Hello! Not much new here. My days consist of technical training, interviewing, spanish class, food, and hanging out with the family (typically in the dark outside with plastic lawn chairs). I’m getting to know most of the families on my street, although many of their names are complicated and still a mystery, as seen with my sister “Llovayne” and my brother “Idelson”. Not your typical spanish names here.

Food has also slowly been improving, as I told my host mother that I don’t like fried cheese (literally, sliced of orange cheese fried in grease). She has begun to give me bowls of fruit, and yesterday a salad (the first greens yet!)!! This is all exciting.

My spanish class here is great. Much better than core training in Santo Domingo. There is only 1 other girl in my class, and we basically chat the day away and eat lots of junk food (a real treat in a place where you don’t get to make your own food). We are also learning useful things, such as how the Dominican healthcare system functions.

I have my first spanish presentation on Friday to our group about community diagnostics and PACA tools. I will be speaking for 15 minutes about daily scheduling as a tool to discern gender differences, based upon my interviews with townspeople. Wish me luck!

On another note, I had the opportunity last night to go to the closest city/town, Bani, for some internet access and a pharmacy/grocery store. What a difference some time in a city can make! Our group went to the city tired but returned revitalized and very happy. It is nice to check email, replenish essential items (tissues and hand sanitizer) and eat a few empanadas/slices of pizza. Shoutout to Ben Stratton and Seyfarth for being on gchat at the right time.

Other Updates:
• I have never seen more stars in the sky except maybe at Chimney Corners… it is INCREDIBLE! And all you have to do is walk out the front door at night…
• I found out there is 1 region in the DR that has vineyards. I am determined to visit this grape mecca in the next 2 years.
• I had a dream that I found out my PC final assignment and it was to work in Great Britain on a sheep farm. I was bummed. Anxiety much?
• I’ve been helping my 14 year old sister learn English—what a hard language! However, I feel good as I can translate any words or sentences from either spanish to English, or English to spanish. Fluency, here I come!

Hope all is well back wherever you are reading this blog from! (Does that make sense?).