Thursday, April 26, 2012
Life after Hispaniola
For a long time I wondered how I’d ever combine all of my interests into one job. During college I loved studying sociology but wasn’t sure how to manifest sociological theory into an actual career. My experience working in Boston with youth made me realize that I wanted to work with disadvantaged populations but not necessarily within the school system, as the problems students brought to school were clearly derived from their families and communities. I cared passionately about environmental issues and food politics but did not want to pursue a graduate degree in either of the two specific fields.
I have been fortunate to learn about the dynamics of community development during my time in the Dominican Republic and the many factors that contribute to a healthy community. From economic opportunities to health care to caring for the environment, each community is unique and creates its own culture. After living in unfamiliar communities I understand the influence they have over their members. Even more, single communities must confront issues related to education, health, employment, and the environment.
An integral part of any community is the individual’s health. Imagine walking to shop for groceries, buying local instead of imported produce, running in a nearby park instead of driving to exercise. There are so many elements of a healthy community. And, of course, being “healthy” implies much more than the physical aspect. These are things that I strangely think of upon entering typical American suburbs.
So, it should not come as a surprise that I have decided to study urban planning and public health once I return to the USA. I’ll be moving to Portland, Oregon in September to study at Portland State and I’m sooo excited!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Semana Santa
Semana Santa, or Easter Week, is known for no work and all play in the Dominican Republic. So, to celebrate the holiday in true Dominican fashion I did just that. I went on a few exciting adventures that will surely be remembered long after I leave this island. One such adventure was the Armed Forces national track meet which I attended with my friend, Jenna, and a track friend from San Juan. We got to see some races and tons of field events, and I just loved taking part in an athletic game in the DR that means so much to me. Running transcends age, race, gender and culture. It doesn’t matter where you are from: if a runner finds a fellow runner they will undoubtedly get along. This meet made me feel like I was back in the US, or that I fit in with my Dominican peers. Either and both.
I also got to visit a new beach and introduce the Dominican Republic to Caitlin! Caitlin is one of my very best friends. We met on our first day in college, and since then I have lived with both her and her fiancé. Caitlin came to Puerto Plata and bought us 3 nights at a beautiful all-inclusive. One of our best memories comes from Cayo Arena, or Paradise Island. We went here one day and snorkeled, and it was GORGEOUS!
I’m in the middle stages of my work with the Escojo program in San Juan. Last week I distributed the pre-test to all the participants, who will take the same test in June in order to determine what they learned. We know Escojo is an effective program at the community level, if effectiveness can be measured in terms of commitment to the group, but at the school level it’s a mystery. In some of the classes there are over 50 students. That might be too many youth to have in one room. It’s certainly too many to participate in many of the interactive activities that characterize Escojo. It’s exciting to become involved in a pilot program, and I hope that my work can help make Escojo Mi Vida more effective at the national level.
Time is certainly passing quickly. I'll be moving back to the USA in exactly 4 months!! More on that next time.
I also got to visit a new beach and introduce the Dominican Republic to Caitlin! Caitlin is one of my very best friends. We met on our first day in college, and since then I have lived with both her and her fiancé. Caitlin came to Puerto Plata and bought us 3 nights at a beautiful all-inclusive. One of our best memories comes from Cayo Arena, or Paradise Island. We went here one day and snorkeled, and it was GORGEOUS!
I’m in the middle stages of my work with the Escojo program in San Juan. Last week I distributed the pre-test to all the participants, who will take the same test in June in order to determine what they learned. We know Escojo is an effective program at the community level, if effectiveness can be measured in terms of commitment to the group, but at the school level it’s a mystery. In some of the classes there are over 50 students. That might be too many youth to have in one room. It’s certainly too many to participate in many of the interactive activities that characterize Escojo. It’s exciting to become involved in a pilot program, and I hope that my work can help make Escojo Mi Vida more effective at the national level.
Time is certainly passing quickly. I'll be moving back to the USA in exactly 4 months!! More on that next time.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Pleasant Surprises
After about three weeks in my new site my schedule is beginning to form some type of consistency. To my surprise, San Juan provides nearly everything I could ever ask for. It has nice grocery stores, beautiful parks, and many organized programs - including a track team! I have never experienced such a “livable” city since I moved to this foreign country and I must admit that I’m thankful to be here for my last stretch of time. While I felt anxious about time and often left my site in Bani, I find no desire to leave San Juan. I am happy right where I am!
What makes me happy here is precisely what lacked during my time in Bani: a sense of community. In my old site I often felt lonely: I was isolated from other volunteers and it was difficult to find friends beyond the youth in my groups. Now, I am in constant contact with my fellow volunteers, especially Sarah since we are working together. Sarah stays at my apartment, we made dinner together, I help her in her projects - and I somehow feel more motivated to work when she is around. It’s great to feel part of a “team” in my project. Even more shocking is that I have found Dominican friends from my new track team! Monday through Saturday I meet my new running buddies as we often explore small campos outside of the city. The views are amazing, as most of our runs consist of running though rice, bean, corn, or sweet potato fields with mountains in the background.
My current project status is that we have 3 Escojo groups which have been formed during school hours, and 4 pending groups. My main role has been meeting with the school directors, organizing the course agenda with the youth, helping the leaders give their presentations, and providing the materials needed to run smoothly. On Sunday I will spend the day teaching the Escojo leaders about new activities, classroom management, and organizing the schedule so that the course finishes by the end of the school year. It’s amazing all the roles you can perform as a Peace Corps volunteer!
This morning I went to visit a small campo about 30 minutes away from San Juan, where an Escojo group would like to also begin the course in their local school. As I entered the school premises to meet with the director, I was shocked. There was a lot going on - kids running around, teachers talking with each other - but nothing seemed related to learning or the classroom. The Dominican Republic supposedly has the worst education system in Latin America, and I think this is the worst run school I have yet to see. That says a lot.
The presidential elections are coming up, May 20, and nearly everyone is convinced that the candidate they support will win the race and change this country. Unfortunately, both candidates have more or less already been in office in the last decade and it’s difficult to imagine anything changing at all. I think the elections are just another form of gambling - like chicken fighting or the lottery. Then again, maybe it’s like that in the USA too and I’ve just forgotten!
On a more positive cultural note, I got to experience Carnaval last weekend! This special day is meant to celebrate the Dominican Independence Day. The accompanying Carnaval celebration, which consists of lots of drinking and a big parade with wild costumes, takes place in each pueblo around Febuary 27th. Last week marked the big celebration in San Juan, and I was hugely impressed by the costumes! I saw anything from mermaids to men with horse bodies to kids who faked dead.
As I like to say, there are always surprises in this country - especially working as a Peace Corps volunteer. My latest surprise is that I have to choose between two events next Friday. I can either build a school with my mom’s cousin’s organization, Bridges to Community, or I can watch the national track meet where the navy, air force, and military teams all compete against each other. I think I’m going to help build a school, as entertaining as the track meet would be. Not long after the activity with Bridges to Community, I will be traveling up to Puerto Plata to pick up Caitlin from the airport! I can’t wait to hang out with such a great friend, give her a taste of this country, and hear about her upcoming wedding in Winston-Salem!
What makes me happy here is precisely what lacked during my time in Bani: a sense of community. In my old site I often felt lonely: I was isolated from other volunteers and it was difficult to find friends beyond the youth in my groups. Now, I am in constant contact with my fellow volunteers, especially Sarah since we are working together. Sarah stays at my apartment, we made dinner together, I help her in her projects - and I somehow feel more motivated to work when she is around. It’s great to feel part of a “team” in my project. Even more shocking is that I have found Dominican friends from my new track team! Monday through Saturday I meet my new running buddies as we often explore small campos outside of the city. The views are amazing, as most of our runs consist of running though rice, bean, corn, or sweet potato fields with mountains in the background.
My current project status is that we have 3 Escojo groups which have been formed during school hours, and 4 pending groups. My main role has been meeting with the school directors, organizing the course agenda with the youth, helping the leaders give their presentations, and providing the materials needed to run smoothly. On Sunday I will spend the day teaching the Escojo leaders about new activities, classroom management, and organizing the schedule so that the course finishes by the end of the school year. It’s amazing all the roles you can perform as a Peace Corps volunteer!
This morning I went to visit a small campo about 30 minutes away from San Juan, where an Escojo group would like to also begin the course in their local school. As I entered the school premises to meet with the director, I was shocked. There was a lot going on - kids running around, teachers talking with each other - but nothing seemed related to learning or the classroom. The Dominican Republic supposedly has the worst education system in Latin America, and I think this is the worst run school I have yet to see. That says a lot.
The presidential elections are coming up, May 20, and nearly everyone is convinced that the candidate they support will win the race and change this country. Unfortunately, both candidates have more or less already been in office in the last decade and it’s difficult to imagine anything changing at all. I think the elections are just another form of gambling - like chicken fighting or the lottery. Then again, maybe it’s like that in the USA too and I’ve just forgotten!
On a more positive cultural note, I got to experience Carnaval last weekend! This special day is meant to celebrate the Dominican Independence Day. The accompanying Carnaval celebration, which consists of lots of drinking and a big parade with wild costumes, takes place in each pueblo around Febuary 27th. Last week marked the big celebration in San Juan, and I was hugely impressed by the costumes! I saw anything from mermaids to men with horse bodies to kids who faked dead.
As I like to say, there are always surprises in this country - especially working as a Peace Corps volunteer. My latest surprise is that I have to choose between two events next Friday. I can either build a school with my mom’s cousin’s organization, Bridges to Community, or I can watch the national track meet where the navy, air force, and military teams all compete against each other. I think I’m going to help build a school, as entertaining as the track meet would be. Not long after the activity with Bridges to Community, I will be traveling up to Puerto Plata to pick up Caitlin from the airport! I can’t wait to hang out with such a great friend, give her a taste of this country, and hear about her upcoming wedding in Winston-Salem!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Peace Corps: Part 3
February was a tumultuous month to say the least. As you already know, I suddenly had to leave Las Tablas in the middle of the month because of a security incident. Just as my projects were gaining momentum I had to let everything go and move to the capital while I searched for a new site.
Luckily, when I told my friend Sarah what had happened, she quickly came up with a solution. She suggested that I move to San Juan de la Maguana to help her with a big project she is about to begin. Sarah has been working with the Escojo Mi Vida program for over a year and is now hoping to integrate the course into the public school curriculum. I have also been working with Escojo projects since I first arrived in Bani and had a similar idea of introducing the curriculum into the Bani schools. Since working in Bani is no longer an option for me, I jumped at Sarah’s suggestion and asked my boss if I could move to San Juan. She eventually agreed and here I am! I've been in my new (and last) site for about one week.
So, now I have two and a half months to introduce Escojo Mi Vida into five schools in the San Juan area. The goal is that eventually the charlas will be incorporated into the school curriculum. This project is risky but I’m excited about the potential it has to reach such a high number of youth.
As my secondary projects I hope to work at Plan International and a health clinic whenever I have the time. Plan is an international NGO that focuses on empowering youth as a means to end poverty. They have a program which is basically identical to Escojo, but they also have other projects that I hope to get involved with. The clinic, called La Clinica Cristiana, offers cheap health care for the poor in San Juan’s surrounding campos. The clinic also organizes medical missions where American doctors spend a week performing free operations. I hope to serve as a translator for these missions since I loved the med mission I did back in November.
Apart from work, I think I will like living in San Juan. It seems like a nice city because of its abundance of parks and, most importantly, it has a track! Even better, there are two Mexican restaurants in the city. I’m not expecting the food to be authentic, but I’m still excited about the possibility of buying non-Dominican cuisine.
My time in the Dominican Republic is going FAST and there is a lot going on between now and October. I’ve got three weddings (Ottie, Molly, and Chelsea), a bachelorette party (Caitlin), two weeks’ visit to the USA (yay!), and a final decision on what happens when I leave this island. I just got my first acceptance letter for graduate school in urban planning (Michigan!!!) which means that the idea of life after Peace Corps has suddenly become a reality. I feel both excited and sad, as the last 1.5 years have been filled with so many happy, sad, and life-changing moments.
Luckily, when I told my friend Sarah what had happened, she quickly came up with a solution. She suggested that I move to San Juan de la Maguana to help her with a big project she is about to begin. Sarah has been working with the Escojo Mi Vida program for over a year and is now hoping to integrate the course into the public school curriculum. I have also been working with Escojo projects since I first arrived in Bani and had a similar idea of introducing the curriculum into the Bani schools. Since working in Bani is no longer an option for me, I jumped at Sarah’s suggestion and asked my boss if I could move to San Juan. She eventually agreed and here I am! I've been in my new (and last) site for about one week.
So, now I have two and a half months to introduce Escojo Mi Vida into five schools in the San Juan area. The goal is that eventually the charlas will be incorporated into the school curriculum. This project is risky but I’m excited about the potential it has to reach such a high number of youth.
As my secondary projects I hope to work at Plan International and a health clinic whenever I have the time. Plan is an international NGO that focuses on empowering youth as a means to end poverty. They have a program which is basically identical to Escojo, but they also have other projects that I hope to get involved with. The clinic, called La Clinica Cristiana, offers cheap health care for the poor in San Juan’s surrounding campos. The clinic also organizes medical missions where American doctors spend a week performing free operations. I hope to serve as a translator for these missions since I loved the med mission I did back in November.
Apart from work, I think I will like living in San Juan. It seems like a nice city because of its abundance of parks and, most importantly, it has a track! Even better, there are two Mexican restaurants in the city. I’m not expecting the food to be authentic, but I’m still excited about the possibility of buying non-Dominican cuisine.
My time in the Dominican Republic is going FAST and there is a lot going on between now and October. I’ve got three weddings (Ottie, Molly, and Chelsea), a bachelorette party (Caitlin), two weeks’ visit to the USA (yay!), and a final decision on what happens when I leave this island. I just got my first acceptance letter for graduate school in urban planning (Michigan!!!) which means that the idea of life after Peace Corps has suddenly become a reality. I feel both excited and sad, as the last 1.5 years have been filled with so many happy, sad, and life-changing moments.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Everything's Changed
One of the most valuable lessons to learn as a Peace Corps volunteer is that everything can change at any given moment. Last week I was reminded of this lesson twice.
I was first reminded of the quick changes that can occur upon giving a charla to my Chicas Brillantes group. I struggled to establish this group for a solid four months, so when over twenty girls and two women from my Hogares Saludable group showed up to the group last week, I felt like something had shifted. Finally, the group was going well! I felt the same shift with Hogares Saludables, or my women’s group. We recently made soy-meat tacos and the women had a blast! After nearly eight months in Las Tablas, things were finally going really well.
The day after my successful girl’s group, everything changed again in a matter of 30 seconds. My friend and I were robbed in the local sanctuary and, because of the various events that unfolded that day, I am no longer allowed to return to Las Tablas.
This news is obviously devastating. I had planned out my remaining eight months, from the four graduations I would organize to a workshop on domestic violence. I even had begun planting lettuce and basil plants, and they had been growing at a really fast rate. Now, I am living in the capital as my boss decides where I will spend my last several months in the Dominican Republic.
I realized how much I have valued my Peace Corps experience when my boss offered me an early COS (close of service). The idea of leaving the DR felt so wrong, even though I had no idea why at the time. I mentioned this to my friend Jess, and she reminded me that Peace Corps is more than the work that we do in our communities. It’s about forming relationships with Dominicans and Peace Corps volunteers, exploring a new corner of the world, learning a new language and culture. How could I leave such a rich experience, merely because of one armed robbery?
What happened in Las Tablas is devastating. The tragic result of one crime is that the entire community suffers. It is unlikely that Las Tablas will ever receive a new volunteer, a fact which feels unjust. In reality, the situation is unjust for everyone involved. It’s unjust for my friend and me, who were traumatized by the event. It’s unjust for the suspects because they will likely be imprisoned for the next year. And it’s unjust for the guilty men who robbed us, because they surely committed the crime out of desperation.
You see, everything that happens in this strange experience offers opportunities for more contemplation, new ways of viewing the world and forming expansive perspectives on poverty and the work of a volunteer. Life here is certainly never boring. While the past week proved to be one of the hardest, I refuse to make it my last. I expect things to get better as quickly as they got worse.
I was first reminded of the quick changes that can occur upon giving a charla to my Chicas Brillantes group. I struggled to establish this group for a solid four months, so when over twenty girls and two women from my Hogares Saludable group showed up to the group last week, I felt like something had shifted. Finally, the group was going well! I felt the same shift with Hogares Saludables, or my women’s group. We recently made soy-meat tacos and the women had a blast! After nearly eight months in Las Tablas, things were finally going really well.
The day after my successful girl’s group, everything changed again in a matter of 30 seconds. My friend and I were robbed in the local sanctuary and, because of the various events that unfolded that day, I am no longer allowed to return to Las Tablas.
This news is obviously devastating. I had planned out my remaining eight months, from the four graduations I would organize to a workshop on domestic violence. I even had begun planting lettuce and basil plants, and they had been growing at a really fast rate. Now, I am living in the capital as my boss decides where I will spend my last several months in the Dominican Republic.
I realized how much I have valued my Peace Corps experience when my boss offered me an early COS (close of service). The idea of leaving the DR felt so wrong, even though I had no idea why at the time. I mentioned this to my friend Jess, and she reminded me that Peace Corps is more than the work that we do in our communities. It’s about forming relationships with Dominicans and Peace Corps volunteers, exploring a new corner of the world, learning a new language and culture. How could I leave such a rich experience, merely because of one armed robbery?
What happened in Las Tablas is devastating. The tragic result of one crime is that the entire community suffers. It is unlikely that Las Tablas will ever receive a new volunteer, a fact which feels unjust. In reality, the situation is unjust for everyone involved. It’s unjust for my friend and me, who were traumatized by the event. It’s unjust for the suspects because they will likely be imprisoned for the next year. And it’s unjust for the guilty men who robbed us, because they surely committed the crime out of desperation.
You see, everything that happens in this strange experience offers opportunities for more contemplation, new ways of viewing the world and forming expansive perspectives on poverty and the work of a volunteer. Life here is certainly never boring. While the past week proved to be one of the hardest, I refuse to make it my last. I expect things to get better as quickly as they got worse.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
2012 and A Long Anticipated Transition
Happy New Year! When I left the US in 2010, it felt like the year 2012 was a long stretch away. Now, it has suddenly appeared and thus marks the beginning of the end of my Peace Corps experience.
The fall surely marked the busiest I have been in the Dominican Republic. I felt like I was running around between conferences, meetings, graduations, and writing graduate school applications - which made for a much needed December break. Luckily, I got just that - a full month with virtually no obligations. My mom came for nearly three weeks, which were spent in the Capital, my community, and exploring different beaches. My favorite memory of her visit was the community dinner in Las Tablas where she met nearly everyone I know in my town. We shared a big dinner with 300 people and my mom got a very positive (if not too idealistic) picture of my life and work here.
My dad, brother, and sister-in-law came to visit for the last ten days of my mom’s vacation, which we spent in Samana. The Samana peninsula always amazes me by its untouched beauty. We all had a wonderful time swimming in the ocean, drinking tons of pina coladas, and enjoying the nice weather. This year’s Christmas was among my very favorites, and one that I will never forget.
Now I am back to my current reality, a.k.a. sitting in my tin-roofed house in a small, desert campo. It certainly will take time to readjust to life here, but I am ready to begin the last stretch of this journey. I have begun to plan my last several months here and how I want them to be spent. I’ve got a working list of goals to accomplish before I leave this island:
1. Create a girls’ group
2. Support a youth-led Escojo class
3. Organize women’s group that will collaborate with Escojo
4. Tutor my three 1st graders
5. Teach one more business class
6. Stretch and strength exercises for 30 min daily
7. Get back into shape so that I can win a Dominican road race
8. TRAVEL the country!
9. Study Spanish daily
During my first year of Peace Corps service I felt like I was in survival mode. I was struggling to keep up with the constant noise, obnoxious men, and other cultural differences that made life more strenuous than normal. I also dealt with my Spanish deficiencies and how to design my projects.
Things will be different this year. For the most part, I am no longer surprised by cultural differences or the language barrier. I have already graduated a girls’ group, business class, and two Escojo groups, which means that now my focus lies in how to produce sustainability out of such programs. Now, two new struggles begin:
what do I take out of this experience?; and,
what comes next?
I often wonder how I will bring all of my experiences living in the DR back to the US. Will I live differently than I did before? How will I react to living with constant electricity and clean, running water now that I know how most people actually live in this world? I expect my remaining time in this country will help to resolve some of these concerns, and my return to the US will ultimately provide the answers over time.
In terms of what comes next… it depends on a few things. If fate allows, I might leave this country a bit early to jump into the next phase of my life: graduate school. The only thing I can do now is enjoy my time here and trust that how I will experience life after Peace Corps will reveal itself soon.
The fall surely marked the busiest I have been in the Dominican Republic. I felt like I was running around between conferences, meetings, graduations, and writing graduate school applications - which made for a much needed December break. Luckily, I got just that - a full month with virtually no obligations. My mom came for nearly three weeks, which were spent in the Capital, my community, and exploring different beaches. My favorite memory of her visit was the community dinner in Las Tablas where she met nearly everyone I know in my town. We shared a big dinner with 300 people and my mom got a very positive (if not too idealistic) picture of my life and work here.
My dad, brother, and sister-in-law came to visit for the last ten days of my mom’s vacation, which we spent in Samana. The Samana peninsula always amazes me by its untouched beauty. We all had a wonderful time swimming in the ocean, drinking tons of pina coladas, and enjoying the nice weather. This year’s Christmas was among my very favorites, and one that I will never forget.
Now I am back to my current reality, a.k.a. sitting in my tin-roofed house in a small, desert campo. It certainly will take time to readjust to life here, but I am ready to begin the last stretch of this journey. I have begun to plan my last several months here and how I want them to be spent. I’ve got a working list of goals to accomplish before I leave this island:
1. Create a girls’ group
2. Support a youth-led Escojo class
3. Organize women’s group that will collaborate with Escojo
4. Tutor my three 1st graders
5. Teach one more business class
6. Stretch and strength exercises for 30 min daily
7. Get back into shape so that I can win a Dominican road race
8. TRAVEL the country!
9. Study Spanish daily
During my first year of Peace Corps service I felt like I was in survival mode. I was struggling to keep up with the constant noise, obnoxious men, and other cultural differences that made life more strenuous than normal. I also dealt with my Spanish deficiencies and how to design my projects.
Things will be different this year. For the most part, I am no longer surprised by cultural differences or the language barrier. I have already graduated a girls’ group, business class, and two Escojo groups, which means that now my focus lies in how to produce sustainability out of such programs. Now, two new struggles begin:
what do I take out of this experience?; and,
what comes next?
I often wonder how I will bring all of my experiences living in the DR back to the US. Will I live differently than I did before? How will I react to living with constant electricity and clean, running water now that I know how most people actually live in this world? I expect my remaining time in this country will help to resolve some of these concerns, and my return to the US will ultimately provide the answers over time.
In terms of what comes next… it depends on a few things. If fate allows, I might leave this country a bit early to jump into the next phase of my life: graduate school. The only thing I can do now is enjoy my time here and trust that how I will experience life after Peace Corps will reveal itself soon.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Latest Activities
As a Peace Corps volunteer it is hard to remember that life in the United States continues without you. I always think of my friends as the same, living as they did over a year ago when I left the country. Unfortunately (or fortunately) that is just not the case. I was reminded of this fact when I found out that my friend Ottie is engaged! A friend who always claimed he would never be a husband, I am so happy that Ottie has found Sheryl. Between Ottie’s engagement and Annie who is 7 months pregnant, I guess that sometimes I am glad to be reminded of the constant change that life brings us.
Lately my days have been filled with conference planning, conferences, and a week-long medical mission. I’ll start with the medical mission because it deserves a lot of recognition. First of all, medical missions are very common in the Dominican Republic. Probably because of the country’s proximity to the US, foreign doctors often come to the country to provide free medical service. Peace Corps volunteers are invited to the missions to translate between doctors and patients, which is what I did last week. I went to Santiago and worked with an organization called ILAC, founded by Creighton University in Nebraska. There was a team of about five surgeons, anasethiologists, and tons of nurses who came to the ILAC center to provide free hernia surgeries, and I believe they finished nearly 150 operations from Monday through Friday. My job during the mission was to 1) Walk patients from the waiting room to operation room and comfort them as they got situated for surgery and 2) Help patients in the recovery room and explain to them the next steps after surgery. This experience was by far one of my favorites since arriving in country. I loved translating and being in a hospital (not really a hospital but it felt like one). Even though I still do not feel completely fluent in Spanish, I was really proud of being able to communicate with all the patients and making them feel more at ease. I also felt very inspired by the doctors and nurses who came to provide their expertise. In reality, it was not only time that these people gave. They hand-made blankets for each patient, donated clothes and toiletries, and provided each child with a stuffed animal. The doctors and nurses made sure we, the Peace Corps volunteers, knew how much they respected our work, but I feel like their work in the DR needs to be recognized too. I was inspired by how much the medical team gave to a country that they do not even know.
Another event that I recently completed was the analysis of the barrier analysis study on HIV testing among youth. We learned some interesting news, that those who have not had the HIV test have less confidence in condoms. They also have a lower understanding of the HIV test and AIDS treatment. After a day of analyzing the data, most volunteers felt like we need to start incorporating HIV testing as part of the Escojo Mi Vida curriculum.
Yesterday I brought 5 youth to an Escojo Mi Vida conference in a campo nearby Las Tablas. It was fun and I was excited to introduce the youth from Las Tablas to the youth from my first group in Bani. Katie, another volunteer, and I were surprised to hear that we had to give a talk on the discrimination of gender, but it ended up going really well. We had a fair amount of men in the audience and they were talking about how we need to change the maschiso culture; I was very impressed by their comments and it gave me hope that maschismo may not always exist!
I’ve got two more conferences to go for the month of November. Next weekend is the Chicas Brillantes conference where we will spend a night in beautiful San Jose de Ocoa. The day after this conference I will go to my One-Year In Service Training conference with my Peace Corps group. Can you believe I only have 11 months left in the DR?
Before we know it we will closing in on Christmas and the month of giving; I have a small request that I am asking now, otherwise by the time I receive your packages it will be too late! I want to hold a Christmas Party for my Escojo graduation and would like to provide each youth with a stocking. I would love to get around 10 cheap stockings, peppermint sticks, and Christmas candy to give to each of the Escojo graduates (and some neighbors, if possible). For anyone who is reading my blog and might be able to send such things, I would greatly appreciate the little contribution! You can find my address on this website.
Four more weeks until my mom comes to the DR! It’s officially a countdown.
Lately my days have been filled with conference planning, conferences, and a week-long medical mission. I’ll start with the medical mission because it deserves a lot of recognition. First of all, medical missions are very common in the Dominican Republic. Probably because of the country’s proximity to the US, foreign doctors often come to the country to provide free medical service. Peace Corps volunteers are invited to the missions to translate between doctors and patients, which is what I did last week. I went to Santiago and worked with an organization called ILAC, founded by Creighton University in Nebraska. There was a team of about five surgeons, anasethiologists, and tons of nurses who came to the ILAC center to provide free hernia surgeries, and I believe they finished nearly 150 operations from Monday through Friday. My job during the mission was to 1) Walk patients from the waiting room to operation room and comfort them as they got situated for surgery and 2) Help patients in the recovery room and explain to them the next steps after surgery. This experience was by far one of my favorites since arriving in country. I loved translating and being in a hospital (not really a hospital but it felt like one). Even though I still do not feel completely fluent in Spanish, I was really proud of being able to communicate with all the patients and making them feel more at ease. I also felt very inspired by the doctors and nurses who came to provide their expertise. In reality, it was not only time that these people gave. They hand-made blankets for each patient, donated clothes and toiletries, and provided each child with a stuffed animal. The doctors and nurses made sure we, the Peace Corps volunteers, knew how much they respected our work, but I feel like their work in the DR needs to be recognized too. I was inspired by how much the medical team gave to a country that they do not even know.
Another event that I recently completed was the analysis of the barrier analysis study on HIV testing among youth. We learned some interesting news, that those who have not had the HIV test have less confidence in condoms. They also have a lower understanding of the HIV test and AIDS treatment. After a day of analyzing the data, most volunteers felt like we need to start incorporating HIV testing as part of the Escojo Mi Vida curriculum.
Yesterday I brought 5 youth to an Escojo Mi Vida conference in a campo nearby Las Tablas. It was fun and I was excited to introduce the youth from Las Tablas to the youth from my first group in Bani. Katie, another volunteer, and I were surprised to hear that we had to give a talk on the discrimination of gender, but it ended up going really well. We had a fair amount of men in the audience and they were talking about how we need to change the maschiso culture; I was very impressed by their comments and it gave me hope that maschismo may not always exist!
I’ve got two more conferences to go for the month of November. Next weekend is the Chicas Brillantes conference where we will spend a night in beautiful San Jose de Ocoa. The day after this conference I will go to my One-Year In Service Training conference with my Peace Corps group. Can you believe I only have 11 months left in the DR?
Before we know it we will closing in on Christmas and the month of giving; I have a small request that I am asking now, otherwise by the time I receive your packages it will be too late! I want to hold a Christmas Party for my Escojo graduation and would like to provide each youth with a stocking. I would love to get around 10 cheap stockings, peppermint sticks, and Christmas candy to give to each of the Escojo graduates (and some neighbors, if possible). For anyone who is reading my blog and might be able to send such things, I would greatly appreciate the little contribution! You can find my address on this website.
Four more weeks until my mom comes to the DR! It’s officially a countdown.
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