Hello fans,
Today was a busy but gratifying day! After the 6:30am wake up call, we had a little fiasco with the water system. Luckily we had Carolyn, who saved the day by communicating with the hotel staff and getting the showers up and running in 20 minutes. Next we headed to Sheila’s for a nutritious breakfast and then back to the hostel for an academic seminar on the educational system in the DR. This interactive discussion ended up going overtime, so we had to rush (read: run) to the local university, UASD, to be on time for our guest speaker, Cristino Comas. Cristino, the District Superintendent of Education for Maguana, spoke passionately about the history and current affairs of Dominican education and shared his personal opinions and experiences with us. Then we split up into 3 groups with one GG Ambassador for each and toured the university while they recounted their daily lives as students. We even got the chance to speak briefly with students who were enrolled in an English Immersion Program at the university. After that, we had lunch at the usual spot and walked to the nearby liceo to start our tutoring program.
At the liceo, we first learned how to begin teaching and cooperating with the students in an overview of the program. We were split into different groups to teach different level classes (basic, intermediate, and advanced) that ranged in age (8-12, 13-19, 20+) and sent to create a lesson plan and wait for our new students to arrive. Emotions ranged from nervous to excited, but at the end of the 1 hour and 45 minute class, everyone was enthusiastic and content with their groups. No one could stop talking about their students on the way to dinner and everyone was looking forward to the next session, which will be on Wednesday.
We ended the day with our nightly meeting, going over our individual and group triumphs and failures from today. It has amazed us all how quickly we’ve gotten to know and be comfortable around one another, and how much of a cohesive and unified group we’ve transformed into in just 5 days. One student today talked about how he’d come out of his shell around everyone, while another student who had slightly hurt her knee shared how supported she felt today around such compassionate peers despite her injury. Overall, today was just another example of how much this trip has helped us all grow and gain confidence.
Thank you to everyone reading this and following our journey. We are safe and sound with Jeff, Courtenay, Nicaury, and Jackie, and can’t wait to see you all soon.
I love you
Carolyn we miss your joy at home may God bless you.
I’m so glad to hear how transforming this trip is, even though it’s just the beginning! It’s amazing how you’re able to pack a water fiasco :o, university tour, English tutoring session, and reflection all in one day! thank you so much for writing this post, and I hope the rest of the trip turns out as absolutely fantastic as you are Marina 🙂
Best wishes!!!
Hello Marina!!
Glad to hear that you’re having a safe and fun time and that you’re making lots of friends. To all the other global glimpse kids reading this who think marina is an awkward bibliophile and/or cinephile NERD: you’re absolutely right. Anyway, I sent you an email a few days ago but I don’t know if you got it or if you’re allowed to go on your email, although I know you get to go to Internet cafes once a week [or something]. I’ll just say the weezer concert was amazing and panic! at the disco was very good even though their music is for angsty emo people (panic! at the disco lovers: all offense intended). In fact I think panic! at the disco were even better performers than weezer (NOT musicians, performers); Brandon Urie did TWO (2) backflips and also spent thirty seconds doing some screamo kinda thing (he warned us beforehand) which I joined in on. I really rocked out even though I knew only three PATD songs. Weezer played a lot of their hits and three songs I didn’t know, but Kamini and I left early so I missed El Scorcho :-((( Also we lost each other after it ended and I asked these two girls if I could use their phone (Kamini had mine) and they were VERY rude and I was VERY offended/disgusted/shocked. This comment is getting really long so I’m gonna go now, bye!!
Your #1 fan,
Melissa
Marina, parece que todos os dias sao cheios de atividades e otimo que voce fez amizade com todos ! Voce consegue conversar um pouco em espanhol com os locais ? Estamos com saudades , foi otimo falar com voce hoje , fiquei muito feliz ! Fique com Deus , te amo !
Karen!!! Eeeeee(whale noise)!!! Marifer!!! Johnathan!!! I’m happy to hear that you’re all safe and sound in the Dominican Republic. Make sure that you all step out of your comfort zones and take positive risks, because they will be great ways to keep the DR close to your heart. Marifer, remember to put on that 1000 spf sunscreen, Jonathan, make sure you don’t forget about your cup-o-noodles in the microwave, and karen, remember if anyone cat calls you just fab and stare at them the entire time. Have fun everyone and make sure to try more cultural foods, activities, etc. because you might not see them anymore. Represent Hayward and Tennyson high school you three. GO lancers(whisper).
Hey Marina, so I know I told you I left a comment here but I guess it was so long it didn’t go through or something. Then I tried again and even THAT didn’t go through so I’m a little confused now. Anyways, glad to hear you’re having fun and making friends! To all the other Global Glimpse kids who secretly think Marina is an awkward bibliophile and/or cinephile NERD: you are absolutely right. Marina, I wish I could tell you about the Weezer concert but I think that’s what made my comment too long last time. However, I will say that Brendon Urie did not one but TWO backflips during his performance, and Weezer played “The Good Life” which made me go insane. Tomorrow I’m going to Outside Lands so I’ll let you know how that goes. Miss you!