Who would have thought a Monday could be so great?

To preface this post, I have immensely enjoyed my experience thus far in the DR, but have found that recently I am content with daily life but not “enthusiastic” (except for special days like the beach and meringue). Much of the initial novelty has worn off, and I am enjoying daily life as I would enjoy life in the US. However, today was an especially “happy” day.

Firstly, I discovered the true sharing culture of the Dominican Republic. My host mother was gone in the city for the morning, so I came home at noon to an empty house and no prepared lunch. I wasn’t worried and knew some food would appear within the next few hours, but nonetheless I was hungry! Fortunately, a neighbor woman popped next door and realized my plight. She came bearing rice and beans! Hooray. As I was eating my lunch, another neighbor came over carrying a plate of spaghetti; she too knew that my Dona was gone for lunch. Lots of food! Next, some random man pulled up on a motorcycle carrying Chinese takeout from the city! He presented me with the pork fried rice and chicken wings and told me that he too knew that my host mother was gone. Wow! Finally, my host mother came home an hour later and offered to make me lunch. This I refused – I couldn’t possibly have more. However, I was awe-struck at the generosity of my neighbors who mainly know me as “la Americana” but still shared their own food with me!

After lunch my friend Tatiana came over (the 16 year old who just got married) and combed my hair for 45 minutes as the neighborhood girls looked on. Very relaxing. All the girls love my straight hair (as it is an oddity in the DR) and Tatiana told me she would take me to the salon this weekend! The salon will put my hair in large rollers (that is what the Domincan women do to straighten their hair) and then I will get a “blow”. This is all very exciting (I will be sure to take pictures). As my spanish teacher said, I am slowly turning into a Dominican!

To end the day, I had two other volunteers come over and help prepare a presentation we are giving to the community this week on kitchen hygiene. We relaxed on the back porch, basking in the fading sun and enjoying a giant 2 litre of Coca Cola Light. We prepared invitations for about 15 families to come to our presentation, writing on the beautiful Joan and Kevin pads of paper (a big hit!). We then went around to homes handing the invitations out and chatting with the neighbors. Everyone is so friendly and helpful and I absolutely adore the community members. They make the work worthwhile (especially the old women and small children!).

Finally, I came home and ate a delicious dinner of rice, beans, chicken and avocado. Took a refreshing shower, got into clean pajamas at 8pm and relaxed with my laptop and a cup of coffee on the back patio. As I write there are 4 girls ages 5-11 crowded around my laptop wanting to know about what I’m writing and why my laptop makes such loud sounds (I must admit to them its REALLY old).

They would like their names included in their post, so here they are:
Paola -10 years
Yafreisi-11 years
Francielis -11 years
Manyelinn – 5 years

Clearly, not your typical spanish names…which is why I still can’t remember 95% of names here.

I think it was such a good day because there are lots of things to look forward to this week! I enjoy having my own schedule (outside of daily classes) and I am the one planning and enacting real work rather than following directions of my technical trainer. Clearly, I can’t wait to get into my real community—enough with the training! Also, it was a productive day full of community integration and I’ve realized that I do fit in here! Thank goodness I already speak spanish (it is by far the biggest barrier for all volunteers).

Other Updates:
• As I was eating lunch, I heard a sound coming from under the table. I looked to see our pet cat chomping on a large rat. I went back to eating. The cat carried the rat away. At least the rat is dead and not running around my room…
• I bought some scope. What a difference mouthwash makes!
• Today I went to Dia de San Miguel party, which was attended by about 400 people throughout the town! It was basically people sitting around drinking, some dancing, and watching women dance in front of an alter. Altogether interesting but not “fun”.