Bani & Bayahibe

Spent a few days in the South (Bani) and out east (Bayahibe, La Romana) earlier this month. Enjoy the pictures!

driving through a Bani market:

Jessica's art class:

 

Many Banilejos have ties to Boston. Hence this "Green Monster Colmado" !

Playa Bayahibe:

 Cueva de Chico:

cave swimming with fellow voluntarios

Happy DomRep 1 Year Anniversary!

Playa Dominicus:

Thanks! Take care of yourselves!

XO

Ella sabe mucho!

Just going to take a moment for my dog right now. A lot is happening for Little Min, and sorry but the internet just needs to know. 

Updates on Minnie in list form:

1. She can climb stairs! More specifically, the stairs outside my house, which have been dubbed “dangerous,” “awful,” and “kind of treacherous” by friends. This means that she has actually grown tall enough to be bigger than the height of one stair! So far her stair climbing record is at climbing two stairs. Yay, MIn!
2. Minnie has learned to sit and to (almost) shake hands/paws on command. Thanks to the peanut butter dog treats that Sara and my mom sent down for her, she’s learning quicker than ever before. 
3. She has made a few animal friends. Even though Minnie acts as if everyone she sees is her friend, sometimes other dogs aren’t into playing with her. Sad. And rude. But a friend in town has a cat that she loves to play with, and another animal pal is Muneca, my neighbor’s clothes-wearing, tiny, toy-size chihuahua. BFFs.

And everyone I see regularly here asks after this dog. Co-workers, my favorite colmado workers, students, teachers, the kids and youth, my host family, neighbors. If they haven’t seen her with me for a few days they’ll say, “Y la perrita?” or “Y Minnie?” Cute. But what just may be even cuter is that two of the people who love her most are under the age of four. Here are Miguelito and Ceci hanging out with Minnie:

The other day I looked at pictures from just 2.5 months ago, and what a difference. Baby Minnie is so grown up now! Here she is back when I first got her: 

little baby (& sleepy) Minnie monster <3

Not to outshine my puppy, but I’m going to redirect the spotlight onto even more amazing accomplishments - namely my sister. Sara is officially a college grad! & She graduated with honors! So proud, and Dona Dominga and Don Jose say “Felicidades!” Congratulations, Sara! :D

XO

I live here.

Probably will never get tired of taking pictures of my site. Just love it - especially the relationships I’ve formed here in the last year. Looking forward to the people I have yet to meet in this second year (my town is big, claro I haven’t met all 50,000!).

Scenes from my day-to-day in 20 pictures or less:

banana field

tomato and eggplant garden at school:

where the neighborhood plays baseball:

 Minnie - tired at school

 panorama!

 kids from the youth groups:

Ana, Miguelito, & Simon

 corn field at my host fam's:

 Don Chiquito

 la bandera - (rice, beans, meat) with my host family

Lots of love!


XO

Oops. Hi Blog!

Nearly a month since the last post... Sorry. Hopefully this next series of posts remedies that. If not - well Sorry x 2. And too bad, so sad. :)

So, to make up for being kind of busy, then away, and then somewhat lazy toward this blog for the past month, I will have one post a day for at least the next 5 days (si Dios quiere, of course!) to get back on track. 

Oh and I broke down and bought a camera, so if nothing else, at least there’ll be some pictures sprinkled around here soon, too. 40 or so pics, to put a number on it. (I know, right? Kind of a lot. Pretty excited to have a camera again!) 

For today, a Short and Sweet Update:

• I’m good. Minnie’s good. (Whole update on her coming up!).
• English Classes = Done. We’re having a televised graduation for the cultural center’s computer and language classes at the town’s ayuntamiento (city hall). I’ll graduate this second group of English students (about 35-40 kids and adults) as well as my Escojo Mi Vida (health HIV/AIDS awareness club) kids (about 15 neighborhood youth). Lots of brindis (snacks), certificates and Dominican formalities are to be expected. Should be an awesome ceremony! Now if city hall would only pick a graduation date for the center so I can tell my kids and students when this awesome ceremony will be...
• Started using the USAID funds (explained a little about that here) that we’re putting towards the classroom remodeling. Working with a banisteria (carpenter) in town to construct 22 custom pieces (shelving, storage units, organization cabinets) to fit the two youngest classrooms. About half the USAID money will go to that. One of my project partners and I did the measuring, I drew up some designs with the dimensions, we gave all this to the carpenter and then talked/haggled price. Good news is that the fund’s money is hopefully going to go a long way since he offered a discount! A couple hours, and one deposit later and we’re on our way to the longterm goal of improved classrooms. 
• At school I’ve been hand-making a lot of educational materials to be used in the next school year. Next month we’ll have phase one of Teacher Training on the Montessori approach, and the use of these handmade materials. Excited!
• The school’s Kids’ Summer Camp & Teacher Training Round 1 - Coming Soon in June! 
• And lastly, I’m continuously floored each time I check the fund-raising process for the special education resources. We’re two thirds of the way! Thank you so much for being a part of this project at my school. I wouldn’t have asked for your help in this if I didn’t consider it worthwhile and something that my school really wants and is collectively willing and capable of working towards. There is a lot of enthusiasm. Each time I update my project partner on how far along we are, she is really happy. One morning she even had the idea of writing a letter to explain even more and personally thank everyone who has helped us so far. Felt bad about it, but I had to kind of crush that nice idea, as a letter written in Spanish might not be the easiest thing to read. But it’s the thought that counts - so I’ll say it for her, she’s really happy and says “Thank you!” to everyone! :)

More soon. Thank you for reading and stay safe!

XO