Yup, it’s update time again on this here blog. Not much happening in Lincoln; I’m retired, after all. But a whole lot has been happening in the Episcopal Schools in the Dominican Republic. Lots of achievements across a range of schools across multiple regions of the country.
Students took exams for the Language Olympiads. Awards have been awarded to champions in various scholastic competitions. Children have created presentations for a variety of national holidays. Elementary age delegates met in a model United Nations. Schools celebrated Earth Day. Teachers have been recognized for their excellent work. Senior classes had their pictures taken. Just an educational whirl in the Diocesan colegios.
Take a look at these photos to gain a sense of what’s happening in some of the finest schools in the Dominican Republic. Enjoy!
Our Education Mission Team has begun preparations for our May workshops in Santo Domingo. Can’t wait to get there and to post blog reports detailing what happened.
While I’m reclining on my porch, eating bonbons, basking in the sunshine and drinking Mint Juleps (a lovely story of the retiree at leisure . . . perfect in every way except that it’s not true), educators in La Republica Dominicana have been hard at work planning, celebrating national holidays, welcoming visitors and promoting English teaching/learning. Lotta stuff going on since my last posting in February.
Here are the highlights.
A parent council at Colegio San Andres meets to develop spring activities.
Dominicans celebrate Independence Day on February 27th. It’s a national holiday, commemorating the Declaration of Independence from Haiti in the 19th century.Schools feature Dominican history across the curriculum.
These photos illustrate the importance that Dominican Episcopal schools place on acquiring English skills. In the first photo, elementary children participate in a school-wide festival emphasizing language learning. Next, secondary students compete in a nation-wide Olimpiad de Ingles, similar to National History Day in the United States. In the final photo, teachers and students relax after receiving certificates of completion for the English event. I am pleased to see these photos, having attended the planning session for the Olimpiad at San Andres in February.
Young children plant a school garden as a part of the ecology curriculum.
A mission team from Alabama visits a kindergarten classroom on their “day off”, after building pews and furniture for newly constructed churches. I am in awe of the work they do every year.
More updates will follow. Regularly. With nice pictures.
Tuesday/Wednesday, 13-14 February. Hardly the Last Days of Pompeii, these two days marked the closing of a great week+ here in La Republica Dominicana. Tuesday was a mini-travel day — checked-out of the Whala!bocachica and into the apartment at El Centro Episcopal Teologico (a.k.a. the Seminary). Mostly I rested, read, wrote a little and ate at Hermanos Villar. Not the most ambitious of schedules, but I thought it was a nice change from 4 days of non-stop meetings of some sort.
Wednesday was a bit different. Miquea dropped me at Colegio San Andres for what was to be a 9:30am planning meeting. Like most principals, Miguelina’s schedule is packed and changes from hour to hour (minute to minute?). I arrived on time (some historian needs to record this achievement somewhere) and was directed to the church building where La Fabrica de Cenizas (the assembly line for the imposition of ashes) was in high gear. I received mine during a break in the action.
Next, we headed outside for the Valentine’s Day celebration. Lots and lots of kids, mostly elementary age. All excited between passing out candy (I got 3 lollipops) and the impending raffle. Big stuff. Really big stuff.
The senior class met at its designated playground HQ (a perk of being a senior) to organize the raffle, then sold raffle tickets and food to the kids. The proceeds totaled RD$52,000 (almost $1,000) which helps cover graduation expenses.
Kids waited patiently (less-and-less patiently) for the raffle to begin. The small prizes went first, with “visiting dignitaries” (yours truly included) picking the numbers from paper sacks. The senior class supervised the drawing process. Notice how, as the raffle proceeded, the crowd got closer and closer to the grand prize, one huge stuffed bear. So huge, in fact, the third grade winner had a hard time moving it, given that it was bigger than he is.
Well, the excitement was over, but the business was just beginning. We headed back inside to Miguelina’s office for an important meeting with two representatives of a government education agency. They outlined an upcoming event, the Learning Olympics, which combines opportunities for kids to show their stuff in second language learning (English and French) while providing data for program evaluation (the more winners a school has, the better it’s doing, or so the government believes).
The government officials are the two women that everyone is deferring to; they did most of the talking. We did most of the listening.
We are hitting the home stretch. At about 12:15pm, Melvina, Miguelina and I had our 9:30am planning meeting. We now have dates for our May team visit as well as a structure and themes for a 2-day workshop series. We wrapped-up the meeting phase and turned to a wonderful lunch (pork chops, rice and beans, avocado, tuna fish salad and vegetables — all cooked in-house by the school cooks and their student helpers).
The usual team doing the usual planning things. The clothes change, but the process remains mostly the same.
Evidence of the excellence of Colegio San Andres has been in the background in many of the photos. Here’s a close-up look at the awards that the school has earned over the past few years. It’s a good place for kids.
I headed back to the Seminary with a brief stop at the Diocesan Office to say my thank yous and goodbyes. That evening, I attended Ash Wednesday services — I had my ashes, but missed a chance for Holy Communion and reflection on the season. Padre Sandino Sanchez preached on the meaning of Lent. He’s a former social studies teacher, so I connect with his references and sense of humor. A smart and funny guy indeed.
Thursday is a travel day. I’m home near midnight. Perhaps another entry. We shall see. The trip has drawn to a close in any event. A very fine week.
Monday, February 12th. The annual meeting of the DDG commenced at 11:00am (Atlantic Standard Time) . . . mas o menos. Following a hearty breakfast, we moved outside for morning prayer to begin the day. Then, inside to a hotel meeting room that had the essentials for a successful Board gathering (long tables, coffee, A/C, drinkable water and bathrooms).
We broke for lunch and finished at 16:00pm . . . mas o menos. Members attended in person and via Zoom. I renewed my membership in the Luddite Society after the microphone hook-up crashed and the distance participants couldn’t hear anything for a while. Ah, face-to-face is good.
There’s a social order to these meetings: Bishops at the front table (with a translator for Bishop Moises); Board members along the sides; Executive Director in the middle maneuvering the technology and staff members on the ends. We are about to call-to-order and pass the minutes from the mid-year meeting.
Here’s the meeting from another angle. We are hearing committee reports at this point, with lunch and the “money stuff” to follow. I learned some time ago to never discuss budgets on an empty stomach or as the first order of business.If you do either one, a 4-5 hour meeting becomes a day-long affair.
We replaced translators. Our friend, Miquea Santivil, ensures that the Bishop gets all the budget facts/figures and that the Board members understand the report from our investment accounts (held in local banks; report delivered in Spanish).
No DDG Board meeting is complete without we got a group photo of everyone present. I’m on the left. The taller folks are in the back and to the right. What original organization. FYI — the photo was taken by a hotel guest who is German; fortunately, she had an iPhone and didn’t need too many instructions.
We added a photo to our meeting documentation this year. Our German tourist friend got a nice photo of the attending Bishops: Quezada in the middle, retired Bishop Bill Skilton (a DDG member for the entire 25 year life of the organization) and Scharf on the left (the new Bishop of SW Florida).
Some lounging time, an informal dinner and suitcase packing followed the meeting. Most members are returning home today. I return to the Seminary apartment for 2 more days of education-related meetings. I return home Thursday. Likely another blog post to follow.
For those of you younger than 75-years of age, this blog title draws from invasive radio advertising for drag racing locations around the East Coast. Mostly in the 1960s and 1970s. I can hear the chant now. Perhaps not the most appropriate text for a title, but it does have a nice ring to it.
We began va-va-va-vooming in the morning with visits to two churches for blessing ceremonies. First stop was Iglesia Monte Sion on the west side of Boca Chica (the sister church for Iglesia San Jose).
The Bishop consecrated a new vicarage, located behind the church, preached, received new members into the congregation and officiated at the Eucharist. Bishops are made of hardy stock with this sort of schedule most every Sunday.
DDG-member North American Episcopal churches have transformed a plot of land from a dumping ground to the site of a one- then two-story church and now a vicarage for the new full-time priest.
DDG members and clever bloggers gravitate toward cute kids and happy families. Father Isaac’s wife and children (the lovely Grace, Gracie and Grecia) posed for photos and then drew pictures under DDG supervision.Please note that one-year-old Grecia is enjoying the universal, cross-cultural toddler snack (crackers).
In short order, the Bishop preached the sermon (with the theme of “everyone a missionary”); he received Monte Sion members into the Episcopal Church; and he began a room-by-room blessing of the new vicarage.Given my level of maturity (roughly middle school), I particularly enjoyed the blessing of the bathroom.
The service concluded and we boarded the guagua (little bus in Dominican) for a trip to greater Santo Domingo (much greater, essentially an ex-ex-exurb) to Iglesia La Gracia (Grace Episcopal Church). The Bishop conducted a brief service of morning prayer, focused on the launch of the long-awaited construction project to build a permanent church.
As people enter the current church “building” and the service begins, you get a sense of how dedicated the congregation has been as they have attended services every Sunday for a number of years in a building that might fall over.
The service included several hymns, led by officiants singing the melodies and a volunteer drummer keeping time without his feet touching the ground.
Action shifted outdoors to the building site next to the existing church. The congregation showed their joy with flag waving and dancing; the Bishop used a pick-axe to drive the ceremonial foundation spike; he concluded the ceremony with a shovel of ceremonial sand.
Back to the hotel for lunch and a brief rest (in Spanglish, would that be a “breakocito”?). We then went to the Zona Colonial for shopping and the Bishop’s welcome dinner.
Street performers abound in the Colonial Zone. My lack of formal physics coursework leaves me baffled regarding how the levitating dancer doesn’t land on his you-know-what. Nowadays, major construction projects abound as well; as part of its emphasis on promoting tourism, the government is investing millions of pesos to improve sites that might attract visitors.
Participants at this year’s DDG meeting, plus invited guests who have contributed significantly to the organization, celebrated the 25th Anniversary of its founding. An extended musical interlude included Bishop Emeritus Julio Holguin singing “Guantanamera”. The chorus was sung by everyone present in lovely(?) 17-part sort-of-harmony.
Monday’s posting, coming soon, covers the DDG’s annual meeting. Stay tuned for information and an occasional photograph. These sessions feature few images and lots of words. I promise an edited reporting.
Saturday, February 10th. The business side of the Diocesan Annual Convention began for real this morning.
The meeting began with morning prayer; then, delegates plunged into a full agenda, with the intent of finishing by noon. That optimistic schedule was not met, as agenda items became discussions became motions became votes, became more discussions.
Dominican church services get animated and exciting, so they tend to run long; their annual meetings are very similar. “Exciting and animated” indeed!
The day continued with some work time, quiet time and a “bonding dinner” at the hotel that evening. An excellent Saturday.
Here’s the day in photos.
A carry-over photo from Friday afternoon; the drill team and drum line from Colegio San Jose marched around the neighborhood doing Evangelism in 4/4 time.
Upon arrival, the DDG delegation posed for a photo op; it’s a large group, reflecting our support for mission work in La Republica Dominicana.
Upon my arrival on the convention floor, I reunited with Miguelina Corporan, Director of the Diocese’s Education Department, one of my partners in mission work. My other comadre, Melvina Dinsey greeted me soon thereafter.
The Executive Committee for the Convention begins the business meeting.
Delegates, grouped by church and geographic area, follow the proceedings diligently.
Mid-convention, the Bishop recognized the DDG as an organization and a member individually for continuing contributions to the welfare of the Diocese. Note the really swell plaques.
The Bishop gives newly elected members of the Diocesan Executive Committee his blessing and their charge for the coming year.
The final item on the agenda was a gorgeous lunch, prepared and served by the kitchen staff at Colegio San Jose (supplemented by parish volunteers). News from a very busy Sunday will follow soon.
Today was a long one. We had our buffet breakfast together and then entered the world of bonding experiences. The Dominican Development Group (DDG) has a relatively new Executive Director who comes to the organization from the world of non-profit management. She believes strongly in team-building activities. I am not such an advocate, perhaps because I’ve led several thousand of them over my education career.
My contribution to the group was taking some pictures. First activity was a game of beach ball volleyball; the second was making sand castles. The DDG project manager, a retired engineer, figured prominently in castle architecture.
After the team got built, we had time to read, write and relax from high stress(?) bonding activities. Then, we ate another buffet meal (I’m realizing that resort hotels, like cruise ships, are not the place to lose weight), then head to the church service that opened the convention.
The service opened with the procession of priests and deacons.
Incense figures prominently in the formal celebration of the Eucharist in the DR.
As Bishop Moises begins the liturgy, 3 retired Bishops stand behind him; on the far left is the first native-born Bishop of the Dominican Republic, Rdsmo Telesfero Isaac; he is 94 and plans to have his next book written soon. Quite a person.
Several times during the service the Diocesan women’s group broke out flags and celebrated in the aisle. Perhaps I’ll suggest the practice at our next Vestry meeting in Nebraska. Or, maybe not.
Bishop Moises led the pre-Communion prayers.
A Christian music group led the singing throughout the service. Post-Communion, several clergy members joined the percussion section, moved by the Spirit (of rock-and-roll).
Quite a wonderful evening. The Convention continued on Saturday. That report follows soon.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024. On my way to the Dominican Republic for my start-the-calendar-year trip. This one has a preset itinerary: the annual Diocesan Convention, a church visit, the DDG Board meeting and time for long-range planning with Dominican colleagues. Not much time for blogging (or anything beyond meetings), so I’m playing catch-up a bit.
I caught the “late flight” — American Airlines through Miami to Santo Domingo. It didn’t leave until 6:42am. The joys of living in an airline market where every flight needs a connection and they mostly leave early.
The flight was smooth; Miquea met me at the airport; I spent the night at the Seminary apartment. Easy peasy (or is that “peezy”?).
Thursday, February 8, 2024. Moving day. Miquea picked me up in the early afternoon for the transfer to a hotel in Boca Chica, near the convention site (Iglesia San Esteban). I have a few photos to share.
A Dominican cement mixer at a construction site near the seminary.
Check-in at the Whala!bocachica. You cannot have a hotel lobby in the DR without a striking flower arrangement.
Sunset from the hotel buffet. Whala!bocachica is an all-inclusive resort with a mostly Dominican and European clientele. Aging gracefully and, as we say in Nebraska, “A bargain at twice the price”.
All over the Dominican Episcopal school system children, teachers, administrators and parents are making merry and feeling jolly. The holiday season awaits and schools will be closed for several weeks.
These photos show the pageants, parties, assemblies and festive clothing that mark the season. Note also Dominican traditional holiday fare, that includes having a special fruit that you don’t normally find on the island (like apples) and lots, lots of sweet things.
As Santa Claus’s Dominican cousin might say: !Jo, Jo, Jo. Feliz Navidad! (Ho, Ho, Ho. Merry Christmas!).
Home Sweet Home in Lincoln, Nebraska, is feeling pretty nice. I’m watching “Island Life” and trying to determine what house the down-sizing couple are going to choose. I keep life pretty simple after an all-day flight home.
Saturday went pretty easy. I packed my things, tried to have breakfast at a favorite place and went to the airport. The favorite restaurant seems the place for high-society events; we had to breakfast at the place next door because Bocana was hosting a wedding. Just looking at the preparations, I was glad that I wasn’t the Dad paying for it all.
Once at the airport, all went well. Immigration and Customs went smoothly; we boarded the plane and left sorta-on-time. Most of my movie watching nowadays happens on airplanes. I watched the last of the Indiana Jones movies and tried to picture myself jumping from vehicle-to-vehicle at 80-years old like Harrison Ford. Not likely to happen.
Reflecting on 10-days in the Dominican Republic, I’m reminded of Melvina’s insistence that we accomplished exactly what she’d hoped. “Excelente!!” she told me several times. That’s enough for me. I’m feeling pretty good about another trip south.
Next trip comes in February for the Diocesan convention and the annual meeting of the DDG Board. I’ll be updating you frequently in 2024 as I get reports from schools. Stay tuned and have the most wonderful year to come.
An Educational Missionary in the Dominican Republic 