My first visitor from the states, my bestie!
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!
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