Hear me as I am

Today I we had our “fiesta de despedida” and I created a work of art in order to express our experience here in the DR. Everyone participated in the skit and it was phenomenal!! Here is the script that I wrote and everything else was basically improv. *There is also a video of it that I will eventually post. 

Soy un Estudiante Intercambio 

Plot:  Through this skit we are trying to convey the funny aspects of our experience here. So here is the story line….Maya is at PUCMM studying and Randol (Super Star Salsa Dancer) calls her and says that he is giving an exclusive dance class just for the CIEE students in the Centro de Estudiantes. Then overwhelmed with excitement and joy Maya calls the other students in the program. 

Phone Tree: Maya—-Marlen—-Michael—-Beth—-Hannah 

So in the beginning of the skit everyone is on stage but frozen in their locations. Maya calls Marlen and during the phone call her group is shopping at Calle del Sol. After that phone conversation Maya freezes and Marlen calls Michael and his group is eating at Square one. After that conversation Marlen freezes and Michael calls the next person. After the last group freezes we all leave stage. During the phone conversation which should be about a minute the other people who are in the group but not on the phone can be performing what ever action/background conversation coincides with your location. E.g.-All the other people in group 2 at Square One can have menus and talking about what they are going to eat.

Traveling to PUCMM: Group 1 is going to take a Concho. One of you can be the concho driver.  This driver is trying to make a lot of money today so he is trying to fit in 8 passengers instead of 6. Or if you guys find another way to make this funny go for it. Be creative! 

Group 2 is walking from square one and you guys get hustled by a dominican guy who wants you to buy him baby formula. One of you are going to have to act like the dominican. 

Group 3 is walking from plaza internacional and you ladies are looking fine so Piropos are come at you left and right. You can really play this up and make it funny. Have fun with it:) 

Group 4 is at the beach and is clearly taking their time. I think it would be funny if every other group is leaving almost in a rush and you guys are lying on the beach painting nails, reading a mag (MODA/Cosmo) and then one of you holds up a sign that says TIEMPO DOMINICANO. Or you can have a mini conversation trying to decide when to leave and another person walks by with the sign so that the audience will clearly get it. 

PUCMM (dance class): So we all enter on stage and Merengue music is playing but we start dancing “American style” I really want to get Randol to participate in this part so if he can he will grab Jackie and demonstrate how to dance Merengue. We all learn and then grab audience members to dance with. I think it would be cute if you grabbed one of your family members or promotora, whoever you like. The dance with the audience concludes the whole skit.  

**Below are group assignments as well as props that might work well for your scene. Don’t be afraid to change a concept or if you feel like you want to act out another part that is fine too. Beth Hannah and I assigned groups based on who we though would be funny in each location. 

Group # 1: Calle del Sol- Marlen, Anastasia, Becky, Nina, Paula, Toyin  Props:  Shopping bags, chairs to create the concho 

Group # 2: Square One- Michael, Ellen (2), Hannah B, Amanda   Props: Menus

Group # 3: Plaza Internacional- Beth, Libba, Jacquline, Fiona, Cas   Props: Shopping bags 

Group # 4: Puerto Plata- Hannah VP, Molly, Brianna, Caroline   Props: beach towel, magazine, sun glasses and anything else you would take to the beach. 

As this week comes to an end I only have a couple of more days left to spend with my host family. Over the past seven weeks they have been the best “Familia Anfitriona” that I could ever ask for. Moments such as blessing the food at lunch, playing with Carol and her tons of princess dolls (thanks to my mom and boozie), or going out with my brothers have all been such a beautiful experience. There is so much love within this family, and from the first day I arrived they have done nothing but share that love with me. My birthday party was a typical house party with food music and great conversation. I think my parents were surprised at how easily I picked up the movement of Merengue and Bachata. They asked me where I learned the dance and I told them that besides dancing with my friends, I just have rhythm. Last night I asked my parents if I could see family photos and Ms. diva “Carol” brings out three different family albums. I got to see pictures of great grandparents, Miguel’s swimming competition, first’s communions, and first’s birthdays. Before studying abroad many students told me their doubts about staying with a host family, and I must admit I was very nervous about that aspect of my experience. However after living with the Collados I have no doubt that host families are the perfect way to experience a new culture.