KASIA
Exceptional Education Graduate |
KASIA
Exceptional Education Graduate |
Well, folks, this is it. We’ve had 18 days to do our best to impact the people and world around us. I hope we can all say, we made a change even if it’s a slight change. I know that my time at 3 Mariposas Montessori was one of the most impactful experiences that I had during our time here. I was able to teach eleven developing minds the basics of piano, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” by ear on the piano, and help transition a primary student over to the elementary section with the incredible teamwork of Julisa. This student was afraid of her transition for many different reasons; however, Julisa was able to get her over to my room, and I was able to help keep her there. It was truly special for all three of us. She will always remember the two ladies that were there during her big transition. That’s very special to be a part of. The children of the school taught me every single day more and more about myself, schooling, and the minds of little ones. I also know that I impacted them, and this brings me the greatest joy. As we said goodbye yesterday, we all shed a little tear (of course, I shed most of the tears). I didn’t want to go; they didn’t want me to go. It was bittersweet because I know I must go now, but I do intend to be back. The lead teacher Farah taught me so much, and she said that I also taught her. She told me that we have a connection and would be an amazing teaching team someday if I ever came back. Farah, I do hope to be back to teach by your side and learn and grow under your leadership. The aide John taught me so much as well. He may never know how much he impacted me, but after I read my bilingual book about Buffalo to the students, he asked if he could have a copy of it to keep and take home! He thought that Buffalo sounded lovely, and he said I was a great writer. This came right at a time when I was self-conscious about my book; I thought it was not good enough, low quality, and should be kept under a couch cushion, but John loved it. This humbled me, and I gave John a personal copy. I hope to see John and Farah in Buffalo someday or even in the DR again someday. These people have touched my life, and I will miss them and my students tremendously. Words truly do fall short when trying to write about the connections that are made during our time here. It’s emotional, impactful, and heavy.
Today is a free day to hopefully not get burned in the sun and make some final memories in this location with my dear friends here. We are all exhausted. We are ready to come home (kind of). I miss my bed, pillow, loved ones, and chicken wings. So, here’s to the last day in the DR before another semester of graduate school begins, the subbing jobs keep a’coming, and planning my next trip to this incredible country begins. Thank you for following along. Stay tuned for one more post after our return to snowy Buffalo! The culture shock is real coming here, but it is really, real coming home. Adios por ahora!
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Sadly, today was the last day that we get to spend at the Mariposa DR Foundation. The relationships that we have developed with the 9 Mariposas blossomed over the course of the last two weeks. Some girls got their nails done with them while others braided hair (they more or less just played with my hair since there is none to braid). We conversed about Buffalo and Cabarete. We taught them English while they taught us Spanish. We played baseball with them and danced the electric slide with them. They taught us about their culture, and they showed us what it looks like to be a strong young woman who has overcome adversity and trauma and is beating the odds in the Dominican Republic by not having a baby, by receiving an education, and by taking control of their lives and futures. We debriefed as a group and cried and shared our experiences from this trip. We talked about how this trip has changed our lives and what we will be changing when we get back. It’s very difficult to say goodbye to this special, special place, but I know again that I will be back someday. My heart belongs here with these people doing the work that is changing the world.
The tour from today was simply spectacular. Despite taking Dramamine to prevent car sickness and becoming incredibly drowsy all day, it was so wonderful to be in the places that the Mirabal sisters had been. The group watched the movie In the Time of the Butterflies the night before to refresh our memories on their story. This was very helpful as we were able to recognize the exact places mentioned in the story on the tour on Sunday. We saw the skeleton of the car that the Mirabal sisters were assassinated in. The sisters were killed by the hand of the people who worked for Trujillo before being pushed off of a cliff in their car so that it appeared to be an accident instead of an assassination. The Mirabal sisters were crucial people in the revolution that occurred in the DR not that long ago, and their code names were the Mariposas. If you’ve been reading my blogs or the blogs of others in the cohort, you will know that Mariposa pops up all over the place because the Mariposas inspired so many to continue changing the world one girl or one child at a time. To see the homes of the Mirabal sisters and make the connections of places to the story was simply amazing. It’s humbling, and it’s inspiring. We ended our long journey home by stopping at a beautiful overlook for a drink and some relaxation. Today was such an amazing group experience as we explored Monkey Jungle and zip lining through the sky of the Dominican Republic! We grew so much as a group and just had the best time laughing, conquering fears, and making amazing memories together. We first started seeing the little, adorable monkeys in their monkey jungle/sanctuary. The monkeys ate seeds and fruit from little plates that we held; they jumped on us and even went number one and number two on us. Trust me, that made for incredible pictures. Today again highlighted the cohesiveness and strength of our group. We are crazy, kind, and unbelievably adorable in all of the zip lining gear (Sam included). We pushed each other to be better and overcome our fears of the monkeys, heights, free falling, and zip lining in general. It was a day that I will not soon forget. I am beyond grateful for this group and each individual that makes it as strong and special as it is. They have been my family away from home as I’ve overcome deep sadness at different times and fear in other times. They make me laugh, feel safe, and be a better person. Thank you, all.
Well, today is finally Friday, and we are exhausted (as are the kiddos, I might add). The cohort has grown not only as a group but individually as well! It is so amazing to see what is being done in the lives of each person as we traverse this journey together. Some have tackled their fears and others have opened their horizons to things they couldn’t imagine without this trip. It is life changing trip, and it continues to inspire, challenge, and grow us each day.
I had the privilege of working at 3 Mariposas Montessori school for the entire week teaching elementary students basic piano skills. I must also take this time to tell my mom that she was right when she told me I would someday grow up to wish that I had continued my piano lessons. You’re right, Mom; I wish I had kept taking the piano lessons. Anyway, I was able to share the very rudimentary knowledge that I have of the piano from the names of the keys to basic chord formation over the course of 4-5 days while also being immersed in the universe that is Montessori schooling! To say that every day was a learning experience is a massive understatement. I watched each child learn in their own way as I provided the framework for piano theory. I differentiated my lessons based on the speed, grasp, and passion of each student to ensure that they were getting everything that they needed from the lesson. I learned along the way; I grew relationships that will be so hard to leave; I helped foster a love of music and piano in eleven 6-9 year old’s. That is amazing, and it is such an honor to be apart of this experience. Words truly fall short in explaining the lessons that we learn along this journey. It’s why I came back a second time, and it’s why I want to come back for a longer period of time in the future. Our group had an amazing experience together today – just the 9 of us. We talked about what we’ve learned and what we plan to do when we get back (only one week left after today). It was powerful as we shared our feelings, thoughts, fears, and anticipations together. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Our group is strong. This group is full of kind people with good hearts who will make a difference in their circles. They look deeper and think harder. These are memories and people that I will cherish for a long time. It’s hard to have this experience together and not share a bond long past your time together. So, the first week of teaching in the schools is over for us all, and we are all still speechless. Rest is in our future before we go back into the schools next week and complete our time here. I am sad to be thinking of leaving. The time has flown too quickly. Nevertheless, this is the ebb and flow that is to be experienced on this type of service-learning trip. Joy, sadness, anxiety, fear, anger, love, and hope are just a few of the many emotions felt along the way. To those in Buffalo dear to my heart experiencing the cold, cold storm I’ve heard so much about, I love you and miss you and hope to send you some warmth. This morning was such a wonderful experience as Julisa, Wendy, and I went to 3 Mariposas Montessori. This was my first time being at a Montessori school and/or observing the routines, processes, and ideologies of Montessori education. I was ultimately very blown away. The students are so independent and self-directed as they spend time learning and practicing individual (or paired) lessons from the objects and activities off of the shelf. For hours, I observed just like a fly on the wall the real learning that took place in such an amazing way. The students refer to their teachers or guides by their first name; respect is given and received so differently. Quite frankly, everything is different! The students are mostly bilingual and are able to communicate so well. They know each procedure such as gently touching the adults’ shoulder and waiting until their conversation is over to ask their question or get assistance with what they are working with. Voice levels are tranquil and low creating a nurturing and comfortable environment for discovery. The students work either at a table or on a small rug on the floor as they do mathematics and many other lessons. I have so much more to learn about this ideology, but I was blown away with how each individual was celebrated. There was no standardization of learning methods, no conformity of the children’s temperaments or individuality, and no chaos! To see little ones being so successful in self-direction and with such a passion for learning and discovery was very inspiring. It was only our first day, and my expectations were far exceeded. I cannot wait to continue learning more and seeing the way that these incredible little kiddos are educated. It is hard to even put into words what this experience was like.
I must also share how the school celebrates birthdays because it almost brought me to tears. One of the little girls turned three years old yesterday; to celebrate, Sarah, the founder of 3 Mariposas Montessori school, lit a candle that represented the sun. As they practiced the months of the year, they placed each month around the candle. Each student sat in a circle as they watched the little girl place the months. Finally, that little girl held onto a little globe while standing by January. Sarah asked her to walk slowly around the candle to represent her first orbit (or year) around the sun. Sarah spoke gently of how her first year was full of learning to crawl and walk; as she continued around a second time, Sarah continued to narrate what her little life held until she finally went around three full times. The rest of her class then offered kind gifts of the heart by telling her things that they all love about her. Her father said, “You have my heart.” It was precious, real, and simply beautiful. I thought of my dear niece, Vera Jean, who is also three years old. I’ve never seen such a celebration done the way that it was done here, but it’s a good example of how the adults and children of the Montessori school think differently. They learn by getting to the point no matter how the process needs to happen. There are no grades, tests, or “mastery”. There is just learning and love. Today was an inspiring and humbling day. After our morning at the schools, the whole cohort ate some lunch and made our way to the Mariposa DR Foundation where we played games with the Mariposas that will be teaching us Spanish and learning English over the next two weeks. It was full of laughter, love, and even more learning! We shared our bilingual books and got to know the Mariposas better. I am certainly exhausted after a day like today, so I intend to get a good night’s sleep and let all of this information permeate my brain while I rest. I am sending all of my love back home to my mom, my dad, Mike, Vera, Lem, Nomes, my brothers and sister-in-laws, and my students! Tomorrow marks one week complete; less than two weeks to go! I hope to make every moment count. Thank you for following my journey. Today was one of the most influential and inspiring days that I have ever had in the Dominican Republic. As a cohort, we visited Taino Farms (https://tainofarm.com/) which is an organic farm that utilizes aquaponics (no, not hydroponics) as a method to grow incredible fruits, herbs, vegetables, and much more! By utilizing tilapia, this farm takes a 360 degrees approach to farming. What that means is that they use everything that they can to ensure there is no waste, trash is reused to make growth, and our minds are blown. We were given a tour of the farm by a brilliant and inspiring woman named Elizabeth who is from Detroit, Michigan. Her vision is to begin a sustainable aquaponics system in her home town to both help the environment and teach the people around her how to reuse instead of turning undesirable objects into landfill waste (obviously, helping the environment too). What we saw at this farm was absolutely astonishing. To see something come full circle (fish, fish poop and pee, water and fish poop and pee and worms, plants, harvest, eat, repeat) was like watching something come to life in an hour or so. Seeing the process of how organic/aquaponic foods are made with hard labor, love, and ingenuity is inspiring because it reminds us that we can do so much more than we are doing to make a difference with what we have! Trash or dirty things like fish poop are often seen as just that, trash and dirty things; however, if you look at those things in a different perspective and with a different purpose, you can see so much more. Elizabeth doesn’t see fish poop and pee as a dirty thing to get rid of; she sees fish poop and pee as the essential ingredient in creating and growing a new plant to feed the people around her. It’s miraculous, and it’s right at our fingertips if we just reach far enough. Our world confuses perfection as beauty. Whether we’re talking about body image (guilty as charged), test scores (hello, teachers), or feces (talking fish here), we’re missing the mark. Dominicans are unbelievably resourceful; this is something that Americans struggle with because there is no need to be resourceful or to think about how we are affecting other people (such as Dominicans). Out of sight; out of mind. However, in the DR, where there is no recycling or efficient garbage disposal, they must make beauty out of trash or live with trash all around. They must be efficient, and Americans, we can learn a lot from them. Taino Farm taught me that beauty is not perfection, something incredibly important can come out of what others view as unimportant, making your own food is empowering, and we can make a different if we change our perspective. Elizabeth taught me a lot today, and I am grateful for the experience to see Taino Farms in all of its beauty. On another note, I would like to also take the time to thank a very important person. I met Tamara Horstman-Riphahn during the interviews for the first DR trip in 2017. Since then, she has made a great impact on my life in many ways whether environmentally, educationally, or just on a human to human level. Her passion for the environment and sustainable resources is undeniable. She leads us as a cohort with passion, and she teaches me how to be a better person every time I come into contact with her. She is wise, gentle, and strong. On our second trip to the DR, my love and respect for her and her incredible family has only grown deeper, and I would not be the woman that I am today without knowing her. To experience Taino Farms with Tamara today was very special because I knew that we had a mutual, passionate interest in the matter. Thank you, Tamara, for all that you do and all that you have taught me. I appreciate you more than I can say. Our time at the farm was made complete with a relaxing, lazy float down the Tasica River. We took in all of the beauty of the DR together as we made our way back to the farm. Our group is solid, and I am appreciating all of the different strengths, personalities, and characteristics of each member. Its hard to believe that our experience has just begun because I feel like I’ve known these ladies and gentleman for a long time. I miss my family and friends in Buffalo but am certainly not envying your weather! Adios from sunny Cabarete! Thanks for checking in. Hola, mis amigos! Wow have these last few days flown by! Our trip here was safe and smooth. We’ve already seen so much and learned even more, and we’ve really just begun. Stepping off of the bus after hours of plane rides onto the grounds of our beautiful beach houses was just so wonderful. To be back in the beauty that is the Dominican Republic is incredible. The sights to be seen have left me emotional as a certain comfort and familiarity flood over me. My roommates and I quickly explored our home for the next two weeks and discovered some minor problems; immediately, the reality check hit me. The minor problems that I think I’m experiencing such as no Wi-Fi or a weak AC unit are so relative to the challenges that people right down the road are experiencing. This experience humbles you and reminds you that perspective is key. It teaches you that your inconveniences are just that, inconvenient. A roof is still over your head protecting you from the elements; the things you take for granted are suddenly at the forefront of your mind. You can’t help but feel gratitude on another level. Our second day was full of laughter, adventure, and delicious Dominican foods! We visited the family of Freddy and their land in the country where they have a plethora of fruit trees, cacao trees, and coffee bean trees. Freddy showed us around the property while providing samples of all kinds of different fruits and experiences. His mother cooked us a traditional meal called “la bandera” which is chicken, beans, and rice. It was delicious and a truly wonderful experience. We got to see his nieces again who have truly grown up since the last time we were here. Two years ago, I was giving the girls piggy bag rides while they said “Caballito!” which means little horsey, and this time, they were too old for those! We finished the afternoon off with some amazing hot cacao. It was pool time and relaxation for the cohort after that, and I finally felt the exhaustion of travel. Today’s tour of the public and private schools around Cabarate and surrounding towns was truly astounding. The experience was made even better because I had seen the schools two years ago. This time, I was able to see more deeply different aspects of the school that I couldn’t see last time. Since I knew what to expect already, I could notice other details such as the way the children interacted with one another or the teacher’s approaches with the students. I could take in the feeling of each school, and each school certainly has a different feeling. From the way the schools are structured to the way the school day is structured, there is so much to observe and learn. I am most looking forward to experiencing 3 Mariposas Montessori (http://3mariposasmontessori.com/content/) school next week. Getting exposure to these different schools is so fascinating and grows me as an educator and person. It teaches us to be grateful, yet it also inspires us to be the change that we hope to see in the circles we encounter. We are only three days in, and I feel at home again. I cannot wait to see what the next two weeks hold for us all as we continue this journey. Here we go again! New year; new adventure! I am beyond grateful and excited to be traveling yet again to the Dominican Republic with Buffalo State College’s IPDS team. There are some familiar faces I know from two years ago and some new, beautiful faces that I have gotten to know more and more over the last semester of meetings. Growing even closer with the individuals traveling by my side is one of the many aspects of this trip that I am most looking forward to. I hope to challenge and be challenged by my cohort while making memories that last us well beyond our short month together day in and day out.
Two years ago, at this time, I had no idea what to expect. The trip ended up changing my life (for more information see my blogs from the 2017 cohort – my hair was much longer then). My expectations for this time around are very different than before. I have no fear of the unknown, for I already know so much about Cabarete and what to expect. I have no concerns for my safety as I know I am in good hands. I also have no grand illusion that I will change the world in three weeks; however, I do know now that I can make a difference. My soul is humbled, open, and ready for the new experiences that lie ahead of me. My heart already feels the sting of missing my parents, Mike, the students and staff at Casey, my nieces and nephew and family and friends. My brain is running a million miles a minute as I pack, unpack, repack, and grab all of the necessary items before departure. Nevertheless, my soul, heart, and brain are all in agreement that my calling in the Dominican is not yet through. There is work to be done, and I will do all that I can to make a difference in the lives of the people I come into contact with all 19 days away from home. So, here we go. I swore I’d be back, and in just a few days, I will be. “Courage, dear heart.” |
AuthorI am a first year graduate student and a substitute teacher in two school districts. This will be my second time traveling to the DR with the IPDS cohort from BSC, and I am honored to be back! I am passionate about my family and friends, education, music, and spreading smiles. Thank you for following my journey. ArchivesCategories |