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DominicanRepublic
(3-30-05) |
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"Left, Right, Left, Right, Left..." & the
Hatian Batey Now I don't plan on having a photo journal depicting each day down here in the Dominican Republic...that would be just waaaay too much work that I do not have time for down here and I feel you would perhaps become extremely bored seeing the same things over and over again. So it is my intention to bring you the fullest experiences we have had the opportunity to witness so there may be several journals chronologically in a row...and then there may be some that span over the course of several days...so let's continue the journey. Today many interesting things happened...we got up, ate lunch, and caught the Guaguas to our sites. Little did we know that today is one of the several days celebrated by the Dominican Republic for its independence and today, many of us had the unique opportunity to encounter a rather large parade throughout Santiago. After that we all hopped in a bus and took a trip to a Hatian Batey. Very event filled day. |
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| Here we are again...packed on a Guagua...notice Jason on the far right looking shocked. |
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| This is why...cluching his bag and squished, just inches (again) from the open Guagua door... |
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| Here after our time at the clinic and we encountered the parade...these are some school kids who posed for us... |
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| ...and some more... |
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| There we many many men dressed in military uniform on the streets...many with a weapon of some form but usually not loaded...however, Beth had the opportunity to have her picture taken with two soldiers (notice the clip in the weapon she is holding) |
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| ...And another soldier... |
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| We then encountered the military part of the
parade which was about 20-30 minutes of the numerous branches of the
military parading down the streets in their appropriate attire/uniform.
They had many military bands interspersed throughout the parade...and I actually enjoyed the music they played... |
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| All of the soldiers we decked out in their full dress with very serious and poised faces. |
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| Here we come to save the day! |
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| Marching... |
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| Black and white...cool |
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| ...And there were military women there too... |
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| ...And others playing xylophones... |
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| Now...this guys was huge...he was ~6'6'' and just looked pissed off at the world...wouldn't want to mess with him...or those who were following him... |
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| Dun, Dun, Dun... |
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| ...And then I said "HOLY @&$*!" |
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| ...Um yeah... |
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| ...Um yeah again... |
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| This guy looked like he was bored though... |
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| ...And the procession of the Dominican colors... |
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| ...Now I have no idea what in the world they
needed this out there... They also had helicopters and airplanes streaking across the sky at very low levels throughout the entire procession ( I couldn't get a good shot of them...no pun intended...hehe)...they also had paratroopers in very colorful parachutes...(not going to be able to find them in a bright blue sky huh?) |
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| Now...finally after we make it to were the
bus is going to pick us up (took forever because we had to fight the
parade...the Guaguas weren't running...the rally point (like my attempt at
military lingo?) was farther away then we expected...and many of us did not
really get a lunch during all of this...oh and it was HOT! Here is Lisa. Exhausted, hot, and sweaty on the bus she tried to cool herself off with a bottle of water.. |
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| ~1-2 hrs later we arrive at the Hatian Batey.
The children of the extremely poor (you will see what I mean later) bateys
get worms. These worms, in their stomachs, can consume at least 50% of
what the children ingest, thus depriving them of essential nutrients for
growth and development.
So our job was to distribute the medicine to the appropriately aged children. This medicine is supposed to kill the living worms. Then in ~ 2wks we are to come back and administer a second does to kill the eggs and larvae. |
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| Renae in the school with some of the children. |
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| Stephanie using a syringe to withdraw the medicine and put it into little cups for the children to drink. |
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| The children taking the medicine. |
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| Dominic making bracelets for the children...they all wanted one. |
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| Beth administering the medicine...this photo intrigued me because of the innocence and mysteriousness of the child's eyes. |
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| Everyone wanted their photos taken...they would even get into fights about it...flex for the camera... |
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| Julianne and a child... |
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| Stephanie... |
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| Lisa... |
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| Jan... |
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| Jess surrounded by children they followed us everywhere in the batey... |
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| "Sonreírse!" (smile) (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| A brief look at the living quality in the Hatian Batey...(Courtesy of Margaret) |
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| Cute photo. (Courtesy of Margaret) |
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