Yes. I got the new just now, the results are in, and Dengue is confirmed. What does this mean? If my body takes the normal course of Dengue, I will continue to have a fever, with extreme body aches, then your arms and legs break out in a hiddeous rash. Usually lasts about a week. Mine is only starting. They are expecting to keep me in the capital for a week to make sure I have care nearby if needed. Tonight I'm staying in the Pension, a hostel for volunteers, but I will have my own room, A/C, and a TV. Then if things get worse and I can't deal on my own they'll send me to Clinica Abreu for a few days. This sucks.
I only had half of my dance routine choreographed and the performance is only a few weeks away. They were all doing to well too.
And as for my leg, my once strange sore has turned into 5 smaller sores. She gave me some pills for Ringworm that I'll take for 10 days to try and clear things up.
I need a hug or 10.
I'll have my cellphone with me. 809-467-2781.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Sunday, May 13, 2007
My life
Enmanuel (Neco) - muy buen amigo y Yo
Evony, Lily, y Ashley reading the books I brought back from the fair. Evony y Lily are like my nieces here. We play almost everyday. Last night, Evony told me, in her best english, that she thought of me as her sister. so sweet
Mabel, Nana, Suzy, Ruth, y La Polla Cosita, my neighbor puppy.
Licette (La Polla) My first love in this campo. Evony and I
Swing is Alive!
My town has it´s annual celebration of Partionales coming up in June. Each town in the DR has a Saint and every Saint is celebrated in a different month. Our saint is San Juan Bautista here in Las Uvas. Every year each pueblo throws a week long celebration for their saint. This event is kind of like a holiday because almost all the relatives from around the country and the states come down to join in the celebration. The people go to mass every day and party every night. The town next to us is celebrating their Patrionales this week, so I´ve gotten a little preview of what it will be like. The first night is a Modelaje, where they will elect the new Reina (queen) de Las Uvas. Then the following 6 or 7 nights, the entire town gathers, drinks, dances, and watches any entertainment provided.
This year they’re in for a special treat because Harmon Dance Works is putting together a few swing routines to perform. We have a little over a month to learn swing, choreograph the dances and get us up to par to perform. Vamos a ver. We had our first practice last night and so far things are looking promising. All these kids are born with rhythm. I`m pretty sure they start dancing merengue while still in the womb, so we have to work on retraining their hips to be less wiggly. We laughed and laughed and laughed last night trying to learn the basic steps.
This year they’re in for a special treat because Harmon Dance Works is putting together a few swing routines to perform. We have a little over a month to learn swing, choreograph the dances and get us up to par to perform. Vamos a ver. We had our first practice last night and so far things are looking promising. All these kids are born with rhythm. I`m pretty sure they start dancing merengue while still in the womb, so we have to work on retraining their hips to be less wiggly. We laughed and laughed and laughed last night trying to learn the basic steps.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
a challenge
As hours turn into days and days into weeks, I´m started to see the various layers of this campo and some of the challenges it has to offer me. In a way I feel I´ve been led astray. I was up, they were up and somehow important information just didn´t get mentioned during my last visit. Don´t get me wrong, I still love my site and the people who live there, but the Lab isn´t quite as ready to go as I was told.
One Example:
I came back from a week in the capital with a bag full of lessons, ideas, and new programs (Encarta, Rosetta Stone, and Windows XP) to put on the computers. Tuesday morning rolls around, I´m ready to go to the Lab and make things happen. We arrive and I´m told we can´t turn on the computers because there isn´t enough gas oil in the tank to provide electricity. HHHHHMMMMM. OK, deep breath. Soooo, how are we going to get the computers ready for the classes we have starting in June if we don´t have gas oil to power the Lab nor any funds to buy gas oil? Well, we can do a fundraiser! OK, but before we can do a fundraiser we have to meet with the comitè de informatica (which is somewhat formed) and decide what type of fundraiser we want, when we want to do it, and then how to get the kids and the community to participate. So we have a meeting tomorrow, Friday, which with I hope we can come to a conclusion. Then next week we´ll need to organize the students and assign tasks to different groups. After all is said and done we´ll have about 2 weeks to get all the computers on the same page. About half have functional Internet now.
Good thing my encargadas are techi people, because I would be lost if not.
So one step at a time and that is how things will get done here.
Nevertheless, most of my days are spent in true happiness.
Everyday this week I got up and jogged-walked for and hour with Ruth `my hermana`, Enmanuel, and Pedro. I feel like I already have made a few friends I can count on.
As I walk through the streets I am always greeted with an Adios Angèla, Hola Angèla, a wave, a big smile, and from those who really like me, a hug and a kiss.
My sweet old little neighbor lady, Cochecha, just got a new puppy se llama Cosita (which literally means Little Thing). I love this little puppy. I will post pictures as soon as possible.
My food is delicious and they´ve gone out of their way to buy things that I enjoy like: Bottled water, cornflakes, wheat bread, butter, zapote, and pineapple.
This week I´ve been observing classes (I substited in a kindergarten class for 15 minutes today. Not by Choice. It was slightly chaotic.)
I play games with the students during recess and after school.
During the evenings, I´ve been visiting various families of the students who tend to latch on to my waist with every passing. For the most part time isn´t an issue. I just talk and play while trying to gain confianza with la gente.
Life is good, life is great, now it´s time for chocolate cake!
One Example:
I came back from a week in the capital with a bag full of lessons, ideas, and new programs (Encarta, Rosetta Stone, and Windows XP) to put on the computers. Tuesday morning rolls around, I´m ready to go to the Lab and make things happen. We arrive and I´m told we can´t turn on the computers because there isn´t enough gas oil in the tank to provide electricity. HHHHHMMMMM. OK, deep breath. Soooo, how are we going to get the computers ready for the classes we have starting in June if we don´t have gas oil to power the Lab nor any funds to buy gas oil? Well, we can do a fundraiser! OK, but before we can do a fundraiser we have to meet with the comitè de informatica (which is somewhat formed) and decide what type of fundraiser we want, when we want to do it, and then how to get the kids and the community to participate. So we have a meeting tomorrow, Friday, which with I hope we can come to a conclusion. Then next week we´ll need to organize the students and assign tasks to different groups. After all is said and done we´ll have about 2 weeks to get all the computers on the same page. About half have functional Internet now.
Good thing my encargadas are techi people, because I would be lost if not.
So one step at a time and that is how things will get done here.
Nevertheless, most of my days are spent in true happiness.
Everyday this week I got up and jogged-walked for and hour with Ruth `my hermana`, Enmanuel, and Pedro. I feel like I already have made a few friends I can count on.
As I walk through the streets I am always greeted with an Adios Angèla, Hola Angèla, a wave, a big smile, and from those who really like me, a hug and a kiss.
My sweet old little neighbor lady, Cochecha, just got a new puppy se llama Cosita (which literally means Little Thing). I love this little puppy. I will post pictures as soon as possible.
My food is delicious and they´ve gone out of their way to buy things that I enjoy like: Bottled water, cornflakes, wheat bread, butter, zapote, and pineapple.
This week I´ve been observing classes (I substited in a kindergarten class for 15 minutes today. Not by Choice. It was slightly chaotic.)
I play games with the students during recess and after school.
During the evenings, I´ve been visiting various families of the students who tend to latch on to my waist with every passing. For the most part time isn´t an issue. I just talk and play while trying to gain confianza with la gente.
Life is good, life is great, now it´s time for chocolate cake!
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