Ay mi madre

Oh my mother. Maybe something is lost in the translation of that phrase, but it basically means "Ay Dios Mio!" You all know that one. The phrase is perfect, because this weekend I was at family camp!

Family camp? Why wasn't I invited, you might be asking if you're in my family. Because it was a camp for other families! I got to bring two families from my town- one from my neighborhood, and another from a nearby batey. It was awesome! Think, 4 days of mothers actually spending time with their children (they almost never get to here), eating 3 meals a day together, playing together (something the NEVER do) being responsible for knowing where their children are, learning about each other...it was magical. I love family.

Of course, it was also a little difficult. As I'm sure you all can imagine, if you're not used to hanging out with someone, it might be a little difficult to get along...and it was, at times. But that's ok. One of the families I brought had a birthday- the son was turning 13- so we surprised him with a birthday cake and everyone put on hats. Guess what the mom did? Started crying and said she'd never before been able to afford a party for her son. Another cool thing: Not one of the 7 people I brought had ever ridden the metro (or an escalator). It was so cute watching them eye the moving stairs uncertainly, jumping on, holding on to the sides for dear life, and then leaping off at the top. I fought to get them seats on the metro because I'm a fighter sometimes (not like an actual fight, more like shoving small children and pregnant women out of the way). (just kidding...geesh...).

So they painted and played tug of war and made puppets and learned communication techniques and swam and played outside and ran aruond and did yoga and ate a lot lot lot (especially my people, because the food was plentiful and they often go without). And the mothers from different families got some time to share with each other about their lives- which are often pretty tragic- and were able to support each other and learned a little about listening. All in all, it was AMAZING!

And now I find myself at the begining of Semana Santa, only the biggest party week in the Dominican Republic. Apparently, a good way to celebrate the Resurrection is to eat lots of habichuelas con dulce (think rice pudding, but with beans) and drink lots of presidente (beer) and dance a lot. Needless to say, school is cancelled, so I'll be working on other projects without feeling guilty that I'm not at the school getting the kiddies to read. And hopefully I get to dance some, but let's be real. It'll probably be with my mop.

Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!

-alicia