Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving. A day of turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, friends, family, and thanks. We went around the table and shared what we were thankful for, just how I make my family do at home. Did you do it in my absence, familia? De verdad, I have much to be thankful for. This past year was a big decision year. Family visits, Mom´s first trip out of country, My wedding, Dad and Dave´s Weddings, Enamuel´s visa, Him stepping on American soil for the first time, NY. Huge Year. And truely I can say we made it through with very few bumps in the road or turbulance in the air.


Thank you for lending us your gaurdian angels.





My friends here have been my family. I love them all and am very thankful for all the memories and laughs we´ve shared. I will miss them. I´m thankful for having a husband who adores me, a supportive family to go home to in April, and that I don´t have to pay rent for the next few years :)


I am thankful that you have been a faithful reader of my blog, my life here in the DR.





Thank You.








Our Clan: Alyssa, Wilson, Ruth, Me, Betsy, Travis, Colleen, Allen, and Jake (Jeff, the photographer, missing from picture)





Peace Corps Thanksgiving has a few more twists in the mix. All of the regulars listed above, but think bigger. 150 people bigger. Swimming pool, Costume Turkey Trot, dance contests, talent show, dominos tournament, lots of rum, and Kentucky, our fine arts dance troop. ( M.C. Hammer´s "Can´t touch this" was interpreted as "Kentucky" by a local dominican, therefore becoming the name of our dance troop.)

Check out the video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viaMyyKJsuo
under the name Kentucky meets Peace Corps
John on drums
Jake on Confetti
Besty on Tribal moves
Ryan on Bumble Bee act
Enrique as Turkey
Rachel sings Turkey song
Kevin, Zoe, Ruth, Alyssa, Jeff, and I bust out the moves, and I had the pleasure of being choreographer. (I´m the one with the black hat. keep watching)








Alyssa and her boyfriend, Wilson. His first Thanksgiving.





Yes, we were very happy!




Ruth accompanied us for the big day. Her first Thanksgiving as well.

Something to make your day a little sweeter.

NJ visit

The last hugs from Francis, Yere, and Ramonita. It was sad but still exciting. His family is happy for Enmanuel and his new opportunity. Yere, his daughter, doesn´t quite understand what going to Nueva York means. She wasn´t nearly as sad as she should have been.





We arrived in one piece and with all our luggage still filled with all the crazy cheeses, avocados, and sweets Ramonita send over to her family. (I was sure they´d all get swiped in immigration)



Enmanuel loved it all. The plane ride, the sites, the beautiful lights, the paved and organized roads. Isn´t America wonderful! But very Chilly! We toughed it out for a bit, but then we had to go back inside the airport to wait for our ride.



Welcome to NJ Enmanuel. His aunt Sandra and uncle Williams came to rescue us from the airport. We arrived at their apartment and shortly after arrived all the visitas. Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and friends. Grandma Carlilin is always there for a huge, loving, welcome hug.

Downtown Paterson. A day of window shopping.

Our first, but not last, Broadway Musical. Merry Poppins. It was worth every cent.

A typical Sunday afternoon with the Duran´s in NJ. Everybody gets together at Enmanuel´s Uncle´s house and dance, play, chat, listen to music, and run around. His family is very Unido.

2nd National IT youth conference

First place winners for the Movie Maker Video Contest.

Hurry. Find a boat of 4. Sorry Lori, you´re out of the game.

How to manage their labs. Who will make the most funds?

Our local super heroes. Aqua Man- cleaning the water and talking to the fish. Super Belleza- turns everything she touches into somthing of beauty. Helmet Man- Protecting people from falling objects, etc.

Isn´t Photoshop Fun!

Birdie in a Perch. Avita Ramita.

Second National Encargados del Futuro conference put on by us Peace Corps Volunteers was yet again a success. I would say an even bigger success. The tech classes were interesting for the youth, and the games blew their minds. I rocked out all the dínamicas (icebreakers) I could think of . There was hardly ever a dull moment.

The youth learned about Robots, Photoshop, Lab management, Publisher, Excel, and had a great time being creative in the digital scavenger hunt, talent show, and their home videos made with Movie Maker (way impressive). Check out the video my youth put togther for Las Uvas. They won 2nd place for all their techi tricks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e69bx44aR84



We finished the 3 day conference with certificates, prizes, and a surprise 1gb flash drive for each youth. They were ecstatic.

Another special visit

Face off. The best in Las Uvas vs. the best in Fargo. Chess, connect four, and ping pong. Who won? Let's just say Enmanuel has some practicing to do before he heads up to Fargo. We'll have a rematch.

It was just like Alice in Wonderland. Why is everything so big? No, Dave and Enmanuel didn't shrink if that is what you were thinking, but it was like we were warped into another world. Just beyond a few giant concrete walls was paradise, a place most inlanders never catch a glimpse of, a place known as Playa Dorada. The games were giant size, the drinks were free (well, prepaid for), the pools were clean and beautiful, and the people were mostly white. Were we really in the DR?


Of course, Ramonita's cooking was a hit, again, with the new visita.


Why rent a car when you can have great carro publico photos like these!



Free but very expensive prepaid for drinks.


The hippest Merengue, Bachata, and Salsa discoteca in Santo Domingo. Everyone was out on the dance floor that night.



Practicing the Dominican Lifestyle.



We saved the best for last. 27 charcos. Wow, what an experience. It was an absolutely beautiful, breath taking (meaning exhausting), hike up the mountains and into the waterfalls of Imbert. Note our helmets and life jackets- yeah, they were a necessity for this rough and tough adventure. Our well trained guide pulled us up waterfall after waterfall. He was one strong man. By the time we got to the twelfth waterfall, my legs were frozen and my knees were shaking. We then turned around and had options of sliding (if slideable) or jumping down the 12 waterfalls. However, after Enmanuel made his first jump of his life (take a look at the video below) and forgot to plug his nose and swallowed a gallon of water, he managed to find a way to monkey down the side of the rest of the falls.



All made it back to their homes alive that evening, but we were exhausted and I had a very sore tailbone from jumping off a very high cliff and doing a butt flop. Now, a month later and I still can't sit right.

Wedding Gobbles

The guests before anyone else could even choose what their wedding ensamble would be, were the gobble gobble live-in turkeys, the year round inhabitants of our wedding discoteca, El Karina. Once a happening club, El Karina´s business died off slowly until they were eventually replaced by chickens and turkeys. The dance floor is stained with remnances of circular chicken coops. Now the turkeys just have their one big coop off to one side of the dance floor. They sang to us while we set up the lights, the tables, and the chairs for the wedding. They finally quieted down once we finished changing their home from a coop to a giant white paper cake. Suprisingly we didn´t hear a peep out of them for the rest of the night.

Other planning went as smooth as a campo wedding can go. The rain made it´s appearance in mid-afternoon, but lightened up for the wedding in the evening. Mom and Dave`s luggage was lost (with wedding lights, candles, and plates inside), but friends took the time to seek out all that was missing. Maid of honor showed up 2 hours late, but so did everyone else, so she was just in time to walk down the isle with Enmanuel`s brother (Maximo, best man, MIA). My heel caught on my dress while Dave was spinning me around and around and ripped the hem, but I recovered beautifully by hopping around on one foot until my foot was free and we could finish the dance with grace and beauty. We had a great turn out with volunteers and local friends and family. Correographed dances, lindy hops shows, and delicious dinner, and an even more delicious cake made it the best wedding Las Uvas has seen yet. Everyone had a blast.

I´ll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

We`re In!

Can you believe it?

We´re in, we`re done, we made it!

Yesterday we had our long awaited interview at the consulate for Enmanuel`s Visa. We were ready. Asking each other every question that could come to our minds "Which are your favorite panties?", "what is your favorite meal?", "something personal that no one else would know about?", ect. All our paperwork in order, and we had a lot of suerte and blessings from our friends. We arrived early Tuesday morning, 6am, and put ourselves at the end of a line of over a hundred other dominicans waiting, hoping for their resident visa. Mothers and daughters, grandpas, kids, babies, couples, brothers, sisters all trying to get their family over to the other side. The line went faster than we expected. At 7:15 am we were in the doors. We sit and wait. Eat snacks. Check papers. Wait. 9am we were called up to one of the 20 windows.

"Your papers please."

Shuffle, check, rip, staple.

"Sign here."

Shuffle, check, rip, staple.

"Go pay and bring the receipt." That was a relief to hear, because we knew all our paper work was done correctly. Some people are handed a sheet that states all of the corrections they have to make or what papers they might be missing.

3 minutes and $400 later we changed our receipt for a number, 192.

We sit and wait some more. 191, 193, 368, 272. We decided there was no rhyme or reason to the numbers they were calling.

192 window 13, 192 window 13

They took his fingerprints with the green machine (very advanced) and then.... we sat and waited some more.

Enmanuel made friends with a few other dominicans waiting, waiting to hear their fate. Accepted or Denied. A life changing decision that most dominicans never get the opportunity to even hope for.

Finally, 192 to window 19. We swore in in spanish. They asked me about Enmanuel´s daughter, my family and when they met him, the peace corps, and his $ sponsor. They sat back pointed to the screen, conversed and minute, and then they said, "congratulations, your visa has been approved."

What, really, that quick and easy! We were ready for the attack. A million questions. We brought photos, letters, and affidavits- everything to prove that our relationship is legitimate.

We kissed and hugged and left to pay the messenger service. Everyone looking at us, knowing we were one of the lucky ones. Wow, que emoción.

"Enmanuel, How do you feel?"

"Happy but sad. This means I´m actually leaving. I´ll be leaving my home, my family, and my friends, everything I have ever known."

We called everyone we know back in the campo and shared the unimaginable good news. His mamà was crying.

This calls for a celebration. So what better way to celebrate than McDonalds. My first McDonalds visit in this country and Enmanuel´s first visit in his life. It was delicious, but boy did we have a gut ache later.

So now what. Wedding planning, wedding, then a trip to New Jersey at the end of October.
Felicítanos and Wish us luck.

We`re In!

Adios Tommy June 2008 - Sept. 21, 2008

Yes, lamentablamente, our puppy, our hijo, is gone. The disease that attacks many campo puppies attacked him. Dysentary, I believe. Thursday he was a fun and energenic puppy. Friday he was kind of depressed (we thought he was mad because we didn´t go for a walk that morning.) Then saturday hewoke with bloody diahrrea so we took him to the vet, but by sunday morning he was dead. Que triste. He was a good puppy. Loved his mami and papi. We had only been taking him out for walks with us for about a week, but he followed us wherever we went, no leash was necessary. He loved to run through the tall grass and feel the morning dew on his face. He played with the other puppies and kids that came to visit. We will miss him. That leaves us dogless. From 2 to 1 to none. Don´t know if I can handle the heartache of another.

July July

Wow what a month! I thought summer vacation meant I would be able to relax a bit, but not here.
We started summer camp at the beginning of July and we just finished the 1st of August. Enmanuel and I were the Coordinators of La Vega summer camp for poor campo kids. The idea is that all kids ages 5-12 can participate in summer camp. The Síndico of La Vega gives quick trainings to the camp counselors and then sends the materials and snack for the kids. We had 200 plus kids, 30 counselors, 3 coordinators and an elementary school. Three weeks of supposed coloring, painting, crafts, dancing (however there wasn’t electricity to play music), modeling, chess, cards, computers (until the inversor died- about 2 days), indoor games, and sports. Wait, Wait, let me translate 3 weeks of crafts, cards, sitting in the shade, motivating counselors to get up from sitting in the shade, chasing after kids, games and icebreakers, and babysitting.
After a week of camp, all of us were exhausted and counting down the days until the big presentation for the Síndico. Hours of practice in Dance, poetry, modeling, and singing to get the kids ready to show off just what they learned during their 3 weeks of Campamento Vegano. Aug. 1, we pulled it off. The Síndicos assistant came for the show, and then passed out backpacks and notebooks to all the kids. The kids loved it, so all was worth it.

I have two kids now. Stuey and Tommy. They´re about a month old. They like to pee in all rooms of the house and bite my ankles at all times. Stuey´s favorite place to hang out is beside my dirty cloths in our bedroom and Tommy likes anywhere he can stick his head under and hide. Sadly, Stuey has been missing since this morning. He snuck out last night and has yet to be found. But they are our two children. I didn´t ask for either, but now they´re here, so I´ve turned into mama Angela. We love them despite their parasites, unruly urinating, skin flaky fungus, smelly dog smell and running away.

Tommy

Stuey

My Escojo group has officially graduated. Sunday we hosted the sub-regional escojo conference in Las Uvas and then had our heart felt graduation that very evening. The youth received their certificates with tears in their eyes and shared words of absolute appreciation for the group and how it has helped them in their lives. It couldn´t have gone better. Enmanuels mother made us a delicious american chocolate cake with frosting. She was rather distressed when I handed her the Betty Crocker cake in a box and a can a frosting. "Angela, I´ve never made cake from a box, you´ll have to help me." "Sorry, Can´t, busy for the next 36 hours straight. Read the instructions on the back of the box, thanks." Apparently Enmanuel helped by mixing in the egg and oil, so therefore he "made the cake".


After tears, sweet acceptance speeches, and chocolate cake, we danced the night away. Six youth and two volunteers from other communities stayed around to help us celebrate. It was a great day.


Enmanuel and I have now been married for two months. "Felicidades"! -thank you

We had our petition for our Visa the 17th of July. We went in, payed $355 dollars, turned in all the papers, were asked various questions about the validity of our married, and then sent on our way to wait for something in the mail or a phone call from the consulate. Weeeelll, I just got the packet of papers in my mailbox today. Now we just have to fill out papers, get him his medical exams, vaccines, criminal history report, pay $400 more dollars and go in for our final visa interview. They will then decide yea or nay. They have no reason to say nay, so lets start celebrating the yea.

Oh, and the most exciting news...I´ll be home in less than a week! See you soon.

Dominican Court Wedding

Let me show you just how it was done:
1.) Stand outside the office, waiting nervously, hugging and kissing your soon to be husband. While they work on setting up the 4 chairs needed for the bride, groom, best man, and maid of honour. The rest of your guests stand behind you.

2.) We are told to sit down opposite the judge. He continues shuffling through papers, while we are told to sign the GIANT marriage book. We all sign, two times.

3.) The judge asks us to stand and reads us some paper about the court and our marriage.

4.) Then he reads us our Marriage Certificate. We raise our right hands, one by one, saying “Si” when he asks us if we accept to love, respect, and take care of one another in good times and bad.

5.) He says you are now “Marido y Mujer” and you can kiss.
6.) We then hug and kiss all of our family and friends.
7.) We take pictures outside, because the judge has another ceremony to do immediately after ours.
8.) Off to the bar for various rounds of Presidente Light.

9.) Then off to the Cabaña for quick honeymoon and……..well, that part is for just Enmanuel and me to remember.

I´m looking forward to our ceremony in September. Hope you all can make it. If not, I´ll definitely have some great pics to show you afterwards.

a special visit

Anhela's hermana y papa ah que! Hey I tried! :-) by Teresa Olin

Yes the country was gorgeous and yes it was wonderful seeing the country side and the towns, villages and all the crazy activity but the real stories are in the adventures that weren't planned. As you can see from the pictures above....We had some great times! The gas in our car was natural gas....oh my what a stench..Angela and I had to ride with our heads out the window so we wouldn't be gassed to death! haha. The car broke down about 14 miles from home! Woo Hoo! I was having a blast. I mean what more could you ask for then the car breaking down in the middle of no where with no one around or help for miles! OK my dad didn't think it was so fun...he was worried the gringos were going to steal his daughters and ravish them in the bushes! haha. What a hoot! Enmanuel blew chunks on the boat ride and all we did was laugh at him...not nice I know but what a perfect thing to happen! Someone had to barf on the boat! haha. Driving in the back of a run down pickup with an old man carrying a very large KNIFE...eating a cacoa ......riding on the boat to the caves....getting sick....ugh....(it was worth it!)....eating oranges the dominican way.....chasing chickens.....and last but not least....all the LOVE!!!

The ocean tides in Las Terenas. We stayed in El Toriedo in a combania. What a great day! Enmanuel was learning an American water game...CHICKEN!

In the early morning hours of March 12th it was time to say good bye to our sweet dear Anhela. To tell you the truth I would have put up with the explosive diarrhea and the cold showers a little longer for more time and hugs from all the wonderful, special individuals we left behind. They will forever be a part of me and I will forever be grateful for this amazing experience and the chance to let so many beautiful people enter my life. What an adventure!

For about 2 months now, I’ve been working with my new Escojo group (AIDS education/prevention, communication, values, self-esteem, condoms, healthy choices, ect.) and last night we had an emotional break-through, you know the kind that leaves one glowing with love and tears in their eyes. Our theme last night was self-esteem so I wanted to start out with a good old self-esteem booster. Spin the bottle and wherever it lands the spinner has give a compliment about the other. Well it turned out to be something like ¨yeah, she’s a cool chick, she has a lot of friends and treats others well¨. Some were a little more sincere than others, but all the kids felt very uncomfortable giving and both receiving a compliment.

So I asked them, “Why was that so hard for us to hear or tell something nice and heartfelt? Is it really that hard to see the good in someone?”

We are so used to pointing out character flaws that sometimes we forget to tell someone what we really like about them. Que malo.

“Let’s try the activity again, but this time you can pick who’d you like to compliment. Remember that you have to talk directly to that person, not about the person, look them in the eyes, and say something sincere. We will all have an opportunity to share our thoughts. We will sit and wait until each of you feels you’re ready to talk.”

And so I started, “Juana, I admire the fact that you have participated in all the activities the community and I have put on. It truly shows your dedication to your own education and that you are choosing your own path. That quality is so important in a person and it will take you a long way.” She smiled, looked down, and said Thank you in English. Then we waited. Looked around and waited some more. Finally one would start, then another, then another. A few minutes would pass, looking around, and then another would go. Fifteen minutes later we all finished. Amazing amounts of love was shared, leaving us with swollen blushing hearts. It was the first time that I had received true, heart felt affirmations from my youth about my work. I know now just how important my presence and activities are for the youth in my community. I loved it, I loooved it. Best meeting I’ve had all year.

“So this week let’s share the love and give compliments to 3 other important people in our lives”

The kids’ faces filled with looks of fear and doubt. “But whenever I try to say something nice to my parents or my friends they just think I’m acting weird or making fun of them.”
“Or what if I try to say something and they just tell me to shut-up and get out of their view of the telenovela on TV?”

“Ok, lets take a minute and ask for strength in this assignment as well as give strength to our family and friends so they are ready to listen and accept what we have to say.”

So we prayed and hugged and kissed.

Amen.

Carnaval

Orange. A cell phone company with their super cave.

I lasted about 5 seconds.

Examples of the many elaborate costumes and masks.

Black object in the middle is a hitting butt tool. Sand, rocks, and if your lucky filled with just air.

Carnaval. Carnaval. Carnaval.

What an INSANE fiesta! Streets are packed, butts are wacked, and you will be a sweating like no other.

Enmanuel, myself and the family headed out to La Vega for the last sunday parade in February. Around 1pm the streets were nearly empty allowing us to visit the ¨caves¨ put up by local company. The caves provided the richies with VIP shady chairs and cold beverages. Us campo folks wandered the streets trying to avoided getting wacked in the butt with an air (or sometimes rock filled) beating bags. Those participating in the parade were dressed with elaborate beautifully ugly devilish costumes parading through and dancing like wild jungle beasts.