So things have happened since the last time that I’ve written in this, some of them good, some of them bad and some of them just down right ugly.
So, let’s start with the list:
The Good:
I started a literacy class for adults and it is doing well. We have about 6 people that come regularly. The majority are Haitians, which is good because they usually don’t have a chance to receive services like this. This is a woman that comes every time with her 4 kids all under the age of 11. They all sit there quietly until she’s done. That’s inspiring. I also have a lot of kids come that have never been to school. So I tried to get them enrolled in school, so they can learn a little more. It didn’t go so well, but they parents actually took off of work to come make sure their kids got into school. I felt motivated with their involvement. They also gave me a huge thing of sugar cane. I don’t like it, but it was a nice gesture.
I am organizing a 5 weeks of summer day camps in my town. It’s almost done. I’m really excited because there are different themes every week. It’s going to be really cool. The kids are all very excited about it.
I’m also working more with a girls group to show them how to make recycled paper and yoghurt among many things.
I convinced visiting medical interns to start youth groups focused on sexual education. So, all I’m doing is monitoring them and nothing else, and I get the credit for making them…I love it! Next time I’m going to convince them to work with women to do nutrition courses, first aid and reproductive health.
The Bad:
The mothers’ group that I was working with has been spreading gossip that I don’t want to work. It got back to me twice. I had my boss come out and talk to the women. They gave every excuse imaginable about why they couldn’t or wouldn’t work with me. One woman even made an excuse that I shouldn’t have a meeting at a set time, and not adjust it. I’m sorry, I didn’t know I had to spend my entire day waiting for you to find time for me. It put my counterpart permanently 100% against me forever. She doesn’t want to talk to me, which is actually very good because now I don’t have to deal with her. She has the emotional maturity of a 14yr old. Her kids are all malnourished and sickly and she’s worrying about everyone else’s kids. So, we’re going to evaluate her kids…that should go over very well…not.
The Ugly:
The Literacy group that I started was supposed to be for Dominicans that can’t read. I went out and informed a few Haitians and they all came, which is good because they are taking advantage of this opportunity. The Dominicans saw all the Haitians there and decided not to come back. I was then approached by one of the girls helping me in the class saying that another girl refused to help teach because she doesn’t teach Haitians. They then told me to make an hour for Dominicans and an hour for Haitians. I was like NO, this isn’t the 1960s in the South with segregation. If you don’t want to learn with Haitians, then that’s not my fault. They are people too that want to learn and are motivated to learn. So because of that, I am going to start focusing my efforts on the Haitian community because they are actually motivated and they
So that is that for right now. I guess the good has out weighed the bad and ugly. Until next time.
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