HaileeExceptional Education Undergraduate |
HaileeExceptional Education Undergraduate |
Well, it’s been about 3 weeks since I’ve been back from the Dominican Republic, and I miss it so much. This trip is an amazing and unique experience that unfortunately most people won’t get the opportunity to go do. I say that because if you’re ready this, you are probably interested in going on an IPDS trip, got the email about going to the Dominican Republic, packing for the trip and wanting to make sure you’re prepared and know what to expect, or you’ve been following my blog from the beginning of this trip. If you are someone who got picked to go on this trip, not only is this post is a great one to read to understand some things about the trip better, but all my other posts about what we did there and the adventures we went on throughout the two weeks we spent in the DR. First, I’ll start with something that may not seem super big but was definitely one of the most important things that I experienced while being in the DR. The connections. When you are at school, whether as a teacher, an aide, a teacher candidate, anything, sometimes making connections with students can be difficult and take some time, they don’t happen instantly. Even adults have difficult times making connections with each other. Going into the schools in the DR, I went in with this mindset, thinking I can’t make strong connections in two weeks when it’s hard enough to do that back home. Well let me tell you, that is so not the case. The students in the schools we visited in in the DR were almost immediately so welcoming and the connections started to build up quicker than I am used to. Not only the students, but the teachers and other adults that we worked with at the schools and at the foundation wanted us to be there. These kids are just so driven and want to talk to you, even if you don’t know Spanish, they will teach and correct your Spanish a lot. Not only that, but they will also try to talk to you in English too and they are open to learning English. In the private school, Coral, and the Mariposa DR Foundation, I worked with the same group of 15 sixth graders and that is where I saw my biggest connections that I didn’t even realize were happening until the last few days there. When you go to the DR, or anywhere for that matter, having those connections will make any interaction you have so much better. Everyone in the DR is so friendly and open, take advantage of it when you’re there and make those unique connections you won’t find here. Trust me when I say that it will be hard leaving those kids on your last day with them…expect a lot of hugs. And when you come back from the DR focus on building up those relationships you have back home and always be open to building new ones. If you are an education major going on this trip, it is a great way to see the different schools and the different ways of teaching that aren’t what we typically see. Being in school for education, you only see a couple different schools, but mostly all public some private, and you’re able to see different ways and philosophies of teaching from different teachers. When you go to Coral, the private school we work with in the DR, it has no doors, open air flow, not too much classroom décor and so much more. So not only does it not look like the school back home (if it did we would freeze) but the way the classroom is ran and how the students act is not what we would see at home. I have never been in a Montessori school before and had only learned a little bit about it, so when I went in to 3 Mariposa Montessori (3MM) I was a little taken a back. I’m so used to seeing this traditional schooling system and Montessori is a type of school I have never had the chance to see or learn about in depth. It was such a unique experience being there and seeing how the students and guides (Montessori teachers) interact and work together. The Mariposa DR Foundation (MDRF), while not technically a school, they have classrooms and are learning important skills there. I’m not going to spoil too much for you but it is an amazing way to experience a different culture of teaching and schools. The main thing to remember on this trip is to go to the DR with an open mind that is ready to learn and experience new things. When you see the schools and the homes, don’t compare it to back home. You’re in a different country where they live from what they have and need not what they want. We have a lot comfort back home and that’s great and all but in the DR they don’t. Remember that their house is theirs, it’s not sad or small, that is what their house, people live there and who are we to say that that’s bad. Any house is a good house when there is love and people in it so don’t think that just because it doesn’t look like what we typically see that it’s not as good. Be ready and open to learn about a new culture and try all those new adventures (ziplining, teaching, kayaking) and foods when you are down there. Take the trip, I promise you won’t regret it.
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AuthorHi Everyone I’m Hailee (hail-lee). I’m 20 years old and I am a junior at Buffalo State. I am an Exceptional Education major with a concentration in Spanish! I love traveling, doing my nails, and spending time with my friends and family. I am so excited to experience such an amazing new culture! I want to take everything I learn and experience home with me and incorporate it into my own classroom one day! I have such a passion for traveling and I can’t wait to share my experiences with all of you! ArchivesCategories |