I'm Official!
Trip Start
Feb 28, 2008
1
3
6
Trip End
May 10, 2010
Samaná Peninsula,
Samaná Peninsula,
Dominican Republic
Monday, May 12, 2008
Cell Phone Number: 1-809-467-2786. It's pretty easy to call the DR, just check your international calling rates with your phone provider or purchase an international phone card.
Status: Official Peace Corps Dominican Republic Volunteer
Hola Mis Panas,
Como está todos y todas? I hope that all is well and this election season isn't driving you nuts back home. I hear it's really heating up. If you're tired of seeing/talking/thinking/debating about it, I can definitely say that I understand. On May 16th, there is a presidential election here in the Dominican Republic, which has been the center of the nation's attention for months
Letter from JFK
. We were warned about this during our staging in Washington, D.C. back in February and were advised to not wear the any of the political party colors and to stay out of riots and rallies. This election is very important. The way it works it is a democratic process and the winner must win with a majority of 50% + 1. If the winner does not have a majoring, there will be a run-off election between the two top candidates in following months to come. Friday, May 16th is a National holiday just for voting. Instead of just a two party system (as in the States), there are seven presidential nominees, which of those, the top three garner the most attention. There are many fanatics here and lots of rallies with hundreds of thousands of people involved. To that end, this week Peace Corps has issued a "standfast" to all volunteers in the country. This means, that we are to stay in sites or wherever we may be and are not permitted to travel. It should be exciting this week in the country. I just hope everything goes smoothly! And, if the elections aren't news enough, gas and food prices have certainly taken center stage. Dominicans are paying almost $6.00/gallon of gas. I'm truly glad to not be driving a car either here or at home. But, as a volunteer in the poor class, I feel the pinch too. Prices for guagas (public minibuses) and taxis have increased and the cost of rice has increased. I'm fortunate to be living in an agriculturally rich area of the country and to be enjoying coffee, mangos, papaya, cacao, and coconuts very frequently.
Okay, enough chat! I have BIG NEWS! Last week I received my official Peace Corps Placement = my site for the next two years! I have happily accepted. Now, I am living in the little village just outside of the pueblo of Samaná in the Samaná Peninsula (the northeast part of the country)
Los Haitises National Park
. Samaná is known as one of the most beautiful parts of the Dominican Republic for its fabulous beaches, whale watching during the winter months, and laid-back, island-vibe culture. It's beautiful here. My little village is about a ten minute motoconcho ride outside of the pueblo Samaná. I live with a family of six in the village and we're less than 2 minutes walking to the coast. I don't have cell phone reception inside of my house, but outside by the beach I can get reception. It's not really a nice beach, but it's a beautiful waterfront. The culture in the Village is very warm and friendly. I feel like I have a home in everyone's house and definitely many new places to eat! Since I'm a follow-up volunteer in this site, folks are pretty familiar with Cuerpo de Paz and why I'm here. They understand I'm not a tourist, that I'm not loaded with money and that I'm here to work with the youth. The community is religious, specifically Evangelist. There is no drinking here, people don't party and I haven't seen any dancing yet. So far, I don't feel restricted. I'm here to work and there are plenty of places to head to if I'm need of getting out of the community-first and foremost, the pueblo of Samaná. Samaná is a touristy kind of town with a great Malécon, expensive hotels and a few of those international type restaurants more common in larger cities such as Chinese, Italian, French, and of course, seafood cuisine. I'm finding both Samaná the pueblo Samaná the peninsula to be the kind of place that can accommodate the independent, backpackers and high rollers alike
Muchachas de Brigada Verde
. From Samaná, you can easily get to the pueblos of Las Galeras and Las Terrenas and it's about 1˝ hours from Playa Rincon, one of the top five beaches in the entire Caribbean. I can't wait to check these places out! And, I can't wait till I have friends and family to visit me and go exploring with ;-) The past two weeks have been busy ones. I spent the first week in my site just checking out Samaná, meeting the muchachas, and learning about my assignment. Then, last Sunday, I returned to Santo Domingo for my last week of training, final exams, and for graduation. Graduation was a very nice affair. I wish I could have shared it with all of you who have been my supporters the last, shall we say five years?, that I've been desiring to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. The ceremony took over an hour. We sang both national anthems and took our oath in both Spanish and English to protect the U.S. and serve as Peace Corps Volunteers. Our U.S. Ambassador to the DR swore in my class of 36 volunteers. Speakers included a representative of the office of the Primera Dona (first lady), Head of State of the Environment in the Dominican Republic, our Dominican Republic Peace Corps Director, and an official of USAID who is also a former Peace Corp Volunteer.
A word about the PCDR Country Director and staff: Our staff is incredible
Our PCV Lounge
. They support all 160 volunteers in all the country every day. Our Country Director is an intelligent man who cares deeply for his job, Peace Corps, and believes in its mission. In fact, he himself was one of the first Peace Corps Volunteers in 1963. In his office, he has a framed personalized letter of congratulations from the desk of John F. Kennedy written to him before JFK's death, which was delivered after his assassination. The entire PCDR staff is committed, attentive and responsive. To me, it's super cool to meet government officials who are achieving such positive work paid for by the U.S. people. On graduation day, our Country Director closed his speech with this challenge to us new volunteers, "Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is more than you representing your country, and more than you representing yourself. You are representing your fellow Americans." I found these words to be inspiring and meaningful. His words touched me. Having my fellow Americans (all of you) in my heart, and in so, representing you with integrity, is a gift that I take seriously. In that moment, I committed my energy to trying everyday to do my job to the best of my abilities. So, What Am I Going to Do?
My position is working with a group of 12-16 year old muchachas, called Brigada Verde, in environmental issues
Peace Corps Office, Santo Domingo
. Brigada Verde is somewhat like what 4-H was for me growing up. This all-girl group is an amazing, empowered group of youth leaders who have been targeting environmental issues in their community with the support previous Peace Corps Volunteer for the past two years. I'm a follow-up volunteer in this site. After the past volunteer left, the youth initiated a request for support themselves, impressed my boss with their desire for more knowledge, and succeeded in their request for a follow-up volunteer. I'm thrilled to be working with such driven individuals and smart young women. The first three-months in my site are designed for me to complete a community diagnostic. This will help me learn more about my community and our specific needs. I will then go to a conference to co-present, along with the muchachas of Brigada Verde, the information learned. Some project ideas that I have at this point are soil conservation, gardening, and moneymaking. There is also a possibility of starting a stove project to make more environmentally friendly and healthier cooking stoves. For a secondary project, I would love to begin a history project to highlight the rich culture of the region.
Your History Lesson for the Day
Samaná is a rich amalgam of various cultures and many nations have historical claim here including pirates, the U.S, Haiti, France, Germans, Spanish native peoples, and more
The Mail Room
. The history of the area is absolutely fascinating. Here's some of what I know:The early history is that native peoples have lived here for centuries before the invasion of the white folks. There are caves with drawings and sculpture as evidence in the National Park, Los Haitises.
In January 1493, Christopher Columbus arrived at Playa Las Flechas, (just down the road from me!). The Spaniards loosely ruled the Dominican Republic for two centuries, finding more use in the port of Havanna, Cuba. These centuries did three things: first, made way for pirates to utilize the mangroves and islands nearby as hideouts, second, it created a mulatto society of Spanish settlers, Africans, and pirates, and third, divided the colony of Hispaniola between France and Spain, with the western half becoming Haiti.
1n 1795, Spain traded the Dominican Republic to Napoleon Bonaparte in exchange for territory he controlled in Spain; Bonaparte drew up plans for Samaná to be the New World capital.
The next few years were chaotic. There were lots of strategic plays on the behalves of the world's colonial powers, U.S., Britain, Spain, and France. At this time, Haiti was the wealthiest colony and prized as Prima Dona of colonies in the New World being wealthy in slaves
The Peace Corps Library
. In my history lecture, I learned that England "thought about" trading the whole entire 13 colonies to France for all of Haiti. Haitian became the 2nd free republic in the New World 1804 and the French surrendered their claim in the island.
On February 27, 1844, the Dominican Republic gained full independence. Briefly the DR returned to Spanish rule in 1861 and then independence again in 1865.
The USA has militarily intervened or occupied the DR at two different times in DR history: first, in 1916-24 under Theodore Roosevelt and in 1965.
Among the older population, there are many English speakers descended from African American freeman who relocated to Samaná. I understand there are harvest festivals held from August to October to celebrate this history. As you might imagine given this unique cultural history, the people physically look different here than in the rest of the Dominican Republic. I have also read that after the Civil War, President Ulysses S. Grant was negotiating to make Samaná the U.S. main Caribbean port as a state, but our isolationist Congress rejected the proposal. I'd like to begin a project with my new community to help highlight the diversity of the area as I think this type of project could help build community solidarity AND raise money with the help of tourists
View from my Village
. Who knows, there could be a museum in the future of Samaná :-)So, it's my very first week of being "on the job." I'm thrilled this day has finally come. It's been a long road to get here. As much as I have trained and prepared for this, it's still a little intimidating. I know it seems like two years is a long time, but as fast as the first 10 weeks have passed, I know my time will fly by. I hope that at the end of this I found my time to have been productive and meaningful. I hope others will benefit from my service here. I want to learn as much as possible. I want to take advantage of all the incredible opportunities in front of me. I feel like I have already learned so much both personally and professionally in my experiences both with Peace Corps and in my previous two Dominican communities. I know there is a lot of work to do and I'm ready. So, now you know where I am. Feel free to write me back with your ideas, comments and wisdom. And, definitely, wish me luck!
Yours truly,
Jennifer
