Student Work: 3rd Annual Student Art Gallery 2014

I recently held the 3rd annual student art gallery exhibition to present the outstanding work of our Doulos artists from this year. Like in years past (which you can read about here and here), this gallery event was in effort to display the work of my students both in a professional way and to bring their work into the community for more people to enjoy.

While this time around I kept things a little more simple, I did add an extra spin to the evening-- I invited our break dance teacher to perform with his class! It would have been really sweet to have them dance inside our actually gallery, however space didn't allow it. Though we were lucky to have a little patio area on the first floor of the plaza, so they danced down there. The group performed really well and the best part was to be able to include another art presentation to the evening.  I wish I had a picture or two to show, but I was upstairs in the gallery the whole time so I didn't get a chance to snap one.

After these past years I think the students finally caught the vision behind this annual exhibition. So this year when I would go to ask a student to hold on to their artwork until May for the gallery I could barely get the words out of my mouth before they were nodding their heads and passing their artwork right back to me. I think this meant they understood what a privilege it was to have their work chosen! And they weren't the only ones excited about it. Selecting these artworks to display was definitely a joy for me, too!

It seems strange to say, but I feel proud of how proud my students are of their art. I love to see them enjoy their creativity and want to share it with others. Likewise, it is truly a gift when I see them confident in using their made-to-create energy.

Classroom Commotion: She got accepted to college!

As of this year I have my own art classroom (you can read about it here.) For a good portion of the day it's filled to the brim with classes of all shapes and sizes. I also have a little hallway with cabinets for storage and an work space off the side of that hallway. Usually during my planning periods I am huddled back at my desk grading, creating resources, and preparing materials. The hallway also has another feature-- it connects my classroom to the high school Spanish and Sociales classroom. I get my fair share of Dominican history or Spanish literature notes from what I can overhear through the door as I am sure the other teacher also gets her fair share of art-making racket from my side.

One day, however, I got another surprise under the doorway...I got passed a note during class :)

This lovely student of mine got accepted to one of her first choice colleges! Wahoooooo!

This year I have been walking alongside the senior class (read more about that here). Their efforts towards contemplating what comes after high school as well as the resulting college applications are a main topic of conversation between us. Going abroad to attend a university is a pretty big accomplishment for students from the DR and something some our Doulos students are working really hard for. The piles of paperwork, impending deadlines, need for scholarships, and the waiting (oh the waiting!) are a lot to juggle on top of their school work. The unknowns can wear them down sometimes.

But then there are these moments to celebrate! When the efforts and waiting have paid off, the news from a university can be so sweet! And what is even sweeter for me, a teacher and mentor, is when I am invited in to share this struggle and joy. I get to know about the complications in the paper work, when the deadlines are, how much scholarship money has been awarded and how much is still needed, and how many days there are still to wait. One of the things I will be grieving the most about leaving this school is leaving the daily connections with and close relationships I have with my students. I know I will keep in contact with some of the older students and I know there are other relationships to be built in the future, but for right now...I just, gosh darn it, love these kids.

Waiting for the Light, Part 3

λάμπει - to shine or to give forth light

The privilege is all mine when it comes to walking alongside this year's senior class at Doulos. They are class full of character and characters. I have taught many of them in my high school art elective classes and devotional classes, but this year mi esposo and I are their guide teachers. In school this means we lead their devotional class three days a week and help them coordinate their special events. But beyond this school schedule, we have found ourselves walking with some really kindred spirits.

As I have gotten to know this particular group of students over the years, I have realized these students are fire balls. And when you put them together they are an even larger, brighter, hotter, faster burning ball of flames. Ten minutes in the room with them and you will quickly see they are passionate and quick. Just like fire they can give beautiful warmth when set up correctly and painful burns when not. So when it came time to choose their class theme, I was not surprised when they offered up the idea of the "Lamplighters".

At the beginning of the year our graduating high school class hosted a promoción (a Dominican custom at most high schools). Essentially this is a presentation of the senior class and a time to unveiled their theme during a special evening.

Matthew 5.14-16 reads, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

I can't express the joy and love I feel as I see these students individually and collectively understand their unique personality and gifts as people who ignite, propel, and transform. And not only understand this, but declare it, and desire to harness it as their mission upon exiting this stage of life and entering the next. There is an crazy amount of waiting involved in any time of transition. The "Lamplighters", however, are chasing hard after what is ahead.

This is my last year at Doulos, just like it is for the seniors. Daily these students are contemplating, preparing for, and praying through their next phase. Not only do I get to do all those things with them, but I am doing them for myself at the same time. The unknowns of the next and next and next are equally mysterious and looming to me as they are to the students I am with. This solidarity is the most incredible blessing. As much as I am proud to support and stand behind these amazing seniors as their teacher and mentor, I feel equally as blessed to share in life with them as their friend.

Waiting for the Light, Part 1

"What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it... The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world." John 1

My friend Emily wrote a blog post about what it is like for us to wait for the coming of the Light-- you can read it here. She relates the anticipation of the Advent season to a daily event here in the DR (and probably many other parts of the world). It sums up a lot of what I have learned about Advent in the past couple years. Essentially we are in a perpetual Advent waiting for Christ's return to bring the New Heavens and New Earth. God fulfilled his promise as spoken through his prophets (check the book of Isaiah) in coming near to us through the God-man, Jesus of Nazareth, and in whom has offered redemption to all human kind. I believe that he will do the same again to complete the fruition of his Kingdom as he has promised.

Keith and I have been blessed to observe this season with various friends in our community in our home every Sunday. We have prayed, we have sung, we have smirked at the kids fascinated by candle flames, we have shared our pondering on the Mighty God in the miserable manger, we have served the Lord's Supper to one another. Most significant to me has been mediating on the light of the candles in our Advent wreath.

Because of my slight pyromaniac urges, I just want to light all the candles at once and make them burn faster and stronger. However this is the exact opposite purpose of the sequential lighting of the wreath. Each candle is lit in turn, each with great meaning.

We watch and wait. We watch and wait. We watch and wait.

But just like God brings the sunrise each morning and the sunset each night, the Light cycles through our world as glimpses and reminders that one day there will be no more darkness. The eternal Light will shine in full glory and everlasting brilliance. And we will cry out in praise..."¡Llegó la Luz!"

We are home (away from home).

Keith and I had never flown from JFK to the DR before nor on such a late arriving flight. Coincidentally or not, we were two of a small percentage of gringos on the flight this particular night. Once we were cruising thousands of feet in the air and the infants had all settled down, the cabin lights were turned off and everyone seemed to dose off-- at least I did. I awoke just shortly before we were making our final descent into Santiago. The summer traveling was finally over and I now have a whole year before I have to get on another plane or travel in a moving vehicle for more than 4 hours. These revelations mixed with my readiness to be back in my own home made the anticipation of landing even sweeter. At the sound of the first skid of the tires on the run-way, the passengers erupted in applause and cheers. Almost instinctively my hands began clapping along with the revelry-- the sweet relief of returning home.

The applause upon landing is actually a regular occurrence on flights entering the DR. This time was perhaps the loudest I have hear it. Many of the Dominicans I know have a lot of affection for their country. Clearly this is true for those that have left and are returning on late night flights into Santiago. We arrived safe and sound. 

Already Keith and I have felt blessed in this return. Unlike some of our fellow missionary teachers, we came back to a secure house, a functioning vehicle, healthy bodies, and familiar faces to greet us. (We thank God for not letting us take any of those things for granted because they are definitely not guaranteed around these parts.) I have gotten used to the back and forth, one foot in/one foot out, always tentative life of living abroad. I have become comfortable in the uncomfortable. It is dangerous to admit that about myself because already I know God has plans to shake me of that in the years to come. However, for the time being I think He is affirming Keith and I's decision to stay for a fourth year at Doulos Discovery School by giving us a place where we are known, purposeful, and dare I say, comfortable. This is our home (away from home).

Student Work: Art Gallery 2013

Our 2nd annual Doulos Discovery School Art Gallery came and went and oh what a night it was.

If you remember last year's event, our gallery was centered around year-long projects done by the HS elective students. After last year in my reflections on the whole process and endeavor of putting on a gallery for the first time in my own and the school's history, I realized that it was such a special time of celebrating the visual arts. I immediately knew that the following year needed to include ALL grades so that more students, families, and community members would feel welcome to celebrate with us.

So starting at the beginning of the year, I collected the exemplary work from all the art classes that I teach (K-12)  and from various projects. When I would hand back artworks to students and there were a couple I thought worth keeping for the gallery, I would pull those student-artists aside and quietly ask them permission to hold on to their artwork. Each time their expressions were so excited, but that kind of contained excitement like they didn't want me to see how much the really were thrilled by the idea. By May I had about 6-10 works from each grade.

In addition to all of those, my spring elective students still completed independent study projects that involved research, short-term goals, and a final culminating product. We learned a lot about all the resources available to this generation via the inter-webs. Each students got to personalize their pursuit based on their own interests and abilities. And you better believe they were wide ranging! Two students studied architecture and 3-D models, one studied surrealism films, one studied Cubism and distortions, one studied caricatures and emotions, and another did digital nature photography. It was a lot to keep track of, but they took amazing ownership over their work and it was so fun to have such a variety of projects going on in our "classroom".

Once the gallery opening night finally approached, I was excited to promote it and set it all up. We were blessed to have an available space in the plaza across from the school campus. While there were some complications (if you want to know the story behind those, then ask me some other time), but it all came together beautifully. 

The biggest gift of the night was to see so many families there with their student-artists. We had a ton of people coming in and out, really taking time to look at the artworks. It was truly a celebration! I felt like the vision I had two years ago was finally taking form. I think the students really saw it as a privilege to have their work hang professionally in a community space and everyone there was so clearly proud of these student's creative powers!

Peace, Love, and Papaya

Lots of people be hatin' on papaya, or as it is known around these parts- lechosa. And I quite frankly think that it is a crying shame.

I have to admit that I was once among the scoffers. Before even giving it a shot, I believed the rumors that this fruit tasted similar to vomit. So when I first partook of the papaya during my summer as an intern at Pico Escondido in Jarabacoa, my stigma was already built up. I reject it and agreed...ack, vomit. I see so many haters doing the same thing. They believe the gossip and discredit this beneficial fruit. Oh it saddens me.

The second encounter I had with papaya was when I was studying abroad in Mexico. At the time I was staying with a host family in Tlaxcala. Every morning my host mom would serve me a bowl of 'corn flakes' and milk, fresh squeezed orange juice, a cup of instant coffee, pan dulce, and finally a bowl of mango, papaya, and pineapple doused with lime juice. Talk about spoiled. It was amazing and sometimes I still daydream about those sweet mornings. Though when I was first presented with the bowl of tropical fruit I hesitated when I saw the papaya. I didn't want to be rude and reject the food that was generously placed on my plate. So I thought I would do the right thing and sacrifice my taste-buds for a few bites.

I was oh so proven wrong. It was DELICIOUS! What?! Could it possibly be that papaya was delicious?!

It was and is.

I accredit the new found glory of the papaya to the lime juice complement. Tangy, smooth, and oh so delightful. It wasn't long before I looked even more forward to the bowl of fruit in the morning and sometimes even saved a piece of ripe papaya for the coveted last bite.

Because of that time I have switched sides from a lechosa hater to the lechosa lover. I am indeed a reformed lechosa eater. Thus I am also advocating for this luscious fruit. If my testimony is not enough, then I shall offer you science.

Papaya..
1. Promotes digestive health because of it's high levels of fiber and papain enzyme.
2. Boosts the immune system with high levels of vitamin A and C
3. Protects and strengthens your eyes with high levels of beta-carotene
4. Reduces inflammation with high levels of vitamin C and E
5. Lowers cholesterol with high levels of folate and other anti-oxidants.

See, sciences says eat papaya. And if you don't believe in science then believe me.

I especially love to add papaya to smoothies. Here's one recipe*...






1 medium banana
1 cup diced papaya
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup milk or plain yogurt
2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
2 tablespoons honey
splash of fruit juice (could be orange, pear, or whatever you have in the fridge)

In conclusion... Peace, Love, and Papaya

* Those measurements are pretty much irrelevant, I just made them up right now because I don't actually measure things when I make smoothies (or cook in general). So just throw a bunch of yummy things in the blender and give it a spin. 

You can add more of, replace, or take away ingredients as you see fit.

** My science is based on these sources.

Classroom Commotion: Honest Hearts and Independence Day

One of my favorite annual special occasions at DDS is our Dominican independence day celebration. The actual independence day is February 27th, but because we got that day off* we held an all-morning assembly to celebrate the occasion and showcase our students' performance skills on Tuesday. In the weeks prior, during their sociales class, all of the grades prepared an act for the assembly. These acts ranged from dances, dramas, biographies of Dominican leaders, or other presentations of aspects of the culture. The dances are always crowd-pleasers.

Why do I find all of this so amusing? I really don't know. But I can at least say that I love seeing our students up on stage and performing. Perhaps because it was such an important part of my life for so long, I love seeing how the live stage reveals something honest about an individual. The audience and performer get to share a moment or moments of uninhibited exchange. Even if it's just a bitty first grader marching out a few merengue steps or an awkward seventh grader reciting facts about a two century old revolutionary-- they are offering and the audience is receiving.

So when I get to see my students up on our amphitheater stage waving their red, blue, and white skirts around, I just love seeing the good and beautiful hearts of those kids exposed for a brief few minutes. Inside the classroom there are lesson objectives, behavior management, and art materials flying all around; sometimes it is hard for me to see my students hearts honestly underneath all of that. This independence day celebration is a quaintly compacted time for me to really enjoy who my students are. I can watch the pesky ones turn timid and the poised ones turn silly.

I don't have too many pictures this year, because my camera battery died soon after the presentations began. But if you would like to see more photos of our lovely students you can view them here.

*I have concluded that having a Wednesday off during the work week, might be one of the best things ever. Just when the week is feeling heavy, I can rest and work at home for a day, then ready to go back to finish out the week. Just what I needed.

Classroom Commotion: Fuimos a la frontera

 

As mentioned a few weeks ago, our senior class went to Dajabon, DR to participate in the Border of Lights commemoration of the 1937 massacre at the river that divides the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Our afternoon was spent in the parque central setting up a display of postcards with an artwork on one side and a space for writing on the other. On the black side people in the community were asked to write down any thing they knew about the massacre or any opinions they had on the history of the relationship between the two countries.

The Doulos Seniors jumped right in and began dialogues with the Dajabon passerby's. Some students even found their way into a local school and ended up talking with a couple classes about the massacre, others visited with the many merchants that sell goods around the park or shine shoes, and still others talked with people that had lived there all their lives and knew very personally about what happened in 1937. The afternoon ended with a conversation between all the participants about the complexities of retelling of history.

In the evening, we gathered again, with velas and walked to the river. Many more people attended this part of the day-- most from the Dajabon community. A few commemorators had candles on the other side of the river in Haiti and we could see their lights faintly across the waters.

Classroom Commotion: Vamos a la frontera

Preparense for a lot of links...

Tomorrow I am accompanying the senior class to la frontera con Haiti. Our destination is the town of Dajabon. We are going to participate in a peace walk and remembrance vigil as part of the Border of Lights commemoration of the 1937 massacre of Haitians on this border.

For more information, you can visit the link for the Border of Light collective and events. And for those that are interested in more political and cultural history about the atrocity we are commemorating, you can read this concise article written by Michele Wucker, and/or read here at the Border of Lights website.

Please pray for our small group of students and staff as we engage with the people gathering in this community-- pray that we would carry as our banner the Light of Christ as Redeemer and Peace-giver; pray for safety in travel as the infrastructure here is never easily traversed; pray that we can, with others and amongst ourselves, engage in meaningful dialogue about what reconciliation looks like with such long-running racism and how we as Christians can participate in bringing the Kingdom here and now through living in the Grace and Love of Christ.

dia de colores cada dia!

It’s really amazing how much a change of dress code can change your attitude every morning.  This is what our clothes line used to look like on the weekend.

 From this you perhaps can see that Keith and I did indeed wear khaki pants and a blue top every day to work for the past year and a half. However, with the start of this semester our school decided to give their teachers a little more freedom in their duds.

Maybe this sounds pathetic but I truly feel like my mornings are a little brighter because I can choose to put on nice clothes that aren’t exclusively blue and khaki. It’s actually quite amusing that I am more excited to go to work each day because I feel like I haven’t been wearing the same outfit all week long, all month long, all semester long.

Oh the small things, right?