My new nieces sending their love

Sad Day

So I'm sitting in the Santo Domingo Airport on my way back to the States. It was very hard to say "see you later" to my new family and of course, despite how hard we tried, we could not hold back the tears. As much as I would love to stay here and continue to work with the loving students of the Dominican, I have to get back home to work with the students and people who love me in the US. It's good to know that I have a new family with countless new brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews who are ready to welcome me back as soon as I get the chance to get back on a plane.

Although my work in the Dominican is done, for this summer, I'm going to continue to update this blog from time to time. I want to use it to show my new friends and family in the DR my lifestyle in the US as well as keep everyone posted about my plans to return.

I love you all and thanks for taking the time to read and I hope you all learned a little something through my blog.

Nos vemos,
~d

Tropical Storm Fay

I've been receiving a lot of emails and messages asking if I'm ok - so I figured I'd send an update letting everyone know I survived Tropical Storm Fay.

What is hard to believe is the lack of information about the weather there is in the Dominican. Apparently, for the most part, people in the DR have little to no warning about tropical storms, hurricanes, and other weather phenomenons. We didn't know that a tropical storm was headed our way until it started to rain - and by that point it was too late.

My friend Virginia and I were in the center of the city after a Leaders Club meeting when it instantly started to downpour. Withing a matter of minutes the streets were completely flooded (this city has a real problem with drainage). It looked like a river of dirty water and garbage flowing through most of the major streets. We were far from Virginia's house so we tried to call a taxi to bring us home, but every single taxi service in the entire city was busy - so we decided to take our chances. I truly mean it when I say God was with us every step of the way. Every form of public transportation was full, but we managed to hop a bus and public car and a long time later we safely arrived at Virgina's house completely soaked.

Since the storm we have had very little electricity and almost no running water. Right now we have no water left in the house and there isn't any in the neighborhood - so I apologize in advance to the people who have to pick me up at the airport. I promise to put on extra deodorant.

Well, I have to get back to packing my suitcase since I leave tomorrow. *tear* I'm not going to write about saying goodbye because I already know I'll be back soon. Plus - my roommate asked me to be the Madrina at her wedding, so I have no choice but to come back soon. :)

See you all soon
~d

Great News!

So, I have enjoyed my stay in the Dominican sooooo much that I found a job and have decided to stay for a whole year!

OK.... I really wish that's what I could write, but as you all know school starts soon and I have to get back home to teach (I really do miss the little ones in G-bury).

This week has been a lot of fun. In my English classes I have been teaching the students (both the children and adults) about American culture. We have been looking at pictures of the four seasons, listening to music, learning about U.S. currency and, the best part of the week, trying Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches! At first the kids thought the idea of peanut butter and jelly together was completely disgusting, but after they tried it they couldn't stop asking for more!

I'm still learning a lot about Dominican Culture and even though I've been here for almost two months it still seems like I see something new every day. In case I've never taken the time to share with you some of the new things I've seen on this trip - here's just a few: cars and motos driving the wrong way down the streets, tons of people squished in a car made for 5, women selling fruit from buckets balanced on their heads, toddlers walking around the streets alone at night, machetes used as an everyday tool, people using umbrellas on a perfectly beautiful sunny day, some of the worlds best food, and so much more.

Well, I have to run - but I'll be back in the States next Wednesday. So give me a call if you want to get together.

Miss you all,
~d

Just an Update

Hello friends and family in the States. Just writing to give everyone an update on how things are going in the DR. As you can imagine, things are still going very well - so well that I barely have time to keep up with the blog. Since I never know what to write, I've recruited my friend Virginia to give you all an update (in Spanish) and at the end of the post I'll give you a quick summary in English.

Conocer a Dorie ha sido una experiencia única, ya que ella es un extraordinario ser humano y una persona con cualidades excepcionales.

Su visita a nuestro pais ha sido una de las mejores cosas que ha pasado en este verano.

Es una persona muy inteligente, simpatica y facil de tratar y su compañia siempre es muy agradable, ya que cuando una esta con ella siente que la conociera de toda una vida, es muy sociable y amante a la vida, le gusta conocer de la cultura y hemos tenido la oportunidad de visitar algunos museos y lugares culturales y ella se muestra muy interesada en aprender de la cultura dominicana. Tambien hemos ido a lugares recreativo y la hemos pasado ¡very funny!
Ella ha vivido una vida comun en la R.D. y tiene una manera de adaptacion admirable.

Hablar de Dorie es hablar de sencillez, respeto a los demas la verdad que una pagina es poco para hablar de sus virtudes que como persona poseee.

Ella puede decir que tiene familia en R.D. Y de manera particular que tiene una nueva mommy.

Asi que ya sabem a todo el que tenga la dicha de compartir con ella que sepan aprovechar ese tiempo y tratarla como ella se merece (o sea muy bien) de lo contrario ella puede venir a R. D. y puede asegurar de que aqui sabremos darcelo.

Besos y abrazos a todos

Virginia Mota.

Basically she said that I am having a great time and learning a lot about Dominican culture. If you want more details, find a translator :) Anyways, Virginia has been keeping me very busy. We went to the Botanical Gardens, saw an amazing dance show put on by her nieces, discovered I am famous, was serenaded by Virgi's sister, brother, and his wife, and I made Virgi try Capuccino for the first time.... she liked it.

OK, so in case you don't know, I come home on the 20th - which means I don't have too much time left here. Our schedule is pretty packed until I leave, but I will keep you all in the loop. If you want to see me when I get home, shoot me an email and I'm sure I would love to meet up with you.

Lots of love,
-d