Still Not Normal
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2008
1
35
41
Trip End
Oct 29, 2010
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Saturday, May 15, 2010
YOUTH GROUP CENTRAL: Since coming back from the states I've been extremely busy. Not related to my main project with the artisans (we are waiting to innaugurate the Central Workshop that has been done for over 5 months now) but with the youth of the community. Peace Corps has three main youth group initiatives: Brigada Verde (environment), Escojo Mi Vida (health), and Construye tus Suenos (business). I am currently working with all three groups in my town. The weekend I got back from the states we had our Escojo Graduation for the 13 girls and 2 boys in the class. The girls got all dressed up like a formal high school dance and took hundreds of pictures in every which pose possible (note: Dominican women are known for their exquisite posing skills). It went really well and I asked them if they wished to continue meeting and start working on activities like giving presentations in the schools, painting murals, and giving a workshop on the subject. They all agreed and we have been meeting and planning activities, more or less, since that day. Brigada Verde and Construye tus Suenos are just getting off the group but the attendence has been pretty solid for both. It's nice because with those groups we have youth leaders that are taking charge meaning that it could be more sustainable after I leave. We're planning to have an environment conference, tree planting activity, and beach/river clean up days.
MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY: is in the afternoon when no one does anything. I don't know if it's bad to say that considering it's not job related, yet, when the electricity is out and I'm reading in my hammock with a fresh cup of Dominican cafe (and American creamer, obviously) with the extremely light-blue colored waves crashing in the background, nothing is better. Sometimes muchachos will be in my house coloring or putting together a puzzle. They know to be quiet because it's MY time; my favorite time of the day.
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME: I've been playing baseball more often with the jovenes (15-25) because frankly, it's exercise and much more fun than running. Plus, I used to play baseball for years and years before I fractured my hip in high school. When I first got to my site I played with the older men who played softball, but I stopped and hadn't played in a while. These kids didn't think I could play for some reason. Maybe because I'm white. Maybe because they see me as unathletic in general. At any rate, even after I hit a triple my first at-bat, the pitcher still was talking smack upon my second at-bat. "Here's an out right here," he was saying. Well, he pitched, I swung, and hit a line drive into his stomach. Oops. He was fine and laughing (as he was laying on the ground) so I approached him, smiling, and said, "Easy out, right?"
STUDYING?: My plan after Peace Corps at this point is to go back home (if I don't extend for 6 more months) and then go to graduate school. Well, one of the wonderful requirements of graduate school is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination). Not only did I take it before I left and at the time had to relearn all the math I learned in high school but now I have to re-relearn everything again. Clearly I didn't do that well on the exam the first time or I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. It's just odd studying in my campo house with muchachos running around and not having the Internet to check on formulas or my iced white mochas to sip on while flipping through pages.
ALL-VOLUNTEER CONFERENCE: was a success. The best part of this mandatory two-day conference is meeting all of the new volunteers. My region just received 8 new volunteers, 3 which are within 30-40 minutes of my site by bus. We had to sit through a countless number of talks, not to mention bear the rain that was pouring down intermitedly throughout the day. However, we received useful information for our projects and possible extension opportunities.
PEACE CORPS PROM: Since everyone was in the capitol, my buddy had the great (and somewhat outlandish) idea of a Peace Corps Prom. When you get your Peace Corps assignment, they send a list of suggested clothing. Most of it is business casual, which in this heat and environment you quickly find out how useless this type of clothing is. Why do they continually suggest that volunteers bring them? We will never know. At any rate, my friend suggested we put together this "prom" where everyone dressed in their infrequently used business casual. IT WAS A HIT! We reserved a place to have this event and not surprising, we had about 100 volunteers come. Never would I thought that I would have prom again, let alone in the DR.
