Today was chock-full of fun! It was “Culture Day”, a day to experience some of the important forms of culture in the Dominican Republic.
After breakfast and morning meetings we headed out for our adventures, Our first stop was to meet and work with Dario Ruben, known as “Gato”, an award winning artist who makes Carnaval masks. Gato structed the group in the art making the masks which are a source of intense regional pride and competition at Carnaval time in February and March. Everybody really got into it and we made some amazing masks. We also explored the culture of Carnaval and Carnaval masks with Gato and gained a better understanding of the role that it play in this country. Gato explained that the passion that people in the DR have for Carnaval is not even riveled by their passion for baseball, the country’s national sport.
Below: Gato with one of his masks and some of the excellent mask created by the Glimpsers
After lunch back at Dilenia’s, we headed out again, walked through the city of Constanza and me Paul Rosado at his dance studio. Paul is a dancer, instructor and choreographer in private classes, group classes and at a local high school. He had a great way of making the lesson so fun we didn’t have a single “conscientious objector” to dancing (not even among the boys!). Paul taught us the basics of the Merengue and Bachata dances, and also a little about the history of dance and music in the DR.
Below: Paul and the Glimpsers getting down!
Believe it or not, these two inspiring artists actually took a backseat seat to the day’s 3rd activity. So much so, that at our nightly meeting the discussion was almost all about our third activity of the day: teaching English to the people or Constanza. It was amazing to see and hear the Glimpsers speak about their teaching experience with the kind of passion and commitment that they did. I was almost taken aback by the way the Glimpsers faces lit up when talking about their experience in the classroom. They had all worked for several hours to complete lesson plans and activities for their classes. They worked in teams of 2 or 3 to teach English in a variety of levels, from beginner to advanced. The amount of energy streaming off of them when they had completed delivering their lesson was impressive. Their commitment to working at this craft and reflection upon ways to improve classroom results was incredible! As a teacher I was incredibly gratified to see the student take up this challenge with such courage, commitment and compassion!
Below: Global Glimpsers teaching at Padre Fantino School.
Overall we had an awesome day. It will be a challenge to improve upon, but I think we can do it.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the blogpost by Liam Noble and Jonathon Rivera!
What a wonderful group! What awesome pictures! Thanks Mr. Stone. So cool to know this all happened in one day!
Alesia, will you remember the dance moves when you get back? Im sure Asia would love to learn. – love you.
Hola querida! We miss you every day but loving the blog to hear what you all are doing. We are hoping you teach us merengue when you get back! Pele is getting cuter every day. By the time you get back he will be on the cover of Puppy-Vogue.
Can’t imagine this was done all in one day. Very well written, felt like we were there sharing the experience.
Teaching English must be a fulfilling experience.
Navya – hope you will remember the moves and techniques to teach us when you get back. Luv from all of us.
It was such a treat to spend the day with you an see you get down! Thank you for all the photos, Mr. Stone! Excited to read Jonathan and Liam’s blog tonight! they had such a strong start!
Alesia, please remember the dance move so you can teach Uncle Tony and Nina.
Navya please teach us you’re cool new moves when you get back!!!
navs! you’re basically a pro dancer now. Show them those classical dance skillssss
🙂
Oh wow you go Cynthia you better teach me some of those moves when you come back..Miss you lots. I am so happy and greatful for the wonderful things you are experiencing and learning. God bless you. Always love you. MOM.
Hey Amner, this is Valeria, I just wanted to tell you that I miss you very much and I hope you have a great time on your 1st trip of many to come either for education, business or just for fun ( I’m waiting for this to happen to me to). Enjoy.
Mr AG, Miss MG and Valeria.
Bella, hope you had fun learning to dance. Maybe when you come back you can teach me? I’d love to learn the merengue and bachata! I could learn with dad but he might squash my toes beyond recognition. LOL!
Love you more than chocolate cake and miss you to pieces! Mua!
Vivienne, this looked like something you really had fun doing. So happy for you and Alex to share in these experiences. Brownie is doing well at the board and care. They said she’s friendly. Lol. Jacqui is moved out of her dorm. Today is Lolo’s bday and we are going out to dinner together. Love and miss you so very much.
This all looks so amazing! Naya, I hope you are having a great time, I can’t wait to hear all about it when you get back.