First Week

My first week has gone well!

I started teaching classes at both schools.  In the afternoons, I have 2 classes at Centro Buen Pastor, one for study skills for 3 students who are struggling in schools they attend on scholarships through the church.  Sister Jean Gabriel has told them that if they do not show up to study hall with me to improve their skills and better their grades, than they will no longer receive scholarships.  I think she's going to add a few other students to the group as the year goes on.  After that, I'm teaching English lessons to students who enroll for 100 pesos a month (thats about $6 a month).  I have 10 students already, with 5 or 6 more interested.  I may have to open a second session if interest keeps growing like it has this week.

My English class at Centro Buen Pastor

Juan Franciso reading a book in English 

(I think it's The Ugly Duckling)

In the mornings, I'm the English teacher at San Esteban.  They fired their old teacher because he was "young and inexperienced" and had classroom management issues.  They also said the kids didn't really learn anything.  The school is in major financial trouble though, so they don't have the money to replace him, so they are using me instead.  I didn't really sign up to be their only teacher and replace someone else and teaching pre-k - 12 is a lot of prep work, so I'm discussing my schedule with the director of the school and Father Alvero, the priest in charge, to determine what I can teach without burning out too quickly.  I want to help them, but I can't do as much as they are asking right now while also working at Centro Buen Pastor.  I'm trying to suggest that I teach 7-12 or 5-12 only because with the little kids, I'm basically just baby-sitting at this point and they would get more out of a Dominican teacher, volunteer, or older student who teaches them English than they are getting out of me.

This week was graduation for the students who ended school in June.  I don't know why they wait this long for the ceremony, but it is the tradition here.  They celebrate the students who graduate from 8th grade (the last year of "basico") and the students who graduate from 4th "mediano" (4th year of high school, or 12th grade).  I knew a student in each of those grades.  I met Juan Fransico who is from Centro Buen Pastor, 2 years ago, and he graduated from basico, and I have known Isaac since he was little when I first started coming here 10 years ago and our families are good friends.  His father calls us on holidays and writes to my family often and we have visited their house here and his father has been to our house in Boxford.  I was very lucky to be here for their graduations!  The ceremony was basically the same as a graduation at home, so it was easy for me to follow.  The only difference is that they choose who they want to give them their diplomas.  They choose a family member or friend that they call "madrina" or "padrino."  The girls choose a padrino (sponsoring father) and the boys choose a madrina (sponsoring mother).  Isaac choose his girlfriend, Grecia, who I also know well because she is from Buen Pastor and I met her 2 years ago and she writes to me often.  Jaun Fransico choose Sister Jean Gabriel which is very meaningful because she has done so much for him, and with his choice, he showed that he is very grateful to her by giving her such an honor.  I saw tears in many eyes around me when they went up together so she could give him his diploma, move his tassel over to the graduated position, and gave him a huge hug!

Sister Jean Gabriel giving Juan Francisco his diploma

Grecia moving Isaac's tassel. 

For more pictures, check out my facebook photos .

First Days

I have arrived!  After an easy flight, I met Sister Jean Gabriel at the airport and we had just enough time to drive to her house and drop off my luggage before going to Centro Buen Pastor for the 4 pm Sunday Mass.  At Mass, I was able to see all of my friends from Barrio Las Flores.  Following the service, they held a special 15th birthday party celebration for Emelin, a member of the community who I know well and who will be one of my students this year.  I was very lucky to get here in time for that party and to be able to witness such a special event in the lives of the kids who grow up here.

The kids from Centro Buen Pastor celebrating Emelin (in the middle with the crown) 

on her 15th Birthday

Today, I went to an orphanage outside of the city with Sister Jean Gabriel to discuss two children in the community that she is trying to place in a better situation.  For the next month, she will be working with the social worker from the orphanage and the government to try to have the children put in the orphanage instead of living with their elderly, sick, and very poor grandparents who no longer have the capacity to raise them.  It is not an easy thing, and, again, I am fortunate to witness how the system works for children like them and how it often does not work for them, but I count my blessings that I am only an observer.

This afternoon, some of my students and I set up my classroom at Centro Buen Pastor.  From 2:30-4:00 I will be working with 3 students who are struggling academically in a special study skills and tutoring session.  Then from 4:00-5:00 I will teach English to young people in the community who are interested.  So far, it seems I will have many high school students in the class, but I hope other community members join as well.

Tomorrow morning I am meeting with the Director of San Esteban to figure out my schedule working there in the mornings.  Then I will start my classes at Centro Buen Pastor in the afternoon.  Wednesday will be my first full day of work, and I will start figuring out the public transportation system to get to the schools from Sister Jean Gabriel's house when our schedules don't line up.  Luckily, when our schedules are aligned, I get to take advantage of her chauffeur.

My bedroom

My classroom at Centro Buen Pastor 

(we're bringing the white board and my desk in tomorrow)

The food is delicious, the people have been wonderful, my Spanish is quickly coming back to me, and my room at Sister Jean Gabriel's is very comfortable.  The only problem so far is the heat!  It is hot!  And humid!  Luckily, that will start to get better as the fall progresses, though it will never get cool.

Saying Goodbye

I have 1 week left before I leave for Dominican Republic.  I am just about done with packing, though I will probably re-arrange things in the next few days.  This week is booked with visits with my friends and family so I can see as many of you before I leave as I can manage.

Tomorrow, Sunday, I am being commissioned during church at the Second Congregational Church of Boxford 9 am service in the Memory Garden over looking Sperry's Pond.

On Thursday night from 7 pm - 10 pm, my family is hosting at Send Off and Open House for me at my grandmother's house (the back of our parking lot).  All are invited to stop by and see me and check out photos and hear more details about my anticipated trip.

Also, check out the article about me in the local paper:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/boxford/features/x1351154901/Volunteer-teacher-plans-10-month-stay-in-Dominican-Republic

I have talked with Sister Jean Gabriel and she will be meeting me at the airport on Sunday afternoon and I promised to bring her a few things she needs, including good American chocolate!  Then she and I will meet with the new priest of San Esteban and Centro Buen Pastor on Monday and figure out a basic schedule for my teaching and decide how best to use my skills.  There have been mentions of an after-school homework and study skills class for the high school kids in the Centro Buen Pastor community who are struggling and I may be helping to identify students with learning differences and coming up with strategies that will help them since there is no special education system in place at either school.  That will be in addition to teaching English to whatever grade levels they want me working with (pre-k - 12) and a possible adult education English class that I would teach one or two nights a week to community members.  I'm going to be busy!

Thank you to all who have given me paper clips, stickers and silly bandz!  I hope to use these to "lure" the high school kids into the after-school program.  Getting them to stop by at first will be easy, but keeping them motivated to work during their free time will be a challenge.

I hope to see many of you in my last week at home till Christmas vacation.  Look for posts my first few days as I work out my job schedule and get on track with a Dominican cell phone, figuring out my access to internet and skype, and finding my way around San Pedro.

~ Tina