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