August 28, 2008
Well pre-service training in the DR sure makes the time past bye fast. I heard that once we are at our sites, our concept of time will be sooo much slower. `Earlier this week we were hit with another hurricane which meant rain, rain, and more rain. What does that mean for me? Strep throat. So soon in the DR and I am already sick; apparently germs like dampness and since I have weak tonsils, I am more susceptible to certain sicknesses. I am taking antibiotics, so no worries. On another note, today was the first day I took a carro publico sola. I was too lazy to walk all the way to Entrena (about a 15 minute walk especially since I decided to fix my hair) so I took a chance with the public transportation. All in all, it was not bad; I arrived in three minutes and only had to pay about 15 pesos, which is equivalent to about 40 cents.
Yesterday we went to downtown Santo Domingo to visit Peace Corps headquarters, clinica abreu, a pension, and some historical sites. The Peace Corps center has WIFI, which is always a plus con aire conditionar and the Clinica Abreu is the richest clinic in Santo Domingo. In fact we are not allowed to go to any other clinic because it is not equipped with such advanced doctors. Now if I had an emergency and my site is 4 hours away, I must take a taxi straight to this clinic unless I am bleeding to death or I am not breathing. Now that’s some scary stuff.
We meet at Entrena before heading out and ended up all being on the same guagua. The chofer blasted reggaeton for us (since we were the only ones on) and some of the gringas began to dance. I wonder how hilarious it must have been to see a guagua full of dancing Americans.
So far my day consists of Peace Corps training from 8 until 5, I talk to David for about an hour at the internet center using Skype, and playing Uno with my nine year old host brother, Waldid. Sometimes I stay from that agenda to include walking around, the casual movie, and some shopping. I figured once I am in my established site, I will be able to ubicarme un poco major. Well I am going to take this time to make a shoutout to my sister Marilyn for her 25th birthday, Happy Birthday!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
My birthday!!!!
August 24, 2008
On Saturday night I went out Dominican style! There is this one girl who did Peace Corps in Ecuador and is extending a year here in DR, so for my birthday she had invited me to go out with her and her host sister. Well it ended up being Megan (the gringa), Regina (otra gringa), me, Megan’s Dominican sister Louisana, Louisana’s brother, her friend, and her copadre. We went to this club where we were drinking beer, dancing meringue, salsa, bachata, and reggeaton, all night long. I’ve never seen so much dancing going on, considering not a lot of people were drinking. At 12 midnight they made an announcement that it was my birthday and everyone sang me happy birthday. I also received a pina colada that was really tasty and made from real pineapples. I had to get home by 2 though so my host family wouldn’t worry but I had a lot of fun dancing so much. And because we went with three boys, I didn’t have to dance with sketchy dance partners. Those boys loved to dance and were respectable (one had a girlfriend, the other was the host brother, and the other one was a neighbor).
So I don’t have any pictures of my memorable night to because I didn’t want to bring my camera. Also custom here has it that the men always pay for the women when they go out so I didn’t have to pay anything. At first I wanted to pay but I realized that I am supposed to learn the Dominican culture and respect it, so I guess I was just respecting the culture J
The funny thing is that they were supposed to pick me up at 8 but ended up coming at 930 without even calling, I was just reading thinking that they were not going to come so I guess I got my first taste of the Dominican sense of time. After I arrived home, I showered and went to bed, my dona juana had already set up my mosquito net for me. I also had a new fan so I was super excited, but unfortunately unos ladrones came to rob our generator (with is the backup electricity because it goes out all the time) around 4 in the morning. I was sound asleep and didn’t wake up until around 11 in the morning. My dona juana told me that while robbing the generator they cut off our electricity as well. Now I am without electicity again for who knows how long, so it was a rough start. Luckily Waldid wanted to hang out with me and take me to his uncle’s house,Willder, because he has internet. And then his wife came out with my birthday postre, it was a plate full of fruit with condensed milk that was really good.
On Saturday night I went out Dominican style! There is this one girl who did Peace Corps in Ecuador and is extending a year here in DR, so for my birthday she had invited me to go out with her and her host sister. Well it ended up being Megan (the gringa), Regina (otra gringa), me, Megan’s Dominican sister Louisana, Louisana’s brother, her friend, and her copadre. We went to this club where we were drinking beer, dancing meringue, salsa, bachata, and reggeaton, all night long. I’ve never seen so much dancing going on, considering not a lot of people were drinking. At 12 midnight they made an announcement that it was my birthday and everyone sang me happy birthday. I also received a pina colada that was really tasty and made from real pineapples. I had to get home by 2 though so my host family wouldn’t worry but I had a lot of fun dancing so much. And because we went with three boys, I didn’t have to dance with sketchy dance partners. Those boys loved to dance and were respectable (one had a girlfriend, the other was the host brother, and the other one was a neighbor).
So I don’t have any pictures of my memorable night to because I didn’t want to bring my camera. Also custom here has it that the men always pay for the women when they go out so I didn’t have to pay anything. At first I wanted to pay but I realized that I am supposed to learn the Dominican culture and respect it, so I guess I was just respecting the culture J
The funny thing is that they were supposed to pick me up at 8 but ended up coming at 930 without even calling, I was just reading thinking that they were not going to come so I guess I got my first taste of the Dominican sense of time. After I arrived home, I showered and went to bed, my dona juana had already set up my mosquito net for me. I also had a new fan so I was super excited, but unfortunately unos ladrones came to rob our generator (with is the backup electricity because it goes out all the time) around 4 in the morning. I was sound asleep and didn’t wake up until around 11 in the morning. My dona juana told me that while robbing the generator they cut off our electricity as well. Now I am without electicity again for who knows how long, so it was a rough start. Luckily Waldid wanted to hang out with me and take me to his uncle’s house,Willder, because he has internet. And then his wife came out with my birthday postre, it was a plate full of fruit with condensed milk that was really good.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
landing in DR
Hello to all who are reading. I landed in Santo Domingo yesterday and met my host family today. I will be living near Pontoja for the next three weeks learning Spanish, Dominican culture, and safety. Then I will be moving to a rural community for technical training for the following 5 weeks.
The very first thing I thought of getting off the plane was its resemblance to Guadalajara, Mexico. I started the vaccinations yesterday ( a total of 10 including rabies) as well as the anti malaria pills. Interestingly enough, sometimes they cause sideeffects such as nightmares and vivid dreams. I was given a mosquito net and without instructions I was able to put it up around my bed before going to sleep, oh its the great life, but I am willing to be challenged.
August 22, 2008
Today started the cultural training on base. We spent all day learning about what we were going to do for the following weeks, and then had our Spanish language exam because soon we will be grouped into 3 or 4 people to learn accelerated Dominican Spanish. After a gruesome day of being in the humid weather and reapplying repellent bug spray (mosquitoes during the day pass dengue while the mosquitoes during the night carry malaria), I met my host family. My dona was surprised at how well my Spanish was while my 9 year host brother, Walday (I think that is how it is spelled) took me around the barrio asking me a lot of questions while inviting me to the aquarium. After using the internet at a computer center, I arrived home to take a shower. Interestingly enough the electricity went out for about 20 minutes. Apparently the electricity isn’t reliable and aportones (which mean blackouts) are common. Luckily enough I had my handy flashlight and was able to take a shower nevertheless. When I went back to my room, my Dona was setting up the mosquito net with a candle as light. Tomorrow I have more training from 8 until 12 and will be arriving by bus. I know it will be another interesting day.
The very first thing I thought of getting off the plane was its resemblance to Guadalajara, Mexico. I started the vaccinations yesterday ( a total of 10 including rabies) as well as the anti malaria pills. Interestingly enough, sometimes they cause sideeffects such as nightmares and vivid dreams. I was given a mosquito net and without instructions I was able to put it up around my bed before going to sleep, oh its the great life, but I am willing to be challenged.
August 22, 2008
Today started the cultural training on base. We spent all day learning about what we were going to do for the following weeks, and then had our Spanish language exam because soon we will be grouped into 3 or 4 people to learn accelerated Dominican Spanish. After a gruesome day of being in the humid weather and reapplying repellent bug spray (mosquitoes during the day pass dengue while the mosquitoes during the night carry malaria), I met my host family. My dona was surprised at how well my Spanish was while my 9 year host brother, Walday (I think that is how it is spelled) took me around the barrio asking me a lot of questions while inviting me to the aquarium. After using the internet at a computer center, I arrived home to take a shower. Interestingly enough the electricity went out for about 20 minutes. Apparently the electricity isn’t reliable and aportones (which mean blackouts) are common. Luckily enough I had my handy flashlight and was able to take a shower nevertheless. When I went back to my room, my Dona was setting up the mosquito net with a candle as light. Tomorrow I have more training from 8 until 12 and will be arriving by bus. I know it will be another interesting day.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Arriving in Miami
So today has been a crazy long day which started with 4 hours of sleep. Arriving at the airport I originally thought David would be able to go through security with me, but unfortunately our flights were not at the same terminal. As a result, we had to say our goodbyes at the security. He told me to wave to him once I get thru, but because of all of the bobby pins in my hair I set off the alarm, unfortunately I was considered a risk by the metal detectors and had to be patted down (by a female employee of course).
After stopping at an airport shop to pick up a ridiculously expensive yogurt for breakfast, I realized that it was final boarding for my flight! I ran the rest of the terminal to my gate, and ended up being the last person to board the flight. Once I was safely in my seat for two hours, I managed to get motion sickness and had to use the barf bag (there goes the yogurt I ate). Luckily, once I disposed my body of the yogurt, I felt perfectly fine and only managed to gross out the people around me.
Once I reached my final destination of Coconut Grove Hotel, I recognized two Davidson alums- Darryl Childers and Trenita Childers! There are serving as a married couple. I was too geeked to see some people that I knew, and did not realize how stressful it can be to meet new people at once. It was also at this point that I realized all 50 of the Peace Corps Volunteers currently staying at the hotel were all going to the DR with me!
The rest of the day was a hot and humid orientation (the electricity went out because of the hurricane weather in Miami), which involved climbing 20 flights of stairs, meet and greet with other volunteers, and many other staging events. Afterward a bunch of us headed to Chili’s for dinner in which we were able to get to know each other better and share our own anxieties and aspirations about serving as a volunteer.
All in all it was all new and exciting to meet other people in my own situation, feeling the same things I am feeling.
After stopping at an airport shop to pick up a ridiculously expensive yogurt for breakfast, I realized that it was final boarding for my flight! I ran the rest of the terminal to my gate, and ended up being the last person to board the flight. Once I was safely in my seat for two hours, I managed to get motion sickness and had to use the barf bag (there goes the yogurt I ate). Luckily, once I disposed my body of the yogurt, I felt perfectly fine and only managed to gross out the people around me.
Once I reached my final destination of Coconut Grove Hotel, I recognized two Davidson alums- Darryl Childers and Trenita Childers! There are serving as a married couple. I was too geeked to see some people that I knew, and did not realize how stressful it can be to meet new people at once. It was also at this point that I realized all 50 of the Peace Corps Volunteers currently staying at the hotel were all going to the DR with me!
The rest of the day was a hot and humid orientation (the electricity went out because of the hurricane weather in Miami), which involved climbing 20 flights of stairs, meet and greet with other volunteers, and many other staging events. Afterward a bunch of us headed to Chili’s for dinner in which we were able to get to know each other better and share our own anxieties and aspirations about serving as a volunteer.
All in all it was all new and exciting to meet other people in my own situation, feeling the same things I am feeling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
