Convent High School July 20 - July 24

July 20
Today was a busy and interesting day.  We were busy in the lab working on spreadsheets, slide shows and the Internet. All groups settled on to another week of learning, sharing and cooperation.

Visual & Performing Arts

Numeracy

Literacy

Special Education

Administration

ICT

When the day was over we set off to meet with the Chief Education Officer. When the meeting was over we came back to the hotel, tested for half an hour before going for lunch at Fort Young.  Yummy roti and fries today.

Chief Education Officer (2nd from left)

At 6:15 Marcus picked us up and drive is to a local radio station, Kairi FM. Every Monday at 6:30 there is a half hour education program. This week we were the invited guests, along with a DAT rep and a Dominican co-tutor.  Reach of us shared information about our area.  It was really fun.  I haven't been in a radio station since I was about 10 years old for Easter Seals.  Things have changed a lot since then!

At Kairi FM

Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Today was not the usual routine.  The day started with our regular morning devotions and then 8:30 to class.  At 9 a.m. an HIV/Aids presentation was to begin and finish at 10:25.  The presenter was running a little late, so we continued to work in our classrooms.  The presentation finished by 11.  Snack was followed by 4 mini workshops on hypertension/diabetes, presenting to adults, community building in the classroom and gender equity.  Each of the four groups rotated through the workshops.  Gail and I had fun in the workshop.  We told each group that we had just received news that there would be a test on Friday and that if they did not pass they would not receive their certificates and the union would not pay their transportation.  One group had a lot to say and got quite loud.  We had a hard time calming them down to tell them that our presentation was about hypertension.  Once we got them calm, we asked how their blood pressure was.  They laughed when we told them that and they realized it was just for fun to introduce the topic.  The ICT group was pretty calm about it and the two other groups were a little upset.

At the end of the day we went to the DAT Office to get some photocopying done.  And then over to Fort Young for pool and dinner.

Another great day in Dominica.

Now, I must admit that I had a bit of a panic last night when my wired Internet was not working.  They are changing providers at the hotel.  Fortunately the receptionist contacted the IT people and they got me hooked up again today.  Phew!!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Up for another busy day.  Devotions again from 8:05 until 8:30.  Full day of classes.  

Today's ICT focus was integration.  Teachers worked in pairs to create integrated lessons to share with their staff and counterparts in the class.  Everything that we have done has been shared on Google Drive.  

The afternoon was spent at the pool relaxing and enjoying the view while sipping rum punch.  In the evening we returned for kebabs and a drink with our DAT counterparts.  Attendance was low because so many of the DAT members live far away or are out at other workshops and conferences.  Although we were few, we had a good time.  The live music was exceptional.  Our visual and performing arts co-tutors got up and danced to the lively songs.

Once that was finished we returned to the Fort Young pool for a pina coloda, a swim and some star gazing.


Thursday, July 23, 2015
Devotions were a little shorter today, so we were able to get to class a little earlier.  And there we sat, waiting for the computers boot up.  The ICT person had asked someone to turn them on in the server room, but the person had turned on the wrong switch.  So, we played bingo for a few minutes.  It was full card 3x3.  The teachers were funny.  After three words several were calling out bingo. The remainder of the day was spent creating lessons for school.  And thanks to Eggie, one of the participants, we are covered for our 5 minute presentation tomorrow at closing ceremonies.  He had been keeping track of our agenda in a slide show.  ( I am pretty slack about daily agenda, once they have overall guide of course. )  Phew.  He added some pictures from our blog and then some music and we are good to go.  Hurrah.

The after pool ritual happened today for the last time.  We are going to miss the Fort Young pool!  And the amazing view.  Pool finished at 5:30 as we were heading up to the sulfur spring, Screws.  It came highly recommended.  The really hot and cold pools were great, but the price was to high and the music too loud.  Given a choice I would prefer to go to Tia's.  It was more simple and natural.

 

Dinner at the Old  Stone Restaurant, which was great.  It was a little gem just 2 minutes walk from the hotel. How could we have missed it?

Friday, July 24, 2015
Late start today.  We did not leave the hotel until 7:45.  Today is a one hour wrap up and then closing ceremonies.  We spent some time wrapping up with our classes before the closing ceremonies.  For the ceremonies each group was to prepare a 5 minute presentation.  Of course, we did a slide show.  Not remembering that there was no computer in the auditorium, Robert and I spent 20 minutes trying to get the slide show on a computer that would work.  In the end we managed to pull it together.  Thank goodness.

Shortly after the ceremony there was a 15 minute debrief with the DAT staff.  From there it was a quick trip back to the hotel to get our bags and head north with Marcus, our driver.  Three of us were spending the night in Calibishie to be closer to the airport for our early flight.

We checked in at the Sunrise Gardens.  Wow!  What a great place.  It is a 2 bedroom apartment with a spectacular view.  Gary and Rose were delightful.  Gary gave us a ride to the beach and his carpenter gave us a ride back.  After enjoying the private, spectacular beach we walked in the dark with our flashlight to the POZ Restaurant, owned by a guy from Toronto.  The food was great!  What a way to end.

Up Saturday at 5:00 a.m. for our flight to Barbados.

All in all, a great trip.

Weekend Number Two

Saturday, July 18, 2015

It was a very eventful day. Gail and I were up and off to the market at 7 a.m. The variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at the market made me want to live here. We missed the fish market which opens during the wee hours and is all cleaned up by 7. We had some coconut water and sugar cane juice and wandered around. Back to the hotel for breakfast and then off on and adventure organized by the Dominica Association of Teachers.

First stop, Trafalgar Falls. It was a steep climb up. On the way to the falls we passed a the Trafalgar Hydroelectric Plant. Once at the top, it started to pour rain. Hazards of being in the rain forest. We waited for about 20 minutes for the rain to subside. The path led us close to the falls, but to get to the pool at the bottom of the falls one had to climb over a variety of boulders. Since it had just rained they were pretty slick. We were advised to not continue and warned that if the rain were to continue there could be flash flooding in the area where the boulders had to be traversed. We had to settle for the hot sulfur river that was flowing right near the path. Wow! What an experience. Sitting in little pools in the river and at the bottom of small falls in the river. All surrounded by the tropical green forest, birds chirping and crabs and geckos roaming around. We even saw a humming bird. It was spectacular! It is nature's hot tub. This truly is nature island.

 

Tarzan Vines

The Path

Sulfur River

Trafalgar Falls 1

Trafalgar Falls 2

After a nice long soak we climbed in the van and headed to Freshwater Lake. On the way we passed the highest road point on the island at almost 3 000 feet. Sometimes it is hard to believe that the island is only 16 miles across with all of the twists and turns. When we arrived at the lake it was very cool and cloudy. No one was brave enough to go in the cool lake. So we relaxed and waited for our chicken , fish or vegetarian lunch, which was quite delicious. We also learned that the lake is a main source of potable water.

Water Pipe From Lake

Chef at Lake

Fresh Water Lake

Lunch at Lake

Info about Lake

 

Sign on Walk

Just a Few Wires

Once back in town four of us headed to laundromat. The other three dropped off their laundry and then we walked out of town down the main road which runs parallel to the water. We were on a mission to find a hotel to inquire about whale watching. There were many interesting stops on the way there and on the way back. Little stores and restaurants. The whale watching was crazy expensive so we decided to pass and go to Portsmouth on Sunday.

On the way back to town we stopped at a little Mexican restaurant where we had drinks and dessert. The dessert was an ice cream, toasted coconut, mango concoction that was absolutely delicious. And the view was amazing. The last stop before picking up the laundry was at a local art shop in a small house on the sea. Adelina bought a painting from the artist. Once again we sat there thanking CTF and our provincial unions for giving us this unbelievable opportunity.

Yummy Dessert

A Little Visitor

View from Restaurant

What is He Up To?

The plan for dinner was Fort Young, but it was closed, as were most other restaurants. So… of to Fusion we went. Dinner on Sunday will most likely be Fort Young because all other restaurants are closed. Sunday is an official holiday. We will see if we can get public transit to Portsmouth tomorrow.


Sunday, July 19, 2015
There were no buses to Portsmouth today because it is Sunday.  It took us about 10 minutes and 5 taxi drivers to negotiate a good price. Luckily or driver was taking his family to Mero Beach, which was half way to our destination. We went up the hill and picked them up. Another single Dominican woman was going the same way so this helped with negotiations.  Our driver's name was Albert and he was an incredibly polite and helpful man.  When we told him what we were doing in Dominica he said that he had heard about us on the radio.  He knew what three of us were here to help with, but could not remember the other two. Pretty impressive!

When we arrived at Indian River for our river tour he took us to get a ticket, negotiated the price with the boat men and told them to treat us well because we were here helping Dominican teachers.  It actually brought a tear to my eye the way that he described to them what we were doing here.  I never really think about it as giving back, but just as something I love to do.  When we got out he gave us his card and offered to come back and get us if we could not get a ride back to the city.  Amazing!

The boat ride was down a mangrove area with plenty of different colour crabs.  My favorite was the blue crab.  The ride went as far as a bar where we stopped for about 15 minutes.  Bond, James Bond was our pilot and he was pretty funny.  He told us that he met a number of actors when they were filming Pirates of the Caribbean on the river.  On the way back we passed by the hut that was in one of the movies.  We didn't have time to get out and see if Johnny Depp was there because our pilot was late for his next group of tourists.

We walked through Portsmouth to the beach, had lunch and went swimming. There was an old garrison on two extinct volcanoes.  It was over a mile away and no transport today so we admired it from afar.   About 5:30 we started the walk back through town in hopes of finding a ride back.  It took a while to find someone willing to take us, but we made it back safe and sound.  The others have gone to Fort Young for dinner while I am here catching up on the blog.  Tomorrow will be another busy day meeting with the Chief Education Officer and then going on a radio program after a full day of working with teachers.

Convent High School July 13 - July 17

Warning:  This is a long post.
Week 1

It has been a busy week here at Convent High School. Monday was a full day with the students. Devotions, which are led by the literacy, numeracy, special education, visual and performing arts or information and communication technology group, occur every morning at 8 sharp. Devotions conclude at 8:15. Devotions are held in the open area of the school. Each group decides what will be done. Generally there is a prayer, a reading or poem and two or three songs. The visual and performing arts group danced to a song. 

Teacher participants continue to filter in for class that begins at 8:30. Some of the participants arrive a bit later because they are coming from distances that require up to a two hour commute on public transit. Fortunately the union pays for their transport for the distance from their school to their home, or mid-distance between home and school if their school is close to Roseau.

The bell for break/snack rings at 10:30, but when the caterer is behind schedule the bell may not ring until 11 a.m. This is the time that participants and instructors alike demonstrate patience and flexibility. By 10:30 everyone is ready for a break, especially in the computer lab because no food or beverages are allowed. Break goes for 15 minutes and then we are back to class until 1 p.m. After class we spend anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours planning with our co-tutors and organizing photocopying. This is done at the school or the DAT office.

The ICT class has almost 50 people signed up, but many will not attend because there is another ICT workshop being offered elsewhere by someone from Alberta. There are 35 computers in the lab. Monday we did not have enough computers. By Friday, we had 2 or 3 extra computers. The official number on the attendance list is 42, but 5 have not come at all. So, the concern of having to share computers is no longer an issue.

Entrance to Computer Lab

Teachers Working in Lab

My partner had I have an agenda, but we are using it as guide more than a strict agenda. This week we have looked at the basics of a word processor, spreadsheets and slide shows. When we got to slide shows, the class was working so diligently creating that we put off the spreadsheets and let them experiment on their own, creating slide shows and interactive tests. They were helping each other and asking questions. Some of the advanced students were asked to create an interactive curriculum based slide show to use in the classroom with students and others were asked to start a blog about the workshops. They were given the most basic instructions. One slide show group lost their show and could not retrieve it. Another group did different types of families and another did global warming. The slide shows and the blog were shared with the class on Friday and are accessible to everyone on Google Drive. Next week we will look at using the Internet one day and leave the remaining days for viewing and creating integrated lessons both individually and in grade teams.

One of the afternoons was dedicated to the Public Service Commission. A representative came to talk to the teachers about the commission, transfers, pay, upgrades, etc. 

Friday afternoon was Canada-Dominica Day where all teachers rotated through 5 stations. Most of the students came dressed in red and white. We, the CTF teachers, wore our team shirts which were blue. One of the participants suggested that in the future the shirts be red or white. Brilliant! We led the activities with our co-tutors. We had a stations with dance, singing, Jeopardy, games and hiking across Canada. Each station was about 10 minutes. At the end of the activities we ate cake and watched Canada videos. There were requests for Justin Bieber. Love it!

Once work was finished for the day we zipped over to Fort Young Hotel where we spent the remainder of the afternoon by the pool relaxing and sipping rum punch (came with the entrance fee). 

Sunset at the Fort Young Pool

One afternoon we got back early to the hotel and decided to go to Mero beach. Getting there was interesting. We walked to the bus stop by the bridge and as we were walking to the stop 3 different drivers approached us trying to get us in their vans. One van did not have enough seats, so we got in the van beside that one because there were already people in it. We were going on the theory that the vehicle won't leave until it is full. When we got in the van, the two people who were in it got out. Hmmm. So then we moved to another that had room for 4 people, but we were 5. No problem. The two small children were squished in between the adults. Off we went. Well, I got into a bit of pinch with another passenger after I asked the price and said that we didn't want to be overcharged. One gentleman's response was that I need to believe in honesty and that Dominican drivers would not cheat us. Shortly after the bus driver chimes in and tells us that he does not overcharge. Yikes! Not making a good impression. I continued to banter with the man and shared that I had no intention of offending. With that, the older gentleman acknowledged that there are some drivers at the airport who overcharge. With that, all was in harmony again. Phew!

The beach was great. There were very few people there since it was a weekday. The water was cool, calm and clear and the sand was piping hot. The ride back to town was easy. An empty van rolled by just as we got to the main road.

Evenings were spent in restaurants. Dining can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours. Rarely is it less than a one hour affair. Fortunately the food is good and worth waiting for. Only once have I had food that was not tasty. Our favorite restaurants are Fusion and Fort Young. Service may be slow, but the food is great and there is some selection for vegetarians. There is also a shawarma/falafel restaurant that we like for take out. When we do take out we sit on the fifth floor of the hotel looking out at the stars and the lights. Life doesn't get much better! Thank you ETFO and CTF for this amazing opportunity.

Weekend Number One

July 11
We hopped on local transit about noon and headed to Champagne Reef.  It was a quick ride to our snorkeling adventure.  We rented snorkeling gear and a guide took us out to see the reef.  It was beautiful, especially when the sun was out.

After a short rest we headed back to the main road to catch a public van to Scott's Head.  A van which had been hired by two very kind gentlemen from Martinique stopped.  They took us to the isthmus.  From there we hiked up to the top of Scott's head.  It was very windy at the top and the Atlantic Ocean water was quite rough, while the water on the Caribbean side of the isthmus was calm and clear.  An absolutely beautiful spot.  Imagine waking up every day and looking out on the Caribbean and the Atlantic!

View from Scott's Head

Bubbling Pool

Bubbling Pool

The gentlemen kindly shared their van back to Roseau.  We had a bonus stop at a small church and the bubbling hot tub.  Can't really remember the name, but it was a section at the shore, in front of the church that had been sectioned off with rocks.  The hot gas that was bubbling up kept the little pool quite warm.  The gas bubbling up was so hot that one couldn't stand on it for more than a few seconds.

Back for dinner and rest for our 10 o'clock Sunday excursion.


July 12
Off to the east coast of the island.  The island is only 16 miles wide, but with all the twists and turns and ups and downs in the roads, it takes quite a while to get to the other side of the island.  When we reached the coast it was wild, windy and rough.  There was also a lot of vegetation and it felt hotter on that coast.  We stopped to see the dragon's tail in the ocean.  It was the first stop in Kalinago territory.

Sign on the East Coast

The Atlantic

Sign says it all.

Small House on East Coast

View of East Coast

Billy Goat Gruff on Path

The Atlantic

Crashing Waves from Path

Lots of Seaweed

Our Patient Driver

Viewpoint of Dragon's Tail

Dragon's Tail

Next stop, a model Kalinago village.  It was a very interesting and informative tour.  We had fun buying weaving and jewelery made of seeds.

One for Each Chief

Family Hammock

Second last stop, a hike to a waterfall in the jungle and a swim.

The Falls

Path In

Path Out

 Last stop before home... Mero Beach.  A pleasant small beach.  Best of all, it is just a short 20 minute ride from the capital.  It was a steep ride down to the beach from the waterfall.  It seems Sunday afternoon and evening are busy at Mero Beach. Sorry, no pictures of the beach today.  Maybe another day.