Playa Esmerelda

(From Jueves, 4/15/10)

Over last weekend, we visited Playa Esmerelda, otherwise known as one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I already want to go back. It was a great day of swimming, exploring and tanning on a perfect, empty beach. 8-)

Everyone at Playa Esmerelda!

Other than a little fun in the sun, we've been working on our technical presentations and with our youth groups in El Seibo. The first presentation (about education and the kids in my barrio) I mentioned in another post. In all, there will be three presentations during training, and a youth presentation. We also have competency exams along the way, too. So, there's a lot packed into these remaining weeks. CBT is moving along quickly, always very busy and learning a lot. It's already more than half-way over - we'll move back to the capital in about 2 weeks - and its crazy to think how soon we'll know our site placements. I'm so excited to find out!

Earlier this week, my group had our second presentation. We taught a 2-hour basic computer class at a community center - how to copy and paste, make a folder, move a file, save a file, use Paint... Which is wonderful, because these are all things I am actually capable of doing. :-) Teaching in Spanish was a fun little added challenge, and most of the students were all at different levels with the lesson. Overall though, things went smoothly and I think everyone had a good time.

About the youth group work: Some friends and I are working with a group of high school students on a documentary project of the local Dulceria (candy factory) and Mabi factory (a local sugary drink) in El Seibo. They kids will conduct interviews and shoot video using our cameras, and then later we'll have a showing of the documentary for their families and friends, etc. Its great to see them so excited about the project and really take on the idea. And I'm looking forward to learning something about filming, too. Should be fun!

Also, recently a few friends and I had the chance to visit a English class and help out at the same center that we taught at a few days ago. It was a blast! And really neat to be speaking with Dominicans in English. Many Dominicans in the street will make an effort to speak English to us, so its nice that there’s a lot of enthusiasm for that here. The class was so much fun. The teacher had them singing American songs and plugging in lyrics in order to practice some new vocab. words. There was a variety of ages in the class, but everyone had a good sense of humor. Which was important, considering it proved to be a somewhat humorous afternoon. At the start of class, we had all the standard “How are you?” “What’s your name?” questions that we hear everyday in the calles. Then, that was followed with what can only be described as a “take a photo with the Americanas on your cell phone” session. By the middle of class, we were all singing a song together - carrying a tune and learning English, simultaneously. Also, I’ve never before had a student stand up during class, walk to the front of the room, and ask for my phone number, but I guess the unexpected happens regularly here in the DR.

Recently, my Spanish class made empanadas which put any empanada sold in the street to shame. Although, I am a bit biased. They were really good though. Furthermore, when I’m living on my own in this country, I will know how to at least cook one thing.

Empanadas!

This week, the whole group watched the movie “Yuniol” together. Among other things, Its a movie about DR youth, culture, and class differences. Check it out if you’re interested! Some of the characters are a bit dramatic in some instances, but I thought a lot of the references were pretty accurate, (bucket baths, mosquiteras, gua-guas, vendedores, the barrios, etc.) It is a recent movie, from 2007, I think, and if nothing else, its a cool way to see what things are like here visually (unfortunately, not everywhere is a Playa Esmerelda, darn!).

So add to this post a lot of walking (a full 2+ hrs daily in total across town!), budgeting 35 pesos (a little more than 1 US dollar) per day, and some fun nights out at Discoteca Wow (the dance club in El Seibo), and you’ve got what I’ve been up to lately! Thanks for reading through it.

Please keep in your prayers the families living with the losses of the Virginia Tech shootings - especially tomorrow. Remember 4/16/07.

Be well!

xo,

Emma