Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Attempt at a Project #2











Perhaps my greatest challenge thusfar was the 3-day teacher training workshop I recently held at my school. Not only did it involve months of my investigating Spanish literacy (largely through trial and error with my pull-out groups), but I also wrote a 70-page guide IN SPANISH. During the writing process, of course, my laptop completely died....at which point I had a mild heart attack and then called Lori to borrow hers. I would like to add, however, that my printer is my FAVORITE toy ever (Thanks again, mom and pop!). I also had Robyn in town with me for almost a week and she was a GREAT help. I mean who else will sit up with me at 2:00 AM when we haven't slept for DAYS, cutting/pasting/plastificar-ing words for a word wall (in the dark, mind you, as the electricity se fue)???? She was definitely a lifesaver. Robyn, Zahira, and myself each had a full day of presentation, and it was really great information, if I do say so myself : )




The first disaster came when I went to retrieve those aforementioned guides. After spending about 6 months writing it, all of my sweat and labor finally paid off because I had, in my hands, 20 copies of the COMPLETED manual. Then, I quickly flagged down a motoconcho and he threw the box of my new guides right on the front of his motorcycle. Approximately 10 seconds later, he attempted to depart and the entire box fell right into the MIDDLE of the road! I had to scurry around like a madwoman to pick up my precious books, as SUVs and motorcycles were trying to run us over!!! Only in the DR....




The other disaster came when my slightly witch of a directora came in on my day to present and informed me that even though I had the dates of my taller planned since FEBRUARY, we would have to postpone my presentation for another day, as they had something ELSE to do. The best part was that the teachers were in uproar because they were very excited to talk about the reading manual that I had prepared for them and we quickly had a one-hour session (Good thing my rapidfire speech has carried over into Spanish). I definitely left a bit frustrated but, all in all, I think we had a really successful workshop and hope desperately that some of my teachers actually EMPLOY some of the things we talked about! For once I have a project that, as of now, I can call a success.

Attempt at a Project #1







After many months of being in the school constantly and avoiding working with teachers, I decided to actual attempt a project. Lori (IT volunteer from nearby Luperon) and I decided that a mural project would be fun. We had various plans for raising the money (all of which fell through) so we decided that we could sell Mistolin (very popular floor cleaner), or a homemade version of it, that is. So, we began collecting bazillions of old water and pop bottles, and I talked to my school about it almost weekly. Finally, the great day in June arrived. I had purchased all of the necessary chemicals in Santiago and Lori and I whipped out gallons and gallons of great-smelling (though the color was a little...off) floor disinfectant. My school, however, heartbreakingly let me down in that they did NOTHING to help us. My directora even kept walking around telling everyone that the money was going to be for our "summer camp" when I had repeatedly told her that it was for a mural. In the end, we were left with a ton of Mistolin (to which the school helps itself, I might add) and no money. Through your generous donations, however, we were able to get a move on the mural project and, as soon as it is finished, I will provide proud updates! Just have to mark the Mistolin fundraiser as one of the many failed project attempts...and move on to the next one.

Celebrating American Independence....DR style







This 4th of July, I think that I was more patriotic than I have ever been. And I don' t think that it would be much of a stretch to say that many of my Peace Corps peers have the same sentiments. As Dominicans don't exactly celebrate our beloved Independence Day, we volunteers joined the Peace Corps tradition of partying hardy on one of the most beautiful beaches on the southern coast (Bahia de las Aguilas). The best part, of course, was the transportation. This VERY remote beach requires a six hour trip from the capital to nearby city Pederales. From Pedernales, one has to hop in the back of a truck for about a good hour down one of the worst roads I have ever seen. The final stop: a beautiful boatride (complete with life jackets) through el mar caribe, ultimately arriving at this beautiful, isolated beach!
Kevin had the brilliant idea, however, of creating what he called a "The Kevin Inviational Party Bus." That's right, about 35 of us road the six...okay, so really it ended up being more like TEN hours from the capital to Pedernales. They somehow managed to acquire a KEG (the only one I have ever seen in this country) so that we could all drink our way down south. We sang horribly tacky American songs like the National Anthem and "I'm Proud to be an American" with more heart than is at all necessary. Perhaps we are just a bunch of drunken idiots but, then again, perhaps we have just learned to appreciate our native land of flushing toilets, hot showers, and paved roads.....that's right..."there ain't no doubt I love this laaaaaaaaaand, God Bless the U.S.A."!!!

“¡Tú eres más dominicano que un plátano!”




A few months ago, while hanging out with some English teachers in the campo, I was told, "Pero, diache Sarah, tú eres más dominicano que un plátano!”(translation: Geez, Sarah, you are more Dominican than a plantain!). Aside from the fact that I think the statement is intrinsically hilarious, I also find it tremendously flattering. For some reason, right around the 1-year mark of living in this country, I transformed. I went from "sticking it out" because I'm committed to my project, to actually WANTING to be here. Almost without noticing, I began to love many of the very things that had driven me nuts just a few months prior. I used to hate that Dominicans just wanted to sit around in plastic chairs and "compartir," and now it is like my favorite pastime! I used to think "Rice and beans AGAIN??" and now you will find ME in the kitchen whipping them up (on the rare occasions that my neighbors don't deliver them to me).
I think that I just let go of trying so hard to be "me" and, therefore, "American." I feel like "Dominican-ness" has just somehow seeped into my veins, without effort and without consciousness. Now when people ask me, I tell them that I am American-Dominican. So be prepared for lots of rice and beans and, of course, plátanos.

I Actually Had a Visitor!











So, although Ann's visit was quite some time ago, I think it still deserves a spot on my blog. I was SO anxious/excited/nervous to have my first (and probably ONLY) visitor here in the DR. I was soooo worried that it was going to rain everyday she was here (yes, it does that here), get bitten by a bad mosquito and go home with Dengue, or have what we volunteers lovingly refer to as "explosive diahrrea." Thankfully, we only got one day of monsoon rain and a little bit of vomiting! Other than that, I think her trip was a total hit! We rode the cable car, visited all of the so-called "monuments" of Puerto Plata, drank Presidente, climbed 7 of the 27 waterfalls, went swimming at the beach, got hilarious Dominican manicures, waited for HOURS to see Leonel (Ann became his biggest fan) who we never did see, ate rice and beans, and danced our hearts out to merengue and bachata.



Even though she couldn't communicate with them, Pilar and her family absolutely adored "Anna" (as they call her) and still ask about her regularly. Pilar even regalar-ed a bracelet and a pair of sandals! Though some moments may have been a little insane (the 2 of us on a motorcycle during a monsoon, for example), I think that Ann had a good time. I am just thrilled that she got to see a little bit of what my life is like here and, despite the dirt roads and constant blackouts, appreciate the beauty of my 3rd world home.