It’s been over 6 months in country and as I was looking back in my journal the other day, I came across some interesting or funny passages that I thought I’d share with you.
“Lunch was good-finally some beans and rice.” AH!
“After dinner he and I sat on the patio, which is gorgeous, in rocking chairs and talked.” Funny to look back on this now because I remember wondering if I’d be able to afford to buy a rocking chair for my house when I finally had one and even heard from a volunteer at some point that she purchased one and wouldn’t let anyone else sit in it because it was her spot. Some of you might know how incredibly comfortable they are and I was worried that my move-in allowance wouldn’t be enough to afford one. Turns out my house, which had some furniture in it already, had 10 rocking chairs! (4 are useless as they have no cushions, but still 6 working rocking chairs!)
“Finally it was time for a shower. The water is out so I got to experience a shower using a large container of water and a cup…the situation was fine but I couldn’t help but smile. Where else but the Peace Corps would a person like me get to experience something like that? Ultimately I fared pretty well, although I think getting the shampoo out will be the hardest part. Also, washing my feet will probably prove to be a challenge. I was smiling for the “shower,” myself, the Peace Corps and all of those who have come before me and are old pros at the skill, and my friends and family back home who wouldn’t believe it until they tried it, and would never try it twice.”
“As I was just showering I decided I was born for this job. I love it. The stuff that would phase other people, including some of the people in our 52, in no way get me down. I’m not even bothered by machismo here, which could e that there’s less, or it could be that I don’t mind it. I’ve got thick skin and I am convinced that I am not leaving early. Of course, never say never and if I get too sick I really won’t have much choice, but I am so confident that I won’t be the reason I go home I sort of throw myself a party every once in a while in my mind. I’m so content.”
“When the electricity comes back on, a cry is heard and everyone breathes a sigh of relief.” That has turned out to be true of Santo Domingo (in both barrios where I’ve now stayed), Santiago, San Juan, and my community.
“We got our PC badges and just as I thought, I don’t look so hot. My hair is stuck to my head from sweat. But I suppose these things happen and it would probably serve me well to get rid of my vanity.”
“One week in country! And it was an awesome day…We had some Presidente, were loud, and spoke English.”
“I just killed a HUGE FLYING COCKROACH. I did it all by myself and I am so proud.”
“2 songs play almost 24 hours a day here. It’s getting to where I don’t want to hear them again. Years from now they will bring back fond memories, but now they’re obnoxious. They both played repeatedly at the Car Wash last night. That would be so not allowed in the US. I really don’t get how it’s possible that everyone isn’t this sick of these songs-I’ve only been here 1 ½ weeks!” (Those songs were of course Vete and Es Tan Dificil which I came to love a few months later. Vete is the reason I like bachata now and perhaps it’s because I live in the campo, far away from colmados where they blast those 2 songs 24 hours a day, but I enjoy hearing them on occasion these days…so I guess years from now, when they would bring back fond memories turned into months from now, and yes, they do bring back fond memories.)
“Everyone left to get their new motoconcho (motor-taxi) helmets. I get the feeling I look goofy as it is so big and I am so small and I don’t even have any hair hanging out to let someone know there’s a head on top of that body…”
“Rash spread, is now on my legs, butt, lower and upper back. To combat it the nurse gave me an oral Benadryl. It knocked me out-made me quite dizzy and generally drunk feeling. I’ve definitely never reacted to a pill like that before. I was cracking everyone up.”
“We went to the beach and all was glorious. The water was perfect, bright blue, and the weather was awesome…A friend brought goggles and I’m so glad. The reefs were awesome. I saw fishies, tons of them. Swimming so much felt so good.”
“The ants took over my body last night. Every time I tried to fall asleep I had trouble because they were crawling all over me. I started to think I was imagining it too.”
“Then we loaded into the truck and headed into the mountains. The back isn’t comfortable with everyone in it, but it is good for conversation. The drive was interesting. There were moments when it looked like we might die. There were moments when the truck jolted backward down the mountain. But it was fun-real fun, like one of those Disney rides, except real.”
“ ‘Rancho Espanol.’ That is where I am most likely going to spend the next 2 years of my life. (Wrong! My town is not called that even though that’s what my boss told me!) What I know now: small, approx 1000 people J (actually more like 400 people), near the coast J, hilly, not mountains, accessible J (HAH! How untrue!), electricity and water J, near water group (somewhat true), near many other volunteers, Santiago, 1.5 hours away (more like 2.5 hours away and not so close to so many other volunteers), 1 hour away from the closest health volunteer from my group (not true), will be living with the head of the school, the teachers are the leaders of the community J, a health group has been created for me J (and were shortly dissolved afterwards), no clinic.”
Hope you enjoyed those flashbacks!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment