...when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." Whoever wrote that never experienced a Christmas on this island. It is always loud here. Remember, I live in the second loudest country in the world. My Night before Christmas played out a little different than Mr. Moore and Livingstons traditional story.
Holidays here came and are going fast. Didn’t feel too much like the holidays, although we did get a couple days of “chilly weather.” By their standards-high 60s, and they think that they are experiencing the cold winter of Nueva Yol (New York, as my doña calls it). When I try to explain that it is as cold in New York as sticking yourself in our freezer, which doesn’t get too cold, I get a blank stare. She thinks I am lying. Lost cause. I have to simply assure her that “burr, yes it is cold here.” She smiles, excited to be able to experience the cold that she thinks she can relate to the Big Apple, the city of all cities for them- the city where all Americans live, because all other forty-nine states don’t exist. Except maybe Florida because Miami is where the other Americans live who don’t live in New York City. And although they know I am from California, to them, it is all part of New York. Needless to say, I can’t wait until sister comes with a world map. Geography 101.
Back to Christmas. Christmas Eve consisted of a hodge podge of all the ingredients one can possibly find in our town, which don’t get too excited, it isn’t much. It is the only day of the year that families use their oven to cook chicken and pork instead of as a shed to store dishes (reason: gas is $$). Our dinner table consisted of an array of chicken and pork, rice, Russian potato salad (I have yet to find out what is Russian about it), spaghetti, cabbage salad, bread, apples, almonds, raisins and grapes (the four traditional Christmas treats-they only appear at Christmas), what I call my cookie attempt (the oven just doesn’t work properly and killed my snickerdoodles) and an equivalent to a pumpkin pie that I made that was very successful. The family prepared a plate of food for the neighbors so that they could have a taste. We ate together around the table after giving away half of the feast and talked. My sister snickered at my pie, smelled it and refused to eat it. I wanted to reach across the table grab her head and stick it in the not-so- Russian salad. I gave her a smirk when everyone told me how delicious it was. I even prepared one for my fishermen at our meeting on Christmas Day-definite win. Some people here are just so opposed to trying anything new. Some are too set in their ways, never divvying from what they know. It is a whole other story that their minds in school are never worked to be creative and think outside of the box and do something different than the rest of the group. Don’t even get me started.
So my first Dominican Christmas… I survived the mockery of my cooking, what else can I say…The holidays here can’t compare to the States. Dinner was nice, but that was it, nothing else. O wait, forgot to mention one thing. Remember I live in an evangelical community? Well, they have a tradition that the week leading up to Christmas they go caroling. Real cute right. O, just wait. They “carol” more like sing loud somewhat angry sounding church songs from 2am until 6am going through the streets to people’s homes to “save” (convert) people. I think I prefer some good old fashioned Jingle Bells.
2011 is right around the corner. My community is basically paralyzed until after the 6th of January when they will celebrate Three Kings Day. I asked what they customarily do, but I was told nothing. Apparently, a good excuse to extend the holidays and relax. I’ll take it. It is nice to be able to take a few days to myself, put work aside and just talk to people (which is basically what I have been doing anyways), enjoy the beach, clear my mind and find a place to live (cross your fingers things work out). My dad even pulled out some machines that the artisans use and showed me how to make some coconut jewelry. Final product still in the making.
I am excited to start the New Year. Pretty symbolic in the sense that I am going to really begin my projects here. I will be proposing a lot of New Year’s resolutions to my fishermen, which include hopefully constructing and opening our cooperative this coming year. Who knows what this year has in store, but I know I am in for a wild ride.
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy New Year. Let this one be sweeter than the last.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
You Don't Say
Written: December 21
I was interviewing one of my favorite doñas in the community the other day. My interviews never consist of just going through a survey. That would freak them out. Too official for them and let’s be real-you can’t really get to know people by doing that anyways. It is all about conversating, drinking coffee, burping babies, sometimes helping peel fresh peas that they are working on for dinner. You get my drift. So, we are “conversating.” She is explaining to me why her grandson lives with her. His mother left him when he was a baby. Why? She didn’t like to cook. I hope that is what they told their grandson. Apparently an aversion for cooking is fair game for leaving your family. It does take up a lot of time, but really?
They say when you can cook, you better find yourself a man if you haven’t already because you are ready to get married. It appears that when you are sick of it, you are also ready for a divorce.
I was interviewing one of my favorite doñas in the community the other day. My interviews never consist of just going through a survey. That would freak them out. Too official for them and let’s be real-you can’t really get to know people by doing that anyways. It is all about conversating, drinking coffee, burping babies, sometimes helping peel fresh peas that they are working on for dinner. You get my drift. So, we are “conversating.” She is explaining to me why her grandson lives with her. His mother left him when he was a baby. Why? She didn’t like to cook. I hope that is what they told their grandson. Apparently an aversion for cooking is fair game for leaving your family. It does take up a lot of time, but really?
They say when you can cook, you better find yourself a man if you haven’t already because you are ready to get married. It appears that when you are sick of it, you are also ready for a divorce.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Blast into the Past
Rainy day. Stuck inside unless I want to drown in puddles and slip and slide on our muddy dirt road. I must say, these days are really nice. The air is even a little chilly today. That’s a first.
I’ve had a lot of time during my diagnostic and interviewing time to really observe the people in my community. I’ve developed strong relationships with certain people in the community. One person that I want to share with you worth mentioning is my 76 year old grandfather. This man works like a caballo-it is written all over his sun kissed wrinkled skin. Three times a day he walks to and from his farm where he grows all the food that the family eats. He also walks his five massive cows (yes with a leash made of rope) around the community to bring them to the places where they feed on the land. I went with him one day to see part of the land that he farms. We walked over tons of plants and bushes. Thinking that we were just crossing through overgrown weeds, he explained to me that each plant actually was a crop. Great, I am stepping all over the family’s food. No te preocupes (don’t worry)-they all run over their crops apparently. Most of his crops are viveres, or starchy vegetables like potatoes, what is equivalent to sweet potato, pumpkin, and yucca. I would’ve never known that these plants actually bear food or that each one was a different type of plant as most of them looked the same.
There is something that draws me to my abuelito. Maybe it is his knowledge of the land, knowing every leaf to pick from our yard that can be used to make tea, using the direction of the sun to tell what time it is, his ability to trek up a mountain faster than me, how he walks through the streets with his machete in hand- I don’t know. There is a sense of peace that shines from him that must come from living his simple, stress free, yet laborious life. And although he is an elder in the community who is still really living by our times, in like the early 1900s or something (and not the city in the early 1900s, think middle of Kansas), he just understands me. When my uncles are around asking me questions about life in the states and they just refuse to believe certain things I say, like how when a man marries a woman, it is not socially acceptable for that man to be with other women, my abuelo will speak up “Things are different there, it isn’t like here. Men and women are faithful right?” He just genuinely understands. And by understand, by no means can he comprehend the life of someone who lives in the States, who drives to the grocery store to choose from an entire aisle what type of cereal they want for breakfast (“cereal for breakfast, what’s that?” he would say). But there is something about him that I just connect with. We are opposites -black and white, but there is some gray where we have come to develop a relationship different from anything I have ever had. I sit for hours with him underneath the big mango tree talking about everything from how the house I live in here used to be fields to grow tobacco or explaining that in California it is really four hours earlier than it is here, learning how he could never eat the cows that he raises, how he is convinced I will be sick of mangos during mango season, together trying to explain anything at all to my very senile grandmother... And sometimes we just sit in silence. But that is okay here. You don’t need to fill silence with conversation. There is no “awkward silence” and I am getting used to this. When I just don’t have anything to say, it’s nice to know that I don’t need to say anything at all.
So I hope you feel like you got a snapshot of Abuelito. He is an intelligent man- not from a University education (he cannot read or write, there was no school here when he was young)- but smart nonetheless. A University education is not the type of intelligence he can use in his daily life. It is his experience and understanding of his surroundings that is his survival kit. Intelligence isn’t necessarily packaged in the form of a book or a classroom education where I live-it is all relative.
But there is something about my abuelito. I wish I could explain in words, but I think you just need to sit with him under the mango tree to really understand.
-picture coming soon. (I know you are intrigued, don't lie) My hand held digital camera broke and with it went the photo of abuelo-
I’ve had a lot of time during my diagnostic and interviewing time to really observe the people in my community. I’ve developed strong relationships with certain people in the community. One person that I want to share with you worth mentioning is my 76 year old grandfather. This man works like a caballo-it is written all over his sun kissed wrinkled skin. Three times a day he walks to and from his farm where he grows all the food that the family eats. He also walks his five massive cows (yes with a leash made of rope) around the community to bring them to the places where they feed on the land. I went with him one day to see part of the land that he farms. We walked over tons of plants and bushes. Thinking that we were just crossing through overgrown weeds, he explained to me that each plant actually was a crop. Great, I am stepping all over the family’s food. No te preocupes (don’t worry)-they all run over their crops apparently. Most of his crops are viveres, or starchy vegetables like potatoes, what is equivalent to sweet potato, pumpkin, and yucca. I would’ve never known that these plants actually bear food or that each one was a different type of plant as most of them looked the same.
There is something that draws me to my abuelito. Maybe it is his knowledge of the land, knowing every leaf to pick from our yard that can be used to make tea, using the direction of the sun to tell what time it is, his ability to trek up a mountain faster than me, how he walks through the streets with his machete in hand- I don’t know. There is a sense of peace that shines from him that must come from living his simple, stress free, yet laborious life. And although he is an elder in the community who is still really living by our times, in like the early 1900s or something (and not the city in the early 1900s, think middle of Kansas), he just understands me. When my uncles are around asking me questions about life in the states and they just refuse to believe certain things I say, like how when a man marries a woman, it is not socially acceptable for that man to be with other women, my abuelo will speak up “Things are different there, it isn’t like here. Men and women are faithful right?” He just genuinely understands. And by understand, by no means can he comprehend the life of someone who lives in the States, who drives to the grocery store to choose from an entire aisle what type of cereal they want for breakfast (“cereal for breakfast, what’s that?” he would say). But there is something about him that I just connect with. We are opposites -black and white, but there is some gray where we have come to develop a relationship different from anything I have ever had. I sit for hours with him underneath the big mango tree talking about everything from how the house I live in here used to be fields to grow tobacco or explaining that in California it is really four hours earlier than it is here, learning how he could never eat the cows that he raises, how he is convinced I will be sick of mangos during mango season, together trying to explain anything at all to my very senile grandmother... And sometimes we just sit in silence. But that is okay here. You don’t need to fill silence with conversation. There is no “awkward silence” and I am getting used to this. When I just don’t have anything to say, it’s nice to know that I don’t need to say anything at all.
So I hope you feel like you got a snapshot of Abuelito. He is an intelligent man- not from a University education (he cannot read or write, there was no school here when he was young)- but smart nonetheless. A University education is not the type of intelligence he can use in his daily life. It is his experience and understanding of his surroundings that is his survival kit. Intelligence isn’t necessarily packaged in the form of a book or a classroom education where I live-it is all relative.
But there is something about my abuelito. I wish I could explain in words, but I think you just need to sit with him under the mango tree to really understand.
-picture coming soon. (I know you are intrigued, don't lie) My hand held digital camera broke and with it went the photo of abuelo-
Monday, November 29, 2010
New Appreciation for Canned Cranberry Sauce
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pies, even your classic canned cranberry sauce. I had it all Thanksgiving Day despite being far from American soil. Get almost 200 PC volunteers together, and we make it happen. I travelled to the capital for Thanksgiving to spend a few days with my fellow Americans to celebrate our gringo holiday. After reuniting with my fellow PC friends, I realized how much I really needed to get away for a couple days to clear my head. Thanksgiving Day was filled with everything American. My day began at 7 am with the traditional Turkey Trot, a 6K Run around the Botanical Gardens. Not going to toot my own horn, but I rocked it- 31 minutes. The rest of the day was spent at a Country Club filled with sports activities (soccer, basketball, volleyball, football, swimming relays) and other events, plus a priceless talent show. Only mistake was that the swimming relay was after our Thanksgiving lunch feast and I almost puked while taking off in the water. I almost won, so it was worth it. Needless to say, our Peace Corps family did a great job at easing the homesickness during the holiday time. Being at my site eating platanos and rice for the umpteenth day in a row melting in what feels like summer heat just wouldn’t have sufficed. There was a lot to be thankful for as we all gathered together for our gluttonous feast. I am thankful for all the families and volunteers that sent overseas classic treats for the holiday including our canned cranberry sauce, Trader Joes walnuts for incredible pecan pie and boxed stuffing even though I am gluten intolerant and couldn't enjoy it, it was nice to see it on our big round table. I am thankful for being a strong woman when at times it is easier to toss in the towel. And when things get tough here I am thankful for having support from my family and friends. I am thankful for only being twenty-three years old and being able to have the opportunity to do this. There is a lot to be thankful for. Toilets, running water, I can go on for pages.
I am not going to lie. These last few weeks have been really tough. If anything that I have learned is that you don’t really experience much of a spectrum of emotions here. At least not at the beginning. Your highs are really high and well your lows, well they are lowwww, like you are buried 6 feet under. Imagine being on a roller coaster simply with big inclines and you know, what goes up must come down right? Ok I am realizing that this sounds really bad and don’t worry people, I am ok. On a good note, I had a very successful meeting with the Fishermen’s Association on Saturday. Working with them has been a lot better than I thought it was going to be. There’s me-young independent American woman (hear me roar) and twenty plus grungy machismo fishermen (which never smell like fish surprisingly) most of which have only seen a woman do work in a kitchen. But, they actually listen to me and are motivated to work with me. Next week I will be giving them a charla on the basics of starting an association and we will definitely be covering the importance of an agenda. The meetings sound like a Sports Bar during the Super Bowl-people shouting over one another, say the wrong thing and someone might get up and throw a punch. Let’s just say we will be working on group strengthening for awhile. I spoke during the meeting which was a big deal because I have been the fly on the wall trying to observe the group dynamic simply nodding when things are said that I agree with and standing to pray with the group at the beginning and end of each meeting. I think some of them were starting to wonder if I was mute or just dumb. After I was done talking, a man cleared his throat, stood up and reminded everybody that by the grace of g-d I was there to help them and that the words that come out of my mouth are wise and that on behalf of everyone that they feel that we should move forward together to create a strong organization because together, si dios quiere (of course) we can accomplish anything. –Everyone mutters in agreement- Feeling of success. Check. I’ll take each little win as they come. So the roller coaster does have some loops.
This week I will hopefully be prioritizing the projects I plan to work on here in Las Galeras. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Development Association where I am going to work with the group on SWOT analysis of the community (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) so we can set up some of my responsibilities and possibly a plan for the next couple years.
I am not going to lie. These last few weeks have been really tough. If anything that I have learned is that you don’t really experience much of a spectrum of emotions here. At least not at the beginning. Your highs are really high and well your lows, well they are lowwww, like you are buried 6 feet under. Imagine being on a roller coaster simply with big inclines and you know, what goes up must come down right? Ok I am realizing that this sounds really bad and don’t worry people, I am ok. On a good note, I had a very successful meeting with the Fishermen’s Association on Saturday. Working with them has been a lot better than I thought it was going to be. There’s me-young independent American woman (hear me roar) and twenty plus grungy machismo fishermen (which never smell like fish surprisingly) most of which have only seen a woman do work in a kitchen. But, they actually listen to me and are motivated to work with me. Next week I will be giving them a charla on the basics of starting an association and we will definitely be covering the importance of an agenda. The meetings sound like a Sports Bar during the Super Bowl-people shouting over one another, say the wrong thing and someone might get up and throw a punch. Let’s just say we will be working on group strengthening for awhile. I spoke during the meeting which was a big deal because I have been the fly on the wall trying to observe the group dynamic simply nodding when things are said that I agree with and standing to pray with the group at the beginning and end of each meeting. I think some of them were starting to wonder if I was mute or just dumb. After I was done talking, a man cleared his throat, stood up and reminded everybody that by the grace of g-d I was there to help them and that the words that come out of my mouth are wise and that on behalf of everyone that they feel that we should move forward together to create a strong organization because together, si dios quiere (of course) we can accomplish anything. –Everyone mutters in agreement- Feeling of success. Check. I’ll take each little win as they come. So the roller coaster does have some loops.
This week I will hopefully be prioritizing the projects I plan to work on here in Las Galeras. Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Development Association where I am going to work with the group on SWOT analysis of the community (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) so we can set up some of my responsibilities and possibly a plan for the next couple years.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Confianza Over A Cup of Coffee
I have been in Las Galeras for a week and a half and days are going by fast. I am still the new kid on the block, but I am finally able to put names to more faces. The importance of my first three months at my site is to build confianza, translating to building trust, with my community-building relationships and an understanding of one another.What exactly does that entail? Walking around talking to everyone in the streets, going to people’s homes and having coffee with doñas, stopping by the school to talk with teachers, watching dramatic telenovelas with my family, listening to music with some neighborhood kids, going for a quick dip in the ocean with my sister and cousins, helping kids with their homework, taking a jewelry making course with local artisans, sitting through intense evangelist church services, attending every community meeting for every organization, meeting with the mayor, making small talk with the farmer that always rides past me on his horse on my run, etc. etc. Thus far, it has been a great way to compartir, to share who I am and why I am here, but also to get to know other people and understand the members of my community. Needless to say, I have been very busy. And although some days are harder than others (sitting through church gatherings are very intense and not exactly my cup of tea), I am starting to feel more comfortable with my surroundings.
Yesterday I hosted my first, somewhat official event, a Veterinary Medical Mission. Veterinarians from the United States came to give free services for the animals in my community. It was a great turnout with about 150-200 animals receiving care from vaccinations, operations, neutering and consultations. I was in charge of finding a location for them to work, setting it up and translating for the veterinarians during the event. This was a quick win in my community-a great way for members of the community to see that I will be opening the doors to many opportunities that they can take advantage of.
Today I have been inside all day due to the unruly rain. Keeping busy doing my own research and homework and passing time with my family as they watch TV at an audible level to drain out the sound of the rain. This morning when I had a little time to myself (this never happens). I found ABC and NBC television channels (didn’t even know we had them). We get the news from South Florida, so I spent a little time watching Good Morning America. I feel so out of the loop and to be honest watching English television, seeing familiar places, getting the update on who was kicked off Dancing with the Stars last night, made me home sick. Maybe it’s better to keep the distance that I have developed. Don’t get me wrong, I love being here, but there are days where you just miss a piece of America. Whether it is being able to drive somewhere, have a choice of what I want to eat (miss the chain restaurants), talking to people that I can relate to, hearing the same teenie bop song on the radio every fifteen minutes, Monday night football, efficiency-okay, you get my point. So I guess for the best, I was lucky to only have about ten minutes of the TV to myself before my host dad came in to watch the very graphic local news. Nothing like watching a dead gang member murdered on the street-live, no censoring. Just another cultural difference. I might not get used to that in two years, but I can definitely get used to using rain as an excuse to pass the day inside since the town shuts down when there is rain.
A rainbow on my street after some of the rains
Some pics from the Vet Med Mission
Yesterday I hosted my first, somewhat official event, a Veterinary Medical Mission. Veterinarians from the United States came to give free services for the animals in my community. It was a great turnout with about 150-200 animals receiving care from vaccinations, operations, neutering and consultations. I was in charge of finding a location for them to work, setting it up and translating for the veterinarians during the event. This was a quick win in my community-a great way for members of the community to see that I will be opening the doors to many opportunities that they can take advantage of.
Today I have been inside all day due to the unruly rain. Keeping busy doing my own research and homework and passing time with my family as they watch TV at an audible level to drain out the sound of the rain. This morning when I had a little time to myself (this never happens). I found ABC and NBC television channels (didn’t even know we had them). We get the news from South Florida, so I spent a little time watching Good Morning America. I feel so out of the loop and to be honest watching English television, seeing familiar places, getting the update on who was kicked off Dancing with the Stars last night, made me home sick. Maybe it’s better to keep the distance that I have developed. Don’t get me wrong, I love being here, but there are days where you just miss a piece of America. Whether it is being able to drive somewhere, have a choice of what I want to eat (miss the chain restaurants), talking to people that I can relate to, hearing the same teenie bop song on the radio every fifteen minutes, Monday night football, efficiency-okay, you get my point. So I guess for the best, I was lucky to only have about ten minutes of the TV to myself before my host dad came in to watch the very graphic local news. Nothing like watching a dead gang member murdered on the street-live, no censoring. Just another cultural difference. I might not get used to that in two years, but I can definitely get used to using rain as an excuse to pass the day inside since the town shuts down when there is rain.
A rainbow on my street after some of the rains
Some pics from the Vet Med Mission
Thursday, November 4, 2010
A New Place to Call Home
I know, it’s been a while, but with good reason. Since my last entry I have traveled back to Santo Domingo, had my official site visit, went back to Santo Domingo, bought a guitar, swore in as an official Peace Corps Volunteer and finally permanently moved into my new home in Las Galeras. –deep breath- Now is when all the fun starts.
Last week was the accumulation of my three months of training. I took the same oath the President of the United States of America takes before swearing in to office. If it wasn’t official before, I certainly am now. The big day came and went, I had to leave my support network and begin a new journey all alone in my new home. I had become so accustomed to the security of being around other volunteers that this transition will take a little bit of time to get used to.
So here I am. In my new community. Dropped off at the end of the road (literally), eager to start. And now what? My site has a little bit of a different dynamic than your typical site. Unlike some of my other fellow volunteers, there isn’t a set project here for me to work with. I am here to figure out the needs of the community and work from there. Pretty broad, I know. Las Galeras has never had a volunteer before which comes with its positives and negatives. Some people just don’t really understand why I am here (they could very well be thinking that I am just like any other gringa mooching off their incredible beach). Others have approached me with tons of projects that they feel are all feasible. Apparently in two years I am capable of starting a women’s group, artisan association, fishing cooperative, vocational school, building a library, starting a rock climbing ecotourism project, teaching English classes-o the list goes on. Thus far, I have experienced a mix of emotions. It is all very overwhelming, but I take day by day. The crazy thing is, I wake up and I am supposed to figure out what the heck to do with myself-no more schedule like in training. This week I am that awkward neighbor, walking house to house meeting all my neighbors and desperately trying to remember all their names (Note to self: blue house made of wood with pink door belongs to Negra-yes her nickname is Negra because she is very dark). My notebook is filled with these little observations. I am taking things very slowly, and with all the rain we have been getting, days have been passing fast and although it has been harder to walk around with the road block of mud and puddles everywhere, I manage to keep myself busy.
Keep in mind, I have three months to figure out everything before I report back to the Peace Corps with my diagnostic. In the next three months I will be doing a variety of things including mapping out my community, interviewing 100+ households, analyzing the needs of the community and creating an action plan for the next year. It’s definitely far from your typical cubicle job.
O and about Las Galeras. Did I mention I will be living in paradise for the next two years? Karma has come my way because I am a 5 minute walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. I did ask my supervisor if at all possible I could be placed near some form of water, a river or anything (somewhat jokingly), and well she gave me the entire Bahia de Rincon. Very tempting to pass the day on the beach, snorkeling- my uncle, lucky me, owns a scuba diving school (yes I will be getting certified). It is nice to know that when things get tough, whether it be trying to manage my work or confronting the inevitable dengue and amoebas, I just have to take a stroll down the road and remember, I am living in paradise.
Anyways, Las Galeras is a fishing village/town. In the past few years it has become more well known and it is becoming kind of an off the beaten path tourist spot. I should clear this up. The money from tourists lies primarily in the hands of foreign investors and the locals continue living with bare minimum, most in poverty. There might be a luxurious hotel close by, but my community still lacks running water. This is a country where most of its people don’t have the privilege to think about the future. They live day to day here. If they are able to put rice and beans on the table for dinner, well then that is all that matters. Tomorrow they will wake up and try to do the same thing over again. This is the mentality here amongst the poor and unfortunately this puts them at risk for generations of continual poverty.
This where I come in. If Las Galeras continues to grow, what affect will that have on the locals? Where can the locals get jobs? Although more than 80% of them depend on fishing as their main means of income, the fishermen don’t work together nor are they able to sell markets, hotels, etc. (the issue with the fishermen alone gets me heated). The youth who graduate high school don’t do anything. All in all, there is plenty of work that needs to be done here.
I have a lot of support from the community and my host family. My doña not only makes the best food in town (getting used to fresh fish all the time) but I think if someone tried to be mean to me, she would throw a coconut at their head-doña power.
I am learning to take things at a slow pace and for everyone reading this, ya I know you probably chuckled. But here, things get done “si dios quiere.” Things will get done, god willingly. This is how everyone talks. “Will you be attending the meeting tomorrow?” Response: “Si dios quiere.” This person is not committing to anything and when tomorrow comes and if they remember there is a meeting, well then they might go or they might not. Not the most efficient way to run things, but this is how time passes here on the island, even more so now that I am in a beach town. If the Ministry of the Environment can be two hours late for a meeting yesterday, I can only imagine what normal Dominican standard time is like here. And as hard and frustrating as it might be at first, I just need to remember to cogelosuave-take it easy.
So ladies and gents, family, friends and dedicated followers, I am finally here, living the not so glamorous Peace Corps life. Out here on my own and things are, well things are happening. I am very happy with my site and that is what is most important right now.
Sorry for taking so much time off, I’ll try and be better about writing-si dios quiere.
Paz
The Whole Gang Swearing In
My New Home, Las Galeras, Samana, Republica Dominicana
Last week was the accumulation of my three months of training. I took the same oath the President of the United States of America takes before swearing in to office. If it wasn’t official before, I certainly am now. The big day came and went, I had to leave my support network and begin a new journey all alone in my new home. I had become so accustomed to the security of being around other volunteers that this transition will take a little bit of time to get used to.
So here I am. In my new community. Dropped off at the end of the road (literally), eager to start. And now what? My site has a little bit of a different dynamic than your typical site. Unlike some of my other fellow volunteers, there isn’t a set project here for me to work with. I am here to figure out the needs of the community and work from there. Pretty broad, I know. Las Galeras has never had a volunteer before which comes with its positives and negatives. Some people just don’t really understand why I am here (they could very well be thinking that I am just like any other gringa mooching off their incredible beach). Others have approached me with tons of projects that they feel are all feasible. Apparently in two years I am capable of starting a women’s group, artisan association, fishing cooperative, vocational school, building a library, starting a rock climbing ecotourism project, teaching English classes-o the list goes on. Thus far, I have experienced a mix of emotions. It is all very overwhelming, but I take day by day. The crazy thing is, I wake up and I am supposed to figure out what the heck to do with myself-no more schedule like in training. This week I am that awkward neighbor, walking house to house meeting all my neighbors and desperately trying to remember all their names (Note to self: blue house made of wood with pink door belongs to Negra-yes her nickname is Negra because she is very dark). My notebook is filled with these little observations. I am taking things very slowly, and with all the rain we have been getting, days have been passing fast and although it has been harder to walk around with the road block of mud and puddles everywhere, I manage to keep myself busy.
Keep in mind, I have three months to figure out everything before I report back to the Peace Corps with my diagnostic. In the next three months I will be doing a variety of things including mapping out my community, interviewing 100+ households, analyzing the needs of the community and creating an action plan for the next year. It’s definitely far from your typical cubicle job.
O and about Las Galeras. Did I mention I will be living in paradise for the next two years? Karma has come my way because I am a 5 minute walk from one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. I did ask my supervisor if at all possible I could be placed near some form of water, a river or anything (somewhat jokingly), and well she gave me the entire Bahia de Rincon. Very tempting to pass the day on the beach, snorkeling- my uncle, lucky me, owns a scuba diving school (yes I will be getting certified). It is nice to know that when things get tough, whether it be trying to manage my work or confronting the inevitable dengue and amoebas, I just have to take a stroll down the road and remember, I am living in paradise.
Anyways, Las Galeras is a fishing village/town. In the past few years it has become more well known and it is becoming kind of an off the beaten path tourist spot. I should clear this up. The money from tourists lies primarily in the hands of foreign investors and the locals continue living with bare minimum, most in poverty. There might be a luxurious hotel close by, but my community still lacks running water. This is a country where most of its people don’t have the privilege to think about the future. They live day to day here. If they are able to put rice and beans on the table for dinner, well then that is all that matters. Tomorrow they will wake up and try to do the same thing over again. This is the mentality here amongst the poor and unfortunately this puts them at risk for generations of continual poverty.
This where I come in. If Las Galeras continues to grow, what affect will that have on the locals? Where can the locals get jobs? Although more than 80% of them depend on fishing as their main means of income, the fishermen don’t work together nor are they able to sell markets, hotels, etc. (the issue with the fishermen alone gets me heated). The youth who graduate high school don’t do anything. All in all, there is plenty of work that needs to be done here.
I have a lot of support from the community and my host family. My doña not only makes the best food in town (getting used to fresh fish all the time) but I think if someone tried to be mean to me, she would throw a coconut at their head-doña power.
I am learning to take things at a slow pace and for everyone reading this, ya I know you probably chuckled. But here, things get done “si dios quiere.” Things will get done, god willingly. This is how everyone talks. “Will you be attending the meeting tomorrow?” Response: “Si dios quiere.” This person is not committing to anything and when tomorrow comes and if they remember there is a meeting, well then they might go or they might not. Not the most efficient way to run things, but this is how time passes here on the island, even more so now that I am in a beach town. If the Ministry of the Environment can be two hours late for a meeting yesterday, I can only imagine what normal Dominican standard time is like here. And as hard and frustrating as it might be at first, I just need to remember to cogelosuave-take it easy.
So ladies and gents, family, friends and dedicated followers, I am finally here, living the not so glamorous Peace Corps life. Out here on my own and things are, well things are happening. I am very happy with my site and that is what is most important right now.
Sorry for taking so much time off, I’ll try and be better about writing-si dios quiere.
Paz
The Whole Gang Swearing In
My New Home, Las Galeras, Samana, Republica Dominicana
Monday, October 18, 2010
All The Right Moves
Tomorrow is Project Partner Day. Meaning, I will be meeting my mentors (community members/leaders) who will be with me in my project site in Las Galeras. After a day filled of group strengthening activities and ice breakers (joy), they will be taking me to Las Galeras. It's a big day. I will finally get to see where I will be spending my next two years. I am really anxious/excited/nervous, but most of all ready. Training is coming to an end and although I feel a little overwhelmed to leave everybody and be on my own, I am also ready to get this all started. Catch is, I only get to stay until Sunday. I can't leave training without graduating of course. That big day is next Wednesday-Swearing In. We actually take the same oath the president of the United States takes (fun fact).
In other news, I celebrated my 23rd birthday (one of three birthdays I will celebrate in the DR) last Thursday. Thanks to my wonderful friends, I had an incredible candlelight dinner. No, we don't eat by candlelight to be romantic, se fue la luz (the lights went out). Like always. Although I couldn't be with my family and friends, it was so nice to be around people that I have become so close to and come to love like my family.
(Just so you can get the candlelight feel)
In other news, I celebrated my 23rd birthday (one of three birthdays I will celebrate in the DR) last Thursday. Thanks to my wonderful friends, I had an incredible candlelight dinner. No, we don't eat by candlelight to be romantic, se fue la luz (the lights went out). Like always. Although I couldn't be with my family and friends, it was so nice to be around people that I have become so close to and come to love like my family.
(Just so you can get the candlelight feel)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Hands on Learning
Drum Roll Please
Written October 7
Yes, I have the answer we have all been waiting for-where I will be living for the next two years of my life. I know the suspense is killing you. But, before I let you in on this essential piece of information, I am going to tell you about the Peace Corps Business Plan Competition I partook in this past weekend. (Please don’t read ahead to just find out my site). I traveled to the capital with the other trainees to see the annual business plan competition that is put on by other Peace Corps business volunteers and a micro finance NGO. As business volunteers, we have the opportunity to teach a course on basic business skills and how to write a business plan to the youth in the community where we serve. Youth create an extensive business plan on a micro business that they would like to start in their community. These plans are submitted and the best plans are presented at this national conference each year. This year, there were three winners-the groups actually get the money to start their business and even those who don’t win the money are so passionate that many find ways to fund raise to start their business. Businesses varied from starting an internet café, to a hot dog stand to a repair shop, etc. It was such a rewarding experience sharing the weekend with such motivated youth. I didn’t realize how much of an impact this experience has on so many of their lives. There were teenagers there that had never left their little campo before and now they had the chance to start their very own business! It was the first time I really got to see Peace Corps Volunteers in action. The whole weekend got me so excited to get started. I will definitely be helping out next year to plan the event.
All the business trainees were super anxious this weekend-the other volunteers in different sectors had found out about their sites and then current volunteers were telling us that they found out their placement at the end of the business plan competition when they were trainees. But we had two weeks left to go in training, so we weren’t expecting to hear anything. The director had made it plenty clear to me that she still wasn’t sure where she wanted to place me. I mean, it is very difficult to place us. In our sector, there is such a diverse amount of work that you can do, they really try to match your skills and your preferences. Sunday rolls around, we are reflecting as a group on our weekend and the Director walks in. Everyone stops talking and just looks over, because I think we secretly knew why she had walked into the room. She explains to us that we are going to have a class on geography. Geography? Really, almost two months in and we are going to go over geography again? But, the twist was that we were going to have a geography class to show us where our placements are on a map. Everyone went crazy. We were screaming, some people started to cry. I mean, this is a huge deal. We have been basically walking blind, left our home for two years not even knowing where we will be living, putting our future in their hands- yea, it’s a big deal. Since the computer wasn’t working (go figure), we pulled out a huge map. We sat together, holding hands, anxious to hear everybody’s placement. For each person, a sticker was placed on the map showing the location, a one to two sentence description of the site project was given, a drum roll and then the person who’s site it would be was announced. The placements were given, starting in the south. I was one of the last placements to be announced. A sticker was placed literally at the end of the road on the peninsula of the D.R., the providence of Samana, on the water. Everyone gasped because it is 1. Almost unheard of to get a placement on the beach 2. Where exactly the sticker was placed in Samana is one of the most, if not the most beautiful beach in the whole country. It was announced that the person who would serve there was going work with an organization to aid in business development, help with some fisherman project, but also do community development work. The community needed someone innovative and creative. Super broad I know. My name was called and I freaked out. Everybody, I will be spending the next two years of my life in Las Galeras. Look it up on the map, research it, get excited! Luckily, one of the current volunteers that was at the business competition is my neighbor (about an hour away and from San Diego, go figure) and she was working on preparing the site for me. She didn’t have too much information for me, but she had a picture of my site on her phone. Uhm, let’s just say that if you plan on visiting me, be prepared for paradise.
I don’t know too much about my project just yet. I have to wait until the 18th of October to receive more information, but such a weight is lifted off my shoulders. Not only am I relieved that I know where the heck I will be living, but I feel like karma is coming back to me and it tastes SO sweet! The director did such a good job at placing everybody. It seems like everybody’s preferences were taken into consideration. What a great way to end the weekend. I feel like I have something more concrete to look forward to now. Knowing my site has made this experience seem so much more real already. Las Galeras-can’t wait!
Yes, I have the answer we have all been waiting for-where I will be living for the next two years of my life. I know the suspense is killing you. But, before I let you in on this essential piece of information, I am going to tell you about the Peace Corps Business Plan Competition I partook in this past weekend. (Please don’t read ahead to just find out my site). I traveled to the capital with the other trainees to see the annual business plan competition that is put on by other Peace Corps business volunteers and a micro finance NGO. As business volunteers, we have the opportunity to teach a course on basic business skills and how to write a business plan to the youth in the community where we serve. Youth create an extensive business plan on a micro business that they would like to start in their community. These plans are submitted and the best plans are presented at this national conference each year. This year, there were three winners-the groups actually get the money to start their business and even those who don’t win the money are so passionate that many find ways to fund raise to start their business. Businesses varied from starting an internet café, to a hot dog stand to a repair shop, etc. It was such a rewarding experience sharing the weekend with such motivated youth. I didn’t realize how much of an impact this experience has on so many of their lives. There were teenagers there that had never left their little campo before and now they had the chance to start their very own business! It was the first time I really got to see Peace Corps Volunteers in action. The whole weekend got me so excited to get started. I will definitely be helping out next year to plan the event.
All the business trainees were super anxious this weekend-the other volunteers in different sectors had found out about their sites and then current volunteers were telling us that they found out their placement at the end of the business plan competition when they were trainees. But we had two weeks left to go in training, so we weren’t expecting to hear anything. The director had made it plenty clear to me that she still wasn’t sure where she wanted to place me. I mean, it is very difficult to place us. In our sector, there is such a diverse amount of work that you can do, they really try to match your skills and your preferences. Sunday rolls around, we are reflecting as a group on our weekend and the Director walks in. Everyone stops talking and just looks over, because I think we secretly knew why she had walked into the room. She explains to us that we are going to have a class on geography. Geography? Really, almost two months in and we are going to go over geography again? But, the twist was that we were going to have a geography class to show us where our placements are on a map. Everyone went crazy. We were screaming, some people started to cry. I mean, this is a huge deal. We have been basically walking blind, left our home for two years not even knowing where we will be living, putting our future in their hands- yea, it’s a big deal. Since the computer wasn’t working (go figure), we pulled out a huge map. We sat together, holding hands, anxious to hear everybody’s placement. For each person, a sticker was placed on the map showing the location, a one to two sentence description of the site project was given, a drum roll and then the person who’s site it would be was announced. The placements were given, starting in the south. I was one of the last placements to be announced. A sticker was placed literally at the end of the road on the peninsula of the D.R., the providence of Samana, on the water. Everyone gasped because it is 1. Almost unheard of to get a placement on the beach 2. Where exactly the sticker was placed in Samana is one of the most, if not the most beautiful beach in the whole country. It was announced that the person who would serve there was going work with an organization to aid in business development, help with some fisherman project, but also do community development work. The community needed someone innovative and creative. Super broad I know. My name was called and I freaked out. Everybody, I will be spending the next two years of my life in Las Galeras. Look it up on the map, research it, get excited! Luckily, one of the current volunteers that was at the business competition is my neighbor (about an hour away and from San Diego, go figure) and she was working on preparing the site for me. She didn’t have too much information for me, but she had a picture of my site on her phone. Uhm, let’s just say that if you plan on visiting me, be prepared for paradise.
I don’t know too much about my project just yet. I have to wait until the 18th of October to receive more information, but such a weight is lifted off my shoulders. Not only am I relieved that I know where the heck I will be living, but I feel like karma is coming back to me and it tastes SO sweet! The director did such a good job at placing everybody. It seems like everybody’s preferences were taken into consideration. What a great way to end the weekend. I feel like I have something more concrete to look forward to now. Knowing my site has made this experience seem so much more real already. Las Galeras-can’t wait!
Keeping two feet on the ground
Written: October 1
Today my sister and the neighborhood children came running to me to ask a question. They wanted to know if you could open windows on an airplane. One of them shouted before I could answer “of course not because that would make the airplane fall to the ground.” I tried to explain that there was no way to open a window but not because the plane would necessarily fall, but because the oxygen isn’t breathable when you are up that high. They looked at me a little puzzled, still trying to understand how there could be windows that you couldn’t open. Just puts things into perspective. Everything has been so fast paced and because I am still surrounded by my colleagues, sometimes I forget that I am the alien, the one that has lived a life so different from theirs.
Today my sister and the neighborhood children came running to me to ask a question. They wanted to know if you could open windows on an airplane. One of them shouted before I could answer “of course not because that would make the airplane fall to the ground.” I tried to explain that there was no way to open a window but not because the plane would necessarily fall, but because the oxygen isn’t breathable when you are up that high. They looked at me a little puzzled, still trying to understand how there could be windows that you couldn’t open. Just puts things into perspective. Everything has been so fast paced and because I am still surrounded by my colleagues, sometimes I forget that I am the alien, the one that has lived a life so different from theirs.
Life in the Campo
Written: September 27, 2010
Where has September gone? Training has flown by and I feel like I have been here in the campo for a long time now. I haven’t written much of anything a) no internet b) I just haven’t felt very motivated to write lately. I have just been taking in all the experiences.
My experience of campo life in a nutshell: Saturday, I was walking back home after visiting a neighbor and my mom shouted to me to hurry up and run over to hop in the back of her cousin’s truck. My motto is “go wherever I am invited” so I didn’t hesitate at all and jumped into the bed of the truck. My cousin told me that we were going up to the neighboring village to go kill la culebra, the snake, that had already killed a puppy, four chickens and a duck on their grandma’s property. So here I am thinking sure, why not, the snake could hurt someone so it is important to fix the problem. So we drove up the dirt road with four people in the bed of the truck. As we passed neighboring homes my cousin announced to everyone that we had come in search of the snake. Next thing I know, the truck is piling up with people to come help us find the snake. Even a man with his machete trekked behind us on his horse. We arrived at the house and were told the snake was hiding in the latrine. Minutes later, the latrine was in pieces and men were hammering away at the cement foundation to get underneath to find the snake. All I kept thinking was, how the heck do they really know that this is where the snake is. Well, apparently they knew because an eight food red snake appeared. Within seconds, its head was chopped off with a stick and a dull shovel (a little confused because the man with the machete was right there) and la culebra was being carried into the road. People gathered around and messed around with the snake for about an hour. It was quite a sight to see-the whole body was still squirming around without a head. Then, beer was poured on it and set on fire. Cooked snake is not the most pleasant smell. Now, trash is a big problem in the DR. Most places don’t have a place to put their trash, so I wondered what they were going to do with this huge snake lying in the middle of the road. Obviously, make a leash for it out of rubber wire and carry it through town. From there, I don’t know what happened to the poor snake, but it was quite a spectacle.
Do I kill snakes everyday, no. But, I have become part of this community. Everyone knows who I am and I am always stopping in the streets and at people’s homes to say hello, play dominoes, eat, drink some fresh juice or have a little coffee (yes, I am drinking just a litttttle bit, it’s a must if I want to pass time with my neighbors). My domino skills are getting better and I am starting to understand campo Spanish a lot more.
On training days, Monday through Friday, I have somewhat of a ‘schedule’- at least set times where I have Spanish and Technical Training. I start my days at 6 am. I go for a beautiful run through on a road through the lush hillsides. Although the hills are a killer, getting to the top is breathtaking. The landscape never ceases to amaze me. I come back home to shower, if there is water, and get ready for class. We have classes all day long every day basically. Sometimes we have community interactive projects that take up part of the day, but most days are long. Between the humidity and long hours in class, taking a nap is never difficult.
Despite the fact that it is almost October, it is still extremely hot here. It really messes with your mind- I feel like its still summer and with training it almost feels like I am at summer camp. I am definitely ready to gain some freedom, training can be very restrictive. I have no control over a lot of things in my life right now-my schedule, what and when I eat, where I spend a lot of my time, etc. It is hard when you come from being so independent. After six months of living with other people, freedom is going to be very sweet. Until then, I am trying to appreciate the cultural differences, lack of privacy, and the mountains of platanos (I don’t think I will ever appreciate these).
Where has September gone? Training has flown by and I feel like I have been here in the campo for a long time now. I haven’t written much of anything a) no internet b) I just haven’t felt very motivated to write lately. I have just been taking in all the experiences.
My experience of campo life in a nutshell: Saturday, I was walking back home after visiting a neighbor and my mom shouted to me to hurry up and run over to hop in the back of her cousin’s truck. My motto is “go wherever I am invited” so I didn’t hesitate at all and jumped into the bed of the truck. My cousin told me that we were going up to the neighboring village to go kill la culebra, the snake, that had already killed a puppy, four chickens and a duck on their grandma’s property. So here I am thinking sure, why not, the snake could hurt someone so it is important to fix the problem. So we drove up the dirt road with four people in the bed of the truck. As we passed neighboring homes my cousin announced to everyone that we had come in search of the snake. Next thing I know, the truck is piling up with people to come help us find the snake. Even a man with his machete trekked behind us on his horse. We arrived at the house and were told the snake was hiding in the latrine. Minutes later, the latrine was in pieces and men were hammering away at the cement foundation to get underneath to find the snake. All I kept thinking was, how the heck do they really know that this is where the snake is. Well, apparently they knew because an eight food red snake appeared. Within seconds, its head was chopped off with a stick and a dull shovel (a little confused because the man with the machete was right there) and la culebra was being carried into the road. People gathered around and messed around with the snake for about an hour. It was quite a sight to see-the whole body was still squirming around without a head. Then, beer was poured on it and set on fire. Cooked snake is not the most pleasant smell. Now, trash is a big problem in the DR. Most places don’t have a place to put their trash, so I wondered what they were going to do with this huge snake lying in the middle of the road. Obviously, make a leash for it out of rubber wire and carry it through town. From there, I don’t know what happened to the poor snake, but it was quite a spectacle.
Do I kill snakes everyday, no. But, I have become part of this community. Everyone knows who I am and I am always stopping in the streets and at people’s homes to say hello, play dominoes, eat, drink some fresh juice or have a little coffee (yes, I am drinking just a litttttle bit, it’s a must if I want to pass time with my neighbors). My domino skills are getting better and I am starting to understand campo Spanish a lot more.
On training days, Monday through Friday, I have somewhat of a ‘schedule’- at least set times where I have Spanish and Technical Training. I start my days at 6 am. I go for a beautiful run through on a road through the lush hillsides. Although the hills are a killer, getting to the top is breathtaking. The landscape never ceases to amaze me. I come back home to shower, if there is water, and get ready for class. We have classes all day long every day basically. Sometimes we have community interactive projects that take up part of the day, but most days are long. Between the humidity and long hours in class, taking a nap is never difficult.
Despite the fact that it is almost October, it is still extremely hot here. It really messes with your mind- I feel like its still summer and with training it almost feels like I am at summer camp. I am definitely ready to gain some freedom, training can be very restrictive. I have no control over a lot of things in my life right now-my schedule, what and when I eat, where I spend a lot of my time, etc. It is hard when you come from being so independent. After six months of living with other people, freedom is going to be very sweet. Until then, I am trying to appreciate the cultural differences, lack of privacy, and the mountains of platanos (I don’t think I will ever appreciate these).
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Adios Santo Domingo
This past weekend I finally got out of the capital and spent my weekend in another volunteer’s site to see how a real PCV lives. Let me start off by saying, this country is so beautiful and diverse. I traveled two hours north of the capital to an artisan town. It was such a relief to finally see a volunteer in action. I received so much reassurance that this job was meant for me. My volunteer is in the last stretch of her service and has accomplished amazing things. She has built a library, organized an artisan group who sells the most authentic, symbolic and popular ceramic dolls in the country, she has taught English, business and sex education classes, organized regional conferences and camps, the list goes on. It was very inspirational. I also got the ins and outs of PCV life (something our trainers don’t really know). The volunteers in the DR have one of the most active PC support systems in the world. Volunteers organize tons of events, we celebrate holidays together, put together conferences, travel, have numerous traditions, take part in marathons, etc. Now I understand how much of a family we truly are. I have so much to look forward to in the next two years.
I am finding it difficult to express everything in my blog. I have so much to say because everything is all new to me. I could go on forever just about this week alone. Tomorrow I am leaving for more technical training to the north part of the country with other volunteers that will focus on Economic Development like myself. We will be there for 5 weeks. Once I return, I will finally get my site assignment for the next two years, the moment we have all been waiting for.
Yesterday I was asked in my placement interview, out of 1 to 10, how committed do I feel to Peace Corps. After finally seeing real PCV life, I feel highly committed. I feel very motivated. I am eager to find out where I will be serving.
I think after this post, I am going to concentrate on specific events that happen and things that strike me instead of just regurgitating everything I do. There are many topics I want to talk about so you can get a better understanding of how I have been acclimating not only to a new culture, but as a PCV.
My “firsts” this past week:
-Rode on a motoconcho
-Beach trip to Sasoa in the north (Did I mention I live in paradise)
-Travelled into the mountains (very rural, could only get there using a motoconcho)
-saw a tarantula
-Danced meringue and bachata
-Gave my first charla (presentation) to a group of local Dominican artisans on conflict resolution
-ate street food, a bola of yucca (ball of yucca), really good
-Baked my first pumpkin pie from scratch for my host family
- ate Dominican sushi (they put a spin on it with platanos, really good)
-Shoved 11 people into a 5 seater car (funny thing was, it was the volunteers who suggested we take one car. Dominicans are rubbing off on us)
What I am looking forward to within the Peace Corps Family:
-Bola (Hitchhiking) Race- just imagine Amazing Race, PC style, yes I am serious
-Thanksgiving with my fellow volunteers
-Writing for the Peace Corps newsletter
-Helping plan a regional conference
-Running my first half marathon
-(Possibly) getting SCUBA certified
-Learning to play the guitar (they are pretty cheap here)
- Having all my friends and family come visit
-Volunteer Potlucks
I am finding it difficult to express everything in my blog. I have so much to say because everything is all new to me. I could go on forever just about this week alone. Tomorrow I am leaving for more technical training to the north part of the country with other volunteers that will focus on Economic Development like myself. We will be there for 5 weeks. Once I return, I will finally get my site assignment for the next two years, the moment we have all been waiting for.
Yesterday I was asked in my placement interview, out of 1 to 10, how committed do I feel to Peace Corps. After finally seeing real PCV life, I feel highly committed. I feel very motivated. I am eager to find out where I will be serving.
I think after this post, I am going to concentrate on specific events that happen and things that strike me instead of just regurgitating everything I do. There are many topics I want to talk about so you can get a better understanding of how I have been acclimating not only to a new culture, but as a PCV.
My “firsts” this past week:
-Rode on a motoconcho
-Beach trip to Sasoa in the north (Did I mention I live in paradise)
-Travelled into the mountains (very rural, could only get there using a motoconcho)
-saw a tarantula
-Danced meringue and bachata
-Gave my first charla (presentation) to a group of local Dominican artisans on conflict resolution
-ate street food, a bola of yucca (ball of yucca), really good
-Baked my first pumpkin pie from scratch for my host family
- ate Dominican sushi (they put a spin on it with platanos, really good)
-Shoved 11 people into a 5 seater car (funny thing was, it was the volunteers who suggested we take one car. Dominicans are rubbing off on us)
What I am looking forward to within the Peace Corps Family:
-Bola (Hitchhiking) Race- just imagine Amazing Race, PC style, yes I am serious
-Thanksgiving with my fellow volunteers
-Writing for the Peace Corps newsletter
-Helping plan a regional conference
-Running my first half marathon
-(Possibly) getting SCUBA certified
-Learning to play the guitar (they are pretty cheap here)
- Having all my friends and family come visit
-Volunteer Potlucks
Piropos en la calle
Growing up in southern California, I am somewhat “desensitized” to the cat calls in the streets. In the DR I run into persistent cat callers on the streets who shout out piropos. If you were to look up piropo in the English Spanish dictionary, its literal conjugation is ‘compliment’. However, the typical foreign woman would call it harassment. Most Dominican woman would agree-or so they say. Being so accustomed to these piropos-which usually include hissing, singing songs, shouting certain phrases or nicknames- if a Dominican woman did not hear any piropos on her walk in the streets, she would go home and immediately check a mirror to make sure she was looking okay. It would almost be abnormal l and cause a woman to think that something was wrong with her appearance if she didn’t receive piropos.
Everyday I run the same route in the morning with my friend Alyson. We pass the same people and every day we get the same piropos. I usually laugh them off or answer with a smile “Buenos dias.” Sometimes, if I answer them, they get very surprised and even embarrassed. They can’t possibly think that they can pick up a woman by screaming “rubia preciosa” “te quiero” “I love you baby,” etc. To joke with the men I pass daily is actually a good way to get them to stop and actually gain some respect for you (even Peace Corps say so). However, random people throughout the day, are simply ignored.
It’s funny how accustomed I have become to this by living in a more latino community for my whole life. (NOT saying that all latinos partake in this behavior) I actually don’t understand how someone can actually take them seriously and allow their machismo piggish behavior bother them. I am lucky enough to have arrived just as a popular song called “Pa Manga Mi Visa” came out and is the #1 song in the nation. Basically, the lyrics say “I want an American so I can get my Visa, I want an American to teach me English, I want an American to take me away from here, I will marry you to go to New York.” Needless to say, males from as young as 5 years old sing the lyrics to me in the street. The lyrics are great and I always have something to respond with. “No soy el consol” (I am not the consulate) usually gives them a laugh.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Don’t Worry Mom, I didn’t buy a motoconcho
(sorry it's blurry, the only one I have thus far)
Yesterday we received our awesome motorcycle helmets and learned how to ride on the back of a motoconcho. Although training lasted about 2 minutes, it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. My training days this week have been very long, full of lots of information, more vaccinations, but a little draining. I am learning more about Dominican culture, geography, history and more medical “know how” as I like to call it(I am a professional re-hydration maker now). Current volunteers have come to visit to explain to us what they have been doing, how they are living, etc. It is interesting to hear all their different stories. This week volunteers visited that all lived in different possible living situations- la ciudad (the city), el pueblo (the villages closer to the outskirts of cities, el cambo (more rural and smaller villages) and bateys (Haitian-Dominican communities that grew out of temporary housing situations from the sugar cane factories). This was supposed to give us a better idea of where we would like to serve for our two years. Although some of you might be thinking that the city has the most amenities and is the best, you are wrong. They all have their pros and cons but I found it very interesting how twisted some of the living conditions are. If I didn’t mention this already, electricity and water here is on and off all the time. The most common frase is “se fue la luz,” the lights are out. And let me tell you, they are out more often than not in most places. Even though one volunteer lived in the second capital in the country, he had no running water and only a few hours of electricity depending on the day. Yet, the volunteer who lived in a rural campo had electricity 24/7. A close by river uses a hydro electricity system that brings his area electricity. Electricity and water. Two basic amenities, some might even call these essentials. Why is there no better system to maintain both? Not a lot of people know. There aren’t enough plants to supply the electricity, people using a lot of what there is only very little of, and there is not a set system of people paying for these amenities.
Back to the site locations. All the volunteers had a unique experience depending on where they were located. I like the idea of being in a small enough place that people know who I am, but not too small to where I feel isolated from the rest of the PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers). Speaking of acronyms, Peace Corps has an acronym for just about everything. I am a PCT who will be going to CBT at the end of next week for CED training where I will meet with my APCD about our work. In English please…. I am a Peace Corps Trainee who will go to Community Based Training at the end of next week for Community Economic Development training where I will meet with my Associate Peace Corps Director about our work. That’s just a handful of them. And then the nurse comes and talks to us about STIs, HIV, MMR and I am lost.
Good news, I am leaving this Thursday for my weekend volunteer visit to a place called Higuerito in Moca (about 2 ½ hours north of Santo Domingo). I am traveling alone for the first time so fingers crossed that I won’t get lost. I am ready to get out of the city for a little bit-I think the fumes are starting to rattle my brain. It feels like I have been here in the DR for a while now although it has only been 2 weeks or so. The mosquitoes are biting me less, so I am probably starting to smell like a Dominican ( I am eating a lot of platanos). Learning more about how Dominicans live is also making me feel more integrated into their culture. Since I am in advanced Spanish class, we spend a lot of time talking about just typical Dominican life. I have learned some very interesting things about Dominicans this way.
Did you know:
-25% of the Dominican population is undernourished, 42% live below the poverty line-this has increased from 25% just since 2000.
- There are many interesting Dominican superstitions. Just to name a few: A woman should never put her purse on the floor or else she will lose money. If a pregnant woman rolls over her husband in bed, her husband will feel the pains of pregnancy.
-Many people use animal nicknames to describe personality traits. For example, if you are a player, you are a ‘tigre’. If you are an ugly woman you are called a ‘grillo’ (fire fly). ‘Jamona’ is a woman who is old and not married. ‘Caballo’ (horse) is someone who has great physical ability.
Just some things about the DR that have struck me in one way or another. If I don’t get lost in the country this weekend, I will update you when I return.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Bienvenidos a la Republica Dominicana
Hello from Santo Domingo. Well everyone, I am here. Training has begun and everything finally seems very real. As our Country Director told us, “we are not in Kansas anymore.” Since I left the states, things have been pretty crazy and fast paced. Staging in the states was short with a lot of information. My PC training group is wonderful. There are 59 of us and we have quite the group profile. There are many remarkable people here who are a lot like myself. At Staging it was great being surrounded by people who really understood how I felt. We were all nervous, excited, anxious-the whole 9 yards. We all survived the grueling application process and wanted to just jump in head first. On Thursday we all headed from D.C. to Santo Domingo together at 2 am. As if trying to adapt to a new country is hard enough, we came with no sleep. I arrived here in the DR in the afternoon where we were taken to a like 12 hour retreat. The staff began telling us about training, rules and regulation, safety, etc. etc. Needless to say, it was so overwhelming that by the time the evening was over I was pondering whether or not I made the right decision coming here. However, Friday after some good sleep we left for the training center and again we discussed logistics all afternoon. I felt much better after everything was slowed down and we had more in depth meetings. Did I mention the training center is in paradise? The property has gorgeous tropical gardens and our little classrooms are little open air spaces with tin roofs. (Picture to come soon.)
What I have found interesting thus far:
-How open the PC staff is (we talk about everything-literally)
-cleaning my undergarments when I bathe
- the Dominican dialect. Como tu ta? That means, como estas. They chop a lot of their words.
-fresh fruit juice everyday. Hard life, I know.
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