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Month: July 2008

My first day on the job.

P7184875P7184869 So far, the first day on this trip has exceeded our expectations. Today we went to Bernard’s house, where we filled the foundation of his new house with sand. We got so much more done than we thought we would, thanks to the great weather and extreme teamwork. Before lunch at the work site, we met some local kids that ran around us as we worked. The kids just enjoyed our company, they liked to know our names and ran around screaming them, they were so sweet. We realized that the kids love to talk to you even if you can’t understand them, they also love to play fight. This was a great first! We came only knowing each other but have already made so many new friends, we are excited for the rest of the trip and the adventures to come.Anna & Chloe- Students

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 18th, 2008

DR 08: trip number two.

Hurry… after a long trip down to the Dominican Republic from B.C. & Ontario, a stop at JFK, and an early landing in the DR- we’re HERE!!!!!!Everyone got here safe and sound. Most people went swimming, some slept, and others just sat in the sun with their new friends. Dinner is at 6, then off to orientation at 8. First work day starts tomorrow- I cant wait.

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 17th, 2008

Unsung Heroes

We have always said that our staff and student interns are the “unsung heroes” in what we do, and once again they proved this to be true. On Sunday night there was a car accident involving some Hero Holiday staff, student interns and adult participants, when their SUV rolled and came to stop on its roof when swerving to avoid oncoming traffic and an unmarked 45 gal steel drum in the middle of the road.  Fortunately all injuries were minor, everyone is in good spirits and able to continue on with their Hero Holiday trip.After hosting more than 20 Hero Holiday trips for more than 1200 students, this is our first serious incident that we have had to deal with, and a big thank you goes out to all of our key Hero Holiday Staff members who were directly involved with this situation.  (Specifically: Cole Brown, Nicole Dufault and Christal Earle)  Your quick thinking, the decisions you made, and the excellent care you provided, is a testament to your years of experience working with students in countries around the world.We are very grateful for the attitudes of those involved as they have kept cool heads throughout the whole series of events. We would especially like to express our gratitude to Cole Brown, a veteran Hero Holiday staff member, who was driving the vehicle. His quick thinking and actions kept this situation from being potentially worse. The circumstances were out of his control, but he reacted quickly and limited other potential dangers and injuries.We are encouraged to have such a competent Staff and Interns currently on the ground in Dominican Republic. Keep up the good work guys!

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 16th, 2008

DR: a life changing experience.

Coming into this trip, we didnt know what to expect. We felt excitement for our new adventure to come, but we were uneasy as to how we would react physically, mentally, and emotionally to the experience.Physically, we thought we were in shape, but to our dismay we were extremely wrong! With the sun beaming on our backs, kids jumping on you, and constant thirst for water, we found that feeling so exhausted had never felt so rewarding. Working side by side with the locals, only motivated us more to give it our all because they deserve all we can offer.Mentally, the visions of poverty have given us a true understanding of what hardships people encounter through life here. At times it has been straining to know this is a reality and that you can only do so much to help, yet it never feels enough. But we do understand that to them, it means so much.Emotionally, neither of us were prepared for what this journey had to offer. Never in our lives, in such a short period of time, did we expect to encounter every emotion. The mixture of sadness, laughter, heartache, joy, and frustration all combine into the most powerful emotion a human can offer, love.Dominican Advance School FenceThrew moments of weakness, we have discovered that ultimately love has been carrying our pain. The way they demonstrate their love for their work, their families, their friends, even us is so captivating because even though they have so little, they have the most inspiring life lessons to teach us.friendsAll in all we cannot begin to understand their appreciation for life and how grateful they all are. A simple “hola” sparks a smile with a wave and that connection, even if it lasts two seconds, is a bond created between two strangers.Nikki & Kayle- Students School Project

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 11th, 2008

House Dedication – Seycove Secondary in Mexico

kels 006kels 057kels 049 kels 018 After some waiting and playing yesterday, we got down to the business of the house dedication. It was an opportunity for the group to share and express themselves to the family and for the family to respond.The general feeling is that we are all fortunate to have had the opportunity. That in it all, we have learned as much as we have given and have the satisfaction of hard work well done. Last night it was noted that this is leaving a legacy. This once in a lifetime experience for the family to receive a gracious gift given in respect. This chance to push the boundaries of normal, of regular, and dare, and risk, and make a difference in our world.After the well wishes, hand shakes and hugs, we hit up the local taco stand then the beach. There was a gorgeous sunset that night, it was a perfect punctuation to beautiful day.kels 020 kels 011 kels 003 kels 070

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 10th, 2008

DR: Smile Big!

” Today our team was given the chance to visit an orphanage. I however, have never been to an orphanage before so I had no idea what to expect. hero holiday 08 134 While on the bus I was completely calm and didn’t really think much of it. But once we got to the orphanage, this one boy came running up to our bus and started saying hello. At that point, I was starting to get nervous because as I looked outside I saw many different kids in wheelchairs and through the window I could see children standing in their beds. I was nervous because I have never really worked with children who are disabled and I know it was going to be a different environment, but I was not ready for what I was about to experience.The first room we went into had eight beds and each one had a child that was bone thin and not smiling. It was totally unexpected and overwhelming for not only myself but for my whole group as well. No one really knew what to do, except cry and let everything out. Surprisingly, I did not cry right away because I was more in shock then anything else, but seeing those children bed-ridden for their entire life completely hit the heart.After visiting that room, everyone went and explored the orphanage and went to meet the other children. I went into one room upstairs and I was immediately drawn to this one boy. I was really scared to touch him because he was bed-ridden and looked so fragile. I gently stroked his hand and before I knew it he grabbed my hand with so much force, but with so much compassion. A smile just appeared on my face and when I looked at him he had the same expression as me. I lost all control at that point because even though there was the language barrier we were still able to understand one another. Just sitting on the floor and holding his hand through his crib, all the fear and sadness that I had felthero holiday 08 030 disappeared. That connection that we created was nothing but love and laughter.Our group was also fortunate to work with an amazing woman, Allyson Grant. She is a clown doctor that works with children and we were lucky enough to bring clowning around to the orphanage. One again, I did not know what to expect and how the children would react to us wearing a red nose. But the moment we all put them on you could hear laughter pouring at almost every child that we played with. Each child extended a smile from ear to ear. Even those who could not laugh, you could see the sparkle in their eyes and that was enough to change anyone’s day.It’s hard to believe that even the smallest mask in the world can make a difference but it can and I have witnessed it. Yes, there may be a language barrier, but that should never stop us from putting a smile on a child’s face. The simplest thing in the world that any human can do is smile. Today at the orphanage smiling was my only way of communication and I was able to communicate with every child and staff member. It didn’t matter whether I spoke Spanish because every single human being can understand the language of a smile.”Kayla Lim- Student

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 9th, 2008

DR: A great day.

” I thought that the clown doctoring today in the orphanage went amazing. Both speaking as a performer, and as a leadership student; I feel the connection you can make with a mask (clown nose) leaves a way bigger impression on the kids then without a mask. The nose is a basic extension of a mask, masks do not hide you; but actually open you up way more and help to make bigger connections. With even a slight mask you feel safe and able to step out of your comfort zone. You end up releasing the more intimate parts of yourself and the children enjoy it more. Speaking of which the children and staff LiveDifferent (formerly Absolute)ly loved it! You never know what it’s like until you try it. Words can’t describe it. Just being there and helping was truly amazing. I personally am not shy at all, but everyone from the super shy to the “older” more mature adults were getting involved and having a blast. You really realize the diversity of the children personalities and appreciate what you are doing and the difference you are making in those lives. Thank you to Jest for Joy and Hero Holidays and the orphanage for what we were given today it was truly amazing!”-Dustin Innes, Studenthero holiday 08 124

Author: LiveDifferent

Date:

DR: Will you love the unloved?

hero holiday 08 252 My team leader posed a question to us after a day spent at a nearby orphanage for disabled children- What makes an “orphan” an orphan?Is it someone without any parents, a child scarred by abandonment… or perhaps just an individual lacking emotional and financial support?Hero Holiday is allowing each of us to see that despite our many differences in terms of talent, passion, finances and more… we all have one crucial similarity. In a world exemplifying so many global issues and challenges, we all share the ability to love the unloved. hero holiday 08 266We have been given the opportunity to reach out in a tangible way whether it be building a school, a house or merely holding and humming in the ear of a child who may never respond…We can all be successful at loving others.Lover Never Fails!!-Grace Voteary, Student.

Author: LiveDifferent

Date:

Fiesta! – Seycove Secondary in Mexico

The last few days have been full of recreational activities, parties, and of course, work. A Happy Sweet 16 goes out to Shelby who celebrated her birthday on the 7th. We had a party at the Hero Holiday house, complete with cake, a pinata, music and… poker. (Mrs. Yeo won.) Throughout the week we have been doing fun stuff in the evening, hikes up a mountain at sunset, movie night at a local coffee bar and hitting up an internet cafe to keep everyone connected with home. roofing Tomorrow we are heading out with our adventure guy, Greg. The day is gonna be filled with hiking dormant volcanoes, crawling through lava tubes on a beach, running an obstacle course and hopefully some time in between some sand dunes and the ocean, relaxing and soaking up the last day of Mexico. enlightened I am heading out in a hour to the house dedication. The families are all squared away, the finishing touches being done on the houses as I type right now. There is a sense amongst the group that they have accomplished what they have come here to do. Everyone has done at least one new thing this week, most have done many new things. There is a feeling of challenges met and victories won. Adventures have been had, and a few more lie in front of us. changing the landscape I want to take the time to congratulate the participants of this trip. They have taken time out of their summer holiday to learn more about themselves and give unselfishly to families here in Mexico. The impact they have made will not be forgotten.

Author: LiveDifferent

Date:

DR: Horse-back Riding Excursion!

7:15 – beep beep: the sound of our clock awakes us all from the restless sleep that night. Honestly though, who could sleep while knowing the next day would be full of first and unexpected surprises?Six out of the nineteen wonderful people from team three choose to go horse back riding on their day off. The day started as usual, meeting at 7:30, getting ready for the day and at 8:30 boarding the van. Minus the sounds of the Dominican horn blowing, it was a quiet ride there, but seeing as there may have only been two of us who had ever ridden horses before, you can imagine there was a lot to think about.Once there, we emptied out of the van to look at the rocky red dirt of the jungle and our 6 horses being untied from the trees. As we mounted the horses we could all see the same look in our eyes, “Holy cow, we’ve never done this before.” Fortunately, this didn’t stop us. After our 4T’s guide Anthony gave us a quick lesson on how to steer (and stop), we were on our way. It was rough terrain at first but through the rocks and after relaxing on our horses we were able to see the beautiful landscape. We went through the jungle seeing old caves placed in the middle of trees and bushes, looking at burnt out forestry which now has vibrant baby green trees growing through the white rocks surrounding the area. After trusting the horses and becoming more comfortable on the saddle we were able to experience “galloping”. Meanwhile learning (in the moment) how to stop.When we reached as far as the trail went, we got off our horses and shared cut up fruit with our guides on banana leaves. Of course this was after they showed us the cave full of water that we (obviously) had to jump into. The water was clear, blue and so refreshing. It took a little encouragement for some, but after a few minutes we were all in the water. Looking back on the experience it still calms me when thinking about the scenery and how awakening the water felt as i jumped from the rocks.Elizabeth Doney- Student Leader

Author: LiveDifferent

Date: July 8th, 2008