Livin' La Vida Loca
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2008
1
16
29
Trip End
Oct 29, 2010
Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic
Sunday, March 1, 2009
ROLLERCOASTERS: perfectly explain this Peace Corps experience; ups and downs. Fortunately, there are much more ups than downs, but last week was kind of a downer for me. I tried to start my English class and only three students showed up so I ended up postponing it until the beginning of March. I also had spoken with a representative from Plan International that was going to come to a meeting (that he scheduled) and did not show up where we were going to start a youth group, community newspaper, painting murals, etc. It's all part of international development I suppose, but it is hard when things don't go to plan, which frequently occurs.
THE BEE: I went to my friend Dan's site along with another volunteer, Jonathon, to see his community and enjoy the fiesta that they had called Patronales, where they give thanks to their patron saint of the town (each community has one). We were able to see a lot of his agriculturally based community, including the farms and the river. While we were swimming in the river, I felt an uncomfortable prick on my neck. I reached to feel what it was and grabbed a stinger from a bee. I had never been stung by a bee and quickly remembered the medical presentation from our PC Nurse Jo, where she told us if we had never been stung by a bee we should still carry around an Epi Pen in case our respiration system fails us by an allergic reaction. To say the least, I freaked out a bit but alas, I'm still alive and writing this blog entry. Or is it from the beyond...?!
A SMALL, SCARED CHILD: On that same trip, some of Dan's host family was visiting from the capital and brought their small daughter along. The second she saw Jonathon for the first time, she started screaming and ran away. We could not stop laughing because she was clearly scared because she had never seen a large, white man before. Every time they brought her back out she kept crying and trying to run away from him. He was especially hurt being that he's a Youth volunteer.
COMING FROM THE CAPITAL: is always a relief. In the capital, it's almost like being back in the states with a faster pace of life, but I miss being back at my site after a while. It's just so much slower and tranquilo, where I'm not constantly being bombarded with noise, pollution, and big buildings. It is also nice coming back and being well received by the people of my community who are happy to have me back in town.
LOS PERROS TRISTES: Dogs in this country are treated so poorly. They are malnourished, hit and have rocks thrown at them, and disease ridden. It is unfortunate to see coming from a society where most families have a pet that is like member of the family. The other day I was walking on the main road where a dog ran out in front of a car and was hit hard being thrown 100 yards by the car. People from the community came to see the dog, poked it, and then threw rocks at it to make sure it was dead. I think the dog is in a much better place now, that's for sure.
OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE: In my service I have seen the difficulties of a third world country, but last night I was really faced with it up close and personal. One of my Haitian friends, Tigados, came to visit me and proceeded to tell me that he needed help building a house for him and his girlfriend since he doesn't have the money. He spoke of the materials he would need and how, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, he knows that I can help him because it's my calling; it's why I'm here. It was hard to swallow because I don't have the money to give him on a Peace Corps stipend and I don't know how to go about getting materials for his house. He's a great friend that has helped me with my house and my feeling safe here, so I did not how to address the situation other than saying "I'll find a way."
ON A LIGHTER NOTE: I have been busy recently! With planning projects out, meetings with the mayor and community groups, and living on my own, I don't find myself bored very often any more. Things here still take longer to implement than they do in the states, but it is becoming easier to deal with and I am understand how to work with the people in the community in a way where both of our ideas are satisfied.
