Hi everyone!
We arrived in Waverly at 6:00 this morning safe and sound.
This trip was one of my best. The thing that will stay with me the most is what I learned about the children of the Dominican Republic. Lots of children don't have the opportunity to enjoy a childhood without worries, like many do in the United States, and that bothers me. They live in hunger and sickness, most are obligated to making money for the family.
One important event that occurred between now and the last blog was our visit to Batey Esperanza. Esperanza is the spanish word for "hope." This batey, like the others, is muddy, littered, and run down. The poverty is very, very visible like in any other batey. But, I did see some hope. There is a newly constructed school. The school is very nice, even by U.S. standards. We donated school supplies to the school and the director is going to make sure that children with the most need will receive them. This school gives the children of the batey a chance to combat the cycle of poverty. Hopefully, they will get the education necessary to find good jobs and raise families that do not face poverty. The school and the homes in the batey have chlorinated water, which is rare. Unfortunately, the lights of the school are not working at the moment and there is theft.
Not all children are able to go to school though. For example, some children do not have the proper documentation. Some of these kids can be found trying to sell things for the family. Like Marcos, who goes to the mall to shine people's shoes. It is these stories and experiences that help me see the needs of people in this world. It is impossible to go on trips like this and not take the time to ask, "How can I help?"
Thanks for reading!
-Ann
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
A story to share
Hey everyone! Yesterday was a day for relaxation at the beach. I thought I wouldn´t need to blog, but there is a little boy that we came across whose story I´d like to share:
I don´t know his name, but the boy was nine years old. He was walking around the beach trying to sell oranges. His mother died two years ago in a hurricane and it sounds like the father is not involved in his life. He and his two brothers live together with no parents. The head of the household is his older brother who is 14 years old. They have a younger brother that is three years old. He was told that he must sell all of the oranges he had before he could play. So Ariadna, being the good hearted person she is, bought the rest of his oranges. She offered him food and he ate immediately. He was very hungry and tired. This occurred in the late afternoon and he had probably been working since morning. Afterwards, he was running around and playing with Ronald (Ariadna´s youngest son). He was so happy! Yesterday is probably a day he will remember for a very long time.
Talk to you later,
Ann
I don´t know his name, but the boy was nine years old. He was walking around the beach trying to sell oranges. His mother died two years ago in a hurricane and it sounds like the father is not involved in his life. He and his two brothers live together with no parents. The head of the household is his older brother who is 14 years old. They have a younger brother that is three years old. He was told that he must sell all of the oranges he had before he could play. So Ariadna, being the good hearted person she is, bought the rest of his oranges. She offered him food and he ate immediately. He was very hungry and tired. This occurred in the late afternoon and he had probably been working since morning. Afterwards, he was running around and playing with Ronald (Ariadna´s youngest son). He was so happy! Yesterday is probably a day he will remember for a very long time.
Talk to you later,
Ann
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The issue of poverty in the Dominican Republic
Yesterday was the most difficult day since we´ve been here. We went to a batey to distribute all kinds of things: toys, clothes/shoes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and medicine. I have never been in a place such poverty. The people live in small run down shacks. In this batey, there is one water source that all must walk to to get their water, and there is no electricity. The people are so desperate. We got there and they couldn´t keep a straight line. Everyone kept on coming to us, showing us their feet without shoes or pointing to the shirt or pants they wanted. It was quite overwhelming. There was a woman who must have been well into her seventies, if not older. She was sitting along the wall and Ariadna told us that before we did anything, we had to find her some slippers. When we did, the lady had the biggest smile on her face. It looked like she was about to cry from happiness--all because of a pair of shoes. The lack of shoes is a major problem. Many children and adults walk around everywhere without shoes. When we were distributing medicine, there were complaints about foot fungus.
In order to distribute the medicine, everyone with health problems were told to get in line. They reported their problems to Ariadna and she gave out the appropriate medication. People were feeling pains, there was infection, problems with parasites, fungus, and others.
Yesterday evening, we attended a Pentecostal Church service nearby. It was more laid back than I´m used to, but very fun.
Okay, I think that´s all!
-Ann
In order to distribute the medicine, everyone with health problems were told to get in line. They reported their problems to Ariadna and she gave out the appropriate medication. People were feeling pains, there was infection, problems with parasites, fungus, and others.
Yesterday evening, we attended a Pentecostal Church service nearby. It was more laid back than I´m used to, but very fun.
Okay, I think that´s all!
-Ann
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Hope
It has been a busy last couple of days, but they have been greatly enjoyed. Here are some of my thoughts and highlights of the past few days.
-Since ´moving in´with Ariadna, I have gotton the chance to talk to her son, Manuel. He is 14 years old and has been learning English for a couple of years. It was very interesting to talk to him and get to know him better. Furthermore, one of the things that was most moving to me was the fact that he wanted to learn English. I admire his effort and willingness to do so. It reminded me the importance and value of learning a second language.
-On Monday, we visited Luiscito, a friend of Ariadna´s family. Luiscito was recently hit and severly hurt in a motoconcho accident. While driving his bike, he was hit buy another drunk biker. In the accident, they colided heads, but both survived. Luiscito has severe damage to his face and had to have many metal plates placed in to reconstrust it. He also broke his leg in two places. Luiscito´s accident is not an uncommen thing in the Dominican Republic- many people drive motoconchos as a means of making a living. I can´t imagine the great risk and dangers they face on a daily basis.
-Last night, after supper, the electricty went out for a couple of hours. Unfortunatly, this is not an uncommon acurrance in the Dominican Republic. Power outages usually occur for one of two reasons. One, the most obvious, is a physical problem with the power company. The second, is for the power companies to show that they are in control. Often times, power companies will turn off the power to remind its customers that the companies are in control and that the customers need to pay their bills. I think this is a sad abd horrible thing. How can they get away with such acts?
- Lastly, today, we visited a community along side of the highway. This community is highly povereshed. Here, we delivered any where from 30-50 packages with clothes and toys to the children. It was a very powerful and emotional experience. However, they most moving part for me was when we were walking back to the van. A older women, with false teeth, was on her porch and began to talk to us. She told us that the reason that she has faith in God, is because of people like us. She blessed us, and told us that God will be with us wherever we go. I wish I could have told the lady that she is the reason I have hope for the future. It is people like her, who stay strong and faithful in some of the most difficult situations, that give me the most hope. Her kind words were so simple and powerful.
Sorry about the randomess of the blog. I thought that it might be the easist was to share some of the groups experiences that have occured over the past few days.
peace- michael
-Since ´moving in´with Ariadna, I have gotton the chance to talk to her son, Manuel. He is 14 years old and has been learning English for a couple of years. It was very interesting to talk to him and get to know him better. Furthermore, one of the things that was most moving to me was the fact that he wanted to learn English. I admire his effort and willingness to do so. It reminded me the importance and value of learning a second language.
-On Monday, we visited Luiscito, a friend of Ariadna´s family. Luiscito was recently hit and severly hurt in a motoconcho accident. While driving his bike, he was hit buy another drunk biker. In the accident, they colided heads, but both survived. Luiscito has severe damage to his face and had to have many metal plates placed in to reconstrust it. He also broke his leg in two places. Luiscito´s accident is not an uncommen thing in the Dominican Republic- many people drive motoconchos as a means of making a living. I can´t imagine the great risk and dangers they face on a daily basis.
-Last night, after supper, the electricty went out for a couple of hours. Unfortunatly, this is not an uncommon acurrance in the Dominican Republic. Power outages usually occur for one of two reasons. One, the most obvious, is a physical problem with the power company. The second, is for the power companies to show that they are in control. Often times, power companies will turn off the power to remind its customers that the companies are in control and that the customers need to pay their bills. I think this is a sad abd horrible thing. How can they get away with such acts?
- Lastly, today, we visited a community along side of the highway. This community is highly povereshed. Here, we delivered any where from 30-50 packages with clothes and toys to the children. It was a very powerful and emotional experience. However, they most moving part for me was when we were walking back to the van. A older women, with false teeth, was on her porch and began to talk to us. She told us that the reason that she has faith in God, is because of people like us. She blessed us, and told us that God will be with us wherever we go. I wish I could have told the lady that she is the reason I have hope for the future. It is people like her, who stay strong and faithful in some of the most difficult situations, that give me the most hope. Her kind words were so simple and powerful.
Sorry about the randomess of the blog. I thought that it might be the easist was to share some of the groups experiences that have occured over the past few days.
peace- michael
What we´re here for
Hi! We came to Ariadna´s house on Monday. We have started our gardening project and it´s really coming along. The garden is located at a military run technical school. Students go into all sorts of fields after studying at the school for one year. They have classes for baking, painting, mechanics, electronics, automotives, and much more. The graduates of the school make what is equivalent to $100 a week, while those who work in the free trade zone make roughly $30 a week.
Ariadna works for FUNICOM. It is a great organization that focuses on the needs of children. They give children medical care and school supplies among other things. Their focus is on child labor in the Dominican Republic. They work hard to get legislation passed to make work safe for children. Many times, children must work along with their parents to provide food for the family. The conditions they work in can be dangerous to their health and the girls who do domestic work in others´ houses can be raped. FUNICOM hopes to make work more enjoyable and safe, for the children who need to be working for their families. Children in these bateyes live in poverty. They don´t have the chance to go out and explore the city. FUNICOM is very good about taking the children out once in a while. We saw a picture with children in an aquarium who were amazed with all the sharks and fish circling around them.
Today, we went to a poor neighborhood and distributed toys to the children there. It was fun to spend time with them. Each child got a box filled with something appropriate to his or her gender and age. We got to know the kids and we took pictures with them. It was nice to see their excitement upon opening their boxes. It was funny-- I noticed that towards the end, the children were talking with each other and making their trades so that everyone got what they preferred. It was a great time! It was definitely my favorite thing we´ve done so far!
Until next time,
-Ann
Ariadna works for FUNICOM. It is a great organization that focuses on the needs of children. They give children medical care and school supplies among other things. Their focus is on child labor in the Dominican Republic. They work hard to get legislation passed to make work safe for children. Many times, children must work along with their parents to provide food for the family. The conditions they work in can be dangerous to their health and the girls who do domestic work in others´ houses can be raped. FUNICOM hopes to make work more enjoyable and safe, for the children who need to be working for their families. Children in these bateyes live in poverty. They don´t have the chance to go out and explore the city. FUNICOM is very good about taking the children out once in a while. We saw a picture with children in an aquarium who were amazed with all the sharks and fish circling around them.
Today, we went to a poor neighborhood and distributed toys to the children there. It was fun to spend time with them. Each child got a box filled with something appropriate to his or her gender and age. We got to know the kids and we took pictures with them. It was nice to see their excitement upon opening their boxes. It was funny-- I noticed that towards the end, the children were talking with each other and making their trades so that everyone got what they preferred. It was a great time! It was definitely my favorite thing we´ve done so far!
Until next time,
-Ann
Monday, May 4, 2009
The simple life
Yesterday was a very relaxing day for us. We went to Church in the morning. The Church´s name is, La Iglesia de Buen Pastor (¨The Good Shepherd Church). This was perfect for the occasion because it was Good Shepherd Sunday in the Episcopalian Church. It was so much fun for me to sing and clap along with the people there. We sang Spanish hymns and recited the creed and Lord´s Prayer all in Spanish. They made sure that we understood what was being said. During the sermon, a nun of the Church translated for us. And later, when we were sharing the peace, everyone was so welcoming.
After the service, two nuns from the States who have been in the Dominican Republic for at least fifteen years took time to tell us about their work here. They are very active in helping the poor. They feed children lunch everyday and have been busy getting buildings built that can provide such services. They also help bring electricity and water to the houses in these neighborhoods.
Afterwards, we went to the beach. It was nice to see a part of the culture. There were men and women walking along selling food. In fact, there was a man who had fresh crabs from the ocean that he cut right there and threw some salsa on top. He laid shells on each plate to serve as the spoon. I did not find this very appetizing, but those that tried it really liked it! There was music playing and a little dancing, great food, and a lovely view.
Today, we will be visiting with a woman who is the director of some volunteer programs here in San Pedro. Her name is Ariadna and we will be staying in her house for the rest of our stay. We will get an introduction to the programs today and we will be starting our gardening project tomorrow.
That´s all for now!
-Ann
After the service, two nuns from the States who have been in the Dominican Republic for at least fifteen years took time to tell us about their work here. They are very active in helping the poor. They feed children lunch everyday and have been busy getting buildings built that can provide such services. They also help bring electricity and water to the houses in these neighborhoods.
Afterwards, we went to the beach. It was nice to see a part of the culture. There were men and women walking along selling food. In fact, there was a man who had fresh crabs from the ocean that he cut right there and threw some salsa on top. He laid shells on each plate to serve as the spoon. I did not find this very appetizing, but those that tried it really liked it! There was music playing and a little dancing, great food, and a lovely view.
Today, we will be visiting with a woman who is the director of some volunteer programs here in San Pedro. Her name is Ariadna and we will be staying in her house for the rest of our stay. We will get an introduction to the programs today and we will be starting our gardening project tomorrow.
That´s all for now!
-Ann
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Hola!
After a long day of travel, we have safely arrived in the Dominican Republic.
We arrived yesterday afternoon, ate supper, and walked around the neighbourhood and beachfront. The center we are staying at is very nice and accommodating to the American lifestyle. It will be a nice transition into the next part of our trip, when we will be living with a Dominican Family.
This morning we were greeted by fresh fruit, eggs, coffee, and delicious oatmeal (Lindsay, if I could bring some back to you, I would. You would have loved it).
As we continue to get settled in, we are learning more about the country and work of the Episcopalian Church in San Pedro. It is always humbling for me to learn about the crucial roles churches play in their communities. This Episcopal Church, in particular, has a school, a clinic, and multiple programs that cater to a variety of different people, from all walks of life. It is a beautiful thing.
After lunch, we took a walking tour of the city. It was fun for me to see all of the architecture, although it is no longer in its prime, it is still beautiful. It was also fun to see the people of the community. Many of the Dominican’s gather on the streets in front of store fronts-- adults’ talk with family and friends, children play and dogs wander freely. It is a very different lifestyle then the one I am used to.
As we get settled into night I can not help but look forward to the coming days when we begin our service and meet more people.
Currently, my major adjustment is the language barrier. I enjoy talking and getting to know people, but because I do not speak fluent Spanish, this has proven difficult. Also, it has been challenging to see the people, drive by their homes, and realize how little they have. Families are living in conditions that you or I would never consider. Peoples clothes are warn and covered in dirt. Children walk the streets unsupervised and ask for money.
So- with that being said, I am still taking everything in and enjoying the first couple of days in country.
michael
We arrived yesterday afternoon, ate supper, and walked around the neighbourhood and beachfront. The center we are staying at is very nice and accommodating to the American lifestyle. It will be a nice transition into the next part of our trip, when we will be living with a Dominican Family.
This morning we were greeted by fresh fruit, eggs, coffee, and delicious oatmeal (Lindsay, if I could bring some back to you, I would. You would have loved it).
As we continue to get settled in, we are learning more about the country and work of the Episcopalian Church in San Pedro. It is always humbling for me to learn about the crucial roles churches play in their communities. This Episcopal Church, in particular, has a school, a clinic, and multiple programs that cater to a variety of different people, from all walks of life. It is a beautiful thing.
After lunch, we took a walking tour of the city. It was fun for me to see all of the architecture, although it is no longer in its prime, it is still beautiful. It was also fun to see the people of the community. Many of the Dominican’s gather on the streets in front of store fronts-- adults’ talk with family and friends, children play and dogs wander freely. It is a very different lifestyle then the one I am used to.
As we get settled into night I can not help but look forward to the coming days when we begin our service and meet more people.
Currently, my major adjustment is the language barrier. I enjoy talking and getting to know people, but because I do not speak fluent Spanish, this has proven difficult. Also, it has been challenging to see the people, drive by their homes, and realize how little they have. Families are living in conditions that you or I would never consider. Peoples clothes are warn and covered in dirt. Children walk the streets unsupervised and ask for money.
So- with that being said, I am still taking everything in and enjoying the first couple of days in country.
michael
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