8.27.2009

This is LA VIDA!!

I have to admit, overall I am having a great time here in the DR. I love my family, the training center is great, our training staff is excellent and I could not ask for a better group of trainees. Despite all of this, life in another culture can be extremely difficult. I had my first breakdown this morning which I am sure is only the first of many. Lets just say some female problems and not being able to find my keys this morning sent me into a fit of tears on and off for an hour. Sleeping in a bed of sweat last night didn't help matters. This is something one should know before ever living in the Dominican culture, is the saying "se fue la luz". Yes, that is Spanish for the lights went out. Happens AT LEAST 30 times a day. It really is a fantastic life, and I am not even being sarcastic. In the U.S. the majority of us would not dream of this. It is really weird because I don't think that half of us Americans realize how much we have in comparison to the developing world.

Also, most of us can remember times when there was more litter in the streets. And then the litter campaigns. And then the fines came. Just like seat belts being just an idea, and then were proven to save lives, and now a law. And the fines. So we obey because it is better for the environment and it is safer. We discussed these concepts in training today because people here do not wear seatbelts, although there is a law, it is not enforced. There is litter pooring out of the rivers here in Santo Domingo into the Carribean and it is very saddening to see this. We discussed how if the streets and the rivers were kept clean, tourism may go up here in Santo Domingo and help create more jobs and even better paying jobs for those living in poverty. 40% of Dominicans currently live in poverty.

Wherever I end up living for my 2 year community project, I would like to help create some kind of campaign to help clean up the area that I am living in. Get people involved and help them understand why it is important to treat the environment better.

Tomorrow night I think I might go to the "Car Wash" with several other volunteers. The car washes, yes actual car washes, are where people hang out and drink a few cervezas. :) I am excited to go and see what it is all about and spend some time getting to know the other volunteers outside of training.

*Ands*

8.23.2009

More on my new life..

Okay..finally I have some more time on the internet. I don´t like using internet at my familys house because we were told during training to keep phone and internet minimal at the house because Dominicans usually keep it quick. But I have snuck away to an internet cafe. So much has happened here I do not even know where to start! The first week of training officially begins tomorrow but we had training all of this last week. Today is our day off, and I do not know when I will have another. Training is from 8 to 5 right now, and will be 8 to 6 later. I will be in Santo Domingo for these next 3 weeks but then the volunteers in the Community Economic Development sector will travel to the northern part of the Dominican Republic for Community Based Training for 5 weeks. Then we will return back to the capital for 2 weeks and then take a visit to the communities where we will live for the next 2 years. Then we return to the capital and swear in on October 28th. If we qualify as a volunteer and meet certain criteria.

Okay..mas sobre la vida aqui en la Republica Dominicana. More about the life here in the Dominican Republic. My family is so sweet. I literally sit around with the kids and sometimes mom and dad and play Dominoes, Uno and chat for HOURS on the porch. Last night a few other girls from Peace Corps and I played soccer in the street with the kids and it was SUPER fun. Our neighborhood is VERY hilly and we went running this morning, which was super hard for me with the hills. My little brother Maverick came with. I am actually feeling extremely comfortable here and very welcomed. Dominicans love to share things, so we have been told that if we dont want to share something...to keep it put away. I have been trying to share things with the kids especially....whether it be cookies, cake, my beads and hemp...little Diana, my host sister, loved my crosses to put on jewelry and used them all...but I decided she probably loves them more than me because shes a kid, she deserves them.

Training can really wear me out. Right now we are basically just covering health and safety and we are also doing some cross cultural studies to learn more about distinguishing the differences between cultures. This next week we will begin our Spanish classes. We had a conversational test on Friday, and I will know how I did tomorrow most likely. I need to pass into Intermediate Mid-High on the ACTFL scale to swear in as a volunteer. So, I am crossing my fingers. Oh que mas...I have probably been speaking at least 5 hours of Spanish everyday which means that I could possibly be fluent in 2 years...maybe. Vamos a ver...

Tomorrow we will learn how to ride the guaguas which are like van buses and people like hang out the sides of them...it seems a little dangerous but that is one of the ways I will have to get to the training center from my barrio, neighborhood, and also carros publicos. Well wish me luck on a wonderful week of training and I hope everyone is seriously considering visiting me..because the culture, the people and the atmosphere here are just wonderful and I promise it would be the trip of a lifetime. Hasta luego and I miss everyone very much.

Andrea

8.21.2009

No malaria yet...

I have to make this quick because dinner is being served..right now. Staging was good, training is going good. I have received my first of three rabies shots, used my mosquito net...ect...ect. Our training center is BEAUTIFUL. I will post pictures later. Also, good news...moved in with my host family which is a husband, wife, 1 dog, 1 puppy and 3 children. They are wonderful. I also have my own room, with tv...yes tv...to my surprise!! AND my OWN bathroom! This is the life and I better not get too used to it that is for sure. I will write more later when there is more time, I have to go eat my rice, chicken and beans! Hasta luego.

8.14.2009

The real countdown is on..

As I sit here wondering what the heck I have gotten myself into, I keep reminding myself of why I decided to accept my invitation to the Dominican Republic for Peace Corps. My decision to join the Peace Corps was brought on greatly by some of the trips that I took while studying abroad in Mexico where I saw poverty for the first time. I remember thinking that if there was something that could be done, I would be there. I found seeing such a divided culture so interesting and intriguing while I was in Mexico. I am expecting to see another similarly divided culture in the Dominican Republic, where the wealth is distributed unevenly between classes. The rich being far too rich, and the poor being far too poor. Hopefully, after 3 months of training, I will be able to really make a change and teach others some of the skills that I have gained in my life thus far so that they can improve their quality of life for themselves and future generations.

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life." My sister and I were just talking about this quote a few days ago, and I truly think that it is a great quote that captures one part of the journey that I am about to undertake. I know that not only will I be helping others in the community that I live in, but I will also be growing as an individual. Some of this growth will be in my Spanish speaking skills, professional and leadership skills, but I can guarantee the majority of this growth will be reflected internally in my overall my attitude and gratefulness toward the life that God has blessed me with.

Ok, so back to my frustrations on everything I have left to do before I depart for staging in DC. It is so overwhelming to be sitting in piles of boxes and boxes of things (most of which, I really probably have never needed), papers and dirty clothes. I'd say if I didn't have anxiety before, I definitely have it now. I just sit here literally in a complete state of procrastination and anxiety. Somehow I know it will all be fine...but this just feels SO much different and much more difficult than packing to go study abroad for 4-5 months. =)

And--don't forget to start planning your visits to come see me. I will not be allowed to have visitors during my first 6 months or the last 3 months of my service. So, starting February 19th, 2010 (not exact, but close enough) until July 28th, 2011 (mas o menos..more or less) you should be able to come visit!

For those of you that have been wondering how you can send me things or get ahold of me. I will be getting a cell phone at some point after my 3 months of training. However, I will most likely not have service in the community that I am living in. It will be best to communicate via email (or facebook) or to plan a time to arrange a phone call and then one of us will buy a calling card (from what I've read, it is not very expensive to do this). Below is an advisory for sending packages:

*Sending packages. Relatives often like to send care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to end inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend, however, that costly items be sent through the mail. Even though many Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may always use the following address to send letters and/or packages to your family member:

Andrea Montague, PCV
Cuerpo de Paz
Avenida Bolivar 451, Gazcue
Apartado 1412
Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic

*IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PACKAGES BE SENT IN PADDED ENVELOPES IF POSSIBLE, AS BOXES TEND TO BE TAXED AND OPENED MORE FREQUENTLY.*

Wish me luck on this wonderful opportunity! :) *Andrea*