Day 2: Let It Rain

Team 1:  Joe Hartman School

We returned to Joe Hartman School today to finish the work we started yesterday.  After two truckloads of dirt had been delivered to the school, at least one and a half of them remained for us to haul into place today.  It seemed unthinkable to finish it all in one day, but our work crew was adamant.  We couldn’t accept any more shipments until a space was cleared.  Bucket by bucket, we filled each wheelbarrow with the mud that had been soaked with the overnight rain.  The mud was stickier and heavier than yesterday, but we weren’t deterred.  

Intermittent showers periodically interrupted our work, but honestly, this was probably a blessing.  We were so focused on our goal that we hardly remembered to take breaks.  Fortunately, whenever it started to rain, our crew leaders demanded we take a little descanso until the rain let up.  Those little rests certainly helped us maintain our stamina throughout the difficult work day.  Just as we transported our last wheelbarrow full of dirt, the bus arrived to take us back to Casa Pastoral.  With impeccable timing, we had accomplished a goal that had once seemed impossible.

Team 2: The Dream Team

Our Dream Team was all fired up to return to Batey 9 on Tuesday to pour concrete into the newly dug trenches and begin constructing the foundation of the house. We arrived at turn-off to Batey 91 and discovered the road was impassable due to flooding, which prevented our construction crew from delivering the cement mixer and other heavy machinery to the work site. We will have to wait at least until tomorrow to pour the foundation.

For the meantime, here is a photo of the trenches at the end of yesterday’s workday on Batey 91. Note the dilapidated houses in the background, which eventually will all be replaced with new concrete homes like the one we are building now.

Instead of working on Batey 91, we traveled to a suburban neighborhood outside La Romana to continue construction on their new school (not Kilometer 6 and the Joe Hartman School). One team prepared the concrete walls of the second floor for painting by smoothing out the walls with rocks while another group worked in the courtyard to remove large concrete pillars that had been set in the ground. The process took team members with a combined weight of over 1,000 lbs to tear each pillar out of the ground and transport it to a dump site. Much of this work was done during a Caribbean downpour, which only strengthened the team’s resolve to remove the pillars.

Our wall sanding squad. 

At the end of the day, we were soaked and tired, but happy with our work.

Team 3: Medical Clinic

We had a yuuuuge day at the medical clinic. Despite the downpour, we treated 152 patients, many of whom waited outside in the downpour. Today's spectrum of cases included but were not limited to; Flu, cold symptoms, infectious abscesses, muscle dystrophy, malnourishment, dehydration, hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma, parasites, acne, and scabies. 

Doctor Lys holds an extremely malnourished six-month-old infant has had the development of a two-month-old. She was incredibly small and could not sit. According to our doctors, she was at least 6 - 8 lbs underweight.

Digging, rebar, and foot casts oh my!

Mission: Day 1
Status: Complete.

Today was our first day of real work out in the field. La Fuerza Azul split into three teams that went to separate locations.

Team 1: The self-proclaimed "Dream Team" were the first group ever to begin work at Batey 91, known locally as "Papita." Since all of the concrete homes at Batey 50 were completed, we have the opportunity to work with a nearby village and forge new, lasting relationships. We were the first team to break ground on the first house to be built in the batey. Working alongside our contracted Dominican construction crew, we dug long trenches approximately 2 feet deep using just pickaxes and shovels.  Often we encountered large rocks that had to be painstakingly broken apart before we could continue shoveling.  In addition to shoveling, students tied together rebar to prepare it for placement in the trenches to reinforce the concrete.  We saw a wide variety of animals including  pigs, turkeys, chickens, horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats. Although there were countless animals, we took to naming two of the dogs.  One we named "Dog," and the other we named "Cat."

Zach D. & Nate F. in the trenches

Claire C. playing with a child on Batey 91

"Dream Team" selfie

Team 2: The second group of students returned to the Joe Hartman School located at Kilometer 6. This is a private elementary school affiliated with The Good Samaritan Mission.  Our team has sponsored the education of several students and the secondary education of their teachers over the years.

Last year, our Wat DR team helped build a playground for the students. Here it is today:

After arriving to the campus, we got to work immediately on the next phase of expansion: the cafeteria.  First, we cleared the ground of plywood, nails, and weeds in preparation for leveling the floor. By lunchtime, we had hauled a truckload of 94 lb bags of concrete into a storage unit.  In the afternoon, we worked on the future floor of the cafeteria.  Because the ground was too low and rather uneven, we moved two truckloads of dirt--by hand--to begin the leveling process.  One of our greatest takeaways was the time it took to complete our task at hand.  In the United States, machines would have done in ten minutes what it took a team of fifteen people literally hours to accomplish.   We certainly had a newfound appreciation for infrastucture, both here in the DR and abroad.

Team 3: Our third and final team went Batey Guazabal to run our medical clinic. Our team of students, adults, doctors, a dentist, and multiple other medical professionals treated 110 patients. Common ailmants that we saw were malnutrition, vision problems (cataracts), headaches, back pain, infections, and several large absesses that required draining. One patient needed to have a cast removed from his foot that had been on for five months. This process took upwards of 30 minutes and required the attention of all four doctors.

Our four fearless doctors! (From left to right) Anil, Maggie, Lys, and Ann.

One adorable little patient. 

Former Head of Upper School, Sandy Garcia, helping to run the medical clinic. Her dual fluency in English and Spanish is key to our success.

Several children on Batey Guazabal

To finish our night, we are food packing. We are thankful for a successful work day and look forward to the opportunities tomorrow will bring for us to improve the standard of living for our fellow human beings here in the Dominican Republic.

Hasta mañana! 

No fear- we're here!

La Fuerza Azul (The Blue Force) has arrived safe and sound at La Casa Pastoral! Our wonderful hosts have been working hard to make sure we are confortable, well fed, and ready to go for our first day of work tomorrow.

Travel day went without a hitch, and all 54 travelers (and their bags!) made it safely from JFK to Santo Domingo. Serious props to JetBlue for accommodating such a large group! Upon our arrival to Casa Pastoral last night, we were treated to a delicious dinner of chicken and rice, a staple of our daily diet here in the DR. 

TODAY:  Day 0. 

(Day 1 is reserved for tomorrow, our first day in the field.)

Following a scrumptious breakfast of pancakes and sausages, we sorted through the remainder of our collected medicine and vitamins into labeled plastic baggies for distribution. For several hours, the dining hall transformed into a bustling pharmacy, with students and adults working together under the supervision of our fearless doctors and teachers. Our work was accompanied by a playlist featuring old-school Taylor Swift in her country days. Over the course of the week, we expect to treat over 700 patients in our mobile med clinic and exhaust all of our medical donations. Any leftover medical supplies will be donated to El Buen Samaritano, the local hospital affiliated with La Casa Pastoral. 

This afternoon we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the beach. The rain stayed away just long enough for us to enjoy a dip into the beautiful Caribbean water.  "I have never water that blue!" exclaimed one of the students. Photographs just do not convey the full beauty of the Dominican Republic. You really have to be there to see it. #WatDR2017, you in? 

After dinner, we gathered as a team to prepare food kits. Each bag of food contains 12 bags of rice, a container of oil, corn maize, pasta, and sardines.  This is enough to feed a family for approximately a month.  Our organized assembly lines made for incredible efficiency and teamwork.

We had a mild and restful day to prepare for a work-filled week ahead.  We're anxious, excited, and above all else- we're ready.  Buenas noches, y hasta mañana.

Applying for the 2016 Trip

The application process for the 2016 DRST is about to kick off! There is a new resource board on the Watkinson learning management system (LMS) that has an archive of trip photos, required application forms, travel dates, and important background info. If you are considering traveling with the team and have questions, please contact Jenni French.

FAQs
Middle school students are allowed to apply, but if selected must travel with a parent. Parents of Watkinson students are welcome on this trip, whether their student is traveling with the team or not. Alumni and alumni parents are also welcome to join the team.

Working on our 6th House

Watkinson's Dominican Republic Service Team just returned from its sixth week of work in La Romana. When we began this work in 2010, we had no idea how much the team would grow, how many community partners we would forge, or how many friends we'd make on the bateys of La Romana.

Here is a photo of the 6th house we worked on at Batey 50. What a blessing it is to be the one who gets to bring the help!

Day Four: Vlogging at Kilometer 6

A brief history: The school at Kilometer 6 is privately funded but serves local students tuition-free.  It began thanks to a man named Jean-Luc, a pastor at the church next door.  He saw a great need for poorer families, particularly Haitian immigrants, to receive access to a good education and free, quality healthcare.  Jean-Luc began to travel to the United States to foster support for his social projects in the DR.  Unfortunately, in November of 2001, he perished in a plane crash in New York City.

His wife, Elsa, has carried out the remainder of his initial vision.  Thanks to her, the elementary school is completed.  It is a beautiful two-story campus, with large classrooms, clean restrooms, and beautiful murals throughout.  Although many kids come from destitute backgrounds, their well-kept and healthy appearance would make you believe otherwise.  The relative privilege they appear to have is thanks to sponsors who donate a yearly amount, which covers their uniform, books, tuition, and any other required expenses.  The results are amazing.

Enjoy a couple of clips of life at Kilometer 6.   It's the next best thing to being there yourself.

Ring around the Rosie

Proof that we actually do work.

And of course, we enjoyed a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner at a lovely resort.  After a week like this, it wasn't hard to find reasons to be grateful.

Day Three: "Everything is possible."

After a third day of work at each of the sites, our muscles are tired.  The heavy lifting of concrete at Kilometer six, the shoveling at Batey 50, the sheer mental energy required to manage work at the medical clinic... (Our most recent clinic served a record 180 patients, and the team did not take lunch until all patients were seen.)

So we ended work an hour or so early to squeeze in an afternoon at the beach.  The Wednesday crowd was small, and the lighting at dusk was beautiful.  Although we were there for only an hour, it allowed us to play together, to appreciate some of the natural beauty around us, and to recharge for the remainder of the week.

After dinner and dessert, we were privy to a presentation by two local residents, Jonathan and Belkis. Jonathan (pictured in white) is a full-time employee for the Mission that is hosting us.  Born on a batey, he was one of a privileged few to be able to leave and find himself work.  His dad developed a close relationship with the mayor of the Batey, so the mayor invited him to be a security guard at his house in the city at night.  He worked nights at the security post and continued to cut cane in the batey during daytime.  During this period of round-the-clock work, he was able to slowly move his family from the batey into the city. 

We asked Jonathan what the chances are that the kids we've met this week will too find their way out.  The answer reflected a grim reality: "almost impossible."  In order to maintain residence at a batey, one must work directly for the sugar company which owns the land.  To leave the batey, a family (often with five or six kids) must relinquish their home before being able to enter the city to find a new job or residence.  And since few people can read or write on the batey, finding a job in the city is unrealistic, if not impossible.  

Jonathan's story was raw and honest.  Nevertheless, it was loaded with appreciation, hope, and humor.  He introduced to us Belkis, a young woman (pictured in blue) who was also born on a batey.  Her mother was helping her to pay for an education to become a teacher, but she had to stop paying when Belkis's little brother got sick. Fortunately, over the last two-and-a-half years, she was sponsored by Watkinson's donation to the Mission, which enabled her to resume and complete her university education.  Last year, on December 13th--her birthday--she graduated with a degree in education and has since been employed full-time as a teacher.  "I can help my mom now," she said in Spanish, "and I can pay for my younger sister's tuition.  There's nothing left over every month but I am happy."  Her short and humble speech expressed sheer gratitude for people like us who are kind enough to sponsor children like her to achieve their dreams.  "Thank God for people like you, and may God bless you," she repeated over and over.  She was praying for us--what a humbling experience. 

Jonathan closed the session by saying "Everything is possible--through God, YouTube, and Google."  Laughter erupted.  With a smirk on his face, he added, "Seriously guys, those tutorials can teach you anything."  

What better way to begin Thanksgiving than with a newfound appreciation for our education and technology?  Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  And with that--let's make the most of our last two days of service.