The conditions for the kids to be invited on the trip were that they needed to pick up trash in the community twice a week until we left for the trip (it was about 8-10 weeks). They also had to give a presentation in the school on an environmental topic. They choose to talk about deforestation and noise pollution.
They also had to raise there own transportation money to and from the capital. In order to do so we held a day camp for elementary school kids with my Brigada Verde group leading all the activities. They charged 20 pesos per participant. The led art projects and games, including jump roping and the limbo.
We had a bake sale as another fund raiser. Each of the kids donated an ingredient for them to make an arepa. Arepa is the Dominican equivalent of cake and they bake it on an open fire. I then baked an American style cake and we roamed the streets together selling the two cakes. The American style cake was such a big hit in the community that I was commissioned to bake another the next day and again we hit the streets. Although this time we didn’t even make it up the street as the kids decided that they needed to buy a piece of cake, and then that piece was so good that they had to buy another and take it home to mom. With the money they raised they had enough to make it to and from the capital.
Last Friday I went and visited all the kids in the village and talked with all the parents so that everyone was clear on what was to happen, and what time the kids would be back to their houses. Everyone was a little nervous as the kids had to make it from the campo to the bus stop in the capital all by themselves.
Thankfully the six of them that were able to come, all made it safely. I met them at their bus stop and we went from there to my new apartment. The apartment was a wonder to them. We had a few incidents. They asked me why the toilet water runs, they were amazed that hot water could come out of a faucet and they kept forgetting to turn the water off after they washed their hands. Then while we were outside, the building has a call box, and one of the girls pressed all the buttons and then she turned to me and says “listen, you can hear people!” I had to laugh at that one.
At my apartment we all sat around so they could relax from there stressful bus ride and we played their favorite game UNO. Out of the 3 games we played, I only won once. After the three games of Uno, they all felt rested enough to go back out into the heat, so we headed for the park for some picture taking and a game of Frisbee.
After I had tired them out playing Frisbee we decided it was time for lunch. We went to the Dominos Pizza down the street, which for them is a big treat. We got two large pizzas and two 2 liters of coke. They were in heaven. Only two of them had ever had pizza before. For dessert I had made a cookie crumble pieces with chocolate on top. I don’t think any one of us could have eaten even one more bite. Filled up from lunch we took a walk to the supermarket where there is a instant photo machine. Each one picked out a photo from those we had taken at the park and we printed them. Again, they showed amazement at a machine that printed photos instantly.
Our afternoon entertainment was a trip to 3 underground caves called the Three Eyes, called that because of the three lagoons inside of the caves. It was beautiful. You walk down this steep stone stair case in order to see a series of 3 lagoons. Unfortunately, one of the kids got a little bit of altitude sickness, but he managed to make it to 2 of the three lagoons. Each of the lagoons has the clearest blue water. We saw turtles and fish in the lagoons. There are stalagmites and stalactites in the caves. In the top of the caves live bats. My Spanish was a little strained as I tried my best to explain how stalagmites and stalactites are formed, and how bats fly without seeing.
Leaving the Three Eyes, it was time for the kids to head to the bus stop and head home. They all told me how much fun they had, that it was a day they would remember forever.
