Saturday, February 27, 2010

Feliz Dia de Independencia!

Before I jump ahead to the week ahead, I'll wrap up yesterday and Concordia's trip. Friday is our day off, volunteers culture/beach day. In the morning they headed out to tour around Monte Cristi and I headed to two schools to speak with the principals about coming to teach next week. The rest of the morning I helped with the OO store and played with the kids some. The team from Jaibon was at the orphanage doing a tour and I got to see Heather and Bryson again! I miss our family being all together! :(

We headed to lunch at Comedor Adela, and I came back for the afternoon to work with Dr. Sprague to finish up doing physicals on the kids. The older kids were left to be seen and they were funny making faces and obviously not interested like all the little kids were, especially the boys because of the fun cough and turn your head exam!

I spent some time helping load up bags and bags of towels, blankets, pillows, sheets, etc that were going to Jaibon for the big weeks coming up! Then I helped Moni organize the kitchen pantry as they got lots of food and supplies delivered today from Tom and Coco and their various trips last week to the capital and Santiago.

The evening consisted of dinner, finishing up 4 more physicals, and then closing. The end of closing was great! Concordia wrote a chant/song to the tune of We Will Rock You!

Here are the lyrics:

Coming from Concordia, Los Americanos, 7:45, Is the wake up call, You got breakfast at 8, pancakes on your plate, morning announcements - don't be late.

Chorus: We would like to Thank You!

On our way to school, with lesson in mind, got numbers and colors, body parts to find, teaching was a blast, went by so fast, recess is over - wish it could last.

Chorus

Back from lunch, gotta shovel a bunch, counting the sheet, in the blistering heat, playing with the kids, til 3:15, we hear yelling, as soon as we're seen.

Chorus

Walk around town, eating ice cream, grocery shopping, sunrise hiking, Karie Jody Julie, Alexandra Mike, Janet and Elizabeth, Amy and Christine.

We were sitting in a circle for closing and they had sectioned themselves off so that each 1/4 of the circle did a verse! It was hilarious! What a great group! Forgot to mention that throughout the week they clapped at the end of every meal announcements for Christine. It went from just clapping, to snapping at time, to clapping slow and building up to fast clapping, to standing ovations, to the last dinner this! SIGNS with her name on them!


After closing I came back up to my room and waited for them to finish their reflections. Rich ended up coming to our room afterwards about 11pm and hung out talking with me and Christine until about 12:30am!

They left this morning at 4:15am and I got up to see them off. They were great, we'll miss them!

But, nonetheless, a new day started today with the first group arriving around 9am! I headed out around 10pm with Karie, Alexandra, and Amy our interns to go check out the Independence Day celebrations. February 27th, 1844 was the day that the Dominican Republic declared its independence from Haiti. They have a big parade from the clock tower park to the gym behind a school where they have performances by different schools, groups, etc. Here are some pictures of the crowd, and several different performances. Some merengue dancing and big performance by John F. Kennedy school who every year goes all out! It was great!



We didn't get to see the parade but made it for the beginning of the celebrations in the gym. Several schools did dance routines, singing, and other public officials spoke. We sat with the kids from the orphanage that go to Dona Nena for the second half of the show and then headed back. This guy didn't before, just looked silly! Had to get a picture with him! :)

After lunch, I spent lots of time just getting stuff planned for orientation tomorrow and the week in general. Also, had to finish making a couple of beds for the teams arriving today. I took a much needed nap and then got back to work. St. Francis arrived just after dinner and we greeted them and I finished some work that I still had to do. Tonight I drew some posters of the clinic locations for tomorrow's orientation and now am waiting for the last of the volunteers to arrive about 12:45am!

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