Some pics from the beach, my sisters, me at the colonial zone, and my classroom!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Boca Chica, Carwash, all things Dominican
Going from having internet in my bedroom to not having it at all is crazy! So, that should explain why my last post didnt make any sense. I was so overwhlemed with having internet that I didnt know where to begin or what to say! Also, being in an internet cafe is hard. I feel like I am being tested and timed and like I have to rush. And I dont like to be rushed. But internet is internet and I love it!
The title of my last post, "se fue la luz"... i never explained it. Its probably one of the most common phrases here. I hear it at least once, maybe twice a day. It means "the lights went"... yes, the electricity often goes out 2 or 3 times a day, that I am aware of. Its not a big deal. Im already used to it. We just sit outside in the evening air and cool off waiting for the power to come back on and the women just talk. For those of you who thought that baseball was the DRs official sport, you are wrong. It is gossiping. It happens 24.7 Women do it all the time. I usually pick up every 10th word, so I have a vague idea, at least I think I do, of waht is being said. Im picking up "cada dia, un chin mas"... a bit more every day. Its definitely tiring though.
I had a very dominican weekend... at the carwash with presidente. What is a carwash you ask? its where you wash your car, BUT as soon as it gets dark it turns into the place to be. It has a DJ, dancing, tables and chairs, and a bar. Its hilarious and tons of fun. It really does turn into the local "bar". We were celebrating a volunteers bday. Presidente is the DR beer and its acutally pretty good. I am madly in love with Merengue and Bachata... 2 forms of dancing. Everyone, evey 3 year olds here know how to dance and move their hips in ways Ill never understand, but I must say that Im not too bad myself. I definetly love Bachata... its sooo much fun.
On sunday I went to Boca Chica, a beautiful beach filled with palm trees and clear blue water. Its filled with litter, not sure people here understand how damaging it is to the environment, but it was still beautiful! And yesterday I took a walking tour of the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo. It was beautiful and amazing. There is so much history here that I never knew. Its amazing. Google it.
I head out tomorrow to visit a volunteer who is a year into his service and he is another SpEd volunteer. Im really excited about this so I can ask all my questions and see a real, live, volunteer. I have to travel about 3 hours north to Pimentel on public transportation! It shall be an interesting adventure. For my SpEds out there... there is no such thing as people first language here and I cringe and want to cry every time I hear people talk about the "blind kid" or "special kid". People first language will definitely be worked into my program some how.
I think thats it for now. Im going to post some pics of my family, training site, and the beach soon, so look for them!
Thank you for al lthe comments... they make me so happy! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoy the cold weather. I miss you all!
The title of my last post, "se fue la luz"... i never explained it. Its probably one of the most common phrases here. I hear it at least once, maybe twice a day. It means "the lights went"... yes, the electricity often goes out 2 or 3 times a day, that I am aware of. Its not a big deal. Im already used to it. We just sit outside in the evening air and cool off waiting for the power to come back on and the women just talk. For those of you who thought that baseball was the DRs official sport, you are wrong. It is gossiping. It happens 24.7 Women do it all the time. I usually pick up every 10th word, so I have a vague idea, at least I think I do, of waht is being said. Im picking up "cada dia, un chin mas"... a bit more every day. Its definitely tiring though.
I had a very dominican weekend... at the carwash with presidente. What is a carwash you ask? its where you wash your car, BUT as soon as it gets dark it turns into the place to be. It has a DJ, dancing, tables and chairs, and a bar. Its hilarious and tons of fun. It really does turn into the local "bar". We were celebrating a volunteers bday. Presidente is the DR beer and its acutally pretty good. I am madly in love with Merengue and Bachata... 2 forms of dancing. Everyone, evey 3 year olds here know how to dance and move their hips in ways Ill never understand, but I must say that Im not too bad myself. I definetly love Bachata... its sooo much fun.
On sunday I went to Boca Chica, a beautiful beach filled with palm trees and clear blue water. Its filled with litter, not sure people here understand how damaging it is to the environment, but it was still beautiful! And yesterday I took a walking tour of the Colonial Zone in Santo Domingo. It was beautiful and amazing. There is so much history here that I never knew. Its amazing. Google it.
I head out tomorrow to visit a volunteer who is a year into his service and he is another SpEd volunteer. Im really excited about this so I can ask all my questions and see a real, live, volunteer. I have to travel about 3 hours north to Pimentel on public transportation! It shall be an interesting adventure. For my SpEds out there... there is no such thing as people first language here and I cringe and want to cry every time I hear people talk about the "blind kid" or "special kid". People first language will definitely be worked into my program some how.
I think thats it for now. Im going to post some pics of my family, training site, and the beach soon, so look for them!
Thank you for al lthe comments... they make me so happy! Hope everyone is doing well and enjoy the cold weather. I miss you all!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Se Fue La Luz
Hello all!
The DR is soooo wonderful. I am loving it here! I am living with a family that consists of a Dona and her 2 daughters (Maite who is 8 and Marcel who is 6). I love my little sisters. Every day I come home from training and they greet me with big hugs and kisses and ask me to color with them. My Dona is awesome. She is always trying to feed me more. Im too skinny she says. The food is good... lots of rice and beans, yucca, and fruit.
As for training... its also going well! There are 33 in my training group and everyone is great. We come from all over the States with tons of different backgrounds. I have between 2-4 hours of language a day along with diversity training, technical training, or transportaion. Transportation... where to even being with that. Its nutty. You can take either a carro publico which is like a taxi or a Guagua which is a bus. Both fit more people than are supposed to be on it. But its fun and an adventure. My Spanish is coming along...little by little. Its kinda hard to listen to everyone speak here, they talk soooo fast and its a very different Spanish than what I learned in HS. They leave off the "s" at ends of words and use a lot of slang.
I am leaving next thursday to visit a SPED volunteer about 3 hours north of here for a few days. I am really looking forward to that. Then the following week Ill be at CBT (Community Based Training) where Ill learn all about the school system and acutally teach in a school during that time. Definitely looking forward to that.
I have to go run some errands and take the guagua... wish me luck!
More to come soon!
Love and miss you all!
Jonah... Ill be waiting for the block of ice and snowball. I could use something cold (its 92 and humid and its not even summer time!)
The DR is soooo wonderful. I am loving it here! I am living with a family that consists of a Dona and her 2 daughters (Maite who is 8 and Marcel who is 6). I love my little sisters. Every day I come home from training and they greet me with big hugs and kisses and ask me to color with them. My Dona is awesome. She is always trying to feed me more. Im too skinny she says. The food is good... lots of rice and beans, yucca, and fruit.
As for training... its also going well! There are 33 in my training group and everyone is great. We come from all over the States with tons of different backgrounds. I have between 2-4 hours of language a day along with diversity training, technical training, or transportaion. Transportation... where to even being with that. Its nutty. You can take either a carro publico which is like a taxi or a Guagua which is a bus. Both fit more people than are supposed to be on it. But its fun and an adventure. My Spanish is coming along...little by little. Its kinda hard to listen to everyone speak here, they talk soooo fast and its a very different Spanish than what I learned in HS. They leave off the "s" at ends of words and use a lot of slang.
I am leaving next thursday to visit a SPED volunteer about 3 hours north of here for a few days. I am really looking forward to that. Then the following week Ill be at CBT (Community Based Training) where Ill learn all about the school system and acutally teach in a school during that time. Definitely looking forward to that.
I have to go run some errands and take the guagua... wish me luck!
More to come soon!
Love and miss you all!
Jonah... Ill be waiting for the block of ice and snowball. I could use something cold (its 92 and humid and its not even summer time!)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Last Post From The States
So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight...
In a short 8 hours I will be in the car on my way to DC for orientation. Ill have a day and a half of orientation then catch a flight out early on Thursday and be in the DR by 2pm! I am completly packed and ready, at least I think I am, to go. I am definitely anxious. I am going to miss everyone so much, but knowing how supportive you all have been has and will continue to make this transition easier. I said goodbye to my neighbors yesterday, a family I hold very close to my heart, and Luke (he is 3) kept telling me "I want to go on a jet plane with you. I dont want to stay here." And I just got an email from the Cardarelli's, the family I babysat during the fall, saying one of their boys asked if I was taking a train and when Jodi said no an airplane, he asked "Like Jay-Jay?" (Gotta love Thomas and Friends). I love the things children say!
For now I must clean up my room (just for you Laura!) and pretend to get some sleep.
I love you all. Talk to you next time from the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!!
I hate to go and leave this pretty sight...
In a short 8 hours I will be in the car on my way to DC for orientation. Ill have a day and a half of orientation then catch a flight out early on Thursday and be in the DR by 2pm! I am completly packed and ready, at least I think I am, to go. I am definitely anxious. I am going to miss everyone so much, but knowing how supportive you all have been has and will continue to make this transition easier. I said goodbye to my neighbors yesterday, a family I hold very close to my heart, and Luke (he is 3) kept telling me "I want to go on a jet plane with you. I dont want to stay here." And I just got an email from the Cardarelli's, the family I babysat during the fall, saying one of their boys asked if I was taking a train and when Jodi said no an airplane, he asked "Like Jay-Jay?" (Gotta love Thomas and Friends). I love the things children say!
For now I must clean up my room (just for you Laura!) and pretend to get some sleep.
I love you all. Talk to you next time from the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!!
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