Monday, May 21--Our First Day out in the Field

So today we took the entire group out to a barrio clinic.  We didn't go too far out today since we weren't sure about what the situation would be in the country after the elections yesterday.  We went to a community called Las Carerras de Sosa.  We had a great time.  All of the students--engineering students, nursing students--everyone went to experience the day.  I had a great time showing students a little bit about the Dominican people and the culture.  One think that was pretty interesting was the reaction of one young student.  We set up the clinic at the local elementary school in the community.  Since the grounds were fairly small, we asked a local woman if we could use a shady area in her yard for the kids to help entertain them and play games so that they were not getting trampled by all the people coming and going.  She told me that was fine, but apologized that her yard was a bit messy and had some trash.  I told her to please not worry.  She grabbed her broom made from tree branches and began sweeping the area, which was basically just dirt.  The student said, "But I don't know why she is sweeping the dirt . . ."  I explained that she was honored that we were using her yard and that she wanted to make what she had look as nice as it possibly could.  While to us it is "only dirt," to her, it is her yard and her place that she is proud of.  To see the student's expression change at the realization and change in perspective was great.  It was a moment where this student realized just how much he takes for granted on a daily basis.

We worked till noon and then stopped to eat the lunches we brought.  It is mango season here, and we were in a community that grows TONS of mangoes (I think my favorite fruit).  Some of the local boys climbed trees out back to get some mangoes for us to eat.  They knocked down a bunch, and ultimately sent us back with three bags full to have here at the guest house. What a great treat!

local boys picking mangoes for us to eat at lunch

 After lunch I went walking with some of the students through the town to see a bit about how the Dominican people live.  They got a chance to see a local Colmado (a type of quick shop) where they pick up true necessities.  We got a chance to ask a variety of questions.  We learned that eggs cost 6 pesos each, of $1.00 per half dozen.  At that price, we could easily see why the Dominicans do not rely on eggs as a food staple.  We got a chance to see the local crops of Yucca (a starch root vegetable--not like the ornamental cactus we know in the U.S.), corn, rice, plantains, mangoes, bananas and guandules.  Guandules are somewhat like a cross between a pea and a lima bean.  They are actually quite good.  We had some tonight in our dinner.  The pic below is a family shelling the guandules that they grow.

Shelling guandules (a legume that is kind of a cross between a pea and a lima bean)

 I ended up taking three groups around the community where students had the opportunity to interact with some of the locals and ask questions.  I loved every minute being able to help them expand their worlds just a little bit.  And mine too.  I always learn so much from these trips.

This last photo is a group of students who were working in the pharmacy handing out the medications that our Dominican doctors prescribed to the patients we saw.  It really was a terrific day.  I think we are all exhausted and ready for a good night's sleep.

Tomorrow we will have one group of students going to barrio clinics and another headed to a school to help do teacher workshops teaching Dominican teachers about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math subjects.  We will have about 90 teachers tomorrow.  I am looking forward to it!

Curlers--Not for curling hair!  Notice the holes in the curlers.  This is the Dominican hair dryer.  The air moves through the curlers and the sun and air dry the hair.

A group of students and a translator working int he pharmacy section of the barrio clinic.