A Break Between Nothing

July 15 & 17 2013. Monday and Wednesday were classes. Not a ton came. Some came late. I feel like as much as I've tried not to have to make plans up on the spot, I have to anyways. When you plan for 5/6 and 1/2 show up... And you want to save your best plans for when they're all there? What else can you do? It's just rough when that one awesome kid shows up every time and you do things with them and the next class he/she is there again but the other students are too. So you have old plans for them... But what for that one student? It's certainly not fair. But I also can't blame the kiddos for not coming. #1. It's summer. #2. Lots of their parents work so they have no one to tell them to go. Yea...

It'll be better during the school year. This is like a trial run, right? Right. 

I then visited Linda and we just hung out. Her kiddos weren't in class both days this week because she forgot.. 

July 16, 2013. Tuesday I went to Villa to visit Lula and Greg! I successfully made it to their place with no issues (yup-still feels amazing). They have a gorgeous apartment on the third floor of a building (after many many issues were resolved). Oh and I've claimed their second bedroom as my own ;). We just hung out, talked (a lot), drank coffee, I met their director, we got lunch, I took out money for rent, payed for my Internet, and we went to a "bakery" and bought awesome bread. I bought one to bring home to share too :). All and all just a great day spent with a wonderful couple. They certainly have their work cut out for them in the next two years...  But It was a appreciated break between... well. Between nothing. 

I made it back by 7 and was spotted by Lili who was in a Comlado. We walked back together (through the freshly cut Play! I cannot wait to run.,,) and I spent the rest of the night planning for Wednesdays classes (despite knowing how it was going to turn out lol). 

And Then... I Snorted

July 13, 2013. So today I didn't do any interviews... but! I went way arriba to visit a family I haven't seen in a while. I was fed three times before 1pm and then rushed home to prepare for English class. only had 7 kiddos come but that's okay. Afterwards, I went to see the pastor but of course, he wasn't there. Haha but at least he knows I've tried to visit twice now! On the way back a lady called me into her gallery and we chatted for a while. Now I feel more comfortable going to her for an interview later since I've at least visited once :). And she invited me for a meal sometime. Yay? haha I then went to visit Linda despite wanting to call it a day. We chatted and then I witnessed beta-fighting at its finest. All the boys in the area came to watch the fish fight and money was put down for bets. Crazy... Lol The fish destroyed each other :/ I managed to skidaddle early without being fed there and ate at home. And I got my first aguacate!! (Avocado) I ate it right from the skin and they made fun of me hard cuz I didn't put it with my food or put salt on it. But! I stood my ground and said, "Well! I am American, ya know!" Lol It was so good, I cannot wait for the season to start (soon!)!  Then I just relaxed with Niño, Fredito, Dulce, and Moreno chatting and watching YouTube videos of animals doing funny things (mostly cats) and people playing pranks on each other. My stomach hurts from laughing so much :). Which is good, gotta work out this fat that I'm accumulating.

July 14, 2013. Today I went arriba to snag Lili. The plan? Sneak off to the finca where we could steal mango and limón. It was a secret mission that almost failed haha. We went and the guy that works there that told us to come early in the morning wasn't there. We back tracked and threw rocks to get a few mangoes and I climbed the tree to help out (don't know why but climbing a tree made me really happy). Soon after, however, the roar of a moto gave away his whereabouts and we returned to the farm. He let us in and bags in hand we wandered the whole farm looking for ripe mangoes and lemon. The bags were so huge we had to double them up and even then, mine broke while trying to hold it like a baby. But with much sweat, mud, and blood, we made it back without letting one fruit get left behind :). Mission accomplished. Mangoes for at least two days and jugo later. Win.

I then went back home to change and with a promise of going to the river, I excitedly put on my swimming clothes (we don't wear bathing suits for that). I ate and we waited for the rest of the group to come. But then... Lili said she didn't have permission. So we went up to ask (of course I had to since I'm the American) and of course, she said no... Instead we went to the smaller river close by where Lili bathes everyday. We swam, ate mango, and I got made fun of. A lot. I've noticed this is a thing they love to do. Whether it be for my mosquito bites, white skin, how I'm getting fat and have bigger hips now (that's a popular one), how I wet my hair everyday, how I eat mango wrong, how I eat avocado, how I'm always saying "Me gusta," the Spanish words I say wrong or simply my accent... I could go on. They particularly attacked me today at the river; not quite sure why. I started to really feel it... Tears threatened to come but I kept myself under control and just sat on a rock silently while David played with my hair. I guess they didn't notice since they continued for a while but then Lili started laughing. Like a witch and was purposefully obnoxious. For whatever reason I thought this was funny and started laughing. Hard. And then... I snorted. WELL. As if they didn't have enough to pick on me for, I just handed them another on a silver platter. And you know what? I kept laughing. But this time at myself along with them. Seriously. I'm an American living with Dominicans who have only ever heard of (or seen on TV) people like me (or maybe passed by one). But now they've had one in their community for about two months and she half speaks their language, says she's here to help teach, sits in chairs funny, likes everything, laughs a lot, says thank you too much, is often silent, plays a lot of cards, has white skin, and is attacked my mosquitoes. How could they not laugh? And how am I not laughing at this fact every single day here? Haha  Honestly. As soon as I snorted, it was like I slapped myself in the face and said, "Julie. They're not making fun of YOU. They're making fun of the idea of you because you're foreign to them." They don't know me yet and don't understand me enough to make fun of the actual me. We've got two years to fix that. And if they continue to make fun of me then, at least I'll feel at home since that's what it was like in the states, anyways ;) And by then we'll be enough like family and I'll be fluent enough to dish it right back. 

Yea, it'll still bug me from time to time; I don't think I can fully heal from that reality. But I just have to remember that it is pretty funny. The whole idea of me being here. I love them all just the same and I hope they feel that way too (or eventually will). 

Buenos noches.

A New Dream Within My Bigger Dream

July 12, 2013.  Ugh, I DID IT! Entrevistas!! Wooooo 4 in one day! And all by myself! And it wasn't too bad! Lol okay let me calm down... It's not that hard; trust me, I know. I'm not sure why I've struggled so much. But the fact is, I have struggled. But I'm done. From here on out I'm gonna kick ass (uh oh, I just made that public so now I can't fail...). 

Some good things came out of it. Some I didn't understand (one of my biggest fears) and some, I don't know if I can help with. Also lots of things were left out... What I mean by that is that many parents/community members don't see what I do in the schools... Hm. Also I'm faced with a big challenge because this school is going through so many changes. The director is new and possibly temporary, all of the teachers but one are new, and everyone hated the previous director so their new prespective is super honeymoon-like because anything is better than she was. Thus, I don't feel like I can judge too hard or determine the needs of the school just yet... It's in a transition phase...

But one thing was brought up that is now a huge goal of mine. I'm not going to put it here until I research the possibility a bit more. But my heart literally beats noticeably faster and harder when I think about leaving with this goal accomplished after 2 years. Vamos a ver. I now have a new dream within my bigger dream of being successful here in the PCDR...

So in the morning I did two interviews. I returned and did some research on the program, "Chicas Brillantes" which is a program for young girls in communities. It's geared towards raising self-confidence, teaching sex-ed, and having fun! From the little bit I've gathered it's needed here. Lili was there with me reading the manual and she got really excited about it so I got pumped too :D

After lunch I went to talk to Juana Iris about possibly having a community meeting soon but she was heading out. Her mother was there though so I did an interview with her. She's the one who filled me in on all the drama of the school... Then I went to visit Manuela. 

She and her older daughters gave me a TON of good stuff. So as much as she makes me uncomfortable, she's quite useful ;). So there is an Asociación de Padres (like a PTA in the states) a Juntos de Vecinos (community group), and Quisqueya Aprende Contigo (adult literacy program). This is great! Now I just need to see some meetings and classes! Oh and they are also where I got my big dream from...

They also told me that mass was today so I went home to get ready. But first... The director's son (from the other side) found me... Haha he had called many many times in the week to see if I could come to visit Villa again and I...avoided it. Lol! He said he just happened to be close by so he wanted to say hello. And ask why I hadn't been answering his calls...Oops :P 

Also random thought for today: Why does the damn dog at the neighbor's house bark ALL DAY LONG? Who is he mad at? And then why does my host mom's dog take over in the night?? It's like they have a pact... To drive me CRAZY. Well. That's just too damn bad for them. Cuz I already am crazy :)

Anyways. La misa at 5! Except... The preist is apparently on vacation haha. We waited in the classroom on the other side for a half hour and then China called and found out he wasn't coming. So we read the readings and had a discussion and left :P

Lili and I bought chocolate bars (for 5 pesos!) at a colmado and ate them on the way home :) and then I had yet another woman tell me I'm getting fat and ask me if my mother from home tells me that when we video chat... Yay.

Oh and my host mom pulled out quite a large dead rat from behind her dresser and just goes, "Mira Julie!" (Look!) with a huge smile on her face and a laugh :). Love her.

All in all I'd say today was pretty damn fantastic. Except for the fact that the water returned and then se fue as soon as I went to shower. I have to say I'd take water over luz any day (except for maybe then losing Internet...). But alas, I shall sleep and start de nueva mañana. Buenas noches.

Pool and School in the Rain

July 9, 2013. Yup... Fail. But it wasn't my fault! Haha I studied in the morning with the goal in the forefront of my mind for after lunch. But as soon as lunch was ready, talk of going to a pool for a birthday party was brought up. I tried to back out saying I need to start my PC project but of course, "You can start tonight when we come back!" Lol They won. Heading out around 1pm, we caught a free bola on the back of a pickup truck going 80mph on the Duarte :) Pretty crazy. We made it to the pool; Dulce, Lili, Yasmelin, Victor, David, Alex, Margerita, the birthday girl, and I. They swam and my plan was to not because of my disease. Buuuut yet again, fail. But again, a good fail :)  There was rain, chocolate milk, teaching them Marco Polo (so funny), birthday cake (!!), weird cheese, crackers, salami, and friends that came who spoke English. The little girls were 7 and 9 and the boy was 13 years old. They were born and raised in the states but their father is from Villa so they come every summer. They were adorable and it was so funny to watch them speak English and have all of my Dominicans just stare uncomfortably. For the first time since I've been in site, it wasn't me who felt lost and unsure. Haha The rains came hard around 6 so we left in the back of another pick-up truck. Seriously though? Rain freaking hurts when you're cruising that fast! 

We of course had to go arriba first to let Dulce's mom know that we were alright because she called 10X. Then we doubled back, went home, changed, and ate tostones and salami :). Exhausted and happy I went to bed.

July 10, 2013. Well. The tropical storm hit a little today.

This is me walking to the school.

And this is me waiting in the school.

:) I'll be honest. I thought about skipping. Hell, everyone else does it. But I didn't. I got my ass out there, retrieved the key, and set up my room. A half an hour later, two kiddos showed up. One student would have made it all worth it and I had two. I couldn't tell you how excited I was :D. We ordered the alphabet together (they knew maybe two letters out of 27), and I had them write it in their notebooks. Their homework? Read the alphabet to someone in their family and have that family member sign below. We'll see how that goes. It's just as much for the students to practice as it is an experiment for me O:)

Since that took so long I scratched the rest of my plans and took each of them home with my umbrella. The next hour and a half was spent reading, listening to the rain, and looking at all the pretty materials that the school got. Lili and Alex came by to get me (sent by Dulce) because it was raining. I told them I was going to stay because if just one more student showed up, I want to be there. They need to know that I care. So they left me. To which the thought followed... "Wait. Alex is in my class. Why can he walk down and cross the river to go to Dulce's house while it's raining but can't come a little further to class?"  *sigh*

But at 11:15, Genesis came :). She and I worked for a while and then she wanted to draw. As much as it pained me, I said no because I want to make sure she knows that she can't always draw... But I will be sure to use her strength of art in my future plans with her.

Dulce brought me a mango (in the rain!) so after class I ate, packed up, and walked Genesis home. She then greeted me with hot soup for the rainy day-yesssss. How did I get so lucky with this family? Even if some of them are apparently theives... Lol. I decided against the afternoon class but with much guilt... But it was raining really hard and if the street was that flooded in the morning? Ugh, just trying to make myself feel better... But seriously it stormed and I laid in bed for the next 4 hours and it never stopped. One thunder boom scared me out of my sleep haha.

So to save you from boredom, that's how the rest of the night went. Rain, dinner of yuca and eggs (can't wait to be on my own so I can make a ton of coffee on days like this), rain, reading, rain, not understanding my host dad explain something off in the distance with a tree, rain, hot milk and galletas, rain, bedtime.

Buenas noches.

Prometemos

July 7, 2013. Today I arose late after a late night out with Dulce, Moreno, Joan, y Niño. But they got up late too :). At 11, Laila came to visit. It was great to have her come and justify my many

concerns about my site. She made me feel less crazy (though now I know for a fact that these next two years are in fact going to test me) we laughed a lot, ate a lot, and shared a lot. She also convinced me to call the Med Office about my many non-healing gross-looking cuts (fast-forward: to which they told me to put brown sugar on them... So I'm currently patched up in 6 different spots looking ridiculous). I walked her to the thruway and on the way back, the guy from the colmado that Linda goes to called me over. I did not have the energy or courage to stay and chat but he was persistent. And I'm glad he was. We sat outside with a man that lives in Villa and a few others and just chatted. I felt really good about the amount of Spanish I understood and how much I spoke. After the rains passed, I headed back home. Mayelin showed up and had Dulces to sell from her momma. So I went with her, met a new family, convinced a few muchachos to buy some with my fantastic looks ;) and showed my face abajo (for the third time in one day!). What a great day. And to end it? I hung out with Niño, Angie, Fredito, and FaceTimed my family. I was up until midnight and loved every minute of it. 

Until I woke up the next day...

July 8, 2013.  Haha joke, I promise. But when my alarm went off for my first day of summer classes, I wasn't completely thrilled :P Figuring the director was going to be late, I took it upon myself to find the key to the school which could be in one of two houses. And good thing I did because she didn't show up until 9 and my classes started at 8am haha. Buuuut Samuelito was the only one who showed up on time. I already figured this could be a reality but about an hour later more and more children showed up. At 9:30 I had about 6 kiddos from all different grades. I clarified the times for them (quite sternly I might add...) so hopefully Wednesday will be better. Also, I'm so glad I had what I had planned for the first day because it was easy to do with mixed grades and at separate times since they all came when they wanted to. See below!

First we did handprints to make what you see above. There really was no purpose but just to ease the munchkins in and make them feel comfortable. They were all nervous and timid at first but thought this was really cool. It was perfect. You can't see it but I wrote their names on their handprints too.

Then...

We talked about the rules of the summer classes (which seem silly with such a small amount of kids but I really want them to know that I mean business from the start. So they won't try and pull stuff on me later...). Instead of writing, "Las Reglas" at the top, I put, "Prometemos" which means, "We promise" and at the bottom, they all signed their names.

Then we did the infamous "¿Quién Soy?" sheet. Man oh man was it hard to tell them they need to stop drawing... They could have gone for over an hour but it was wonderful. We presented them to each other started with "Luces...Cámara...Acción!" And ending with different applauses. They were shy about it but as we continued, they let loose a little more. And loved it. I'll be sure to continue doing those things so they know that they're allowed to have fun! (After all, that's rule #5-Divertirnos!). 

I had a few older siblings helping me out which was good and bad. They helped translate if I was sucking at explaining things but they also were talking when I was trying to talk and being too harsh (it's a cultural thing that isn't terrible but I don't like it). I was able to start correcting them too and so hopefully if they return, they'll learn how I want them to act too. Haha wow, I sound like a witch :P But I learned quick that you have to be stern with these kids (not their fault but I won't say who's it is...) and they will listen but also respect you more so you can have fun with them-Win.

In the afternoon all of the kiddos came from the 4th and 5th grade class. And I went and retrieved Genesis who was supposed to come at 11 and didn't. She lives right down the road from the school and I know how much help she needs. So I went before lunch, told her mom she was supposed to be there but said she could come at 2 with the next class. But then I drilled into her that class on Wednesday is at 11. And for now, if I have to go to her house again, I will. She hates school (for good reason) but a huge goal of mine for summer (along with many others, of course) is to have her love learning again (or for the first time). 

I finished hanging things up, cutting out the hands, and making the suns and I headed out. I showered, dressed my wounds (minus the damn one under my nail=6 patches) with brown sugar and went out to Linda's. One patch got ruined within minutes as I lost a chancleta in the mud. and I couldn't avoid it this time. I've never seen that road so bad :/ Linda was quiet today but we chatted, played cards with her family, and they made me a mango batida with milk, sugar, and ice. Soooooo damn good. I left early-ish without getting fed (!!) and have just relaxed here at home. 

It's rained on and off all day and a tropical storm is predicted to hit us Wednesday. Bring it on! Let's see what a storm here is like when all I know are snow storms :P I feel good about today despite not having all of the kids come (I've got two years... This is just the beginning). I've gotta adjust some of my plans for Wednesday but not too much. It's just going to be evaluations through games so I can figure out where they are all at (though I already know that about 4 kiddos can't write their names yet...). Tomorrow, I have one goal to meet (starting small so I can work my way up) and I'm not going to fail this time.

Buenas noches :)

Incredible.

July 6, 2013. I can look each and every one of you straight in the eyes and tell you I would have never imagined doing what I just did the last three days when I knew I was joining the Peace Corps. What I could imagine, with a very limited understanding of what my service would entail, never once included vacation with friends, beaches, dancing, music, and chocolate milk. And while part of me does have some guilt for doing so (I can't ever seem to escape it), I couldn't be happier that it happened and that I was so incredibly blessed when I received this placement. And blessed to have been ignorant to the possibilities because it just makes the moments that much sweeter.

I left my site on the 4th of July and embarked to the capital at 7am. I managed to snag an awesome air conditioned bus (with the help of Linda and another community member who told everyone on the bus to take care of me :D), make it with time to grab breakfast with Cori and make the 10am guagua to Samaná. Two and a half hours later we made it and with the help of a man without a leg, we got another mini guagua to Las Galeras (one more hour). Oh, and after I argued with a taxi man who wouldn't let us be, trying to get us to pay RD$300 a person when the mini guagua cost RD$100. Ha. I was quite proud of myself... :) 

We arrived here:

And had an apartment-type room. There was a double bed, two benches with cushions in the living room, a kitchen, bathroom, and patio area. We fit 9 in there (some sleeping on the cement floor...but it was cheaper and way too much fun with all of us together!). 

That night entailed cooking tons of pasta, chocolate milk, beach, buying a new dress, and going out to dance at a restaurant on the water. About 100 volunteers were there (Dominicans too) and there was a  huge bonfire to end the night at 1am. What. An. Incredible. Night. (maybe except for my chancletas breaking and having to walk over 1km barefoot on rocks...Yes, they're still hurting). 

The next day was arising at 7:30, egg sandwiches, coffee every few hours, relaxing, interneting, beach right next our place, getting lunch out, and then returning to this beach from the night before: 

With this behind us (the restaurant and volleyball net which I did get to play on :D)

Until this time of night:

Returning to our place we spent the night tranquilo ordering four pizzas to split (first halfway decent pizza I've had in-country!), hammocking, chatting (in English!) about our lives (or about nothing at all), and eventually sitting on the beach listening to the water crash into the sand and staring at the stars waiting for another to shoot across the black sky. Just... Paradise. We didn't go to bed until 4am knowing we had to arise at 7:30am and it didn't matter one bit. 

What an incredible group of people. An incredible place I get to call home. And the incredible ability to take advantage of moments like this to remind me that every little thing is going to be alright (Bob Marley is always with me). No I haven't moved forward with things I need to get done in my site but getting away, being with friends, and soaking in the water that surrounds this tiny island brought me back to the present. Reminded me to breath. And told me that I do have what it takes to turn this around. I've gotten this far. The only thing stopping me is me. But I've got too much around me pushing me forward. So why continue fighting back?

Arising from my corner on the floor I packed my things and headed back to reality with Cori and Sarah; going in and out of having to speak Spanish and I have to say, doing it quite well. Trying to sleep on the guagua was a fail but closing my eyes and shutting out the world was a perfect way to switch my mind back to my actual home. I skyped with my family at the office, got letters from family (some from April and some from May), got empanadas for lunch, and headed to the Metro.

Flawlessly making it home (I can't tell you how good that feels still) I was greeted by three of my girls with big hugs. I unpacked, showered, had fritos y salami (Mmmmm), and I swear I understood everything my host mother said haha.

Laila (my Peace Corps Volunteer Leader) is coming to visit tomorrow to see how I'm doing. So with a fresh mindset washed over me with the waves, I will express my concerns and hopefully her years of experience will provide insight for me to move forward. And tell the tiny part of me that is screaming from a distance, "You are doing more than okay!" That it is right. 

And with that, Buenas noches.

What's Left of My Heart

July 1, 2013. 

Cross your fingers this may be my puppy :) They wouldn't let him be so I could get a good shot of his face though lol I wanna know what kind of dog he is!

And these are the boys that currently have what's left of my heart (the other parts of it are at home in the states). Linda's sons. Wish they had smiled though; you all would have melted to the floor like I do whenever I see them.

That is all :) Buenas noches.