Equilibrium
Trip Start
Mar 14, 2005
1
15
Trip End
Nov 2007
Palo Verde, Dominican Republic
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Saludos from la Republica Dominicana! I know I wrote an update nary a week or two ago, but I feel like I have enough ammo to do another one right now! I hope that everything is going well at home and I MISS YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!!
So, when I came back to my site from a quick trip to the capital last week, I came home to the owners of my house telling me that I had to move.....now! at first I chalked it up to the whole "Molly isnt a strong Spanish speaker" miscommunication, but then I realized that they had started moving their stuff in. It turns out that the owner was having problems with her husband and needed to move out immediately. Now, I am all for strong women getting away from mean husbands, dont get me wrong, but still...
So, miraculously, thanks to some really good neighbors, and alot of muchachos who like to carry American belongings down the street, in a period of less than 24 hours, I found a new house and moved all my stuff (p.s. how did I get so much stuff?). It wasnt until then that I realized that there was no electricity, no latrine, and a pig lives in the backyard (and not a cute little piglet, but we're talkin a serious-looks-like-he-could-eat-me-and-still-be-hungry pig). So now Im in the process of putting in electricity (kind of works, but I have to stand on a chair and twist the lightbulbs to turn them on and off), getting the owners to move the pig (so far he's still in the backyard, but hes tied up in the far corner) and building a new latrine (in the meantime I've been sneak-attacking neighbours latrines which is equal parts scary, gross, exhilerating and funny). My new latrine is going to be AWESOME though. The workers started building it yesterday and it is built according to the no-joke 'VIP'Latrine plan which stands for something I cant remember. All I know is that its going to be really nice and I will NEVER let any cucarachas live in it. And yes, I realize how sad it is that my life has come to being this excited about a new latrine.
Other than that, I spend my days trying to find an equilibrium between the heat and the mosquitos. If I wear long clothes to protect myself from the mosquitos, I end up drenched in sweat, but if I wear the preferred shorts and a tank top, I end up with a billion mosquito bites. I feel like if I could just work out some mathematical equation where I input the temperature versus number of mosquitos, I might be able to figure out what to do on each specific day. But for now, I usually just retreat under my mosquito net and hope for the best. FYI for those who are now thinking about cancelling their plane tickets to come and visit me, i SWEAR that the mosquitos arent supposed to be this bad when youre here! I think they are supposed to go away in July? It will, however, still be hot. But everybody needs a cinnamon Dominican tan, right?
OMG I miss you guys like CRAZY and I cant believe Im coming home in 3 WEEKS!!! Drinking cold drinks, eating delicious food, and gossiping are required. I love you all and can't wait to see as many of you as possible!
Love, Mole/Molly
Comments
Visit from Leo
Hey Molly! Great talking to you yesterday and glad you got to meet Leo from Hostos Community College. Sorry to hear about your eviction but I guess the silver lining (if that exists) is the new latrine. Are you dreaming of porcelain toilets and hotel bathrooms in your sleep? Those mosquitoes sound pretty bad--do they sell citronella candles at the 99 cent store? Somehow I doubt it. Anyway, have a great time and I'll mail soon. Cousin Bill