Computer Classes Sign-Ups, Swimming Hideout and the Smell of Nueva Yol…
I walked up to the Club and there was no one there at 2pm. I thought I had done enough advertising for the Manejo Básico classes I was starting but it seemed like I didn't do enough because the Club was empty and I was already running late. I just thought to myself "1. Okay, I guess nobody in my community likes me, 2. Maybe this is better for me so I don't have to teach these classes and I can focus on other things, 3. Que vergüenza and 4. Damn it I bought brindis and refresco and nobody is going to show up, what a waste of pesos." Just when I was feeling desesperada, one by one all the dominican folks started showing up. At about 3:30pm I packed it up and went home with 7 classes full thinking "1. What just happened? and 2. Cool, I have some refresco and brindis leftover to give to my family." But then again, holy crap, I have 7 classes and they don't start till next week which means I know people will continue asking me if they can sign up until then. Which they did. People came to my house and signed up and now the 7 classes are full. Actually there are a few classes overbooked (oops) and a waiting list. And of course I really attempted to be organized (I made a schedule with colored coded cells, use my calendar and a planner) and I still managed to start classes at 2pm on Monday even though I have a meeting for my youth group. Whoops. Guess I will have to start off those classes with a class cancelled. Yikes. I am going to be here for 2 years people, I really should have thought this through a bit more. So yep, I am starting my classes this Saturday and I am not feeling scared to teach but to be a good teacher. I just really hope they learn and they have fun. Teaching technology can be boring.
So all this week I have been prepping for my classes which pretty much means just hanging out looking at the PC resources hard drive looking for already made power points and such. I found some but they are really techy which even I can't understand so I may use them but tweak them a bit to have some Sabrina flair. You know how I do!
I did manage to bike to a Recreational Club just outside of Moca (takes 20 minutes) and signed up to be a member. I will let you know that you have to know someone to be a member but I met the owner of the club when I signed up and he signed me off. Sweet. So now I have a pool, ping pong tables, billiard tables, every sport court, wifi and a cheap restaurant to hideaway from everything. I am excited. It's not exactly a cheap membership but it will definitely be nice to swim some laps and get back into shape. I am through with running! So that's an exciting story of my week.
Things have been a little crazy here at the house with my dona as well. If I have not cleared up the story about my family, they basically are living at a house that belongs to my Don's sister who lives in Nueva Yol, (or Providence but everyone in the DR thinks the US is Nueva Yol, its kind of funny and sad at the same time). They have lived here for like 7 years and its really nice but my doña hates it because its not her house so my Dons family comes and goes whenever they want leaving my Doña to cook, clean and slave over them because she really is on their turf. Sucks. Anyways, the home owner just arrived today which was awkward, "Uh… hi I've been living in your house for about a month now and you don't know me but I am a good person." She didn't seem to care, must have been the jet lag. Ha. But she was very nice as is all of my Don's 12 siblings. Anywho, she brought along her 10 year old daughter which is very cute but very spoiled as I have noticed all Americana-exposed children are. Just last week there was another Dominican York little girl visiting who came to play with my hermanas, she pretty much cried all day. She cried when my hermanas beat her in Uno (I taught them well), and she cried when the night got so unbearably hot and there was no luz for the fans. Suck it up. Haha. So here's a story that made me think.
I was sitting i the living room drinking my tea and eating crackers (I have a cold and my doña makes this delicious tea that clears me up, I love her so much, she even cut me up some piña, for those who know me, know I love my piña!) The visitors brought over some American movie DVD's including the new Toy Story 3 so I was excited to watch it (even though it was in spanish, its just not the same without Tom Hanks and whoever plays Buzz Lightyears voices) As I was sitting there, the little girl came in the room biting the head of a baby doll. Hmm.. I thought … weird. She gave the doll to my hermana Luci who then put the doll to her face and smelled the dolls face and clothes. "Mmm… she smells so good." Luci said. "My spit?" the Dominican York girl said (I should know her name by now but I don't) and Luci said "No, her clothes, it smells of Nueva Yol…"
I don't know why but listening to her say that really made me think. I wonder what Nueva Yol smells like? Last time I visited it smelled like sewer and heat. No offense Dohy :) I almost wanted to grab the doll and smell it too. I think it's quite amazing how dominicans see the US. For once, they don't call it the US but Nueva Yol, like nothing else matters but New York. And is it really that much better than the DR? I see the little spoiled girls that come to visit and they are so spoiled that I can't stand it. My hermanas are used to not getting new clothes and toys. They were telling me the other night that they get in line every christmas to get some regalos from the Sindico and every year they never do. It's sad but I think they are so tough and so wonderful. They never cry, they never make a fuss about anything. I guess thats how you have to be in order to survive. If anything, my hermanas deserve toys and stuff because they are such good girls. I wish I could take them to the US and educate them like they have educated me. Just another dominican story to think about…
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