As our trip is coming to an end I have started to reflect on this past week. It is truly remarkable to see the calibur of young people we have in our 4-H program across the state. Although these students come from different backgrounds and have not met each other before this trip it is wonderful to see how they have made friends so quickly and embrace each other. This program has become very well-known here at Punta Cana and we owe a large part of this success to the work of the teens. They are extemely hard workers and they have such positive attitudes.
In 4-H we learn to be flexible, but in the Dominican Republic this word takes on a new meaning. Even though this program has been in existence for five years, everyday poses new challenges for the adults and delegates. We are constantly dealing with schedule changes and not many details, but I have not heard any negative comments or attitudes from our group. They take it in stride and instead of grumbling they just sit back and take it all in and they realize that this is a different culture and one that we all can all learn by.
It is amazing for me to see how little the Dominican people have but how rich they are in culture, happiness, and families. Their next door neighbors are their family and everyone helps each other whereas in the U.S. many of us do not even know or talk to our neighbors. Here, people are able to slow down and enjoy life and each other, they do not need alot to make them happy. Each year that I come we always take a bus and travel to the city of Higuey. As we drive through the villages I notice all of the people that are just hanging around in the streets
talking to one another, listening and dancing to music, playing dominoes in storefronts, and kids playing with empty bottles or anything they can turn into a toy. This year I got to be one of those people, at the end of our service project we had the opportunity to visit a colmado (store). Afterwards, several of us sat in the chairs in front of the store listening to the music and just watching people come and go and telling everyone "hola". Everyone was so friendly and one guy even tried to get us to start dancing!
We can learn so much from this culture and these people. So many times we ignore each other on the streets or in the hallways, here there are very few times that people do not talk to one another and each hello is generally greeted with a hug and a kiss. We don't take enough time in our lives to slow down and enjoy the roses or the hibiscus, which is a gorgeous flower here in the Dominican Republic. We need to remember that family and our friends are our most important parts in our life and we need to appreciate them.
This was also evident when we were invited to Jean Paul and Joanna's home for dinner. At the end of the wonderful meal instead of the teens retreating to the basement or upstairs, we all stayed in the living room and pushed chairs and tables back and began to dance. Not just the kids, but also the adults. I learned most of my moves from their grandmother!!
I am extemely fortunate to be a part of this program and it has been one of the most important things I have done in my life. I have not only grown as a 4-H agent, but as a person and each time I return to the U.S. I try to bring a little of the Dominican Republic back with me!!!
Thanks to all the partners here at the Biodiversity Center including Ben Hulefeld and Jake Kheel, the teens, adults, and
Carol Nansel for making this a truly inspirational piece of my life.
I look forward to 2011!!!!
Contributed by Christine Hodges, Bath/Highland 4-H Agent
In 4-H we learn to be flexible, but in the Dominican Republic this word takes on a new meaning. Even though this program has been in existence for five years, everyday poses new challenges for the adults and delegates. We are constantly dealing with schedule changes and not many details, but I have not heard any negative comments or attitudes from our group. They take it in stride and instead of grumbling they just sit back and take it all in and they realize that this is a different culture and one that we all can all learn by.
It is amazing for me to see how little the Dominican people have but how rich they are in culture, happiness, and families. Their next door neighbors are their family and everyone helps each other whereas in the U.S. many of us do not even know or talk to our neighbors. Here, people are able to slow down and enjoy life and each other, they do not need alot to make them happy. Each year that I come we always take a bus and travel to the city of Higuey. As we drive through the villages I notice all of the people that are just hanging around in the streets
talking to one another, listening and dancing to music, playing dominoes in storefronts, and kids playing with empty bottles or anything they can turn into a toy. This year I got to be one of those people, at the end of our service project we had the opportunity to visit a colmado (store). Afterwards, several of us sat in the chairs in front of the store listening to the music and just watching people come and go and telling everyone "hola". Everyone was so friendly and one guy even tried to get us to start dancing!We can learn so much from this culture and these people. So many times we ignore each other on the streets or in the hallways, here there are very few times that people do not talk to one another and each hello is generally greeted with a hug and a kiss. We don't take enough time in our lives to slow down and enjoy the roses or the hibiscus, which is a gorgeous flower here in the Dominican Republic. We need to remember that family and our friends are our most important parts in our life and we need to appreciate them.
This was also evident when we were invited to Jean Paul and Joanna's home for dinner. At the end of the wonderful meal instead of the teens retreating to the basement or upstairs, we all stayed in the living room and pushed chairs and tables back and began to dance. Not just the kids, but also the adults. I learned most of my moves from their grandmother!!
I am extemely fortunate to be a part of this program and it has been one of the most important things I have done in my life. I have not only grown as a 4-H agent, but as a person and each time I return to the U.S. I try to bring a little of the Dominican Republic back with me!!!Thanks to all the partners here at the Biodiversity Center including Ben Hulefeld and Jake Kheel, the teens, adults, and
Carol Nansel for making this a truly inspirational piece of my life.
I look forward to 2011!!!!
Contributed by Christine Hodges, Bath/Highland 4-H Agent
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