Buenas Tardes!
This may be my last blog update for a few days. I'm officially moving to different training grounds in the countryside tomorrow. Core training is finished! Now I am moving to Bani (think: beach located on the southcentral coast) with only health volunteers (9 other volunteers). We will be doing specific health-training in a health-setting for 5 weeks. I will also be sweating even more due to the increased heat, eating mangos and going to the beach. I will also be living with another host family! Wohoo!
I'm excited for the upcoming training but bummed that our group of trainees will all be separated (into our specific dectors: youth, water, health and community economic development). Tonight is the last time we will see eachother before we are sworn in as official PC volunteers.
Other Updates:
-Another PC trainee left today. :(
-I've begun washing all my clothes by hand. My host mother waits too long to wash laundry.
-We had our first test on all our training, both technical and with language. Hopefully I passed!
- I made my first oral rehydration solution this past weekend.. for myself. Tummy wasn't too happy.
- I told the health trainer that I want to be placed in the mountains in a rural village--he said thats definitely possible! Cold weather, si Dios quiere.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Hello all! Sorry I haven’t written in some time. I have been out of the capital and in the country (“campo”).
This past weekend in the country was revitalizing; it reassured me that what I will be doing in Peace Corps IS what I want to be doing (living a slow paced life while helping develop slow-paced projects). The country is absolutely gorgeous. Think lush hills and fruit trees everywhere. Specifically, this weekend I did a volunteer visit, so I visited a current 2-year volunteer in health. We were in the central region of the DR, in a small village (200 houses) about a 40 minute walk from the main road and another 20 minute drive to the nearest town (Cotui). Basically, I got to see what daily life was like and how she initiated her various projects.
Details/Adventures:
My volunteer lives in a small wooden house connected to her host family house. Her family was very nice but very in-your-face. The senile great grandma loved to creep in the house and say funny things and feel us up. I realized I need to live on my own (and not with a host family for 2 years). My volunteer’s house consists of two rooms: a bedroom and a kitchen/sitting room. It was cold at night (I used a blanket)! I hope to be placed in a mountainous region in a very small village (the smaller the better—projects function better that way). Among other important things, we watched a movie on her laptop, ate Kraft Mac and Cheese and peanut butter, and read books in english! So American (but wonderful). I’m really ready to live on my own and cook my own food (however I still have 5 months of host family to go through). I felt so much healthier in the campo; walking everywhere and eating normal amounts. I also had my first motorcycle ride. It was thrilling (I now know why people ride motorcycles), the wind in your hair and the incredible landscape!
I did not bathe at all while I was there. We went to the river and washed our hair (the river was kinda dirty..but she has never gotten any diseases from it) and also went to a pool in the nearest town. We thought about going to a different river, but it turns out that 25 cows died from contamination in the river. Good thing we heard this before we went to that river! I was also bitten by “mayes” which are like chiggers. Even if you don’t scratch them they swell and itch and look like horrendous chicken pox. I have about 20 around my ankles.
A tropical storm downgraded to a tropical depression passed by one night and I literally thought the tin roof was going to fly off from the house. I have never heard a storm like this one (and the ceiling started to leak—we had to put blankets over ourselves in bed).
My volunteer has accomplished typical health stuff: HIV/AIDS youth group, women’s health group, nutrition class, community garden, community library, building healthier stoves, etc. She gave me a folder of all the forms/templates she has ever used, which should prove to be helpful.
Basically everyone in the community was friendly and eager to meet me. I can’t wait to have my own community!
The only real low of the weekend was the ride back to the capital. The journey took about 6 hours due to many factors, including a two hour busride on a unpaved dirt road with about 60 people on a bus meant to hold 30. We had 5 people sit on 3 seats; I was stuck between an old women with a box (where my feet should have been) and a fat man who smelled like vinegar and was holding a saw. Not to mention the pregnant woman and the many industrial bags of grain. I thought my feet were going to have permanent damage; they were twisted in such a way that they both were asleep for about 1.5 hours. I have never been happier to be off a bus. I also took the subway, which is actually the nicest subway I have ever been in on my life (think new, clean, empty and airconditioned). Also, I took another bus in which I was squeezed in the backseat (“la cocina”) with 5 people and 4 seats. The three drunk men in front of us just stared at me and another blonde PC volunteer. While I told them to stop staring, my friend just stared back, trying to keep a straight face. We ended up laughing hysterically the whole ride. I quickly learned that at the end of the day, you just gotta laugh (and that is what we did). Never have I been happier to finally get back to my host family’s house in Santo Domingo. So, suffice it to say, the lows may be low, but the highs are always higher.
Other Updates:
• The taxi I was riding in broke down in the middle of the street. It was actually hilarious and the driver ended up getting some gas and filling up the tank, while we sat in the middle of the street and got honked at (although neither the gas gauge or speedometer work). Then, the car in front of us broke down. Haha.
• Aaron Williams (current PC director) came to the DR last week and came to training to talk to us. He is amazing, wise and his speech gave me goosebumps! We told him to convince Obama to come down..maybe he will!
• 2 PC trainees left the DR/Peace Corps today. Our group of 51 is now down to 49. It was emotional as they said their goodbyes; many of their sentiments reverberated with our own.
This past weekend in the country was revitalizing; it reassured me that what I will be doing in Peace Corps IS what I want to be doing (living a slow paced life while helping develop slow-paced projects). The country is absolutely gorgeous. Think lush hills and fruit trees everywhere. Specifically, this weekend I did a volunteer visit, so I visited a current 2-year volunteer in health. We were in the central region of the DR, in a small village (200 houses) about a 40 minute walk from the main road and another 20 minute drive to the nearest town (Cotui). Basically, I got to see what daily life was like and how she initiated her various projects.
Details/Adventures:
My volunteer lives in a small wooden house connected to her host family house. Her family was very nice but very in-your-face. The senile great grandma loved to creep in the house and say funny things and feel us up. I realized I need to live on my own (and not with a host family for 2 years). My volunteer’s house consists of two rooms: a bedroom and a kitchen/sitting room. It was cold at night (I used a blanket)! I hope to be placed in a mountainous region in a very small village (the smaller the better—projects function better that way). Among other important things, we watched a movie on her laptop, ate Kraft Mac and Cheese and peanut butter, and read books in english! So American (but wonderful). I’m really ready to live on my own and cook my own food (however I still have 5 months of host family to go through). I felt so much healthier in the campo; walking everywhere and eating normal amounts. I also had my first motorcycle ride. It was thrilling (I now know why people ride motorcycles), the wind in your hair and the incredible landscape!
I did not bathe at all while I was there. We went to the river and washed our hair (the river was kinda dirty..but she has never gotten any diseases from it) and also went to a pool in the nearest town. We thought about going to a different river, but it turns out that 25 cows died from contamination in the river. Good thing we heard this before we went to that river! I was also bitten by “mayes” which are like chiggers. Even if you don’t scratch them they swell and itch and look like horrendous chicken pox. I have about 20 around my ankles.
A tropical storm downgraded to a tropical depression passed by one night and I literally thought the tin roof was going to fly off from the house. I have never heard a storm like this one (and the ceiling started to leak—we had to put blankets over ourselves in bed).
My volunteer has accomplished typical health stuff: HIV/AIDS youth group, women’s health group, nutrition class, community garden, community library, building healthier stoves, etc. She gave me a folder of all the forms/templates she has ever used, which should prove to be helpful.
Basically everyone in the community was friendly and eager to meet me. I can’t wait to have my own community!
The only real low of the weekend was the ride back to the capital. The journey took about 6 hours due to many factors, including a two hour busride on a unpaved dirt road with about 60 people on a bus meant to hold 30. We had 5 people sit on 3 seats; I was stuck between an old women with a box (where my feet should have been) and a fat man who smelled like vinegar and was holding a saw. Not to mention the pregnant woman and the many industrial bags of grain. I thought my feet were going to have permanent damage; they were twisted in such a way that they both were asleep for about 1.5 hours. I have never been happier to be off a bus. I also took the subway, which is actually the nicest subway I have ever been in on my life (think new, clean, empty and airconditioned). Also, I took another bus in which I was squeezed in the backseat (“la cocina”) with 5 people and 4 seats. The three drunk men in front of us just stared at me and another blonde PC volunteer. While I told them to stop staring, my friend just stared back, trying to keep a straight face. We ended up laughing hysterically the whole ride. I quickly learned that at the end of the day, you just gotta laugh (and that is what we did). Never have I been happier to finally get back to my host family’s house in Santo Domingo. So, suffice it to say, the lows may be low, but the highs are always higher.
Other Updates:
• The taxi I was riding in broke down in the middle of the street. It was actually hilarious and the driver ended up getting some gas and filling up the tank, while we sat in the middle of the street and got honked at (although neither the gas gauge or speedometer work). Then, the car in front of us broke down. Haha.
• Aaron Williams (current PC director) came to the DR last week and came to training to talk to us. He is amazing, wise and his speech gave me goosebumps! We told him to convince Obama to come down..maybe he will!
• 2 PC trainees left the DR/Peace Corps today. Our group of 51 is now down to 49. It was emotional as they said their goodbyes; many of their sentiments reverberated with our own.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Buenas noches!
Today the overwhelming nature of the DR finally hit me. I came home from class at 5:30, ate some dinner, and was asleep by 7pm. I was so tired. I woke up later at 9pm, only to go to the bathroom and have to duck and dodge 3 cockroaches. Somehow, this was the breaking point. After chatting with my parents for the next few minutes, and complaining about everything possible, I cried. I’m frustrated at my lifestyle. I’m frustrated that I don’t have running water, the water isn’t potable, there is no soap in the bathroom, that I’m eating only starches (and many veggies are out of the picture), I am living off only a few dollars a day (and everything is a luxury). I’m stuck at home most nights because I can’t really go out alone, and I can’t wear tanktops and shorts outside the home (in a country that is so freaking hot), and the bugs are gigantic. I can’t walk down the street without being catcalled. Worst of all, keeping in touch with friends and family is expensive and difficult. The best I can do is a facebook post. Of course, I expected this and I accept this. Most of the world is even worse off than this. I’m laughing at myself even writing this. It is just the overwhelming to have this all happen immediately. Probably my living situation will be worse where I will be moving for a few years anyway!
In my silly state I cried in front of my host mother who started asking me if I didn’t like it there. I wanted to tell her to hold the CoffeeMate creamer from my tea, but instead just told her I had to run to the store to buy another phone card (Peace Corps budget be damned!). Of course, I bought the wrong card that costs 2 dollars (and only has 7 minutes on it) at the corner store. Luckily, good old Alix picked up her phone and was a great listener as I cried some more. Thailand will be worse (ha! Just kidding!). When my minutes ran out, I ran to the store again to get the phone card that only costs 1 dollar and has 7 minutes. I called Alix back and chatted about the good life. I felt much better. Then, my neighbor came over to help me with homework and we had some good laughs over diarrhea prevention (dorky I know--I’m currently health surveying). The night ended well.
Other Highlights:
• Aaron Williams, newly appointed US Peace Corps Director, is visiting the Dominican Republic (and me!) today! The first country he chose to come visit was the DR (where he served himself). It will be very exhilarating to meet him!
• I got my motorcycle helmet I will be using this Thursday when I go to the interior of the country for 3 days to visit a current PC volunteer. My motorcycle helmet is a racing helmet (think silver with red and black design stripes). We even have one of those tinted visors.. these are LEGIT. I look like a power ranger.
• Schedule update: Visiting a current PC member alone this weekend in Cotui, then 1 more week in Santo Domingo, then 5 weeks in the village of Bani (doing specific health training). I come back to Santo Domingo at the end of October to be sworn in as a true PC volunteer. Then, I head to my post for 2 years.
• I took public transportation home today for the first time alone. An 8 year old little boy helped me navigate. Thank goodness for sweet children.
• While the veggies are lacking, fruit is not. I eat papaya, guava and mango on a daily basis with a bit of pineapple and starfruit thrown in. Not bad.
• I finally have learned how to open my front door with my crappily copied key. Success!
Today the overwhelming nature of the DR finally hit me. I came home from class at 5:30, ate some dinner, and was asleep by 7pm. I was so tired. I woke up later at 9pm, only to go to the bathroom and have to duck and dodge 3 cockroaches. Somehow, this was the breaking point. After chatting with my parents for the next few minutes, and complaining about everything possible, I cried. I’m frustrated at my lifestyle. I’m frustrated that I don’t have running water, the water isn’t potable, there is no soap in the bathroom, that I’m eating only starches (and many veggies are out of the picture), I am living off only a few dollars a day (and everything is a luxury). I’m stuck at home most nights because I can’t really go out alone, and I can’t wear tanktops and shorts outside the home (in a country that is so freaking hot), and the bugs are gigantic. I can’t walk down the street without being catcalled. Worst of all, keeping in touch with friends and family is expensive and difficult. The best I can do is a facebook post. Of course, I expected this and I accept this. Most of the world is even worse off than this. I’m laughing at myself even writing this. It is just the overwhelming to have this all happen immediately. Probably my living situation will be worse where I will be moving for a few years anyway!
In my silly state I cried in front of my host mother who started asking me if I didn’t like it there. I wanted to tell her to hold the CoffeeMate creamer from my tea, but instead just told her I had to run to the store to buy another phone card (Peace Corps budget be damned!). Of course, I bought the wrong card that costs 2 dollars (and only has 7 minutes on it) at the corner store. Luckily, good old Alix picked up her phone and was a great listener as I cried some more. Thailand will be worse (ha! Just kidding!). When my minutes ran out, I ran to the store again to get the phone card that only costs 1 dollar and has 7 minutes. I called Alix back and chatted about the good life. I felt much better. Then, my neighbor came over to help me with homework and we had some good laughs over diarrhea prevention (dorky I know--I’m currently health surveying). The night ended well.
Other Highlights:
• Aaron Williams, newly appointed US Peace Corps Director, is visiting the Dominican Republic (and me!) today! The first country he chose to come visit was the DR (where he served himself). It will be very exhilarating to meet him!
• I got my motorcycle helmet I will be using this Thursday when I go to the interior of the country for 3 days to visit a current PC volunteer. My motorcycle helmet is a racing helmet (think silver with red and black design stripes). We even have one of those tinted visors.. these are LEGIT. I look like a power ranger.
• Schedule update: Visiting a current PC member alone this weekend in Cotui, then 1 more week in Santo Domingo, then 5 weeks in the village of Bani (doing specific health training). I come back to Santo Domingo at the end of October to be sworn in as a true PC volunteer. Then, I head to my post for 2 years.
• I took public transportation home today for the first time alone. An 8 year old little boy helped me navigate. Thank goodness for sweet children.
• While the veggies are lacking, fruit is not. I eat papaya, guava and mango on a daily basis with a bit of pineapple and starfruit thrown in. Not bad.
• I finally have learned how to open my front door with my crappily copied key. Success!
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