DR Trip Day 8

Saturday afforded us a bit more time in the morning, as we set breakfast for 830 (instead of 7). By 930 we were packed and loaded on on our way to Santiago.

Today is a bonus day, since we have a late flight, so we had time to visit a museum in Santiago, where we learned about Dominican history and culture, starting with the aboriginal Taino people (whose king would choose one of his wives to be buried alive with on his death - considered an honor, and given some poison to be made unconscious for it).

After the museum, we went to Supermercado Nacional to grab a lunch from the cafeteria and make some final chocolate and coffee and snack purchases. From there, it was a short ride to the airport, and a sad farewell to Mateo our tour manager and Bejillo our driver, and, after customs and security, to the DR.

It has been an adventure to remember! This is a great crew of students and teachers to travel with. We did a lot of cool stuff, and met many wonderful people who have touched our lives.

DR Trip Day 7

Friday was our last day at DREAM. We arrived there at 8 and set up our experiments for the day, and made a thank you poster for them to help color. This was the day before their four day Independence Day weekend, so the kids were preparing for their special ceremony at the end of the day. The theme for the day was reviewing and reinforcing what we had taught this week, and we had chosen some favorite activities from the week to repeat - the effect of trash on water, density layers, and properties of water. Our sessions were a bit shorter since they had their ceremony to prepare for, but we got to end each group with some poster coloring and goodbyes. After both groups, we had an excellent debrief with Nicole, then watched their Independence Day ceremony, followed by some more goodbyes. It was an emotional day for us. Our students brought such incredible enthusiasm to their challenging task of teaching science in Spanish, and the Dominican kids brought amazing energy and warmth. The combination was magical.

 After one more Dominican lunch prepared by Maribel, we headed to Playa Grande, a beautiful beach an hour east of Cabarete. Some swam in the surf, some shopped the vendors, some got pineapple juice served in pineapples, and all enjoyed a spectacular afternoon.

 We then headed to Wilson’s near Cabarete. The experience starts with the animals in their small zoo. Kids got to hold a tarantula or a lizard (a few), saw larger lizards and crocodiles, and met Wanda the goose.

 We then loaded into a boat for a relaxing cruise down the river to Wilson’s beach restaurant, where everyone got to explore the beach and drink from a coconut.

We had a delicious dinner buffet of salad, rice, beans, chicken, fish, pasta and plantains, and a cake for dessert to celebrate Danny’s birthday - Feliz Cumpleanos!

We crossed back over the river to where our bus was waiting, and had our first real hiccup of the week as the bus got stuck in the sand. After a 20 minute delay at the beach, we were rolling again. We stopped to leave our backpacks at the hotel and then went to town to get ice cream. We capped the night off with a walk on Cabarete Beach and a late curfew of 1130.

DR Trip Day 6

Today was another day of environmentalism at DREAM. We had some new kids and some kids we have had before. Today’s lessons: the importance of clean water, building a water filter, testing plants as natural filters, and cleaning up an oil spill. After two hour-long lessons, we had a special treat and got to join them for their end-of-the-morning circle time where we repeated basic phrases in Spanish and English.

 

After a wonderful Dominican lunch at DREAM featuring plantains(!), we rode the bus up to the Waterfalls of Damajagua, with some traffic that made for a long trip. At first we were told that they were closed due to rain, but Mateo made some calls, and we were cleared to do 8 waterfalls, instead of our original plan of 12 (here are 27 in all). A few did not feel up to it, but the rest of us put on water shoes, life jackets, and helmets, and  hiked about 30 minutes until we reached the falls. These are a series of cascades and falls carved 20-30 feet into the limestone mountain. We jumped in the river, and with our guides’ help, we slid down some natural slides, and jumped one big waterfall. It was intense and exhilarating. 

After another long ride with more traffic, we had a delicious dinner of steak/chicken/fish and fries, then debriefed and went to bed.

DR trip Day 5

Today we spent the morning teaching new lessons - the water cycle, properties of water, liquid density layers, and water surface tension. This was with the same two groups of kids we worked with yesterday and it was amazing how the kids had bonded in just two days - hugs all around.

 For the afternoon we went to Puerto Plata and rode a cable car up the face of a mountain to botanical gardens in the mist - the peak was in a cloud and then we got a rainstorm during our walk and took shelter in the gift shops. The steepness of the climb and descent was tough for a few of us but we also got bonus entertainment while we were in line - from a local band in the waiting room and a magician on the platform.

 We then went into the city square to get some ice cream, then headed back to the surf camp for a late dinner, where Mateo’s family joined bus - his six year old Jordan had a blast playing with our kids.

DR Trip Day 4

Today at DREAM started with lesson prep for 45 minutes then it was game on. Today’s lessons feature four stations - an overview of the scientific method, mixing solids with water, mixing liquids with water, and simulating the effects of pollution by putting trash into water and seeing the results. They did a full rotation with two groups of kids - so they taught their lesson 8 times! The kids were amazing - teaching science to young kids - in Spanish! This is such a great thing - it’s why we came! Definitely check out Ms. Police’s Twitter @monomoyguidance - she posted a video. (can also check @monomoyhoff and @monomoydickson) They can’t wait to teach more lessons to the same kids tomorrow. 

 After lunch at DREAM again - fish!   - then off to Sosua for our snorkeling adventure. We saw hundreds of fish on three coral mounds before heading back in - they all tried it, but a few got seasick on the way in - the waves were a bit lumpy. We then spent an hour on Susua Beach - a beautiful stretch with a lot of vendor huts to check out. 

After getting home and showering, everyone was fully recovered for dinner - fish again! with a few opting for the chicken option. And now, after our debrief and a card game for some, they are all tucked in and (almost) asleep for the night. (We have been following a 10pm in your room curfew).

DR Trip Day 3

Today we started at the DREAM project - getting an orientation and preparing posters for this week’s lessons - we are on Plan B as the water testing kits got stuck in customs, so we are preparing more general science lessons - like what happens when you mix different solids with water. These may actually be better with the kids we are working with (1st and 2nd graders). 

After a lunch at DREAM prepared by a local cook, we took a walk in the nearby national park, stopped by at our guide's house, visited a small cave there, and then took a dip in a swimming hole. 

We got back early enough to spend a couple hours on Cabarete Beach - most of then swam and some girls got a few braids done by a beach vendor. We then had dinner at the camp followed by our nightly debrief session as we thought ahead to teaching.

DR Trip Day 2

Day 2 started with a buffet breakfast, and then a short bus ride to the beach for surf lessons.

The kids were troopers going out in the surf and trying their best - several of them even stood up!

After showers, we drove into the mountains and had a fantastic lunch overlooking a valley. 

We then continued on to La Vega to visit Carnaval. It was an interesting experience. It was huge, crowded, loud, and extravagant. A few of our group were overwhelmed and headed back to the bus with Ms. Police. The rest stayed for for about  45 minutes watching the parade of ornate costumes. 

We then drove back over the mountains to our hotel where we had a chicken curry dinner. As was said at our end of the day debrief, we got a chance to immerse ourselves two very different facets of Dominican culture.