Today was a party day (it’s Saturday of course)!

The first party started at 9am with an inauguration to the opening of a new library. The whole health group traveled an hour and a half (which is a close distance) to Ocoa, a town where a current PC volunteer lives. She had constructed a beautiful library, complete with murals of the world and had collected over 400 books for her community! As with the completion of any PC project, you have an inauguration for the community to attend. She had about 100 people attend, many current PC volunteers, the majority community members, and many local politicians. After a drawn-out ceremony there was a catered lunch (rice, beans, and chicken of course) and Fanta orange soda! We were back in Bani (in the rural community of Las Tablas) by 3pm.

A quick 20 minute nap and out to the next party! Las Tablas was hosting a community fundraiser in the form of a pool party; a generous man donated his house as the party site and everyone (except PC volunteers) got charged 70 cents to attend. What I thought was going to be a tame block-party ended up being a complete rager. Turns out, Dominicans like to party! My host sister and I walked about 20 minutes on this country path to this huge house semi-in-the-middle-of-nowhere. As we entered at 3:45 (maybe the party started around 1pm? 2pm?), there were probably 200+ at this house party—children, young people, old people. EVERYONE. I had never seen so many Dominicans in one small place. The pool was absolutely gigantic and in-ground. In fact, the whole house resembled a spring-break destination with a built-in bar and everything. Music was blasting and everyone was drinking rum out of the bottle (here rum is sold in beer-size bottles, convenient). I have never felt so white in my life (being the first PC volunteer to enter). Also, people go swimming in clothing, because complete bathing suits are too revealing. So I jumped in with my shorts and tanktop and made friends quick. By the end of the party, the dozens of teenage men were throwing in any adult/young person who hadn’t yet been in the pool (keep in mind that the pool by this point was dirty with 100+ people in it, and spilled food and drink in it). It was time to leave. I was home by 6:30pm.

Dinner was absolutely wonderful tonight; everyone was busy so I was offered a box of Golden Grahams cereal and a red delicious apple. I ate 4 bowls of cereal alone and never felt so good.

Then, I took a longer nap, waking up at 8:30. I rallied another PC volunteer, and we headed with my sister to the next party, which were held at apartment about 25 minutes away, walking. This party was actually held in apartments down the road assembling projects; these apartments were built for families 2 years ago who had been affected by hurricane Noel (that devastated the DR). We arrived and there were about 50 people sitting around a dance floor, hanging out. We quickly got to dancing and I was able to begin learning bachata! It’s really not that difficult! We danced and danced and danced. I was back home at 11:45 and off to bed! What a day!

Other Updates:
• One thing that I love about the countryside is the amount of physical activity that must be exerted daily. Yesterday I got up at 7am with some other volunteers and my host sister and we went running! We ran about 2 miles and it felt wonderful (only to be greeted by breakfast which consisted of fried salami and potatoes). I also walked at least 4 miles between parties yesterday, and also danced/sweated buckets.
• I see slash and burn agriculture first-hand on the mountains behind the house. It’s cool.
• I ate some sugar cane for the first time today. It’s like a stringy branch that you chew. Too sweet for me!

I can’t believe I am getting paid to do this stuff (even if it’s only a dollar/day)!