Wednesday at Altagracia: Our Best Day Yet

 

 

We have learned in past years to expect the unexpected on our trips to the DR, and be ready to adjust.  Schedules are schedules, but there are times when events beyond our control change the agenda.  Such the case twice Wednesday, a day that had temperatures pushing into the 90s.  We arrived at the Altagracia school in time for the now familiar opening ceremony, and after the national anthem the Director made the announcement to the students that Thursday’s classes were cancelled and there would be no school.  Just like that, our last teaching day was wiped out.  The students cheered, of course, although many of them later figured out the implications of Thursday’s day off and expressed their disappointment to us.  School was cancelled across the country to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the teachers’ union.  In possibly related news, it was announced Wednesday that Juan Valdez, our good friend and the guiding genius behind the movement to provide English instruction in public schools, had sued the DR Ministry of Education for withholding millions of dollars earmarked for English instruction.  The money had been allocated several years ago, perhaps in part because of successful pilot programs like ours.  There is corruption in every government, and it’s no different in the DR.  Several officials had misallocated the money for which Juan and his organization had worked hard to procure, and now he is calling them out.  He’s taking a big risk.  He is putting himself in danger.  But his dedication to this cause is legendary.  Rita, Dr. Frank Perotti and I were in touch with Juan today in various ways, expressing our support, and he responded to each one of us.  We hope that the knowledge that the work he has inspired is going on at this crucial time.

 

Our work today at the school was exemplary. In addition to our regular help in the classroom, there were several special moments.  Leslie Dustin, and experienced teacher at the Marion Cross School in Norwich, and a longtime kindergarten teacher (she’s currently teaching 6^th grade at MCS) had written a song to teach to the preschoolers, and several of our group helped her teaching it to the class. It was in part about falling snow and being cold, new concepts for them.  In the meantime, another of our groups was outside in the courtyard, and devised a role playing game based on colors and the names of fruits, a lesson that we had taught to several classes the day before.  There was a physical education class outside, and the teacher had to leave momentarily and asked us to take over.  Remember the part about always being ready to adjust?  We gathered the students, and they watched as several of us pretended to shop.  “I would like three red apples, please”.  “That will be two dollars.”  “Thank you”. You get the idea.  After four of our students had  “shopped”, we asked the students if any of them would like to shop, but they had to do it in English. One brave sixth grader stepped up and made her requests in perfect English.  Then another.  Soon, all of the students, some with guidance or urging from peers, had taken a turn. Then PE was over, and one of the English classes came out.  Lewis, one of our translators had made a sign; “Fruit Store”.  Jun Chewning, the shopkeeper, added his name to the sign.  Good branding.  Soon Jun’s Fruit Store was doing a booming business, and a growing circle of students came to watch.  We’ll remember this exercise for next year!

At 10:30, in Maribel’s English class, Frank Perotti, the Superintendent in Croyden, had arranged for a Zoom call between a class back in New Hampshire and the one we were in.  The technology worked!  The students could see and hear each other.  They introduced themselves, sang for each other (The DR class sang “If you’re Happy and You Know it, Clap Your Hands”), and asked questions about the weather.  We learned that it’s getting hot in NH this week.  How amazing is it that two classes several thousand miles away, but with much in common, can communicate like this?  The Altagracia school now knows more than ever that they have growing numbers of American friends.

 

Remember the concept of expecting the unexpected?  We had another lesson just as we were planning to leave school at lunchtime.  We learned that the City of Cotui was cutting off all power from Noon – 5:00 p.m. for maintenance work. The Altagracia Director told us that school would continue to operate (it’s not like they have air conditioning there), but the schedule would be modified.  The celebration they were planning for us was cancelled. Our plan to distribute gifts to the children was altered.  But we went right on with our visit.  After lunch at the hotel (where they have generators), we returned to school and emptied five suitcases full of presents for every child in the school.  The night before, we had packaged the gifts:  a toothbrush and toothpaste wrapped in a brand new tee shirt (donated by the Hopkins Center).  Two of our group made a huge pile of gifts in the small conference room that we have been suing for our home base at the school. The new plan would call for classes to come get them individually on Friday. Sadly, this will take place after our brief visit in the morning to say goodbye. The last half hour before the end of school had been recess, and it gave us a wonderful chance to interact with the students, who crowded around each of us to talk, exchange fancy handshakes, play basketball, have a dance party, and hand fan letters to a favorite one of our students.  School was dismissed, and there were many, many parting hugs. We were able to meet with the administrative team at the end of school and give them a number of gifts, including an Epson projector and speakers donated by the Norwich Congregational Church, and a beautiful string of origami cranes folded by Jun Chewning.  There were a number of heartfelt speeches of appreciation in both directions.  The teachers kept expressing amazements that our students would give us their vacations to come to their humble school.  We all felt a sensed of teamwork and common purpose.  It is clear that this mission will be ongoing and sustainable, and we are already making plans for the future and dreaming dreams. This is a noble, worthwhile mission.

 

On our way home from the school we took a short side trip to the beautiful reservoir outside of town.  It’s the second-largest body of water in the DR, and we were able to park the bus on the road crossing the huge dam that forms the reservoir.  There was a wonderful breeze blowing, and we relaxed and chatted and took the best of the 37 team photos we have taken.  We got home very, very tired.  It was a long day.  We were cheered after out short after-dinner meeting to learn that we could sleep in for a bit on Thursday before visiting a local nursing home. We have made good alternate plans for Thursday, and should recover our energy to enjoy a very full final two days.