Last night was a game and story-telling night. Rather than going to play Dominoes down the block, my 11 year old brother, 14 year old sister and newly married neighbor (she’s16!) hung out in the electricity-less house. We started telling ghost stories, of which my favorite is “pepito”. It’s amazing to see how stories bridge countries; the old woman who shows up at the door every night and turns out to be a ghost, etc. The stories were so absurd that we were laughing hysterically by the end rather than being scared. We also played I spy (“Veo Veo”), Bizz Buzz and other games that actually helped expand my vocabulary. It was great fun. To top
it off, our neighbor brought over a litro of grape soda. Mmmm.

One aspect of life here that is very different from the US is marriage. Marriage occurs when 2 people move into the same house; there is rarely a ceremony or government certificate issued (and people start moving into the same house when sexual relations start to take place). Subsequently, women in the campo get married at 14-18 years old, and men 16-25 years old. Many of these young girls are pregnant with their first children within a year or two! I’m an old maid by Dominican standards, and have been asked many times if I am married or have a family. Much of the time we hear about young marriages in places like the Middle East—I would have never expected it here.

In other news, we are going to the beach on Sunday! Another pool party Saturday! Hooray for the upcoming weekend.


Other Updates:
• A dog bit me yesterday when I was running (although did not break the skin). The dog was with its family, so I’m going to assume it was not rabid. If I am dead in 7 days, you’ll know what did it. (Don’t worry Mom and Dad- I’m exaggerating a bit).
• While no one here is “obese” like in the United States, every person here definitely has a rice belly. I’m trying to not to turn into one of them. Running is helping. The food here is not. I was given chocolate and bread for breakfast.
• Okay. I live on an island in the Carribean (“tropics”). PLEASE explain to me how I am losing my summer tan… I don’t even wear sunscreen here!
• While searching in the pasture for sticks to make a broom, my female teenage neighbors asked me if it is true that in the United States at birth, girls’ virginity is cut away. I have no clue where they would have heard such things, but I definitely dispelled this rumor.
• I awoke in the middle of the night to movement coming from my suitcase. I stupidly got up to investigate and a creature came jumping towards me. It was the family cat. Horrifically frightening.