Photos

Hay que aprovechar

Now that my move to the capital is official, I had to tell my village that I would be leaving them sooner than everyone had thought. That was a really rough day:( My boss came out to help me and we had a meeting first with my kids to talk it through with them. They were all really devastated and a few started to cry. I think they all understand my reasons, but since my reason is the way another member of the community has treated me they are a tad bit furious at this guy who is teacher at their school. I had to ask them not to create any problems for him (which would in turn make more problems with me...at least until I leave;) JK. Then we had a meeting with my project parnters (does it say anything about my subconscious that I first typed project problems?) We just told them that there was a compromiso in the city and that I was needed there to fulfill the obligation. Since then people of the community slowly are learning what is happening and are reacting. I have had a lot of time to think about it and for now I am doing okay with it emotionally (I know that I will be a wreak though the day I say goodbye to the kids) It does create a little bit of an awkward situation though when one of my neighbors comes to me crying and I dont shed a tear. You would think I would be over the whole awkward situation thing since almost from the day I got here, there's always something that is culturally awkward for me.

From the day that my kids learned I was leaving, they have taken the very healthy position of aprovecharing the tiempo that we do have together. It's been really great, we went horse back riding, hiking up the loma in search of mangos, and working on our garden. We are also planning our next loqrio at the river that they are looking forward to a lot more than me. Its where they throw everything in the pot to cook together. The rice, the chicken and anything else they could come up with (usually some sort of root plant like yucca). Hopefully we can all continue to have some fun up to the day I have to leave, and the transition goes along smoothly.

Living the Life

Well I was told that some people live vicariously through me so I needed to update my blog. Sorry about that:) I have been busy, busy and things are changing here as well. Quite a lot has been going on here. I was having some problems with
the Dominican project partners that I was assigned too. They think
that I should be doing whatever they want me to do, which wouldnt be a
problem except they want me to basically drop the other things that I
was doing that are going really well to do only what they want. I had
a problem with that and said so to them and it evolved into endless
drama. Well, after I talked with my boss from the Peace Corps about
the situation we talked about me moving to the capital to be the Peace
Corps Volunteer leader for my sector. I think that means I´ll be
moving in July:) I am really excited about it in one way, ´because
then I dont have to deal with my project partners anymore, I will have
running water, electricity and cell phone service. But, on the other
hand I wont see the kids I work with now very often in the future, and
I wont have a gazillion fruit trees in my yard where I can have
passion fruit, pineapple, grapefruit, oranges, star fruit, mangos and
lemons at my desposal. I guess no one can have it all. Right now I
am trying to work out the details of changing jobs, getting a raise
and finding a place to live. I´ll let you all know as things unfold
here in the capital.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy V Day to you all! Can't believe that I have now been gone for an entire year. Feels like forever, and yet not at the same time. Wierd. I've been really busy since Kendall left. My youth group and I have started a garden with Basil, Radishes, Cucumbers, and Peas. We are hoping to get some more seeds as well, so we can have tomatoes, egg plant and whatever else we can find. We planted all the seeds individually in starter boxes and soon the hard work will begin when we transplant them to the garden and have to prepare the soil and then water the plants twice daily. Why can't a hose and running water be a common thing here? Well, I guess it'll just make me even stronger now that I have to carry water for me, and then carry it to water the garden which is farther away from my house.

This weekend I am heading up to Sabana de la Mar to visit a special education school. Hopefully I will get some ideas from them on how to deal with kids who have dislexia and other learning problems. And if I am lucky I will be able to go out on the bay and go whale watching. Very exciting:)

Kendall's Visit

Kendall has been visiting me for the past two weeks now and she's been keeping me pretty busy. We went on two scouting trips to the beach together and ate some pretty amazing food. Then after we knew all there was to know about getting to the beach and where to go from there, we wook a group of 6 15 year olds there. They had done a bracelet project with me where we recycled grocery bags and made them into bracelets. I took them back to the states with me and sold them at an elementary school. With the money we made we were able to take our trip to the beach, eat at a pizza hut (which not a single one had been to this beach, nor eaten at pizza hut) and we had birthday cake for one of their birthdays. It was a day that will go down in history for them. They were so excited and happy to be there. And it has drummed up a lot of interest in my projects cause other kids want to be able to take a trip like that as well.

We have also gone to the river quite a few times, we did take our shower there this morning. And were just hanging out and having fun. She has been making me all my food and helping me do all my chores so I really dont want her to leave me!

Back in the life

Well its back to work again after being home for two weeks. Cant really say Im glad to be back...but it'll come. Although, Muñeca sure was glad to see me. Until I ran out of dog food and fed her coconut last night...ooops. Good thing I am going to the store today.

This past week I spent cleaning my house and my lawn, and getting my groups started again. Yesterday 3 kids came to my english class, maybe by wednesday I'll have six! Haha.

Here are some photos. There are lots of new puppies in town. Very cute, I am just working on my saying no to those little puppies.



And here is one for the Bandidas:) My kids got squirt guns for christmas so we had some fun with those.