Day 18: CAP FINAL DAY!

It was a pretty up and ready kind of morning as both groups got ready to begin their last day of their CAP projects.  Once we had our breakfast, we headed out to the communities to finish what we had started the day before.  As we waited outside of our hotel for volunteers we noticed that they’re weren’t as many as the day prior—maybe because it was a weekday, instead of a weekend.  Nevertheless, we made our 20 minute walk to the communities of Buena  Vista and Guachupita.  Once our group made it to the Ludoteca with our matching head bandanas we assessed what we had to do.  Definitely, retouch the yellow paint on the walls, dig the holes for the tires, write the quote on the stage and definitely clean up.

As our group broke ourselves in to groups, I ended up being with the group outside for some time and started clearing the rocks to start actually digging the trenches for the tires so they can become benches and seats.  As we did this we realized that it was going to be a lot harder than we had anticipated—especially since we didn’t have a pick, but only a shovel.  Luckily, one of the volunteers went to go and ask around the community and was able to find a pick so we could make the trenches with a bit more ease.  Honestly, it helped but it was definitely freaking hot and my bandana was already saturated with sweat, using the pick and shovel was indeed hard work, but with the head it seriously did not make it fun.  After we finished one trench I took a break to see what was going inside the Ludoteca, and noticed that it was indeed coming together.  I saw some of our students cleaning up and taking upon more projects…since they were open minded as to the suggestions that the workers had made.  They literally transformed the back wall of the place with a kitchen stove, fridge, counter and cup rack…it literally looked like a photo spread of a kitchen.

While that was going on I was on duty to write the quote above the stage and decided on, “El escenario es tuyo, no dejes de soñar.” Which translates, the stage is your future, don’t stop dreaming.” After that was done, we realized that some volunteers had tackled the bathroom wall, so we decided to create a mosaic using color blocking technique which was pretty cool.  Before we headed out though to lunch, we created a Global Glimpse Tree where we all put our handprint to commemorate the end of our project.  We then had a closing activity with the community and played some sort of game like follow the leader, which was the perfect way to end the CAP project at Ludoteca.

Once we were done and left Ludoteca we made our trek back to the hotel, ready to put down the equipment that we brought over and to quickly head on to Pollo Rey to celebrate.  It was a nice time taking with the group, once we were done we headed back to the hotel for our free time until English class.  We waited for CAP group # 2 to arrive back from their project and then made our way to our last English class, which honestly was just a time to say good bye and the delegation put a talent show for the students…it was bittersweet since it was going to be the last time for many seeing one another.  After the emotional good bye, we made our regular trip to the restaurant for our second to last dinner here in San Juan de la Maguana.  While at English class I wasn’t feel to well and I still wasn’t feel to well when we go to the restaurant so…I skipped dinner.  

After dinner we  made it back to the hotel for our regularly scheduled nightly meeting and it was long and I just wanted to go to bed.  But got through it and stayed up until the student leader of the day was done writing the blog.