My First DR Proposal

July 28, 2013

Man: How is everything? And your children?

Me: My children? I don't have children.

Man: No? Why not?

Me: Because I don't have children... (Great answer, I know)

Man: You have to have children now. You need to get married. Marry me and have children with me?

First proposal in the DR. To be flattered... Or bothered. That is the question.

Hm...Nope, not flattered lol.

Have You Ever...?

July 26, 2013. 

Have you ever seen 4 grown men chase after roosters for about an hour trying to catch them? Crawling through barbed wire, climbing trees, diving in the grass and rolling with rooster finally in hand? 

I have.

But Hey, I Love Roller-coasters

July 25, 2013. Trip tooooo...the capital! To get a green card... What? Haha feels funny to say that. I awoke at 5am and was heading out the door by 6am-perfect. Until my host mom called out from the kitchen, "Wait! Your tea is almost ready!" Haha she woke up early just to make me tea! They also yelled at me around 5:30am saying, "Um, Julie, there's luz, ya know." I had been using my headlamp to get ready cuz I didn't want to wake them lol. I explained that but she yelled at me to turn it on :). So of course, "your tea is almost ready" meant 15 more minutes. And then trying to gulp down scolding hot tea which is also the kind that bites your throat if you drink it fast (what the hell kind of tea am I drinking here??) was... Difficult. 

So out the door I went at 6:30am. Needed to be in the office by 8. I have to wait by the thruway to pick up a bus which could come in 2 minutes or 30. And it takes an hour WITHOUT morning traffic. Cutting it pretty close I'd say. I stood by the Duarte, nerves pumping, and hands sweating and not 5 minutes go by and a mini van slides up. Normally those are for Villa but the guy called out, "Rubia! Capital?" I've never been so excited to be called "Rubia!" Haha I got in and was off! My next plan was to get off early and take the Metro the rest of the way to avoid traffic in the capital itself. I think it was a smart idea based on what we hit before the Metro stop but then on the metro I missed one train cuz it was so full and then was so packed into the next one, I didn't have to hold onto a bar as we took off from each stop haha. Then power walking through the sticky, unbearable air of Maximo Gomez, I made it to the office panting at 8:14am. And I wasn't the last one! Hahaha WIN.

I greeted friends who I hadn't seen since the 4th, soaked in the speaking of English, filled out an application for the green card, found 2 padded envelopes in my mailbox and two letters that said I had packages waiting as well. I headed to that office and it turns out there were three. None of them were listed on the sheet I had to sign and one said I had to pay $100RD.  One guy called the other guy confused, that guy went through the same confusion and eventually threw all the boxes in my arms and said in Spanish, "Just take them all! Don't pay and just go." Haha I literally ran out laughing and saying, "Okay! Gracias!"

I began opening them in the lounge and was completely overwhelmed. Too many people were there though so I was able to hold back the tears. I can't describe the feeling I used to get in the states when someone would do something or buy something for me because no one understands it. It was bad then, and I guess got worse here. Acts of service and gifts are certainly not one of my love languages. So while I'm currently not speaking to my parents until tomorrow:

1. Sharing a box of my Reese's Pieces with the Peace Corps family was a blast. And the other two chocolates with my kiddos back in site was adorable.

2. Walking up to the finca in my new, durable, comfy sandals made a world of a difference. Even though they may have looked ridiculous with my skinny jeans, I couldn't have cared less, it was that good of a feeling for my feet and legs.

3. Seeing those Toms I had eyed just before leaving the states was... Indescribable. I know, they're just shoes. But they're orange with suns. They're me.

4. Cats in the cradle to give my hands something to do when the words just aren't there? Already a success once. And Lili loves doing it too.

5. And 100s of packages of those damn tissues? More of a life saver than you can understand and in many ways. Even now when I ran out of gauze for my sores, I had something to use.

6. Bug spray that actually might work so I don't have to wear pants everyday?? (Though getting more pants was super exciting too so at least it's not the same three pairs everyday...). Ugh.

7. MY HAMMOCK!! Need I say more?

8. Those stupid Dollar Store solar powered flowers and the hula girl. Oh. My. God. The happiness I felt was ridiculous with that. Every time I look at them on my nevera, I'm taken home and in the best way possible. Gram, I got a kick out of telling everyone how much you love those things and how happy they made me. And watching them run out into the sun with them to see them in action was hysterical.

9. Real triple antibiotic ointment? Yes.

10. And the letters in each box. Perfection and the icing on the incredibly delicious cake. Wow. 

There was probably more that I missed but with every direction my head is in at the moment, that's all I've got. Just amazing. I'm am so beyond blessed with the family love and support that I have back home. It's indescribable. And is the main reason (and biggest struggle at the same time) that I am able to be here, doing what I am doing.

Moving on... We headed out in a van to the Migration Office and waited for two hours. Took a picture which I didn't smile for and received my completely unattractive green card-which is literally green! Haha back at the office, I went in to see Maria, the doctor. We chatted but it was more like her laughing at me for cutting the top of my head on barbed wire, and she checked out my sores. And said... "Oh. Julie.. These are a lot worse than you made them seem." hahaha Oops? She took a culture, cleaned them, put a gross black, smelly cream from Bolivia on them and dressed them in gauze and tape. Then handing me all those things, ordered me to repeat every morning and take antibiotics for the next 10 days. And no river bathing until then :( Lame. But she's the best. 

In the lounge, I organized my things (more like stuffed everything in my book bag) and Cory, Samuel and I headed to America! We had sushi for lunch (haha yup!) and shopped around Jumbo. I got some school stuff and other necessities (including a baseball-he volleyball will just have to wait, it was too pricey) and then wandered around and got frozen yogurt. A wonderful break just before going back to site. From there I hopped back on the uncrowded Metro, and just missed the Villa bus by two seconds (I watched as it pulled away as I was on the stairs from the walkway haha). I wandered for a second trying to ignore the calls of the cobradors of all the other buses and then saw a car with the sign-Villa on top. I asked the driver to be sure and about a minute later, I was on my way out! Perfect! I made it home around 6pm and emptied my stuff with Lili, David, and Alex- who are always here when I return from the capital cuz I always have new stuff lol. We spent the rest of the night hanging out (I told them no Internet or computer tonight) and my day was complete.

Emotionally it was a rollercoaster, as per usual. But hey, I love roller-coasters, right? :D Buenas noches.

For A Special Someone Back Home

July 24, 2013. So back to this day. I was sitting in my classroom waiting for my next class to begin when my phone rang. And my phone read: Gram Irene. My heart pumped with excitement because this special lady was celebrating her birthday today and I had wanted to call her. We chatted, her always asking way to many questions about me and not talking enough about herself but goodness do I miss her.

Let me explain why. I am reminded of this woman everyday I spend here in the Dominican Republic. And in many ways:

¥ While I soak my feet in this burning water and getting ready to dress my sores all by myself, I'm reminded of the 100s of times the nursing side of her shined through and took care of my careless self. Even when I may not have needed it... Always passing out pills or patches or coming up with a homemade remedy for a staph infection (which freaking worked by the way!). 

¥ As my Doña boils water for my hot chocolate and prepares to start making my lunch, I'm reminded of the billions (and billions) of meals spent at my grandmother's house where I always ate much more than any normal girl my age should (since I was an infant-and yes, I remember that long ago, thank you). 

¥ The hospitality of the Dominicans is impeccable, even when they barely have anything to give. Every visit I make, I'm gifted with mango, juice, coffee, avocado, a hair clip, nail polish, or something. And even when I beg not to be fed for the third time before noon, the food is shoved down my throat. Sound familiar? "Gram, please I don't want anymore mashed potatoes," PLOP! Second heaping pile added to the plate. But with 1,000lbs of love along with it.

¥ The complete reliance on God and his will is impossible to miss here. "Gracias a Dios," "Si Dios quiere," "Vaya con Dios," etc are phrases used on the regular. Granted, sometimes, "Si Dios quiere" simply means, "I really don't want to and probably won't be there so God must not have wanted it." But hey, it's still there, and I think of the many ways in which she taught me and reminded me that I do have the big guy upstairs at my side always. I hope and pray that one day my faith will be as unshakeable and beautiful as hers is.

¥ Family is everything here. My host mom's mom lives arriba. Her nieces and nephews too. Then her sister lives a street over with more kids. Another sister just moved but not too far. And her daughter, son-in-law and grandson live on aquel lado. You feed anyone who is at the house. And anyone can show up whenever they want and they're always welcome. Coffee is made for guests. And even if all you have is a cookie, it's split however many ways there are people. Need I say more? Grandma's house with Grandma's ways.

I love you more than you can imagine Gram. And while you always tell me how amazed you are that I can live this dream of mine, I fully believe that it's partially because of you that I can. You taught me to love everything and everyone with all that I am. You taught me to serve others without asking for anything in return. You taught me to pray and keep the Big Man in the forefront for strength. And you taught me that family provides all the love and support I will ever need to go out and chase my dreams.

Happy Birthday.

I miss you.

River Escape, Long-Awaited Visitor, and Students!

July 22, 2013. Well today was a day of waiting for casi nadie. I went to the school, prepared the room, and sat and played the damn snake game on my phone for about and hour and a half. One of my students showed up and said, "There's no class today, right?" What? He wouldn't answer when I asked why he thought that... But. He left. Alex came for my second class which was good. But then Lili, David, More, and Alex all begged me to come to the river with them. And as much as it killed me at the time, I said no. That my class was more important and I needed to be here even if only one more student shows up. And one did :) Juan Jose (love him, by the way) came at 11 and I made it home for lunch by noon. Which I was starving for cuz for once I didn't eat a breakfast of pasta and yuca or sardines and platanos! And loved it haha.

At 2, I ventured back to finish off my last class. The whole group passed the school, yelling for me to start walking with them to the river. But I couldn't. And one more student showed up :). He and I worked together until 2:45 and I decided that I still really wanted to go to the river. It is quite a walk with a group pf people so walking it solo? Hm...

But I really wanted it lol. So I went home, changed, tried to tell Dulce I was leaving but she was sleeping, and took the trek through the woods, under the Duarte, and illegally through the orange tree farm until I heard the screams and splashing of my group :)

It was worth it (despite getting picked up and thrown twice and being told I weight a lot) and my host mom got a kick out of telling people I walked it all by myself (even the next day to two people I had never met before) haha though I'm not sure if she was impressed or thought I was crazy :P The rest of the night we all just hung out here at the house and had lots of laughs at my expense. A good night :)

July 23, 2013. Today my plan was to relax all morning and be alone-ish. But alas, I was awoken by Moreno at 6am and then 7am by David knocking on my bedroom window... Haha I then tried to chill in the room with my book bag pushed up against it to keep it closed but was repeatedly pushed open by one kiddo or another. Haha and I was asked numerously, "Why is the book bag there?" :P so I spent the morning saying no to playing my computer and hanging out on the porch with new and old family of Dulce. I also did some planning for class Wednesday.

In the afternoon, Lili and I played cards and a woman came over to give Dulce some sewing work. Dulce wasn't here though so she and I chatted for a while and I think I understood 95% of what was said! Woooo.

Then at 5pm I headed to Juana Iris to observe her adult literacy program. It began with her and two older men screaming about where class should be-in the school or in her house.  Two out of the six adults came and I watched and then was pushed to help. First of all, the book makes no sense. It's government issued because this is a nation-wide movement to improve literacy-which is incredible! But it's way too complex for beginning learners. And Juana Iris was just giving them the answers (because they couldn't read the questions or sentences) and telling them what to write. I grabbed my literacy stuff to show her thinking she would want to make copies and use some but it turned into me working with an older man and giving him some of my materials. That's not what I meant when I said I wanted to help but I have a feeling I'm going t have to be more specific.

On the walk back my name was called out from a distance behind me. When I looked, the pastor was walking my way! Oh I was so happy to see him after trying far too many times to visit him :D he had a free moment and knew I had gone to his house multiple times so he came by to visit me! His passions flew as he talked my ear off about the education system, El Batey (the other side of the thruway), my summer classes, his busy schedules, etc. He invited me to some sort of worship hour in el Batey Saturday morning, and I asked when I could visit next to do an interview with him (Sunday morning). A win and I didn't even have to leave the house this time :D

The night ended skyping with my family and getting an incredibly sugary dessert of some kind! Didn't need my peanut butter! :)

July 24, 2013. Well the search for the school key failed and of course with that luck, I had 4 kiddos show up for class in the morning-and on time! Hahaha We headed to Dulce's house since she was in Villa to have class in the gallery. And since a lot of my materials were in the classroom, I had to make up plans on the spot haha. It went okay but I wish I had more time with them. One girl that came had never come before so it was hard starting in the middle with her... The key was found after that class so I was able to then move comfortably there for the rest of the day :) One student for second grade, and one for third. Win? Haha  

How To Cure...

July 20, 2013. After losing luz super early Friday, Saturday I awoke and immediately started my laundry. I had to wear my bathing suit top since I had noting else at the time... Haha In the afternoon I had English class where... no one showed up. I promised Linda I would visit (because her brother was visiting and she wanted to meet him) but she wasn't there so I did interviews with my host mom and dad. Then I ventured out to interview Juana Iris! Finally haha. I also got more info on the adult-literacy program she teaches and am going to observe a class on Tuesday :) I then tried, yet again, to see the pastor but he wasn't there. But I saw Linda who was on the way back from the river with her family. I told her I'd stop by later. Which I did but her brother had already left... Oops. We hung out, played cards and started watching a movie but I headed out around 7. Dulce called me on my walk back and wanted to know if I wanted to go to Angie's house for un ratico. Ha! This time I knew what that meant! Fancy clothes, drinking, loud music, and dancing, and for way more than un ratico. So! I changed for the occasion and we headed out together. It was early so I sat in the salon with Angie for an hour and a half before Dulce came and retrieved me haha. What a process hair is. The rest of th night? lots of chocolate milk mixed with an energy drink aaaand... Dancing. Oops? I just couldn't watch anymore hahaha. So I danced. And had a blast :D 

June 21, 2013. So how do you take your mind off the day-after-drinking-too-much-chocolate-milk sickness (it's a real illness, you know...)? You get up early to go to a "loma" with the kiddos to find mango and avocado. You find none. But soak in this:

And this:

And enjoy them:

Still felt pretty awful the whole time but wow. It was incredibly beautiful we walked up and down 100 hills just to find mango and avocado (did I mention there were none? Mango season is almost over :( and avocado season is on its way) I learned how out of shape I am. I cut the top of my head on barbed wire (cuz that's what fences are made out of here but that doesn't mean you can't crawl through them-except I'm bigger than all of them...haha). I drank river water. I sweat a lot. It poured on us for a bit. And we starved because we arrived back late. I loved every minute of it.

When I arrived home, I ate, and laid in bed for a while. And the rest of the night I hung out with my family here. Perfection :)

I Know, I'm Quite Impressive ;)

July 18, 2013. Well! After constantly getting made fun of, today was a much needed day! And I didn't even do anything spectacular! Haha

I was awoken by Moreno getting ready for work around 6am (normal) but then again by Dulce at 7am who was heading off to Villa. Once she left locking the front door behind her, I settled comfortably in my bed thinking I was alone in a house and could just sleep for a bit longer :) A wonderful idea. Until 7:30 that is, when I was shaken out of my bed by the screams of David in my window and Lili and Alex banging on the front door haha. They were sent to get me for breakfast arriba. But first we had to find leña for the fogón. We went up a hill where a ton of trees were cut down and machete in hand, started chopping. There were three piles so I took one despite Lili calling me crazy. I guess cuz I'm American, I don't know very much and am not strong. So to prove myself worthy of a campo-vida, I picked up a pile and carried it way arriba (including through a little river!). You know how it is ;)

When we made it, my host mom's mom and dad were going on and on about how incredible it was that I could do that. They laughed, fed us breakfast, and then had us go out for another set. This time upon returning, however, they demanded a picture of me holding it all. They took my phone, I reloaded my arms (since I had already threw it all down), and they took a photo. And later, raved to Dulce about it and showed her. 

Next impressive Julie move was when we went to go help Dulce with all the things she brought from Villa. We met her by the thruway and she had four huge bags filled with groceries. Following Dabid's lead, I picked one up, threw it up on my shoulder and started walking. Twice Ducle made me lower it so she could take something out to help with the weight but they got a kick out of the fact that I was able to carry that too. And I thought I got stares from the community before? Hahaha oh no. Now if I'm feeling self-conscious, I'll just carry a big bag on my shoulder through town ;)

Next (yup, there's more!)! After lunch we were hanging out, bored, with no luz. Lili had a big stick and I said jokingly (but hopefully), "Vamos a jugar pelota?" And to my delight, she said yes! But was half joking because she followed up with, "Tú no sabes como jugar pelota." I laughed at her and said, "Let's go, then! I'll show you!" She and I were a team and David, Alex, and another boy about 10 years old (who's name I don't know cuz I haven't seen it written down yet...) were the other. Dulce, her mom, and her dad came outside to watch. We played till 10 home runs and Lili and I won :D I think I had 8 of those points Haha we used a thick stick for a bat and a ball made up of the strands you can pull from a corn sac. The last inning before we won, the boys were bating and I was pitching. They had two outs and the boy was up to bat. I pitched, he swung, he missed. I pitched, he swung, and hit it hard and fast just out of my reach on my left. I threw out my hand not thinking I would make it in time but just as he cracked the ball, it hit my hand. I stood there arm extended for a second, not believing myself that I had just caught it. The boy took one step towards first base and as soon as he realized I caught it, stopped, and his jaw dropped. Hahaha soooo funny. That was the talk of the next twenty minutes. I can't tell you how good it felt to finally be good at something in front of all of them and to actually do something active!

To celebrate we went to a river, swam, wrestled, and ate mango. I was very happy. I may sound like I'm boasting but seriously, I really did nothing spectacular. But it was so funny how I impressed they were. And don't worry, my head shrunk back down later when I went to go visit Linda. She, another woman, and I were chatting on the porch and they noticed the ugly cosas on my feet. They were talking and I thought the lady was asking me about the sugar I put on them. So she asked, "¿Azucar baja or alta?" Not really understanding, I answered, "Crema" because I had put brown sugar on them which is called Azucar Crema. Well. They just about died laughing. In fact, the lady was laughing so hard that she farted. Twice. Hahaha what she was asking was whether I had low blood sugar (baja) or high (alta). Oh man it was the best. But despite them laughing at me so much they were kind about it. Once they settled Linda said, "It's nothing, Julie don't you worry. You've already learned so much so fast. You'll keep learning everyday."  :)

And for the rest of the night I just listened, understanding hardly anything (except for the twenty minute speech about how something is coming to the US, the DR, and Puerto Rico (why only those three? I don't know); a huge wave sent by god; and everyone needs to proclaim aloud that Jesus Christ is their Savior in order to be saved from this wave... including me because she doesn't want to get sent to heaven without me because she cares about me so much, and it will save my family too, and... Yea haha), and watched the sky light up pink with lightning and daydreamed back to this morning where I was finally seen as a capable human being who could also play baseball ;)  And I was content.

Buenas noches.