A Waning Tide
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2008
1
39
41
Trip End
Oct 29, 2010
Barahona, Dominican Republic
Friday, September 17, 2010
BUILDING DREAMS: The annual business plan competition, Construye tus Suenos (Build Your Dreams) is just around the corner. This year, I taught the basic business course with 10 students, 7 of which who graduated. In two separate groups, they wrote actual business plans for ideas of microenterprises that they were hoping to get off the ground. One of the plans was selected, which means that they are going to be able to present their plan to a panel of judges in the national competition this October. I’m proud that they were able to get their plan into the competition, not to mention eager to see them present their idea in a couple of weeks.
THE COUNTDOWN: When I first got to the Dominican Republic, I was overwhelmed, excited, scared, anxious, and had over 2 years --114 weeks -- about 800 days -- to look forward to. Now, I am down to just 6 weeks. I’ve never been much for countdowns since to me it seems to make time measured and deliberate. However, after such an inspiring, unforgettable experience it is almost difficult not to count the days.
GRINGO GRITA: is a Peace Corps DR magazine put out by volunteers for volunteers. This issue (there are 3 a year) I, along with my friend, Jeff, helped put together the COS (Close of Service) surveys that every volunteer that is leaving fills out. They are interviews of every volunteer answering questions and giving an inside look and even comical description of the last two years of service. For your reading pleasure I included mine (please excuse the excessive use of Spanglish):
Name: Justin Lee
DR apodos: Yustin, Hustin, Gustin, Yus, risas, California!, Daddy Yustin
Site: Bahoruco, Barahona
Program: Community Economic Development
Project assignment: Work with a local artisan association that produce jewelry made from Larimar (a blue stone only found in the Dominican Republic), group strengthening, complete central artisan workshop.
Project reality: Turns out the artisan association did not like to meet or work together. However, we were able to finish construction and inaugurate the central workshop. I’m pretty sure I single handedly helped my project partner sell enough Larimar jewelry to buy his jeepeta, computer, and cable satellite dish (thanks PCVs!). Essentially, I focused my attention on youth related initiatives: Escojo Mi Vida, Brigada Verde, and Construye Tus Sueños. I cannot count the number of kids’ art camps I gave, coordinated Celebrando el Sur 2010, English classes, painted murals, planted trees, beach/river clean-ups, sports camp, Sala de Tarea, medical missions, artisan fairs, and muchacho dance parties. Oh, I also became a professional host and tour guide to visitors, both PCVs y amigos de Nueba Yol.
Most useful thing brought into country: Journal, positive attitude, love for the beach and sugar, a sense of style, hosting skills, art skills for charlas, and of course pelo bueno.
Least useful thing brought into country: Sweatshirt, punctuality, dislike of viveres, and this really intense knife my mom sent to me. When I asked her why she bought it she replied, "The salesman at the store suggested it after I told him you were in the Peace Corps." To which I responded, “Does he think we hunt bears?”
Best “I-know-I’m-in-the-Peace-Corps-now” moment: Finding a few spiders, lizards, centipedes, and even cangrejos in my bed. Or when my group and I were celebrating our one year anniversary of being in country at Juan Dolio and as we are frolicking in the ocean someone turns to the group and says, “Guys, it’s Monday morning and we’re still getting paid!”
I knew I was Dominican when: I started arguing and being more upfront with everyone over really insignificant things. My neighbor and I hardly speak to each other anymore because we fought when she moved my clothes on the clothing line after she told me she needed to attend to hers first. I gave a restaurant employee a lesson on customer service because, well, it doesn’t exist in this country. And when a cobrador told me that he didn’t need to give me 15 pesos of change because I am a “gringo rico” I just about lost it, dropped the quintessential “OH OH, PERO VEN ACA,” and waited until he collected menudo from the rest of the guagua.
Funniest experience in country: My host family in Los Alcarrizos only had water for 2 days a week but the first few days I just assumed we never had water. I was accustomed to taking bucket baths at this point since the shower obviously had not worked since I arrived. I got in the shower and starting bucket bathing only to be disturbed by my 10 year old host brother knocking on the door. With my lack of Spanish, I had no idea what he wanted. He then went around the side of the house and continued yelling something at me. Since I clearly did not understand what he was saying, he decided to come into the bathroom while still talking to me. I covered my man junk, he turned on the shower, said something else to me, and slammed the door behind him. We had water.
Most memorable illness or injury: Gracias a Dios I’ve been really healthy here. Although my first Thanksgiving experience in country I could be found vomiting all over the bathroom at the country club because I honestly ate too much good food.
Most Dominican habit you’ll take home with you: Other than constantly searching for shade and saying “ya tu sabes” entirely way too much, definitely the fist pump because it really does explain everything in the form of a gesture. When in doubt, fist pump out!
Most beautiful place in country: When I wake up and open my back door, coffee in hand, to see the sparkling Larimar colored Caribbean sea and piles of bright white rocks. Bahoruco wins the prize.
Most creative way you killed time in your site: I kept a journal the entire two years I was here. I drastically improved my cooking, read, scrolled down my contact list to see who I haven’t talked to in a while, drew, taught muchachos the dance to “Crank Dat” by Soulja Boy, laid in my hammock, and rock toss. Lots and lots of rock toss.
How have you changed during your service: I now have a love for arroz y habichuelas, which I did not enjoy before coming here. My definition of productivity has changed as did my definition of poverty. I am okay with the simple things in life and realize that the lifestyle of the majority of people here is actually quite desirable (sitting all day, eating la bandera, playing dominoes, dancing). I can be happy just sitting and compartiendo con la gente. I appreciate the opportunities, amenities, and infrastructure that we have the states so much more than I ever have before. I think I lost some hearing capabilities. I have tighter jeans.
What are you glad you did here: Made legitimate Dominican friends and family, laughed more than I think I ever have, hiked, swam, went on pasadias con los jovenes, learned to dance merengue y bachata como un tiguere, climbed Pico Duarte, played dominoes, whooped Dominicans at casino, worked outside my sector, visited other volunteers, opened up my home to everyone, co-founded B in the P, volunteered at Jimani, had classes start at 10a.m., traveled the entire island, 27 Charcos, spent a lot of time with muchachos, participated in Peace Corps events (bola race, PC Prom, Thanksgiving), discovered the swimming hole by Bahia de Las Aguilas, joined PC committees, planned a conference, and worked really hard on both projects and creating lasting relationships while still being true to who I am.
What do you wish you had done here: 1. A comparative investigation as to why there a concentrated yet excessive number of mudos in my site and nowhere else. 2. Got B in the P into the CED sector goals.
What will you miss six months from now: My crew of muchachos, fresh fruit, going to sleep with crashing waves in the background, complete freedom and flexibility with projects, traveling in a gorgeous country, a buen tiempo!, PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS, speaking Spanglish, chatting on the flota like a middle school girl, people wearing ridiculous English phrases on their polocher, complete Dominican generosity, ya tu sabes, being the “Larimar Guy,” the power of Licenciado, stunts with Jeff, plastic chair sitting, rock toss, bolas, it feeling like Christmas morning every time I check my email inbox, llego la luz!, sleeping in, graduating a course I taught, being the local celebrity, Casa Bonita, my Dominican rollie bag I traveled with, United States Embassy, B in the P!, Reina’s apartment, the ongoing pee in the shower debate (Jonathan v. Everyone), and living each day as it comes.
What won't you miss six months from now: Mosquitoes and repellent, leaks in my roof, Dominican sense of entitlement, tardiness, Dominican “customer service,” phone cards, tu 'ta perdido, se fue la luz, dame algo, no hay menudo, que me trajiste?, the Dominican education system, guaguas, child abuse, feeling unproductive, everyone looking at me for long periods of time, extreme rain storms, and did I mention guaguas?
What's next?: Moving back to Southern California to live with a college buddy, find a job that allows me to travel, sleep in, take a two hour lunch and a nap at 2 p.m., then attend a graduate school program for International Affairs.
Big plans for your readjustment allowance: Rent, gas, food, good beer, and travel, specifically a trip to visit Jonathan when he’s up a mountain in Peru. Get that helicopter ready!
Advice to a new Volunteer: Peace Corps is difficult at times but remember that sometimes you may be making it more difficult than it needs to be. Like Romeo always says, “You’re not here to suffer.” Some of the best days I had in site were when they started off crappy and I forced myself to leave the house to compartir. However, it’s also healthy to take time out for yourself when you need it. You had fun in the states so do so here. Have a balanced lifestyle – spend money on vegetables, exercise, play with kids, take multivitamins. Work on projects that you are passionate about, not just because you were assigned to. You only have two years here so enjoy the ride
