Living Life in Slow Motion
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2008
1
4
29
Trip End
Oct 29, 2010
Juan Lopez,
Dominican Republic
Friday, September 19, 2008
MY NEW FAMILY: is pretty different from my first family. I live with my Doņa, Don, and their grandchild, Yense, who is the most adorably LOUD 5 year old boy. My doņa thinks I donīt eat because I canīt finish all 8 pounds of food on the table, including plantains, yucca, potatos, fried eggs, avocado, and salami ALL douced in oil. The new diet is a little odd and Iīm trying to eat as healthy as I can, but sometimes it is difficult. Though the produce is amazing here. I eat great fruit and vegetables from time to time. My don has few teeth and only makes gestures with his body to communicate with me - there are a lot of thumbs up.
JUSTINīS EXCELLENT ADVENTURE: was the most ridiculously, Indiana Jones like, day of my life in a long time. I went with 4 other friends and one of my friendīs homestay family, which was 30 people, on a hike to a river. We all thought that it was going to be an easy hour hike on a path to a river. Boy, were we wrong. It was a 3 hour hike through brush, trees, bushes with thorns, falling guavas, snakes, and climbing up and down rocks. The thing that made it so funny was that everyone in this family participated, including old men drinking rum the whole way, women carrying 8 month old babies, and children...a lot of children. We eventually made it to this gorgeous small waterfall and were able to swim in the refreshing water base.
LIFE IN GENERAL: is so different here. Bucket baths, reading by candle light, and sitting on the porches with every family in the neighborhood while sipping on coffee. It is such a giving community, not to mention visually stunning, yet the poverty is ever-looming. The education system is a disaster and only so many women actually hold jobs. Again, itīs a developing country so these issues are continually, well, developing, but it is difficult to see so many injustices in one place.
Iīm having a great time with the other volunteers, learning spanish in a classroom that is a terrace, overlooking a valley of palm trees, and am getting to know a new community. Iīm excited to see what is next, even if it may be scary at the same time. This experience is making me go outside my comfort zone by having to interview members of the community, present myself in front of the whole church community (tomorrow..ahhh), and be able to try and get to know the people that I will eventually work with. What an experience...
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Comments
what an amazing life experience!
Justin,
Each time that I read one of your posts, I feel as if I am on the journey with you. Of course, I would not have wanted to do the hike~ even to the amazing waterfall! :) You are making such a difference in these people's lives~ even just by sharing a cup of coffee. And, you are making all of us who read your entries realize just how vast the world is~ and how simple our lives should be. If we could just connect and protect each other, what smiles we would share.
I look forward to reading more~
Judy
Living the PCT dream
Justin-
It so makes me miss and remember my two months of training in the Philippines well over two years ago. Community maps, speaking in fornt of large community groups and soaking in the strong sense of community and beauty all around. Amnognst as you said, so much poverty and injustice.
Soak in every moment my friend you are on the ride of a life time!
So gald you are doing Peace Corps! Was thinking of you alot during teh recent storms hope you were not hit too hard.
Best,
Sherry