September 19 2008
Well it has been over a week since I last updated this blog. In case anyone was wondering, I am still alive and healthy! I am doing my CBT (community based training) in Los Robles. So far everything is great; I have an awesome host family who owns their own colmado (corner store)- which means I gets lots of goodies!
For the past week I have been working on my community diagnostic and yesterday our group gave our presentation… in Spanish! We did well even if we were a bit rusty trying to use our Spanish around all the technical terms. Today we had to go to a public school and a private school to observe the differences in teaching styles, actual school buildings, as well as the materials taught. I sat in a class in each school about half an hour and took notes. All in all, I learned a lot. Basically its better to be going to a private school because the added structure allows for a better learning involvement.
On another note, I started jogging again in my community during the mornings. I feel safer jogging around here and I use my ipod. I think people look at me weird because its not common to jog- but I do it anyways.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
CBT here I come!
September 10, 2008
I am officially done with core training! We had an exam on Monday which consisted of me defending my position on family violence in Spanish, along with other multiple choice exams. The next step was the postponed PCV visit. Sadly enough though, I was unable to go on my PCV visit because of the heavy storms- damn Ike and all the other hurricanes! We were told to come in on Tuesday morning with our bags, and they would tell us the status. I got in at 9:30 in morning in order to talk to David, with my backpack, small duffle bag, helmet, and my mosquitero. I walked 20 minutes with all of that stuff, looking like a super gringa. We waited at Entrena until 12, when they told us the news- we can’t go. Boo….
Fortunately the next stage of training is the CBT (community based training) where I will go to Juan Lopez, a small campo near Moca. I will live with a host family for the next 5 weeks while receiving the technical portion of my training along with the Spanish technical training. In fact, a Spanish teacher will live in every barrio with us! In CED, we will live in 4 different barrios (I live in Los Perez- closest to the highway). Apparently it is still an agricultural community, with a few perks such as an internet café, which makes my life exciting.
So this morning before arriving at Entrena, my Dona Juana gave me a lecture (not unlike the ones I receive at home from my own parents) about not leaving my things everywhere in my new host family’s house because I don’t know if someone will take something. On several occasions, I have misplaced the money PC gave me, and my Dona so nicely will put it back in my room. I guess I have some learning to do…
Rumor has it that today is a day of Carrefour, watching movies, and charlas with the PCV.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Carwashes
September 6, 2008
I am writing this from under the tent of my mosquito net, listening to the “calm” playlist on my itunes. It is definitely a slow morning. As a result of hurricane Ike, we are on standfast and not allowed out of the Pantoja area until further notice. As I sit here waiting for the internet café to open I am also thankful that the electricity is working. I am allowed to enjoy the fan blowing the warm air around, but hey at least it is somewhat of a breeze during these hot and humid days.
I’ll start by recalling my night, a “gringo gathering filled with meringue, bachata, reggeaton and the actual hiphop.” Somehow Mark, a fellow trainee, managed to get everyone together for a carwash dance party. In the Dr, carwashes are transformed to dancing, beer-drinking lugar donde los jevones con flo se juntan eschucando la musica hevi (the stylish youth get together to listen to cool music”. Unfortunately this is outside, which means sweating, sweating, and more sweating on the dance floor or even if you are just chilling. That night turned us into a “show”, 25 gringos dancing together to 50cents “in da club.” All in all, it was a great night especially after 8 to 5 training and more training.
Today I plan to read, watch movies with my host brother, study for our competency exams, and talk to David on skype. Possibly another night of dancing…
Side note, piropos are when the men in the street make catcalls to women. This is a part of the Dominican machismo that can also be seen in other Latino cultures. Well, I always walk to and from entrena with Justin so I never got piropos in the street. I thought that it was because I look Latina and not gringa, however I was wrong. I walked home yesterday by myself and realized that it was because I was escorted by a man to and from my destination, but yesterday I was “available” because I was by myself…interesting…
I am writing this from under the tent of my mosquito net, listening to the “calm” playlist on my itunes. It is definitely a slow morning. As a result of hurricane Ike, we are on standfast and not allowed out of the Pantoja area until further notice. As I sit here waiting for the internet café to open I am also thankful that the electricity is working. I am allowed to enjoy the fan blowing the warm air around, but hey at least it is somewhat of a breeze during these hot and humid days.
I’ll start by recalling my night, a “gringo gathering filled with meringue, bachata, reggeaton and the actual hiphop.” Somehow Mark, a fellow trainee, managed to get everyone together for a carwash dance party. In the Dr, carwashes are transformed to dancing, beer-drinking lugar donde los jevones con flo se juntan eschucando la musica hevi (the stylish youth get together to listen to cool music”. Unfortunately this is outside, which means sweating, sweating, and more sweating on the dance floor or even if you are just chilling. That night turned us into a “show”, 25 gringos dancing together to 50cents “in da club.” All in all, it was a great night especially after 8 to 5 training and more training.
Today I plan to read, watch movies with my host brother, study for our competency exams, and talk to David on skype. Possibly another night of dancing…
Side note, piropos are when the men in the street make catcalls to women. This is a part of the Dominican machismo that can also be seen in other Latino cultures. Well, I always walk to and from entrena with Justin so I never got piropos in the street. I thought that it was because I look Latina and not gringa, however I was wrong. I walked home yesterday by myself and realized that it was because I was escorted by a man to and from my destination, but yesterday I was “available” because I was by myself…interesting…
Thursday, September 4, 2008
More hurricanes...
Well today is another day of rain. Apparently hurricane Ike is on the way and has windspeeds of more than 75 miles an hour and is travelling at 17 miles an hour. What does this mean for me? Well it means that I can no longer go on my PCV visit this weekend… we are stuck on “Standfast” which means we have to stay put. The good thing is that Entrena now hows WIFI working! Well, it works when it wants to but that means I have to carry my laptop to work (and risk it being stolen). Fortunately I purchased insurance on my laptop and my camera, which helps me from all the drama it case it does it stolen.
On a better note, I am learning a bunch of new Dominicanismos. I also had my APCD interview regarding what time of person I am and what type of work I would be doing eventually. Basically what I am comfortable with. For the most part, I think it went well.
Any who, nothing more to say but the usual: Uno playing, internet surfing, skype chatting, movie watching, book reading self.
On a better note, I am learning a bunch of new Dominicanismos. I also had my APCD interview regarding what time of person I am and what type of work I would be doing eventually. Basically what I am comfortable with. For the most part, I think it went well.
Any who, nothing more to say but the usual: Uno playing, internet surfing, skype chatting, movie watching, book reading self.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
motoconchos y carro publico
September 1, 2008
Well today is the first day that I feel fairly comfortable after almost two weeks of being here. Today during our Spanish class we took a trip to Carrefour, which is basically a Super Target/Best buy, so that we can learn how to buy things and learn about the different types of fruits and vegetables. They sell everything! Well I took the carro public and felt like I knew what I was doing. During our training session, we learn about how race is interpreted in the DR. We watched a video about how black is associated with Haiti which is seen as “bad” and everyone likes to associate with Indio. Historically, however, when the Spaniards came, the enslaved the indios of DR, the Taino, and killed them off. They then brought Africans to be the new slaves. Therefore, most of the Dominicans are mulatos . Therefore when I walk around, I see light Dominicans, dark dominicans, straight hair dominicans, and curly hair dominicans. Unfortunately, no matter how dark a Dominican is he does not associate with being black- because the Haitians are black. Haitians in the Dr are like the Mexicans in the States, a lot of them are undocumented and there are close to 1 million in a country where there are around 10 million people.
After training around 5, I went on the internet and talked David and my dad for about an hour. When I went home to have my usual dinner, (fried platano or potatoes and salami or ham), I had an hour conversation with my Dona Juana about the gastos in the Dr. For my homework assignment, I had to figure out the typical budget of a Dominican family by asking how much my host family pays for the essentials. That conversation led to talking about the cultural differences of Americans and Dominicans and how in the end, we are all striving for the same things in life- to be secure and happy. Being financially secure means that you can now be happy, so once the first one is established the second one comes. Well on Thursday I am going on the PCV visit. This means that I will be traveling 5 hours to visit a Peace Corps volunteer in Puerto Plata to find the “true living scenario” of a fellow volunteer. I feel that this is definitely going to be a great way to learn. Well I am out hommies, until later. Peace.
September 2 2008
Well today is a new day, in fact I am sitting here as the storms continue outside. Because it is hurricane season, we either get the actual impact of the hurricane, or we get the tormentas and it rains all day. Today is one of those days. However, we also get our helmets for the motoconchos (motorcycles) that we will be using on our trips to visit the PCV on Thursday. I basically have to take a four hour bus ride, a guagua, and then a motoconcho to arrive. Motoconcho is a way of public transportation that is used more in the rural areas. Peace Corps policy states that we have to use our helmets when riding them. In fact, we are the only PC country that is allowed to use motocycles and cell phones, pretty sweet.
PS I also included the link to my photo album online. Check it out when you can, XOXO
Well today is the first day that I feel fairly comfortable after almost two weeks of being here. Today during our Spanish class we took a trip to Carrefour, which is basically a Super Target/Best buy, so that we can learn how to buy things and learn about the different types of fruits and vegetables. They sell everything! Well I took the carro public and felt like I knew what I was doing. During our training session, we learn about how race is interpreted in the DR. We watched a video about how black is associated with Haiti which is seen as “bad” and everyone likes to associate with Indio. Historically, however, when the Spaniards came, the enslaved the indios of DR, the Taino, and killed them off. They then brought Africans to be the new slaves. Therefore, most of the Dominicans are mulatos . Therefore when I walk around, I see light Dominicans, dark dominicans, straight hair dominicans, and curly hair dominicans. Unfortunately, no matter how dark a Dominican is he does not associate with being black- because the Haitians are black. Haitians in the Dr are like the Mexicans in the States, a lot of them are undocumented and there are close to 1 million in a country where there are around 10 million people.
After training around 5, I went on the internet and talked David and my dad for about an hour. When I went home to have my usual dinner, (fried platano or potatoes and salami or ham), I had an hour conversation with my Dona Juana about the gastos in the Dr. For my homework assignment, I had to figure out the typical budget of a Dominican family by asking how much my host family pays for the essentials. That conversation led to talking about the cultural differences of Americans and Dominicans and how in the end, we are all striving for the same things in life- to be secure and happy. Being financially secure means that you can now be happy, so once the first one is established the second one comes. Well on Thursday I am going on the PCV visit. This means that I will be traveling 5 hours to visit a Peace Corps volunteer in Puerto Plata to find the “true living scenario” of a fellow volunteer. I feel that this is definitely going to be a great way to learn. Well I am out hommies, until later. Peace.
September 2 2008
Well today is a new day, in fact I am sitting here as the storms continue outside. Because it is hurricane season, we either get the actual impact of the hurricane, or we get the tormentas and it rains all day. Today is one of those days. However, we also get our helmets for the motoconchos (motorcycles) that we will be using on our trips to visit the PCV on Thursday. I basically have to take a four hour bus ride, a guagua, and then a motoconcho to arrive. Motoconcho is a way of public transportation that is used more in the rural areas. Peace Corps policy states that we have to use our helmets when riding them. In fact, we are the only PC country that is allowed to use motocycles and cell phones, pretty sweet.
PS I also included the link to my photo album online. Check it out when you can, XOXO
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