two whales off the north coast of Samana, some of the world's best waters for humpback whale sighting.
At the end of another eight-hour day of work, we got a taste of the beaches of Cabarete—internationally famous for its kiteboarding—with students getting in some light shopping and plenty of sunbathing while their chaperones relaxed in the shade nearby.
Have you checked out or photos on Instagram yet? Have you?
Today we headed visited La Escuela Coral (the Coral School) to do a little bit of everything. Our students got opportunities to lead English and art classes for boys and girls (more girls than boys) ranging from seven to fourteen. We had been told to expect that the English language skills of the Coral students were minimal, so we were quite taken aback when students knew every color, every number, and every simple noun thrown at them. The Brimmer and May kids responded impressively, quickly revising their lesson plans to keep the girls engaged, interested, and (hopefully) learning.
All of our students also go the opportunity to grab a brush and beautify the walls of La Escuela Coral with new coats of paint. The two main projects were a nicely patterned design that hid the raw cinder block walls of the snack area, and continuing work on a mural that depicted a map of Hispanola. As it turned out, we had to undo some of the work of the previous group before pushing on with the project, but to look at that back wall of the courtyard now compared to this morning shows clearly that our kids were committed to giving the school a map ready for both a geography lesson and a piece of artwork to admire. Of special note, Deshaun stepped up to add a wonderful picture of two whales off the north coast of Samana, some of the world's best waters for humpback whale sighting.
At the end of another eight-hour day of work, we got a taste of the beaches of Cabarete—internationally famous for its kiteboarding—with students getting in some light shopping and plenty of sunbathing while their chaperones relaxed in the shade nearby.
Have you checked out or photos on Instagram yet? Have you?
A Day with the Mariposas
With beautiful warm weather and bright sunshine streaming through the palm fronds, our crew spent about eight hours with the girls and women of the Mariposa Foundation. The young girls who welcomed us in the morning with smiles, hugs, and hand-holdings then read with us in the library and played math games with us on the blacktop. After a delicious traditional lunch of chicken, rice, salad, and beans, the older Mariposas took over the facility and finished the day by thoroughly trouncing our kids in a surprisingly intense game of softball. We finished the day at the beach in Sosua before heading back to the hotel for dinner, reflections on our first full day in the Dominican, and polishing teaching plans for Wednesday's classes at the Coral School. Just 36 hours into our trip, the students report being touched by the smiles of the Mariposas and rocked by the sensory overload of the DR.
To get a better idea of what the Mariposa Foundation does, please visit their website at http://www.mariposadrfoundation.org where you'll find photos, videos, and more.
Additionally, we've set up an Instagram account so that everybody on this trip can share pictures with each others and their friends and families. For the photographic record of our trip, follow us at "bmdrtrip" on Instagram.
To get a better idea of what the Mariposa Foundation does, please visit their website at http://www.mariposadrfoundation.org where you'll find photos, videos, and more.
Additionally, we've set up an Instagram account so that everybody on this trip can share pictures with each others and their friends and families. For the photographic record of our trip, follow us at "bmdrtrip" on Instagram.
Monday, March 9, 2015
Welcome to the Dominican Republic!
Hola!
Our first posting is fairly boring, expect that letting everybody know that we all got here safely will be reassuring to many of our dedicated readers.
We're forty minutes from dinner, and we've moved into our rooms in Sosua. As I type, many of our kids are out by or in the pool, relaxing after a long day of moving south from Boston.
While we did little more than travel today—by air and then by bus—we did get to see the gray landscape of the Northeast slowing turn more vibrantly colorful as we approached the lush greens of the Dominican Republic. Once here on the island, we watched out of our bus window as city turned to country, and hectic streets lined with urban development shifted to rugged country hillsides dotted with wood and cinderblock homes, palm and banana trees, and tobacco groves.
Tomorrow we begin our work with the Mariposa Foundation and the girls of Cabarete. Stay tuned for more!
Our first posting is fairly boring, expect that letting everybody know that we all got here safely will be reassuring to many of our dedicated readers.
We're forty minutes from dinner, and we've moved into our rooms in Sosua. As I type, many of our kids are out by or in the pool, relaxing after a long day of moving south from Boston.
While we did little more than travel today—by air and then by bus—we did get to see the gray landscape of the Northeast slowing turn more vibrantly colorful as we approached the lush greens of the Dominican Republic. Once here on the island, we watched out of our bus window as city turned to country, and hectic streets lined with urban development shifted to rugged country hillsides dotted with wood and cinderblock homes, palm and banana trees, and tobacco groves.
Tomorrow we begin our work with the Mariposa Foundation and the girls of Cabarete. Stay tuned for more!
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