The DR Gamble: Struggle in the Field (Day 4) [Revised]

The night before was the first night in Batey Libertad, which ended with a dance party and a walk around town under what must have been a million stars, maybe more. I woke up well-rested and ready to break out my artistic side since painting the batey’s learning was first on the itinerary list of the fourth day. It felt great to create again since it’s been a while since I’ve done any of that, even if the kids became a slightly hostile (for lack of a better word) with sharing the paint. It felt great to work hard at creating something from scratch, though I’m normally used to it being me, myself, and whatever I’m working on.

The finished mural! (all the children from the batey hand painted their hands, literally, haha)

        After sprucing up the learning center and some lunch at our homestays, which I will never get tired of eating (so good!) the class had a discussion on education with the people working there, Emma and John included. A couple were native and spoke in Spanish I believe, but one woman was from America. Unfortunately I forget her name, but she spoke English and Spanish and was once an intern, which I learned Emma was once as well. It brought me joy to meet a couple of students, I think around my age or older, who were working on graduation! One woman was even writing her thesis!

I wish that working on an education was the norm for everyone in the Dominican Republic, but as mentioned from my past posts the government system has changed to make attaining an education a constant struggle for darker skinned people, and in general people in lower economic status. [Because of racist ideologies fostered from an origin of a white supremacist mentality, opportunity is scarce, and those left struggling have been driven down to believe that there are only two options left for them: baseball or farming]. I learned all about this predicament from a chapter of the book Gracias, Presidente! and the documentary Rumbo a las Grandes Ligas (“Road to the Big Leagues”).

Based off the documentary Rumbo a las Grandes Ligas (“Road to the Big Leagues”), it seems like there is so much hope riding on a baseball career. And yes, some of these young boys (since unfortunately only boys are chosen in society) are very talented, what about those that can’t measure up? Is this society going to just allow itself to be swallowed up by survival of the fittest way of living? Whoever can hit the farthest, run the fastest, can make it big. Or, whoever can make the most sugarcane by the ton can survive! Not everyone can withstand the line of athletic work. Some can barely even feed themselves!

        It’s true what the piece Gracias, Presidente said “life is a game of skill that stems from luck”. Not everyone is born so lucky however. The people at batey Libertad seem to have a little more luck than others though. I was told recently that because the highway is right outside this community there is easier access to the outside world. On top of that, there is a school right next to the batey, whereas, I read in Gracias, Presidente, that in many other places children need to walk miles and miles away from their small homes to get an education, even if it’s just a small one. All of that exhaustion and stress on just a little kid! That isn’t right.

But I suppose that’s why baseball is so crucial within the culture. Education is a struggle that not everyone can reach, farming is a tax on the body that most end up settling for, but baseball [can be the opportunity of a lifetime if you're one of the best. Many young boys who play the game well enough are willing to take the gamble on a career in baseball, and their parents are on board as well. Unlike in the black community which has possibly given up on their once enchantment with the game, the struggling of the Dominican Republic hold more focus and hopes on sport. African Americans lost hope with sport and now ride their hopes on education, whereas poor racialized Dominicans have lost hope with education and now ride their hopes on sport. I suppose it's like the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side.]

The Secrets To A Better World (Day 3) [Revised]

Starting the day off right with empanadas! (The most important meal of the day~)

The New Border (Nothing much to look at, but a lot of history and meaning for the people who cross to do business I'm sure)

Carts lined up for the market

The Bustling Market

On day three we went to see the new border and the market (the border we went to the other day has been closed for years apparently). The border was much more organized and calm than I expected, and how the people dressed was a pleasant surprise. They all wore nice casual clothes, some more dressed up than others, but overall everyone knew how to dress themselves. It made me happy to see that. The market, unlike the border, was intense! Nothing crazy happened, but it was about what I expected it to be. People hustling here and there, deals being made up and down, and So. Much. Noise!
[Looking back it was a good experience to be part of the livelihood of the people there. Many people I know have to work low level jobs to make money, but they have a choice in their future. The people I passed by made a living selling in this market because their own society won't accept them due to their own ignorant racist foundings. I understand that not all Dominicans and not all residents of Haiti are racist, but there still lies the history of a racial hierarchy and unjust neglect and abuse.
One question I have in mind now after all I've learned from readings and academic discussions is what is the Dominican reaction of this market? From what I remember there weren't too many light skinned people looking to buy, the lightest were tourists such as myself. So I wonder if there is any encounter of the Dominicans at this market? And what would the reaction be?
Perhaps the reason why there are so few lighter skinned people is because of the drastic separation of class in the DR mentality. Haitians are seen as low class, ugly, unintelligent, etc. And the general desire of the society is to attain high class, getting as close to the white European standard.]

Welcome to Batey Liberta

Next we moved on to the Batey where we met our homestay families. I was expecting the absolute worst. A wasteland, garbage along the ground, and unhappy people everywhere. But I found was, almost, the total opposite, and again I was pleasantly surprised. 

Made a couple of friends (Above meet Evelin age 12 and Below meet Rashel age 10, both sisters at the home I stayed at)

The whole community here was so nice and welcoming, something you don’t find everyday back in New York. I’ve even picked up some Spanish! Even the bucket shower, not that it was fun, wasn't all that bad! One thing that stands out in my mind from that day was when the power came on. Everyone cheered so loudly, and celebrated, and that’s when it really hit me that this is a group of people who don’t have the luxury that I do back in the states. I can imagine that when I return home having power all the time is going to have to be an adjustment to what I’ve adjusted to myself here in the Batey.

Even the dogs here are welcoming! (We're all just makin' friends where ever we go :D)

Looking at this small community overall though I would’ve never guessed that the people here had so much to hassle with. Many potentially being abandoned and stateless just because of “what they are” and not “who they are”. Some of these bright and spirited young kids having their potential and so much opportunity out of their grasp, the country is missing out. It’s missing out on potential, new ideas and solutions.

What really shocks me is how the Dominican Republic never used to be like this. I read in the article Left Behind – how Statelessness in the Dominican Republic Limits Children’s Access to Education that apparently the constitution states that education should be for all children, but somehow that ideal was altered into an exception. Basically all children are educated, unless they are of any Haitian descent! Any Haitians, even ones born in the Dominican Republic, lose their citizenship or aren’t granted any in the first place. This means, no right to vote, no freedom to move in and out of the country, no working papers, and no access to education! This is horribly sad that the only thing that Haitian-descended people may be able to do with their lives is work on the plantains. Not to diss any farmers, but that kind of life isn’t for anyone and isn’t the only job that’s needed for society, as important as it is.

A well-equipped society needs moral police officers and honest government officials, caring nurses and doctors, electricians to light, warm, and cool the towns, construction workers to build shelter, and educators to teach everyone how to do all these very important professions, including agricultural work. (But then again even by those standards the US could use some work.) Most importantly though, what a society truly needs for all of these careers to happen and continue to flourish throughout mankind’s history are children, capable and equipped to learn so they in turn can provide for a continuously flourishing and well-equipped society.

Even putting aside the necessary careers for any given country, it’s important to have educated children for the sake of awareness. Like the written piece stated, in so little words, with education comes self-esteem, self-empowerment, respect, fairness (if all is taught properly). These ideals are so important, not just for a working society, but for every human being. And thinking about it, as a way to prevent exploitation or loss of equality (and potentially harmony) these qualities are a great lesson to make the world a better place for everyone.

Final Thoughts

         
          I'll never forget all the things I've learned on this trip. The things I saw, people I met, and everything I learned. I always knew I was lucky and that things could always be worse, but now I understand it! I now understand how much more is going on in the world. Watching baseball has changed too. I find myself asking what the game means to all these players, and wonder who's playing the game, and who's playing the gamble.
          I hope things change over in the Dominican Republic. That more people struggling find a way to make a good living without relying on the fields of baseball or the fields of farming. I hope education becomes better and that more people try to help.
          While I was in Batey Libertad I made a donation to help send girls from the batey to the border and visit the same orphanage I went to. This was their first time traveling, seeing different parts of their country, and it was a good opportunity for these girls to put their education to the test as they shared with the boys what they learned through at Yspaniola's learning center. I'm glad I was able to help and I urge anyone to help out if they can in any way they can. It was such a great feeling to help out these girls take a step out of the small community they knew and see more of the world. I think that's so important for a child. The world is so vast and we all deserve a chance to see as much of it as we can.
          I was told that there is actually an internship program Yspaniola has. I would highly recommend it for any college students interested in the education industry! There's also a Summer camp. I don't if I would do either (I know that sounds hypocritical, but education isnt the path I wish to go down), but I would love to come back and visit one day.

          At the end of the day though, this was a trip that has left an impact on my life. I gained experience, friendship, and global insight. And I have learned about a group of people once alien to me. The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country full of many not so beautiful things happening under the surface. Their history is a rather dark one, especially with their treatment of their neighbors the Haitians, though that is the fault of people like Trujillo, an American trained military official who's racist feelings toward the Haitians led to the racial tensions that plague the country today. It is a country of inequality with people either very rich and prosperous, or terribly poor and struggling. There is hope however! I see it in the young, bright faces I saw in the batey's I visited, and in the drive of the people working at Yspaniola as well as the scholars coming from the batey communities.

So that's that. I hope you enjoyed my exploration of the Dominican Republic just as much as I did!
So until we meet again DR,

Hasta Lluego!

One Last Look at DR's Favorite Game (Day 7)

        On this day we started early, heading to the Brewer's Academy about a half hour away from the nunnery we stayed at. I am amazed at the stark difference between the dirt path lined with small batey houses we went past to the hotel-like academy! It was from one extreme to the other, but then again I guess that reflects the country pretty well from what I've seen.
   
          The Academy was beautiful though. Big open spaces, beautifully built buildings everywhere. I can understand why all the boys dream of becoming ball players! One thing that dawned upon me was the pressure put on these young men. My group and I spoke to some people who work there and we learned that not only are these players provided food and shelter, but also a counselor. I guess when you suddenly get hundreds of dollars you go from a kid playing the game to an adult with responsibility and decisions.

The community just right outside the Academy

          After visiting the Brewer's Academy we finally went to the place I had been dreaming of since I heard there was a study abroad program to the Dominican Republic: the beach! It was even more beautiful than I thought it would be! A mini-vacation after a week of work and eye-opening culture!

 
 

          As I floated in the water it dawned on me that this was it. Our flight would be leaving in four hours and I'd be back home. I missed my family and friends terribly but that didn't change how sad I felt to leave. But I guess that's always how you feel at the end of anything. (Man I'm getting all sappy, not cool! Haha!)

Goodbyes and Open Fields (Days 5 & 6)

Day 5, January 13th, was a beautiful day! We toured the agricultural fields and saw the work that goes behind the fruits and vegetables we pick at on a daily basis. All the details and steps of the process of raising these fruits and vegetables must be a pain!

Bananas growing (the plastic is to protect the bundle from bugs and pesticide)

Farm Cattle

A Little Modeling Session in the Fields

From left to right: Rashel, Myself, Evelin

My homestay "mom" Raquel

Rashel and Evelin's oler brother Luis

     We said goodbye to our homestay families later that day, which was a little strange for me as I’m pretty bad with goodbyes. But I wished everyone well despite not knowing how to say it to them in Spanish. I had been working on a portrait of the youngest daughter of my homestay family and finished it in time to give it to her before I left. I’m proud that I made something to put a smile on her face, and I hope to hear from them. (I’m friends with the family’s only son. All I need is to brush up on my Spanish haha)

        By the end of the day we made it to the capital Santo Domingo and toured the Colonial Zone, which I think the whole class and I would’ve enjoyed more if not for the downpour that night.

Welcome to the Capital!

I present to you, my lovely audience, a Colonial Church!

Saw the US Embassy

Not the most exciting day, aside from the goodbyes.

A little of the view on the way to Consuelo

Day 6 was a little more eventful. We took a long ride to the next and final stay, a nunnery, with a short stop at the sugarcane area “Consuelo”. Seeing Consuelo’s small facilities was nice. They have baseball fields all over the place, and a small learning center. It was good whenever I saw well-supplied learning centers over in the DR, even small ones. The coolest part was not only watching young men practicing and possibly trying out for a chance to even take the first step toward a baseball career, but it was awesome having the chance to play a little in one of Consuelo’s field’s!

After gaining a little insight on baseball we talked with the human rights group ASCALA. They told us of the broken system in the Dominican Republic and the “games” that are played making the struggle for citizenship even more difficult than it already is! I heard of stories where officials would misspell a person’s name or misgender them just to stop them from attaining citizenship! This is such a cruel, immature form of injustice and the system needs to have better accountability on all its officers!

          At the end of the day we finally went to see a ball game, the Estrellas vs Licey. What a game it was! We had front row seats and a pretty exciting game (home team won and half the class were given balls from the game!) (On a side note I want to say, I had to go an ocean away from home to finally get a game ball?! Ah well, I guess that's how it has to be. Ok enough of my mini-rant) Our friend Jon, a member of the organization Yspaniola and writer one of the article's I mentioned before, was with us and spoke Kreyol to one of the ball players. As upset as he was about one of the game's plays he was happy to be able to talk in his native toungue, which I guess is why he took a few pictures with him and another friend we picked up along the way.

The DR Gamble: Struggle in the Field (Day 4)

The night before was the first night in Batey Libertad, which ended with a dance party and a walk around town under what must have been a million stars, maybe more. I woke up well-rested and ready to break out my artistic side since painting the batey’s learning was first on the itinerary list of the fourth day. It felt great to create again since it’s been a while since I’ve done any of that, even if the kids became a slightly hostile (for lack of a better word) with sharing the paint. It felt great to work hard at creating something from scratch, though I’m normally used to it being me, myself, and whatever I’m working on.

The finished mural! (all the children from the batey hand painted their hands, literally, haha)

        After sprucing up the learning center and some lunch at our homestays, which I will never get tired of eating (so good!) the class had a discussion on education with the people working there, Emma and John included. A couple were native and spoke in Spanish I believe, but one woman was from America. Unfortunately I forget her name, but she spoke English and Spanish and was once an intern, which I learned Emma was once as well. It brought me joy to meet a couple of students, I think around my age or older, who were working on graduation! One woman was even writing her thesis!

I wish that working on an education was the norm for everyone in the Dominican Republic, but as mentioned from my past posts the government system has changed to make attaining an education a constant struggle for darker skinned people, and in general people in lower economic status. Because of this struggle, there are only two career options left for those struggling: baseball or farming; aka the field of dreams or the field of beans (bad joke! very bad joke!). I learned all about this predicament from a chapter of the book Gracias, Presidente! and the documentary Rumbo a las Grandes Ligas (“Road to the Big Leagues”).

First off I need to say I think to say that I think it’s a shame that there are only two ways that the life of a person from the Batey can go; work on the plantains or baseball. Based off the documentary Rumbo a las Grandes Ligas (“Road to the Big Leagues”), it seems like there is so much hope riding on a baseball career. And yes, some of these young boys (since unfortunately only boys are chosen in society) are very talented, what about those that can’t measure up? Is this society going to just allow itself to be swallowed up by survival of the fittest way of living? Whoever can hit the farthest, run the fastest, can make it big. Or, whoever can make the most sugarcane by the ton can survive! Not everyone can withstand the line of athletic work. Some can barely even feed themselves!

        It’s true what the piece Gracias, Presidente said “life is a game of skill that stems from luck”. Not everyone is born so lucky however. The people at batey Libertad seem to have a little more luck than others though. I was told recently that because the highway is right outside this community there is easier access to the outside world. On top of that, there is a school right next to the batey, whereas, I read in Gracias, Presidente, that in many other places children need to walk miles and miles away from their small homes to get an education, even if it’s just a small one. All of that exhaustion and stress on just a little kid! That isn’t right.

But I suppose that’s why baseball is so crucial within the culture. Education is a struggle that not everyone can reach, farming is a tax on the body that most end up settling for, but baseball is an opportunity that is open to anyone with a bat, a ball, and the drive to take them far. It’s like the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other field.

The Secrets To A Better World (Day 3)

Starting the day off right with empanadas! (The most important meal of the day~)

The New Border (Nothing much to look at, but a lot of history and meaning for the people who cross to do business I'm sure)

Carts lined up for the market

The Bustling Market

On day three we went to see the new border and the market (the border we went to the other day has been closed for years apparently). The border was much more organized and calm than I expected, and how the people dressed was a pleasant surprise. They all wore nice casual clothes, some more dressed up than others, but overall everyone knew how to dress themselves. It made me happy to see that. The market, unlike the border, was intense! Nothing crazy happened, but it was about what I expected it to be. People hustling here and there, deals being made up and down, and So. Much. Noise! It reminded me a little of the New York Comic Con’s Deal Room, but a bit run-down and out doors. The only difference with the market is there are actually less lines and the items sold won’t leave your wallet flat and sad looking. 

Welcome to Batey Liberta

Next we moved on to the Batey where we met our homestay families. I was expecting the absolute worst. A wasteland, garbage along the ground, and unhappy people everywhere. But I found was, almost, the total opposite, and again I was pleasantly surprised. 

Made a couple of friends (Above meet Evelin age 12 and Below meet Rashel age 10, both sisters at the home I stayed at)

The whole community here was so nice and welcoming, something you don’t find everyday back in New York. I’ve even picked up some Spanish! Even the bucket shower, not that it was fun, wasn't all that bad! One thing that stands out in my mind from that day was when the power came on. Everyone cheered so loudly, and celebrated, and that’s when it really hit me that this is a group of people who don’t have the luxury that I do back in the states. I can imagine that when I return home having power all the time is going to have to be an adjustment to what I’ve adjusted to myself here in the Batey.

Even the dogs here are welcoming! (We're all just makin' friends where ever we go :D)

Looking at this small community overall though I would’ve never guessed that the people here had so much to hassle with. Many potentially being abandoned and stateless just because of “what they are” and not “who they are”. Some of these bright and spirited young kids having their potential and so much opportunity out of their grasp, the country is missing out. It’s missing out on potential, new ideas and solutions.

What really shocks me is how the Dominican Republic never used to be like this. I read in the article Left Behind – how Statelessness in the Dominican Republic Limits Children’s Access to Education that apparently the constitution states that education should be for all children, but somehow that ideal was altered into an exception. Basically all children are educated, unless they are of any Haitian descent! Any Haitians, even ones born in the Dominican Republic, lose their citizenship or aren’t granted any in the first place. This means, no right to vote, no freedom to move in and out of the country, no working papers, and no access to education! This is horribly sad that the only thing that Haitian-descended people may be able to do with their lives is work on the plantains. Not to diss any farmers, but that kind of life isn’t for anyone and isn’t the only job that’s needed for society, as important as it is.

A well-equipped society needs moral police officers and honest government officials, caring nurses and doctors, electricians to light, warm, and cool the towns, construction workers to build shelter, and educators to teach everyone how to do all these very important professions, including agricultural work. (But then again even by those standards the US could use some work.) Most importantly though, what a society truly needs for all of these careers to happen and continue to flourish throughout mankind’s history are children, capable and equipped to learn so they in turn can provide for a continuously flourishing and well-equipped society.

Even putting aside the necessary careers for any given country, it’s important to have educated children for the sake of awareness. Like the written piece stated, in so little words, with education comes self-esteem, self-empowerment, respect, fairness (if all is taught properly). These ideals are so important, not just for a working society, but for every human being. And thinking about it, as a way to prevent exploitation or loss of equality (and potentially harmony) these qualities are a great lesson to make the world a better place for everyone.

Looking at the Harsher Side of the Society (Day 2)

Today was filled with a number of lows. My group and I visited the border of the DR and Haiti. Although I was under the impression that Haiti doesn’t have the greatest standard for living, I wasn’t prepared to actually see any of it. That’s not to say that the country is such a run-down place to live in, I’m only looking at a small portion of the country after-all, but seeing small children begging for food and money was very difficult. Not knowing what to do and having decided to literally turn my back on them, I was frustrated; angry at myself that I was ignoring them.

The Dominican Border

Standing at the border, looking out on the country of Haiti and its difficult living conditions, I see people. People struggling, but trying to get by with whatever they have on them. I know however that not everyone thinks this way. Some people see in different shades of color; elite and poor, refined and filthy, worthy and unworthy. It’s amazing, the stark difference in the Dominican side of the border and along the Haitian side. That and heartbreaking!

The Haitian Side of the Border

But as bad as I felt, I looked at some of the people there who were washing their clothes in the river that served as the border. There was a small family, a little girl, brother, and mother, if memory serves me right. The little girl was splashing her feet in the water and playing around a little, like all kids do. And seeing everyone down below go about their business like it was any other day made me realize something. All the people down in the river aren’t that different from any other people you’ll find. They have their own possessions, their own families, their own perspective of life.

It’s amazing how different and yet so similar the country is because of the history behind the issue.  There was the issue of slavery in the US, Haiti, and Dominican Republic. And as shameful as that was, there was never a massacre of innocent life.

(Read about the origins behind the racial issues on the island Hispaniola in the article Dominican Republic Deportations and the Global Economy).

        The 1937 Haitian massacre was a despicable period in mankind’s history, a disgrace in the name of humanity! The fact that men and women were fatally targeted for the color of their skin, and their failure to pass an idiotic linguistic test, is horrific enough. The tactics and manipulation used to accomplish this is even worse. Trujillo was a very tactical military dictator, I’ll give him that; a little too tactical though. His strategy of using machetes and farmers to disguise the cause of the Haitian murders is too conniving for any normal, caring human being to contrive. He sounds more like a shark who’s tasted blood in his waters, ready to attack whatever is near him, but even a shark may be warmer blooded than Trujillo.

Looking back on this day today, relaxing on my couch with my laptop, watching TV, and responding to social media (average 1st world country stuff), I know there’s more going on in the world. Not because I heard it from the social media I respond to, or the TV I watch. I know because I’ve seen a little of the struggle in person. I’ve seen families washing their clothes in rivers as merchants down the river cross the border to make as much as they can to survive. Heard the sound of little boys begging. But not all I saw was struggle.

(Two Above) Murals Around the courtyard

Before visiting the border we spoke to the Priest of a local Church who worked to help those struggling. He told us about his work and invited us to visit the shelter for boys he’s helped create. Most of the class stayed behind, but a few of us chose to go, and I’m glad we did! The shelter was in a poorer community, but a community no less! The boys I met were of different ages, maybe ranging from 6 to 13, and were welcoming and seemed happy and healthy. Although they were away from their homes and their families, these young boys were taken care of. There were beds and blankets, food and a small learning center with computers and desks. There was even a TV! And also a courtyard for playing sports. 

In an area nearby where so many are struggling, these boys were taken care of. In a society where hundreds are forgotten because of the color of their skin, these kids are remembered. 
All I can really say about that is: faith in humanity - restored!

Another of the Courtyard Murals