Work and Rewards

Days 53-75 

Jarabacoa

After the tournament in Santo Domingo, I was pretty worn out.  It was a great experience interacting and coaching the kids, but it left me dragging the following week.  Luckily for me, the Dominicans know how to relax and recuperate – so the sisters let me have a little time to myself in the mountainous town of Jarabacoa.  

During this time, I was to accompany Ronald (a young volunteer in Barahona) to a retreat in Jarabacoa, which is in the center of the country.  Before I departed, Sor Elizabeth told me to bring a jacket for the night time.  I almost laughed when she told me this, but did so anyway, thinking that she was just not used to cool weather.  

Jarabacoa is a beautiful green town known as, “The city of everlasting spring” and is quite a bit different from the rest of the country.  Fruits and vegetables grown in abundance and the population shares its heritage not only with the Spaniards, but a small population of Japanese immigrants as well.  Clouds roll through the mountains in the morning and the sky clears up by mid day, giving the air a crisp and cool feel.  Of course, Sor Elizabeth was right: I did need my jacket at night as the temperatures dropped well below 50 degrees.

Vicente, Antonio, and I

During my stay in Jarabacoa, I was able to meet other volunteers who are serving in the DR: Vicente from Spain, Antonio from Italy, Malou from France, and Tony from the Dominican Republic.  We could all speak Spanish (for the most part) and a little English as well, so it was nice to be able to rely on a second language when the first doesn’t always work.  Together, we were able to go to a beautiful mass to celebrate 3 priests who’ve been serving for 50 years and the reception afterwards.  Following the reception, we took a hike in the mountains to visit a Trappist monastery that looked like it was from a movie.  Besides the gorgeous view of the surrounding mountains, a waterfall was hidden behind the monastery in the dense forest that offered time for reflection and meditation.  At night, we all got pizza at a small restaurant and I was even able to catch highlights from the UofL game.   

After the weekend was over and I said my farewells to my new companions and made the long trek back to Barahona, feeling refreshed and restored to take on a busy Holy Week.  Sor Elizabeth told me at the beginning of Holy Week, that it would be a week of work.  She was right, of course.

Holy Week is a bit different here in the Dominican Republic than the US, since about 70% of the country is Catholic.  The school here was closed during the week, as were many other schools – but this is similar to US spring break.  

However, there were activities for the kids during the day that we helped with.  During Easter Mass 25 kids were baptized, all around 6-10 years old, so we spent a few days teaching and having fun with the kids.  The program was held at another location run by a group of dedicated volunteers from Cuba and Spain.  The school center, or “Centro” for short, also houses 7 orphans who are cared for by the volunteers.  Having the opportunity to meet and work alongside these volunteers was a blessing as they were energetic, enthusiastic, and really looked after the kids as if they were their own.  

Also during Holy Week, more volunteers came to stay at the house from Santiago, who worked with the teenagers.  Together, we were able to share our experiences and teach the teens in the community.  They organized food baskets to deliver to different families in need in the area and re-enacted the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, walking through the neighborhood with about 200 other people.  

Equipo Verde!

Working with the kids

Lourdes, Veronica, and Reynaldo 

Photos from the activities during Holy Week.

The Masses for Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday were both beautifully done and packed the church with many members of the community.  They each lasted three hours, but with the energetic singing and baptisms, they didn’t feel dull.  

Following Holy Week, the sisters and I took a mini-vacation to la Bahia de Las Aguilas (Bay of Eagles) – a secluded beach that takes some work to get there, but was absolutely worth the effort.  Like a scene from a movie, the water was crystal clear with conchs, starfish, and marine life wherever you looked.  The miles of white sand and emerald surf was shared by about 12 of us: a couple and child from Guadalupe, another couple from Hawaii, a couple from Germany, and our group.  There I let the waves and scenery carry away my worries as I relaxed in the sun.  It had been a busy few weeks and I could think of no better way to relax than this.

Bahia de Las Aguilas

Let the Games Begin!

Days 34-52

Reasons why I know I’m beginning to adjust to life here in Barahona:

San Rafael Beach

1. I began writing this entry in Spanish, with my spell-check also set to Spanish in Word.
2. I get excited when we have either Yucca or Sancocho for meals.
3. I am able to navigate the city (though it’s not that big) on my own.
4. Instead of just the kids knowing my name, I know many of their names too.  It may not seem like a big deal, but with around 800 kids at the school, it can be hard.

Finally, a short story about adjusting to living here:  two weeks ago, I went to Santo Domingo with Sor Elizabeth to get an extension for my visa.  We came find out that they can only extend it by 3 months at a time, so I’ll have to return to do the same at the end of June.  While in Santo Domingo, we visited the Provincial House and I got to see the sisters there again that I had met when I first arrived in the Dominican Republic.  It was great to see them again, and also was a positive way for me to know that I had made progress with my Spanish.  While there, we discussed what I would do during my 9 months here.  At first it was believed that I’d spend 5 months here in Barahona and 4 in Santo Domingo.  When I spoke with Sor Maria Esther and Sor Carmen at the Provincial House, they told me I’d most likely stay in Barahona the whole time.  I felt a bit of joy at hearing this news, and was surprised by my feelings.  I thought about this much during the day, and I’ve come to realize that the relationships I’ve begun to establish in this short time are very important to me: the kids, the sisters, the teachers, and others such as Adrian (the groundskeeper, who is my age), Emanuel (our driver), and Chi-chi (the basketball coach). Moving to Santo Domingo would be like starting over, in a way, and sometimes beginnings can be tough.  I found this to be a benchmark for my journey here.

Hand-made Backboard

Work in the mountains has continued with a basketball goal now installed!  It was inspiring to see the excitement on their faces when we arrived and showed us the backboard they had built and, from an engineering standpoint, it was surprisingly level.  

Adrian and I

I was also able to visit San Rafael beach, which is a little ways down the coast from the city.  I went with Adrian, Emanuel, Eric, and Johan, who all seemed to want to go just as much as I did.  When we arrived, I was about to run into the water, when Adrian grabbed my arm and pointed to the waves, then looked at me and told me not to swim if I didn't want to die.  I looked again at the 10 ft waves pounding the shore and decided it was best not to die.  We threw a frisbee around and swam in the surf and just enjoyed the scenery.  Yes, the water in the Caribbean is really an emerald green and seems to transfix your gaze with its power and serenity. 

Work-wise, the past two and a half weeks have circled around one big event here in the Dominican Republic: Los Juegos de Salesianos.  Basically, it’s a big sports tournament with the different Salesian schools in the country.  There was a lot of prep work to do before the games, both administrative and physical.  I would work to make nametags, verify birthdates, and create spreadsheets during the day and practice basketball with the kids at night.  Finally, last week, from March 15-18^th, the games began. 

The Mini-Basketball team in action

Nearly 5,000 kids from different schools came to compete in the games, so we had the job of keeping track of our kids and coaching them the best we could.  Adrian and I were in charge of the Mini-Basketball group, the youngest kids (7-9 years old).  That meant watching them at all times and keeping them out of trouble!  With kids that age and their energy, it was quite a tiring task for four days.  It was all worth it though, as the Mini-Basketball group earned second place out of 16 teams!  I was very proud of them and their accomplishment.

The Mini-Basketball Team

There was one moment which made me even more proud to represent the little kids:  At nights, all the kids from Barahona would sleep in a big convocation hall (about 150 of us).  Adrian and I were again with the youngest of the group and made sure they had everything they needed.  As we were winding down for the night (well, Adrian and I anyway…), the Mini-Basketball team started clapping and circled up, sitting on the floor.  I watched from my bed, curious as to what they were doing.  They all held hands and started to pray together.  I looked at their faces and every single one of them was concentrating and focused.  They said intercessions afterward and finished with a Hail Mary.  I was so taken aback by all this that I didn’t know what to say.  They weren’t abashed by their public prayers in the middle of the hall, no one told them to do this, and none of the older kids did anything similar.  Not only that, but they prayed together in a circle before each game.  It may not have seemed out of the ordinary to them, but it was a very powerful event for me to witness; to see these kids take time to thank God amidst all the commotion and excitement.  In my heart, I felt great pride to be their coach; that these were the kids representing Barahona.

 

Barahona finished the tournament second overall out of 30 or so schools for the second year in a row.  Our homecoming was festive, as we were greeted by what felt like the whole town upon our arrival.  We were showered with confetti (dried leaves) and given hugs and candy.  It felt great not only because we were victors, but because I was welcomed back as one of them, as a part of the community.

Haiti: There and Back Again

Days 24-33

Friends and family, greetings from Barahona!  I hope this post finds you well and safe.  My thoughts and prayers were with everyone during the storms and I’m glad you’re all safe.  Much has happened since my last post and I’ve continued to learn and grow while here.  I’m pleased to say that my Spanish is coming along, although I have to take it one day at a time.

This past week, I got to travel to a town right inside the Haitian border and would like to share my experience.  Despite Barahona being two and a half hours away from the border, many of the people here are Haitian, or of Haitian descent.  Many towns, such as Barahona, offer a unique syncretism of cultures.  The Haitian influences are apparent to me here (once they were pointed out to me, by others) and it is very interesting to see the mix of cultures come together so easily.

Typical Haitian Style Home

  On Thursday, I traveled with Sor Andrea to take another sister, Sor Carmen, to a town called La Descubierta.  Sor Carmen works with the provincial house and travels to all the different locations to check up on them.  I wanted to use this opportunity to see more of the Dominican Republic and learn about the country I’m staying in.

From mountainous...

...to arid.

...to tropical...

Lago Enriquillo

The drive itself is very diverse, traversing through different landscapes, each containing its own beauty.  The path to La Descubierta goes around Lago Enriquillo, the largest lake in the Dominican Republic.  To get there, we passed through the mountains and came to the flat, low-lying plains in a valley.  Recently, the plains have become flood-plains after heavy rains.  The land is changing here, and is noticeable by Lago Enriquillo.  In recent years, the lake has been swelling and growing.  What was once shoreline is now many feet underwater.  Hundreds of feet out, one can see a line of dead palm trees that once lined the shore.  As you can see from the picture, this is a huge problem for the community because the roads that travel around the lake are now merely a few feet away from the lake.  In the future, they will be underwater.

In fact, the transformation has already begun.  Highway 48 has already experienced this problem, the road that runs between Boca de Cachón and Jimaní (two towns on the border) and into Haiti, is under water.  The people have created a makeshift detour around the hazard, but there is not much of an elevation gain, so it is only a matter of time before that is taken as well.  Highway 48 continues to run into Haiti, and we crossed the border to see another similar problem: Lake Azuéi in Haiti is doing the very same thing.  The picture below shows a stretch of dirt road, Highway 46, which has water on both sides of it.  Gravel has been piled on top of the road to keep up with the rising waters, but this can only be a temporary fix.

Highway 46

In a first world country, this may not be a huge problem, because an additional road (or, better yet, a bridge) could be build to fix this whole problem.  However, the people here do not have the resources to reconstruct the roads on a whim.  People rely on these roads to get to and from work, as they are the only roads available.  Additionally, people live in areas that are now prone to flooding.  Families that have lived in neighborhoods for generations are now forced out because of the changing environment.  

The government is doing what it can to help these people, but the resources are limited.  In 2009, heavy rains caused floods that affected nearly 10,000 families living around the lake.  What’s worse is that the past two years have been relatively dry, but the water continues to rise.   

We turned around in La Source, Haiti and took Highway 46 back to Barahona.  The drive back was solemn from everything we had seen.  Still, the landscape was incredible; during stretches of the drive, I felt like we might be the only people within miles.  I was able to see iguanas first had, which is probably the closest I’ll ever come to seeing dinosaurs in real life (my dream).  We also passed by caves, now protected by the government, that were home to the indigenous people on the island.  The incredible fact is that the very same geography that gives us food, water, and shelter can be the same that takes it all away in an instant.  

 
I wish I could follow up these problems with some good solutions, but I cannot provide any – except to pray for the people here and the solidarity of communities.  They are a resourceful people and will find a way to cope, rebuild, and stay strong.    



Many other adventures have happened in the past two weeks, but this was the one I wanted to share with you all.  I hope everyone back home stays safe and is living every moment they have to the fullest.  You all are never far away from my thoughts and prayers.

Russ

Up in the Mountains

Days 11-23

Time does not seem to slow down here in Barahona, despite the relaxed attitude of the people who live here.  My days have been filled with activities and jobs of various sorts, from the Bakery Project, to the unofficial school photographer, to being a coach, and to just being present.  

Each day starts off early with mass at 6:30 in the morning.  I’ve adjusted to this schedule, although reluctantly at first, and have found it peaceful to begin the day in church, being able to see the sun out the eastern windows.  After mass, we head back the house for breakfast, which we quickly eat to be prepared for the kids who arrive to start school at 7:30.  We get our work done during the day, with lunch at 12:30 and dinner at 7:30.  After dinner, we have our personal time to relax and get ready for the next day ahead of us.

Like I stated in the first post, there are two sessions of school each day – one in the morning and one in the evening.  Each has a recess period, and during that time, we all go outside to interact with the children and relax from work for a bit.  At first the children were shy around me, but now they’re not afraid to approach me.  The other day, a boy came up to me and asked:

Boy: Are you from the United States?

Me: Yes, I am.

Boy: Are you white because you ate a lot of rice?

Me: (Laughing) Yes, of course!  And too much milk.

Boy: You don’t eat anymore rice.  I’ll eat rice and we can switch places!

The children are really the life of this place.  Even when school is not in session, the children will hang around until the gates close at night, around 7 or 7:30.  The Salesian sisters here always treat the children with extra care and love, and with 700 kids, it can be hard.  Occasionally, a child will come to school hungry, having not had dinner the night before or breakfast that morning.  While the sisters do not want the children to get used to depending on them for meals, they will never turn a child away hungry.    Other times, children will ask for help with a task or other problem, and the sisters always take time to give attention to the children.  When the children are acting up, the sisters are not afraid to correct their actions, but only through words and positive examples.  Just observing their attitude towards the children is a learning guide for me.

Last Wednesday, a group of us from the parish took a trip up in the mountains to a nearby village.  It’s ‘relatively’ nearby in that it’s probably only 10 miles or so away from here, but takes about 45 minutes to drive to.  Off the main road, it’s just a dirt road that gets washed out badly during rainstorms.  Traversing the ruts and mud uphill is a slow process, but it was scenic all along the way.  From up on the mountains, you can face out and see the ocean, with a dense tropical forest to your back that looked as if it could swallow you whole.  

Due to the remote location, the people in the mountains have very little and live thriftily.  Chickens, hogs, and donkeys are a common sight for the people there and provide food for families.  Fresh fruits and vegetables grow in the forest, which the people depend on every day.  Many of the villages are small pockets of houses packed closely together; small communities scattered along this dirt road in the mountains.  As we drove by, the adults would wave and the children would run after the truck for a short ways, cheering and smiling.  We finally came to a school atop a hill to donate supplies and visit the people in this community.  As we pulled up, people gathered around to warmly welcome us and invite us into their community.

While we were there, we also brought another gift.  For Christmas, my brother, Paul, gave me a soccer ball to take with me on this trip.  Well, I came to find out that most people don’t play soccer here; it’s all basketball and baseball.  Luckily, it was a new ball (American-made too!) and the markets are flexible here – we were able to trade the soccer ball for a basketball and get a discount on a hoop.  The school had wanted to build a basketball goal, but did not have funds for one.  Thanks to Paul’s gift and the Sister’s bargaining (and a few extra pesos) we were able to get the supplies to finish the basketball goal for the kids.  When we presented the gift, I told them it was from my family and the Sisters here.  To show thanks, they sang a song for us, which was very heartfelt.  Paul - know that your gift to me has gone much further than I could have made it go on my own and you have impacted the people here.

After the visit, on the way back down the mountain, I was reflecting on what we experienced.  The people didn’t need a basketball goal; certainly it may have been more beneficial for us to trade in the ball for more school supplies, or even other items needed by the community.  But the group insisted on a basketball goal, because it’s more than just an activity.  It gives the children something to do together, than they can all share in.  It’s an outlet for the children who are otherwise secluded from the rest of the city.  There’s something to be said for learning the value of teamwork at a young age, and while basketball is not the only way to learn it, I think it’s an easy and positive way for kids to do so.

On the way back, I was speaking with a few of the other volunteers who made the trip with us.  Three were from Haiti, and had learned English there (as well as French, Spanish, and Creole).  They were encouraging to speak with, giving me confidence that I’ll pick up Spanish in time.  They came to the Dominican Republic to study to become doctors.  They spoke with pride about their country, but also with sadness because the people need so much there.  He said many people who are lucky enough to get educated in Haiti end up leaving the country for good, because of the instability of the economy and political situation.  These young men were different though and it was very inspiring to hear their stories.  They wanted to become medical doctors and return back to Haiti to help.  They realize they could make much more money in other Caribbean countries as doctors, but choose to help their people over making money.   As one of the Haitian volunteers said, 

“The government does not take care of the people, the communities take care of the people.  But what happens when the people leave and stop caring for one another?  Things will never improve that way.  That is why we must help.  If no one helps, everything will stay the same.”

I hope everyone back home is safe and well.  You all are in my thoughts and prayers.  Peace.

First Impressions

Days 1-10

Hello friends and family!  In the 10 days that I’ve been in the Dominican Republic, much has happened – so I’ll do my best to recap to try and capture the environment I’m living in.

I began my travels on Jan. 31^st and flew from Louisville to Charlotte to Miami to Santo Domingo, whereupon I arrived at 9:30 p.m. local time (I’m in the Atlantic Time Zone, 1 hour ahead of EST).  As I waited to get my visa and exchange currency, I felt a bit nervous about beginning this journey (not being very efficient in Spanish may have played a small or large part in the nervousness).  I collected my bags and shortly thereafter, I was greeted by the sisters near the exit.  On the plane, I had practiced what I would say and guessed some questions they might ask me, so I was able to respond to them fairly easily.  But then, we had a 30 minute car ride to the capital, and questions were asked that I did not understand.  Luckily, one of the sisters spoke English!  Something I definitely did not expect.  So we were able to communicate and talk on the way to the capital.

 

The following day, I got oriented with the other Salesian sisters and volunteers in the community.   We started discussing what I would be doing during my stay here: helping at the school, doing small repairs to the ceiling of the chapel, re-routing rainwater, and helping restart a bakery in Barahona.  As we were going over the bakery project, I was told that I’d be leaving for Barahona the very next day.  While I was excited to go to Barahona, I was also a little apprehensive because I was told that English was not spoken there. 

The next day, I left for Barahona and felt the frustration from my lack of Spanish.  A lot of times, I knew what they were saying, but couldn’t form a correct response.  The drive along the coast was beautiful, passing through many small towns along the way.  The drive also showed the uneven distribution of wealth in the Dominican Republic.  The tourist places are well kept and maintained, but apart from that, many people live in poverty.  The drive to Barahona was a reminder for me, to let me know why I am here: to give what I have to help out those in need.  At this point in my life, it’s my time.  While I may not change the world, country, city, or even community, I believe that my service will be worth it if I affect just one person positively (but hopefully more than that).

In Barahona, I learned about the bakery and the school, which operate in the same compound, where I am also staying.  Again, meeting and greeting everyone was a little difficult due to the language barrier, but we will overcome that with time.  The bakery will be a very interesting project and I am very eager to keep working on it.  We hope for it to re-open in May and as of now, we are still planning out such things as the menu, supply ordering, hours of operation, job descriptions, etc.  The goal of the project is to provide employment to members of the community, while also making nutritious bread available to families at an affordable price.  

The school has about 700 kids attending it, with two different sessions per day: the morning and the afternoon, so there are always kids around, which creates a very lively environment.  All the teachers are very dedicated to their jobs, and the sisters are so encouraging with the kids that it creates a very warm environment of learning.   I hope to employ the principles of accompaniment with the kids and continue to learn Salesian values from the sisters throughout my stay here.  

 

At the school, three days a week, the kids have basketball practice in the school yard, where about 100 kids show up to practice and play.  Baseball may be the sport to watch in the Dominican Republic, but basketball is definitely the sport to play – almost every schoolyard has a full sized court outside with numerous public courts as well.  The kids are broken up by age to make it more manageable, and also practice at different times.  The practices have been something that I look forward too, as non-verbal communication is much easier to do on the court, where I can help coach and play with the kids.  The older group age range is about 17-20, so I’m able to play competitively with them.

In the 10 days I’ve been here, I’ve learned quite a bit and look forward to the continuous learning.  Here are a few things I didn’t expect, but have encountered:

1. Motorcycles, dirt bikes, and mopeds are the main mode of transportation.  In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve already ridden them a handful of times, and is quite an experience in the busy streets.
2.  Washing clothes by hand is tough work.  Don’t take your washer and dryer for granted, trust me.
3.  There are so many different types of fruits/vegetables in the banana family that I didn’t know about.  Lots.
4. My name is hard for people to pronounce here, so it usually ends up being Russo, Rose, or – my favorite – Roosevelt.
5.  Baseball may be the sport to watch in the Dominican Republic, but basketball is definitely the sport to play.

  

Friends and family back home: take care.  I’ll try to update the blog every week or two and provide pictures.  Peace.