And it couldn’t have been hotter this weekend. You see, as I was getting ready to go out for a night of dancing, a family friend came upstairs (my host family was out) and asked me again what my name was. I told her, and she said immediately, okay, come. I was confused and not quite sure I heard her right. She left, picked up her son who was sleeping on a bed and started yelling, Come, Come! I left my room and there before my eyes was a fire. A wire of some kind had gone ablaze. We hurried down stairs and up the street a ways to avoid being near it. The entire barrio was watching as the fire spread up and down the wire. I tried not to be too scared. What were the chances it would spread; the people who take care of something like this will be here soon.
Well, it spread. It wasn’t too dramatic but it still spread. Bits of hot plastic or pieces of the wire fell downwards on a car that was parked right underneath and onto the awning of a store. The awning caught fire and when that happened I started to get really nervous. One of the onlookers jumped on the car and reached up onto the awning to put that fire out. As scary as what he did was, I was glad he did it because from there, the fire could have spread to the building. The woman who came to rescue me saw I was a little nervous and wanted me to watch her son who looked tired and confused, and perhaps also a little nervous. She took me a neighbor’s house and sat me down and told me to watch her son and not worry. I still wanted to watch, but did as I was told. The pueblo had my back.
I got up a few times to see if the situation had changed. It hadn’t really, it was just one bigger wire ablaze. No one was coming to put the fire out, which didn’t really surprise me. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if it just kept growing and growing. Since it was electrical there we couldn’t fight it with water, and I doubted anyone had a fire extinguisher. But, someone was brave enough to reach up and repeatedly shake the wire. Eventually the blaze went out, except one little spot. I was determined to remain outdoors until that last little bit had been put out and just as I was thinking that, someone threw something up at it, he had perfect aim, and it went out.
Well the night had only begun to get hot. The nightlife here is very interesting. There are these colmados on every block that remind me of open White Hen Pantries and Walgreens. The difference is that they have chairs and beer so people can go and have a drink for a while pretty much anytime. I thought it was unlikely that the colmados were the only thing people did at night, because even though they all blast music, no one ever dances at them.
The other part of the nightlife are, prepare yourself, car washes. En serio, people will take their cars in to get washed and stop for a beer. At night, the car wash portion shuts down, but the bar and the dance floor do not. The one we went to had a big dance floor and tons of seating. Things really started to pick up by 9:00 which was nice for those of us who have to be home pretty early. We danced meringue, or least tried our best. It was a great night because there were 3 of us girls, and 4 guys. Remarkable that the boys should outnumber the girls, because in Peace Corps it is quite the opposite.
I learned the next morning that Saturday was also hot for some other volunteers but for a much more depressing reason. Caliente, which means hot, has a lot of connotations here. In addition to meaning hot in terms of temperature, it also means hot in the way of robbery. Yesterday, three volunteers went to the botanic garden and were robbed and “gun” and knife point by 2 young Dominican men. I was supposed to have gone there that same afternoon with my host brother, who is a police officer and wants to take me there in the future. They had their watches, cameras and money stolen, and the female volunteer had her purse stolen. Luckily she had a hidden pocket on her pants where she had some money, so they were able to get home. This of course makes me think twice about bringing my camera out, but it also makes me not want to wear my watch. But mostly it makes me want to travel in big groups and ideally with Dominicans.
Monday, September 24, 2007
A Day in the Life
Training typically lasts from 8 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon. About half of the day consists of general information for the entire group and the other half we break into our language groups. My group is wonderful. It’s 4 of us volunteers and our 23 year old instructor. We talk about all kinds of things and go on field trips. He is able to make our language lessons fun because he puts the boring stuff in a context where it’s actually interesting. Never before have I had such thorough Spanish instruction. I’m learning things I really should have learned years ago, and actually caring about what I’m learning.
The big group is also wonderful. We have a fun time with the learning activities they give us and enjoy going to a colmado after training every once in a while for a cold drink. Cold drinks are a real special treat in this country as everything is hot and sticky pretty much all the time. In a few weeks we will all be heading into our 4 focus groups for Community Based Training. The Health group is pretty small with around 13 volunteers. The Water and Sanitation group has just 6 volunteers. Community Economic Development is bigger with around 17 volunteers. The biggest group is Youth, with the remainder of the 52 volunteers. The Health group is going to stationed somewhere near the coast, which will be lovely as we have not had a chance to go (nor been allowed to even think about going) to the beach. But our Health trainer promises us that we will go at least once. :) It seems as though the place where we are going for this training is going to be in the middle of nowhere, so I anticipate not having too much of a social life or too much outside entertainment. That is exactly the reason I brought many DVDs and my ipod with portable speakers. Well, the ipod was actually more for the kids in my town because honestly, who doesn’t think an ipod is awesome. Also, I’m hoping it will trick them into still thinking I’m cool even though I’m not very good at baseball. And really, I just want to be popular with a group of kids for a change. :)
The big group is also wonderful. We have a fun time with the learning activities they give us and enjoy going to a colmado after training every once in a while for a cold drink. Cold drinks are a real special treat in this country as everything is hot and sticky pretty much all the time. In a few weeks we will all be heading into our 4 focus groups for Community Based Training. The Health group is pretty small with around 13 volunteers. The Water and Sanitation group has just 6 volunteers. Community Economic Development is bigger with around 17 volunteers. The biggest group is Youth, with the remainder of the 52 volunteers. The Health group is going to stationed somewhere near the coast, which will be lovely as we have not had a chance to go (nor been allowed to even think about going) to the beach. But our Health trainer promises us that we will go at least once. :) It seems as though the place where we are going for this training is going to be in the middle of nowhere, so I anticipate not having too much of a social life or too much outside entertainment. That is exactly the reason I brought many DVDs and my ipod with portable speakers. Well, the ipod was actually more for the kids in my town because honestly, who doesn’t think an ipod is awesome. Also, I’m hoping it will trick them into still thinking I’m cool even though I’m not very good at baseball. And really, I just want to be popular with a group of kids for a change. :)
Saturday, September 22, 2007
All Those Little Things
Indeed, all those little things we have in the U.S., that we take for granted, and don't even think about, that can add up to some of the most dramatic differences between countries.
I've mentioned that there is no running water at my house. I've also mentioned that the electricity goes out every night (and most of the days as well). We've all gone a few hours (or days) without those things before and been able to handle it just fine. They handle it just fine here too. But there are other things that when added up show in detail the differences between my life in the U.S. and my life here. And I'm just visiting.
For example, the streets are about half and half paved and unpaved. Those that are paved are not paved well (again, I'm sure a lot of you have had experience with that). The problem though is that there is no sewer system so when rain comes, it does a lot of damage.
There are stray dogs, and dogs whose owners don't pick up after them. There are children whose parents can't afford to buy them shoes, and who play with and in whatever sits on the street in front of their houses. There are places where there are constantly puddles of substances foul to smell that sit for days. There is some, unreliable garbage pick up, but littering is a way of life. The cars, buses, and motorcycles are old and produce a lot of pollution. There are hardly any rules of the road, and the idea that a pedestrian has the right of way simply does not exist. And of course, it is hot, all the time.
There is a notion here that everything is for the pueblo (pueblo means village). So, if you leave some candy out, anyone can have some because, for lack of a better term, we're all in this together. But its not bad. In fact, the driving situation I mentioned before would be a nightmare if every driver didn't have every other driver's back. A bus might be driving 55 mph down the side of the road looking for people to hop on, and if some gutsy motorcycle rider pulls out in front of him, the bus will stop or slow down, and there won't be a problem. The other day some friends of mine were on a bus that ran out of gas. Another bus came up from behind and pushed their bus into a gas station. And they actually didn't even have to wait that long. When I walk down the street with my host family, they push me a bit, but they do it because they want me to avoid the trash in my way, or they can see a motorcycle zipping around a corner and are looking out for me. It's all for the pueblo.
And, I get the feeling that I haven't seen anything yet ,because I'm not really even in a pueblo.
On that note, I am going to visit a health volunteer soon. To get there I will take a coach bus to a small city. From there I will get on the back of a taxi motorcycle and go to her town. I knew she was in the middle of nowhere, that I am easily made motion sick, and I know that I am petrified of motorcycles, let alone riding them in this country, with a complete stranger. I looked at a huge map of the country today and to my surprise, I will get to ride on a one of these motoconchos for a good 10 miles, and it will be through the mountains.
I'm talking myself out of being worried, at least for now. The flip side to this potentially petrifying situation is that I will probably get some of the prettiest views that exist in this hemisphere from those mountains. And, you wouldn't believe the skies here. Every night I look out the window, or rock in a rocking chair on the patio, and watch the incredible colors above. And what is really amazing are the lightning storms. Huge streaks of lightning fly through the sky against a background of the best colors. Someday you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about when I'm able to upload photos. But even then, even with my awesome camera, it won't be quite like it. So instead, you'll have to come see for yourself.
I don't miss most of those little things though. It's incredible to me that in Chile I missed central heating, and warm water, and some of those great comforts of life that we have in the U.S. and here, I don't at all. I'm not really sure why, but I'm glad I don't!
I've mentioned that there is no running water at my house. I've also mentioned that the electricity goes out every night (and most of the days as well). We've all gone a few hours (or days) without those things before and been able to handle it just fine. They handle it just fine here too. But there are other things that when added up show in detail the differences between my life in the U.S. and my life here. And I'm just visiting.
For example, the streets are about half and half paved and unpaved. Those that are paved are not paved well (again, I'm sure a lot of you have had experience with that). The problem though is that there is no sewer system so when rain comes, it does a lot of damage.
There are stray dogs, and dogs whose owners don't pick up after them. There are children whose parents can't afford to buy them shoes, and who play with and in whatever sits on the street in front of their houses. There are places where there are constantly puddles of substances foul to smell that sit for days. There is some, unreliable garbage pick up, but littering is a way of life. The cars, buses, and motorcycles are old and produce a lot of pollution. There are hardly any rules of the road, and the idea that a pedestrian has the right of way simply does not exist. And of course, it is hot, all the time.
There is a notion here that everything is for the pueblo (pueblo means village). So, if you leave some candy out, anyone can have some because, for lack of a better term, we're all in this together. But its not bad. In fact, the driving situation I mentioned before would be a nightmare if every driver didn't have every other driver's back. A bus might be driving 55 mph down the side of the road looking for people to hop on, and if some gutsy motorcycle rider pulls out in front of him, the bus will stop or slow down, and there won't be a problem. The other day some friends of mine were on a bus that ran out of gas. Another bus came up from behind and pushed their bus into a gas station. And they actually didn't even have to wait that long. When I walk down the street with my host family, they push me a bit, but they do it because they want me to avoid the trash in my way, or they can see a motorcycle zipping around a corner and are looking out for me. It's all for the pueblo.
And, I get the feeling that I haven't seen anything yet ,because I'm not really even in a pueblo.
On that note, I am going to visit a health volunteer soon. To get there I will take a coach bus to a small city. From there I will get on the back of a taxi motorcycle and go to her town. I knew she was in the middle of nowhere, that I am easily made motion sick, and I know that I am petrified of motorcycles, let alone riding them in this country, with a complete stranger. I looked at a huge map of the country today and to my surprise, I will get to ride on a one of these motoconchos for a good 10 miles, and it will be through the mountains.
I'm talking myself out of being worried, at least for now. The flip side to this potentially petrifying situation is that I will probably get some of the prettiest views that exist in this hemisphere from those mountains. And, you wouldn't believe the skies here. Every night I look out the window, or rock in a rocking chair on the patio, and watch the incredible colors above. And what is really amazing are the lightning storms. Huge streaks of lightning fly through the sky against a background of the best colors. Someday you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about when I'm able to upload photos. But even then, even with my awesome camera, it won't be quite like it. So instead, you'll have to come see for yourself.
I don't miss most of those little things though. It's incredible to me that in Chile I missed central heating, and warm water, and some of those great comforts of life that we have in the U.S. and here, I don't at all. I'm not really sure why, but I'm glad I don't!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
It´s a Small Catholic World Afterall
Well Hello Friends,
Yes it is a small Catholic world afterall. I went to my first Dominican church service on Sunday. It was such a fascinating experience I can hardly describe it.
First, there was no AC. Of course. So, although people dress up, they also wear smart clothes for the heat. Also, everyone carries a hankerchief or towel or something. I sat front and center with my dona who is very religious (she was, in fact, watching a Catholic service on TV this morning and praying with her arms up as she went about her morning routine.)
The part of the mass where you say peace to one another was incredible. Never have I been hugged, and I mean hugged, by so many strangers. And none of them cared that I was sweaty. It was lovely.
The priest was interesting. He was definitely the whitest man in the room, me and another volunteer being the whitest females, and yes, she is whiter than me. (It´s the small triumphs really...) Anyways... he sort of had a serious look to him, like he was a preacher in every sense of the word. However, he ended up having the sort of sense of humor that I have, very tongue and cheek. In Spanish, with every verb you use you have to decide if the person with whom you are communicating is more formal than you, for lack of a better way of putting it. So, he called them sus (ie, formal) and would not continue the mass until they repeated the saying with tu (informal). And, he used that very serious face to make his point, which I just loved.
I was inspired there to begin a question of the entry portion of this blog. The inspiration came when I was observing some children. In addition to trying to translate what the priest was saying (and yah, I did hellagood at that) I was doing a whole lot of people watching. The kids, as always, are adorable and there was one little fat 2 or 3 year old in particular who was super cute. But, I also saw some kids between 6 and 10 who kept cracking each other up and laughing hysterically, which they knew they shouldn´t be doing so they were trying to cover their mouths while they laughed. The priest kept looking over at them and trying to shame them into behaving, but they weren´t. So I ask you, which is cuter, 4 little kids cracking themselves up, or 1 little girl climbing all over her grandpa and insisting he pick her up every time he stood during the mass (which you Catholics know is very frequent) ?
My vote is probably for the little girl because her fat little belly was just too cute.
The service was easily 1 hours and 45 minutes. Just when I thought we were going to be leaving soon, the priest asked if anyone from the crowd (of about 60 or 70) wanted to talk about anything and someone got up to talk about abortion. There is a movement to legalize it here, but a lot of communities are resisting. Any of you who know me well know how I personally feel about the issue, but the conversation they had was fascinating. They asked such questions as, aren´t you grateful for your life? Aren´t you glad to have your parents for them to have chosen what they did? Wouldn´t you hate to live in a country where us, the poor, are told to abort their fetuses? Don´t we all deserve life? Absolutely fascinating discussions.
I am doing very well. Everyone who knows my mom should wish her a very happy b day last Sunday. I love her, and miss her...
But, even so, I am doing incredibly well. Everyone continues to be super nice and super supportive and my host family and I have even starting joking around.
I´m going well with ¨showering¨ without running water. Every time I do it, I think of all of you, and how sad I am that you will likely never experience this type of wonderfulness, and I just smile to myself. En serio. I smile in the shower-especially when the lights go out, with soap all over my face. Oh, it´s a great time.
Oh and the name of this entry comes from the ride at Disney. In the last big room of rotating dolls, my family and I used to all joke was the room of First Communions from around the world because all the little children are all dressed up in white.
Yes it is a small Catholic world afterall. I went to my first Dominican church service on Sunday. It was such a fascinating experience I can hardly describe it.
First, there was no AC. Of course. So, although people dress up, they also wear smart clothes for the heat. Also, everyone carries a hankerchief or towel or something. I sat front and center with my dona who is very religious (she was, in fact, watching a Catholic service on TV this morning and praying with her arms up as she went about her morning routine.)
The part of the mass where you say peace to one another was incredible. Never have I been hugged, and I mean hugged, by so many strangers. And none of them cared that I was sweaty. It was lovely.
The priest was interesting. He was definitely the whitest man in the room, me and another volunteer being the whitest females, and yes, she is whiter than me. (It´s the small triumphs really...) Anyways... he sort of had a serious look to him, like he was a preacher in every sense of the word. However, he ended up having the sort of sense of humor that I have, very tongue and cheek. In Spanish, with every verb you use you have to decide if the person with whom you are communicating is more formal than you, for lack of a better way of putting it. So, he called them sus (ie, formal) and would not continue the mass until they repeated the saying with tu (informal). And, he used that very serious face to make his point, which I just loved.
I was inspired there to begin a question of the entry portion of this blog. The inspiration came when I was observing some children. In addition to trying to translate what the priest was saying (and yah, I did hellagood at that) I was doing a whole lot of people watching. The kids, as always, are adorable and there was one little fat 2 or 3 year old in particular who was super cute. But, I also saw some kids between 6 and 10 who kept cracking each other up and laughing hysterically, which they knew they shouldn´t be doing so they were trying to cover their mouths while they laughed. The priest kept looking over at them and trying to shame them into behaving, but they weren´t. So I ask you, which is cuter, 4 little kids cracking themselves up, or 1 little girl climbing all over her grandpa and insisting he pick her up every time he stood during the mass (which you Catholics know is very frequent) ?
My vote is probably for the little girl because her fat little belly was just too cute.
The service was easily 1 hours and 45 minutes. Just when I thought we were going to be leaving soon, the priest asked if anyone from the crowd (of about 60 or 70) wanted to talk about anything and someone got up to talk about abortion. There is a movement to legalize it here, but a lot of communities are resisting. Any of you who know me well know how I personally feel about the issue, but the conversation they had was fascinating. They asked such questions as, aren´t you grateful for your life? Aren´t you glad to have your parents for them to have chosen what they did? Wouldn´t you hate to live in a country where us, the poor, are told to abort their fetuses? Don´t we all deserve life? Absolutely fascinating discussions.
I am doing very well. Everyone who knows my mom should wish her a very happy b day last Sunday. I love her, and miss her...
But, even so, I am doing incredibly well. Everyone continues to be super nice and super supportive and my host family and I have even starting joking around.
I´m going well with ¨showering¨ without running water. Every time I do it, I think of all of you, and how sad I am that you will likely never experience this type of wonderfulness, and I just smile to myself. En serio. I smile in the shower-especially when the lights go out, with soap all over my face. Oh, it´s a great time.
Oh and the name of this entry comes from the ride at Disney. In the last big room of rotating dolls, my family and I used to all joke was the room of First Communions from around the world because all the little children are all dressed up in white.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Welcome to La Republica Dominicana
Buenas,
I am in la Republica Dominicana and everything is good. I feel incredible (though I fear I don't look or smell so, but so what.) I didn't pack right, but again, so what. I'm going to smell like bug spray and sweat for the next 2 years and I'm psyched.
The people are nice, friendly, and speak the fastest Spanish I've ever heard, but so far they are patient and smiley.
And to cover a few more details, here is the text from a mass email I sent to some friends and family about the past few days. Enjoy and nos vemos! (I'll be seeing you!)
I am in the Dominican Republic and am doing super bueno! The group of volunteers is incredible-truly some of the most friendly, warm people I've ever met, and of course we all share really similar values. (What we also share are very similar horror stories regarding the PC letting us in.)
We met up in DC for a few days, to hear about training and what was to come, and then we left. We arrived in country on the 13th. We met our host families last night and so far so good. My host family is incredible. I have a host mother and a host father, as well as a host brother. He is a police officer and is very nice. They are all very patient with me and keep telling me how good my Spanish is. I am number 21 in a long line of PC volunteers! They have a lot of family, many of whom I have met in the last 2 days, including a "nephew" who is from New York. He and I were just sharing stories about the US, the DR, the PC, and many other things. They also have a puppy, a chihuahua, who just gave birth to 3 puppies, 2 weeks ago.
I had my first shower without running water. Let me tell you that was quite an experience... I was smiling the entire time, as I find myself doing a lot here. This is just exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing. With the exception of losing my appetite in DC and having some minor stomach aches, I have been feeling incredible about this 100% of the time. :)
Many of you would love it here. In my barrio there is music playing almost all the time, and the weather at night is perfect. My host family has a lovely big front patio as well as one out back with 2 types of fruit trees growing overhead. I tried a piece of fruit from one of them last night, and it was tart, but interesting. Everyone is friendly with one another, although at me they mostly just stare.
We live close to the training site, which is absolutely gorgeous. As tax-paying Americans you all really deserve a trip to the PC training site in the DR. There are huge beautiful trees everywhere and not too many bugs. Picture chipmunks in the US, then replace them with lizards. But there, as with my house, the bugs aren't too bad. I hear that will not be the case when we leave the capitol, but so far so good.
I live near some other volunteers so we will be meeting up tonight and will hopefully go explore the barrio. We start training again on Monday, and will for the first time use public transportation. But after Santiago, I fear no public transport. Also, I'll be able to take it with others in my situation which was a perk that did not exist for me in Chile.
I do find myself comparing the countries a lot. Hey, I'm human. But, so far I think DR is trumping Chile. The weather is better here, although there is no option for hot running water, and sometimes there is no running water at all. The people seem to be friendlier. The Spanish is easier (but faster). The food is probably better (tons of pineapple here, and so far no one has forced me to eat anything unappealing.)
This part of training will be over in 3 weeks. Then I will leave with the other health volunteers for 5 weeks.
Some interesting stats about my group and what is likely:
-there are 52 volunteers (one of us went home yesterday; it didn't seem like a good fit for him)
-approx 5 or 6 of us will get married, engaged, or pregnant, all women to male residents of the DR
-approx 17 of us will leave before our time is up, most for medical reasons (ie: sprains/brakes that take too long to heal, or other injuries that impare our jobs)-approx all but one of us will require special medical attention (ie: need medication for illness, get regular sicknesses, brake a bone, etc.)
-many of us will extend our service for another year or more. Some of us will make DR our permanent home-in my group there is 1 married couple, and one older woman. We also have a middle-aged. Besides them, everyone younger and most are single. We are 1/3 male and 2/3 female. American minorities of all kinds are represented in my group, racially, relgiously, and with regard to sexual orientation, but most people seem not to practice any religion.
So there you have it. FYI: I do not plan on getting married, nor do I plan on leaving early. :) So don't worry.
I am in la Republica Dominicana and everything is good. I feel incredible (though I fear I don't look or smell so, but so what.) I didn't pack right, but again, so what. I'm going to smell like bug spray and sweat for the next 2 years and I'm psyched.
The people are nice, friendly, and speak the fastest Spanish I've ever heard, but so far they are patient and smiley.
And to cover a few more details, here is the text from a mass email I sent to some friends and family about the past few days. Enjoy and nos vemos! (I'll be seeing you!)
I am in the Dominican Republic and am doing super bueno! The group of volunteers is incredible-truly some of the most friendly, warm people I've ever met, and of course we all share really similar values. (What we also share are very similar horror stories regarding the PC letting us in.)
We met up in DC for a few days, to hear about training and what was to come, and then we left. We arrived in country on the 13th. We met our host families last night and so far so good. My host family is incredible. I have a host mother and a host father, as well as a host brother. He is a police officer and is very nice. They are all very patient with me and keep telling me how good my Spanish is. I am number 21 in a long line of PC volunteers! They have a lot of family, many of whom I have met in the last 2 days, including a "nephew" who is from New York. He and I were just sharing stories about the US, the DR, the PC, and many other things. They also have a puppy, a chihuahua, who just gave birth to 3 puppies, 2 weeks ago.
I had my first shower without running water. Let me tell you that was quite an experience... I was smiling the entire time, as I find myself doing a lot here. This is just exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing. With the exception of losing my appetite in DC and having some minor stomach aches, I have been feeling incredible about this 100% of the time. :)
Many of you would love it here. In my barrio there is music playing almost all the time, and the weather at night is perfect. My host family has a lovely big front patio as well as one out back with 2 types of fruit trees growing overhead. I tried a piece of fruit from one of them last night, and it was tart, but interesting. Everyone is friendly with one another, although at me they mostly just stare.
We live close to the training site, which is absolutely gorgeous. As tax-paying Americans you all really deserve a trip to the PC training site in the DR. There are huge beautiful trees everywhere and not too many bugs. Picture chipmunks in the US, then replace them with lizards. But there, as with my house, the bugs aren't too bad. I hear that will not be the case when we leave the capitol, but so far so good.
I live near some other volunteers so we will be meeting up tonight and will hopefully go explore the barrio. We start training again on Monday, and will for the first time use public transportation. But after Santiago, I fear no public transport. Also, I'll be able to take it with others in my situation which was a perk that did not exist for me in Chile.
I do find myself comparing the countries a lot. Hey, I'm human. But, so far I think DR is trumping Chile. The weather is better here, although there is no option for hot running water, and sometimes there is no running water at all. The people seem to be friendlier. The Spanish is easier (but faster). The food is probably better (tons of pineapple here, and so far no one has forced me to eat anything unappealing.)
This part of training will be over in 3 weeks. Then I will leave with the other health volunteers for 5 weeks.
Some interesting stats about my group and what is likely:
-there are 52 volunteers (one of us went home yesterday; it didn't seem like a good fit for him)
-approx 5 or 6 of us will get married, engaged, or pregnant, all women to male residents of the DR
-approx 17 of us will leave before our time is up, most for medical reasons (ie: sprains/brakes that take too long to heal, or other injuries that impare our jobs)-approx all but one of us will require special medical attention (ie: need medication for illness, get regular sicknesses, brake a bone, etc.)
-many of us will extend our service for another year or more. Some of us will make DR our permanent home-in my group there is 1 married couple, and one older woman. We also have a middle-aged. Besides them, everyone younger and most are single. We are 1/3 male and 2/3 female. American minorities of all kinds are represented in my group, racially, relgiously, and with regard to sexual orientation, but most people seem not to practice any religion.
So there you have it. FYI: I do not plan on getting married, nor do I plan on leaving early. :) So don't worry.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A Day of Goodbyes
Hello Friends,
I left Glenview for DC today, which meant I had to say goodbye to my family. After a weekend of tons of packing and getting ready, I still wasn't prepared for today. Of course it was hard to get through it all, and I believe it was my insistance on pushing my feelings way deep down that led me to be feeling pretty sick later in the afternoon. However, as you can tell, I made it through that alive.
After a bumpy half-awake and half-asleep flight I took a cab with a very sympathetic cab driver to Alicia's apartment where I am spending the night. I also met a very sympathetic desk clerk at the apartment, which really made me feel good; here were 2 people seeing me, white as a ghost, talking myself out of throwing up, and they were both very kind and helpful.
Later, I met up with some wonderful friends from AU and the DC area. We had a really great time at 4Ps in Cleveland Park. I felt better almost as soon as I got there. I love this city and my wonderful friends who live here and I was so glad to share some time with them tonight. I am so glad that my staging (which is where the volunteers from my group meet one another, go over basic training and prepare to fly abroad together) was in DC. One friend commented that it must have been hard to say goodbye to my friends like I did. I realized that over the past few years I've said an awful lot of goodbyes, and feel as though they must just be a part of growing up. I'm much better at it now that I ever have been, because I know I will see these people again, and in the mean time, there's always email, AIM and skype. :)
Tuesday afternoon I will get to meet the people in my group and from there we will be busy in training until November. We leave for Santo Domingo for training on Thursday. I will be living with a host family for a few weeks in that city and will know my permanent post after a while.
I would like to thank everyone who is reading this, who has offered me kind words. You're support means the world to me; there's no way I could do this without the support of loving friends and family. (Interestingly, people have been telling me to "be safe more" than anything else... I wonder if I give off an "I'm not safe" vibe. hum.)
I'm feeling much better now than I did earlier today and believe that the worst is behind me. I am excited for what is to come...
I left Glenview for DC today, which meant I had to say goodbye to my family. After a weekend of tons of packing and getting ready, I still wasn't prepared for today. Of course it was hard to get through it all, and I believe it was my insistance on pushing my feelings way deep down that led me to be feeling pretty sick later in the afternoon. However, as you can tell, I made it through that alive.
After a bumpy half-awake and half-asleep flight I took a cab with a very sympathetic cab driver to Alicia's apartment where I am spending the night. I also met a very sympathetic desk clerk at the apartment, which really made me feel good; here were 2 people seeing me, white as a ghost, talking myself out of throwing up, and they were both very kind and helpful.
Later, I met up with some wonderful friends from AU and the DC area. We had a really great time at 4Ps in Cleveland Park. I felt better almost as soon as I got there. I love this city and my wonderful friends who live here and I was so glad to share some time with them tonight. I am so glad that my staging (which is where the volunteers from my group meet one another, go over basic training and prepare to fly abroad together) was in DC. One friend commented that it must have been hard to say goodbye to my friends like I did. I realized that over the past few years I've said an awful lot of goodbyes, and feel as though they must just be a part of growing up. I'm much better at it now that I ever have been, because I know I will see these people again, and in the mean time, there's always email, AIM and skype. :)
Tuesday afternoon I will get to meet the people in my group and from there we will be busy in training until November. We leave for Santo Domingo for training on Thursday. I will be living with a host family for a few weeks in that city and will know my permanent post after a while.
I would like to thank everyone who is reading this, who has offered me kind words. You're support means the world to me; there's no way I could do this without the support of loving friends and family. (Interestingly, people have been telling me to "be safe more" than anything else... I wonder if I give off an "I'm not safe" vibe. hum.)
I'm feeling much better now than I did earlier today and believe that the worst is behind me. I am excited for what is to come...
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