El Seibo

Volunteer Visit

Becky, The volunteer I visited and I.

I´m in San Francisco de Macoris with another IT volunteer right now. She´s been in country for a year now and is doing very well. She lives in a country town outside of Macoris. Here, they call the country side ¨the campo¨. Her town is in the Cibao region which is known for its rich soil and abundance of food production. Every day I´ve enjoyed fresh picked fruit and vegetables. The old guy to the left, Ney, insisted that I come into his yard to take a look at all the fruit and cacao. We ate zapote, cacao seeds, nisparo, tamarindos, y bolas. They were all really delicious and exotic. In this picture, Ney is showing me how he harvests the cacao fruit. These sheds slide back and forth in order to cover the cacao when it rain and to leave them out in the sun to dry when its not raining. He insisted that I put two dried cacao seeds in my mouth, then he dumped a tablespoon of suger in my mouth and told me to chew chew chew. It was really funny and tasted a lot like chocolate.

There are also alot of chickens and dogs running around. Almost all the families have some sort of animal running free on their land. Becky, the volunteer, lives next to two old Donas who have organic gardens, fruit trees, roosters that crow at all times of the day and night, dogs, and mucho mas. I´m enjoying all the natural beauty of the Cibao. This region reminds me of tropical costa rica. Its definately nice to get out of the city for awhile.

Also, I´m getting a chance to see what life it like for an IT volunteer. She has a center at the highschool which is open to the public during morning hours. She teachers basic computer classes to teachers and the community, has a computer club of talented high school students, and teaches English to the community and the local priest. She is loved and welcomed by all of her community and teachers. It was great to see a successful service in process. I´m looking forward to doing the same types of things in my community.

Transportation y La Zona Colonial

Wow, what an experience! Today we went to La Zona Colonial, the colonial center of Santo Domingo. We toured the houses where Cristobol Colon and his son, Diego lived. They also showed us the Peace Corps Office, the Hospital, and the hotel we can stay at when visiting the capital.
We started at Entrena, our training site, this morning at 8am. Then we took a concho to a guagua that is called 10B. There isn't a 10A or 10C, the guy just liked 10B for some reason so decided to name his buses this. They pack you into these guaguas like sardines. If a seat was made to seat 4 comfortably, 5 0r 6 should fit in the Dominican. This past week, not only have I received vaccines in both my arms, but my

glands in my armpits are swollen and sore from trying to fight off some unknown illness, so being pressed up to a stranger was extremely uncomfortable. In addition, you fear for your life for many of the conchos and guaguas look like they have been in one too many accidents and some don't have anything between you and the metal framing of the car. But No Worries Right!!?? Many Dominicans have used these for years and seem to still exist.
Next week I will be going out to a site of an IT volunteer. We are expected to find this place on our own. I think they are trying to get us as used to the transportation system as possible before they send us out. I will be staying with this volunteer for 4 days, just seeing what she does in daily life and what she is working on. I'm a bit nervous, but I'm sure I will survive.
I've been in country for a week now and I'm not sure how I feel. A bit intimidated I guess. Everyone is doing such great things with the Peace Corps. I hope I can find my nitch and succeed as well.

The pictures are of me at PC headquarters, la zona colonial, and a guagua. this is how the guaguas look as they drive down the highway. The money collector, cobrador, hangs out the door and tries to convince people to take his guagua instead of others, even if your not going where he is going!

We Made It!

My photos> mi Dona and her puppy poci, short for poquito,

Entrena where I have training. We have class in little huts.

My Barrio looking off my porch.

My nieces, Geneli and Geobele. Super cute.

Dios Mio! What a journey. We left our airport at 3:30 am on thurs. morning and stood in line at the airport for nearly 3 hours. Waiting for all 31 of us caused us to almost miss our flight. What chaos. Then of coarse we landed after our boarding time for our connecting flight, so we busted our way to the next gate in Miami and made it just in time. Remeber, most of us didn´t have more than

2 hours of sleep the night before, so we were basically walking zombies.

One girl has not yet been able to meet up with us due to flight delays, and we had another decide in Washington D.C. that she wasn´t going.

Now 31 grinos/as here in los barrios outside of Santo Domingo. Since our arrival we are being pumped full of info about health, familia, culture, the land, diseases, chisme (gossip), baseball, spanish, spanish, and more spanish. In my barrio (neighborhood) there are 4 other volunteers, so we´ll be able to transport to ENTRENA (our school) together, either in un carro (taxi) or una guagua (bus). Mi familia es excelente. I have 1 hermana (sister), 2 hermanos (brothers) and and 2 neices, ages 3 and 13. They were a great Icebreaker the first night. They are much better off than the majority of the barrio. We have a TV, a computer, the internet, hot water, a beautiful front porch, and I have my own room with a lock on the door. I really couldn´t be any luckier.

As I write, I´m looking out through the steel bars of the window, over my front porch at the street below. I see flowers of all colors, children running around with no concern por nada, people talking chisme, cars passing and I hear music. Merengue, bachata, reggueton, and balada are played at every minute of the day. Always music outside. Always people. Always gossip. Always smiles. People here are relaxed and happy.

Life here will be great adjustment for me. I´m having a harder time than I expected. Every day I learn something new. Every day I enter my barrio as a baby, taking first steps into the dominican lifestyle.

It is scary at first, but it will get better every day. My spanish is improving already.
Ojala que vayan bien

Valentines Day in DC

Happy Valentine's Day

I've been in Washington DC for the past 2.5 days and have endured 15 hours of training, enjoyed delicious Mediterrannean, Turkish and Siamese dishes, and visited the incredible Holocaust Museum.

DC has been experiencing an unusual Cold spell. (All schools are closing due to the 5 inches of snow! I know, ridiculous.)
We've been slushing through inches of snow trying to get to various restaraunts. We were given a decent walk around allowance, so we're all enjoying every meal we get to the fullest.

My roommate Betsy and I went to the Holocaust museum yesterday morning. It was huge. Three floors full of the history of the Holocaust, starting with the rise of Hitler all the way to the end of the war. How tragic! I insisted on reading everything and watching all the videos, so we only made it through one floor before it was time to leave. Very educational. I hope to make it back someday.

The last two days of training have been very informative and inspiring. Our instructors were very passionate about the PC and what it stands for. We learned about how to deal with many unwanted problems or situations that may arise. They also had us question ourselves and our reasons for being here. Don't worry, I am still commited.
Also, it was wonderful to finally put all the faces to the names I have encountered through email. There are many strong and inspiring members of our group. I am truelly looking forward to sharing thoughts and ideas with all of them.
Unfortunately we lost a volunteer already. Due to all the slush and snow, there are also an abundance of icey sidewalks. One of our volunteer's slipped and broke her arm and is being sent home. Were hoping she'll find another program soon. All that hard work, then something so unexpected and uncontrollable like that happens. How Aweful!
We are still missing two volunteers. They are stranded in other Airports, waiting for a flight that won't be delayed or cancelled. One volunteer has been waiting in the Chicago Airport for 36 hours. We're expecting them to arrive anytime tonight.
The Peace Corps Hondurus Group was supposed to leave this morning from DC but their flight was cancelled as well. We are crossing our fingers to make it out at 7am tomorrow.

Hasta La Republica Dominicana

Look to the Skies

At 10:55 am I'm Out. Tomorrow morning give me a big wave as I pass over Bismarck, Fargo, and Minneapolis on my way to DC.

This will be me... trying to walk. All my possessions for the next two years on my back and in my arms. Thank God for luggage carts in Airports!

I left my nieces tonight with tear filled puppy dog eyes. So sweet but oh so sad. They gave me enough hugs and kisses to last me a few weeks. Thanks girls. I love you and will miss you.

The rest of my last day in NoDak was spent playing SingStar, Guitar Hero, Pit, Potlucking with the family, and some last minute shopping. It's nearly 1 am and I'm spent. Goodnight and I'll see you in the Dominican Republic!

Packing Chaos

This is me trying to organize and pack. Take everything out, decide what goes to the DR with me, what goes to the Thrift Store, then what goes into storage to await my return. It's a good things my dad is out of town this week, because I have taken over his place.

We are allowed 80lbs to bring with. I have no idea what 80 lbs looks like spread all over the floor! I'll have to wait for my back pack to arrive, then load it all in and step on the scale. Wish me luck. My To Do List seems to be growing rather than shrinking! Lots to Do. Hasta Pronto.