To let you know, i've been fine throughout tropical depressions, Ike and Co. Here, in the DR, we're only mildly concerned about el temporada ciclonica, hurricane season. I have a number of things working for me- I live on a hill and my host brother says he's willing to drive me anywhere on his motor. Then, there's the Peace Corps alert system and Dominican COE, Center for Emergency Operations. Did I mention that a tropical depression is off the coast of Puerto Rico as I'm writing this? Eso no es na'
I'm sorry I haven't been in touch in so long with many of you. It's happened in the DR, too. I just saw my two host families here after a year!! My time has been just been spent up with my community. Like, what you see above. After refocusing at the beginning of the summer (June or so), we spent time with the youth group and went on trips to the river (above) to motivate and restart the group. The summer has been a time of trying to push the youth to be involved in a community house-building project, a boys and girls summer camp put on by my counterpart organization, and other workshops provided by different offices...We can say that there is not only a a new directiva or board of directors and a radio program, but a new spirit in the group...
Some things you gain and some things fall by the wayside. Everything is everything. Or, on another note, Lauryn Hill: You might win some, but you really lost one. Take basketball practice, for example. After a group of characters entered into the school bball court, it got cut by the school director. A new cancha opened, a youth took charge of coaching the kids in preparation for a tournamet and I wanted to help out, but then interest fell off (and, some kids think he ran off with the kids' money...Hmm.. ). But, by the same token, i feel i've gained in deciding where I need to spend time, re-establishing connections with my host family, and now feeling at home in the culture and language. How can I explain?
I found myself one day...
Doing shuttle democracy, discutiendo, holding an argument with one group about how they should not take jokingly down the volleyball posts and pleading with a coach to give volleyball practice to this group of "disorderly" girls.
I found myself one day...
Walking around with a community leader, advising people about the coming hurricane. I'm not a saint: I can guarantee you it was her idea.
I found myself one day...
Floating a cooler up a river. It's a lot harder than it sounds. We ended up chasing bottles of soda back down with the current, lunging for packs of ice...
I found myself one day...
On the radio, talking about my youth group and praising them for doing what they do. Shoutouts to Chad and Wazir! lol.
I found myself one day...
Up in a tree, looking for limoncillos, throwing them down to my host-sister.
I found myself one day...
Showing off my two new puppies, Moises and Nana, to my neighbors like well, a proud dad...
We'll have to see how things go from here. We're hoping to move forward in the groups and plan to be sustainable. To get more done and get to know more people. To see friends and family. ..Erykah Badu: The world....keeps...on...moving....
Now, let me get out of the rain and go pottytrain my pups...
