Reflections

Overall, the trip was absolutely fantastic!  There were a few glitches that were resolved along the way, but some could be addressed on future trips.

Challenges.....Solutions Used &/or Possible solutions

1.  Not having individual money.

• Provide each member with an expense form and a daily budget that is to be collected with receipts at the end of each day.
• Use personal money and be reimbursed by team lead.  

2.  Spending 3 weeks with people you have just met.

• Find time for yourself - in lobby, on rooftop, in your room, in the yard, etc.
• Share with your team that you need some down time. 
• Plan some outings that you would like to do before you leave Ottawa.
• Discuss food issues/needs and how to address them in-country before leaving Ottawa.
• Be flexible and allow the group to separate for dinner, or purchase meals and meet up at a restaurant or the hotel.

3.  Being under budget, yet having to spend personal money to go to the pool where we did our debrief.

•  Include the pool expense in the lunch budget, as the pool visit almost always included a drink and a small snack.  Often it was lunch and dinner.

4.  Organizing events with DAT staff and co-tutors.

• Consider possible activities before departure from Ottawa.
• People are busy and distances can be prohibitive
• DAT staff is busy and sometimes at other workshops or out of country, so plan immediately upon arrival and ensure that everyone is informed.
• Consider getting together for a snack or drink immediately after school.

 
5.  Co-tutors can be busy with other things or live long distances

• Be patient, come prepared for your subject and appreciate all that they do, as they are volunteering their time, the same as us.
• It all works out in the end because the participants and co-tutors are professional and dedicated.

6.  Resources for Teaching

• Consider using the in-country budget for resources in Canada instead of Dominica
• Resources, especially for visual and performing arts are quite expensive in country, as are things like sticky notes and CDs or DVDs.
• Plan ahead because not all resources are available or are challenging to locate.  We purchased glue in a pharmacy and had to buy finger paint for art.  The department store had a number of resources, but at 3 - 4 times the price of buying them in Canada. 

7.  DAT/CTF Final Debrief

• Investigate the possibility of doing this the day before the closing ceremonies.  Many of the teachers wanted to visit with co-tutors when the ceremony ended.