5-6-10 11:03pm

Have I mentioned that I have my own room with my own bathroom, shower and sink? I am pretty excited about that, I just moved in and put my stuff away (well half of it) and I feel so at home. It is pretty weird that there is a restroom with no door that is pretty much a foot away from my bed but I figured it would be handy when, you know, I have a hangover and cant move from my bed to throw up in the toilet. Haha. Yeah right! I doubt I will be doing any drinking here. My project partners already told me I am not allowed to drink and that I am here to work! Yikes. 

Pretty much the stuff they want me to do is simple: Fix all 20 computers in the liceo (install educational software and deepfreeze and anti-virus software, clone all the hard drives), fundraise for a new inversor or for more batteries so we have electricity to use the computers, then in the summer I will be teaching all the teachers about the educational software and how to use technology to their advantage in the classrooms, then give some informatics classes myself to the community members, show other people that will become informatica teachers, start an array of different youth groups including brigade verde for environment, IT and sex education (I forgot the group names) and also be involved in the local church activities and the neighborhood watch then after this upcoming Saturday help run the new CTC (community technology center (in english)) being built down the street from my house. Not much at all right! The good thing is that my project partners are very supportive and are completely committed to me and the reason I am here. A little too much if you can tell. It's going to be ad to live up to their expectations but I am definitely going to try to do all this and more (youth sports groups and art activities!). I definitely feel that I have a lot of work to do but I think that is a good feeling that they want you to be involved in everything, they want my presence and they want my help. It feels really good to know that I am going to make a difference somewhere rather ha just teaching classes and something I don't want to do (English). So Sunday we return to Santo Domingo for more debauchery. Swearing in, PC prom, literacy training and more. Stay tuned!

5-4-10 11:09pm

I have arrived at my final destination: Las Lagunas near Moca in the northern cibao region. All I can say is Wows. (P.S. Thanks Adam for getting that word stuck in my head.) Heather, another volunteer lives pretty much 15 minutes away and we both live like an hour or so away from other PCV's and the Santiago region. I got the privilege to ride with Heather and see her site so now I know how to visit her. Yay. After dropping Heather off we headed toward my site and wow was I surprised. There were about 50 liceo kids waiting for me at a gorgeous house with balloons, cake, and signs saying "welcome" and all. WOWS! I pretty much was speechless, I got out of the car and everyone was staring at me, I felt like I should have done a cartwheel out the vehicle and danced an irish jig. I was absolutely nervous and there was pretty much everyone of my barrio at my house welcoming me into the town. I danced a little bachata with a random kid then they made me cut the cake. It was so cool, I couldn't have asked for a better site or welcoming party. I just wish others were here to see it. If this is the way they are welcoming me already I really hope I live up to their expectations and have all of them love me by the end of the initial 3 months. They were so excited to see me and I honestly was so excited to see them happy to receive me. I am truly blessed.

As far as the pad it is pretty much sweet as well. It is a nice ceramic house in walking distance to the places I am going to work and the family is so nice. There are 2 young girls (1 that reminds me of Emma) and 1 boy that goes to the liceo. Sweet, he can help me find friends fast! Also the doña is pretty young, I almost feel like I can't call her doña because that's kind of a wisdom sounding title that she is too young for. The don is cool and the room that they're having me sleep in right now is the master bedroom. WTF. There is actually a room on the side of the house that is a bit small but perfect because it has its own bathroom and its own shower. Exactly what I need! It even has its own lock and entrance into the kitchen, haha. I am pretty nervous still to actually start working. I feel like they are expecting so much from me and although I am ready to work and help them I hope that they don't expect too much and I fail. That would suck. I am trying to be optimistic though. 

So tomorrow I shall start meeting all the folks and start trying to put my name out there. Wish me luck y'all. I have so much work to do! I'm glad this day is over. No more nauseous nervousness. 

5-3-10 10:00pm

I'd like to dedicate this post to a very special someone that made me cry today. Emma, my niece. I got to talk to the folks from home because we were finally assigned cell phones (if you need the number send me an email!) and luckily I got to talk to Emma cause she was hanging out around the house. Except I immediately got so sad the instant I heard her voice. First she says "Hi Sabrina" which broke my heart (Haha, it didn't take much) then she continued asking me if "I was going to come home tomorrow." If you could only hear her high pitched little kid voice you would have died just like I did. I immediately had to hold back the tears and the awwwwlss… and tried to continue talking to her like normal. She then told me she was playing soccer and I asked her if she missed me and she said "Yes." Holy crap the eyeballs were running like faucets. Emma is probably one of the main things in my life that really keeps me going. As much as she is a huge brat at home, I can't help but love her to death and I have to admit I miss her the most out of everyone at home. She is the only one that I constantly watch home videos of and she always brings a smile to my face. This one is for you Emma, you're amazing and I miss you so.