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Ya Llege'
Entry 3 of 21 | show all | print this entry |
Hello, Hello! I just wanted to let everyone know that I arrived safely in the beautiful and WARM country of the Dominican Republic. Everyday is a small adventure within its self. I currently live with a family in a barrio (neighborhood) called Los Alcarrizos. I live with my Doña (mother), 2 hermanas (sisters) all though not near as great as my real sister :), and 3 (nietos) nephews. My nephews are 4,4,and 5, so you can imagine what my house sounds like on a usual day! I live in a farely well off house. This means that I typically have running water and electricity most of the time. The electricity turns off at least once a day if not more. We have running water, but there is a wash cloth over the shower head to keep the trash from coming through. I have a mix of 9 chickens and roosters that live in my back yard. We all know what roosters do at 5 in the morning, and 4 in the morning and 2 in the morning...well ALL of the time actually :) But this just adds to the bachatta music blared through the streets at all hours and the motoconches that have no mufflers. Each of these sounds which I am learning to love and appreciate. The DR is the second loudest country in the world, and these are some reasons why! I have a beautiful backyard filled with banana trees and other miscellaneous fruit that I have yet to identify, flowers and palm tress. It is like a mini paradise. I sleep under a mosquito net which is a lot of fun. If you can imagine the most humid day of your life and times it by 10 with no A/C, this is what it is like to sleep under a mosquito net. But, I am making progress...today is the first day I woke up to my alarm! Meaning that I hadn´t been lying there awake already for a few hours! It might sound bad, but it is actually great. This is a whole new culture and way of life that I m getting used to.
While here, I have also learned the art of dominos. At least I think I have. All of the boys tell me that there is no strategies, but I often catch them organizing their dominoes...hmm. I say boys because girls in the DR don´t typically play dominos.
I have also learned to cross the autopista (a major highway) that some what resembles an interstate with NO RULES! I believe there is supposed to be 3 lanes each way, but the Dominicans have turned it into 5 lanes each way.
I am attending training right now, and will be for the first 3 months. In order to get to training I have to catch a gua-gua. A gua-gua is a bus that they cram as many people in as humanly possible! It is generally so full, that even if you don´t hang on you will still be standing after the diriver routinnly slams on the breaks. Today we got pulled over by a cop because there were so many people that people wre hanging outside of the gua-gua. No worries! The driver promptly paid him off and we were on our way!
I then get into a carro public. This is some sort of public taxi. It generally consists of a small foreign car. You know, the kind you would generally put 4 people in comfortably. The driver won´t drive unless there are 7 passengers!
Well this has been most of my adventures so far. I miss everyone a lot. Please keep me updated on your lives, so I don´t fall to far behind. Don´t forget, I included my address in the first post, so feel free to write.
Saludos,
Jennifer
Latest Comments (14)View all comments
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Well Hello Captain Bires :) (reply)
Nov 30, 2005 15:27 EST by chrisk2415
Hi jennifer, (it's kempe in case you were confused)
So life sounds pretty crazy down there in the good old DR! Although I have to say I would love to drive on a highway with no damn rules!!!!(I got a speeding ticket in martinsville last week on my B-day!) Other than than i'm not doing anything too crazy, still working on getting into med school. I sleep in my apartment but i would trade you i... show all
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que pasa?? (reply)
Sep 19, 2005 14:41 EST by hayleerichardso
hey j! Sounds like you are getting tons of rest and smell really good. You never realize how valuable sleep is until you dont get any for a week straight, or how great a shower feels until you dont take one for 3 days. After last summer at camp, I came to appreciate the smaller things in like, like not having to wear shoes in the shower...or in your case, running water and not having to put a w... show all
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just returned! (reply)
Sep 18, 2005 08:41 EST by joelthiry
hi baby! i just got back from my two week trip out west with my brother. it was unbelievable. yosemite is the coolest place on earth. we hiked 17 miles in one day to this place called half dome that is exactly a mile drop off a sheer cliff once you hike to the top. i have a picture of me on the 'diving board' which is a little ledge that hangs over the edge that looks like a diving board. bet you ... show all
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Hola! (reply)
Sep 15, 2005 16:38 EST by diseroad11
Hey J! I'm glad everything is going well. Wash cloth over the shower head huh? Nice. At least you get running water and electricity most of the time. Well let's see here...I'm still working at Chili's and I took that job with Ameriprise Financial, but it doesn't start until the beginning of November cuz I had to get four different types of licenses so I can trade stock and tell people what to do w... show all
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hola chica (reply)
Sep 14, 2005 18:23 EST by tmjohnson
wow the dr sounds sweet and that is why i am going to come and visit you sometime! hopefully soon i miss you tons! i am so glad to hear that you have electricty and running water (somewhat)! the next time i take a shower i will be very greatful there is nothing over the shower head to catch trash! i am sure that makes for an interesting shower!
that is great that the family is nice and l... show all
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Hey! (reply)
Sep 14, 2005 16:44 EST by saramarie302
It is good to know you are doing well. Thank you for the great picture you have painted in my mind. I am so glad you are getting to experience so much. I know you will really enjoy it. Keep us updated on your life and life in the DM. Take care Jennifer and let me know if you need anything. I am sending you a letter tomorrow!
Love,
Sara
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Que bien! (reply)
Sep 14, 2005 15:09 EST by jspencer
Yo estaba entrevistando un hombre de Haiti hoy y me hace pensar en ti. Espero que todo vaya bien--suena como una aventura! I know you don't like me talking to you in Spanish, but we both need the practice=) Miss you and will be sending you the pics of the bars/Clemson/summer as soon as I get them developed. Te hecho de menos mucho!
Con carino,
Jenny
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Go Tigers! (reply)
Sep 14, 2005 11:38 EST by dsmith
Hello there! I am so glad that you are enjoying your 'adventure' so far. What an awesome experience. I will be thinking about you again tonight at our first Relay meeting...8pm at Brackett. What a great game last week!! Everyone at Clemson says hello and always asks how you are doing. Relay misses you and JB says hello. I will chat soon. Miss and love you.
Deb
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Man do I remember all that! (reply)
Sep 14, 2005 09:10 EST by tom_and_karla
Hi Jen! Great to hear everything is going well. Some might think, intermittent water & electric & straining your shower water is doing well! Yep that's a good day! I hope I can return in the future and visit with you. Karla & I have wanted to go back for some time. Don't be surprised if we show up one day! Keep us posted on your adventures! P.S. Don't drink the water! hehe
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MISS YOU ALREADY!!! (reply)
Sep 14, 2005 01:04 EST by mgreggo
It's Greg!!
Well... I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying your 'adventure.' And I'm glad you arrived safely and are doing well. Things here are staying pretty steady for me. The fraternity is progressing, and people are doing their jobs... FINALLY! I really think this semester is gonna be a change from the norm. I have been in contact with some people and we are finally gonna have a... show all
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