Time is flying by....
Trip Start
Sep 07, 2003
1
43
48
Trip End
Nov 26, 2005
El Arroyazo, Dominican Republic
Thursday, May 5, 2005
I am trying to think about where I should start and the first thing I can thing of is my project.
Things are going well and stress is starting to build. I have met with the health promoters and Judy and I are now meeting with the parents of the youth to sign 38 up for the class that will begin around the 15th of the next month. I am makings schedules and invitations, arranging meeting places, and transportation. Otherwise, I am surviving.
I think I am waiting for something, but I do not know what. Waiting to begin the classes, waiting to end the classes, waiting to finish my service, waiting to figure out what I am going to do after Peace Corps.
It is not exactly a comfortable moment for in my life, but hey we all have these moments.
This past Monday was "Dia de Trabajadores". Basically, everybody celebrates this day and either goes to the beach or the river and cooks out. I was invited along to the river with about 60 people from my community. I was impressed with the women from me community because they came with everything prepared, but just need to be put on the fire for a little bit, while everyone else was cutting and cleaning the meat or killing it. We ate plantains, rice, and either goat or chicken. The goat was seasoned so well that I just kept wanting more for the taste of it. I am definitely going to learn how this women seasons the meat. We cooked on the river and on the other side was a dance club. I swam and listened to some music. I enjoyed myself and would like to visit the place again.
After changing dona I have learned a lot about cooking here in the Dominican Republic. I can cook rice, beans, sauteed chicken, rice and pasta soup, soup with potatoes, and Sanzcocho. They use a lot of garlic, oregano, pepper, cilantro, onion, and seasoned cubes. So the food has a lot of flavor.
Just got the money for my grant and now I can start buying stuff and all the other stuff that goes along with it.
I know I do not have a lot to say this time, but hopeful the next e-mail will be better.
I hope to get some help from the friend of mine's daughter who is fashion designer and who might help me design my t-shirts for the youth. We'll see what happens. Wish me luck because this is a huge project and if it works will educate tons of youth on STD's, Self-esteem, Adolescent pregnancy, racism, how to be a Promoter, and so forth.
Well I have to go for now. I was wondering if anybody was in the mood to send a care package with stuff like
batteries (AA and AAA)
Peanut Butter
Floss
A good metal nail file
Listerine
Bath Cloths
White Sockes (After changing dona's my socks have become the possession of others)
Replacments for Razor (Venus)
Lemon Pepper
If you send the package you could put the stuff in Plastic containers or Zip lock bags
Or just think of what you might miss and throw it in
Thanks and if you can I would appreciate it.
Courtney
