It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…

10:14 AM | Posted by Bri

10-25-10

Okay so it's not even Halloween yet and it's way ahead of Thanksgiving but here in the DR it feels like Christmas is around the corner. I didn't think Christmas was even that big of a holiday celebrated here but apparently not. They even put up trees and lights! Everywhere I go I see Christmas decorations which is really making me ancy to go home. I finally bought my flight to go home for the holidays and seeing all these decorations is putting me in the mood for family time and cold weather. Both of which are not applicable in the DR. There is a house here in Las Lagunas that is already covered from wall to wall with Christmas lights. I really can't wait to see it all lit up. It's absolutely hilarious because here in the DR there is hardly electricity to power my refrigerator but this house is going to power 600,000 light bulbs of ornamental lights (figure came straight from the lady who said she used that many light bulbs the year before). It's insane. But you can imagine how many dominicans love passing by her house. The doña that owns the house told me she got the idea from houses in the US she had seen on tv. Now she does it every year and enjoys her 15 minutes of fame in Las Lagunas as the "house with the lights". Apparently her house draws such a large crowd even the local news channels come to broadcast her home. 

In a place like the DR it is really unbelievable that someone will cover their house with lights when there isn't even enough electricity to power all of them. She probably needs like 4 inversors and 16 batteries alone to power all the electricity she will be wasting starting in November. And guess what, I'll be there front and center to enjoy it all. Because even though I think this lady is crazy, she is still doing a public service to everyone in Las Lagunas sharing her Christmas spirit for all to enjoy. Thanks crazy light lady. I'll post pics when the show begins!

Read Users' Comments (0)

Tipping the scales and plans until home…

10:13 AM | Posted by Bri

10-22-10

I wouldn't be true to my blog and my experience if I didn't write about my frustrations about my weight gain while being here in the DR. It pretty much is on my mind everyday because of countless dominicans reminding me I gained weight and my daily need to exercise in order to eat some rice. Since I have arrived to this country, I have gained about 20 pounds. Shocking isn't it? I am not a small girl and I will admit when I came in I wasn't exactly Miss Fit but I was smaller. Before I came to the Peace Corps I was a committed athlete with 2 a day practices and plenty of outdoor activities. Now my body is in shock from the lack of activity I do when compared to before arriving in country. Everyday I do some kind of activity, whether it be running in the morning, walking to work, biking to Moca, swimming at the Rec center (which I stopped dong because they wanted me to pay lots of money) or doing calisthenics at home. But just like my project partner "I guess it's not enough." Jerk. 

I really feel that my body is retaining a lot of water which is weird because I sweat at all times of the day. Because I am not seeing results and only seem to be getting bigger, I feel it's affecting my work because I am so uncomfortable. I guess you can say this is bad. Also things in site are becoming a bit boring so I am trying to do new things everyday to keep things fresh. I bought my ticket home so I think that also is making me feel homesick and aching to get out. 

So before I go home in December I have made a few goals, one being lose weight so people at home don't sound like the dominicans here (you gained weight!), finish my basic computer classes on a good note (so far the class is going well, there are a few of annoying instances but nothing worth crying this time, haha), and to win the Encargados del Futuro conference movie contest. My EDF group is my motivation everyday. I know they can produce good work and I am excited to show the rest of the volunteers my amazing group. 

Read Users' Comments (0)

The Hermanas Mirabal Museum

12:26 PM | Posted by Bri

10-7-10

Recently I finished reading a book by dominican author Julia Alvarez, called "In the Time of the Butterflies." The book is a romance of the story of the Hermanas Mirabal, 4 sisters from the dominican republic who fought against the dictator Trujillo in the 50's-60's. Trujillo was a dictator of the DR ruling for 30 years until he was assassinated. He basically did a lot of good things for the country (allowed women to vote, cleaned up the streets, created order) but also a lot of bad things (killed hundreds of haitians, spread fear amongst the country for those who disobeyed him, raped hundreds of girls as young as 14). Since living here I have been increasingly interested in the history of this country so reading this book sparked more interest in the heroic sisters. There was also a film that just came out starring Michelle Rodriguez called "Tropico de Sangre" about the sisters which was based on Julia Alvarez's book. I wasn't so impressed with the film but it still hasn't taken away my interest from the story.

Apparently Las Lagunas is about 20 miles away from the home of these sisters which today is a memorial museum honoring the sisters. I was ecstatic to find time to make my way over there when one of my students Arleny (bless her heart) volunteered to take me to the museum with her dad. Sweet!

You can imagine how excited I was to do something different and get a free car ride. Arleny and her father were so nice when we got to the museum they refused to let me pay the donation admission and even bought me a hat and keychain souvenir. Dominicans aren't easy. 

The museum was pretty much amazing. Not so much because it had all of the sisters beautiful 50's clothing, jewelry, furnishings and kitchenware still intact but because seeing the gorgeous wooden house they lived in still standing was so cool I seriously just wanted to move in. My first impression was that the Mirabal family were rich because the house was so grandiose it really is a mansion in these days so I can only imagine their status in the 50's. Apart from the gorgeous house, the museum had huge beautiful yards with gardens and flowers and statues filled with artistic butterflies symbolizing their underground names during the revolution, "mariposas." 

I really don't consider myself an expert on the story and am still searching for more books on the subject but being able to see their house and the museum was really a nice treat. I hope to return soon.



Read Users' Comments (0)

My life as a geisha in the DR…

12:25 PM | Posted by Bri

10-3-10

It's really funny, since I have been in the DR I have read a lot of books, some good some really bad but either way the book that I am reading at the moment seems to affect my life at that point in time so much. When I was on my David Sedaris trip, I was so cynical about stuff and I thought so vividly to myself joking about every little thing. When I read "The Curious Case of the Dog in the Nighttime" I found myself overanalyzing everything, thinking mathematically about formulas and equations in my head about everything around me just like the main character. I just finished reading "Memoirs of a Geisha," which I am thoroughly enjoying but is also again affecting my daily life. I come to find that the life of a geisha is somewhat similar to the life of a peace corps volunteer in many ways. For one, there is a great deal of training which one must really grasp or at least look like they know all about it or do it in a pretty way. Yep that happens to PC volunteers, some volunteers come in country not knowing anything about their sector so just appearing like you know something is big. Ha. Another thing, our reputation is huge in our communities just as geishas. If we are seen with the wrong people we are automatically sized to be like those people whether it be good or bad and our reputation is judged daily. We come into our communities fresh and exciting then in a couple of months we are those old geishas that nobody wants around anymore. We have to keep inventing stuff to make ourselves popular all year long. 

Us volunteers like geishas also, are hot commodities. Whether its a boy or a girl the volunteers have this allure that dominicans love. We can take them `pa 'lla and they think we likely have lots of american dollars so they hit on us in any way possible. Even if we are out jogging, sweating and gross, there surely will be a dominican throwing you a ridiculous piropo. Really? I'm running here! Sometimes like a geisha I have felt like a prisoner in this role of a Peace Corps volunteer as well. I have to be the perfect volunteer which means the perfect American who must always say yes to everything and follow hundreds of ridiculous rules. Although I have to admit we get away with a lot more, PC volunteers still are owned by the man. 

I guess sometimes I read way too into books and search for something about myself to connect to but I don't think thats a bad thing. Now I am reading "An Unquiet Mind," which for those who haven't heard of the book is about a very smart psychiatrist with manic depression. God help me. I was interested in the topic but after starting I realized maybe it wasn't such a good idea to read a mental disorder book. I'm trying to rush through it before it affects me and I start becoming manic depressive. :)

Read Users' Comments (1)comments

Here We Go Again, Manejo Básico 2…

8:34 AM | Posted by Bri


10-4-10

Welp, its October, time to start some more basic computer classes. I pretty much knew the drill from the time I woke up today. I said to myself "Okay, today we start classes, people aren't going to show up on the first day, others are gonna be late but whatever happens you are going to just chill out and not be nervous or worried." That's exactly what happened. I went to my morning class where there was a total of 2 people that showed up in a class of 10. Okay I get it dominicans, you are all bad asses, just don't be angry with me when other people take your spots and you start saying "I didn't know…" Annoying. Although I do kind of blame myself for a reason why maybe nobody showed up. On the signing up paper I put that classes would begin Monday the 5th instead of Monday the 4th. So I will give them that error on my behalf but I would hope just like the 4 people that showed up to my afternoon class that they maybe thought critically and said "Hey, maybe our teacher isn't perfect and she put the wrong date, silly proffe!" One can only hope.

So it goes without saying, day one always is a disaster in classes in the DR. The best thing is that I already had a round to learn all the dominicanisms of learning and teaching. Ha, jokes on you, I already knew you weren't going to show up sucka so don't tell me your excuses. We shall see how Wednesday goes. :)

Read Users' Comments (0)

My first visitor from the states, my bestie!

7:51 AM | Posted by Bri

9-28-10

So much has happened in so little time. I feel very tired and sore. Today my best friend Laura left on a 10:30am flight to Ft. Lauderdale then to good ol' LAX. I so wish I was on that plane. Before my first visitor I always felt like I could handle a visitor and that I missed home but it wasn't that I wanted to go home but I wanted home to come here to the DR. After Laura's visit I definitely don't feel the same way. Since this is my first encounter away from home it is surprisingly weird how much I miss home only after my first visitor. I think my lives finally clashed. My life back home in the states and the life I developed here in the DR. I have never really cried from being away from home (maybe once?) and when the day approached that my bestie was going to be leaving I definitely shed a couple of tears. It wasn't so much completely because SHE was leaving although having her around was a lot of fun but just the idea of her and everything at home was what hit me. Bottom line: I miss being home and am counting down until Christmas. Long way to go.

So let me recap all the wonderful things we did in a short time of a week.

Tuesday (9-21) Laura arrives, taxi man buys Laura a Presidente beer (he said first impressions are everything and he wanted her first impression of the DR to be good, wilson is cool) showed her the Peace Corps office, went back to America (haha just took her to the US embassy) went swimming in the US pool, had lunch then caught the air-conditioned express guagua back to my site. Unpacked and received the coolest gifts from home (this consisted of: sheets, table cloths, towels, shoes and dish towels from my fam, a cozy sweater i designed from D-ran (cool!), underwear, snacks and clothes from home that Laura got and head bands and a head lamp from Dee! (headlamp was the best of all Dee!)) then went out to the colmado and hung out with my neighbors where we played dominoes and Laura won 3 hands. Beginners luck. 

Wednesday (9-22) Went to my liceo to see the lab (there was luz so we stayed and worked a bit), went to my rec center in Moca for a swim, went to D'Jose's where we enjoyed delicious sandwiches and natural juices (Laura loved Chinola juice), went grocery shopping, went to my youth group class, sang happy birthday to Laura and ate DR cake then enjoyed the experience of having no luz in the nighttime. Today Laura also experienced every form of transportation the DR has to offer: We got in the guagua to Moca, took a carro to the rec club then got a bola (free ride from hitchhiking) back to the center of Moca, guagua back to Las Lagunas then motos to my house and walked to the youth class. Whew!

Thursday (9-23) Went for a morning run around the barrio then hiked up lots of hills to see beautiful views of Las Cruces, went to my doña's house to have lunch then headed into Moca to meet up with other Moca volunteers for our famous "Moca Nights." Basically went to Coffey (coolest bar) then everyone came back to my place and crashed after we made bean and cheese burritos. Haha. Lot's of fun!

Friday (9-24) We were supposed to go to another volunteer Magee's house but because of the remoteness of this site we couldn't find a way to get in and the weather wasn't allowing us to go on a hike to see the best part, a glorious waterfall and rio. So instead we decided to go to Cabarete (famous windsurfing beach in the north) and had a nice dinner at LAX. 

Saturday (9-25) Woke up and had a delicious breakfast at Friends (muesli, fruit and yogurt, deelish!) then hit the beach. The weather wasn't absolutely perfect so but at least she got to take a dip in the carribean ocean. Then we got lost on the beach and had to walk on the street in our bathing suits (why did we think we didn't need a towel?) Showered, then on a whim decided to go to Damajagua for the 27 waterfalls. I was nervous, I'm not gonna lie, but I can definitely say it was a trip highlight. We only did 7 of the 27 (cause I am a chicken) but I jumped off all 7 (there was one I asked to walk down after I climbed up but they wouldn't let me :) Laura bought a underwater camera so hopefully I can post some pics after I get them from her. Later on I found out I had a huge bruise on the side of my thigh from a jump, oops. After the waterfalls we headed into Santiago and ate dinner at Bioo-Light (delicious eggplant parmesan and chicken and mushroom crepes!) then took her to see the monument and walk around the beautiful lit streets of the city. 

Sunday (9-26) We realized everything on Sundays would be closed so we couldn't plan much for today. We just headed into Las Lagunas then had some lunch in Moca before heading back to my house to rest and repack. My neighbor was having a birthday party for her son in my car garage area so we enjoyed loud booming dominican music as we stayed indoors being antisocial. We did some calisthenics and went for a really good run and got some fruit for shakes, pineapple and lemon! :) Laura also cooked a delicious stir fry then we watched "Sicko" and went to bed. This was prob the best night only because it was what we would normally do if we were in the states, absolutely nothing. I loved it.

Monday (9-27) Last day before the bestie leaves and everything starting hitting me. We headed into the capital and decided to chill. We ate some sushi for lunch, took a nap then went to Calle El Conde to do some last minute souvenir shopping. I didn't have much money to spend to buy stuff for everybody so I just bought random gifts for myself (haha, a DR magnet, a bracelet and some earrings). I figure I would have to buy plenty more gifts when I come home in December so I would make that count. Best part of the night was going to the ladies night bar where we got free drinks and a delicious appetizer to help us get down all the strong drinks. I don't understand how they're free and still strong as hell. I had to have Laura drink my last drink (haha, weak sauce!) We enjoyed our last night of air-conditioning and cable tv. Or maybe that was just me? I never get that, it was great!

So now it's Tuesday and I am trying to organize my life again to start my classes Monday. Back to the grind! Teacher training, manejo basic classes, EDF youth group, possibly a girls group and I am gonna do brigade verde activities with a teacher every Friday. Man, good thing I have stuff to keep me busy until December!

Read Users' Comments (0)

Living on my own and my first visitor!

7:50 AM | Posted by Bri

9-20-10
I am really starting to get used to this living on your own business. It's been almost a month since I have moved out f my doña's house and am living on my own. I love it. Not that I hated living with my doña but I just find that I am a really private person so being alone is great. Maybe I am more anti-social, I dunno but I just like being in charge of my life. I live in a small community which is basically a col-de-sac where a handful of dominicans live. I live on the corner house right in front of the colmado so my place is well taken care of with frequent watch from the neighbors. Basically my house is perfect. It's small but perfect for me with an extra bedroom that I rarely visit. Usually I am not ever home and if I am I usually hang out at the colmado and play dominoe's with my neighbors until I get tired then come home to my cozy little house where I can be alone. Recently I just bought a blender. Sweetest thing I have purchased yet. I made gineo batidas yesterday which were delicious! Only vice is the lack of luz, which lately, has been ridiculously bad. But what can you do, you can only pay the bill and hope they send you luz when the times get dark. Probably the only bad thing about living alone is sitting alone in the dark by yourself. Haha. Then you just feel like a loser so you go to bed at 8:30pm. Other than the luz problem everything else is swell. I never run out of water because I have a huge tinaco that fills up everytime it rains and I am in control of what I eat which means I can cook and experiment with food and walk around my house in my underwear. The day I did that I knew, I was living alone.
Today I cleaned my house inside and out because of my planned visitor coming tomorrow. My bestie! I have a lot of stuff planned for her visit but nothing set in stone. I really want to take her everywhere I have been thus far but realize that would be far too much traveling and guagua rides for a weeklong visit. So I decided since she may have a return visit we can cogelo suave and just chill in my site for a bit then go see some rios and beaches and everything else that makes the DR pleasant. It is really going to be surreal for me to see my friend because I haven't seen her since I left and I think seeing her will really wake me up to think wow I am in the DR and she is someone from home in my past life. Sometimes you get so caught up in the DR that you don't realize that the people and the world in which you used to live in is still continuously going without you. Things aren't on pause just cause you are away everyone is growing u and changing. I wonder if I have changed other than my increasing weight. I guess seeing my bestie will let me know. I am also excited because she is the first person visiting me from the states. I want her to be completely overwhelmed with the DR. I want her to come here and be stuffed into a crowded guagua, get on a moto with a huge helmet, travel with huge overstuffed bags and get stuck in a random rain storm, eat platano and yucca and salami and fried cheese, dance bachata and merengue and at the end of it all say wow sabrina, your life sure is tough. then i would say yep, its a tough job but someones gotta do it, you know they say that peace corps is the toughest job you'll ever love and she'll say that i am an admirable person and then as i fold my arms in front of my chest and a cool breeze flows through my hair ill say i know. haha. 

Read Users' Comments (0)

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)