Hey there beloved friends and family! It it is Sloane from Berkeley High School. Today was a very busy day with an early start of 6 o’clock (resulting in nothing but happy faces all around, as expected). Our focus of the first half of the day was global business in which we talked about the benefits and downsides of operating businesses in developing countries. Our main focus was the Sugar Cane Factories, also known as Consorcios. The workers within these factories are Haitian immigrants that have been outsourced by their government to come to the DR and work. In addition to these workers there are the Dominican people who live in communities called Bateys surrounding the Consorcios. We started off our journey upon arriving at the facility
In which the organization Plataforma Vida is located. This organization fights for the rights of the sugar cane workers who risk their livelihoods every day. We learned about the origins of the organization and heard firsthand some incredible experiences of the locals with the Consorcios. We then split up and toured the Bateys for a few hours. We again got a chance to talk to the workers of the cane fields and we were told both devastating and inspiring stories of their experiences, taking note of the differences in wages between farm workers and higher ups as well. After our intriguing tour of the Bateys we ate a marvelous lunch (courtesy of our beloved Sheila’s) at the site of the organization with the locals and had a chance to talk with them more personally about their lives and experiences.
Hello there! I’m James Rosas from James Logan High School. As my wonderful partner has already explained, the morning was busy. Unlike the afternoon where it was filled with different perspectives and questions. My partner left off at the tour at the Batey’s and we had returned back to the church where we first started. The tour was not enjoyable but insightful. The length of the tour had caused our hunger to grow. As we had lunch with community members, we questioned them about various topics. The discussion group were divided according to our self reflection groups and the community members split up to talk to us. I was the only fluent spanish speaker and I translated all of my group’s questions and answers to the community and vice versa. The discussion was interesting. However we were running late and could only donate the kite materials to the community, instead of building and playing with the children of the community. As we boarded the bus, we had a visitor ride along with us on the bus and give us a tour of the batey’s and the whole process of the sugar cane globalization. Carlos Espinosa was the man that beat the system because he started as a bracera (cane sugar worker) to then a lawyer at the local university. Throughout the whole bus ride, Carlos was explaining the history and the process of the sugarcane business. The presentation on the bus was interesting including the playlist on the way back. However the tour of the chemical baths makes sense, it is used to clean and refine the cane before sending it off to the factory. The whole process of globalization was discussed the whole day and how community are affected by jobs. What we visited next is a clear representation of the how the conditions are. We visited the dorms where batey workers stay and the conditions are eerily similar feeling to a prison. Well on a more positive upside the bus ride back was enjoyable because of the playlist that the group composed. We sang, we joked and just enjoyed each other’s company, I feel that our chemistry grows stronger each day.
I’m beginning to feel like I should say where’s waldo (David). PVBC carwash was today. Mission trip starts tomorrow. It ends the day you all fly in. Starting the countdown til you come home.Love ya Mom
Happy Birthday, Allegra. We miss you. We will celebrate with a PatBingSoo when you get back. We can’t wait to hear about all you are doing. Please tell your captors to send us a photo of you to make sure you are still alive. Love, Dad
¡Feliz cumpleaños, Allegra! Whatever cool things you guys were doing today, I hope you took time to celebrate the start of another year of life. It’s been an awesome 17 years — can’t wait to see what the next 17 years will bring. You are an amazing woman and daughter (have I embarrassed you enough yet?) and I love you very much. Mom
“If you really want to make a friend,go to someone’s house and eat with him..the people who give you their food,give you their heart” Cesar Chavez.
When You break bread, and hear the testimonies with people less fortunate, you learn you show respect and appreciate those around you. GG’s you are enlightening us with such great blogs; truly a life changing experience. On a personal note, we are proud of you mija.
Hi Marisa, I’ve been leaving comments daily on the blogs but for some reason they are not showing up.
I hope this message finds you well. I can see that this trip has been really versatile in showing you all aspects of being Dominican.
Remember…. respect, love and kindness. Miss you a lot mija!!!
Happy Birthday! I love you Allegra. I am looking forward to going to the concert with you. I have stuck with my promise to not watch without you. I miss you and can’t wait for your return. Love, Tito
Very informative and so sad that people suffer all over the world because of greedy capitalists.
What a wake up call, Sloane are you giving up sugar now?
I’m glad to see that you guys are getting so much exposure to the world, that will help shape your opinions and decisions and ultimately also help to raise awareness. Ok I’m gonna stop now I’m getting really preachy plus it’s not time to wake up yet!
I love you Sloane!!!!
Mom
I see you had another early day learning about global business. Touring one of the Consorcios must have been interesting and enlightening.
What a humbling experience it must have been to visit with the locals. Makes us appreciate our daily lives a lot more. What we have may not seem like enough sometimes, but may seem like luxury to others.
Hope tomorrow you can sleep in a little.
Missing you a lot! La familia te mandan saludos y abrazos!
What a powerful experience! As you’re driving down the 101 back home, will you ever look at the farmworker the same way? You’ve heard first-hand about their struggles and exploitation. They’ve touched your hearts, and you have become an informed consumer. Life changing!
We’re counting the days until you return, Amanda. Lenny is in SoCal on tour. They are trading first place with BDB, with less than one point between them. He comes home early tomorrow, then heads out again for the rest of the summer. The house is too quiet without you!! Miss you so much!
Be safe,
Mom
P.S. I don’t know how these messages come through on the DR side, but there were several messages for Allegra that got posted as responses to the Friday Fun Day blog, so be sure you get those too!
Happy Birthday, Allegra! We enjoy following your amazing adventures every day. What terrific experiences you are having. May today be something especially fun since it is you birthday. Remember that we love you very much–don’t forget!
Anky and Papa
ALLEGRA
P.S. Get into some of the pictures.so we can “see” you, especially today on your birthday.
Love again and don’t forget it!
A & P
Happy Birthday Allegra!! I hope you are having an awesome experience in the Dominican Republic. We miss you here but are very excited for you and wish you all the best.
Benjamin Acker
Happy Birthday,Allegra!
It is you grandparents trying again to wish you a happy birthday on your special day. Not sure you got our other message. May you have a great day, and hope we see you in a photo soon.
Remember we love you very very much–don’t forget it!
Anky and Papa
Such a deep experience you had, a chance to see up close other people suffering and struggle. It is surely will bring you all more closer. I really liked the day you had. Only one thing I was sad about, that you didn’t have enough time to play with local kids, it would bright up there day. I hope you will have another chance to do it. Seung-Se I am not tied to tell every time how proud of we of you and how much we miss you.
Our dear Sloane. Your eloquent writing is only surpassed by your quest for the why in this life. You are maxing this wonderful opportunity you and your friends have been given. Love, P & Gran