Hello all dedicated readers!
This blogpost comes very late-- I'm already back in the USA and officially done with Peace Corps! But of course, I would like to recap what my last month in the DR was like (it was so busy I never got a chance to update before leaving):
1. I mostly finished all my projects. This is to say that the fence at the school is not done, and neither is the cement bridge-thing in my community that we were fixing up. However, these projects have been completely funded and taken over by community members, so I have hope they will be completed soon! My youth/adult health promoters will hopefully continue with their projects. I also was able to obtain 2 boxes of last-minute books for the school. Speaking of the school..
2. Interestingly enough, this past month I converted into a highschool math teacher in the local school. The local math teacher went away suddenly, and the 120 highschool students were left without a math teacher! There were no math teachers available in the whole province, either. Of course, I volunteered and the next week I was teaching freshman-senior math (and freshman-sophmore english!). I was teaching at the school every day from 8am-1pm, and spending my afternoons lesson planning and grading. It was a great overall experience (although the kids were pretty bad!). I spent 3 full weeks at the school.
3. I finished up my time in the DR with my going-away ("despedida") and the aqueduct inauguration. We held activities my last Saturday and Sunday inviting the community and killing 2 pigs. I was presented with 4 different plaques (one from the school, and 1 from each of my 3 communities) and we took lots of pictures with water shooting out from the aqueduct. The celebrations were wonderful, with performances from my youth health promoters too!
4. I returned to the USA on October 28th with Rafelito. Of course, we had a tough time with immigration because he is a first-time immigrant and Homeland Security needed to process all his forms (of course, we had no clue about this process). We missed our connection in Miami due to this problem. However, we finally arrived in Boston at 1am to see my family! How wonderful. Now, Rafelito and I are adjusting to the US and eating lots of food! In a few weeks we will start to make some moves, but until then, you can find us on the couch/internet making up for the last two years we missed here.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wow! I didn't realize I haven't published in almost a month!
Sorry folks!
Here are some good updates:
Firstly, the aqueduct is finished. The tubes have not yet been sold (I've haggled the Water Committee but nothing is happening). Also, I've been collecting all the fines from the community members who did not participate in the construction. We have collected over $30 in fines and expect about $60 more! This will go toward the food we eat at the inauguration. I've realized I could never be a Repoman/bounty hunter/debt collector. I do not like making people pay me money, especially angry old dominican men. However, the Water Committee has deemed me the bounty hunter because who can be mean to a skinny american girl (answer: lots of people)?
On another note, we have installed all but three water filters (the three left are all redoing kitchens and are not ready). Now, Rafelito and I have been visiting all 116 water filters again, doing mandatory checks (these are the last checks I will hopefully ever do of the water filters!). We have checked about 60 so far. Only 56 left to go!
In early September my Peace Corps class had our three day "Close of Service" conference in a nice hotel in the capital. We covered everything from finding jobs, to health insurance, to government non-competitive eligibility and life after Peace Corps. It was a bit depressing, but also very exciting! Our class entered the country with 51 volunteers and we are ending with 37 (can you believe 14 volunteers dropped out during service).
In this last month I am busy preparing my groups to be semi-sustainable (aka try to continue once I leave). I am trying to bolster my youth health promoters and my adult health promoters. I am also readying Rafelito for the big move! Lots of paperwork to prepare for the journey.
Some exciting things:
1. I bought an awesome Copenhagen tote bag in the Saturday market for $1.30! What a steal! The seller originally wanted me to pay $3 but the bag was stained, so she let it go for 50 pesos. Awesome.
2. The school fence project is FINALLY underway (just in time, right?). We had a PTA meeting and this Tuesday we will be building! Woohoo! I will let you know how it goes. They claim in can be done in a day with 25 workers. I highly doubt this fence can be put up in a day. We will see..
Everything is wrapping up. Summer is still here and it is dreadfully hot. I cannot wait to step into the chilly new england weather!
Talk to you all soon!
Sorry folks!
Here are some good updates:
Firstly, the aqueduct is finished. The tubes have not yet been sold (I've haggled the Water Committee but nothing is happening). Also, I've been collecting all the fines from the community members who did not participate in the construction. We have collected over $30 in fines and expect about $60 more! This will go toward the food we eat at the inauguration. I've realized I could never be a Repoman/bounty hunter/debt collector. I do not like making people pay me money, especially angry old dominican men. However, the Water Committee has deemed me the bounty hunter because who can be mean to a skinny american girl (answer: lots of people)?
On another note, we have installed all but three water filters (the three left are all redoing kitchens and are not ready). Now, Rafelito and I have been visiting all 116 water filters again, doing mandatory checks (these are the last checks I will hopefully ever do of the water filters!). We have checked about 60 so far. Only 56 left to go!
In early September my Peace Corps class had our three day "Close of Service" conference in a nice hotel in the capital. We covered everything from finding jobs, to health insurance, to government non-competitive eligibility and life after Peace Corps. It was a bit depressing, but also very exciting! Our class entered the country with 51 volunteers and we are ending with 37 (can you believe 14 volunteers dropped out during service).
In this last month I am busy preparing my groups to be semi-sustainable (aka try to continue once I leave). I am trying to bolster my youth health promoters and my adult health promoters. I am also readying Rafelito for the big move! Lots of paperwork to prepare for the journey.
Some exciting things:
1. I bought an awesome Copenhagen tote bag in the Saturday market for $1.30! What a steal! The seller originally wanted me to pay $3 but the bag was stained, so she let it go for 50 pesos. Awesome.
2. The school fence project is FINALLY underway (just in time, right?). We had a PTA meeting and this Tuesday we will be building! Woohoo! I will let you know how it goes. They claim in can be done in a day with 25 workers. I highly doubt this fence can be put up in a day. We will see..
Everything is wrapping up. Summer is still here and it is dreadfully hot. I cannot wait to step into the chilly new england weather!
Talk to you all soon!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Hello!
Much to tell.
1) We have basically finished the aqueduct! Just a few touches here and there. We have a few community meetings left and then we will have an inauguration.
2) 1 shipment of books finally arrived! There were 116 primary school books inside. I brought them to the school. We will be thoroughly organizing the books next week once school gets into full swing.
3) Rafelito has already helped me install 25 of my 36 filters. Yipee!
4) Rafelito's visa comes tomorrow to El Guayabo via messenger. Pray it arrives.
5)We are finally starting the school fence project. We need to first order materials and plan out the design.. I will keep you updated.
6)My sex-ed youth promoters are expanding. We will be initiating new promoters this month!
Lots to finish in less than 2 months. Things are truly in full swing!
Much to tell.
1) We have basically finished the aqueduct! Just a few touches here and there. We have a few community meetings left and then we will have an inauguration.
2) 1 shipment of books finally arrived! There were 116 primary school books inside. I brought them to the school. We will be thoroughly organizing the books next week once school gets into full swing.
3) Rafelito has already helped me install 25 of my 36 filters. Yipee!
4) Rafelito's visa comes tomorrow to El Guayabo via messenger. Pray it arrives.
5)We are finally starting the school fence project. We need to first order materials and plan out the design.. I will keep you updated.
6)My sex-ed youth promoters are expanding. We will be initiating new promoters this month!
Lots to finish in less than 2 months. Things are truly in full swing!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
a stove we made for a woman in Los Ramones
I don't have an actual picture of the biosabdn water filters but here is a link to what they look like: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhE9rLwEX0zKl9FSMDDK9K33RWXZv3uZHckiLE23Ryku6_usXGzXDB_xMepVsYWrUE4nw3xQP8qThIclPVHL0yzs8AO1yGN4WARTab38FuJ302rMsjlkVH8qDeZDdzhNuuTtJEeSC5ezk/
Hello readers!
I haven't updated in a bit because I was on vacation in the states from July 26th- August 10th. It was a wonderful respite and I was able to visit prospective grad schools in Baltimore, New York, Washington and Boston (while also seeing family and friends!). I also attended a friends wedding -- it was a lovely college reunion!
Since arriving back in the DR I've been swamped with catching up on things. I only have about 9 weeks left in the country, and the pressure is on to finish with many of my projects (I'm out October 28th!).
I've mainly been playing catchup with the aqueduct. Managing funds and attendance was not easy when I was away. Luckily, the community continued to work during my vacation. We have placed all the tubes in the forest, connected them with cement, and are currently digging the trenches they will lie in. I see about 5 weeks worth of work left. We are currently working 2 days/week in the mornings. This past week I sent out notices to the community members who are playing hooky -- hopefully they wont get too mad at me (because the notices come with fines!). People owe us anywhere from 5 dollars to 25 dollars for not participating.
Also, the water filters have come in! While I was away Rafelito had the opportunity to install the intial 40. I will pick up the remaining 40 on Monday and will spend the next 2 weeks installing.
My library books from abroad ordered in March still have not come in... urgg! No news about the fence I want to construct at the school either.
As well, I am just starting a reproductive health class with the community women of Jobo. We have to move quickly to finish it in time.
Other exciting personal news comes on the front of getting a visa for Rafael, my husband! We spent the past few days in the capital getting more forms legalized and finishing the medical checkup. We have our final interview next week. I will let you know how everything goes!
I will include a picture of a water filter and stove so you all can visualize them (Mom told me to).
Enjoy!
I haven't updated in a bit because I was on vacation in the states from July 26th- August 10th. It was a wonderful respite and I was able to visit prospective grad schools in Baltimore, New York, Washington and Boston (while also seeing family and friends!). I also attended a friends wedding -- it was a lovely college reunion!
Since arriving back in the DR I've been swamped with catching up on things. I only have about 9 weeks left in the country, and the pressure is on to finish with many of my projects (I'm out October 28th!).
I've mainly been playing catchup with the aqueduct. Managing funds and attendance was not easy when I was away. Luckily, the community continued to work during my vacation. We have placed all the tubes in the forest, connected them with cement, and are currently digging the trenches they will lie in. I see about 5 weeks worth of work left. We are currently working 2 days/week in the mornings. This past week I sent out notices to the community members who are playing hooky -- hopefully they wont get too mad at me (because the notices come with fines!). People owe us anywhere from 5 dollars to 25 dollars for not participating.
Also, the water filters have come in! While I was away Rafelito had the opportunity to install the intial 40. I will pick up the remaining 40 on Monday and will spend the next 2 weeks installing.
My library books from abroad ordered in March still have not come in... urgg! No news about the fence I want to construct at the school either.
As well, I am just starting a reproductive health class with the community women of Jobo. We have to move quickly to finish it in time.
Other exciting personal news comes on the front of getting a visa for Rafael, my husband! We spent the past few days in the capital getting more forms legalized and finishing the medical checkup. We have our final interview next week. I will let you know how everything goes!
I will include a picture of a water filter and stove so you all can visualize them (Mom told me to).
Enjoy!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
It has been way too long since my last blog. Sorry, life has been pretty busy!
Since mid- June, I have experienced many life-changing events, most importantly, getting married! On June 18th, I got married to my Dominican boyfriend (Rafelito) here in Santiago Rodriguez, Dominican Republic. We had a small community party at my house following the event. Lots of family, neighbors and peace corps friends were present. It was delightful.
Secondly, the aqueduct money finally arrived! Last week I trekked to the capital with the Water Committee’s treasurer to purchase the PVC tubes we need for the aqueduct. We purchased 300 tubes and I was able to get a 40% discounted price because of Peace Corps. Through this one purchased, we saved about $2,500 USD. Yeah! The rest of the aqueduct money (we have about $2,000 USD more to spend) will be in the purchase of cement, special connector tubes and some galvanized tubes to stretch through the hardest part of the ravine (where the aqueduct lies). We already had a community meeting with about 85% community attendance. Everyone at the meeting was enthusiastic and pledged their support to the project. This coming week we are expecting the tubes to arrive to the community and then next week we will start work on the aqueduct! We will be working about 2 days/week (with 20-30 men working each day). The phases of the aqueduct include connecting and transporting the tubes to the ravine, digging the trenches where we will bury the tubes and slowly dismantling the old aqueduct.
Meanwhile we are still working on the last 15 stoves….its been quite a journey and I have been working each day with the constructors to help get the stoves done faster. Hopefully we will be done in the next 3 weeks with the project, FOREVER! Woohoo! We will have built 80 stoves (each taking a good 6 hours to build. Do the math!). Whew.
Rafelito, having been inspired by my work in the community, has also become a community servant (not like he wasn’t before). In May he attended a Rotary International filter workshop and is also doing a community filter project in the nearby town of La Pastilla/Piedra Blanca. So together, in August, we are receiving 80 more filters to install in our communities. The work never stops!
Finally, I am still waiting for my 60 pounds of children’s books to arrive from two different organizations (International Book Project and Bookaid). Luckily, I have received confirmation that these books have already been shipped and I hope to pick them up from the capital in August! Just in time for the beginning of the school year!
Lastly, for the past year and a half, I have been trying to help the local school build a fence. They have many beautiful computers inside but no real security system. They have had the building materials in their possession for more than two years, but lack the cement necessary to actually build the fence. We have gone to city hall multiple times to receive help (because shouldn’t the government be helping this public school?) but have received nothing. So, after talking with the director, and my pledging support of ½ the cement necessary, in the next two weeks we should start construction on the school.
On top of all of this, Rafelito and I have started the visa process. We have already collected all the necessary documents and have had our first interview at the consulate. Within a month I should receive the round two forms, and possibly, by September, Rafelito will have his visa to come to the US with me (although he wouldn’t actually arrive until Christmas so he can finish another term at school).
Many exciting projects are finally happening, and to think, I only have 3.5 months left!
Ill be in the USA visiting friends, family and grad schools from July 26th-August 10th, so be sure to contact me (I’ll be in Baltimore, Washington, North Carolina, New York and Boston!).
Since mid- June, I have experienced many life-changing events, most importantly, getting married! On June 18th, I got married to my Dominican boyfriend (Rafelito) here in Santiago Rodriguez, Dominican Republic. We had a small community party at my house following the event. Lots of family, neighbors and peace corps friends were present. It was delightful.
Secondly, the aqueduct money finally arrived! Last week I trekked to the capital with the Water Committee’s treasurer to purchase the PVC tubes we need for the aqueduct. We purchased 300 tubes and I was able to get a 40% discounted price because of Peace Corps. Through this one purchased, we saved about $2,500 USD. Yeah! The rest of the aqueduct money (we have about $2,000 USD more to spend) will be in the purchase of cement, special connector tubes and some galvanized tubes to stretch through the hardest part of the ravine (where the aqueduct lies). We already had a community meeting with about 85% community attendance. Everyone at the meeting was enthusiastic and pledged their support to the project. This coming week we are expecting the tubes to arrive to the community and then next week we will start work on the aqueduct! We will be working about 2 days/week (with 20-30 men working each day). The phases of the aqueduct include connecting and transporting the tubes to the ravine, digging the trenches where we will bury the tubes and slowly dismantling the old aqueduct.
Meanwhile we are still working on the last 15 stoves….its been quite a journey and I have been working each day with the constructors to help get the stoves done faster. Hopefully we will be done in the next 3 weeks with the project, FOREVER! Woohoo! We will have built 80 stoves (each taking a good 6 hours to build. Do the math!). Whew.
Rafelito, having been inspired by my work in the community, has also become a community servant (not like he wasn’t before). In May he attended a Rotary International filter workshop and is also doing a community filter project in the nearby town of La Pastilla/Piedra Blanca. So together, in August, we are receiving 80 more filters to install in our communities. The work never stops!
Finally, I am still waiting for my 60 pounds of children’s books to arrive from two different organizations (International Book Project and Bookaid). Luckily, I have received confirmation that these books have already been shipped and I hope to pick them up from the capital in August! Just in time for the beginning of the school year!
Lastly, for the past year and a half, I have been trying to help the local school build a fence. They have many beautiful computers inside but no real security system. They have had the building materials in their possession for more than two years, but lack the cement necessary to actually build the fence. We have gone to city hall multiple times to receive help (because shouldn’t the government be helping this public school?) but have received nothing. So, after talking with the director, and my pledging support of ½ the cement necessary, in the next two weeks we should start construction on the school.
On top of all of this, Rafelito and I have started the visa process. We have already collected all the necessary documents and have had our first interview at the consulate. Within a month I should receive the round two forms, and possibly, by September, Rafelito will have his visa to come to the US with me (although he wouldn’t actually arrive until Christmas so he can finish another term at school).
Many exciting projects are finally happening, and to think, I only have 3.5 months left!
Ill be in the USA visiting friends, family and grad schools from July 26th-August 10th, so be sure to contact me (I’ll be in Baltimore, Washington, North Carolina, New York and Boston!).
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