This morning we visited a sugar cane field where 19 different Haitian families live and work. We did this as kind of a service learning project and to see how other people live in the DR because all of the students we work with are quite wealthy. This was a very eye opening experience that cannot be put into words.
Last night we made cream cheese sandwiches and filled a piñata with candy in preparation for the trip. We traveled far from Santo Domingo, toward the mountains that separate DR from Haiti. Once we reached the little village, children started running out to greet the van. By the time we got out of the van though, the children were all gone. We started handing out cups of coca cola to the adults sitting outside, and eventually the kids started to reappear. They had been called inside the change into nicer clothes because there were visitors! It was surprising because these people have so little, but they wanted to look as nice as possible. We handed out the sandwiches and chocolates, which everyone loved. I had some little “silly band” bracelets with the CMU Flying C logo that I handed out to all of the kids. They had no idea what CMU was, but they loved their new accessories! Then we set up the piñata. They loved it! When it broke open the kids were instantly in a huge pile on the ground, grabbing as much candy as they could. No one cried about being trampled or not getting a turn to hit the piñata or not getting enough candy. At home there would have been a lot of tears the way this game happened, but the culture is so different here. The older kids were so willing to share their candy with the little ones.
Next the kids started games of soccer and baseball. It was amazing how fast these little kids could throw a ball! And then hit it clear over the roof of a house! They were incredibly fast runners, too. It was very clear that they didn’t spend their afternoons playing video games inside like so many kids in the U.S. They were so happy to have just a flat soccer ball, a baseball, a bat, and a glove, it was remarkable.
It was astounding to see the huge gap between the rich and the poor in this country. I know it can be seen at home too, but it is so apparent here. Our students in the private schools are all very privileged, they have anything and everything they want and need. I know most of them will never travel to one of these sugar cane fields to see how others live…their families may even be the ones who own the sugar cane fields and provide the low wages and unsanitary living conditions. I hear my students, both here and in Michigan complain about little things that truly are first world problems. But then to see that this really is a third world country in some areas, and that the children are so grateful for everything they have, is just heart breaking.
I am so glad that we had this opportunity to help.
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