Huron Expositor, 2000-05-03, Page 7Correspondents
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 3, 2000-7
St. Michael students experience Dominican Republic
By MarY RYan
St. Cokxnbon correspondent
In late February when tate
restof uswere in the throes
of winter, some local young
people were experiencing
26°C heat_ in the Dominican
Republic.
The field trip to experience
daily living in a Third World
country is part of the World
Development Co -Operative
Education Course at St:
Michael School in Stratford.'
Jonathon Elston, Julie Seiler,
Paul Sanders and Ben
Kolkman share some of their
experiences and insights.
The students were billeted
with families for a week in
Consuelo; a sugar mill town
of approximately 20,000
people. There they witnessed
first hand the reality of life in
a developing country.
Jonathon Elston describes
his experience as a life -
changing event. His family
there consisted of Dignora
Hernandez and herfamily.
The term "family" is difficult
to categorize because
everyone there knows'
everyone else.
The dad. Carmen. Kico
who was a police officer.
older brother. Omar. who
played basketball for the
national team. weren't there
much during Jonathon's visit:
Daughter Cati. baby Omari,
and Eduardo. a high school
student. as well as mom.
Dignora. became his second
family. -
,
An initial huge contrast- for
Jonathon was living in a
house with a dirt floor, along
with a T:V. and V.G.R.
However. it doesn't take long
in the warm. community -
centered atmosphere. to
forget and not even notice
such. details • . of the
surroundings.
Jonathon says one is
automatically accepted and
everyone wants to be your
friend..
For Julie Seiler, the reality
was .completely different
fbm what`she understood
and prepared herself for in
listening to what others told
her. The family she stayed
with consisted -of a mom, a
dad home only at night, a son
who spent much time at
baseball practice. and three
daughters of high school age.
The girls were learning
English in high school. so
that was their means of
communication.
Visiting the batteys was an.
incredible shock for Julie.
Children were running
around with no shoes, and
• there seemedto be broken
- glass everywhere. A house
was a cement wall with a tin
roof. Ten single guys lived in
one house with only two
. bunk beds. They had not
been paid in two weeks.
Neighboursshared some
food with them.
A doctor with medicine
was supposed to visit the
batteys once a week, but
more often it was once a
month or even longer. She
found the young children
very open and expressive in
their feelings. No one is
shunned. They were very
happy to see the Canadians
and always want to hang
around then.
Paul Sanders and Ben
Kolkman shared the same
family. They were mom,
Yeya Morales, daughter
Rachelle 4, sons Alex 7 and
Jose 11. None of ahem knew
any English. Paul and Ben
used translation sheets
consisting of useful phrases.
Their host mom presented
them with a Spanish -English
dictionary which they found
very useful.
Their home had a cement
wall, tin roof and cement
floor. In the midst of this, in
the living room. was a big
• screen T.V. with cable and
huge speakers. The family
saved money to acquire this
luxury because it was one of
few resources available to
them.
Clean water. or hot water, is
not accessible. For the
Canadians, it was one of
several very striking
contrasts.
All of the Canadian young
people enjoyed the food. It
was described as simple,
clean and prepared carefully.
Consuelo, o sugar mill town in the Dominican Republic, was
the destination of four St.Michael's students recently.
for them. They were warned
beforehand not to drink the
water. or cat the ice cream.
Rice was a main dish for
most, along with bread and
cheese, fried bananas. eggs.
soup. pasta and• very tasty
chicken, because it is mostly
free -ranging.
While the days were very
warm. the nights became
cold. and many slept under
bug nets.
The : young Canadians
visited four batteys in
different areas. One battey
was about the size of
Mitchell with 3000 people. It
had a medical centre and a
one-man school. The teacher.
who doesn't get paid. felt the
children should receive some
education. so he teaches them
on his own. '
On the baileys: the men
work grinding 12 or more.
hours a day. They cut and
stack the sugar cane into
wagons. For this work. they
might make 50 pesos (five
dollars) if they get paid. •
Sometimes .they• are paid
once a week. sometimes not
for along time. Payment is
,usually a coupon to be
redeemed at the'store on the
battey. When the wagons are full
of chopped cane;they are
taken to the "weigh scale."
This consists of a factory
employer looking through a ..
siot. and deciding whether or
not the wagon is full enough.
Often the men are sent back
to cut :more cane. There
seems to be • a lot' of
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INSURANCE BROKERS
INC.
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corruption.
When in Consuelo. the
y►oung people met Sister
Anne Nolan who was
originally from Seaforth.
Julie Seiler describes her as
an amazing woman, still
going strong. .
When Sister Anne first
arrived there the people told
her to go home - there is no
hope.here. This woman and
her companions stayed and
worked. They built many
schools.
Paul and Ben describe their
experience of the constant
noise. day and night. whether
itis the constant talking. or
noise from the animals
wandering around. Chickens.
goats. dogs and lizards are a
common sight in the street.
Also. people in the street
visiting with everyone: and
the constant merengue music
coming from big amplifiers
in little cars. adds to the
confusion.
Carolyn Wilson, originally
from Seaforth. is the teacher
-co-ordinator for the World
Development Co -Operative
Education Course taught at.
St. Michael High School. She _
explains that this Third
-World experience is part of
the course.
It consists of -an in-class-
component
n-classcomponent of world issues
and' economics,• cultural
studies. and media literacy. It
also consistsof a; co-op
placement with one of
several .local service
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(519) 345-2560
Church
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You are invited to attend
these weer dunches
SEAFORTH COMMUNITY
CHURCH
38 Godench St. E. 527-2253
Rev. Bit & Rey. Mavis Hauser
Sunday 10:45 Worship
Full Gospel with a
pentecostal message.
WARM WELCOME
St. Thomas
Anglican Church
Jams St. Seaforth
Rev. Robert Hiscox 482-7861
. Sunday, May 7
Huron Deanery Service at St.
George i Anglican Church,
Goderleh at 11:00 a.m.
CAVAN
(Winthrop) 9 30 a m 8
NORTHSIDE
(Godench St . Seaforth) It 00 a m
UNITED CHURCHES
52'7-2615 taocawns O tc on ca
'May 7 Guest Speaker
Dr Robert Btu
Sunday School during
services. nursery provided.
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Goderich St., W.. Seaforth
Worship at 11:15
Sunday School during worship
Nursery Available
Pastor Rev. N. Vandermey
Egmondvilie
United Church
Rev. Judith Springett
11 a.m. Worship
Sunday School
Grades 2 to 8, 10 a.m.
Nursery to Grade 1, 11 a.m.
organizations.
The two -credit course
includes the field experiences
iso an inner-city retreat in
-Toronto and a billeting
experience in Consuelo,
Dominican Republic. both of
which compliment the issues
being addressed in . the
course.
The students learn about
economic structures and
policies at work on a local
and global level. They are
'challenged:to examine the
values of our . consumer.
society and reflect on the
impact of these values on
their personal lives and on
our local and global
communities.
They witness the ways in
which real people arc
affected by policies and
practices through their
placement with the
community partners. and
their billeting experience in
the Dominican Republic.
Carolyn Wilson .explains
that the sugar cane cutter. .
who live al the batteys in
slave -like conditions, arc
mainly Haitians from the
poor barrios in Santo
Domingo where people are
struggling to receive
education. and from the free
zones, where North
American companies have
Festablished manufacturing
plants amid protests over
poor wages and deplorable
working conditions.
ow D yen tri/
Sundays t
11-4 /IJ IIli-
Quite Simply the finest
P,V.C. TUBULAR RESIN
FURNITURE
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Cies*
nntirtio.
Usborne &
Hibbert Mutual
Fire Insurance
Company
Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S1
(Established in 1876)
Provides Full Insurance
Coverage for
Farm Properties
New Applications Are Welcomed
DIRECTORS & ADJUSTORS
JOE C•afie. a a ; V1 e1 ata 91;�
=tree r C:r R 345-73s:
.3"-, Salt*, i'.c 2 S'a-3 -may? RR ilmin
Vols 0 Shea P P. 3 Garcon
dorsWjdes aP 2S! Pais
• AGENTS
Warre Vane' bete,
Did Voce ?.e."
Bet Wyp" 'JAL- '
rhes' ^a V.t'e4
a: G"ce, crew
2?3o;:c
225260:
333664?
235.19?:
3452512
34;.;
•
•z3_-:
A refund from surplus was
declared for all policy hold-
ers who qualify, are on
record and in good standing
as at December 31. 1999.
Aluminum
sling
01..
waurs
BENCHES .
35, COO
T
•
GRAND BEND
238-2110
H . 83 E (2 mile. (roes the water .lent)
40 s:IS
ON
DISPa1:1
what a Si
to See.....
Greenhouses bursting with
colour and aroma!
The gardener oho appreciates qualm
raid rhe arena's JarRest selection slops at
Te -Em Fann. . •
Selection
. greenhouse full * geranium`,
rte-w-tth-35 r,1k>un-t# tmpatieru,
one with perennial ani
. ecerlthtric in between from
ageratum t. i :ixchmt.
Did you know
that the met important pan .if : •
the plant is the root system' •
That Ls uin.ue',u Tr -Em Farm groin•
a lot of pLmrs m Lager conwmrrs
so dial yr tt toil hate a iop'gnratttr
Plant to put m -aur *arden.
The Btuimine Pe-rtnmal Carden as a
mitt to ter as they are never the. same'
Ted's Tasty Tonetaes are trar4e
TeRm
.1 7.ndetr„rt
En brought
r.e n
WE ALSO
MANUFACTURE.
UMBRELLAS.
REPLACEMENT
CUSHIONS.
FURNITURE COVERS
ANNUAL
OPE�v
(OUSE
May_5, 6 & 7;
4 Free Draws
each for a
$25 Gift
Certificate!
Coffee'
& Cookies!
Huron County's largeLt
selection of premium FFlints
- are a sight to behold. -
Come and..meet, Am:1mi ' Mends!
MOTHERS
DAY
Sun., 'May 14
.1H 'n,.rh,. oh prr,E :
FREE
3 1/2” Seed
eranium
Wave Weekend
6. Long Weekend-----
are
eekend---are 'con -thine,' tfI: \ear' r 4°e "e"
hots of swpn•_, 7.00i,..0, 00
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Rlir l Isnflrkl c . NOM iG (519) 48203020
r
L
si
— ctn.
REctn SPRING HO1 RS '� y
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J
Bethel Bible Church
An Associated Gospel Church
126 Main St. Seaforih
(formerly Canadian Tire)
Sunday School 9.45 a.m.
Worship at 11:00 a.m.
'Hold your horses-
Pastor:Rev. Doug Corriveau
527-0982
ir
Catholic Church
Saturday - 5:15 pm
St. James Parish, Seaforth
Saturday - 7:15 pm
' St. Joseph's Parish. Clinton
Sunday - 9:00 am
St. Michael's Parish. Myth
Sunda 11:00 am
St. James Sunday
Seaforth
Father trno Salvador
FIRST
PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
59 Goderich St., W.. Seaforth
Worship at 11:15
Sunday School during worship
Nursery Available
Pastor Rev. N. Vandermey
Egmondvilie
United Church
Rev. Judith Springett
11 a.m. Worship
Sunday School
Grades 2 to 8, 10 a.m.
Nursery to Grade 1, 11 a.m.
organizations.
The two -credit course
includes the field experiences
iso an inner-city retreat in
-Toronto and a billeting
experience in Consuelo,
Dominican Republic. both of
which compliment the issues
being addressed in . the
course.
The students learn about
economic structures and
policies at work on a local
and global level. They are
'challenged:to examine the
values of our . consumer.
society and reflect on the
impact of these values on
their personal lives and on
our local and global
communities.
They witness the ways in
which real people arc
affected by policies and
practices through their
placement with the
community partners. and
their billeting experience in
the Dominican Republic.
Carolyn Wilson .explains
that the sugar cane cutter. .
who live al the batteys in
slave -like conditions, arc
mainly Haitians from the
poor barrios in Santo
Domingo where people are
struggling to receive
education. and from the free
zones, where North
American companies have
Festablished manufacturing
plants amid protests over
poor wages and deplorable
working conditions.
ow D yen tri/
Sundays t
11-4 /IJ IIli-
Quite Simply the finest
P,V.C. TUBULAR RESIN
FURNITURE
- the Ultimate
in Elegant
Outdoor
1 ii Ing...
"WE HAVE iT ALL FOR PUS LIACICElt•
GREAT CASUAL LIVING"
• For Outdoors • Pools •
Garden Areas • Sunrooms
Cies*
nntirtio.
Usborne &
Hibbert Mutual
Fire Insurance
Company
Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S1
(Established in 1876)
Provides Full Insurance
Coverage for
Farm Properties
New Applications Are Welcomed
DIRECTORS & ADJUSTORS
JOE C•afie. a a ; V1 e1 ata 91;�
=tree r C:r R 345-73s:
.3"-, Salt*, i'.c 2 S'a-3 -may? RR ilmin
Vols 0 Shea P P. 3 Garcon
dorsWjdes aP 2S! Pais
• AGENTS
Warre Vane' bete,
Did Voce ?.e."
Bet Wyp" 'JAL- '
rhes' ^a V.t'e4
a: G"ce, crew
2?3o;:c
225260:
333664?
235.19?:
3452512
34;.;
•
•z3_-:
A refund from surplus was
declared for all policy hold-
ers who qualify, are on
record and in good standing
as at December 31. 1999.
Aluminum
sling
01..
waurs
BENCHES .
35, COO
T
•
GRAND BEND
238-2110
H . 83 E (2 mile. (roes the water .lent)
40 s:IS
ON
DISPa1:1
what a Si
to See.....
Greenhouses bursting with
colour and aroma!
The gardener oho appreciates qualm
raid rhe arena's JarRest selection slops at
Te -Em Fann. . •
Selection
. greenhouse full * geranium`,
rte-w-tth-35 r,1k>un-t# tmpatieru,
one with perennial ani
. ecerlthtric in between from
ageratum t. i :ixchmt.
Did you know
that the met important pan .if : •
the plant is the root system' •
That Ls uin.ue',u Tr -Em Farm groin•
a lot of pLmrs m Lager conwmrrs
so dial yr tt toil hate a iop'gnratttr
Plant to put m -aur *arden.
The Btuimine Pe-rtnmal Carden as a
mitt to ter as they are never the. same'
Ted's Tasty Tonetaes are trar4e
TeRm
.1 7.ndetr„rt
En brought
r.e n
WE ALSO
MANUFACTURE.
UMBRELLAS.
REPLACEMENT
CUSHIONS.
FURNITURE COVERS
ANNUAL
OPE�v
(OUSE
May_5, 6 & 7;
4 Free Draws
each for a
$25 Gift
Certificate!
Coffee'
& Cookies!
Huron County's largeLt
selection of premium FFlints
- are a sight to behold. -
Come and..meet, Am:1mi ' Mends!
MOTHERS
DAY
Sun., 'May 14
.1H 'n,.rh,. oh prr,E :
FREE
3 1/2” Seed
eranium
Wave Weekend
6. Long Weekend-----
are
eekend---are 'con -thine,' tfI: \ear' r 4°e "e"
hots of swpn•_, 7.00i,..0, 00
A Gardener's Paradise
Rlir l Isnflrkl c . NOM iG (519) 48203020
r
L
si
— ctn.
REctn SPRING HO1 RS '� y
kntal'- iritic S- M++r
Sat. &Sun 4-
a? T E A T i
SII�PPEftS
COJIiING
cILAI 1
COUPONS FOR
THE REAL WORLD.
GET 1tEDY'V
Saviing4 U. c om
ONLINE -COUPONS
FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO ADVERTISE...CALL
THE HURON EXPOSITOR 527-0240...CALL TODAY
N
J