Hello GG Family!! This is David Tellez, one of the GGLeaders here in San Juan de La Maguana and I was the Leader of Day today.
The day was focused on Culture and Fun! We started the day with a great experience engaging in a tradition that has been part of the Dominican Republic for decades. Students took part in painting masks that are used as part of the Carnival celebration in San Juan de La Maguana. Students took lessons on painting their masks from our partners: Angel Diaz and Ciliosther Diaz. Two partners who have coordinated various holiday celebrations in San Juan, and have also been nationally recognized. They gave students the opportunity to engage in an experience of decorating a mask, and seeing how masks are created for the Carnival Celebration. It was a quick demonstration since these masks take months to create – according to Angel! We are pictured with Angel and Ciliosther.
Next, we had an amazing lunch were our the Glimpsers went back for seconds! Afterwards, we headed to Town Hall for an amazing musical show. Students got the opportunity to learn about different multicultural inspired dances, which included a demonstration of the different types of Merengue that are present in the Dominican Republic. During our visit to Town Hall, students got the opportunity to receive a lesson from our third partner of the day: Cristian Solis. Crisitan was the person who put this amazing cultural experience together for the students, and the students loved every minute of it; especially getting the opportunity to dance with very talented Dominican Dancers!
Once all the dancing came to an end, we headed back to the accommodations, where students quickly got ready for their very first English Tutoring class. As we walked over to the school where students gave their first lesson, there was an atmosphere of hesitation. Once they were done, they came to appreciate the hard work that goes into building a lesson plan and presenting it to a class full of tutoring students. The Glimpsers appreciated the opportunity to get to know many different members of the San Juan community.
At the end of the day, we headed back to the accommodations to celebrate over an amazing dinner, where students not only headed back for seconds, but thirds. It looks like teaching really made them hungry! We always give thanks to the Onaney Hotel for great a cultural experience in their culinary skills. Thank You Onaney Hotel!
Tomorrow we get ready for Aid & Development / Discovery Day.
Good Night from San Juan!
David Tellez, GGLeader
Hi Brionde – I’m missing you so much but I know you are having a great time with your GG group. I check the webpage every night, excited to read about what the group did for the day and see the great photos. I’ll see you tomorrow….lol
Goodnight & sleep well!! ?
~Love, Mom & Dad
Hi Bird!
Dad and I have been reading about your adventure so far. I imagine you loved the dancing activity! And surprise rain?? That must have been fun.
We have had extreme weather in Riviera Maya, humid beyond words. Craig has been sweating through all of his shirts!?
You look happy in the pictures so you must be enjoying your visit. ?
We miss you and love you to the moon and back. WUB❤️
Hi Bri,
I’m so happy to see you and your group made it safely to San Juan. My heart melted when I saw those eyes and your beautiful smile! Those are the eyes and smile of a true ‘Honey Bee’ ready to buzz all over the world collecting as much honey as she can and in return spreading love, compassion, and hope along her journey. I can’t wait until you return to the Honeycomb and share all of your amazing stories and picture!
Love
Auntie Fee
The food must be awesome if you guys are going back for seconds and thirds! Wish we would get a surprise rain here in this heat. Maybe someone can take a pic of you all with your masks.
Love you tons Bailey!
So what did I hear? FOOD!!!!!! I hope you enjoy different culture of food.
Also, show me some colors. All black in a hot day isn’t fun…….. Did you get bug bites so far?
Love you,
mom
Hello Bailey,
We love seeing the updates of all your adventures!! I hope your are enjoying ever minute of experiencing a new culture!! We’re looking forward to seeing the new dances you’ve learned!! Missing you lots!!
Love , Dad & Debby
Hi Abigail (Abdul),
Wow! your day was full of so many adventures today! Im glad you got the chance to explore San Juan’s culture in its most authentic form. I actually am curious to know if you were one of the people to dance with the Dominican dancers! My bet is you didn’t do it, haha. But if you did, you better come back with some dance moves to teach me.
On a sadder note, I stayed home from work today because I have a stomach flu. I miss you more than ever today because you are the best care-taker aka baby brother ever!
Im glad you are not only having fun but also learning the most along the way. Which is like, what you live for. Nerd.
See you soon!
Love,
Your fav sister Naksh
Hi Morgie,
Auntie Beck and I miss you!! You look like you’re enjoying yourself!! Wish we could have joined you!! Xoxo love, auntie Beck and Dez
Hey Brionde
I hope you are having a great time. Stay cool if you can. See you soon cousin ?
Bird❤️
Today we went to a natural, fresh water sink hole called a cenote. Our taxi driver wasn’t sure where he was going so he had to keep doing a retorno which means u turn. I learned those two new Spanish words, but I bet you have learned so much more. ??
Dad and I danced to PSY Gangnam Style and it made me think of you. Maybe you could do that for the talent show!
We miss you every day and hope you are having a great time and making new friends.
Say hi to Bails and I hope the bugs are not biting you!
WUB WUB WUB WUB??
Good night Brionde ?
Today must have been exhausting. Sleep well my sweet girl. I will check on you tomorrow.
Love
Auntie Fee ???
Hi Anna F & GG!
The masks sound really cool. Love reading the blogs! Can’t wait to hear how the English lessons went. Sounds like you’re having a great thanksgiving me!! Miss you!! Love mom & dad
Please correct the typo on Michelle fox’s email. Should be “time” not thanksgiving…lol!! iPhone changed the word!