Easter in the DR

What I've learned about the Easter holiday here (so far):
Next week is 'Semana Santa,' which is "Holy Week." Dominicans celebrate Friday, when Jesus died, rather than on Sunday when Jesus arose. Stores are closed on Friday, people do not travel, or eat meat that day. Thursday is a very busy traveling day, as people are going to where they are going to celebrate the holiday. They do not have Easter candy or the Easter bunny here. The teacher's here will decorate with Easter decorations, but b/c Spring Break is during Easter, there are not Easter parties. Friday, the elementary had a Curriculum fair, inviting parent's, with the grades displaying various topics, and then having a Chapel focusing on the Resurrection.
And let Spring Break begin! :-)

The month of February and the coming weeks till our Spring Break March 21st, has been the longest stretch of school since we started. There has been a lot going on at school the last few weeks, which helped with the days/weeks passing, but it still feels like a really long time. February 27th was the Dominican Republic's Independence. The Elementary had a Cultural program in the evening of February 25th, with Dominican songs and dances, and then that Friday afternoon, there were Dominican foods, and a program of events in the gym. Last night was the International Dinner and Talent show, held in the gym here. The money from the tickets is going towards classrooms in another school. The food served was from various cultures, and it was so awesome to see all the talent SCS has-- elementary, middle, and high school students! 

I'm continuing to stay busy at school testing new SST students, as well as implementing new plans for students. My schedule has condensed quite a bit more, so I have even fewer breaks in the day, but it has still been relatively manageable. Next Friday we do not have school, which will be a nice break as well. :-)