Saturday, July 16, 2011

Luz, Camera, Accion

Wow. Ok. I am really bad at keeping up with this blog. But for good reason, I have been very busy lately. Projects are finally calentando, "heating up"...grants coming in, groups coming together, working Peace Corps Committees, etc.etc. In the last few months I have developed my girls group, a boys group, created a committee to build a childrens park, went to a boys superman camp, started a dance group, became part of the Peace Corps DR 50th Anniversary Committee, received three grants for projects, been certified as a scientific and advanced diver to do reef studies in my community, ok you get the point.

it. is. a lot.

But all that is "stuff." The reality of it all is that I am almost in the DR a year. One year. I feel more and more at home every day. And everytime I leave and return, I come back more appreciative of where I am. It could also be because we are in avocado season and I get to return to rice sacks full of avocados from my tree (I am eating about 5 a day on average). Anyways...

Being here 10 months or so in my community, I am seeing changes. I am rolling through the seasons- babies have been born, elders have passed-I am noticing the changes of life and the changes in myself. I am no longer treated as the outsider who is passing some time in the community. I am told to do chores around my host families house, mandared (sent) to run errands, babies thrown at me to cuidar (take care of). I am trusted here as part of the family, I have received my right of passage.

It really does take a year to get the ball rolling and right now I am in a good place. This is where I am supposed to be, this is what I am supposed to be doing. More than ever, I feel a disconnect from home. Sometimes I am lost in translation catching up with others abroad. I can run through a story about my day and at the end one word that is misunderstood can throw things off. I can talk blue in the face about my near death experience on a gua gua, or climbing trees to get a chin of lemoncillos, why I sleep with a Colin next to my bed or why I was guapa with the tiguere down the street... Gua guas aren't some type of animal, they are our public transportation mini vans and no I don't rent a watchiman (guard) to protect me at night (Colin is a machete)-sorry Mom. Volunteers have really become family. It is a much needed support network because in the end, they are the ones that understand best.

Everyday is different. Right now, it is good. I am in a beautiful place finding that balance I need and it feels comforting to really just be at peace with it all.