The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Well I have been living in the Dominican Republic for one month already and I am having a great time! The people are friendly, the beach is amazing, the schools are great, and best of all, there isn't any snow. I am having a blast meeting new people and experiencing new things in and around Cabarete. I am currently living in a nice little hotel tucked back off the main road but at the beginning of December I am moving into a house with some other volunteers. Everything I need is close by, which is very convenient. The school I am volunteering in is called Escuela la Libertad. It is in a town called Sabaneta de Yasica, which is about 12 km east of Cabarete, where I live. I catch the public transportation to and from school which is often very crowded but really cheap. The school is only about one year old so it is quite nice for Dominican Republic standards. It is a big step up from the old school the children used to use. The school is just one big room with tables and chairs. It is a private school and approximately 50 students aged 4 to 7 attend. See 'School' P.# Con't from P.# The 4 and 5 year olds come to school in the morning from 9-12 and the 6 and 7 year olds come in the afternoon from 2-5. The teacher at the school does not speak English and is not a certified teacher but out of all the Dominican teachers I have seen here she is one of the best. She is currently taking university classes in Puerto Plata on Saturdays. I have only found two people in Sabaneta who speak English so my Spanish is quickly improving which is good. The schools I have visited so far in the DR are quite different from schools in Canada. Many of the teachers are uneducated themselves so they struggle with teaching. Many classrooms are unorganized and overcrowded with often 40 or more students in one small classroom. The students don't usually raise their hands and the teachers don't enforce many rules so it is quite chaotic sometimes. However, I am lucky because my school is small and quite organized. Attendance is also a problem for many students. In the first three weeks I was here, three of my students never came to school! Another difference is if it is raining or looks like it might rain school may be canceled or the students may be sent home part way through the day. A typical day at my school involves math or language skills for the first hour of class followed by half an hour of recess. After recess the students sing songs, make crafts, do puzzles, colour, paint, play with Lego or blocks, practice English with me, read books, or do other fun activities. We do not have a photocopier so I spend a lot of time writing and tracing for the students. Every assignment, picture, or activity is written out by the teacher and myself 50 times. It is quite time-consuming and takes away from learning time for the children. I spend a lot of time at night tracing pictures and making activity booklets. I am really enjoying my time with the students and it keeps getting better as my Spanish improves and I can communicate more. My time here is not only spent working though. I also find time for windsurfing, boogie boarding, beach volleyball, dancing, relaxing on the beach, and touring around. Overall I am having an amazing time and look forward to more new experiences. I would like to thank everyone who donated supplies for me to bring to the school. I wish you could have seen the excitement and delight on the faces of the students and teacher. It was greatly appreciated and the supplies are being put to good use. You truly made a difference. If anyone would like to contact me you can do so at [email protected]. I would love to hear from Flin Flonians. Take care.
