BRITTANY
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
BRITTANY
Elementary Education Undergraduate |
In honor of International Women Day, I felt it was necessary to share my closing thoughts and reflect on my life after my journey in the Dominican Republic. As the infamous Mary Jane would say, "Entonces...." In years past, I never felt anything inside on days like today, International Women Day, but today, I do. I feel like I almost represent all the beautiful women I met on my trip, here in the United States. I feel proud that I was able to be apart of the fight to end generational poverty. I am still feeling so inspired after my experiences working in Cabarete. I have always wanted to be an educator, but I feel working with a foundation like The Mariposa DR Foundation is my life calling. I want to be apart of something greater. This journey taught me that I am the world's most powerful force for change. Once I returned home, I found myself strongly divided from the moment I stepped off the plane. I was a more humbled person. I was more patient, giving, understanding, even empathetic. I did not want to accept the reality of my life at home in Buffalo, NY. I feared I would quickly fall back into old habits that I had gotten over while in the Dominican. I became a better, stronger, woman during my journey, and I did not want that to disappear when I returned to my old routine waiting for me at home. Ultimately, I was trying to prepare myself for the changes that would happen in my life once I return back to the states because what used to be considered important to me before my trip, was not as nearly as important to me after. It was difficult to begin eating American prepared food again. I struggled for a week or two trying to keep food in, but all I really wanted was my diet to consist of organic pineapples, avocados, and con con again. I felt "home-sick" even though I was technically home. Since I was without a phone throughout the majority of my trip, I was almost disappointed that I had to get a new one before spring semester began. I did not like the idea of being glued to social media again. It was so refreshing to not have access to the online world while in the Dominican. It enhanced my experience and forced me to have more conversations with people, to observe what was surrounding me, and use my eyes for more useful things than starring at a screen every free moment I had. I am more perceptive to seeing others' ignorance for what it really is, and still find myself disconnected from those who surrounded me. Figuring out a caption for your Instagram picture, or deciding on what college party to attend that weekend, I find myself thinking about Katiana, a mariposita I connected with at the foundation who did not want me to leave, or if everyone I met in the Dominican is safe and happy, and even ways I can make a difference to help end generational poverty. My mind has been permanently altered. This once in a life time experience has taught me many things not only about myself, but has confirmed my purpose in life. I know that I will be one of hopefully thousands, to help in the fight to end generational poverty. I have plans to return to Caberete and continue to work for the Mariposa DR Foundation. I find myself advocating about the foundation almost every where I go, and hope to one day have foundations for girls in the Untied States; all over the world! Empowering these girls to be greater than a mother by thirteen years old, is what can change the world and how we operate. It is just as essential for girls to receive an education, as it is for boys. Everyone should have the right to be educated. I am now a firm believer in holistic approaches to teaching after I had the pleasure of being taught Spanish by Mary Jane, a literacy teacher at the foundation. She believes in pushing her students to think critically about the issues the next generation will face and possible solutions to these problems. She is the most inspirational and fun-loving educator I have ever come across, and I can only hope to be as amazing of an educator as she is. I encourage experiences such as mine, to a generation like ours. It is important to our future to understand third-world perspectives, what poverty actually looks like, where education is lacking and why, and to be encouraged to turn off the iPhones or Andriods in order to open the eyes you were blessed with and actually see the world for its entirety. We can all be the world's most powerful force for change! Until next time....
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Today marked my third day teaching at the private school in Cabarete called, Coral. Thanks to fate, my maripocita from Friday morning ended up being a student in the second grade class I volunteered to teach in on a whim. This realization showed on both my face, and hers; excitement and reassurance that Friday morning was not the last time we would ever see each other again. My co-teacher and I were blessed with a class of twenty five second graders, which soon reached to twenty seven by today with two new students joining the class. They are all very eager to learn, answer questions, and volunteer which is something I was especially thankful for because it allowed for me to continue building onto an already sturdy foundation. My co-teacher and I decided to have our first lesson on fruit and their colors in English, since the class primarily speaks Spanish and a language barrier is present. We discussed with their teacher what the students already knew in English, to have a better idea on what to teach them in English. Today, using holistic approaches, my co-teacher and I created Bingo boards for each student using minimal resources and tools. In each box there was a picture of a fruit. We used cut up pieces of construction paper left over from a lesson the day before as Bingo chips to cover their boards with. Before we played Bingo, my co-teacher and I asked the students if they have ever played a game of Bingo before. A handful of students raised their hands insisting they have played before. In turn, we soon realized that most of them did not understand the concept of Bingo. Because of this realization, a large portion of the time was spent scaffolding and working with those who needed help with their board. My co-teacher and I left all the names of fruit written in Spanish and English on the chalk board for reference, and even drew a large Bingo board filled in when each fruit was called to demonstrate if they needed extra assistance with directions. My co-teacher and I could have easily grown frustrated and scratched the entire lesson, but we continued to persevere because we knew how capable and open minded these children were, just as much as we are to them. As we continued with rounds of Bingo, the students started catching on, and showed much enthusiasm when a classmate won. As we continued to walk around and scaffold, I noticed a pattern on their boards… these children were using critical thinking skills! Instead of just putting any piece of construction paper on the fruit that was called, they would find the same color of construction paper as the color of fruit and cover it when it was called. For example, the mango on their Bingo boards was colored orange, green, and brown, so the students would find an orange, green, and brown piece of construction paper and put it on the square to cover the mango. My co-teacher and I would have never thought of this strategy on our own and their interpretation of the lesson was more successful than our original directions were. With our newly modified lesson in place thanks to our brilliant critical thinkers, my co-teacher and I went with it and ran! I would assume that because most of the students did not know how to play Bingo prior to our lesson, they found a strategy in which they were familiar with and utilized what we gave them in their own ways. I can only imagine if the same lesson was given to students who spoke the same language as my co-teacher and I, the use of critical thinking skills would be scarce and un-utilized. The language barrier between myself and my students enhanced my teaching because it forced a successful outcome through the students’ needs and wants, not mine. I cannot wait stand up in front of classroom among-st my brilliant students tomorrow to see what they conjure up next. Disclaimer: Today the class received two new students in their classroom, reaching twenty seven students to one teacher ratio. One of the girls seemed excessively nervous, and uneasy about the new sea of faces and desks surrounding her. With my heart already so full from this journey, you can only imagine how much my heart hurt to see how afraid this poor little girl was. Being the new student, especially in the middle of the school year, is never a desirable situation for anyone, anywhere. My heart ached for her, and instead of observing what was going on in the classroom, I could not help but watch her like a hawk until recess to make sure she was as comfortable as possible on her first day. Once the bell rang for recess, I looked at my co-teacher and said, “We have to go sit with her at recess. There is no way I am letting her sit by herself with a mass amount of students around her.” So, instead of spending time preparing for our lesson we were supposed to teach after recess, my co-teacher and I slyly followed her into to the courtyard where there were tables to eat a snack and drink. I allowed her a minute or two to settle down at a table and get out her snack, and then sat across from her, with two other girls from her class, in hopes they would start to converse and make friends with one another. At first, the new girl looked at me and wondered why I was sitting with her, so I said, “Me llamo Brittany.” Then I pointed to her and said, “Se llama?” And she shared her name and proceeded to ask for my help to open her snack and juice box for her. After I prepared her snack and drink, I commented, in Spanish of course, how much I liked her earrings she was wearing. She shyly started eating her snack, and with ten minutes to spare left of recess, my co-teacher and I had to return to the classroom to prepare our lesson. It took everything inside of me to get up and walk away from that little girl… EVERYTHING. I could not even focus on preparing for the lesson, instead, I kept peeking out the window to make sure she was okay. Eventually she began to run around with other students before recess was over, but it took her awhile to decide to take a chance and join in with the other students. During our Bingo lesson today, I noticed she only needed blueberries to win Bingo… although I may have “cheated,” I told my co-teacher to call blueberries next ensuring that this little girl won Bingo. Something inside of me compelled me to make this decision because I knew all she needed was a small confidence boost, like winning a game of Bingo, to open that door and allow her to warm up to ensure her socialization and academic skills grow through building relationships with her classmates and teachers. Being responsible for opening that door for her, is something I am so proud to be a part of. I will never think of Bingo or blueberries the same way ever again. I am the world’s most powerful force of change. Friday marked the last day spent at the Mariposa DR Foundation and it was more than an emotional fiesta. Different than normal, we arrived in the early morning to the foundation where we found the younger mariposa girls. Upon entering the foundation, all I could see was clusters of pink little shirts and laughter. We were introduced to the mariposcitas by playing a game in a large circle and to say these girls needed to warm up to us college students, would be a complete understatement. Once we were finished playing our games in the circle, we were dispersed into groups along with the mariposcitas and their teachers. Instantly, I had a little girl grab my hand and lead the way into the classroom we would be in first. Our first room was art class! The girls had to draw and then color what they see when they are outside. Of course, most, if not all, drew mariposas (butterflies) in their pictures. After art class we headed to the next classroom which was literature with my Spanish teacher at the foundation, Mary Jane. I was so eager to finally observe her teaching in a classroom setting with mariposas, since I have been her student for majority of the trip. With her holistic approaches to teaching, we all sat in a circle in the middle of the classroom floor and began by playing telephone. Whoever started the telephone, had to speak in their language. So this activity exposed those who do not speak Spanish, English, or Creole, in a fun and engaging way. This allowed us to all build that bond with one another, despite the language barrier, through laughter. After telephone, Mary Jane read Cinderella in Spanish. Would you be surprised if all the girls knew the story word for word? I was not. After the read aloud, Mary Jane instructed us, in Spanish of course, to partner up with a maripocita and do a read aloud together with a bilingual book, then using a dry erase board, draw your favorite character from the book. I waited for a maripocita to come to me, rather myself pick one of them because of how enthusiastic they were to have us there. Moments later I had a little girl grab my hand, looked up and smiled, and pulled me towards the corner of the classroom where there was a large bean bag chair. I sat on the bean bag chair and she excitedly ran to grab a bilingual book for us to share. Eager to learn English, she had me start the book first in English called, “I Love You Through and Through.” After every couple of words I would read, she would read them back to me in English. I was amazed at how well she could pick up on English words and how much courage she had to repeat every sentence I spoke. In this moment, I could not be any more proud of her. After literacy class they had a break to have snack before their next class, which was nutrition and healthy eating. In the Dominican, it is common for families to cook an abundance of fried and starchy foods that are eaten daily. A typical breakfast for a lot of these girls include fried potatoes and a fried meat. The same little girl I taught, Katiana, came running back up to me and grabbed my arm and rested her head on me until class begun. My heart felt so much fuller, I thought it was going to explode. Once we started filing into our next class, Katiana made sure I sat right next to her on the floor cushions before class started. I discovered various aspects of Katiana’s home life due to a research survey I had to help her fill out for one of the girls in my cohort. After the survey was complete, we started class and went around in a circle what everyone ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During our sharing session, Katiana was playing with my hair and kept reminding me of how long it was. She put my hair behind my ears, and preferred for me to wear it that way. Then she put her hood from her hoodie on her head and tucked it behind her ears to pretend she had long hair just like mine. Both of us found this hilarious and it was a really special moment because no language was used, just laughter. Cuddled up on the cushions, we continue with the rest of class, with her head resting on my shoulder, and looking up to smile from time to time. It was in this moment, that I knew I would think about Katiana, and her wellbeing every single day for the rest of my life. Once class was over, the girls have recess where they can play games and socialize with one another until their bus comes to take them to school. Remember, school days are half days in the Dominican Republic, consisting of a morning shift and an afternoon shift. This means that children only go to school for up to four to five hours a day. Instead of running off with her friends to play games in the courtyard, Katiana stood in the hallway with me, with her head against my chest and her arms wrapped around me; she would not let go. As I rested my head on top of hers, we just stood there like that for what felt like an hour, but was realistically only five minutes. Our eyes were closed, nothing was said, and we just smiled. She then ran off to play with her friends in the courtyard, where I later accompanied her in playing games. Constant laughter was in the air, smiling faces all around. I felt at home. Shortly after, the bus arrived to take the girls to school and as I squeezed onto her, I did not want to let her go because that would mean goodbye. As she kept looking back while walking up to the school bus, the only thing I felt was loved and heartbroken all at once. After our cohort ate another delicious Dominican lunch, we gathered in the courtyard with our Spanish teachers from the foundation and stood in a circle for sharing of reflections about being at the Mariposa DR Foundation. Our Spanish teachers started first and all had very significant things to say to us as their students, and we had very teary eyed things to say to them. When it was my turn to speak about my teacher, Mary Jane, it took a minute or two for me to actually conjure up my words. It is people like Mary Jane, who we need more of in the world. It is people like Mary Jane, who girls of all sorts should look up to as a role model. It is people like Mary Jane, who make a difference in this world. And it is people like Mary Jane who empowers girls to lead greater lives than they ever thought imaginable. I hope as an educator I can live up to par with Mary Jane and her holistic approaches in the classroom. Once the tears were dried, the older mariposas whom have been working alongside us, arrived from school and we were ready to spend our last day there together. Our Spanish teachers created fun activities in Spanish of course, using their in ground pool and courtyard. It was astonishing how much we could all bond although there is a language barrier present. We were dancing to their favorite music, to our favorite music, and creating memories to last a life time. When the end of the day drew near, we hurried to take as many pictures as possible, and get in as many laughs as we could. I wish we had more time to spend at the Mariposa DR Foundation throughout our trip, but I am deeply humbled and grateful for the time I did have there to learn, to be empowered, and to teach. It is a foundation like this one that I would pack up everything I own, and dedicate myself with because I am inspired to help in the fight to end generational poverty. The Mariposa DR Foundation has become a second home to me and has taught me that I can accomplish and become whatever I want because I am strong, and I am capable of anything. The Mariposa DR Foundation, and every single soul within it, has become a part of my story, a story I will share with every human being I know. This is part of my story, what is yours? Working alongside the Mariposa Foundation, I am also taking on teaching English to the students at Coral, a private school located in Cabarete. This week we had the opportunity to travel to different schools in the Dominican Republic, public and private. All girls who attend the Mariposa Foundation are sent to private schools on a scholarship to ensure their education in hopes for a bright future. It was an overwhelming experience visiting these schools and comparing them to home, an educational environment I am so accustomed to being a part of. Sometimes a teacher can have up to sixty students in their classroom at one time making it close to impossible to maintain a quiet classroom to teach. Our country is fortunate enough to receive free education and have multiple valuable resources at our fingertips to learn. Walking through these schools in Cabarete really displayed a lack of effective teaching, prosperous books and learning materials, and over populated classrooms due to an ongoing developing educational system. With a developing education system, the Dominican Republic is far behind the education ladder compared to the United States. The qualifications for educators is much different than what is required in the United States which in turn effects classroom management, pedagogical practices, and attendance due to cultural beliefs and weather. This is a single room public school located in Cabarete called Escuela Punta Cabarete. This school also includes an "outdoor room" where class is taught underneath a tin roof, making it close to impossible to teach if it is raining due to the noise. The supplies pictured above were donated and collected over the years for students that attend this school. Escuela Salone Urena is another public school located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Cabarete. The school is three stories high with this photo looking over the neighborhood from the second floor. Called La Cienaga, meaning the swamp, this neighborhood contentiously has to rebuild itself from flooding because a swamp runs behind their homes. This school is a private school where some of the Mariposa DR Foundation girls attend on scholarship. For those who are not on scholarship, having to pay tuition to attend becomes difficult to attend school for those who live among poverty and cannot afford it. Puerto Cabarete is another public school located in the heart of Cabarete. Patricia, founder of the Mariposa DR Foundation helped create and rebuild this public school. This is the public schools library that the Mariposa DR Foundation help build and furnish for the school. By the end of the tour of each school, I felt selfish for every absence, every complaint, and every excuse I made while in school. This was another humbling experience because I have always known how important education is, but now I know from a new perspective how important education is. I have gained a better sense of who I want to be as an educator and what I do with my passion. The students that are fortunate enough to attend school, public or private, helplessly want to learn, be at school, and feel a pencil between their fingers. When the sun started setting and the ocean breeze grew stronger, a fire inside me ignited… I want to be the change. I want to help in the end of generational poverty and open my heart and all I have to offer as an educator and a human being to all of these more than capable children. Beyond discovering more about myself than I ever thought imaginable during this journey in the Dominican Republic, I had yet another instance of inspiration, a hefty push of realization and a new found emotional connection beyond the long term expectations I thought I had prior to this experience.
On what I thought was just going to be a rainy Monday morning, was farther from the truth. This Monday morning ultimately changed my life. Sarah Fisher, administrator executive of the Mariposa Foundation, came over to where we are living as a group during our time in Cabarate, and what I thought was going to be an informative session about female empowerment and more about the Mariposa Foundation, I was proven wrong. On this rainy Monday morning, Sarah set up her projector screen on one of our walls and presented to us different chapters from the film, “Girl Rising.” Girl Rising is similar to what the Mariposa Foundation stands for; educating girls to break the cycle of poverty in one generation. The first chapter of the film, is what gave me the inspiration to become more than what I thought I was going to be. We met a seven year old girl named Wadley who lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She was fortunate enough to be able to go to school, but still lived amongst poverty. Wadley loved going to school and dreamed of learning about women in power alongside all the men she was learning about. Moments later her world comes crashing down as a horrific earthquake swept across Haiti in which destroys her entire country including her school and home. As a seven year old girl, one would quickly make the assumption that their frantic, scared, and unmotivated to do anything but be by their family’s side; Not Wadley. Moving to a tent community after the earthquake, Wadley’s daily routine consisted of walking far distances for water for her and her family, not going to school. One day during her travels to fetch water, she stumbled upon a makeshift school house set up by her teacher before the earthquake despite all the rubble and dust that now surrounded the community. With excitement to go back to school, Wadley ran home with her bucket of water and told her mother the good news! Wadley’s dream was quickly turned down when her mother explained she cannot go back to school because they have no money since the earthquake. The next day when Wadley went to get water for her family, she instead decided to go sit in the school house and attend school. The teacher asked Wadley if her mother paid the money for her to go to school, and Wadley said no. The teacher then asked her to leave and not to come back until she started paying. It was not until this experience Wadley had that she realized it was money that made people different. It is what has power over people’s futures, including hers. With her irrepressible spirit and thirst to learn, Wadley continued to show up to the schoolhouse everyday despite getting turned away. Finally, when Wadley showed up to the schoolhouse, she tried something different. She told the teacher, “I will come back every day until I can stay.” The teacher then agrees to let Wadley stay at the schoolhouse and continue her education without paying like the others. I have never met seven year old Wadley, nor have I ever stepped foot into Haiti, but I have intertwined myself within her story, and felt a deep connection to her resilience, despite all the negativity that surrounded her. I never thought at twenty-one years old, a seven year old girl, whom I have never met, would change my life and inspire me beyond what I ever thought capable for myself. Our generation is so quick to complain about how difficult college is, or how horrible a professor was last semester, and literally take for granted the opportunity were all gifted with to go to school. Wadley fought against all odds to receive an education at seven years old, and always had the biggest smile on her face while doing so. We are so willing to allow the smallest of irrelevant things sour our mood, yet Wadley would fight to deal with something as small as the daily “problems” we get frustrated over. She looked past all the poverty, ignorance, death, and natural disaster, and never forgot to smile, to laugh, and to learn. Throughout meeting Wadley and her story, I fell immensely emotional with my heart practically beating out of my chest. I could not help but think that long term goals I set for myself were no longer up to par with what I newly found I was capable of. I want to help in the fight to end generational poverty. I want to be a part of girls’ lives and provide to them the resources and tools and love they so rightfully deserve to ensure success and happiness. I want to be a part of something much greater than a classroom in the United States. Wadley has inspired me and opened my eyes to an entirely special world. I am empowered. I am motivated. I am encouraged. I am inspired. Saturday:
My day began bright and early at the local coffee shop located less than fifty feet away from where I am living with the hot Dominican sun beaming down on my skin and a light breeze making its way from the ocean. (Yes, my “backyard” is literally an ocean!) We had a buffet style breakfast ready for us there with fresh organic coffee. For those who know me well, know how much I love my coffee, but this coffee blows my Tim Horton’s double double out of the water. All of the food here has so much more richness to its flavor compared to the food we eat back home in Buffalo, including their avocado and pineapple. (My favorite things to eat!) Once breakfast was finished, Patricia, founder of the Mariposa Foundation, informed us of where our journey would be taking us today alongside two other staff from the foundation, Sarah and Ashley. We headed to the Mirabal Museum where the Mairabal sisters’ adulthood home was located. The Mirabal sisters are known as three heroic sisters who are printed on a $200 peso used in the Dominican Republic. But there is more than meets the eye to the Mirabal sisters… They grew up in an affluent family and were will cultured and educated during a time when women were not expected to receive an education. Natives to the Dominican Republic, the three sisters and much of their family opposed Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, a cruel dictator during this time period. Patricia Mercedes Mirabal: Patria was given her name as her birth date coincided with the anniversary of the Dominican Republic's Independence Day. Patria means fatherland. She enjoyed painting and art which is what had her sent to a Catholic Boarding School. At seventeen, she married a farmer named Pedro Gonzalez whom she had four children with. Patria supported her sister Minerva in anti-government efforts and opposed the dictator Trujillo and in their attempts to overthrow Trujillo had all their property and home seized by the government. Patria was concerned for the future of the country along with all of the country's children. Patria was famous for saying "We cannot allow our children to grow up in this corrupt and tyrannical regime, we have to fight against it, and I am willing to give up everything, including my life if necessary". Minerva Argentina Mirabal: Minerva was proven highly intelligent from an early age and by the time she was seven years old she was able to recite verses of French poets. She appreciated art like her oldest sister, Patricia, and specifically loved reading poetry and writing. She attended University of Santo Domingo where she met her future husband, Manuel Justo whom she had two children with. By 1949, she was taken to the capital with her mother and placed under house arrest while her father was being held in prison. Minerva was famous for saying "....it is a source of happiness to do whatever can be done for our country that suffers so many anguishes, it is sad to stay with one's arms crossed..." Maria Teresa Mirabal: Maria was the youngest of the three and was strong in mathematics graduating from Liceo de San Francisco de Macoris, then the University of Santo Domingo for Math. She married Leandro Guzman and gave birth to their first child one year later. Maria admired her older sisters and their political activities. She was detained at a military base in Salcedo but freed the same day, and two days after she and Miverva were arrested. The both of them were arrested again by March of 1960 and thrown back into prison being sentenced to five years. The charge dropped to three years and then they were freed that same year in August. Maria was famous for saying "...perhaps what we have most near is death, but that idea does not frighten me, we shall continue to fight for that which is just...” These three sisters were unfortunately killed on November 25, 1960 driving home from visiting their husbands in jail. The police working under Trujillo strangled and beat all three of them, put them back into their vehicle they were driving in, and threw it over a cliff to make it appear like an accident occurred despite the fingerprints all over the vehicle and trauma on their bodies. Once we arrived to the home where these three sisters lived out their adult lives before brutally passing, an overwhelming sense of emotion swept over me. I was fascinated at the beautiful garden that surrounded their home, but also saddened by the unfortunate fate of their lives and the pain they felt trying to stand up for their own people against their dictator. The museum is actually their house, with whatever objects they owned throughout the house that they could find and preserve. Items in their home included their china collections, actual wooden furniture, books, pictures, clothes, sewing machines, kitchen materials, jewelry, what was with them during their death, etc. The house was still set up how they would have lived in the home to contain the extreme effect of their lives. Walking through their actual home was an emotional experience because it felt so raw to be walking through a home that belonged to heroic individuals that sacrifice themselves for what they believed in. Then I thought how empowering this must be for the Mariposa Foundation and their own mariposas. Sunday: This was our first day we had no commitments and were able to spend it however we wanted to. As appealing as it was to relax on the beach, since it is literally our “backyard,” we went to Monkey Jungle and went zip lining through mountain tops in Cabarete. I have been zip lining prior to this, but when I stepped off the guagua and saw the beautiful mountain ranges, nerves quickly crept upon me; it was a STUNNING view. We had several male tour guides who were hysterically friendly and helped us with our gear and took photos for us, but most importantly provided the jokes to ease some of the nerves the group had. While in the air all I could see is wondrous trees, sunshine, and the occasional butterfly. I felt like I was on top of the world. Towards the end of the zip lining course, we did a fifty foot free fall drop into a bat cave! This was one of my most memorable experiences on the trip while zip lining because I had to step outside of my comfort zone and just trust myself. Although this was more of a tourist opportunity, I felt I could apply how I trusted myself and stepping outside of my comfort zone into who I am as an educator and my pedagogical practices into the classroom. I am building a stronger foundation of myself during this journey, not only for myself, but for my students. After the zip lining we headed to their monkey jungle where actual squirrel monkeys crawled, leaped, and sat all over us while holding a plate with watermelon and sunflower seeds for them to eat. I would have never thought I would have had the opportunity to be that close to a live monkey before! The activist in me wished they were not in captivity, but I had to frequently remind myself that these monkeys were rescued from neglect and endangerment. Today meant a lot of firsts for me and stepping completely outside of my comfort zone. I’d say it was a day off well spent; wouldn’t you? Today I find myself actually mad and disappointed at my life, and the people in it back at home… Within the first few days of my journey here in Cabarete, Dominican Republic I felt immensely blessed for everything I have waiting for me to return, and to be able to experience such a beautiful place, despite the impoverished communities surrounding me. What could I possibly be disappointed about?
I am disappointed that everyone will not be able to experience the work I am doing here and able to meet locals here in Cabarete. I am disappointed in the pettiness and selfishness among people I surrounded myself around when despite their poverty, the people here have the widest smiles on their faces anyway and are usually genuinely happy. Only six days into the trip and I am confident that 95% of what I own at home would not make me happy now. Although it was an extreme culture shock in the beginning, I was never afraid. I was never afraid to submerge myself into Cabarete, and into the impoverished communities. And now, I am not afraid of the thought of living here and continuing this inner channel of happiness I have found here. I imagine the people in my life and how I wish they could have embarked on this journey with me so they could become as humbled as I have thus far and realize that the majority of their purgatives are minuscule to what is actually out there around the world. Worrying about the latest trends, consistently being glued to social media, who has the cutest pair of sorority letters, spreading ignorance, posting your best selfie from the photoshoot you just took on your phone, worrying about what shade of lipstick would match your outfit best or who had the best GPA, who’s dating who, splurging on protein powder and supplements… What does that all matter? It doesn’t. Life will still run its course without your shade of lipstick, without your iPhone, and without your selfie you posted on your Instagram page. If you begin to remove your face off of your screens, you will understand what I am experiencing. I feel that once I return home from this journey, I will not enjoy what I once surrounded my life with. I feel that I will naturally weed away the toxicity in my life at home to continue the methods of living I have fallen in love with here. Eventually, I feel that continuing my life where I call home will not be enough anymore and a drastic change in how I live my life will be altered. Ending my rant, I conclude in saying that knowledge is what makes people humble and arrogance is what makes people ignorant. Open your eyes, feed your soul with what really matters, and love whole heartedly for the right reasons. Thursday:
This was the first opportunity we had to step foot inside the Mariposa Foundation and meet the girls who not only attend the foundation, but also working alongside with. Upon entering the foundation, I noticed the use of bright colors painted on almost every wall possible using women empowerment as a canvas. We started with an ice breaker activity and formed a circle directly behind the foundations gates, covered with sand. The staff and girls (also called “mariposas” meaning butterflies in Spanish), formed us in a circle and we participated in a game to introduce our names and a word in Spanish that began with the first letter in your name. After two more ice breaker activities, we moved onto our first Spanish lesson of the day. The Mariposa Foundation believes in holistic approaches while teaching in the classroom, meaning engaging and personal development submerged into their lessons. The Mariposa Foundation for Girls is located in Cabarete, less than five minutes down the road from where were staying. The foundation’s mission was inspired by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals including eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women, reducing the child mortality rate, improving maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases to ensure environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. These goals set by The Mariposa Foundation depends upon the education and empowerment of women and young girls. (http://www.mariposadrfoundation.org/) Mission: To educate and empower girls to create sustainable solutions to end generational poverty. Vision: To create the model that can be adapted around the world for a holistic girls’ education and empowerment program to end generational poverty. The foundation was founded in hopes to provide girls a setting outside of school to develop life skills necessary to live a happy and healthy life. The mariposas who attend the foundation go to a private school for half of the day, and spend the other half at the foundation. Mariposas whom are selected to attend the foundation, are awarded a scholarship that covers costs for their private school, and for the foundation. To the mariposas, spending time at the foundation means learning how to cook, dance, sew, play an instrument, how to dance, make art, play sports, speak English, reading, writing, and the essential: how to be strong and fearless women. It is a rare opportunity that many girls, and even boys, continue their education past middle school because of a lack of high schools close to where they live. Typically women are expected to stay home and look after their younger siblings, cook, clean, and even have their own children at young ages. The Mariposa Foundation does not believe in this cultural norm and encourages girls to receive an education and make their dreams become reality. The foundation took part in a campaign in November called, “Yo no soy tu mamacita,” meaning, “I am not your mamacita.” This allowed the mariposas of the foundation to express themselves freely about how they envision themselves as a female in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. After a tour of the wondrous foundation, which included a large stage for the girls to perform their work, a pool, a courtyard for movement and learning, and several funded classrooms where girls learn about various life skills and topics, I and several other members from my group played baseball with some of the girls. Out of all the sports the girls were taught how to play, this was their absolute strong suit and kicked our butts! This play time was one of the most memorable parts of my day because although there is a language barrier, we were able to connect in a different way; by playing sports. This experience is evidence how important play is in an educational setting. After a delicious lunch, which included yummy avocado of course, we were able to interact with the girls who attend the foundation additionally. Despite the differences in language, we again bonded through something other than language. Some of the girls enjoyed our hair and kept touching it throughout the day, so before it was time to leave, they took my hair brush I had brought with me and started braiding our hair into the most beautiful designs. Again, through a different skills like playing with one another’s hair, we bonded through this moment without having to use language whatsoever. I left the foundation wanting even more and it was only the first day there. Friday: Our second day at the foundation was nothing short of another inspiring afternoon. Due to the holidays celebrated here in Cabarete, there were not as many girls at the foundation that usually are. Despite the lack of attendance, six other girls from the group on Thursday joined us again and will be our teachers alongside their own teachers, teaching us Spanish. These girls are all in their teens and reflect strong and amusingly sassy personalities. Sometimes it’s the people younger than yourself that go unnoticed, but I look up to these six girls in more ways than one. A personal goal while I am on this trip and working at the foundation, is to gain a stronger sense of confidence in myself like how these six beautiful girls have exposed me to. To begin our first actual Spanish class, we played games in their courtyard to build some vocabulary words. I found it the easiest to comprehend what the teachers were saying when they used hand motions and seeking out familiar key words that I have learned prior to piece everything together. I find their holistic approached to be more useful and learned Spanish at a faster rate than when I did in middle school and high school. We were all broken up into three groups based on our levels of Spanish. I, of course, was at the beginner level among six others girls on the trip with me. Our teacher’s name is Mary Jane who does a phenomenal job in and out of the classroom. I also found myself admiring Mary Jane and her pedagogies during our Spanish class. Although we were completely submerged into their language on our first day, she never once let us drown. Her charisma, patience, and love of life is what intrigued me most as a future educator. There were also three mariposas in the classroom with us as well and a girl named Emily, sat next to me for majority of the time and helped me by pointing to different words and letters on the worksheet I had in front of me to communicate with me. This was another moment that I will forever carry with me and share. To be able to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language as me through the use of pointing to words and letters bewildered me. We began with different fruits and brushed up on our colors (even thought I already knew them and felt “advanced” for the first time since I arrived in the DR). We then moved onto actual sentences and how to communicate in Spanish, specifically while at a restaurant our out shopping. Once we caught on, Mary Jane used real life and brought us to their little shop where the three mariposas from our class pretended to be the vendors, and we were the customers. We had to communicate individually to them in Spanish and either ask how much something was, what an item was, and what we were paying them with. By connecting what we just learned in the classroom, Mary Jane used a real life experience by taking us outside to their shop and becoming a customer to use the Spanish we just learned. But wait, it gets even better! Our homework was to use the language we learned and apply it to another actual occurrence when we attend a restaurant or go shopping in Cabarete! Luckily, that same night we all went out for dinner at a local German restaurant and was able to successfully order my meal all in Spanish. Before saying goodbye for the day, Mary Jane had our class sit in a circle outside and reflect on how our day was, the class in specific. The mariposas were also asked by Mary Jane if they, in turn, learned anything from us and their responses made my heart feel even fuller than it had the day before. She said that we were all great students by asking a lot of questions and responding to Mary Jane to inform her we understood. Timid, this mariposa had a smile from ear to ear while Mary Jane translated to us in English. Although being submerged into their language was overwhelming, ending the day in such a way as this, is what left me with wanting to learn even more. Another long term goal I planned for myself is to become fluent in Spanish due to my sudden undying love for their culture and people. Yesterday when my feet hit the pavement for the first time in the Dominican Republic, what I have been anticipating the entire semester, finally became a reality that swallowed me whole with indescribable scenery, crisp air, warmness beaming on my skin, and sand squished between my toes. Traveling outside of Buffalo, New York has always been refreshing for me, and I feel like traveling is food for my soul. I was initially attracted to the Dominican Republic IPDS program because it was a country I never imagined ever having the opportunity to travel to, let alone adventure and learn alongside their own people and the Mariposa Foundation. I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and I cannot wait for the realization of this trip to appear and make my mark on my specific purpose here. I have only been in Cabarete, Dominican Republic for almost two days and I am falling head over heels in love with their rich culture and friendliness. Looking out to the beautiful view of the ocean and pink sky full of kite surfing, I felt an overwhelming emotion of gratefulness to be on this journey and what waits for me at home. Today was my first full day here in the Dominican Republic and it was nothing short of fascinating. After eating an authentic Dominican Breakfast thanks to the Mariposa Foundation, real eggs, fresh pineapple, bananas, and papaya, bread from their bakery, with homemade peanut butter, and THE BEST COFFEE I HAVE EVER TASTED, I loaded my skin with bug spray and sunscreen, and we were off to experience a tour of the country side and their coco farm in Rio San Juan; The country side of the Dominican Republic. The people here typically do not follow any rules of the road and drive however they please. The greatest means of transportation is by motorbikes weaving in and out of vans, taxis, and cars. As an American it was nerve-wracking to see motorists driving less than five inches away from the van. Just observing through the window on our drive to the farm, I was astonished by how much greener it is here compared to the United States. The dirt roads are typically boarded by barbed wire and actual trees. YES, you read that correctly! The fences here are made out of trees stringed and held upright with barbed wire. By cutting a piece of a limb or branch from an existing tree and planting it into the ground, it will grow as another tree. This is why there is an abundance of greenery and masses of tree fences lining the roads. Despite the phenomenal views, one of the first things I noticed once I arrived to the Dominican Republic, is the trash that piles up on the side of the roads. There is no system of recycling here and you cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet which is an adjustment compared to the United States. In addition, there are cows on almost every pasture of green land lined with barbed wire fences, wild chickens, dogs, and goats whom also roam as they please. As we reached the entrance to the farm, we were introduced to a small cement dwelling known as their “cheese factory” where cheese is made. Inside the opened dwelling was a homemade fire pit with a large black pot atop. This in particular amazed me considering how small their “factory” was to make masses of cheese for their people. They only had one pot and one fire to make this cheese which I found resourceful in comparison to the United States where our factories are large in scale with hundreds of workers and machines. Upon arrival to the coco farm, due to recent flooding in November, what was known as dirt, was now thick mush-like muck. We trenched our way through the mounds of mud, getting our sneakers and boots soaked, and was greeted by Freddy’s family, husband of Patricia, founder of the Mariposa Foundation. Two dogs graciously gave us a warm welcome and wanted to be pet and coddled. Sarah, a staff member from the Mariposa Foundation, introduced us to two little girls who are cousins, Liliani, 5, and Leilani, 6. It took the girls about five minutes to warm up to everyone, and then they came out of their shell and were eager to take pictures with us. As we made our way down into the farm Freddy showed us an actual coco tree. During this time, Liliani and Leilani were intrigued by my hand sanitizer hanging from my cross body bag. They kept squeezing my sanitizer into their hands, rubbing it in, and then smelling it saying, “me gusta! Me gusta!” I also taught Liliani and Leilani how to say my name by saying, “Me llamo Britt-Knee… Me llamo Brittany.” Following this, Liliani wrapped her arms around me and would not let go, giving me kisses into my stomach… and looking up at me with one of the biggest, most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. It was in this moment I fell even more in love with the Dominican Republic, claiming my purpose here. She continued to wrap her arms around my waist and would call her “Mi Corazón.” It was an instant connection without any explanation. My heart had never felt so full before. As we continued with Freddy throughout the farm, he showed us a mango tree and a banana tree, and we were able to try a seed of a coco plant, only being able to suck on it. The texture was sweet and damp, making it pleasurable to suck on. Once most of the flavor was dried out from the sucking, we spit out the seed. It was delicious! After our tour we were accompanied by Freddy and his family in a shelter made from branches and logs of trees, where our lunch was being homemade by his mother, a well-known cook in the community. The rice was cooking over a small fire in a large pot with large banana leaves covering the top of the pot for flavor. With much hospitality, we were served chicken, rice, and beans for lunch. I had the pleasure of sitting inside their home and eat with Liliani and Leilani. For owning a farm, I found it immensely eye opening to what the family actually owned. Their home had two bedrooms covered with a sheet in the doorway for privacy, with one loveseat chair, and an old television set in front of it. They had one fridge with just jugs of water inside of it, and a set of table and chairs to eat their meals on. Con Con was THE BEST Dominican food I’ve ate thus far, which was given to us during lunch as well. Once lunch was finished we were able to peel and crack open actual coco beans ourselves! They were freshly hot and ready to be cracked opened to make chocolate with. Once we all finished with the coco beans, a member from Freddy’s family began mashing the beans to eventually make a chocolate paste by simply using a mortar and pestle. Liliani and Leilani took it upon themselves to sneak up behind me and “twist” my hair into a braid, and take some more sanitizer. Once I had the opportunity to use the pestle to mash some of the coco beans, Liliani kept wrapping her arms around me for more hugs, kisses, and our “silly faces,” (sticking out tongues out at one another.) Once the coco beans turned into paste, it was used to make actual hot chocolate for everyone with a hint of cinnamon. While Freddy’s family was making our hot chocolate from the paste, Leilani hopped right onto my back for a ride while wearing my sunglasses and my bag. We chased Liliani up and down and around the house, and even found a fat sized caterpillar. Leilani refused to get off my back and continued to wear my sunglasses for majority of the time we spent left there. Once we finished our rich hot chocolate, (yes it is ten times better than it is in the US), we thanked Freddy’s family for their amazing hospitality whom gave us hugs and kisses just like their own, took a group photo, and said our farewells. I found it extremely difficult saying goodbye to Liliani and Leilani for Liliani would not let me go and pressed her cheek against mine. Before letting go and leaving with the rest of the group, she gave me a kiss on the cheek and gave each other one last squeeze goodbye. My heart felt even fuller once I stepped foot back into the van to return to Cabarete. Shortly after the coco farm we went to a nearby grocery store to stock our kitchen accompanied by dinner on the beach afterwards. I am anxious to begin Spanish class on Friday because the language barrier fuels me to learn and communicate fluently in Spanish. Going to dinner at a Dominican restaurant on our own was a success and we worked together to communicate and get home safely by taxi. Needless to say, dinner on the beach surrounded by regatone music was the perfect way to end such an inspiringly beautiful day. My journey to Dominican Republic is calling, and I must go. I felt incredibly blessed when I received the acceptance email for the program, but now that my departure is four days near, I am feeling even more humbled by the outpouring support, love, and encouragement of my family and friends. There is something about traveling that always ignites a spark within me. Its the food for my soul. A breath of fresh air. What a perfect opportunity to travel through SUNY Buffalo State's IPDS program to enhance my career as an educator, while learning about myself, experiencing diversity, and getting to travel to a third world country all in one. This opportunity was a perfect fit for me and I could not be more anxious to begin this journey!
Leaving my home of twenty one years, my family, friends, and familiarities, became more real today as I finished collecting all the materials I need for the trip. My mother and I spent the day together, got our nails done, got lunch, and went shopping for the rest of what I needed before I leave. I have a new found appreciation for quality time with my family and I have not even departed yet. I can only hope that this experience allows me to become more humbled than I have already become, and to open my eyes to worldly experiences that molds who I am as a human being, and as a future educator. Everyone keeps asking me if I am scared to leave, and my answer is always no. The best word I could use to describe how I am feeling is anxious. I've been waiting all semester long to embark on this journey and I want to make a difference to the lives I come across during my time spent in Dominican Republic. Genuinely impacting lives of others, especially stemming from a life different than my own, is the prerogative during my trip. I am excited to see the Dominican way of life, including their culture, and to be surrounded by warm weather and beautiful scenery! Wish me luck! Stay tuned for my next post from the Dominican Republic... |
AuthorJunior | 716 | Alpha Epsilon Phi | Music and Traveling Enthusiast | Concert and Movie Goer | Lemon Addict Archives
March 2017
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