We're off in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow - first by bus to Boston (at 5AM) and then by plane to San Juan, where we spend the night in Old San Juan. Everything is packed, and we're working our way through the last minute punch list. I discovered last minute that the thermostat in the kitchen doesn't work, so I added a trip to Home Depot to the list. The wood stove has been masking the defective thermostat for some time, I suspect, so I'm glad I discovred that this morning. Who knows what we might have found when we returned if the heat didn't work in our kitchen while we're gone!
A big thanks to everyone who contributed books, school supplies, reusable shopping bags and cold hard cash to help get all the donations down to Dominica. We're constantly amazed and in awe of the wonderful help we ave received as we prepare to bring the supplies down. This year, we are beginning to think about creating a specific focus for our - and your- efforts. Should we try to build the library for the school (currently one very small bookshelf), or is there another area of need that we should help them with? We'll continue to think about this as we travel and hope that anyone who has ideas will offer them as well.
Look for an update once we get settled in our final stop of Mero, a little town of approximately 100 people midway up the west coast of Dominica. Who knows, we may take some pictures of the girls in their new school uniforms so you can see what they look like as they prepare for school with their Dominica friends.
Tomorrow it's off to Puerto Rico for a day and then on to Dominica on Tuesday.
We're off!!
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Well, now I know that the Forbes Dominca group has arrived safely, survived a volcano, and school is already in session! Dominca seems far away from the snowy landscape of Aspen, but back home here, grass is beginning to show. Walden Pond is still frozen solid. Keep the blog comin. I'm enjoying it Gram
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a library with a small place to exhibit paintings and arts and crafts so people can show off what they love to create. It could be a small temporary space at first where stories could be told once a week so people don't forget the history of the place. there must be some wonderful stories in the memories of the older people in the village. gram
ReplyDeleteWe have been thinking more about the idea of a library here in Mero. Ilove the added thought of including space for people to exhibit and possibly sell their creations. For many people here money is so tight that coming up with $100 EC (about $40US) per student for school books and supplies at the beginning of the year is very stressful. Alden witnessed firsthand how some kids can't attend activities after school because their arents are working and they can't afford bus fare.
ReplyDeleteWe keep talking to our friends here in town to see what makes sense. Another possibility is to help build a librabry in the elementary school. Today their library is a very small bookshelf.
Keep the thoughts coming!