We finished fundraising for the aqueduct! Woohooo!
We are currently constructing 20 more stoves and are in the midst of ordering more water filters. On may 27th we have a health promoters workshop with 50 local women. Should be a lot of work, but a lot of fun!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
The aqueduct fundraising has been such a success. In one week we have raised $1,200! Only 400 dollars remain to be raised. Awesome.
In other news, my chicken gave birth to 9 chicks! 4 black chicks and 5 yellow chicks. I have only named 3 so far (because they are hard to tell apart), who are: Geraldine, Black Sabbath and Goldie Hawn. I will raise the chicks to lay eggs/be eaten.
Last weekend, with many other volunteers, I hitchhiked the north coast of the Dominincan Republic (Santiago to Samana) we covered over 250 miles in 8 hours. It was a blast and we met many cool people, dominicans and americans alike.
I am currently also raising money/collecting book donations for our local school library. The school created a small library this past year in an unused closet, but unfortunately we have no books! Just some outdated history books (and dictionaries thanks to the congo church!). So, I have started collecting books in spanish for ages 5-18. I am looking for picture books and chapter books. I hope to have some workshops over the summer for teachers to learn reading strategies. Then, in September I hope to start a "Reading is Cool!" campaign in the school to motivate kids to use our new books! If you happen to have any books in Spanish lying around, save them for me when vacation in the US this august!
In other news, my chicken gave birth to 9 chicks! 4 black chicks and 5 yellow chicks. I have only named 3 so far (because they are hard to tell apart), who are: Geraldine, Black Sabbath and Goldie Hawn. I will raise the chicks to lay eggs/be eaten.
Last weekend, with many other volunteers, I hitchhiked the north coast of the Dominincan Republic (Santiago to Samana) we covered over 250 miles in 8 hours. It was a blast and we met many cool people, dominicans and americans alike.
I am currently also raising money/collecting book donations for our local school library. The school created a small library this past year in an unused closet, but unfortunately we have no books! Just some outdated history books (and dictionaries thanks to the congo church!). So, I have started collecting books in spanish for ages 5-18. I am looking for picture books and chapter books. I hope to have some workshops over the summer for teachers to learn reading strategies. Then, in September I hope to start a "Reading is Cool!" campaign in the school to motivate kids to use our new books! If you happen to have any books in Spanish lying around, save them for me when vacation in the US this august!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
I can sum up the past week in 1 word: INCREDIBLE!
My parents arrived last Wednesday to sunny skies and a flight 30 mins early. After the initial transportation deluge (taxi, bus, SUV), we got back to Guayabo and had a delicious dinner made by yours truly; pesto rigatoni with shrimp and a caprese salad (don’t forget the white wine!). Clearly not a common dinner for me, but definitely worth it. We made the introductions with the host family and got to bed early.
The next day we visited the school in the morning, stopping to take pictures for the Dartmouth Congo Church (they had donated dictionaries to the school!). We then stopped for coffee and juice at many neighbors’ homes. Of course, the water in Guayabo had gone out (which is why we need a new aqueduct!) so I spent some time cleaning the dishes from the night before in a bucket of reserve water. My parents then unloaded their stash of goodies which ranged from mentos and necco wafers to vitamins, sunglasses and lots of clothes! They had also brought lots of gifts for my host family which included soap, sheets and makeup! Rafelito did a fashion show with us, showing off all his new clothes too.
Later in the day my parents unloaded gifts sent with them from Vanderbilt ASB! Lots of starburst, silly bands and cards. The kids piled up outside my door, awaiting their gifts, and spent most of the afternoon writing cards to send back to Vandy with my parents. ASB had also sent a jenga set, and my father helped teach the kids how to play.
At night, we went to the chicken shack! I found three motorcycles in the community and we plopped mom and dad on the back of some motors and started off. What an adventure! Lots of delicious chicken and beer were consumed by all. My host family showed up at the shack, completely surprising us! It was great! We had a table of 10 by the end of the night.
Friday was more of the same; taking walks around my community, meeting neighbors and eating lots of food. Guayabo was so excited about mom and dad—we had so many visitors to the casita!
Saturday we headed to the hotel in Puerto Plata (north coast beach area). After a truck ride down the mountain and a bus to Santiago, we were on our way! We arrived at the Hotel Casa Colonial around 3pm. Absolutely GORGEOUS. The rest of the weekend can be characterized by pools, beach, food and alcohol. It was an wonderful stay with delicious food, great company and beautiful weather! Rafelito couldn’t have been more awe-struck by the hotel, but by day two he was already knew the routine!
My time with my parents was an awesome respite, body and soul. I feel rejuvenated and ready to finish these 6 months that remain!
My parents arrived last Wednesday to sunny skies and a flight 30 mins early. After the initial transportation deluge (taxi, bus, SUV), we got back to Guayabo and had a delicious dinner made by yours truly; pesto rigatoni with shrimp and a caprese salad (don’t forget the white wine!). Clearly not a common dinner for me, but definitely worth it. We made the introductions with the host family and got to bed early.
The next day we visited the school in the morning, stopping to take pictures for the Dartmouth Congo Church (they had donated dictionaries to the school!). We then stopped for coffee and juice at many neighbors’ homes. Of course, the water in Guayabo had gone out (which is why we need a new aqueduct!) so I spent some time cleaning the dishes from the night before in a bucket of reserve water. My parents then unloaded their stash of goodies which ranged from mentos and necco wafers to vitamins, sunglasses and lots of clothes! They had also brought lots of gifts for my host family which included soap, sheets and makeup! Rafelito did a fashion show with us, showing off all his new clothes too.
Later in the day my parents unloaded gifts sent with them from Vanderbilt ASB! Lots of starburst, silly bands and cards. The kids piled up outside my door, awaiting their gifts, and spent most of the afternoon writing cards to send back to Vandy with my parents. ASB had also sent a jenga set, and my father helped teach the kids how to play.
At night, we went to the chicken shack! I found three motorcycles in the community and we plopped mom and dad on the back of some motors and started off. What an adventure! Lots of delicious chicken and beer were consumed by all. My host family showed up at the shack, completely surprising us! It was great! We had a table of 10 by the end of the night.
Friday was more of the same; taking walks around my community, meeting neighbors and eating lots of food. Guayabo was so excited about mom and dad—we had so many visitors to the casita!
Saturday we headed to the hotel in Puerto Plata (north coast beach area). After a truck ride down the mountain and a bus to Santiago, we were on our way! We arrived at the Hotel Casa Colonial around 3pm. Absolutely GORGEOUS. The rest of the weekend can be characterized by pools, beach, food and alcohol. It was an wonderful stay with delicious food, great company and beautiful weather! Rafelito couldn’t have been more awe-struck by the hotel, but by day two he was already knew the routine!
My time with my parents was an awesome respite, body and soul. I feel rejuvenated and ready to finish these 6 months that remain!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
This past week flew by as I hosted Vanderbilt ASB from March 5th-12th! They were an absolutely amazing, upbeat, flexible group that helped my community so much!
The breakdown of the week:
ASB (comprised of 9 spanish-speaking students) arrived on Saturday at the Santiago Airport where I picked them up and brought them back to my site (by taxi, bus and truck). We stopped at the chicken shack for some roasted chicken takeout. Then, unpacking and an early night.
Sunday we traveled to Jobo to visit the school, stop at the colmado for food and visit the school director. We had a tour of the school and a chat with the director about the week’s activities. Then, back to my community for lunch, construction of my stove chimneys (a really HUGE help) and dominoes with community members!
Monday we headed to the school early where we worked in classrooms (English class, art, math). We also spent an entire morning organizing and revamping the school’s library. ASB also generously donated basketballs and volleyballs to the school that they had brought from the states! In the afternoon, the Americans attended my youth sex-ed class and ran a wonderful game called “Wah!”. A huge hit (played by many Dominican youth later in the week).
Tuesday ASB bought $150 of paint to paint the basketball court of the school (that didn’t have any markings). It looked awesome with red, blue and white paint (coincidentally the Dominican and American flag colors).
Wednesday some of the volunteers headed with my masons, Rafelito and Gilberto, to build a stove. The others painted the local community center—its amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a building!
Thursday was the last day of the school; we gave a lecture about discrimination and stereotypes and then celebrated Ash Wednesday with the students. We ended the morning with a ASB/Student dance on the basketball court. Lots of bachata and merengue dancing! In the afternoon we built some more chimneys. Finally, to celebrate the ending of the week, we had a “gingebre” (ginger tea community celebration) at night along with typical Dominican dancing. We had teachers, students and community members attend). The dancing went until 11pm and the night ended with many tears and goodbyes of the young kids and volunteers.
Friday we left El Guayabo early for Santiago, checked into a hotel and left our stuff to head to 27 Waterfalls! We arrived at the waterfalls around 1pm, so too late to do all 27. However, 12 waterfalls were plenty for us. Lots of laughs and memories from the day. Back to Santiago for dinner at the mall food court (what could be better than Pizza Hut after a long day?).
Saturday- early goodbyes and a wonderful gift of ASB money so the school can buy a printer!
What a week! While I didn’t have a minute free, it was definitely worth it. The kids absolutely loved the volunteers and the volunteers have motivated me to try to work more in the school!
The breakdown of the week:
ASB (comprised of 9 spanish-speaking students) arrived on Saturday at the Santiago Airport where I picked them up and brought them back to my site (by taxi, bus and truck). We stopped at the chicken shack for some roasted chicken takeout. Then, unpacking and an early night.
Sunday we traveled to Jobo to visit the school, stop at the colmado for food and visit the school director. We had a tour of the school and a chat with the director about the week’s activities. Then, back to my community for lunch, construction of my stove chimneys (a really HUGE help) and dominoes with community members!
Monday we headed to the school early where we worked in classrooms (English class, art, math). We also spent an entire morning organizing and revamping the school’s library. ASB also generously donated basketballs and volleyballs to the school that they had brought from the states! In the afternoon, the Americans attended my youth sex-ed class and ran a wonderful game called “Wah!”. A huge hit (played by many Dominican youth later in the week).
Tuesday ASB bought $150 of paint to paint the basketball court of the school (that didn’t have any markings). It looked awesome with red, blue and white paint (coincidentally the Dominican and American flag colors).
Wednesday some of the volunteers headed with my masons, Rafelito and Gilberto, to build a stove. The others painted the local community center—its amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to a building!
Thursday was the last day of the school; we gave a lecture about discrimination and stereotypes and then celebrated Ash Wednesday with the students. We ended the morning with a ASB/Student dance on the basketball court. Lots of bachata and merengue dancing! In the afternoon we built some more chimneys. Finally, to celebrate the ending of the week, we had a “gingebre” (ginger tea community celebration) at night along with typical Dominican dancing. We had teachers, students and community members attend). The dancing went until 11pm and the night ended with many tears and goodbyes of the young kids and volunteers.
Friday we left El Guayabo early for Santiago, checked into a hotel and left our stuff to head to 27 Waterfalls! We arrived at the waterfalls around 1pm, so too late to do all 27. However, 12 waterfalls were plenty for us. Lots of laughs and memories from the day. Back to Santiago for dinner at the mall food court (what could be better than Pizza Hut after a long day?).
Saturday- early goodbyes and a wonderful gift of ASB money so the school can buy a printer!
What a week! While I didn’t have a minute free, it was definitely worth it. The kids absolutely loved the volunteers and the volunteers have motivated me to try to work more in the school!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Hello! We finally started the stove project (constructing the actual stoves) and the last week has flown by! In the past 4 days we were able to construct 7 of the 40 stoves. Not to say the work is easy—we wake up at 6am to start construction in the distant community of La Jagua and construct all day until we finish at 6pm. Then, back to my house to eat dinner and construct chimneys (which we need to make in advance). Then, we start the cycle over the next morning at 6am. The work is grueling and I have more cuts on my fingers and toes from the zinc sheets and cement blocks we use! But, I can proudly say I have acquired basic masonry skills and know how to use a hacksaw, pickaxe and can work with cement. My masons are awesome (Rafelito and his brother-in-law, Gilberto) and they are hardworkers who don’t stop until the stoves are perfect. They have learned a lot in the past week as well and are gaining valuable construction skills they can use after the project.
What do my masons make in 1 day working 11 hours? Only 15 dollars. Yes, it may seem like a paltry sum but the going rate for day laborers is only about $7.50/day here. So the pay is semi-reasonable (although I wish I could pay them more!).
The stove project has been consuming all my time but I am off to the capital tomorrow for some meetings and some needed R&R. I also recently decorated the cement walkway we made outside my house, plastering small pieces of ceramic tile on the edges. It’s cute.
I am eagerly awaiting March for the ASB group and my parent’s visit!
What do my masons make in 1 day working 11 hours? Only 15 dollars. Yes, it may seem like a paltry sum but the going rate for day laborers is only about $7.50/day here. So the pay is semi-reasonable (although I wish I could pay them more!).
The stove project has been consuming all my time but I am off to the capital tomorrow for some meetings and some needed R&R. I also recently decorated the cement walkway we made outside my house, plastering small pieces of ceramic tile on the edges. It’s cute.
I am eagerly awaiting March for the ASB group and my parent’s visit!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
I’m pretty slow at these blog updates. I’ve barely been to the city in the past month. Why? The one truck driver who stops in Guayabo to take people to the city recently raised his prices from 100 pesos (3$) roundtrip to 150 pesos (4.50$) roundtrip!! Everyone is up in arms because this is really a large increase. I agree. My trips to the city will also be less frequent because my other source of transportation, my boyfriend, is starting school again and will be a bit more MIA.
I have been very busy the last month which has been great—time is flying by (Less than 9 months until I’m back in the states permanently)! I finished my filter project (that comprised over 80 visits to community members’ houses) which took way more time than expected. Luckily, Rafelito was a huge help in accompanying me to all the installations, helping me install, and giving me transportation. People are very satisfied with their filters (except one lady who got her water “tested” at a lab and said it contained pig parasites (which is basically impossible due to the composition of the filter)). I am looking into this matter with filter professionals. It is interesting that now I have completed the project how many people have come to me and asked me.. “can I get a filter?” Firstly, no, because I have no more, and secondly, you didn’t participate in any of my community meetings! Hopefully this will motivate more people in the community to participate in my meetings.
Last weekend was my first ever health fair! It was a success!! Basically, some of my health promoters and I (along with kids in my sex ed class) held a “sexual health fair” with tables focusing on: Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, the use of the Condom, and cancer of reproductive organs (cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer). We held the fair in Jobo, which is the town next door that holds the general store, health clinic, school and police station, from 9am – 11:30am on a Saturday. I spent all last week making signs, charts, games and demonstrations for the fair. The objective of the fair was to target the Jobo population, who are a bit more “caliente” (hot), and who don’t have a health promoter. All the visitors to the health fair were directed to the four tables to participate in an activity or lecture—if they completed the four tables they could then be entered in the raffle! We raffled off two baskets each worth about $20. One basket was filled with food goodies, and the other was a “house hygiene” basket containing toothbrushes, bleach, sponge, soaps, detergent, etc. We had over 40 community members participate at the four tables (this is good because Jobo was a bit deserted that Saturday and only has about 50 homes). We gave out over 200 condoms and had youth and the elderly attend. There was something for everyone! I think this fair was one of my biggest accomplishments yet. I hope to do something similar in another 4 months.. maybe on chronic diseases.
Also exciting is my sex-ed youth group. I have 10 high-school “multipliers” who completed my sex-ed course last spring, and another training course this fall. Currently, they are leading their own sex-ed group in Jobo. They design all the lectures and activities! We had our first class yesterday and 12 kids from Jobo showed up! This is a definite success! I am so proud of the kids for their dedication to the cause (especially because they spend about 2 hours a week planning their lectures, and another 2 hours during class days—walking an hour just to teach the class!). I hope the rest of the course flows as smoothly.
Coming up is the dreaded stove project. Why do I dread this? Because this is the biggest project yet that entails many details and lots of money (over 3,000$). I currently have 40 homes that will be receiving the stoves, which are made out of cement block, cement, rebar, brick and tin. We have to order and deliver about 45 different materials to each house that will be receiving the stoves—which means lots of work for us (and lots of coordination with the hardwares stores, delivery trucks and beneficiaries). The 40 beneficiaries are women who participated in my nutrition class last year (those who participate win!!), but I already have other people haggling me for a stove. Its just annoying, frankly.
While I have already started complaining about the stove project (mainly just because the other health volunteers who have done the project complained a lot), the stoves are definitely important. The stoves use chimneys which reduce smoke inhalation in the house and also are more fuel-efficient, burning less wood. We hope to order materials in the next two weeks and start construction in three weeks!!
Other exciting, important news is that I AM HOSTING AN ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB) GROUP! It was a last-minute arrangement due to another site falling through, but I couldn’t be more happy to share my site with such an amazing organization! They are coming for a week in March and will be working mainly in the school. We will see how they like the rural DR!
Those are all the exciting updates I have for now. Rafelito has fully recovered from his motorcycle accident and I am eagerly awaiting my parents’ arrival in March!
Hope the winter weather isn’t getting you down—its already so hot here!
I have been very busy the last month which has been great—time is flying by (Less than 9 months until I’m back in the states permanently)! I finished my filter project (that comprised over 80 visits to community members’ houses) which took way more time than expected. Luckily, Rafelito was a huge help in accompanying me to all the installations, helping me install, and giving me transportation. People are very satisfied with their filters (except one lady who got her water “tested” at a lab and said it contained pig parasites (which is basically impossible due to the composition of the filter)). I am looking into this matter with filter professionals. It is interesting that now I have completed the project how many people have come to me and asked me.. “can I get a filter?” Firstly, no, because I have no more, and secondly, you didn’t participate in any of my community meetings! Hopefully this will motivate more people in the community to participate in my meetings.
Last weekend was my first ever health fair! It was a success!! Basically, some of my health promoters and I (along with kids in my sex ed class) held a “sexual health fair” with tables focusing on: Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, the use of the Condom, and cancer of reproductive organs (cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer). We held the fair in Jobo, which is the town next door that holds the general store, health clinic, school and police station, from 9am – 11:30am on a Saturday. I spent all last week making signs, charts, games and demonstrations for the fair. The objective of the fair was to target the Jobo population, who are a bit more “caliente” (hot), and who don’t have a health promoter. All the visitors to the health fair were directed to the four tables to participate in an activity or lecture—if they completed the four tables they could then be entered in the raffle! We raffled off two baskets each worth about $20. One basket was filled with food goodies, and the other was a “house hygiene” basket containing toothbrushes, bleach, sponge, soaps, detergent, etc. We had over 40 community members participate at the four tables (this is good because Jobo was a bit deserted that Saturday and only has about 50 homes). We gave out over 200 condoms and had youth and the elderly attend. There was something for everyone! I think this fair was one of my biggest accomplishments yet. I hope to do something similar in another 4 months.. maybe on chronic diseases.
Also exciting is my sex-ed youth group. I have 10 high-school “multipliers” who completed my sex-ed course last spring, and another training course this fall. Currently, they are leading their own sex-ed group in Jobo. They design all the lectures and activities! We had our first class yesterday and 12 kids from Jobo showed up! This is a definite success! I am so proud of the kids for their dedication to the cause (especially because they spend about 2 hours a week planning their lectures, and another 2 hours during class days—walking an hour just to teach the class!). I hope the rest of the course flows as smoothly.
Coming up is the dreaded stove project. Why do I dread this? Because this is the biggest project yet that entails many details and lots of money (over 3,000$). I currently have 40 homes that will be receiving the stoves, which are made out of cement block, cement, rebar, brick and tin. We have to order and deliver about 45 different materials to each house that will be receiving the stoves—which means lots of work for us (and lots of coordination with the hardwares stores, delivery trucks and beneficiaries). The 40 beneficiaries are women who participated in my nutrition class last year (those who participate win!!), but I already have other people haggling me for a stove. Its just annoying, frankly.
While I have already started complaining about the stove project (mainly just because the other health volunteers who have done the project complained a lot), the stoves are definitely important. The stoves use chimneys which reduce smoke inhalation in the house and also are more fuel-efficient, burning less wood. We hope to order materials in the next two weeks and start construction in three weeks!!
Other exciting, important news is that I AM HOSTING AN ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK (ASB) GROUP! It was a last-minute arrangement due to another site falling through, but I couldn’t be more happy to share my site with such an amazing organization! They are coming for a week in March and will be working mainly in the school. We will see how they like the rural DR!
Those are all the exciting updates I have for now. Rafelito has fully recovered from his motorcycle accident and I am eagerly awaiting my parents’ arrival in March!
Hope the winter weather isn’t getting you down—its already so hot here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)