La Vida Dominicana...

Mother of God, The day has finally arrived...

2009-06-04T22:11:00.002-04:00

I woke up this morning with a particularly joyful pep in my step...why you may ask?? Today was the last freaking day of school!!! Can I just say that this day came so quickly, not too long ago I was bragging about a mere 85 days of school left and look...my countdown is ova!!! WHOOOO HOOOOO...considering my blogging hiatus, let me take a few steps back and catch you up...

So, in about April, I had a moment when I realized that I actually like my students! Granted there were still a few boogers I could do without, me di cuenta que I liked/loved enough of them to make such a generalization!!! (In case you have forgotten, initially I kicked myself in the ass everyday I had to go to work and every moment I thought about work..see previous posts for a refresher) In all honestly, I don't know what happened or how it happened but I have thanked God everyday after that prolific moment in April...I started to care so much for the well being of my former devils that I committed to another year with them. Yes, that means I agreed to not only another year on this tropical paradise, but I agreed to LOOP with my kiddos. (For those of you non educators, that means I will be moving up to 4th grade with my current students!!!) Hahahahhaha, CrAzY, I know!!!! But in all fairness, I spent about 8 out of 10 months doing a half ass job simply because my job was hell....kids were basically on crack! Anywho, I figured I owed it them and to myself to make up for lost time.....I have great things planned for next year and I cannot wait to get the ball rolling...after a well deserved summer vacay of course!!!!!!!

And that my friends brings me back to, today. A day filled with Computer Final exam, tears, laughter, and gifts!! I'll share lessons learned and memeorable moments later for now I am just gonna bask in the fact that this year from hell is over!!!!! School's out for summa....School's out foreva!!!!

Worst Blogger Ever..

2009-05-21T16:27:00.002-04:00

I know, I know it have been too long. It is so funny because I am always thinking about how I need to blog but never seem to get around to it :( There are never ever enough hours in the day I tell ya...
As you can imagine, sssssooooooo much has gone on since my last post. So, here's what I am gonna do...rather than thinking about blogging I am gonna put it on my to do list!!! You know how I love my to do list so...check back on Monday...vale la pena! xoxo

Holiday Season

2009-02-01T10:21:00.001-03:00

THANKSGIVING was great...spent it with a several of my friends here. We had a potluck dinner where I made some yummy mash potatoes and one mean salad!! It was great to spend the Holiday with people who are just as thankful for their blessings as I am :) (Sorry no other pictures, I stole this one from Jean because I left my cam at home)

CHRISTMAS break was fabulous!!! Jean (1 of my roomies) and I decided that we would take the opportunity to travel around the Dominican Republic...We planned to visit the follow amazing cities in the DR: samana, las terrenas, bahia de rincon, playa bonita, Uvero alto, bavaro, punta cana, la romana, pedernales, lago enriquillo, bahia de las aguilas, dajabon, monti cristi, constanza, jarabacoa, Puerto plata, rio san juan, cabrera<---------in that order, if you look at a DR map we wanted to literally go around the country starting NW!

As you can imagine I could write forever about this experience but I will do my best to keep it short! Despite the fact we were told otherwise, there were no buses to Samana!! We had to take a gua gua (a 15 passanger van often filled with 20+ people AND their luggage!!) Let me just making the 4 hour drive up to Samaná was not the most comfy however a fellow passanger kept us entertained...she spent nearly the entire drive complaining about how the price should be cheaper and she shouldn't have to pay for her big ass suitcase!! lol. When we finally and I mean that...FINALLY made it to Samaná. Samaná is filled with interesting history that we wanted to take in but when we asked a few people for a few of the places that we wanted to see they all acted dumbfounded so...

Businesses in Samaná...super cute!!

we left. How did we get to Las T you may ask?? Gua gua!!! While we were promised the best seat in the gua gua by the cobrador...we ended up sitting in the bed of the truck with 14 other people, a table and 2 chairs.. Oh wait, let me explain...this gua gua was a 4 door toyota truck with a standard size, small bed. Let's just say I thought for sure someone or something was falling out. Pero, gracias a Dios...everyone made it to their destination :) Las Terrenas = Surreal!!!

She got a discount on her fare :D

Some of my favorite shots in Las Terrenas :)

We spent the night in Las T and trecked over to Playa Bonita the next morning. I think the name says it all...Pretty Beach

So our plan was to head back to Samaná to catch a Caribe bus to Santo Domingo but...when we finally made it back to Samaná the last bus had already left...Shit! In retrospect we could have just spent the night there in Samaná, but we were eager to get to the Capital to sightsee there the following day. After a 2 second brainstorming session we decided to find a gua gua heading to SD. The gua gua trip started off very sllllooowwww. Our driver apparently was not answering his phone so a temp stepped in to drive the gua gua to the real driver's HOUSE where we discovered that he was sleeping!!!! lol. When he finally woke up and jumped aboard, he put the pedal to the metal and didn't stop until we arrived to SD!! Can I just say that the trip from Samaná to SD was the scariest trip of my life!! I mean mid trip I started to panic because I knew that Jean didn't have my mom's phone number in case I didn't make it, I also made sure my window could open in the case i needed to jump out and I also planned extensive escape routes just in case I had to get out quickly...lol. Long story short we didn't even get to sightsee the next day...Everything was closed except for the mall and Plaza Lama (uhm, a store like...walmart) because it was Christmas Eve!! lol. We just spent that day planning out next few days while at the mall and walking along the Malecon. We had Christmas Eve dinner at Hard Rock Cafe along with all the other expats in Santo Domingo!! lol. But don't you worry what the following day had in store was well worth the drab day in SD :) The next day we woke up bright and headed toward the East...

Christmas program at CBNH :)

2008-12-18T10:39:00.000-03:00

Despite the ridiculous about of stress involved in this production, my students and I had a great time at the program. Each grade toddlers-3rd were had to perform a Christmas song in English.

While most teachers chose to combine both of thier groups I divided mine into 2 groups. 3-1 sang Jingle Bells and 3-2 sang Jingle Bell Rock...Can I just say that I had some really upset children in 3-1 because they all wanted to do Jinlge Bell Rock. Let's face it the stage was way too small for all forty of their big bodies....When it was all said and done this is by far one of my most favorite memories at CBNH thus far...I only wish I would have remembered my camera :( I only have 2 stolen pics to share...

He came in shouting, "look Teacher Lucie, we have the same hair!!" He preformed with his cute 'fro and then was like, "man this hair is hot, how do you do it?" One of my faves :) (who can also whoop some serious ass when he gets mad!!)

Rocking out during Jingle Bell Rock!!! Soooooooooo cute!!

Christmas is coming...

2008-11-23T22:24:00.009-03:00

I love how enthusiastic Dominicans are about Christmas!! By early October candy canes started popping up in my students lunch bags and by mid October stores where playing Christmas tunes and the aisles were filled with beautiful Holiday decorations!

Yay...Robin!!!!

2008-10-26T23:20:00.004-03:00

After 3 months of being in the Dominican Republic I FINALLY had the opportunity to hang with my favorite Austinite!!!! We spent Saturday watching the Horns whoop some OSU ass at Jose Oshay's in Cabarete :)

Wait, wait...Let me explain our history so that you too can be just as excited as I am...Robin and I were in the same bilingual ed cohort back at UT and saw each other everyday for about a year and a half (literally)!!!! We spent many many afternoons lesson planning, chatting, and playing boardgames at Dominican Joe (in Austin). Robin has been working as la directora of Colegio Makarios (north coast of DR) for about a year and a half now. I love that she's here and that we finally got to catch up!!

Check out: http://makariosinternational.org

xoxo

Thank God September is OVER!!!

2008-10-12T12:55:00.008-03:00

SEPTEMBER = annoying month...that's a pretty standard feeling right? OCTOBER has started off amazing!! I have spent the first 2 weekends at two of my favorite beaches on the island...well I have to admit I have yet to visit a beach I disliked but these two favs for 2 very distinct reason.

Cabarete

I love Cabarete, which is north of Santiago about 1.5 hours away, because of the beach scene that comes with it...tons of kite surfing, beach vendors, shops, parties, etc. (Cabarete is where Amaury and I met...)

Playa Ensenada

Playa Ensenada, which is northwest of Santiago about 2 hours away, is amazing because it is a very secluded beach with few people and very shallow beautiful water...it's the perfect place to just relax. Not to mention the amazingly fresh seafood...When we ordered our lunch the chef said it would take about 2 hours to prepare because the need to go out and catch the fish and lobster!!!

Now this is how the first 2 weekends have been spent...let me share a little about the first 2 weeks, M-F...errrrrr!!! I must say that my students are making some improvements but if very few and very small improvements :( I still miss my kids in Texas miserably!!!!! I look forward to the day when I will not have to plead for respect in the classroom or beg a student to stop crawling/sliding on the floor and work!! hahahah...I can only laugh at this point. This month we get no Holidays so...I may just have to take a mental health day or 2 just to keep my sanity. Also, grades went out last week and I must say that parents were not too happy with their children earning 65-80...My only response was..."if your child would behave he/she would complete their assignments and get better grades." These are the same parents mind you who have ignored my several attempts to meet with them to discuss their child's progress in class so my response to that drama is....whomp!

¡Que locura!

2008-09-17T09:35:00.012-04:00

Rancho Tipico with Jean, Carly, & Ariel Midweek distraction with Leila & Jean Randomness with Carly and Charlotte

So I have been slacking and that it has been 2 weeks since you've received an update (thanks for the reminder Viiiic), but life here has been a bit crazy!! No excuses...I know, I know but I'm just putting it out there!! ;) From traveling, to stressful working conditions, to unnecessary roomate drama, September has been a CrAzY month !!!
The first weekend of the Month Hurrican Ike was suppose to do some serious damage to Santiago so, my friend Carly and I decided to have a Hurricane Party...just good excuse to get all our favorite people under one cement roof for fun! We had a great time waiting out the storm however it really didn't do ANY damage here!! I was really hoping and praying that my school would get some extra rain so that we wouldn't have school but...no luck! On the flip side, Hurricane Ike did some serious damage back home in Houston and I was unable to talk to my family for about 2 weeks :( Thank God they are all alive and well!!
My students are still cute and crazy! See pictures for proof!! Also just to give you some idea on the stress level at this place in the past 5 years only 2 out of 15-20 Americans have completed the whole year. Also, one teacher at our school in the capital gracefully bowed out earlier this month...that's a new record!! lol That's all I am going to say about that.

In all honesty, they are not always bad...just most of the time!! Check out the new ways to sit in a desk and do your work..haha!

Okay so Tex Mex dinner party...WAS A HIT! Jean and I both being from Texas really started craving some GOOD Mexican food so we decided that we'd whip up a meal for us and all of our friends. We went with tacos and tequila. Well okay tequila was too freaking expensive so we had vodka instead but told everyone it was tequila and they all bought it...lol we had "tequila"sunrises and soap flavored piña coladas (yea, ewww) and of course cuba libres (rum with a splash of coke).

Also, I saw my favorite group ever, Aventura, in concert 2 nights in a row!!!! I laughed, I sang, and I cried...best show ever!!

So in a nutshell, I am loving life and truly blessed to be here at this moment.

xoxo

Teacher Crystal (Despite my efforts to get them to call me Miss St. Lucie, this is what my students insist on calling me...hehe)

2008-09-01T23:25:00.006-04:00

So...I know you've missed my updates miserably but, I swear it wasn't my fault!! My laptop charger decided that after FIVE years of love that it would die on me during my second week here!!! Imagine the frustrated that followed...especially considering the fact that there isn't a well established postal service here so mailing anything takes WEEKS!!!! Needless to say...I have to catch up for lost time and I have tons to share!!!

What am I going to be doing in the DR you all ask?? As of right now I am a 3rd grade teacher at a private bilingual school, English professor at PUCMM (private university in Santiago where I actually went to school in 2004), volunteering, taking a language courses (French and/or Spanish), and traveling throughout this amazing country.

Where shall I begin...school started last Monday and let's just say I miss my 4th graders in Austin. My students this year are a bit of a handful and possibly unconsciously disrespectful toward authority. They whistle or say pssss to get my attention, it takes me saying their name about 10 times before they acknowledge my presence and once I do have their attention they give me the hand (which means to wait)...hahahha!!! After day one I was truly mesmerized and didn't know how to respond to it all, but after many afternoons of reflection and a few jumbo Presidentes I have come to the realization that what I encounter and perceive to be disrespectful maybe be a superficial judgment. I constantly remind myself that I am in their culture...and not vice versa. For the most part they all come from an elite Dominican population where they are overstimulated by TV, PSP, and whatever else there little hearts desire. My kids take weekend trips to the US to shop and have Doñas (maids) waiting on them hand and foot.

With that being said, my goal for the year, or maybe just the week is to find a way to keep my voice at a tolerable level and establish a respectful environment in my classroom. I must discover a way to dig deep in my kids and instill an appreciation for life love and learning....

Training...I think?

2008-08-10T01:13:00.002-04:00

For the sake of time/sanity I am just gonna put this out there...I just spent a week in Santo Domingo for a week of Training which turned out to be a week of utter unorganized confusion...hahaha!! I know teacher trainings in AISD were basically useless and repetitive
but this totally took the cake!!! lol I miss AISD training...

I know life in the DR is a lot more laid back I mean we run on island time so people no ones ever on time and things don't every start on time but...Seriously there was no schedule or at least not one that ANYONE adhered to...not to mention most of training time was spent fumbling through the powerpoint trying to get the remote to work!!

The best part of my week in the Capital was simply meeting new colleagues and hanging out at the colmado after "work." I am heading back to Santo Domingo sometime next week for more "training" so...teacher friends at training right about now please think of me when you want to poke your eyes out...I am feeling your pain times 10!!!!

Keeping my eyes on the prize next weekend I will be sunbathing on a beautiful beach...

xoxo

I'm Baaaack!!!!!

2008-08-10T00:45:00.008-04:00

Hey Family,
I am finally in the Dominican Republic and completely unpacked!!!! My time here has been fairly short yet I feel like so much has gone on...For starters my airplane left Houston at 6am and considering I live about an hour from the airport and having to be there 2 hours before departure I didn't sleep at all Sunday night!! So...by the time I made it into Santiago, I was soooooo tired!!!

When I arrived on Monday, I was greeted in true Dominican fashion...la luz se fue!! I ran off the airplane desperately looking for a ladies room (you know me...I would never ever use the ladies room on the airplane!!) only to come to the realization that the electricity was cut therefore the ladies room was pitch black...After getting that situation taken care of ;) I quickly grabbed by bags and headed outside to figure out what my next move was going to be. I was immediately greeted by a sign that read Welcome Crystal St. Lucie...awwww I felt sooooo important!!!

I was pleasantly greeted by the school psychologist = school counselor and soporte academico= school front office. We went to lunch at La Campana then I assumed we were going to my apartment where I could shower, unpack, SLEEP right? WRONG. We went to the school where I will be working I met just about every single soul on campus...Literally. I met the security guards. I met the computer teacher. I met the librarian. I even met the men doing the renovations on the building. lol. After playing cordial and such, I finally gathered the nerve to ask when I would get the chance to go by the apartment and unpack...lol. However my hopes of sleeping and showering were immediately shut down because much to my dismay the woman who had my apartment key was in the capital (which was 2 hours away) and would not make it back to Santiago until later that evening...Welcome to the Dominican Republic!! It's definitely going to take a bit to get use to a life sans urgency.

When I finally received my key I also received notice that I needed to pack my bags because I was leaving early the next morning for a week long training in Santo Domingo...and that my friends is a whole other story!!!

I am estatic to be back in the Dominican Republic and cannot wait to see what's to come!!

xoxo