Lather, Rinse, and Repeat Every Day

July 31, 2013. 

    "To know one life has breathed easier because you have lived-

                             This is to have succeeded." 

I recently wrote about 6 inspirational quotes on white paper in colorful marker and hung them on my grey, cold, cement walls. I was getting desperate for something to boost my spirits since not much else has been working. I found them in the book, "Start Something That Matters" by Blake (forgetting his last name and don't feel like getting out of my mosquitero to look...McKoskie?) who is the founder of Toms shoes. Phenomenal book by the way, even if you don't want to start your own business.

But I found the above quote at the end of the book and literally almost dropped the book to the ant covered gallery floor... The other quotes I had we're great ("The more you give, the more you live" "Imagination is more powerful than knowledge" etc). But this one was different. It was exactly what I needed to hear. Exactly what I need to embed in my head and heart while I'm here fulfilling my service in the PCDR.

Each day I fill my head with uncertainties and worries that I haven't done enough. This damn Community Diagnostic has me going completely crazy. And while that is all on me, it's going to be okay. I'm pretty sure the Peace Corps isn't going to send me home if my presentation isn't perfect or if I didn't do enough interviews. 

So today I had my last day of summer classes. Knowing that only one kid from each class was going to show up, I decided it would be a fiesta day. I bought soda, suckers, and gum and brought books, puzzles, cards, Dominoes, paper and crayons, and a memory game. My plan? Refreshments, read aloud the book I love about a boy who eats books until he gets sick and then begins to read them, and play whatever they wanted to play. I also made silly little certificates congratulating them on passing summer classes :P

Alex came early so Samuel had a buddy to play with for his class. The three of us played for two hours straight. And for about a half an hour, they begged me to read more books aloud to them. 

Juan José came at his time and totally came out of his shell he had been hiding in all summer. His competitive nature busted through as he owned me in cards. Then Neftali (fifth grade) chose to read a book aloud himself. One that was above his reading level and quite long. Without a single complaint he continued to read each page and with a fluency I hadn't witnessed from him thus far.  After almost twenty minutes he finished and I could have broken down in tears (but I didn't!). With how short and infrequent the classes were, I hadn't expected to actually see much improvement from my students-which was okay since I'll be doing pull-outs during the school year to help more. But I saw it in him. And though he may not feel it yet, I hope that my (possibly over-) excitement made him see a little of the incredible spark he has inside him. 

We played Dominoes with Lili and David (Neftali then staying an hour after his normal class time and where he showed his insane mental math skills), I cleared out the classroom and headed home with my heart full. 

Or at least, I thought it was full. And then I ended the night with that quote. 

So the days when my vision and focus are on the looming task ahead of me and the cultural barriers that lie in-between me and reaching the sustainability goals of the Peace Corps, I must remember the little ones. With their Julie-melting smiles, contagious laughters, yearn for positive attention and love, and joy of the simple things in life; they are what matter in the end. If I only help a handful in two years, that's a handful more than if I would have stayed in the states... And with how I felt with the little improvement from Neftali? Wow... Here comes an emotional next two years.

Dad, I know you say this to me nearly everyday. I guess sometimes I just need to hear it, read it, forget it, live it, read it again, and listen to it 100X before it sinks deeper than my head and settles into my heart. And even though it hit me hard today and is happily sitting heavy in my chest, I know I'll need to be reminded again throughout my service.

So for my own sake, here it is again:

   "To know one life has breathed easier because you have lived-

                             This is to have succeeded." 

Lather, rinse, and repeat every day.

Buenas noches.

I Can Walk Around Naked!

July 30, 2013. So today I spent most of the morning doing my PowerPoint Presentation for August's Community Diagnotistic shenanigans. I may not have done enough interviews yet but I certainly have enough information already. Around 4, I headed over to see Linda and do my interview with her. First we visited a neighbor who was making arroz con leche in a huge pot over a fire in a half-built house. It was delicious, by the way, but my main focus was-wait, house being built? Can I rent it? When will it be done? I'm still happy with Dulce and Moreno but I've been itching real bad for some privacy lately. Being woken up constantly at 5:30am by Moreno showering, grossly (like, seriously disgusting) hacking and spitting, and making breakfast. And then feeling guilty when I want to talk to someone back home a little later than normal at night and they're already in bed. Also. Sometimes I just don't want to eat. So when I'm on my own, I won't have to. And I can willingly wake up at 5:30am like I've wanted to to start running. 

I asked Linda and she said they're building about 4 houses but renting halves. Meaning I'd have to share the house. Nope. As we walked back, however, I saw the house that Lucy (family of Dulce) lived in. They just moved to Santiago but had quite the decent house here. And written on the outside? "Se vende o se alquila" (which means "for sale or for rent") with a phone number!!! Ah! Linda and I excitedly talked about the possibility and she seemed to understand why I want to live on my own. The dialogue even went here...

Linda: And you could walk around naked! Be free! You understand.

Julie: Yea! With the windows shut!

Linda: (with a "Duh, Julie" face) Well, yea.

Listen Linda. My Spanish is limited. Sometimes in conversations, instead of saying whatever I want or whatever comes to mind (cuz 90% of the time, I can't), I sit and there and go, "Okay, what do I know how to say that would work in this context..." So in this case, I knew how to say, "With the windows shut." So I said it...knowing how incredibly obvious it was. Hahahaha

But anyways! Fast forward to the 31st for a hot second- I asked Dulce about the house and they're renting it for $1,500RD a month. Hahaha what a joke that sounded like since I'm currently giving Dulce $6,000RD a month. For one room and food... And I could get an entire house with three bedrooms, a living room, kitchen and INDOOR bathroom for $1,500? How does that make sense? Doesn't matter, I'm sold.

...until later that night when Dulce softly pulled me aside and goes, "You know, what we were talking about earlier... Is it mandatory that you move out? (Shoulda said yes...) Cuz if you're comfortable here, you're more than welcome to stay." 

AHHHHH Even they know how to guilt me here!! Totally not what she was doing but I know how much $6,000 monthly helps out here... I graciously knodded and thanked her but didn't say anything else. I kinda just wanted her little self covered only in a towel to go shower so I would say, "Okay...I'll stay."

I'll probably just wait a few days before asking how I can go about renting the house just to soften the blow a little...

I will miss a lot here and on the days I don't feel like leaving my room, the kiddos always save me and get me out into the world again (even when in the moment I might be pissed, it's a good thing). And I'll certainly miss not having to cook for myself. And the pride I feel every time Dulce says something and I actually understand it. But alas, I'm not moving into a different campo. I will just have to get out and visit a lot. Especially on the days I really don't feel like cooking ;) 

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