28 August 2013
It started with a broken spray bottle I use to put water in my hair. The sprayer doesn't really work and I had considered getting a new one.
Then the cleaning girl in my house asked if she could have it in two years when I leave.
Again, I'm still here. It will likely be broken by then.
As I brought in all the new things for my casa she asked if I was going to sell it to her when I left.
Okay... We can talk about that in 18 months.
Tonight, we were reading my favorite kids book in Spanish that I got here. She wanted to know if I would give it to her when I left in two years.
What is this? I really want to take that book home with me. The spray bottle will be on a last leg if not dead, and my estufa, well, I can probably sell that one to you.
I should keep a list of the things she wants. I'll put it here for safe keeping.
1. Bike
2. Broken spray bottle with the fish on it
3. Stove top
4. Gas tank
5. Mattress, box spring, and cart
6. Children's book
7. Pots, pans, plates, etc.
8. Combs
Maybe she thinks I'm going to drop everything I obtain here and run away with my computer and iProducts (she knows enough not to ask for them). Actually, she did mention that she basically thought I'd take just my computer and go.
Who knows, maybe I will grab the goods and run when this is all over. The clothing I wear is quickly becoming a collection of things from the free box and will likely find a home there again. The pants I'm wearing could have been from Peace Corps DR 1996. At least the underwater I brought with me.
I'll let you know what becomes of my stuff. Who knows. Maybe I'll be one of those volunteers whose house burns down right before COS making packing to go home that much easier.
(Side note: I'm putting mini twists in my hair in the morning. We will see how my first attempt at this style goes.)
Friday, August 30, 2013
Dar en
30 August 2013
Today I learned that to "dar en" means to hit. I learned this when the two year old boy in my house grabbed my glasses off my face and his mother told me to hit him in the mouth. I told her no and the little boy did it again. She told me to hit him in the mouth again and I said I couldn't. When she asked why I said it was cruel. He grabbed the glasses again and threw them, so she really wanted me to hit him in the face (and to say that God didn't like what the boy was doing), but I scooped him into my lap for a chat. I kept thinking, "kid, can't you make this a little easier on me. I'm trying to show your mom that we don't have to injure you every time your little two-year-old curious mind touches something interesting." I looked him straight in the face and told him it was not good to take my glasses. I set him back down and told him to go pick them up. Success! The little boy ran over and picked up the glasses from where he threw them and brought them to me. I'm sure he will do something like this again. He is only two. But I'm also sure I didn't need to smack him in the face.
Now, I'm not the best parent in the world. Mostly because, I'm not a parent. I just happen to think that children aren't born knowing what is right and what is wrong in society. We have a few years when their brains are still developing to teach them the consequences, good and bad, or particular actions. We can either teach them with grace and understanding, or we can teach them that discovery and doing something you didn't even know was wrong could land you in a pile of pain crying on the ground and the only person around to comfort that pain will be the one who inflicted it.
You know, they don't warn you about what you are going to take away from Peace Corps, just that it'll be worth it. I'm taking away a lot more than I ever imagined and becoming very firm in certain beliefs. That is something I never thought would happen.
Today I learned that to "dar en" means to hit. I learned this when the two year old boy in my house grabbed my glasses off my face and his mother told me to hit him in the mouth. I told her no and the little boy did it again. She told me to hit him in the mouth again and I said I couldn't. When she asked why I said it was cruel. He grabbed the glasses again and threw them, so she really wanted me to hit him in the face (and to say that God didn't like what the boy was doing), but I scooped him into my lap for a chat. I kept thinking, "kid, can't you make this a little easier on me. I'm trying to show your mom that we don't have to injure you every time your little two-year-old curious mind touches something interesting." I looked him straight in the face and told him it was not good to take my glasses. I set him back down and told him to go pick them up. Success! The little boy ran over and picked up the glasses from where he threw them and brought them to me. I'm sure he will do something like this again. He is only two. But I'm also sure I didn't need to smack him in the face.
Now, I'm not the best parent in the world. Mostly because, I'm not a parent. I just happen to think that children aren't born knowing what is right and what is wrong in society. We have a few years when their brains are still developing to teach them the consequences, good and bad, or particular actions. We can either teach them with grace and understanding, or we can teach them that discovery and doing something you didn't even know was wrong could land you in a pile of pain crying on the ground and the only person around to comfort that pain will be the one who inflicted it.
You know, they don't warn you about what you are going to take away from Peace Corps, just that it'll be worth it. I'm taking away a lot more than I ever imagined and becoming very firm in certain beliefs. That is something I never thought would happen.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
My friends
Part of being in the Peace Corps is creating wonderful relationships with other Peace Corps Volunteers. This weekend I have had the pleasure of meeting up with many of those friends. I was missing one very important Julianna, but for the most part, the ones who have walked along side me through this Peace Corps life were in the capital and in my life this weekend.
It started when the first of my friends had a visitor from AMERICA then it ended with the first of my friends to go to AMERICA!
Courtney's wonderful sister Jordan was in town and their adorable mother paid for us to sleep in a suite for two nights. It was a lot of fun and a generally enjoyable experience. I liked that so many people came because it took the pressure off of me when it came time to go out waaaay past my bedtime. We ate at nice restaurants. I had a "Sex on the Beach", and I am pretty sure that was the first time I tried that little concoction. We were in the Zona Colonial, which means we were outside in the Dominican Republic which means it was really loud, but I was still able to (sort of) find a quiet place to take a phone call that I've been waiting for from AMERICA! (Really, I miss you. If i haven't said it enough.)
Sara was there as well. She is the adorable little thing at the top of my blog in the cute (pink, salmon, red, orange) dress. She had her reasons for wanting to stay behind the first night, so I had a good excuse not to go out. The boys (John, the boy not wearing sunglasses at the top of this blog), and James (Not pictured, but wonderful friend who was in my original Spanish class) went out with the sisters and they all had a great time. I was able to pretend I was there when they told the stories later and I had a good night with Sara back at the hotel, falling asleep to a movie. One of my favorite pass times.
The next day I hit the beach with Jordan and Courtney. I should remember the name of the beach, because it had a name and people know beaches by names, but I don't care about the beach so I don't remember the name. It was Juan D-something, and it was in Santo Domingo, but I don't even care enough to look it up. The beach is the beach is the beach, but this beach did have ice cream sundaes.
That night we walked looking for a place to stay and ran into a sports bar a la AMERICA and ran into our boss. I split a burger and wings with John. Shared un chin de cerveza with my friends and was able to hit up the hotel with John while everybody else went out. Score 2 for Amanda. Nice bed. Air conditioning. Two people who love the internet playing on their phones and only talking when something really good happens.
The next day was possibly even better. Well, equally good. I made my way a little away from the capitol and spent time with my good friend Lobo who had just come back from AMERICA. I was able to hear about the wonderland and pick up my mud wash. It came at the perfect time, because I used the last of mine as I left the campo in hopes that the order made it to New York. I have to say thank you to my mom for order and paying for mud to be sent to Lobo and to Lobo, thank you for taking my letter and not throwing out my mud.
We were able to chat and catch up and I met his host family and we watched the Simpsons in Spanish and we talked about grammar and we (again) got lost on a guagua and I beat him at Blokus and he beat me at Blokus and I made pancakes and I burned coffee and he watched coffee burn and I was jealous of his apartment and we had a great time catching up. When I left i was able to get a helmet and catch a ride out of his site after standing in the sun for a million years.
I met up with John for a final shebang (Read: trip to the chemical store) and I walked to Caribe tours for a walk back into 100% Peace Corps life.
(Sort of: I went to Santiago next, which is how i have internet, so it's not really the campo, but I did speak Spanish and buy things for my apartment. That's something.)
I just have to say, at the end of the day, I appreciate the friends Peace Corps has given me more than I ever thought I would need to.
It started when the first of my friends had a visitor from AMERICA then it ended with the first of my friends to go to AMERICA!
Courtney's wonderful sister Jordan was in town and their adorable mother paid for us to sleep in a suite for two nights. It was a lot of fun and a generally enjoyable experience. I liked that so many people came because it took the pressure off of me when it came time to go out waaaay past my bedtime. We ate at nice restaurants. I had a "Sex on the Beach", and I am pretty sure that was the first time I tried that little concoction. We were in the Zona Colonial, which means we were outside in the Dominican Republic which means it was really loud, but I was still able to (sort of) find a quiet place to take a phone call that I've been waiting for from AMERICA! (Really, I miss you. If i haven't said it enough.)
Sara was there as well. She is the adorable little thing at the top of my blog in the cute (pink, salmon, red, orange) dress. She had her reasons for wanting to stay behind the first night, so I had a good excuse not to go out. The boys (John, the boy not wearing sunglasses at the top of this blog), and James (Not pictured, but wonderful friend who was in my original Spanish class) went out with the sisters and they all had a great time. I was able to pretend I was there when they told the stories later and I had a good night with Sara back at the hotel, falling asleep to a movie. One of my favorite pass times.
The next day I hit the beach with Jordan and Courtney. I should remember the name of the beach, because it had a name and people know beaches by names, but I don't care about the beach so I don't remember the name. It was Juan D-something, and it was in Santo Domingo, but I don't even care enough to look it up. The beach is the beach is the beach, but this beach did have ice cream sundaes.
That night we walked looking for a place to stay and ran into a sports bar a la AMERICA and ran into our boss. I split a burger and wings with John. Shared un chin de cerveza with my friends and was able to hit up the hotel with John while everybody else went out. Score 2 for Amanda. Nice bed. Air conditioning. Two people who love the internet playing on their phones and only talking when something really good happens.
The next day was possibly even better. Well, equally good. I made my way a little away from the capitol and spent time with my good friend Lobo who had just come back from AMERICA. I was able to hear about the wonderland and pick up my mud wash. It came at the perfect time, because I used the last of mine as I left the campo in hopes that the order made it to New York. I have to say thank you to my mom for order and paying for mud to be sent to Lobo and to Lobo, thank you for taking my letter and not throwing out my mud.
We were able to chat and catch up and I met his host family and we watched the Simpsons in Spanish and we talked about grammar and we (again) got lost on a guagua and I beat him at Blokus and he beat me at Blokus and I made pancakes and I burned coffee and he watched coffee burn and I was jealous of his apartment and we had a great time catching up. When I left i was able to get a helmet and catch a ride out of his site after standing in the sun for a million years.
I met up with John for a final shebang (Read: trip to the chemical store) and I walked to Caribe tours for a walk back into 100% Peace Corps life.
(Sort of: I went to Santiago next, which is how i have internet, so it's not really the campo, but I did speak Spanish and buy things for my apartment. That's something.)
I just have to say, at the end of the day, I appreciate the friends Peace Corps has given me more than I ever thought I would need to.
Vacation?
Sometimes you plan on going away from your site for 3 days.
At times, that three day trip will turn into what feels like a six day adventure.
You tried to pack light (bad idea).
You wound up cleaning up floating poop from an overflowing toilet which took away some of your clothing.
You forgot that when you live on an island you have to change your clothing more than once a day.
Some of the clothing you brought was to go out and party in the Colonial zone, and not to lounge around in.
You're sick.
And the other thing.
It's late.
You're sweating.
The ibuprofen is running low.
That is all.
At times, that three day trip will turn into what feels like a six day adventure.
You tried to pack light (bad idea).
You wound up cleaning up floating poop from an overflowing toilet which took away some of your clothing.
You forgot that when you live on an island you have to change your clothing more than once a day.
Some of the clothing you brought was to go out and party in the Colonial zone, and not to lounge around in.
You're sick.
And the other thing.
It's late.
You're sweating.
The ibuprofen is running low.
That is all.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Juan Dolio
Sometimes BeachCorps is a thing, and sometimes I embrace it.
I know. The girls are just hanging out in this picture. It's never on purpose, but whatever, embrace reality.
Courtney's adorable sister came to visit.
They are from Utah.
No, they are not mormons.
Well, okay, technically they are mormons, but that's similar to being Catholic.
Should guys pay and why?
That was the topic of conversation in my hotel room tonight. What do you guys think?
When should who pay and why?
(Maybe don't answer... This could get controversial...)
When should who pay and why?
(Maybe don't answer... This could get controversial...)
Friday, August 23, 2013
I'm still here...
So in going to buy the things I need for my house soon and I want to point out that a girl at my house has already asked me of he can have it when I leave... In two years.
She also asked me today if she can have my water bottle when I leave... In two years.
She asked me if she could have my bike last week.
I didn't realize someone was already counting down the days until I leave so thy could have the things I don't even have yet.
Also, I wish there was a GoodWill here. I furnished a cute apartment on like $100 exactly one year ago and I'm about to do the exact same thing. Should I be feeling some kind of nostalgia right now?
Hmm,
both apartments were studios.
Both need a bed.
Both had yellow paint.
Both make me feel all cozy.
Both will have little refrigerators.
My life here is going to be a lot like my life in America, but I sleep in here more often.
She also asked me today if she can have my water bottle when I leave... In two years.
She asked me if she could have my bike last week.
I didn't realize someone was already counting down the days until I leave so thy could have the things I don't even have yet.
Also, I wish there was a GoodWill here. I furnished a cute apartment on like $100 exactly one year ago and I'm about to do the exact same thing. Should I be feeling some kind of nostalgia right now?
Hmm,
both apartments were studios.
Both need a bed.
Both had yellow paint.
Both make me feel all cozy.
Both will have little refrigerators.
My life here is going to be a lot like my life in America, but I sleep in here more often.
La capital
Well, my doña doesn't trust me to wait for the guagua to the capital after what happened the first time. Now she sleeps in the room directly next to mine and wakes up with me to be sure I don't sleep in. Ha ha.
It's kind of cute though. We drink tea together at 4 a.m.
It's kind of cute though. We drink tea together at 4 a.m.
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