On my favorite kids!

If you ask just about anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I am not a kid person. I don't know what to say to youths, babies scare me, and I don't have enough energy to entertain masses of children. However, this is the first time I am admitting publicly that I think I'm starting to really like them. Here, it's impossible to separate myself from children, babies and youth. I have had to face my fear head on...and I'm doing a pretty good job I think! Here's is a collection of some of my favorite neighborhood children!

My niece, Carismel, on her 2nd birthday!

Carismel and Melvin Daniel coloring in a book from America! It's rare that they get to do fun creative activities like this so I was happy to provide the crayons and pages!

My other niece Elianny showing off for the camera. She helped me so much during my first few weeks here, taking me around town and introducing me to anyone and everyone!

Elenne and Satchel, two girls who keep me going! Always positive attitudes!

Melvin Daniel, my nephew, inventing his own game of baseball with a stick from a nearby tree and a bottle for a ball. (Nevermind that the bases are in the middle of the street, we're working on safety!)

There are some kids that make me feel like my job is worth it, these are four of them!

I love ALL of the children in Cecilia's preschool class, and I've learned that when they get a little too loud and rambunctious, I just take them outside and make them dance!

Andrea Nicole is always smiling, dressing up, and giving hugs and kisses. What's not to love?

This is the regular neighborhood crowd celebrating Luis' 5th birthday!

Haydee is a sassy 2 year old who makes me laugh more than anyone else here. She's always saying, "Bea, mi amor, tranquila, no te preocupes" or "Bea, my love, don't stress out, chill out!"Sometimes it takes the perspective of a child to remind you that the hard parts of life aren't really that big of a deal!

The child I want to adopt and bring back to America with me. Jisaury's being raised by her grandma and aunt and is the kindest little gem. She needs some serious TLC as she's often called "stupid" by her family members. 

My regular youth group members, only 10 years until they can actually participate!

My nephew from the campo, Adrian. It actually looks like I'm enjoying being with this baby...the times they are a changin'

Ceylis, the most motivated youth I have in my group, with her cousin!

Sassy Haydee dressing up for Carnival!

Jisaury, the one I'm taking back with me, eating breakfast in my home. After this cup of hot coco, she traveled on the back of my bike while we did errands around town. When people who ask who's kid she is, I would say mi'ja, my daughter!

The neighborhood troublemaker, Luis, dressing up for Independence Day celebrations back in February!

I even take selfies with kids, what!?

My youth group from the town of Copey....each and every one of them I have learned to love!

Here's to children, babies and youth!!! They are continually teaching me life's valuable lessons...patience, kindness, breathing deeply, having fun, not taking myself too seriously, humility and always having candy in my backpack!

On questions from 4th graders

Today I opened my computer to an email from an elementary school teacher of mine who let me know that her 4th graders have questions for me! How cool!!!! Kids ask the best questions. Here's my answers! Thanks for the curiosity Mrs. Salmon's 4th grade class! 

Is it a one-room school-house?

The schools here (two elementary schools and one high school) actually have a bunch of different rooms. There is one room for every grade and you enter from the outside. The bathrooms and office are also outside with lots of open windows because we don't have a lot of electricity so there are not lightbulbs that turn on, just light from outside. As a teacher, it is very frustrating because the rooms are all very loud and the kids like to talk and scream, so it's hard to be a teacher when you are always yelling over the kids. The classrooms have desks and chairs and chalkboards, but nothing fancy. 

Do all kids go to school? 

Most kids go to school, yes. Unfortunately, you need to show a birth certificate to go to high school and many of the Haitian immigrants do not have these documents so they cannot go to school past 8th grade or else they will be kicked out of the country. It's pretty sad. Also, students with disabilities do not go to school. There are no resources here for special education, so kids who should e in separate classroom to help them learn just stay at home. Also, going to school is not mandatory and many teenagers drop out after their second year at high school. There is also a very high percentage of teenage mothers (girls who get pregnant before they are 18) and the majority of them drop out of high school. 

How educated are they?

The education system here is really different, most people just copy homework from their classmates and they do not have to write essays or do much research on their own. They do a lot of copying from wikipedia too when they can find internet access. I would say that a student here who completes high school probably has the education level of an American 7th grader. Some people go to the university after high school, but most do not. Most of the older people here (65 and older) are illiterate and never made it past 5th grade. 

Are there seasons there? 

The weather almost never changes here but there is a rainy season and a dry season. The rainy season is from April to November and the dry season is from December to March. There are many hurricanes during the rainy season and many of the homes are made of wood and will be crushed in big storms. It's pretty dangerous and a lot of people are unable to leave their communities because the roads are washed out with mud (most of the roads are dirt here). In December and January, there is a nice breeze in the morning and it is about 80 degrees during the day and 65 at night. For the rest of the year, it's very hot and humid - about 90 degrees all the time and 70 at night. No one leaves their house between the hours of 12pm-2pm because it's too hot to walk around.

Any mountains above 5000 feet? 

Yes, in fact there are a few! The most famous mountain is called Pico Duarte and it is 10,164 feet. I plan to climb it in January. It's the tallest mountain in the Caribbean! There are 3 major mountain ranges and a lot of little towns are in the mountains with people living on the side of hills! The Dominican Republic is a very diverse country in terms of terrain!  

When is the sun going down right now?

The sun goes down here around 7:30pm. It will go down later in the summer (but not too much later), and earlier in winter months (even though it's not actually a change of season). We do not have Daylight Savings here either. 

What is your opinion of plantain? Wikipedia says its a kind of banana.

I have mixed feelings about plantains (platanos). I really like to fry them and make tostones, basically little small flat fried pieces of plantains that you put salt on and eat like you would french fries. Also, you can boil them and mash them into a food called mangu and eat it with fried salami or fried cheese on top. I eat it every night for dinner and I'm getting kind of sick of it, to be honest! You can also eat them boiled and cut into pieces but they taste like nothing. A lot of people boil them and mix them with spaghetti (yuck!).

Thanks for the questions, I'll look forward to more! 

On teaching second graders

Wanda, the regular 2nd grad teacher, was out sick today. So she rang me up and asked if I would teach her class for the afternoon. Of course I said yes, but I didn't go without reinforcements. My host sister, Elenne, came along to help out!

Sachel with her teachers Bea and Elenne

Jose Gabriel Garcia Elementary/Middle School

Ay, seems so cute! 

Math, fascinating. 

Snack time.

On my life in Pantoja, Santo Domingo

They say a pictures worth a thousand words. Well this one's for Ma and Pa who sometimes have a difficult time imagining what my life here actually looks like. Below are pictures of my life in during Pre-Service Training (PST) in a barrio of the capital called Pantoja, Santo Domingo: 

My goofy sister, Kiara, on the porch where we "do yoga" together

The bathroom and bucket using for bathing and flushing the toilet! We're in a drought and the water only comes once a week so I only get one small bucket full for washing hair, body and flushing the toilet. Ah!

The kitchen - check out them dishes! ¿Pero quién va a fregar?

My host sister Kiara putting on a mustache while we make friendship bracelets on the porch!

The back porch doubles as a living room and laundry area

Hello from the porch - doubles as my workout area!

Laundry room and kitchen table

The view of the street. 

Another view of the street! It's a pretty sketchy neighborhood but I've come to enjoy the noise, occasional gun shots and tigueres.

Our neighbors backyard. Looks like the campo!

And just in case you thought I might not make friends, here's proof that I did!