Not much new going on since the last post. Graduated one group of engineers, one class 3 of my new group. Thing are going just as smoothly. Im telling you what, i dont think i can teach any other class than this. Kids love it, and i love it, its easy to teach.
I just participated in a teacher training conference setup by 2 volunteers in Moca (Sabrina and Heather). As most of you probably dont know, the main focus of our job is to create sustainability. For us education volunteers are method of doing that is teacher training. Teaching teachers how to teach is the best way to keep the ball rolling, lol. Anyways, they had this 1-day conference planned to the tee. It was awesome, they had interactive charlas, free goody bags filled with school supplies, incredible. They asked me to fill in for a girl that was not going to be able to show up due to the tropical storm. So, i gave a lecture on the biological explanation of how the brain learns best.....it was alright, i did the best i could do on 1-nights notice, ahah. I was able to invite Francisco, who teaches night classes now, to attend the training. He loved it! all in all a very successful conference which i hope gets expanded to include most of the country.
This weekend i am bringing to kids on my community to another youth camp. I know, it seems like all i do is go to camps, but they are a huge part of what we do, and a really effective method of developing youth. Anyways, the focus of this one is diversity. Teaching them how to accept each others differences, especially on this island they share with Haiti. Haitiains are not viewed well here, so we want to try to spin that image positively. It is also a camp where they will learn more about the world. Ask any Dominican kid where the United States is on a map, they probably wont know what your talking about.....United States.....map? haha, they all think nueva yol (new york) is the entire US. When you show them a map and sw the New York is one of the smallest of 50 states they are blown away. Each kid (50 attending) will have to make a poster that represents a country. They will have to investigate they spoken language, typical food, currency, fun facts, etc So that they can build awareness of the world they live in. The camp will be great, its just this Friday till Sunday.
Then on Monday myself and 9 other volunteers are going to travel to San Francisco de Marcoris to help out at a youth conference (150 kids) setup by the country's ministry of environment. gonna be a busy weekend. Then, next Wednesday school starts back up!! I get to go back to the school that is all but unresponsive to my classes, haha. New year, new attitude, they will come to my classes!
Also, other good new. I was approved for a $1,500 international aid grant to complete a water system in the community next to mine. I had been waiting a while to receive notification and it was finally approved! Now im just waiting for the money to be wired to my peace corps account.
That is about all for now guys. Sorry i dont have any cool stories. I do have an epic beard going now.....sooo thats my august project....letting it goo.....look forward to photos, haha.
