A Few Things...

Saturday, a returning teacher invited Sarah, Kyla, and I out for lunch and to take us around to do some errands. She took us to Squeezed, a very good juice/sandwich bar.

I had the egg omelette and an "Africa"-- chocolate and peanut butter-- very good!

Afterwards, we went to La Sirena, and got a few things for our maid to use, as well as a couple of chairs for our patio.

That evening, we were invited over to a couple from our school-- Selina works in purchasing and her husband Hugo works for an architecture company in Santiago-- for an authentic Dominican meal. (I didn't take pictures of the meal, but took pictures from their view from their rooftops-- very pretty!)

           Plantain trees

We had fried eggs, fried cheese, salad, mongoo (not sure of spelling)-- plantains, butter, and cheese-- very good!, beef bologni (I think), and for dessert arroz con leche (rice with milk and raisins-- also very good--sweet!). It was so much fun to talk with everyone, and also to learn more about the Dominican culture!

Sunday, we went to another church-- I can't remember what the name of the church was-- We sat with the congregation for the songs, and then went up to a box area where, the sermon was translated in English. Also that Sunday there was 10 baptisms that were done-- there were going to be another 10 next Sunday. We ate at a restaurant for lunch, and I had the most fabulous strawberry frozen drink-- I'm finding that the DR has the best juice and frozen drinks!!

In the evening, Kyla and I went over to our friend Heather's house, and along with another new teacher Allison, played Spanish Clue. It had been years since I had played original Clue, but it wasn't too hard to get the hang of it (thanks to some Spanish speakers)!

Yesterday, we met with our principals, and we learned about Responsive Teaching practices, which is an approach that the elementary level uses. Today we had a presentation about the Dominican lifestyle-- how to dress, behaviors, dos and don'ts, as well as the must see places to visit. We also talked about culture shock, and how to handle it. 

Kyla and I had another outing this afternoon with walking to Baillon-- similar to Home Depot, to make copies of our keys. It was a successful outing for the both of us!!

A few things....

• All the buildings are made of cement, because there are not good trees for building- it is also the reason why central air is very hard to have here.
• Lunch times are not interrupted by disturbances-- it is time to talk and spend time with the people you are eating with. Dinner/Supper times are usually very late (compared to other North Americans)-- 9:00. (And lunch is usually later as well)
• Breakfast is not pastries- -it is usually something "sturdy"
• The DR is the only country with the Bible on it's flag- -with the Bible verse John 8:32
• One of the forms of transportation is Concho (which is different than a taxi)-- the cars have a special route they take in the city-- 4 people sit in the back, and 2 other people in the front besides the driver -- approximately 20 pesos (I think). 
• Motoconcho's are transportation with motorcycles-- and can have multiple people on them as well. 
• For taxi's, you call them up, and they come to your house, or wherever you are, and take you to your destination- -this can be a few dollars

Please pray for rain here. We are in a drought here, and if it does not rain soon, the water will be rationed.

 

Gran Ventana

Back to reality, after 3 days of relaxation, and spending time with new friends... 

Finalized Address

Address:

Lori Smith
Santiago Christian School
8400 N.W. 25th St. Suite 100
BMW #2-30555
Miami, FL 33198-1522

Education in DR

A few things I've learned---

• 78% of students in DR do not graduate 8th grade
• Based on the Law of Education from 1997, the country should invest 4% of the GDP in education. In 2012, the government was investing 1.8%
• In 2013, one of the first measures by President Danilo Medina (one of the highest rated Presidents in the nation), was to allocate the full 4% for education.
• This brought about 496 new schools, 11,289 classrooms, 1, 468 repaired
• Recruitment of 6,000 teachers in 2013-14
• Increase of Salary of 20%
• In 2012 students went 3 1/2 hrs. In 2013- 8-4 p.m.
• No one had wanted to be a teacher, but now they wanted to-- though 
• Before 2012, didn't necessarily have to have certification or licensed (but still a lot of unqualified teachers)

Some Special Education Facts....

• Total Population of DR- 9, 445, 281
• Disabilities People- 1, 160,847 (12.3%)

Sped Centers  in DR

• Semi- Official- 9 (total in country)
• Centers for students with hearing/vision -17 total
• Private Schools for students with disabilities - 4 total in country
• Special Ed classrooms with regular schools 8 total in country 

Beach, Mountains, and Ordering Our First Meal!

Friday night we were lucky enough to go to a Santiago Metro's basketball game. One of the new teachers, Ludwin, was kind enough to give us tickets to the finals game. It was an exciting game, and the crowd was fun to watch-- The Metro's won-- I was told that there were several NBA basketball players on either teams, and the majority of the players had played college ball in the U.S.

Saturday was the Beach to Sosua, about a 2 hr bus trip to the north of Santiago. The new teachers (and a few current), as well as a mission team from Philadelphia, (who had been working in Palo Alto), went with us. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous. The sand was scorching hot to walk on, but the water made up for the hot sand. We were served a lunch of either chicken or fish for lunch-- I had the fish-- this was a new experience, b/c I've never eaten fresh fish where it's the whole fish (eyes and bones included!). Despite the bones and eye staring at me, it was very good! We also had a pineapple drink, straight from a pineapple-- also very delish! By the end of the day I was absolutely exhausted, and we got back to our apt around 7. Our water had gone out Friday afternoon (which is someone common-- we were told to keep a large can of water with a little clorox in it, in case it happens again.), and Saturday morning before we left for the beach, our electricity had gone out (which is also very common-- we have an inverter-- a backup generator box that allows our fans and outlets in our bedroom to work, but not the living room or kitchen). I thought of the no water/elec as a "Welcome to DR" gift--- at least it's in the first week, so as to not get us  too comfortable! LOL It makes you appreciate when you're able to take a cold shower! Thankfully, we had both water and elec when we got home Saturday. ;-)

Sunday, we went to Palo Alto, which is about an hour car ride up into the mountains. The road to the mountains is not paved, very steep, and you have to have 4-wheel drive. (My funny story is that I had heard people from SCS talking about Palo Alto, and my first thought, was "why are you talking about California?! LOL)-- Anyway-- PA is mission that SCS supports-- Recently, a Retreat building was built for teachers to use and also as leadership opportunities for students. Sunday was the dedication of the building. There is a couple that lives there-- they have a house in Santiago, but have chosen to live there (in a house near the retreat building)- with no electricity, running water, very primitive dwelling-- to be missionaries to the people. He is a minister to the church-- that we attended in the afternoon. There are more details to their story, but that is what I can remember. Their house is very close, in that if there was a mudslide, their house would be buried, so the next project is to expand another building as their house, a little ways down from their original house.

All I can say about the mountains there, is that they are absolutely breathtaking. It's hard to put into word how beautiful the scenery was. One of the SCS teachers that is familiar with the area, took us on a short (but very steep) hike, which led to a 360 view of the mountains-- with more incredible views-- we could see Santiago, and our school in the distance. Before we went home, they took us the Palo Alto School, which SCS supports, and we were able to walk around the building. There are some students that walk 2 1/2 hours just to come to school here. The government has said that their building is not fit to go to school there, but they go there anyway, b/c they don't have anywhere else to go.

It was about 7 when we finally got back from Palo Alto, and with having very little food in our apt (yet), we decided to attempt our first ordering of DR food delivery-- Yaway --the sandwich shop Sarah and I had eaten on Saturday. Thankfully, our roommate Kyla speaks Spanish, so she ordered for us! Our goal is to know enough Spanish by the end of the year, that both Sarah and I can order on our own from Yaway! LOL

Monday and Tuesday we have Love and Logic Training, and then Wed-Friday, we are going to a resort in Puerto Plato!

Day 5 and 6

A few things--
-Orientation on worldview, mission, views, philosophy of SCS
-Ikea visit-- its a smaller version, and then you can order things that are sent from the capital (Santo Domingo) the next day.
-Baskin Robbins ice cream visit (also noticed that they deliver! Not sure how that would work! LOL)
-Maid interview- Murielle is from Haiti, and been in DR for about 2 yrs. She speaks Creole and Spanish. Interview was in Spanish, and was interpreted by 2 of the new teachers with us. She goes to Sheila's church. Murielle is 23, recently married in December, and her husband is an engineer. She is 6th out of 10 children, and her father is a pastor is Haiti.
-There are comados, that are small stores close to apts. You call and they deliver basically anything-- a few eggs, water, food. You tip them a few peso's.

-SCS is 8% Korean, 10% American

-The driving in  Santiago is absolutely crazy! People passing, 3 lanes of cars (when there's only 2), motorcycles weaving in and out, honking, etc. etc. 

Thursday--

I ordered my first Taxi today (from Santiago) with my Spanish phrases-- to go to Claro, the cell phone place to finalize my phone service. Sarah had to go too, and thankfully Yoalba, who works in the office, took us there, and helped us. I didn't realize I would need our passport, so we had to make a stop at our apt to get it, and then onto Claro. I have a voice and data plan, and I have to go to La Sirena (the walmart store) every month to pay it. After that Kyla, Sarah, and I made our first visit to La Sirena on our own to get a few things. It's a short walk-- about .4 of a mile-- and pretty easy to navigate. Tomorrow we go Centro Leon, a Dominican museum, and Saturday is the beach!!!

Change in zip code-- the zip code is now 33198-1522

Quote from today:

"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves, 


when our dreams have come true because we have dreamed too little, 


when we arrive safely because we sailed too close to the shore. 


Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, 

we have lost our thirst for the waters of life, 
having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity, 
and in our efforts to build a new earth, 


we have allowed our vision of the new heaven to dim. 


Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wider seas, 
where storms will show your mastery, 
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars. 
We ask you to push back the horizon of our hopes, 
and to push us into the future in strength, courage, hope, and love. 
This we ask in the name of our Captain, who is Jesus Christ. ”

― Francis Drake

Pirate/Sir

Day 3 and 4 Orientation

We were picked up by the shuttle at 7:20 a.m. this morning-- the shuttle has a route to pick up the other teachers-- we all live in a certain square-- between Duarte to the north, Rafael Vidal to the east, Autopista to the south, and Sadhala to the south (those are the main streets) and the school is just outside of the square in Autopista.
The morning was introducing everyone, and our calling to Dominican Republic, along with a devotional by Seth Cohen, the director of SCS. We got a tour of the school, showing everyone their rooms, along with the principals praying over us and our rooms. Paul, the Academic Service director, also went over living in DR-- maids, water, what to tip, culture, etc.
We had lunch at El Tablon--  a very good restaurant-- I ordered Guatemalan  Chicken-- with green rice-- so very good. The presentation of the food was wonderful-- someone ordered coconut shrimp, and got a whole coconut!
After lunch we got a tour of one of the most famous landmarks in Santiago-- the monument. One of the dictators built it like 20 years ago as a monument to him, but when he was thrown out, the city changed it to honor the founding fathers of the city. It had amazing scenery and views from where we walked. You can even go go to the top of it, which I've been told has incredible views as well.
Tomorrow we go to Claro to get our cell phones set up-- which could be a very long morning/day, as they can be very slow!
I accidentally left my phone on the bus and thankfully, another teacher saw it and got it the next day!

View from the Monument

Tuesday we had some more orientation on using Office365, which is similar to Google-- then we went to the cell phone place -- Claro. We had been told that the last time they were there, it took them 4-6 hours, so we were expecting a very long wait. We got there around 12:00 and were done by like 1:30! We did have to make a 2nd trip for some of us (including me) to go get our passports. I'm still trying to get the hang of unlocking all my locks-- I have one to the gate (which is unlocked M-F), once to the door of the apt complex (those 2 are pretty easy), and then the two locks on my door (more difficult, especially the dead bolt!). 

After a lunch of chicken and mashed potatoes, I worked in my classroom (after it took me like 10 minutes to find it!)-- I didn't have a lot of things to go through-- I saw my supplies that I have-- I know that I will be teaching Wilson Reading, but other than that, I'm not sure what I'll be doing...

The cafeteria

The flagpoles

My room is right above the little tree-- on the 2nd floor (I forgot to take pictures of it.)

One of the new play grounds-- it will have a cover over it when it is finished.