Profe in the DR 28

Profe in the DR 28

11-3-11

Sunday the soccer team worked for an hour again cutting back thorn bush.   They are saying they want to do an hour of work on the play every Sunday then play soccer.  I met with the computer lab volunteers in the evening and went over how to run the lab.  Monday they opened the lab officially.  However, by midday it was clear that the volunteers weren’t charging everyone to use the internet.  Several of the volunteers were letting their friends use the internet without paying.

There was a large spider living in my shower for almost two weeks.   I was just about to give it a name, but another slightly larger spider came along and ate it and took up its place.  I didn’t trust this new one, but luckily it left after two days.

Tuesday I headed to the capital to see the nerve doctor.  I ended up having to stay until Thursday.  The doctor explained to me how the two herniated discs in my lower back were pushing against the nerves that go to my left foot, and that is why it is numb.  He said they shouldn’t need surgery, and prescribed two medicines and a wrap around brace.  No lifting, no riding on the back of motorcycles, boards under the mattress, and a few other suggestions.  Hopefully in 3-4 weeks things will be back to normal.

While in the capital I went to the movies for the first time in this country.  In true Dominican style, everyone was yelling at the big screen.

11-11-11

I have been super busy this week and there has been very little electricity so I have not had an opportunity to write at all.  I started up two new sala de tareas (tutoring groups).  I am focusing on addition, and am using older students to help the younger ones.  The first games of our new soccer league are this Sunday and I have been busy getting things ready for this.  Our league now has six co-ed teams of 12-17 year-olds, two more than last time.  Transportation continues to be our biggest problem.  My APCD (Associate Peace Corps Director) dropped by on Wednesday to see how I am doing.  My art club has decided to display some of their drawings in the community center.  There has been a sudden surge in interest in chess, unfortunately surpassing the number of boards we have and leading to a little unrest.  The soccer team continues to work on cutting back the thorn bush and getting ready for this Saturday’s game.  I added another English class on Fridays. 

The computer lab continues to have problems.  There are a handful of young men who are dominating the lab, not allowing the kids to use the computers.  They spend all their time on facebook, and refuse to pay.  They bully the younger volunteer workers.  After speaking with the computer committee president Monday evening it was decided that we would block facebook.  Jason an IT volunteer came over on Tuesday to block facebook, but when the young men heard what he was going to do, they came over yelling and shouting and practically starting a small riot.  Amauris intervened and asked that we wait until they could meet with the computer committee that evening and discuss matters.  The meeting lasted about 2 hours.  The young men insisted that everything was fine and that we didn’t need to change anything.  (The children would all disagree.)  They also argued that the internet should be free.  (World Vision who donated the computers said we should charge for the internet and not for things that were educational so that the center could someday be sustainable.)  In the end, nothing was decided, three of the committee members left, possible quitting.  A meeting called for Thursday never happened and no new date has been set.   The computer center is still open.  The younger volunteer workers have been replaced by slightly older volunteers, and someone (not from the committee) decided that they weren’t going to charge anymore, but only allow people to use the computers for a half hour (some volunteers are already allowing some people to use the computers for an hour or more while other people wait outside).   Things are currently somewhat peaceful, but the state of the committee, agreement on rules, a final decision on to charge or not, a calendar of who is going to work in the center, etc. has all been left in the air.  I am speaking with the committee and other key people involved encouraging them to have another meeting involving the community to resolve these issues.