Trends

this is a blog I wrote last night and forgot to put up hehehe my bad!

Banica is a very poor town by American standards and the surrounding “campos” are even more poor. One thing that continues to strike me as odd is how trends in the US seems to make their way down here. Just go get here I had to take two plans and drive for hours…so how does a trend get to a town that does not have constant electricity let alone internet access? It’s strange! Girls with skinny jeans or Hollister shirts and guys with converse sneakers…maybe they do not know about the brands that they wear but it is odd to see nonetheless.

For example, the other day I saw a girl at church with an arm full of silly bands. Remember silly bands? Those ridiculous rubber bands in the shapes of palm trees, shoes, or Justin Beiber that teenyboppers have billions of – ring a bell? How on earth does a little girl who has never left her little town in the Dominican Republic, who does not have a fan in her house left alone internet or cable TV, and who has no idea who Just Bieber is has an arm full of silly bands? If trends like that make it down here I find them sad! They are bad in the US and even worse in a third world country!

Another example happened last night as I was preparing dinner with one of the college students here. I got sick of rice and beans so I decided to cook with a girl I work with. We made French fries and eggs…not too much foot variety down here when you have to rely on the weekly market and the corner store for your food. A little girl (about 8 years old) walked in and was telling a story. She was telling me that once she went on the internet and watched a video of Hannah Montana and went on to describe the episode. How on earth does a little girl down here know about Hannah Montana?!

Today, as I walked into the colegio (the school) I was looking at the backpacks and lunchboxes that the little kids I teach were carrying. Some of them are of iCarly, some of Batman, some of Marvel comics, some of the Jonas Brothers and some are the government backpacks that get handed out with some kind of propaganda on it…it makes you think! Do the kids carrying these backpacks know about the “super stars” on them? Probably not. It’s so strange how we grow up with so many things in the United States. I know that one thing that my time here in Banica has made me very grateful for is my education. I am more thankful than ever for the education I was given and I only hope that I help make someone else’s a little bit better.

Oh trends…you are so crazy!

PS - If you are one of the wonderful people that has sent me a care package or letter I have been told that the mailing address did not work. I am going to get that figured out ASAP. Max sent two packages and a letter than got returned :( let's hope I figure this out haha! I love you all!

Thank You

This is a little shout out to my angels who are helping me when I need it the most. You know who you are :) and I just wanted to thank you! I could not do this without your LOVE and support and I am SO beyond blessed to have you in my life.

Kids Are Crazy!

I cannot help but think that school in the Dominican Republic and and school in the United States are a little bit different. The kids are so wild here!! They are always screaming and running around - even in class! This is going to take some getting used to. However, there are some very beautiful moments that come out of this chaos. In my pre-k class there is a little boy who has cried every single day because he wants to be with his mommy. I really feel for the kid...and it kills me a little bit when I see him cry because I know what he is feeling. He might be separated from his mom for just a few hours and he hurts but I am separated from my loved ones back home as well. I know the pain he is feeling far too well. Today, he was standing (because he refused to take of his backpack or sit down) at the front of the class and was just crying. A little boy (the youngest in the class) who a little talk-a-holic named Daniel got up and held his hand and asked him to sit at his table. These kids are four years old! It was an absolutely adorable moment that I was so happy to have had the chance to see. The little bit continued to cry and did not accept Daniels offer to sit with him, but the moment was cute nonetheless. Too cute!

Also, if my mommy is reading this today I hope she knows just how much I love her and that I wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Beauty

Who knew that a power outage could be so beautiful? Last night I went to mass and it was really what I needed.  The power was out and our generator was not working at the church, so Fr. O'Hare said mass by candle light in one of the little side chapels of the church. The church itself is 200 (I think?) years old and it so simple but beautiful. The mass was just Fr.O'Hare, Levis, and myself and it was just so incredibly beautiful. It's interesting how something so simple like a power outage could take an extraordinary thing and make it EVEN better.

Mornings

Up for my morning e-mails! I am not sure if I will be able to do that once I start teaching in the "campos" as well because I'll be driving around more...but I hope I can! Thank god for a 3G Kindle! I was told before coming that I should bring books because at night, during down time, there is not much to do. My parents bought me a Kindle and I am so thankful for it (and SO thankful for my wonderful Auntie Vicky who just sent me a gift card to buy more books). SO awesome! Nights are when homesickness hits the hardest so it's a good distraction to have.

Today I am working in the Youth House with the Peace Corps volunteer and her literacy team for a project in the parish school. We are hoping to eradicate the problem of illiteracy here with tutoring. Tutoring is a very foreign concept here so let's hope it works. After that I'll be working on stuff for the college aged group of guys and girls that help teach and lead youth groups here.

I hope all of you East Coast people are stocking up and staying safe and dry as hurricane Irene hits. Be careful! I am praying for you!

Market Day

Thursdays and Sundays in Banica are Market days. As you may know, the Dominicans and Haitians have a pretty hateful relationship towards each other, but market days are the two days a week that they are able to cross over and sell their goods together. The basketball court fills up with vendors selling everything from meat to a few veggies and fruits (yuka, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, etc.) and home goods. The quality of the things sold is no where near what we are used to in the states so it is a little shocking to see it all at first. Oddly enough, there are not as many fresh fruits and veggies as I thought there would be. The first thing I am going to do when I am back in the states is each a giant salad…I’ll probably even pay the ridiculous airport prices to get one while I wait for my connecting flight haha!

One of the girls I work with, Louisa, took me to the “colmado” or corner store to show me what they had. I bought myself a bottle of water and some chips before heading back to the Youth House to get some more lesson planning done. It’s a simple store (there are two in the entire town and they serve as our grocery stores aside from the market) and they sell soda, water, chips, candy, rice, oil, a few refrigerated items, and some personal items like tooth paste. They remind me of the sari-sari stores in the Philippines that pop up on every corner. At least I have a way of getting more snacks now! I had to get a bottle of water because I had been using the same plastic bottle I got in the airport for 6 days now. I forgot my water bottle at my house in the US (yes Kyle and Mike, the one I specifically bought when we were at the sporting good store in PA haha) but Maxwell and Mrs. Bennett bought me a Brita bottle and sent it to me in the mail a few days ago so I should have it by next month.

Today, I began my day by getting up at 6am (ouch!) to go to mass in the neighboring town to Sabaña Cruz where I will be teaching religious ed classes (like CCD classes in the US). I wanted to people to get used to me being there so that the kids are more comfortable when I am teaching them. After, we came back in time to see the market in full swing, but I went to the parish school to meet the classes I will be teaching. The kids were singing the national anthem (Dominican) and raising their flag – they are so cute in their little uniforms! I start teaching my pre-k, k, and first graders next week! As for the rest of the day…more lesson plans and meeting with the principals and the neighboring town to figure out teaching days!

I hope everyone back home is doing well : )

Ps – Today marks one week in the DR – wowzers – this is real.

Back To School

Today was the first day of classes here in Banica. Hurricane Irene delayed school by two days but everything here is alright - a few tree branches fell and there was a lot of rain but we are ok. The kids are absolutely adorable and there is a big blue school bus (one school bus for the entire town) that picks kids up and drops them off at the end of each day. I spent the better part of this afternoon working on more lessons and now I am off to spend some quiet time journaling. Journaling has always been a love of mine and I have no doubt that it will be a huge help while I am here. It's not as easy as I thought it would be to be away from your family and friend and loved ones but I am hanging in there. Prayers for homesickness would be awesome :) thanks guys!