I am nestled on the second floor of the third house within the property my host family owns. There is a house for the grandmother, another for the daughter and family (husband, two girls, one boy), and the “garage” with a room and bathroom upstairs. That’s where I live! I couldn’t have asked for a better family and place to live. I have my own galleria area that is covered with trees, perfect for a yoga practice. So with my own key to the various fences and doors I have the freedom to come and go as I please. The grandmother and mom just left for New York for a few weeks. So I’ve organized to have my lunch with my friend Altagracia and I’ll be taking care of my breakfast, while the young gals here at the house cook dinner. My family has lived in New York for a few years so they and their kids speak English! It doesn’t help my Spanish but it makes communicating easier. It seems most of my town has some English background, which makes Spanglish the communication device of choice for me. However, Altagracia is going to be giving me Spanish lessons a few hours weekly until I get my articles down. I still fumble on the feminine/masculine parts of Spanish.
The campo that I get to live in for two years is squished within a shallow valley of rolling hills. There is a river that runs on one side of the town toward the damns that have been built here, of which there are three in the area. The views from the hills are amazing! On the hills there are crops of yucca, tobacco, corn, and bean. There might be more but I forget. I broke my camera during my site visit and have not yet tracked down my new camera from my PC friend who grabbed it for me while visiting Texas a few weeks ago. When I get my camera, I’ll be sure to put up some pictures. I tried running here the first week, but found out that all the hills here make it hard. Plus I’m not used to the altitude (I guess) so I’ll be joining the local gym. They don’t have a treadmill but they do have stationary bikes and two “elliptical trainers” that should help me get used to doing cardio at this altitude. I got one of my friends (who is here after 35 years of living in NY) to talk to the owner and get me a deal on the cost! I feel like this town and I will get along just fine!
The question of the week has been “What are you going to do here?” My canned answer is that I’m working with the CTC (Community Telecommunication Center) that was built by the office of the First Lady. My program is information technology, so I’ll be teaching computer classes, probably an English class too. However, for the next two months I’ll be walking around this community doing interviews to see what other kinds of things are needed. The past two weeks I’ve been getting to know people in the community, trying to build relationships. Since most people here have heard about me by now, because I was on the local radio and television stations this past weekend, I have gathered a buzz that should help me get through the 80 - 100 interviews with families in the area. I have ambitions to interview the younger people separate, as well as the teachers and community leaders. It seems like a lot of people and it is. But I think I’m getting a crew to help me tackle each group so it should come together, God willing.
I’ll start the interview process next week! Altagracia thinks we should get a big team together and go out and conquer the town in one day. However, I would like to go to various areas that I haven been to yet so that people can meet me. They might be more willing to answer questions from this cute American girl instead of someone they see all the time.
The campo that I live in is very quite. There is one club and a few pool halls that are sketchy so I won’t be going there to have fun. If I want a good time I’ll have to get to Santiago somehow. The gals who work at the CTC and I have been trying to get to Santiago to see a movie but so far we haven’t found a ride that works with out schedule. Being a “Mujer Seria” or “serious woman” I won’t be going out or drinking here at my site. I’ll have to save my wild times for when I get together with my PCV friends. I don’t need to be making friends with the wrong people because if one thing is true, reputations are where it’s at as far as respect goes.
I have been well accepted here and feel very much part of the community already! Showing up to a funeral and then going to the hour prayer sessions throughout the week and then cleaning the chicken carcasses for the fiesta on the 9th day will do lot for a reputation. Last week while in this family’s home I noticed how well the women here age. It could be that most die their hair black (or other color) which makes them look so many years younger but they are also strong and work hard to make sure all those around them are taken care of. These women here are very extraordinary. I feel like so much of the DR culture is to make sure guests feel like family. You would never walk into a Dominican home and not be offered a seat, coffee, soft drink, or food. That said, if you are every hungry or thirst just find your way into a house around 12 and you’ll get served lunch, regardless if you’ve never met the family. The other day I was walking down the street on my way to lunch, when I passed a woman who was washing yucca at her out side sink. As I walked by I said my usual “Hola, buenas días”, she waved me down and said I haven’t met you but I saw you on TV. I then introduced myself and she pointed out her sons and friends who were sitting in the patio. I haven’t quite figured out how to continue the small talk in Spanish, but I didn’t need to. She asked where I was eating and where I lived. She then took my shoulders holding me at arms length and smiled so big! I was then pulled in for a huge hug and at that moment was part of her family. She invited me back for coffee anytime and that was it. So when at times when I start to miss my mom I only have to walk around the street to find a mother figure willing to give me a little love. These are the women who will make my two years fly by.
