What to bring to give away

As promised, my post about what to bring to have even more fun interacting with new people in port.

The things that worked best or worst were not really what I expected.  For example, of all the things I brought for kiddies to play with, my camera was by far the best thing.  I always thought of cameras as somewhat isolating; that the photographer would always be separated from the world by the lens.  It is true that cameras can hurt relations when you use it to take pictures of people without asking or in dodgy situations (don't ever do this) or take pictures of the military in Tibet (unless you like the idea of having your camera taken away, definitely don't ever do this).  However, if used correctly, having a camera is an awesome way to have fun with people, especially kids.

Taken by my homestay sister, Sara

Taken by my homestay sister, Kofi

I was nervous the first time I handed over my precious camera to a group of kids, but they were great and very careful.  In many different countries I had a great time showing them how to take pictures or taking pictures and then showing it to them.  (I really wish I had brought one of those Polaroid or instant print cameras so I could have given the pictures out.)  Plus, once I got back and uploaded pictures, I had a great collection of the kids and I making funny faces or the kids taking pictures of what was important to them.  I seriously can't recommend using your camera in this way enough.

A lot of people, including myself brought some fun trinkets for the kiddies.  I went a bit overboard but don't regret it one bit!

Try to bring a variety of trinkets so kids of all different ages and abilities can enjoy them.  The best things I brought were less something I just handed out, and more something that promoted interaction.  Face paint, stickers and nail polish were really fun to have.  

When shopping, just try to think what would have blown your mind when you were seven.  (Like that fake snow stuff!  Or those saucer popper thingies)  The oriental trading company is a great resource.  

My little buddy showing off his new bling.

On the practical side, school supplies are perfect.  I had so many kids 10X more excited about a pen than anything else I brought.

Without bringing anything material, bringing fun dance moves or clapping games is really awesome.  Think macarena or something like this video of Kyle, an RD, teaching kids the stanky leg.

  

Learning a new clapping game in Ghana

Another skill that is good to have going into the trip is to know how to fold a few origami pieces.  I had a really great time swapping origami patterns with tour guides or kids I met.  By the end of the trip, I was carrying around paper with me in case the opportunity came up.

On to homestay gifts...It really depends on where you are going to have the homestay.  I brought completely different things for each place I was supposed to have a homestay (the one in Japan got canceled).  Card games that don't need a common language, picture books, school supplies, USA themed shirts, cups etc. are all awesome.  Read up on the countries where you will have your homestay to get a better idea of what would be appropriate.

Finally, I REALLY wish I had known about this before I went.  A lot of the vendors at markets asked me if I had anything American that I could trade for goods they were selling.  I unfortunately never had anything, but it would have been a great way to take the social experience of bargaining to the next level.  People always asked for things like watches, sunglasses, phones (one kid really did trade in his iphone for a drum!), pins, really anything that came from America.  Just like you want the drum because it's from India, people will want a shirt or pair of earrings because it is from the US. 

  

Dominica (Day 2)

I am seriously in love with this country!  I had another beautiful day in Dominica today and was very sad to leave.  

I decided to be a bit gutsy and didn't even bring my wheelchair on the field program today.  Turns out I didn't' need it even though I was a lot more tired today.  Today the trip was a bus tour to the Carib Indians, the indigenous population on the island.  The drive was beautiful and our guide was fantastic.  I'm going to call our bus The Little Engine that Could because it definitely had to struggle up those hills and through the potholes!  The roads in Dominica can get quite rough.  Sometimes we were driving through the rainforest on a tiny uneven road and then a car would be coming at us head on!  What seemed to barely be a one way road then had to become a two way road.  Despite the rough condition of some of the roads, I felt safer there than driving in LA.  The drivers all knew what they were doing and went as slow as was needed to be safe.  (Something many LA drivers should learn.)

We stopped briefly to hike through the rainforest to a waterfall and emerald pool.  I went about 3/4 of the way and turned around because I was getting tired and the rest of the way was really steep up and down hill.  I'm already putting my poor body through enough!  haha  It was very peaceful walking back through the forest alone (don't worry mom and dad, I asked my guide if it was safe first).  I also had some time to peruse the two little shopping booths at the entrance to the trail.  I didn't buy much because it was pretty touristy, but I did get a couple trinkets.  I also got the rare chance to see an agudi (correct spelling pending…) which is kind of like the awkward love child of a gunny pig and a weenier dog.  With long skinny legs.  

Back on the bus and some more treacherous driving (to us city kids) we arrived at the Carib Indian community.  It pretty much was like any other place we had driven past which was  a little disappointing at first.  We had brief glimpses of daily life (which is pretty much like our own: work, school, laundry…) but mostly we toured a few different set-ups where community members showed us some daily tasks from their lives. 

First stop was learning how to juice sugar cane.  It was pretty cool and a few of us actually got to try our hand at it.  The juice tasted very strange, not just like sugar like I expected.  It had a kind of grassy aspect to is, but wasn't unpleasant.

Next we learned about basket weaving and tried a bit ourselves.  The baskets are made with different patterns in each community so you can tell where they came from.  In daily life, the baskets would be used to wrap gifts and store jewelry.  The lady said that one basket would take her about two hours to make. 

The next stop was something about medicinal herbs but I couldn't hear because:

A.)  I was pretty tired at this point and seeing more of the view bellow than whatever herbs were being discussed.

B.)  A very cute distraction in the form of ATTACK PUPPY.  (I think you can see where he go this name.  He really enjoyed chomping on whatever he could reach.)  Don't worry mom and dad.  He didn't break any skin and I purled the heck out of my hands afterwards.  haha

The final station showed how they make flat break out of powder from a root.  I tasted the powder pre-cooked and it tasted pretty much like flour.  The bread however was fantastic!  It kind of tasted like really good sourdough bread.  We also got to sample some fresh coconut on the way back.

BEfore we got back on the bus, there were more local treats for us including green bananas (tasted like bread!), slices of a root (also tasted like bread!), more coconut candy, and a really good fish salad.  

The ride back to our ship was rather subdued since everyone was so tired.  I got a last few pictures of the island and then it was unfortunately time to leave.  I am DEFINITELY coming back here!