Final Post!

 Before I started to write this final evaluation, I sat looking out the
door at the bright street reflecting on my experience here. First, a few
ox and a wagon passed and I smiled (buey and carreta are just two of the
many new words I have learned). Then, I thought of two girls from the arts
and sports program I passed on the way to the office. They had skipped by
me, both wearing the bracelets that they made in the program, and said,
“adios”. Unlike some of the other participants, I knew a bit more
about my program and what I would be doing. However, I was still extremely
nervous and unsure how everything would turn out.  I had so many goals and
plans and no experience living in a different country or with teaching.

 My trip to El Sauce started early. Because I was interested in a career
in medicine (at that time, dentistry), I had asked Dr. McEwen about a way
to combine dentistry with Spanish (my major) in a service project in a
Spanish speaking country. She recommended El Sauce. The best part of this
program is that the student can design his or her own program in El
Sauce, based on the needs of the community. It gives the student a sense
of responsibility that no other class can. I took a directed study for
only two credits and happily put more hours of work into this than any
other class.  The work I did for this project was not just for me. As I
learned about the high extraction rate in the public clinic through Dr.
Garcia, who recommended teaching the children about better dental
hygiene. My mind swirled with ideas, activities and cartoons that I could
use. Dr. McEwen asked me to enter it in a CASE grant competition. My
first reaction was, “Me? This is a huge responsibility and I’m pretty
sure I’m not capable.” So, I called my dad. He said what he always
says when I say I can’t do something (reminiscing the quote from Woody
Allen): “90 % of the job is just showing up. For God’s sake, Allie,
have some more confidence in yourself and just try.”

 I tried and the project won! From then on, I figured I would just do my
best and just “show up,” as my dad said. I “showed up” to dental
club and Biology meetings to try and recruit and called and wrote letters
and email to sticker, crayon, toothbrush companies, and even the Girl
Scouts (who collected 3 huge boxes full). I went to the dorms and put a
box for donation of toothbrushes. However, I was having trouble receiving
enough dental supply donations, even with a “connection” from a friend
of a friend. Dr. McEwen and Kellan got in touch with the Colgate in
Nicaragua and worked very hard and the project got their support.
From then on, everything seemed like it happened so fast. I just kept
“showing up,” doing my best, and seeing everything come together.  The
group of students went on a tour the first night in El Sauce and stopped a
10 or 11 year old girl selling elote to try one. She smiled and I saw her
teeth. She was missing one or two and many were covered in black.  I
remember thinking about how many others were like her and hoping she
attended a school.  During my first full day in El Sauce, I spent the
morning with the 200 or so teachers from the schools in El
Sauce ready to receive a lesson from the dentist from colgate. Each
student was to receive two toothbrushes, a toothpaste, and dental
activities. That evening and the next day, we organized the boxes the hand
out to the teachers. Everything seemed so much bigger than the work I had
done during the year. All that “showing up” paid off. Some teenagers
feel that because they are one of a billion people, they can’t make a
difference and they don’t even vote. I feel the opposite. I am just one
girl who just kept showing , making phone calls, writing emails and trying
her best. I can’t believe how much impact I have made on the lives of
people who live so far away from me.

 During the first three weeks, I worked with Dani on the dental campaign
and present the lesson. After the first two schools, we made some changes
in the plan and I think we perfected it (making changes for the younger
and older kids). It was really cool to have someone with
me who knew El Sauce a bit better and to travel a bit to see different
schools. During these weeks, I got to see how the schools were run. Poor
dental health was obvious among the kids and mostly due to recess habits.
During recess, the kids go to buy the sugary snacks at school, chomp away
at something sugary, and return to class with a lollypop in their mouth.
The kids loved me and Dani and sometimes would give us little gifts at
recess (usually candy, which I would then remind them to brush their teeth
after recess).

 I think I liked going to the schools alone even more. My favorite part about this
time of the program was my time spent talking to the teachers. I learned
about their lives, their children and their family or friends in the US.
They told me everything about themselves and what they thought about
Americans. They taught me vocabulary and threw in help with grammar. In
only one day with a teacher, I felt extremely close with them. The dental
program was great for me but I lacked getting to know people for more than
one day at a time.

 But, then when there was vacation for two weeks, I was able to plan and
participate in an arts and sports program for girls with Corey. I loved
art as a kid and was excited to teach these girls any cool tricks that I
knew. This program was amazing because Corey and I were able to get to
know these girls really well. Everywhere we walked, the girls wanted to
hold our hands and walk with us. After class one time, I had three of the
girls in the program who live across from me, and three others who the
girls knew, over to my house to finish/ or to make masks. That was so much
fun (and a little crazy). Now whenever I leave my house I hear, “Adios,
Alis!!! Alisss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” The celebracion de despedidas was
so fun and I found myself getting a bit chocked up when Marialysi looked
up at me with teary eyes as she kissed my cheek goodbye for the 5th time.
I am so happy that I did this program with Corey.
The day of giving out the filters was yet another cool moment here when I
saw how big of an impact the project has on the lives of the people here.

I think it went really well. Sahrita, my host mom and local doctor, did a great job giving the talk
about contaminated water and I think it was best that it came from a
doctor. The teachers knew when and where to come, everything was really
organized (all the materials were labeled and placed in sections- Thanks
Yacarely and Kellan!) and went smoothly. I also think that the lesson
plan was really good. The only thing I would change is that I was too
timid about talking in front of the group. I could have done a better
job. However, a few teachers have come individually to the office and I
have done well explaining everything to them.  I’m not the best public
speaker in English. So, public speaking in Spanish was a bit too much to
handle.

I went to Guacucal to look at the filters and saw labeled cups and the
kids using the water filter to brush their teeth. I also revisited San
Jose and saw that a student’s mom made a special toothbrush holder for
the class. It was absolutely fantastic. I wish that I could have seen some
decorated filters but the teachers did not do the lesson plan yet with
their students. I am added some of my favorite pictures of the schools that I had put a side because for some reason they couldnt add before. I hope everyone enjoys them!