English Classes in Haiti

Yesterday, just when I was having what my Haiti sister and I call "Haiti withdrawals" one of the kids (maybe I should call him a young man) IM'd me on Facebook and told me that he and a group of friends got together, found a place that has a computer and Skype.  They asked if I would teach them on Monday.  So... that was today and we held class for a little over an hour.  It was great and I thoroughly enjoyed every second of the class.  There were only five students but that was perfectly fine.  All the students were unknown to me before 3:00 today. So we spent just a few minutes exchanging our names then we got right to work.  My first class is always going over the a-b-c's and the sounds that the letters make.  Creole speakers have a tendency not to open their mouths when they talk and when the English words come out... often they sound like something close but not exactly.  This group of guys speak English "piti" meaning only a tiny bit.  But I'm always amazed because when I share my screen and type a word, they almost always can, what I'll call read... the words.  So to practice our sounds I typed the words, chip, ship, sheep.  We practiced and practiced until my ears could actually hear the differences between the words. Then I asked them to try using the words in a sentence.  Well, as it turns out they had no idea what any of those words meant. Now I'm smiling because sure, they can say those words but they have no idea what they are saying.  Time here for the teacher (read Vicki) to back up and do some checking.  Chip<<< what does that mean? OH no clue!  Chips, potato chip, you know fried potatoes?  No? Ok, well let's see..... (Many times in Haiti, things are called the name brand) so I tried "Frito lay" and the smiles came out!  So now we know chips!  Ship was easy to explain with a few hand movements and the word water, and sheep was easy enough it's mouton. The class ended about an hour and a few minutes later with promises to see each other again on Friday at 3:00 (central time)  

Now you might be wondering why I'm talking about this when my last couple of posts have been about Teach for America.  This is why.  My heart lives in Haiti but a side trip to South Dakota is what God has planned for me. (I think)  I've already begun a blog that will be used to connect the kids in Haiti to the kids in South Dakota. I think they will find they have more in common than either one of them will believe.  I've been spending hours researching the kids in South Dakota and found they have a low graduation rate and something like every 26 seconds a kid (across the US) drops out of school.  I think pairing up kids in Haiti with kids in South Dakota will be a good thing. The kids in Haiti would give anything to have the chance to go to school, maybe they can encourage the kids in SD to stay in school.  Just thinking about Skyping with the two classes at the same time makes me excited!  

If this doesn't work out with Teach for America I'm sure there is a reason. I'm trusting that God always knows that what ever He has planned for me, is ok with me. But until TFA tells me to pack my bag, you can find me teaching English to students at 4:00 (Haiti time) Look for us on Skype.  We'll conference you in! 

Teach for America Update from Illinois

Sunday afternoon in Illinois in February, it's raining, cold and the wind is blowing but I'm still a happy camper.  Teach for America invited me to the face to face interview.  I just want to remind everyone and myself as well... God has a plan.

Teach for America

About two weeks ago it struck me that I should really check out the organization that my daughter-in-law told me about called Teach for America. So... I did and in less than an hour I had written my letter of interest and uploaded my resume. That was the end of that. I didn't look to see if there was a "timeline" when they would get back to me. I just figured I'd hear something.... OR NOT. Which is often the case when you apply for something online. You spend time filling out all of this information and chasing down everything they want and you never hear a word back from them. Therefore, I didn't expect to really hear back from them.

I'll share my letter of interest for anyone who may be interested. I didn't even address this letter to anyone....

I would like to join Teach for America because I want to make a difference in the lives of children who have the potential to reach for the stars if only someone will point them towards the sky. I’m a mature college graduate who had to wait until my youngest child went off to college before I could finally follow my hearts dream. As life would have it, I’ve been able to work with youth since 1980 without a degree. Along the way I had the opportunity to attend various symposiums, classes and seminars but it was the practical experience that offered the greatest chance for me to learn what the children need. I am a volunteer teacher for youth in Haiti. I teach English via Skype to a packed classroom for an hour or two on what is less than a perfect Internet service. By working with youth for many years and having the opportunity to meet the kids in Haiti, I’ve learned how to teach, as my kids call it, “a whole bunch of ways to get where you want to go.” My experience shows kids of all ages have a curiosity about all things in life. They seek out ways to understand what is going on around them almost every moment of the day. Sometimes those experiences turn out to be positive, sometimes they don’t but if they find an adult that is willing to share life’s explorations with them many times it’s not such a bumpy road.

You ask three simple questions like there are three simple answers. There are not. It’s more the willingness of the mentor to bind with the children and trudge down the path together. Success is the moment the child finally gets how to subtract. It’s the kid that’s said “dat” instead of “that” it’s the mom, dad, aunt or sister who comes into the parent teacher conference smiling instead of fearful. There are no magic wands. It’s more like a smile where there’s a frown, an “ok” when all the kid has heard is “no.” It’s trying the same thing over and over and over until finally the magic happens. It’s never giving up on ones dreams no matter the obstacles in the way. I finished my degree in Homeland Security because our children are at risk and I wanted to know how to prevent our children from becoming involved. My conclusion is education. Skills that provide kids with methods to reason, to contemplate, to act in positive ways, to continue to reach for their goal and adults who surround them with love and support. That’s why I want to work for Teach for America and specifically in South Dakota. I’m going to leave my life in Illinois, that’ I’ve spent 30 years building to help children that deserve the opportunity to build their life, just the way I have. We’ll see what God has in mind for me and the children I’m going to get to teach.

*************************************************************Then about a week later I get this letter.
Dear Vicki,Congratulations! I am pleased to invite you to continue in the Teach For America admissions process. We enjoyed reviewing your application and would like to learn more about you and your experiences through a phone interview. 

As you can imagine, I was pretty excited. I quickly signed up for my telephone interview and called the people that I wanted to ask to be my references. On Thursday January 24, 2013 promptly at EXACTLY 8:30 (the time I signed up for) the phone rang. I talked to a young woman named Whitney for about 30 minutes. It was a really fun interview and I feel pretty great about it.... no matter the outcome. 


Maybe I should explain that I told them that I wanted to teach in South Dakota. The Sicangu (Rosebud) and Oglala (Pine Ridge) Lakota are sovereign nations that are situated within South Dakota's Todd and Shannon Counties—two of the five poorest counties in the United States. 
Since the moment I hung up the phone I've been researching everything I can about the area. I'm excited. As I told them in my letter of interest... We'll see what God has in mind for me.

Every day it's going to get better!

Click here>Every single day it's going to get better! 

Dedicated volunteer teacher!

Tony Saint Hubert is one of my students. He is now teaching at 1 & 2 Preparatory (Monde des Petits Genies) at Delmas in Port au Prince, Haiti.

Tony is a dedicated teacher who likes to chat with me about his class lessons and ways to engage children in the learning process.  

He is looking for a full time teaching position and more ways to volunteer.  If you would like to contact Tony, click on his link above or send me an email at vickisvision@gmail.com and I will forward it to him.

Why Haiti?

At least once a week someone asks me why I love Haiti. Here is my answer.  

When we are born we don’t get to pick what country we will claim as our own.  I claim the United States as mine but many of the people I love live in Haiti and they didn’t get to choose where they were born either.  Yet, I am the lucky one and they are the unfortunate one.

The question why Haiti always makes me wonder why the United States.  But for 1866 miles and a different skin tone I would be claiming Haiti as mine.  I would have been born of Taino or Arawak Indian decent, my ancestors would have come from Africa.  My country would have been controlled for nearly 200 years by the Spaniards then 100 years by France. At one time my country was the wealthiest colony of France and its unparalleled beauty and forested landscape gave my country the name
“Pearl of the Antilles” 

My people would have lead the first and only successful slave rebellion and we would have gained our independence.  The years to follow would have been filled with political turmoil, economic instability, depletion of the natural resources and deforestation.  My country would have been paying France for 100 years for the loss of “their” resources because we fought and won our independence.  Countries like the United States would pay their farmers $1 million to grow rice and dump the surplus in Haiti causing my family not to be able to sell the rice we grew.

My people would be working for $5 a day constructing Levis so the Americans and others around the world could buy them for $50.  I would be one of 9 million people and if I didn’t die in the hurricanes or earthquake or from cholera I’d be malnourished, illiterate and live on less than $2 a day.  Everyday, I would be searching for water with a bucket and some days I wouldn’t find it.  I’d have several brothers and sisters, who died from starvation, diarrhea, HIV, hepatitis or malaria. 

I could have the potential to become a great leader, be the top of my class, be accepted into the University and not have the $1500 a year it takes to attend school. 

I really can’t answer why Haiti but then again I can’t answer why the United States either. 

What I can do is seek people who are willing to help my students pay for their education. Through the "Pay it Forward" private student loans my students will be able to attend the University and learn a skill that will put them to work, put food on the table and help Haiti return to the prosperous nation it once was.  

If you are able and willing we can make this happen and someday someone will ask you,

"Why Haiti?"

Contact me for more information or click on the Donate button to add to the "Pay it Forward" private student loan.  If you are seeking a contract with your student, there are 37 students waiting for the day they can return your money.

   

Second trip to Pignon for Bio-Medical Tech School

Do you remember what it was like when you packed up and left for college?  This is Jivenson.  He is getting ready for a very long trip to Pignon where he will attend the second session of Rotary Bio-Medical Technician school. 

Mackenzy is ready to set out on their adventure for the day. 

Jhonny (with phone in hand ready to take a picture) and Elie are going to arrive in Pignon via a different mode of transportation than Mackenzy and Jivenson.  This airplane ride will be the first time either one of them are in a plane.  Thanks to the JP/HRO organization they've offered to give Jhonny and Elie a lift at a greatly reduced price. Thank you JP/HRO you are the best! 

Along the way to Pignon, which is about 60 miles from where the students live they get to see some newer construction going on.  In the United States, 60 miles equals about an hour on the open interstate.  In Haiti 60 miles equals five to seven hours in a bus. 

As you can see, there are many bus riders.  The total cost one way for a five hour trip is about $7.50 (American).  Not much you might be saying, except most Haitians including these students live on less than $2.00 a day.  Therefore, $7.50 might as well be a million dollars to them.  However, thanks in part to a their supporters they are now able to travel to the school. 

Once Jivenson, Mackenzy, Jhonny and Elie arrive at the school/hospital they are shown to their room.  It's a pretty nice room as they all have a bed and a spot for their own things. Each packs all of their belongings in a backpack and the scramble for who gets what bed is on!

One of the nice accommodations at the school is that there is electricity in their room.  It makes it much easier to study at night when there is a light! 

Not to be out done by the light, the kitchen is the next favorite stopping spot. As we all know having a full tummy helps one to learn. 

The learning for this trip begins!