Hola mi gente! When we last left off I had more or less just arrived to Fantino, site of my home for the next two years...We were also coming up on elections here and I can say that all things went relatively smoothly in Fantino, no guns going off or the like (as in some other PCV sites). However, because almost everyone was consumed by elections, children included (I kid you not) the end of last week was very very slow and I found myself reading and sleeping alot...neither bad things, but when I feel like I should be working and andaring and meeting my community it can be a hard pill to swallow. However, not every day was spent reading and napping. The minute I got back to my host family, the Dona through me on the computer bc of course I am a computer genius and can fix her printer, the CD drive and make Internet appear! Lo siento, (again) but in fact I am not a computer expert...even with this said, I tried to fix the printer to no avail as it ony needs new ink and in my boldest attept to fix hardware, I opened up her computer, took out the CD drive and heard things rattling around and promptly explained that she needed to take it to an expert! Also, I have become part of a daily walking group courtesy of the PE teacher at my school. He nd his buddies, Papo, Kiko, and Eduardo walk every day (well every day that elections arent sweeping the nation) on a long road that runs behind the town. This road is an oasis for me....surrounded by grand farms, lined with mango and other fruit trees and lots and lots of mountains in the distance! We had a respite (elections ) but today we start up again. Last week I also attended a theater group meeting at the cultural center which was great and made some friends with some really motivated jovenes and will attend their meeting again tonight. In my attempts at andaring (walking around and meeting people) I hung out with a few older kindly gents at a colmado near my school as well as went into the other Computer School and observed a class and met a few of the other teachers. Here is where I met Mike. However, I didnt run into him until I was killing time at the Internet cafe. We chatted and he asked me if I wanted to go to his church on Sunday...while I have been having reservations about going to Church (for obvious and not so obvious reasons) I accepted. Why? Well, because its a new experience and a great way to meet other people in the community without just straight up pulling a pop in on them. He showed me where his church is (on old discoteca) and then back to his computer school where I met his two other brothers. They all speak pretty decent English and o course want to practice with me where as I need to practice with them...but that afternoon I helped them with English and they invited to me to hang out that night! Well Saturday night was great...met their sister and other friends, who are all univeristy students and really chill. The next morning I woke up early, went to observe an English class and then over to Evangelico church. Well, it was quite interesting. The first hour was spent singing (the family is kinda like the Partridge family in church with a band) and the second was a sermon, of course lots of JC talk, but all in all interesting and I got to meet alot of very nice people. However, this now means I will also be attending Catholic service as not to offend or favor anyone and of course meet more people. Also, there is a very active youth group affiflated with the Catholic Church that I wanna meet! Que mas? Well, each day proves to be another day to practice Spanish and meet more people and forget about how awkward I feel...embrace the awkward has become my motto as well as day by day! This weekend I am going to Santiago to meet up with some other PCVs and go to an Escojo Mi Vida conference given by one of my friends groups! Very excited. Beyond that, every day I am asked when I will be giving class and if I am going t teach English...vamos a ver. Well, that is all for now...hope this long winding email finds everyone happy and healthy!
much love
A
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Por Fin...a PCV!
Well mis amigos the time has finally come when I can say that I am infact a Peace Corps Volunteer...no more of this aspirante business! Butbefore we commence with the present comings and goings, it is onlyapropriate to explain what has lead up tp today...
Almost two weeks ago I learned that I was going to be living in a apueblo called Fantino, Sanchez Ramirez. It is essentially in themiddle of the country, surround by rice fields and a few mountains inthe distance. I got to Fantino two Tuesdays ago for a quick visit tolearn my new family, the community and my school. The Directora is my project partner andso far she seems very motivated. The site visit had its ups anddowns...my Espanol while better always seesm to be a problem when Ifirst meet people...its hard when they just throw Spanish at me andthen think I can`t speak it because I don^t speak super fast. BUT ohwell, one day it will come...I also got VERY sick from a plate ofcabbage...serves me right for mocking the PC nurse about salad. Idefinitly paid for it and wasnt able to meet with my tech commitee onFriday because I was in bed. Urg...but as was better and my neighborwas very sweet and brought me fruit. The next day I got up feelingbetter and went on a tour with my project partner and visited thefirefighters, the Defensa Civil, the Church and a few other locations. Later that night I went to a birthday party of one of the teachers atmy school and hungout with them for awhile which was really nicebecause I got to spend time with these people outside of a worksetting. The birthday girl was pretty stoked I was there and felt badthat I was a vegetarian and couldnt partake in the Mondongo= cowintestines! Yes, it is not a joke. I assured her that it was trulyalright and that I had already eaten, but alas, she told me that Icould just eat the veggies and rice (even though it had beenmarinating with the cow parts) After refusing this 2 times I realizedthat I better suck it up and gain confianza all the while knowing Iwould be back in the bathroom that night...well I was right, but itdid get me in good with the ladies!
That Sunday I traveled back to the capital for my last week oftraining and graduation. Training seemed pointless once again, but itwas great to reconnect with my friends and hear about everyone else^svisits. They ranged from great to one kid has tarantualas in his roomand they hiss at him! Gracias adios that I am only worried aboutroaches in my bathroom! Anyway, Thursday we had our graduation and theUS Ambassador spoke (not in Spanish!) as well as a few others and oneof my friends gave a great commencement speech (In Spanish) on behalfof our class...she was phenomenal! We all recieved fancy pins withthe DR and US flag and our picture to post on the DR map where oursite is...pretty cool.. Then the festivites began! I^ll spare thedetails, but it was a great weekend spent in the Capital with myfriends as well as older Volunteers. But Saturday came quickly andwith it my time to venture out on my own to Fantino!
The trip was quick and all the while I was thinking about what I`mgoing to do for the next tow years here...what I was going to do whenI woke up on Sunday! But I took a deep breath, unpacked my stuff, atesome boiled bananas and cheese, watched Bee Movie in Espanol with myhost sister and went to bed! The next morning I ate and rather thansitting around I visited the cultural center and talked with twoUniversity students for about 1.5 hours about the Brigada Verde Groupas well as their functioning Theater Group! So this week I will beattending a few meetings and meeting and hanging out with jovenes.But still, I don´t really know why I am needed here because manythings appear to be functioning quite well. However I do have someideas...a newspaper for the school seemed to go over quite well withthe Directora and the teachers keep asking when I`m giving computerclass and yesterday I was solicited to give English class. BUT we`llsee, right now I just need to get to know people and see what I canget my hands into!
That seems like a good review...hope all is well back in the good oleUSA...I visited it lst Friday when I was swimming in the pool at theUS EMBASSY...I`ll leave you with that thought...hahaha.
Also, elections are this Friday here so it should be nteresting.
much loveA
Almost two weeks ago I learned that I was going to be living in a apueblo called Fantino, Sanchez Ramirez. It is essentially in themiddle of the country, surround by rice fields and a few mountains inthe distance. I got to Fantino two Tuesdays ago for a quick visit tolearn my new family, the community and my school. The Directora is my project partner andso far she seems very motivated. The site visit had its ups anddowns...my Espanol while better always seesm to be a problem when Ifirst meet people...its hard when they just throw Spanish at me andthen think I can`t speak it because I don^t speak super fast. BUT ohwell, one day it will come...I also got VERY sick from a plate ofcabbage...serves me right for mocking the PC nurse about salad. Idefinitly paid for it and wasnt able to meet with my tech commitee onFriday because I was in bed. Urg...but as was better and my neighborwas very sweet and brought me fruit. The next day I got up feelingbetter and went on a tour with my project partner and visited thefirefighters, the Defensa Civil, the Church and a few other locations. Later that night I went to a birthday party of one of the teachers atmy school and hungout with them for awhile which was really nicebecause I got to spend time with these people outside of a worksetting. The birthday girl was pretty stoked I was there and felt badthat I was a vegetarian and couldnt partake in the Mondongo= cowintestines! Yes, it is not a joke. I assured her that it was trulyalright and that I had already eaten, but alas, she told me that Icould just eat the veggies and rice (even though it had beenmarinating with the cow parts) After refusing this 2 times I realizedthat I better suck it up and gain confianza all the while knowing Iwould be back in the bathroom that night...well I was right, but itdid get me in good with the ladies!
That Sunday I traveled back to the capital for my last week oftraining and graduation. Training seemed pointless once again, but itwas great to reconnect with my friends and hear about everyone else^svisits. They ranged from great to one kid has tarantualas in his roomand they hiss at him! Gracias adios that I am only worried aboutroaches in my bathroom! Anyway, Thursday we had our graduation and theUS Ambassador spoke (not in Spanish!) as well as a few others and oneof my friends gave a great commencement speech (In Spanish) on behalfof our class...she was phenomenal! We all recieved fancy pins withthe DR and US flag and our picture to post on the DR map where oursite is...pretty cool.. Then the festivites began! I^ll spare thedetails, but it was a great weekend spent in the Capital with myfriends as well as older Volunteers. But Saturday came quickly andwith it my time to venture out on my own to Fantino!
The trip was quick and all the while I was thinking about what I`mgoing to do for the next tow years here...what I was going to do whenI woke up on Sunday! But I took a deep breath, unpacked my stuff, atesome boiled bananas and cheese, watched Bee Movie in Espanol with myhost sister and went to bed! The next morning I ate and rather thansitting around I visited the cultural center and talked with twoUniversity students for about 1.5 hours about the Brigada Verde Groupas well as their functioning Theater Group! So this week I will beattending a few meetings and meeting and hanging out with jovenes.But still, I don´t really know why I am needed here because manythings appear to be functioning quite well. However I do have someideas...a newspaper for the school seemed to go over quite well withthe Directora and the teachers keep asking when I`m giving computerclass and yesterday I was solicited to give English class. BUT we`llsee, right now I just need to get to know people and see what I canget my hands into!
That seems like a good review...hope all is well back in the good oleUSA...I visited it lst Friday when I was swimming in the pool at theUS EMBASSY...I`ll leave you with that thought...hahaha.
Also, elections are this Friday here so it should be nteresting.
much loveA
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