July=whirlwind!
That's actually the spanish translation, if you didn't know. This July was certainly very busy. We'll begin with campamento superman, or camp superman for the translation-challenged. Picture around 30 5th grade boys running around, playing games, working together, bathing in a river, cleaning dishes, eating good food, making s'mores, sleeping in tents, and having a blast. And then maybe you'll have a taste of the exhausting, dirty, exhilirating, and wonderful time that we all had. One of the major themes of the camp was that every young man has the potential to act like superman, with regards to character, intelligence, health, and of course super-powers. My favorite part was the "intelligence" component, where we got to make volcanoes, made ice stick to a string with salt, and constructed towers out of dry noodles and marshmallows! So much fun! The kids' favorite part was the beautiful, cold river that ran through the camp site. More fun for them, but very refreshing.
And then I went home. Finally. The weeks I had been dreaming about for months (MONTHS) finally arrived. First I had the wedding in Orlando, which was lovely, then Danni and Leah surprised me with a beach trip, and then I went home where I did absolutely zero work and just had a great time with my family (immediate and extended). Some memorable moments were probably all trips to places where they sell things (I think Theresa almost killed me in the grocery store), the first time I saw everyone in the family (Thomas wins the award for being most excited), and every time I ate something. Which was pretty much every hour, probably even in my sleep. The food in the US is just so dang delicious!
And now, alas, alak, I am back in the Dominican Republic. I do have an exciting month coming up, though- a diversity conference this weekend with some youth, purchasing materials for the school (shopping is shopping, even if it is boring stuff like desks), catching up with my cat Denny, another conference about teaching techniques, the new group of youth volunteers arrives in the country, and sweating. Maybe that one is not exciting, but it is very warm. Also hurricanes are a definite possibility.
So the final note- yes, the new group of youth volunteers are flying into the country. Which means that I have been in this country for, wait for it, 1 year! Holey Moley!
Just kidding, this is the final note: Hello to any and all students in Ms. Bokor and Mrs. Manteiga's classes! I hope you learn to love writing (or at least typing). Here's a secret- I never had good handwriting, so I learned to type really quickly so that my teachers wouldn't complain about my sloppy assignments (I'd just type them!) Guess it's not a secret anymore.
A haiku about the US
Air conditioning
Food, friends, smiles, Chick-Fil-A game
There's no place like home
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Hola Alicia!
ReplyDeleteI'm Alyssa, and I recently got back from the DR where I had lived for a year y pico, in the capital and then in Paraiso, Barahona. I, as one of the few gringuitas in my campo, obviously sought the friendship of some of the nearby Peace Corps volunteers (Destin was the one in Paraiso while I was there), and have been reading some of the DR PCV blogs to just remember and have some common memories and laughs. And I wanted to tell you that your blog has been one of the best for laughs! Only "Marley and Me" has made me laugh out loud more. So congrats :)
I also love reading your social commentary (especially the king/peasant election analogy!) and thinking "Man, exactly. Why doesn't everyone in my town get that?!" I think you mentioned somewhere in your blog that it feels good to talk with people who see things like you do, and I agree. It's kinda lonely when few people in your town have a similar perspective. So you have one more person who agrees, even if it's from the US! :)
I wanted to felicitarte because it seems like you've really been doing some concrete work in your community, and it seems like you have really been able to keep a positive outlook during your time there. I admire you very much on that aspect! Keep it up, muchacha.
Feel free to email me at any time, for anything! alyssa.m.wagner@gmail.com.
Cuidate mucho!
Alyssa