Teaching in the Dominican Republic

WOW! Really! You mean no one in your family is Dominican!  You don't look Black! 😠   What does looking Black even mean?  Other comments I hear are (please remember I am translating this): 1. Don't you want to straighten your 💇hair?  2. You should bring your daughter to the salon💈. 3. Don't go in the sun🌞, your skin is getting darker. 4. Bring your umbrella☂, the sun is damaging. 5. Your daughter is playing in the rain🌧, hurry tell her to come inside. She will mess up her hair. When people first meet me for the first time they ask me if I'm Dominican.  If you know me and you are reading this, you know that I proudly say, "No, I am Black." Then they are really confused. How can I be Black yet look exactly like them.  My acknowledgment of my Blackness seems to make Dominicans uncomfortable even the 'educated traveled' Dominicans. Why, is this? Someone please tell me! After they ask me if I am Dominican and I say no, there is an awkward

My New Favorite Drink The Cafeteria here is amazing!😆 The food is delicious and there is a variety of things you can order. It is a mini restaurant.   The menu posted on the wall does not encompass the variety of food that they prepare.  It is also made to order so it is fresh🍎 and made from scratch. They do have the typical  lunch items such as hamburgers, hot dogs🌭 and pizza. But they also have tacos, Cesar salads, quesadillas, Cuban sandwich,empanadas, and Quipe. They also have the Dominican classics: fried cheese🧀, mash plantains, fried plantains, and salami.  Bandera Dominicana After 12 noon they have chicke n, rice, beans,and salad. This traditional meal is otherwis e known as  "La Bandera"⚑ (the flag).   Although the food is delicious😋, it is a bit pricey💰. My favorite drink, Aloe is 80 pesos which is $1.75. To American standards that doesn't seem like a lot, right? On the other hand, a bottle of coca cola is $.75 cents. The healthy🌴 options ar

My Building When you are a foreign hired teacher for a private school there are certain benefits that you receive such as free housing.  ****See my post: Benefits of teaching in the Dominican Republic.   Usually they will give you an apartment in a middle class area. Some schools require you to share an apartment with other teachers.  Living Room WARNING :  Make all of your requests before you sign your contract such as independent living or air conditioning.  Once you are here it is unlikely your requests will be honored. Kitchen/Dining Room Here is a picture of my apartment.  I am so lucky and fortunate that it really has everything I need or could ever want.  It is as 'American' as it comes. (I would like to share my gratitude👊.) For example, I have hot water, air conditioning, and an American washing machine. I know other teachers that just have fans🌬 or no hot water.  If hot🔥 Laundry Area water is a deal breaker let the school know that ahead of

On my previous post, "How to get a job teaching in the DR"  I mentioned that I found various employment opportunities on DR1.com and learn4good.com. Here are some more helpful job websites.    Employment Websites 1.  AASSA in Atlanta: December 1-4 2.  ISS in Atlanta:   December 4-6 3. Search Associates Fair in Cambridge :     January 26-29  S earch San Francisco:   February 9-12 (Tentative) sample teacher contract 4. teachaway.com 5. gooverseas.com   6. ciee.org 7. goabroad.com 8. expat.com 9. buscojobs.com.do 10. opcionempleo.com.do Home Numbers 1-3 are fairs in the United States. September to early November is a good application time for these fairs because it is a long process (you still have time)😃👍. They pay the most and offer the best benefits along with DR1.com and learn4good.com. After the new year, I would advice you to email the schools you are interested in directly. Click on each one above to go directly to the link.🖱 

The school van picks us up every morning.  I came to the Dominican Republic with my arrogance and American privilege about what and how good teaching should look.  Not realizing that I am not in the U.S. Trying to impose my North American views on another culture.  Something history has repeated many times before... The key to a successful experience teaching in the Dominican Republic is to BE FLEXIBLE . There are a few differences that are culturally🌎  relevant to teaching in the Dominican Republic. 😢Non acceptance will result of a long painful school year but wearing your flexibility 👒hat🎩 will help you to win the golden egg.  Here are the top 3 differences between being a teacher in the United States and in the Dominican Republic: 1. Class schedule 2. Instructional Time 3. Grading   Class Schedule I was originally hired as the 12th grade Daily Schedule English teacher but when I arrived in country (D.R.) everything changed.  On my first day of school I rec

***The peso as of today is at $47 to $1 dollar. All prices listed are in pesos💸.  My kids and I were so excited to see that there was a Wendy's near our apartment🏘.  Of course we enjoy going to Wendy's in the States so we were expecting the same experience we had back home. We all know that Wendy's is a franchise but even a franchise makes some cultural🌏 adjustments to its menu. Let's discuss the positives first, shall we? 1. Customer Service 2. Decor 3. Price 4. Similar Menu Combos 1. The customer service was excellent🛃.  Everyone was patient with the kiddos and I, as we were trying to figure out what exactly we wanted.  Decor 2. The Halloween theme was perfect.  The entire store was decorated and even some of the employees were dressed up👻. It  made the kids feel right at home.  3. The price was pretty much the same as in the States. I ate an Asiago Chicken sandwich meal🐔 (large) and I spent about $8 dollars.   4. Overall the menu