Pics

Some pics from the beach, my sisters, me at the colonial zone, and my classroom!

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!

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!)

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!!

JMU Ranked No. 14... Yea Dukes!

JMU Media Relations released this. JMU made the Peace Corps Top 25 again! This time we jumped from mid sized schools to large schools with 54 alumni now serving. We are also ranked No. 126 among graduate schools with 2 alumni serving... possibly me and Keith?! Also The Breeze, the University's newspaper did an article on the new rankings. Check it out here. JMU is looking pretty good these days.

There is definitely something unique and special about how this university prepares all of its students for the world. The oppurtinities students have to learn and grow both in and out of the classroom are simply wonderful. Something I am so greatful for. Definitely going to Bleed Purple for the rest of my life.

Snow

I am going to miss snow. And WaWa Hoagies. But definitely snow. Being from Pa I have had the privledge of enjoying 4 seasons and all that comes with them. I don't know anything different. And, I LOVE SNOW. I spent the day yesterday snowboarding in the Poconos and it was fabulous. That will most likely be my last snowboarding trip for 3 years (Ill be returning to the States in late April 2009) and I am a bit sad. Snowboarding is such an awesome rush... nothing but you, the mountains, fresh air, and your thoughts. Its one of my favorite things... if you have never tried it, you must!

I dont think Ill be seeing much snow in the DR... and how will I explain Snowboarding and snow to the Dominicans?! They will think I am insane.

For the time being, I am enjoying the little snow I have :)

Staging Packet... wow, this is for real

I have been wishing away time for the past 2 months, and now that I have less than a month until staging (orientation) I am amazed at how fast the time is going. I am overwhelmed with the little things I need to do, and keep putting off, people to visit and say goodbye to, and a life to organize as I leave and a life to prepare for ahead of me.

I finally received my Staging Packet... it includes all the information about where and when I will have the orientation and what will be discussed, flight information from the US to the DR, and a packet for family about the typical stages a volunteer goes through and what to expect. I am a bit speechless right now as all the information I have read is being processed. My staging is in DC for 2 days (Feb 13-15). It will be interesting to see how 35 of us will dress comfortably during staging for the colder weather when all we will have will be clothing for 85 degree weather.

Packing. How do you pack for 2 years??? Seriously, how do you cram all your stuff into baggage that is allowed to weigh at most 80 pounds? And what do you take? Of course I am thinking that I can take basically everything I own. I have to keep in mind that I have to be able to manage any bags I bring... which makes me think of Keith and Chris hiking the AT this summer and having packs that weighted 30 pounds and those being heavy! So far here is a general list of what I am bringing:
-Clothes (both professional and casual)
-shoes (sneakers, flats, sandals, dress sandals)
-pictures
-a blanket that converts into a pillow
-can opener
-peeler
-frying pan
-ziplock bags
- the best book... "Where's Mom Now That I Need Her"
-iPOD
-Camera
-travel sewing kit
-Head Lamp and flashlight
-Nalgene
-pocket knife
-umbrella and rain coat (Hello rainy season and hurricanes)
-World map and map of Namibia
-Cards
-Books
-Stationary
-alarm clock
-duffel bag and backpack as checked luggage and a bookbag as my carry on
-Sunglasses
-Cowboy hat (I live in this thing) and baseball hat

So that was a bit more detailed. Its a start and I know it will be ever changing between now and the 13th.

25 days and counting...