tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9917388404490347672024-03-04T23:29:41.112-08:00Justin´s Excellent Adventure: Cuerpo de Paz, DRTales of danger, conquest, and confusion on a Caribbean Island.Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-44671590401260991692011-02-28T20:33:00.000-08:002020-06-11T14:58:20.507-07:00Getting In Touch With My Feminine SideLife in my community hasn’t turned out exactly how I had envisioned in many aspects, which is fine. I thought, however, that my social life would at least be similar to how it was in the States. I figured my main group of friends would be a bunch of guys my age that would share the same interests as me. For various reasons, however, I have had to steer clear of that particular focus group. Dominican males, from the age of about two, are taught to spit mad game at any and all females. For this reason, by the time they reach puberty they have more confidence than a 7-times divorced American man. Dominican males who are around my age that live in my community are mostly married with kids, and don’t really pay much attention to me. The ones who aren’t married, from the time they are about 15-years-old tend to sit around on the corner a lot, talking about chicks using slang I will never understand, drinking rum, listening to god-awful regaeton, and thinking they are a lot cooler than they really are. Girls my age that aren’t married or pregnant don’t exist in this country. So what has resulted, is that I have found friendship in many unexpected places. My best conversations are with Dominican women over the age of 40, who are the most gentle, loving, and accommodating people on the earth. We have two topics of discussion: my community projects, and town gossip…call me an old drama queen, but I could gossip for hours. The latest gossip: So and so went to jail for throwing hot oil on his brother-in-law when they were both drunk, So and so tested positive for HIV, and So and so moved in with her baby’s daddy, making them officially “married”.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e40As40z-gZf3i8x2h9R4-FNGhOx6I56i9HP3TED3yGxeRAR7MW1cwPhRz2EfvTBNUPISK2yBpGZ5tfZ2YXxqrSGUJQrp0OzG7n5z1S8zAx5a3Yt-SmzdHQNIPS-Xdh3Vgp0Oi4cTAo/s1600/cosa+050.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578972375384968514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e40As40z-gZf3i8x2h9R4-FNGhOx6I56i9HP3TED3yGxeRAR7MW1cwPhRz2EfvTBNUPISK2yBpGZ5tfZ2YXxqrSGUJQrp0OzG7n5z1S8zAx5a3Yt-SmzdHQNIPS-Xdh3Vgp0Oi4cTAo/s320/cosa+050.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>Most of my youth group members are teenagers, but we tend not to hang out when we’re not having group meetings or going on trips. So apart from middle aged ladies, I also hang out with my fair share of little kids in my free time. My best friend of all is a 12-year-old deaf/mute girl named Patricia, who is more commonly known as La Muda (the mute one), but contrary to her nickname, she is extremely vocal in her own personal language. She comes over every day and usually cleans my house. Sometimes she cleans for free, but sometimes she feels she deserves payment so I give her 5 pesos or a couple candies and she carries on feeling content and appreciated. I know what your thinking: That’s underpaid child labor!… Well, all I can say is, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! THINGS WORK DIFFERENTLY HERE! Me and Patricia tell each other stories using hand gestures, yet we only understand about half of what is being said. Maybe it is best that way because the kids who I can understand tend to drive me insane after a while. Patricia’s favorite thing to do is talk on my cell phone, so whenever I’m talking to another Peace Corps friend with our free family plan, Patricia asks for me to pass her the phone, and when I do, she begins to tell my friends a story using very animated noises and hand motions. She then passes the phone back to me and my friends ask me, “Who was that and what language was she talking in?” We haven’t said it to each other yet, but me and Patricia both know that we’re BFF’s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sJnHNKhyphenhyphenLnGTfL3-FuEtctd3n29OoD2OSW67d5owxivAjjCdlp498PQA_lZz_4dn3hZXd-U5msZK7_xOEJyVYlyNVzs-_SQucT9ICDtXtRHQ88d_k04qVm1IfT3V2GtYCXaI-yTUR_s/s1600/asdf.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578969351916840498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_sJnHNKhyphenhyphenLnGTfL3-FuEtctd3n29OoD2OSW67d5owxivAjjCdlp498PQA_lZz_4dn3hZXd-U5msZK7_xOEJyVYlyNVzs-_SQucT9ICDtXtRHQ88d_k04qVm1IfT3V2GtYCXaI-yTUR_s/s320/asdf.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>Being an avid fan of youth camps, I recently signed up to go to a girls youth camp, to which I brought two girls from my youth group. At the camp, there were 40 teenage Dominican girls, 17 female volunteers, and 3 male volunteers (me, Jared, and Dean). The estrogen was running high and we were clearly outnumbered. However, this camp turned out to be incredibly fun and the girls treated us men like kings. Everyone at the camp was given a little mail box with their name on it so that whoever wanted could leave a note for their new friends. By the end of the three days, the mail boxes belonging to Jared, Dean, and I were overflowing with love notes. Throughout the first 2 days of the camp, we kept dropping hints that there would be a special guest appearance by Carlos Baute and Marta Sanchez (2 well known singers who have a hit duet on the radio). Then, as promised, on the second night of the camp, as all the girls were waiting in pure excitement, Dean announced, “Give a warm welcome for Carlos and Marta!!!” Then I, dressed and Carlos, and Jared, dressed in drag as Marta, came running into the room where we were met by 40 screaming girls, as if it were an N’sync concert. They were so star struck you would have thought we were the real musical artists. Once we got to the center of the crowd, the girls rushed in on us and we were almost smothered before Dean came to the rescue and acted as security and told the girls to calm down. Me and Jared sang our famous duet and for the remainder of the camp, we were called Carlos and Marta. My 15 minutes of fame was over before I knew it, but now I know what it’s like to be Justin Bieber, who, by the way, recently took the place of Justin Timberlake as the person people refer to when they first learn my name…great improvement. (My latest prayer: Dear God, please allow someone named Justin to become famous for something more respectable than singing love songs to 12-year-old girls. Amen.)Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-55784871146212301682011-01-15T07:11:00.000-08:002011-01-15T07:28:13.830-08:00La Navidad<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Mañanitas</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Mañanitas, meaning “little mornings”, are a perfect example of the Dominican culture. What Dominicans love more than anyt</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">hing are loud noises: loud motorcycles, loud voices, loud explosions, and especially loud music. They also love jumping on the bandwagon and praising the lord. What Dominicans have very little value for are such things like personal space, self awareness, noise pollution, noise violations, and a good nights sleep before work. This complex combination is what allows mañanitas to continue as a tradition year after year. What basically happens is at 4:00 am, a small group of people gather outside the Catholic Church with a collection of percussion instrum</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ents and begin marching up the street while singing merengue style Christmas carols. As the group proceeds up the street, more and more people come out of their homes and join the group until a massive parade</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> is for</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">med. If you’re in my community, Tubagua, the parade is accompanied by a truck with massive speakers blasting prerecorded Christmas carols wi</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">th bass so loud you feel it in your chest. At selective houses, the group stops to sing a song that</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> talks about opening the door until someone from inside wakes up and does just that. T</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">his ridiculous display of Christmas spirit continues until 6:00am when the group arrives back at the church just in time for mass in the dark. Mass ends at about 6:45am, just as the sun begins to rise. And as if 1 day of this wasn’t already en</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ough, they do it for each of the 10 days leading up to Christmas Eve. Nobody gets a good night’s sleep for 10 days. So I say,if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcC4fR2L0S1b6K4IIq1AvPqJzdOMy-aM8FmCGibe5ClEBHod5XkjyHCWdf7pv19hf6JfbYaO7wYss0-dq3jEgCZ_55ng2APnbY8jArIGzssr4FDT7w2-w05XiCrIu3R7Ais3rD8zlujM/s1600/Noche+Buena+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcC4fR2L0S1b6K4IIq1AvPqJzdOMy-aM8FmCGibe5ClEBHod5XkjyHCWdf7pv19hf6JfbYaO7wYss0-dq3jEgCZ_55ng2APnbY8jArIGzssr4FDT7w2-w05XiCrIu3R7Ais3rD8zlujM/s320/Noche+Buena+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562432793023679634" border="0" /></a>I had two friends stay over during this time who hadn’t yet learned of this tradition.<span style=""> </span>Before we went to bed, I told them I had a surprise for them in the morning, but I didn’t tell them what it was.<span style=""> </span>Like clockwork, the 200dB parade came bumping past my house, waking all of us up.<span style=""> </span>My friends asked, “what in the hell is that!?!?”<span style=""> </span>I told them to look out the window and they saw.<span style=""> </span>I quickly explained what it was and told them to put their shoes on because we were about to join the party.<span style=""> </span>Soon we were walking off into the darkness, half asleep, clapping our hands to the most fast paced Christmas song we’d ever heard.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Looking at this from the average sleeping person’s perspective, this ritual would certainly make the list of the top 10 most obnoxious things ever.<span style=""> </span>Imagine if this happened in the U.S., in your neighborhood.<span style=""> </span>People would most certainly get arrested or shot, or both.<span style=""> </span>The church would be shut down and Christmas carols would be deemed illegal before 3:00pm.<span style=""> </span>However, here in the D.R., those who party harder come out on top.<span style=""> </span>And noise violations fall under the same classification as unicorns.<span style=""> </span>This can even be seen in their politics.<span style=""> </span>The politicians drive around big trucks with their giant face and name printed on the side while blasting the latest regaetón song, except with the lyrics changed to say something about voting for that politician.<span style=""> </span>The politician who makes the most noise wins, simple.<span style=""> </span>Political issues have little to no relevance.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Christmas, a time for sharing</span><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> </span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigLKEDRgkdU8fVjscqiAvCRWuBH0HQELbNoHRGPHy-u4-hhejL6Ob11vRwFQOW4T61JxDmSlX1WxqWNznnPUq45tYgUCUx_IdrZxOZhd6L-byiK8HvWa998YCYTOc20HLD7Vi0BWMx9E/s1600/Noche+Buena+079.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigLKEDRgkdU8fVjscqiAvCRWuBH0HQELbNoHRGPHy-u4-hhejL6Ob11vRwFQOW4T61JxDmSlX1WxqWNznnPUq45tYgUCUx_IdrZxOZhd6L-byiK8HvWa998YCYTOc20HLD7Vi0BWMx9E/s320/Noche+Buena+079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562433384231669138" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">What Dominicans are the best at is sharing. With any visit you make to a neighbors house comes a fresh juice or coffee. If a stranger on the public bus has one hard candy left, he or she will break it with their teeth and g</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ive you half. Sharing is embedded in the culture, and for this reason it is great to be in the DR for Christmas, because Christmas is a time for sharing. Christmas Eve is the big day here when the whole family gets together and eats a big feast. The traditional dishes during Christmas time are rotisserie pork, potato/yuka bake, apples, and grapes. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> On Christmas Eve I ate an early dinner with my neighbor, and then another dinner with my host family, who prepared an entire pig. I ate the pig’s tongue; is that gross?</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> I stuffed myself until I couldn’t move.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> Later I went to another neighbor’s house where we shared spiked eggnog, wine, </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">and skrewdrivers, and then found some more roo</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">m to shove in some grilled chicken and hot dogs. </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4516A1ouC_Fies_Nhq3iaGGVF5pRgLTxgqchPby2zvoG5nFjD5N2GG-la7FOjpx0n-PTwli2VCQRdxWn47sD4fEWPnPC1uU38I7C-iN3scl_S_Gw5fDpPhz1pJ5DYOxdpVCFtDiv3LGk/s1600/Noche+Buena+092.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4516A1ouC_Fies_Nhq3iaGGVF5pRgLTxgqchPby2zvoG5nFjD5N2GG-la7FOjpx0n-PTwli2VCQRdxWn47sD4fEWPnPC1uU38I7C-iN3scl_S_Gw5fDpPhz1pJ5DYOxdpVCFtDiv3LGk/s320/Noche+Buena+092.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562433697207026610" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">This ended up not being the greatest combination because I woke up the next morning at 7am with a full belly and threw it all up. But it was totally worth it. I was eating leftover pork for 3 days until we finished every part of it including the ears, hooves, liver, heart, and intestines, and it was so delicious.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" class="MsoNormal">I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! <span style=""> </span>We’re still in need of donations for the library project, so if your New Years resolution is to help the needy, just visit the link below…</p> <p style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-403">https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-403</a></p>Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-87125571751055347692010-12-22T19:21:00.000-08:002020-06-11T14:51:33.369-07:00Perritos<link 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Have you ever had a few beers and then noticed that certain people suddenly look a little more attractive? Well the same phenomenon works when dealing with puppies as well. I’ll explain. The other night I was in Santiago with some Peace Corps friends. We were at a sports bar responsibly enjoying some drinks. I say responsibly because we weren’t going to drive home(Peace Corps prohibits volunteers from driving, but the fact that we have no other choice doesn’t make us any less responsible). At the end of the night, we decided to head back to the motel where we were staying. Our group got split up and I ended up walking back with my friends Shannon and Duncan. We turned up a small street, and that’s when it happened. Three small puppies came out of nowhere and blocked the walkway, forcing us to pick them up and accept their sweet puppy breath kisses. We instantly fell in love with them, and suddenly became aware that there were no people, nor mother dogs around; these puppies were abandoned! Being in the emotionally tipsy state that we were, our conversation went something like this: </div>
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Shannon: Awwww look at them, they love you! You guys have to take them home!</div>
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Duncan: We do?</div>
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Justin: Oh shit, you’re right. These puppies are homeless! We’re their only hope. I’ll take the black one.</div>
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Duncan: Alright, let me call Amy (Duncan’s neighboring volunteer friend) and see what she says.</div>
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<b>Phone conversation <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b> </b>Duncan: Amy, will you help me take care of this puppy I found?</div>
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Amy: Huh?</div>
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Duncan: Yeah, we’re gonna help save a street puppy, just say yes.</div>
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Amy: Ummm, I guess so…as long as you take care of it most of the t..Click. Hello? Duncan?...</div>
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Duncan: she said ok.</div>
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Justin: But Shannon, you have to take the third one.</div>
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Shannon: But I already have a dog.</div>
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Justin: Yeah but we can’t just leave one puppy alone on the street…we’ll have to take all three and find someone to adopt the third one. C’mon, lets go sneak these puppies into the motel.</div>
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Duncan: Lets find some street food and more beers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmpq21FNLy20mCwUraGAyPygdD4R7mu3Y-lkb8W_uvydbOSOE1yXCEpqOjexcQehd2y_VSG8GQUx1aDeTT8BZYHVpDfOi1vvqe_1i3Ks0_d_g0Yv1Do9E4UtkljjmJQ52HVbj6oDkiC0/s1600/que+027.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553717949433614898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmpq21FNLy20mCwUraGAyPygdD4R7mu3Y-lkb8W_uvydbOSOE1yXCEpqOjexcQehd2y_VSG8GQUx1aDeTT8BZYHVpDfOi1vvqe_1i3Ks0_d_g0Yv1Do9E4UtkljjmJQ52HVbj6oDkiC0/s320/que+027.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a>Once back in our motel room, we introduced the puppies to everyone else, fed them some peanut butter, and shut them in the bathroom for the night. The next morning, we woke up sober as saints and realized what we had done, but the damage was already done; we had to face the music. Amy, the puppies (who smelled absolutely rancid), and I left the motel and headed towards Puerto Plata while Duncan left to take care of some work, immediately taking on the role of the illegitimate father (Duncan never saw the puppies again after that day). We transported the puppies in Amy’s bag, which she was not very happy about. In Puerto Plata, I had to attend a meeting so I left the puppies with Amy, however she had to go grocery shopping so she was becoming quite agitated seeing as the whole puppy thing was never her idea. Later on, I took the three puppies from Amy so she could finish running errands, and after five hours swinging around in a bag, the puppies finally arrived at my house. Upon arrival, I immediately showed the puppies to my host mom (the lady who lives behind me and feeds me lunch). She quickly took note that all three puppies were female and for the first time ever, she appeared to be very upset with me. (I discovered at that time that nobody here likes female dogs because male dogs always follow them around and then they get pregnant and have a ton of babies. My host mom ultimately said that I can’t keep any puppies and I agreed to give them away as soon as possible. Once Duncan heard that I wasn’t keeping my puppy, he declared that he never really wanted one anyway. Duncan and Amy then refused to come pick up their puppy from my house.</div>
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The next three days were a living hell. While running around preparing for the graduation of my environmental youth group, I had to deal with puppies running in the street, crapping diarrhea all over my house, and whining 24/7. I individually called up Amy, Duncan, and Shannon to tell them how much I hated them. But then on the 4<sup>th</sup> day, a miracle occurred. Amy found a neighbor who had a soft spot for girl puppies and took 2 of the 3. Then my neighbor came over and said she wanted the 3<sup>rd</sup> puppy, and at last, I was free. </div>
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I apologized to my friends for hating them and told them that we were officially heroes. And for any of you that say alcohol destroys lives, I beg to differ; alcohol saves lives, puppy lives. And while we’re on the topic of people who make judgments, I’m sick of Dominican’s arguing over whether catholics or evangelicals are following the right path to God. How about this, have you ever saved a puppy? I say, if you save a puppy, you get to go to heaven, period. Argument solved. In fact, I’m making this an official religion. Who’s with me??!! Oh wait, let me add another stipulation. You also get to go to heaven if you donate money to a library in a poor community where 1 white guy and a bunch of dark people live. To achieve guaranteed eternal life through the latter option, click on the link below:</div>
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<a href="https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-403">https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-403</a>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Lesson learned: In the same way that alcohol consumption leads some guys to take home the obese chick from the bar, alcohol can also influence someone to take home a stinky abandoned puppy from the street. In either case, regrets are often made; but let’s not forget, stinky puppies need love too. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxMrz3K2qmH1-3QqAAT6mUAlggXs1Atiy_rQydtYYa6UReRNBCw6FHiFwuCYmqvcriYJYFz4vyOpLrnWHOcGA0cQPxQaHQq_eM5S-1nUyjWzQP-ShcFXyh0p9IEWdByaSxVKF3arxduQ/s1600/que+014.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553718416493589906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxMrz3K2qmH1-3QqAAT6mUAlggXs1Atiy_rQydtYYa6UReRNBCw6FHiFwuCYmqvcriYJYFz4vyOpLrnWHOcGA0cQPxQaHQq_eM5S-1nUyjWzQP-ShcFXyh0p9IEWdByaSxVKF3arxduQ/s320/que+014.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a>Note to reader:</div>
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While many of my stories involve alcohol consumption, I really don’t drink that often. It’s just that alcohol makes for good stories. To prove my point, here is a story that doesn’t include any substance abuse whatsoever unless you consider caffeine a drug (ie. Mormons).</div>
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One day, I woke up in my house and decided to take a walk to remind the kids about our youth group meeting that day. I stopped at the house of some of my favorite neighbors, Aida and Cundo. They said, “have a seat Yotin.” Aida brought me some coffee and took a seat next to me. She said, “boy, it’s gonna be hot today.” I said, “Sure is”. She said, “I have such a headache, I couldn’t sleep last night.” I asked, “Did you take a pain killer.” She said, “Yes but it’s not working very well”. She asked “How’s your family?” I said, “They are doing well. Anyway, I have to get going. Thanks for the coffee, see you later.” Then I went and talked with a bunch more people about the upcoming stove and library projects, cleaned my house,prepared for my youth group meeting, ate lunch at my host family’s house, had my youth group meeting, applied for a grant to buy community trash cans, made dinner, worked on a new youth group manual about world diversity and equality, and went to bed. </div>
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See, now which story is more entertaining? Exactly. Now add a bottle of rum to that last story and then we’ll be seeing some blogworthy material…</div>
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Another note to reader: If I have said anything offensive, I would like to declare that I was just kidding.</div>
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New Dominican Nicknames:</div>
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Goat (Chivo), Chinese (Chino), Almost Handsome (Casi Lindo), Baby (Chíchí), Chíche (no translation), and Chuche (no translation)</div>
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Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-86374939012579209282010-11-10T08:05:00.000-08:002020-06-11T14:42:52.240-07:00Aventuras del Campesino<link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> 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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_XRpeqfApMHtUl5qr_wHo-hpo89ixuO9ZW4aCEbwjD041Xz86NYSL0ib8AigSVVGkieqFwduCYRiFarJShwropVbR-FmqzaPHW_gEu8ru9rPep-y3c9Gl0p8kB0CzKdlXCC09ZVaI0M/s1600/bv+126.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537953464934949714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_XRpeqfApMHtUl5qr_wHo-hpo89ixuO9ZW4aCEbwjD041Xz86NYSL0ib8AigSVVGkieqFwduCYRiFarJShwropVbR-FmqzaPHW_gEu8ru9rPep-y3c9Gl0p8kB0CzKdlXCC09ZVaI0M/s320/bv+126.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a><b>Baby Chower<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I got invited to a baby shower a few months ago. I know what you’re thinking…baby showers are miserable little parties where ladies get together to talk about babies and verbally bash the entire male species; why would I ever want to attend such an event? Well let me explain why it is important to never pass up an opportunity to attend a baby shower, or as they call it, “baby chower”, in a latin country. The baby shower took place at the community kareoke bar, which is located two doors down from my house. The event started with everyone drinking tons of beer and rum until they built up enough liquid courage to sing a few songs. Drunken singalongs continued for a few hours, and was followed by dancing. We danced merengue, bachata, and regaeton (aka humping music).</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKUN4TRLlF9i_xiVcCBUAJMqbgFK6ciSoq7Be_7yW3bjpfpcbf8k70MxozsUMoEFAjPz1xgwMbYqAuGYq4a6uYdHhWu-p_fhPcAcg_xZw6K7tdweLHqM8dIwE_mu5hBy-ynY-PC03fl0/s1600/south+beach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537956507017225170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKUN4TRLlF9i_xiVcCBUAJMqbgFK6ciSoq7Be_7yW3bjpfpcbf8k70MxozsUMoEFAjPz1xgwMbYqAuGYq4a6uYdHhWu-p_fhPcAcg_xZw6K7tdweLHqM8dIwE_mu5hBy-ynY-PC03fl0/s320/south+beach.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><b>Top 5 reasons why the easiest country to be a Peace Corps volunteer is the Dominican Republic:</b></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"> The DR is a tropical island in the Carribean (cold water bucket baths actually feel good)</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">There are up to 200 PC volunteers in this country that is smaller than Rhode Island, so you never have to go to far to see and american friend when things get stressful.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">We have cell phones provided with an unlimited family plan between all PC volunteers and staff.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">A flight home can take as little as 2 hours depending on what state you are from.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">When hurricanes threaten the island, PC orders all volunteers to consolidate at 5 star hotels for a week with AC, hot water, buffets, internet, a gym, and a swimming pool. This is actually what has just occurred with Hurican Tomas.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqodRpJYRy0P_ejlYCc_t3gvygokuQcJLMtHGGbqUG4Ybr2Hx_t2UF8oVHu4sLRR8zVuwGBA-V-t-_E6vexWErGNrY2DXFepTQ9rjTEohnkPHtnc_qdzoGgO2oaHcb3KAuoq2kxf7E84/s1600/fist+pump.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537957057847255618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqodRpJYRy0P_ejlYCc_t3gvygokuQcJLMtHGGbqUG4Ybr2Hx_t2UF8oVHu4sLRR8zVuwGBA-V-t-_E6vexWErGNrY2DXFepTQ9rjTEohnkPHtnc_qdzoGgO2oaHcb3KAuoq2kxf7E84/s320/fist+pump.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 270px;" /></a><b>Adventure to Jose’s House<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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The other day I went to visit Jose, a fellow volunteer who lives in a little town called Puerto Juanita. I got a late start and didn’t get on the bus to his house until about 5pm. To get to his house, you have to get off the bus at the entrance to a dirt road and take a motorcycle for about an hour. While on the bus, I was telling some other passengers where I was going and I suddenly found out that I had put myself in a potentially dangerous situation. They informed me that if I attempted to get to Puerto Juanita, I would have to ride a motorcycle at night, which more often than not leads to robbery and death. The kind passengers then started offering me solutions to get out of this terrible predicament. One lady suggested that I stay at her house which is about an hour away from the entrance to Jose’s town. Then another lady contended that I could stay at her house, which is only 30 minites from the entrance to Jose’s house. The two ladies started getting into a heated debate in attempt to win me as a guest in their house. It went something like this:</div>
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Lady #1: I live on the way to where he’s going.</div>
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Lady #2: Yeah but I live in Monte Cristi which is a place that everyone should go to at least once!</div>
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Lady #1: I have a guest bed with clean sheets! </div>
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Lady #2: Well I’m gonna prepare him a tasty dinner with boiled plantains and salami!</div>
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Lady #1: Obviously I’m going to feed him, and I’m also going to introduce him to my niece!</div>
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Lady #2: I have family in North Carolina so I know what Americans like!</div>
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Lady #1: Yes but if you remember, I was the one who started talking to him first so we are already friends!</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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In the end, Lady #1 won my company simply because she lived closer to Jose’s house. I got off the bus with my new friend and walked about 5 minutes to her house. Waiting there at the house was her husband, who she introduced to me as the blind preacher. He was in fact blind, and he was in fact the community preacher for the evangelical church. We quickly ate dinner and headed to church. I wanted to call Jose who was expecting me to arrive that night, but he doesn’t have cell phone reception at his site. I whitnessed how a blind man preaches the word of God, which is strikingly similar to how Stevie Wonder plays the piano. I was introduced to everyone we passed as the silly gringo who practically tried to kill himself. We got back to the house, relaxed, and made some good conversation. Here are some examples of the most interesting topics of discussion:</div>
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The preacher’s wife told me how her husband previously had a bent penis that prevented them from making love for two years, but just recently, God cured him and now they go at it like rabbits. Being extreme evangelists, the preacher and his wife have a bit of a rivalry with the catholics. They explained to me that all catholics go to hell because they pray to Mary and not to Jesus, and for this reason, you can find many well-known people in hell such as Michael Jackson and all of the Popes. The neighbor then came over and told me how her husband had been praying up in the mountain for 2 days. I didn’t have the to heart break it to her that he is probably cheating on her. </div>
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I eventually retired for the evening and got a good night’s sleep on their spare bed. In the morning, we had an emotional goodbye, and I headed off to Jose’s house. I arrived an hour later to find Jose quite relieved to see me and very curious to know where I had been. I said “sit down and let me tell you a story…” </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<b>Newly discovered nicknames that I find amusing:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Gimp, The Studderer, Cool, Baby, Pica Pica (no translation), and Pidgeon Pea. </div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-78451911136212038722010-09-06T06:43:00.000-07:002020-06-11T14:47:20.750-07:00Mas Cuentos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVecHQIR_ktZIuCMsO1tAga9OffqSmveof5l8BVChqdBNygVgNqNtazhDPntyNn_PWkGIPHigHOU64jmRpc4u-JO_gOk0Rky_54F-Rzw4UZSabi9OjvVtct18kxl2-043DnSArkloW8c/s1600/aaaahhh+014.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513819734644460882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVecHQIR_ktZIuCMsO1tAga9OffqSmveof5l8BVChqdBNygVgNqNtazhDPntyNn_PWkGIPHigHOU64jmRpc4u-JO_gOk0Rky_54F-Rzw4UZSabi9OjvVtct18kxl2-043DnSArkloW8c/s320/aaaahhh+014.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a><b>Neighborly Bonding<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></b> <br />
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In this culture, if you walk by someone’s house and stop at the door for more than 0.5 seconds, they begin to insist that you come in and sit. God forbid you come in and stand, it makes them very uncomfortable. They often feel obliged as well to offer you some sort of snack, coffee, or refreshment. While this all sounds very nice, sometimes these situations are terribly irritating. To the less experienced volunteer, a situation such as this can lead to hour long delays in arriving where you were actually going and doing what you were actually going to do. You see, when someone invites you in and tells you to wait for juice that is “almost ready”, this could very well mean that the fruit used to make the juice is still hanging on the tree outside. While the host is off preparing juice, you are stuck sitting in a chair for 20 minutes, perhaps in silence, or perhaps making pointless smalltalk with another family member. You eventually receive your juice and you drink it, but while all you can think about is the thing you really needed to do, you feel bad about leaving right away, so you sit and make more small talk until you can figure out how to leave without being rude. You then try to leave, and they say, “don’t go” (no te vayas) or “but it’s still early”, (pero todavia esta temprano). So you decide to appease your host and stay a bit longer. In the end, the trip you took to buy eggs at the corner store took 1 hour instead of 5 minutes. On unlucky days, you can fall into this trap at several houses along the route between your house and your destination, turning a simple task into full-day’s event energized by 7 cups of coffee. I suppose this is why Peace Corps service is 2 years. </div>
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Fortunately, I have by observation of Dominicans, figured out that there are a few ways to avoid such situations. The key is to give very vague excuses. To an invitation such as this…</div>
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Inviting Host: Hey, come in, sit, sit down, let me get you some coffee…</div>
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My favorite responses are as follows:</div>
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Busy or Uninterested Passerbyer: </div>
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No, I have to arrive.</div>
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No, I’m going that way.</div>
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No, I can’t.</div>
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No. </div>
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Now that I have figured out how the system works, I can pick and choose when and whom I visit, making for very pleasant experiences.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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<b>Dr. Read</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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</div>
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My Dominican Dentist, Dr. Read, or more appropriately called Dr. Klutz, has his office in the capital, a 10 hour round trip from my site. Let’s just briefly go over my last few visits with Dr. Read…</div>
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1<sup>st</sup> visit: The Dr. takes out my mangled tooth (from “the incident”), and as he is filing it down with an electric sander, the tooth goes flying across the room. I take note that the Dr. says things like “oops” quite frequently, which makes me slightly uneasy. </div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> visit: As the Dr. is shaving down my new retainer tooth thingy inside my mouth, the electric sander gets wrapped up in his rubber glove and he spends 5 minutes unsticking it. The Dr. then takes an impression of my teeth, and while removing the mold, he opens the stitches I had from surgery. As he notices blood on the mold, he says “whoops”. </div>
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3<sup>rd</sup> visit: The Dr. informs me that he accidentally dropped my mouth impression on the ground and needs to take another impression. I’m not given the fixed tooth that I travelled 10 hours from my site receive.</div>
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4<sup>th</sup> visit: The Dr. informs my friend, who had an appointment just before me, that I wasn’t going to like my new fixed tooth. I ponder for a second why the doctor says things like that. I enter his office with low expectations. He offers to show me the new tooth, and in doing so he drops it on the floor. He picks it up and hands it to me, and I notice that it has the color that resembles the tooth of someone who drank way too much coffee, a typical Dominican tooth I suppose. He suggests that I wait for him to request a better color from the lab. I agree. He then tells me of a trip to Disney World he’s planning for his family, and shows me a picture of the sports car he is bidding for on ebay. At least he’s getting paid well. I leave empty handed once again.</div>
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<o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1MGUFF12COg60dhzAyBWR2coY71TkUR_iNPHlIPmhh_Ig1cFaq-z32rm5TCz1oZ9khqQ3XwGaMmEZGry5IRZCL2cf8u3B6i0aq8e8-O4ad5u-AKesoyDQ5REkVDsHIUysAJuhtwUhfQ/s1600/waterfall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513798183302271634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1MGUFF12COg60dhzAyBWR2coY71TkUR_iNPHlIPmhh_Ig1cFaq-z32rm5TCz1oZ9khqQ3XwGaMmEZGry5IRZCL2cf8u3B6i0aq8e8-O4ad5u-AKesoyDQ5REkVDsHIUysAJuhtwUhfQ/s320/waterfall.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a></div>
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<b>Si Dios Quiere<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Si Dios Quiere…a phrase you here atleast 100 times a day, normally at the end of most statement. The English translation: If God wants it. There are some situations, however, that I find peculiar when this phrase is added at the end of a conversation. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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For example… </div>
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Me: I’m going to the capital, I’ll be back tomorrow.</div>
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Dominican: If God wants it.</div>
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My after thoughts: Why wouldn’t God want me to come back? Am I going to die within the next two days? Is God mad at me, what did I do? </div>
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Another example…</div>
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Me: I’ll see you later for that very important meeting at 3:00pm</div>
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Dominican: If God wants it.</div>
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My after thoughts: Why wouldn’t God want you to go to the meeting!?!? I already told you that it’s very important!!! God loves important things and would never let anything get in the way of their realization!!! And if it rains that doesn’t count as a sign that God doesn’t want you to attend the meeting!!!</div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=770036428725">Watch this video!!!</a><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-81498528421969451872010-08-09T18:59:00.000-07:002010-08-09T20:59:37.378-07:00Bittersweet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZrMVUeSXrRHr2SpmiZvRuUUShG6Vf6cuTCcD43ZBRccP88uq2i2DJNg6fO6DymM2WrhjJtSBhGaCBJ8VO5KYys74rcnSUOqD0OE2HoCCkBB3voLlkIIT0ZE9ieTxET1gsoIYAM303ME/s1600/desfile+087.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZrMVUeSXrRHr2SpmiZvRuUUShG6Vf6cuTCcD43ZBRccP88uq2i2DJNg6fO6DymM2WrhjJtSBhGaCBJ8VO5KYys74rcnSUOqD0OE2HoCCkBB3voLlkIIT0ZE9ieTxET1gsoIYAM303ME/s320/desfile+087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503618281667330722" border="0" /></a>I’m not sure if I have ever mentioned in my blog that the actual reason Peace Corps sent me here was to design and manage a water project with the purpose of providing water to a community that currently has no running water.<span style=""> </span>You might have noticed that I have spoken very little of this grand task, but trust me, it was for your own good.<span style=""> </span>Rather than have given you the agonizingly slow step-by-step explanation of this miserable bastard of an assignment, I’ll save you the grief and give you a quick and easy synopsis of my wretched battle of futile returns.<span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal">September 2009:<span style=""> </span>Arrive at site.<span style=""> </span>Find out that instead of being assigned to a typical PC water project with 30-60 houses, I am given 224 houses and an old damaged set of underground pipeline to work with.<span style=""> </span>I find out that my x-boss, (a man who weighs 300 pounds and has such trouble falling asleep at the wheel that PC has assigned him his own personal driver), had left his main duty of volunteer site development to the last minute, and had never actually visited my site to make sure it had a feasible project. <span style=""> </span>Thanks Peace Corps.<span style=""> </span>I am also immediately informed that the water source is located on the land belonging to a mean-old-lawyer-man that lives in the nearby city, and who has prohibited the community from using this water.<span style=""> </span>My community project partner tells me that she is resolving the problem by way of asking her political friends for assistance.<span style=""> </span>I trust her, and I wait patiently.<span style=""> </span>Meanwhile, my fellow water volunteers are starting and finishing their land surveys and pipeline designs, and fundraising for their respective projects.<span style=""> </span>I begin to feel worthless and bored.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">End of January 2010: My project partner announces defeat after the governor, mayor, and senator all fail to provide assistance.<span style=""> </span>I contemplate switching sites, but decide to see if I can make something happen with the name of the U.S. government backing me.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">February 2010:<span style=""> </span>I call the governor and senator atleast 4000 times each, spending half of my PC salary on phone cards.<span style=""> </span>The politicians tell me each time I call that they are busy but will call me back, meaning that I was told 8000 lies.<span style=""> </span>I slip into the beginnings of depression and desperation.<span style=""> </span>I give up with politicians and seek assistance from the government water agency.<span style=""> </span>This avenue initially appears promising, but ultimately resolves to nothing.<span style=""> </span>My self worth diminishes to nothing.<span style=""> </span>Just as I am about to give up for good, I get a tip from a fellow volunteer that the governor wants to talk to me.<span style=""> </span>I call the governor and she sets up a meeting with the mean-old-landowner, herself, myself, and the members of my water committee.<span style=""> </span>The meeting concludes with the landowner granting us permission to conduct the land survey, and with the understanding that if he approves the design, we can proceed with construction.<span style=""> </span>An unimpressive slam dunk, but a slam dunk nonetheless.<span style=""> </span>This glimmer of hope helps bring me out of my pathetic state of self-pity, and the fleeting thoughts of suicide begin to subside. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">April 2010:<span style=""> </span>We conduct the land survey and discover that the water source is of too low of an altitude to reach a large part of the community.<span style=""> </span>After making a design and calculating the budget, we discover that the project will cost right around US$30,000, the most expensive PC water project to ever exist.<span style=""> </span>I hit rock bottom once again.<span style=""> </span>However, being so close to receiving permission to work, I figure we should keep fighting.<span style=""> </span>We present the design to the landowner, promising him 3 of his own water taps, and he verbally agrees to the proposal, but tells us to wait for him to draw up a written contract before we start to work.<span style=""> </span>Verbal slam-dunk.<span style=""> </span>Landowner goes on vacation.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">May 2010:<span style=""> </span>I call the landowner at least 500 times to get the contract in order so we can start asking politicians for money.<span style=""> </span>The landowner declares that he wants his son to come to the community to see exactly where the project will take place and to give his approval.<span style=""> </span>I call the landowner’s son atleast 700 times and talk to him twice.<span style=""> </span>The landowner calls <i style="">me</i> for the first time one morning only to tell me that his son had informed him that they just realized that there are cattle that belong to another man that drink from the river that is formed by our desired water source, and because of that, we can’t continue with the project.<span style=""> </span>I throw in the towel and regret wasting the last 8 months of my life.<span style=""> </span>I down an entire bottle of malaria pills.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">June 2010:<span style=""> </span>I bounce back.<span style=""> </span>I decide that I didn’t really like engineering projects that much anyway, and that<span style=""> </span>from this day on I would be a youth volunteer.<span style=""> </span>Peace Corps doesn’t particularly agree with this decision, which I had actually made without consulting anyone.<span style=""> </span>PC finds another water project for me in a nearby town.<span style=""> </span>I agree to work on it as long as I can continue living in my original community.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">July 2010:<span style=""> </span>New beginnings.<span style=""> </span>Miraculously, after 2 meetings with my new community, we have a fully funded project ready to start within a few months.<span style=""> </span>The water system will be gravity fed.<span style=""> </span>There do not appear to be any non-compliant landowners.<span style=""> </span>Now that’s more like it.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">While I did waste a lot of time waiting for the first water project to begin, it was time well invested into gaining the trust and friendship of community members.<span style=""> </span>After being here for 11 months, the community members support all of my initiatives and efforts, something that can only be accomplished through personal time investment.<span style=""> </span>For this reason, within a short period of time, we have quickly gotten a few new projects off the ground such improved stove construction, technical skills courses, and youth group activities.<span style=""> </span>It was actually a blessing that the landowner never came through on his half because now I can just blame the failure of the project on him.<span style=""> </span>Otherwise, I would have been faced with an outrageously expensive project that probably would have failed, upon which I would likely have been chased out of the village by and angry mob carrying flaming torches.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmTZy4Y6iT4y9ZwoT6-tpknmXryMQsswQb1dqgCq2kDbSsDQCaixEl0r0uq4SP01KjMq9WNmTVdnAFaSzn9VMPdTthAZ_9-2-5q4kB6idEQi6wZVag7Uw_W_7a_EDPGR2DGyS1dYyNSo/s1600/IMG_4982.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmTZy4Y6iT4y9ZwoT6-tpknmXryMQsswQb1dqgCq2kDbSsDQCaixEl0r0uq4SP01KjMq9WNmTVdnAFaSzn9VMPdTthAZ_9-2-5q4kB6idEQi6wZVag7Uw_W_7a_EDPGR2DGyS1dYyNSo/s320/IMG_4982.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503615176525564386" border="0" /></a>I guess that explanation wasn’t actually that brief, but considering this story took place over the better part of a year, it’s not too bad.<span style=""> </span>Sorry this blog entry wasn’t that funny, but I needed to vent.<span style=""> </span>Thanks for listening.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As a final plea for those who are willing to support, the youth camp we have planned for August 23-25 is still in need of funding.<span style=""> </span>During the three-day conference, participants have a safe environment in which to examine their own culture, be introduced to other cultures, and gain the tools to combat discrimination in their communities. The conference will give my youth the opportunity to share and learn with 80 other young Dominicans throughout the northern region of the country. The conference will be financed by a grant through donations from each participating community, and from volunteers’ family and friends. The grant is through a program called Peace Corps Partnership, which allows family, friends, and the general public to donate to sustainable Peace Corps projects in a tax-deductible safe manner. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">How Can You Help?<br />Donate! Tax-deductible donations can be made at this link.<br /><a href="http://https//www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-389"><span style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"></span></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192);"><a target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 112, 192); text-decoration: none;">https://www.<span style="background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="J-JK9eJ-PJVNOc">peacecorps</span>.gov/index.<span style="background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="J-JK9eJ-PJVNOc">cfm</span>?shell=resources.donors.contribute.<span style="background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="J-JK9eJ-PJVNOc">projDetail</span>&<span style="background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="J-JK9eJ-PJVNOc">projdesc</span>=517-389</span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><br />Tell friends, parents, and co-workers to donate!<br />Thank you for all your love and support!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Cheers,</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;">Justin</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-19027503895313648792010-07-27T13:17:00.000-07:002010-07-27T14:14:51.105-07:00La LuchaSometimes I make bad choices; I’ll be the first to admit that. Sometimes bad choices lead to painful consequences. The following is a brief and to the point sequence of thoughts and events pertaining to two demonstrative personal case studies which coincidentally both happened on American holidays.<br />Thanksgiving 2009:<br />Meet up with volunteers at hotel. Enter hotel room. See friends. Feel joyful. Make talk of making a run to the liquor store to buy drinks. Notice ceiling fan and its unusually low position, less than an arm’s reach away. Recall one time in the U.S. when I touched a moving fan with the tip of my finger creating a light thud sound with each passing blade, giving me a sense of curious accomplishment. Decide to recreate this experience. Reach slowly towards the fan as friends look on. Instantly regret previous decision as a sharp pain shoots through my finger. Look at finger and see blood, but assume its not that serious. Go to bathroom sink to run water on it. Realize that the tip of my finger has the ability to flap open. Turn white. Nearly faint. Go to emergency room, 4 blocks away. Get 6 stitches. Return to hotel less than 2 hours later. Take a closer look at the fan and discover that Dominican fans are made of sharp metal. Make mental note. Party all night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDSjaczLutshySHS0qrr2eIMU63VWmL-ut0pTXlbswqXOxwAIT4eUq028JIkiJ9WHVuUvyLTVRQdiRshYxYi1VpfI_e7UwwxJDWH_xPpNUsKyaGJJP9Hr758gOVftNQ324kwBqseNOQk/s1600/4th+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDSjaczLutshySHS0qrr2eIMU63VWmL-ut0pTXlbswqXOxwAIT4eUq028JIkiJ9WHVuUvyLTVRQdiRshYxYi1VpfI_e7UwwxJDWH_xPpNUsKyaGJJP9Hr758gOVftNQ324kwBqseNOQk/s320/4th+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498691140333238562" border="0" /></a>4th of July 2010:<br />Go to Samana and meet up with other volunteers at our weekend beach rental. Have a few afternoon drinks in the pool overlooking the ocean. Break out the football and start to play a game of catch. Reflect on the beauty of all things American: hot dogs, speaking English, money, football, etc. Watch as innocent game of catch evolves into smear the queer (tackle whichever guy has the ball), and continue to participate. Watch as good friend Duncan grabs ball. Move forward to tackle him. Quickly approach Duncan but come to a halt as my mouth is met by an illegally executed elbow defense maneuver. Notice by the touch of the tongue that my front teeth are now much closer to the back of my mouth than they used to be. Bleed from my mouth onto the grass as friends continue to tackle each other like barbarians. Walk towards group until someone notices the problem at hand. The barbarians point and laugh, not the reaction I was hoping for. Call the Peace Corps on-call doctor. Send for a cab. Enter a 15 minute depression due to the displacement of teeth, but more due to the fact that I must leave the party. Come out of the depression and decide to enjoy the party as much as possible until the taxi arrives to take me to the capital. Take shots of hard liquor with several friends. Take pictures with everyone, making sure mangled tooth is in full view. Start an elite club of individuals who were willing to lick my bloody mangled tooth. Final member count: 14. Taxi arrives. Begin 4 hour journey to the capital. Sleep the entire way. Taxi fare: $8000 pesos. Visit dentist the next day. Find out the agonizing road to recovery: Removal of tooth, temporary 2 week replacement of original tooth using glue, surgical placement of implant piece into jawbone, insertion of fake tooth on a retainer thing for 3 weeks, insertion of fixed-temporary fake tooth for 5 months, 2 root canals, insertion of permanent implant tooth. Smile again.<br />New fears acquired in the Dominican Republic: Fans, Elbows, Duncans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIr5NsKDnJnOOpM6lKNpmvnxhfLw-VNT33OScQyAXZdjUABRfyMGbxtgT7J2zR20omAP9R-mif7gUdXN3ybDkJHfyHxUut4eNu9aXZ14N3aYuIShGQyyMLhj_R1jmKZITyPh03kqXoBg/s1600/4th+063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIr5NsKDnJnOOpM6lKNpmvnxhfLw-VNT33OScQyAXZdjUABRfyMGbxtgT7J2zR20omAP9R-mif7gUdXN3ybDkJHfyHxUut4eNu9aXZ14N3aYuIShGQyyMLhj_R1jmKZITyPh03kqXoBg/s320/4th+063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498692657313398530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />While my personal (physical) development has taken a few steps backwards, community development is moving along quite nicely. Thanks to a group of American highschoolers, 4 local ladies are now proud owners of brand new firewood stoves. Normally, the women here cook with a giant pot set upon 3 blocks with a wood fire burning underneath. The fire fills the room with smoke, which the women breathe for several hours a day, leaving their lungs as black as the ceilings above their stoves. The concept of the improved cookstoves is that the fire is contained so that the heat is maximized while the smoke is directed out a chimney that exits above the roof. We have trained 3 local guys to build these stoves, which they earn RD$600 for each one that they build.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA4YGfTSEcUoMYa4kzSkZRXE_gekC49j6Gy-pks-8vBqK_FTN1TujzY0bqSCq-3hEPz8WTq80kj0BZQvz9CQPiO7D1Mws7o4_lObcnvC5ooLXgA_zTP0IuRIPVgLlUtlnEM0y_IrLC3g/s1600/bv+226.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvA4YGfTSEcUoMYa4kzSkZRXE_gekC49j6Gy-pks-8vBqK_FTN1TujzY0bqSCq-3hEPz8WTq80kj0BZQvz9CQPiO7D1Mws7o4_lObcnvC5ooLXgA_zTP0IuRIPVgLlUtlnEM0y_IrLC3g/s320/bv+226.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498694406140831186" border="0" /></a> We are hoping to eventually build about 100 stoves.<br />I took the 20 kids from my Brigada Verde group on a trip to my buddy Andrew’s site, where we spent the day with his youth group. We rode a cable car up to the top of a mountain, my kids gave presentations about how to take care of the environment, and then we hiked 3 hours back down the mountain. All the kids complained the next day that their legs hurt so bad they could barely walk. Whereas before, the kids had a somewhat indifferent view of nature, I think now, they actually despise it. Not really the outcome I was hoping for but what can you do…? I just explained to them they were all stronger because of their efforts. They then threw trash on the ground to spite me. Sigo luchando pa’lante.Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-570240240051848052010-06-20T21:12:00.002-07:002020-06-11T14:38:02.546-07:00Cuentos<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq3qiSsep9azdLvjORybP2QSNLTd9d7pGLbQF7vdFwJiDP8Jpl2led7Ph3X7FsMSlu0S9B3BTp3u5HwhhqVNWPNwDQXDw0tF9gmL8FNtgEsYiYLm-wQZUEVbZjkXH8d6_THdnCbOtQEE/s1600/aaaahhh+030.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485079766691264322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCq3qiSsep9azdLvjORybP2QSNLTd9d7pGLbQF7vdFwJiDP8Jpl2led7Ph3X7FsMSlu0S9B3BTp3u5HwhhqVNWPNwDQXDw0tF9gmL8FNtgEsYiYLm-wQZUEVbZjkXH8d6_THdnCbOtQEE/s320/aaaahhh+030.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>
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<span style="color: rgb(255 , 0 , 0); font-weight: bold;">Culture Shock</span><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">Since I haven’t yet</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);"> written about my Dad’s 16 day visit to the DR, here it is. I would love to say that he really adapted to the culture and made his best memories doing such things as waking up to the sound of chickens laying eggs in the morning (bk bk bk bk bk bk bkaaaaaaaah!!!) or taking cold bucket showers or riding with 25 people packed into a minivan; however, I’m quite positive his most enjoyable moments were sitt</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">ing at the swim up bar at the all inclusive hotel.</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);"> But all in all, he was a good </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">sp</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">ort in m</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">any respects such as riding with 4 people </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">on a </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">motorcycle,</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">helping </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">me </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">with </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">the</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);"> land survey, </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">dancing </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">bachata with the local ladies, and </span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">acce</span><span style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204);">pting a marriage proposal from my Dominican neighbor. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhw5bYeghNeWbO8cV1ub7ex7L4Ol_xyvpbZEbgkKTpw5kHYffsVecy3JGgv-dpmWSooxGn5EwQEaZUFMqs-dLsl5M2zUm1S2EwDWl7ttoh0fVMW5i8-Ptp2_sQpZXW__LmD5PGyok12g/s1600/aaaahhh+072.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485081374615988562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhw5bYeghNeWbO8cV1ub7ex7L4Ol_xyvpbZEbgkKTpw5kHYffsVecy3JGgv-dpmWSooxGn5EwQEaZUFMqs-dLsl5M2zUm1S2EwDWl7ttoh0fVMW5i8-Ptp2_sQpZXW__LmD5PGyok12g/s320/aaaahhh+072.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a></div>
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One night, we stayed with my friend Kaitlin and her dog, and my Dad learned the dangers of living in a country without permanent electricity. We went to bed that night with the electricity on. My Dad woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of an animal rumaging through his stuff. He went to check on what it was, but when he got out of bed, he discovered that the animal had either taken or moved his glasses. He went to switch on the light and discovered the electricity had gone out. He suddenly found himself in the midst of a dangerous combination of circumstances: darkness and a terrible vision problem. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhlpUZ2dgQakfmpM95WYbt4JRJRAFlP79VcLwlKuugmAhQOHPJrdLRX_gyhgRXkYseKbzX_NZd7SL4IgVGjISvRpZy_cpYx1n1RRDI5phNQ3fmkfWSEbJ5NoFMYC11o9IYy-S4TjF3Eg/s1600/aaaahhh+058.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485080206037997634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhlpUZ2dgQakfmpM95WYbt4JRJRAFlP79VcLwlKuugmAhQOHPJrdLRX_gyhgRXkYseKbzX_NZd7SL4IgVGjISvRpZy_cpYx1n1RRDI5phNQ3fmkfWSEbJ5NoFMYC11o9IYy-S4TjF3Eg/s320/aaaahhh+058.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a>He decided he needed to go to the bathroom before going back to bed, and clumsily found his way there, tripping on things as he went. On the way back to the bedroom, as he was entering the doorway, my Dad stepped on a fresh dog turd that Kaitlin’s dog had just left in a most convenient of places. My Dad then did what only a desperate blind man in the dark would do. He took his foot and wiped the poo onto the door frame and wall and went back to sleep. Then, just as he finally fell back to sleep, the electricity came back on and lit up the whole room.</div>
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When I saw him the next morning, he wasn’t in the cheeriest of moods. Kaitlin wasn’t to happy with the new paint job on the wall either. </div>
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<b><span style="color: rgb(255 , 0 , 0);">Bola Races</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Dominican word of the day: bola</div>
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A bola is a term for the ride you get whilst hitchhiking. Bolas are very common here and are used by many respectable people, not just gypsies and vagabonds. For this reason, every year, the Peace Corps volunteers organize a bola race. </div>
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The rules:</div>
<ol start="1" style="color: rgb(0 , 204 , 204); margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal"> Racers must pair up with someone of the opposite sex to make a team of two.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Teams must dress up according to a decided theme.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Racers must think of a back story to explain their costume and reason for hitchhiking in a foreign country.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Racers must not reveal that they are Peace Corps Volunteers.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Racers arrive at the starting line the morning of the race, where the end destination is revealed just moments before the race begins.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Each team will be supplied with a bottle of randomly selected booze, which must be finished before crossing the finish line. Alcohol cannot be poured out, but can be shared with other people.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Racers must arrive at the finish line without paying for any transportation.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The 1<sup>st</sup> team to cross the finish line together wins.</li>
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Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-3306683249676020632010-06-13T08:26:00.000-07:002010-06-13T08:54:54.505-07:00Problemas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2o909S8niC-x9tKb9oZkUyT9tN3RMT5PN9StxOLY_DuOyV7aQWsyNeIZeKvGKMBCpbdsIjBMfqvRz03vWWQCL7fqfphQcZsWn_iduxN-tRiBeVfa-1yptZ3j3J4d5IRzEmXpN6lwQLM/s1600/P1020747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2o909S8niC-x9tKb9oZkUyT9tN3RMT5PN9StxOLY_DuOyV7aQWsyNeIZeKvGKMBCpbdsIjBMfqvRz03vWWQCL7fqfphQcZsWn_iduxN-tRiBeVfa-1yptZ3j3J4d5IRzEmXpN6lwQLM/s320/P1020747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482286788420753874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rainy season</span><br />Rainy season is a time when it rains a lot. It’s also a time when everyone stops participating in the activities that I have organized because they fear the consequences of being wet. It’s also a time when unwanted animals enter my house. The other night, I was in a deep sleep when a rat decided to dive bomb onto my mosquito net and land on my face. I immediately went into a squirmy fit and threw myself out of bed, wondering if what just happened was a dream or real life. Just then, reality was confirmed as I watched with a flashlight (because the electricity was out) as another rat dive bombed from the ceiling rafters down to the kitchen countertop. The rat then jumped to the floor and scurried across my foot which caused me to let out a murderous shriek (the next morning an old man who heard me imitated my girlish scream in front of everyone). I spent the next hour searching for the rat(s) in the dark, knocking everything over as I went. I was unsuccessful in finding the bastard so I conceded and went back to bed, making sure to tuck in the mosquito/rat net extra tight. The next day, I went and bought rat poison and left it all around the house. The next day, I found the rat hanging from an electrical wire outside my house, so I’m not sure if he ate the poison or got electrocuted, but either way, it died. A few more days past by and I decided to go camp for a night at the beach to celebrate my birthday with a few other volunteers. We came back to my house the next day, and two of my friends decided to stay the night. That night, when we decided to go to bed, we went to pull out my spare mattress which suddenly unleashed an ungodly odor all through the house. I grabbed the flashlight (of course the electricity was out yet again), and took a look behind the mattress, where I found a dead rat bastard. I instantly vomited a tiny bit in my mouth. While gagging on the smell, I took a closer look at the rat and saw that there were thousands of slimy maggots oozing out of it. We then spent an hour sweeping up maggots, mopping the floor, and figuring out how to improve the situation so that we could atleast sleep for a few hours that night. For the next few days, I cleaned and scrubbed everything in my house in attempt to remove the smell of death from my house, but it turns out that death doesn’t go quietly. Looking back at the series of events, I had two ways in which I could have dealt with the situation. Option 1: have rats walking around at night with the occasional dive bomb attack. Option 2: have a rat die, release a maggot explosion, leave a death stain on your guest mattress, and leave an permanent stench on the entire house. My new philosophy: Bring on the dive bombers!!!<br /><br />Haircut<br />I got asked by the guy that gives haircuts in my community to lend him 100 pesos. I agreed based on the condition that he would give me a haircut in return. I now need a haircut. I went to his house, and he wasn’t home. The day after, I went to his house and he wasn’t home again. I called him and he said he would be back in a half hour. I waited two hours and he never showed up. I went back home. The next day I called him and he said he would call me back. He didn’t. The next day, someone told me they saw him giving a haircut down the street. I immediately walked down the road to see if this was true, and it was. I approached the haircut guy and told him I was next in line. He said okay. He finished with the other customer and told me it was my turn. I sat down in the chair, and he said he would be right back to cut my hair. He walked inside his house and I began to hear a lot of yelling. Then the haircut guy came flying out of his house, being chased at full speed by his own mother with a machete in hand. She was screaming such things as “You motherfu%$ing good for nothing son, you stole 2000 pesos from me and I’m going to kill you!!! She chased him around the house for a few more minutes as he screamed “ I didn’t spend the money, I just lost it!!!: Finally, he stopped and said “okay, if you want to kill me, go ahead, however you like!!!” She then proceeded to beat the shit out of her own son with her fists. I continued to sit in my chair, ready for my long awaited haircut. The haircut guy sat down and said to me, “let me calm myself down for a minute”. I said, “that’s fine, I’m going to go talk with someone down the street and I’ll be right back”. Two minutes later as I was walking down the street he passed by me on a motorcycle yelling “I’ll be right back!!!” He never came back. I still haven’t gotten a haircut. The haircut guy is 36 years old, he lives with his mother and owes everybody money.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuZSHjTn_2gAAt4yT5nW1sgfhrIV96LGj49YA3wXDJMt5tOosdOnygp535MzuUmVdkbtFNxhrauvtl23IAULUXS5x0vGA2BCo93_1cuAfHg0uZGQsfEKxPjNNkghoBX6iQ68mBSvGCUk/s1600/P1020782.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuZSHjTn_2gAAt4yT5nW1sgfhrIV96LGj49YA3wXDJMt5tOosdOnygp535MzuUmVdkbtFNxhrauvtl23IAULUXS5x0vGA2BCo93_1cuAfHg0uZGQsfEKxPjNNkghoBX6iQ68mBSvGCUk/s320/P1020782.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482283187867633970" border="0" /></a><br />My project<br />The water project is at a bit of a standstill because with the required pump system it costs too much money. So I might instead begin to help out a new community that has fewer problematic obstacles in the way; but either way, I will help a community build a water system that will provide them with easily accessible drinking water. And as always, the English class and Brigada Verde environmental youth group is going very well; After taking a few kids to the national conference in the capitol, I now have an abundance of interested youth. I am going to start another youth group that teaches about sexual health and behavior. I will also be starting a project to build improved stoves that eliminate exposure to smokey fumes as well as considerably cut down the amount of wood being burned.Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-55384780229689477732010-05-21T20:17:00.000-07:002010-05-21T22:44:42.590-07:00VacacionesIts been way too long since my last blog, so I'm gonna hit ya'll with the best of the last few months. First of all, I had a very undeserved 3 week vacation when my friends Wes, Michelle, and Jessica came to visit, who were followed immediately by my Dad. With the former group, we had an action packed week which consisted of the following:<br /><br />Saturday:<br />Picked friends up at airport<br />Went to Andrew's house, where Andrew, Duncan, Amy, and Jennifer, all Peace Corps Volunteers, were there to greet us.<br />We ate at Mello's, prepartied, and went to the carwash to drink and dance. Wes's Merengue dance skills earned him some strange looks form Dominican ladies.<br /><br />Sunday:<br />We took my surfboard on a motorcycle to the guagua (public minibus)stop. The guagua driver decided it was a great idea to secure my surfboard by violently shoving it into the front grill while ignoring my screams to have mercy on my poor fiberglass companion. Gringos: -50 points. We rode to the beach called Playa Encuentro, I immediately checked on the condition of my surfboard, the tail end had been smashed and the fin folded over. Gringos: -100 points. I immediately told everyone not to pay for the transportation and proceed to get into my first Spanish-language heated argument with the guagua driver. This went on for a good 4 minutes and ended with us walking away without paying. Gringos: +200 points. Seconds after the guagua drove away, Wes realized he left his sleeping bag on the guagua. Gringos: -1000 points. We surfed, and headed back to my house. We then had typical Dominican food for dinner at my neighbors house, and then went out dancing at the local discoteca. By showing up with Jessica and Michelle, I instantly became much more respected by the local men because of my ability to bring beautiful white women into the community. Jessica and Michelle had so many dance requests they didn't sit down the entire night.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_w-gDHurp0Om5KBKJZwuU0T2RWEZsxsBvWLr5_HyeQuzn6P5HZfJAYU9LsKhzyIPkao-pUgcxURwV7-NOJKWldubPgbNUZ5vmPMSATqMomviaxNlfgmpSNvsBOhZfmA18wybf6K9n_8/s1600/fb2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_w-gDHurp0Om5KBKJZwuU0T2RWEZsxsBvWLr5_HyeQuzn6P5HZfJAYU9LsKhzyIPkao-pUgcxURwV7-NOJKWldubPgbNUZ5vmPMSATqMomviaxNlfgmpSNvsBOhZfmA18wybf6K9n_8/s320/fb2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473960554348288674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNh_YkfoZqu6PJLm7LDs6yOgA6yca38Mwg3Z0kHmtFZxRuWX1HRl4akzscAFopzbrIh6c6opbVKU84io_Nb6ZimWkRowhvKZARMLFLlmao9EQR1_ay4dux5w5ZJ7m6vNRYb7ces4iQHY/s1600/fb6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNh_YkfoZqu6PJLm7LDs6yOgA6yca38Mwg3Z0kHmtFZxRuWX1HRl4akzscAFopzbrIh6c6opbVKU84io_Nb6ZimWkRowhvKZARMLFLlmao9EQR1_ay4dux5w5ZJ7m6vNRYb7ces4iQHY/s320/fb6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473960864859292562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zKGl_Zo73uKkG92AJAmr6omJmZhBLqEsAPN_0aq-p4nn0CMXQzO8i-ilQ9rMkeowdYA-Px1Quvn1v_X3jnlprN13Nrgi_kWJzy2evmrX6VADoG56_e3YYDwm_UbE1vZh8zVKvGm3fpU/s1600/fb1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0zKGl_Zo73uKkG92AJAmr6omJmZhBLqEsAPN_0aq-p4nn0CMXQzO8i-ilQ9rMkeowdYA-Px1Quvn1v_X3jnlprN13Nrgi_kWJzy2evmrX6VADoG56_e3YYDwm_UbE1vZh8zVKvGm3fpU/s320/fb1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473961722809597346" border="0" /></a>Monday:<br />We went back to the beach and surfed. Later, we set up camp on the beach using a mosquito net propped up by 4 sticks. I climbed a coconut tree and knocked down coconuts, which we cut open with a machete and drank the milk. Duncan, while trying to cut open a tin to make a funnel for drink mixing, stabbed himself in the finger about an inch deep. He then proceeded to bleed on everyone and everything. The drinks still ended up being made, and the night ended in drunken coconut football and then skinny dipping. After the rest of us got out of the water and put our clothes back on, Wes decided he hadn't had enough naked time, and proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes conversing with us like normal, except without any clothes, while Michelle (his wife) relentlessly screamed at him.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkORS6kH_inbHWdkyGMQVLaXsUVtDyCCOQhOjgOzvbKXKNxvRnBedzvXN6_kt9KCsQ2LNrWZNeoIR7l2zNgaIK64JNyLzPmggi3QP6SqTYx1CKjfDgba3_E4ccMoPrnXvkwfaivaZy9c/s1600/fb4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkORS6kH_inbHWdkyGMQVLaXsUVtDyCCOQhOjgOzvbKXKNxvRnBedzvXN6_kt9KCsQ2LNrWZNeoIR7l2zNgaIK64JNyLzPmggi3QP6SqTYx1CKjfDgba3_E4ccMoPrnXvkwfaivaZy9c/s320/fb4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473961912278299234" border="0" /></a>Tuesday:<br />We had a short surf session, and later rode motorcycles up to Duncan's site (the top of a mountain). We then went off to explore a series of bat caves, which required us to first scale a cliff which had a 200ft drop (I still don't think Jessica has forgiven me for putting her through that experience). We then found a spot with a nice view, set up camp, and cooked pizza in a pot on a wood fire.<br /><br />Wednesday:<br />We went with two of my neighbors to see the 27 charcos (27 consecutive swimming holes/waterfalls). The beauty of nature blew our minds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hbuk0Va-me2wCXrAihevpDlpno2pqGw-1LC3Is2Q-1MxjT9hvcUohZErK_BDh9aiVCKzXL7WME-Wgpp6I1wND03vxrbZneTgh9fFJ3N9co47oWmthT4kKV8Ax_TX0V8zQk9CXGHdxf0/s1600/fb7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hbuk0Va-me2wCXrAihevpDlpno2pqGw-1LC3Is2Q-1MxjT9hvcUohZErK_BDh9aiVCKzXL7WME-Wgpp6I1wND03vxrbZneTgh9fFJ3N9co47oWmthT4kKV8Ax_TX0V8zQk9CXGHdxf0/s320/fb7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473962647910409282" border="0" /></a>Thursday:<br />We had a relaxing day at the local river, and my neighbors came and cooked up a huge pot of asopao, a typical dish. We came home and played baseball with the local kids. Jessica tried to sneak 3 kids into her suitcase to take home with her.<br /><br />Friday:<br />We went whitewater rafting in Jarabacoa and then stayed the night at a hotel in Cabarete. That night, while at the beach front clubs, every single one of us got unwanted offers from the beach prostitutes, Wes and I even got offered a group special.<br /><br />Saturday:<br />Tearful goodbye as I sent my friends off to the airport.<br /><br />I decided that my life calling is to be a tour guide.<br /><br />My dad's visit will come in the next blog, but for now I'd like to talk about a new sport I invented. It's called extreme mountain running. Here's how this great idea of mine came to be:<br />I knew that because it had been raining so much, it would be a good idea to renumber the stakes from my land survey, as many of the numbers had been fading. I thought, why not turn this into exercise, and run the whole way up to the water source, renumbering as I go. So I put on my running attire, grabbed my permanent marker and machete, and headed up into the hills. As I got closer and closer to the water source, I discovered that the vegetation had completely overgrown, and the mosquitoes had completely taken over. I found myself machetying my way through thick, spiky, itchy vegetation, while getting eaten alive by giant mosquitoes. Every time I stopped to renumber a stake, I had to do a silly dance so that the mosquitoes couldn't land on me. On one such occasion, a mosquito flew into my ear, which threw me into a head shaking frenzy. This violent head shaking caused my sweat covered glasses to fly off of my face into the dense jungle-like thicket. I then found myself desperately searching for my glasses in a state of half-blindness while being relentlessly attacked by a swarm of hungry mosquitoes. After about 10 minutes of this torture, while practically on the verge of tears, I finally found my glasses, which I had somehow flung 15 feet away from my face, onto a branch. I then proceeded to the water source where there is a refreshing natural pool. I decided to take a dip to calm my nerves. The mosquitoes were even more rampant above the pool, so I thought I would outsmart them by submerging my entire body except for my face. Unfortunately, they outsmarted me and bit me all over my face, and now my face itches. Extreme mountain running is not recommended to the weak-willed.Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-16593245013582323282010-03-06T05:51:00.000-08:002020-06-11T14:27:25.423-07:00Vale la Pena<link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx" rel="themeData"></link><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml" rel="colorSchemeMapping"></link><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> 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The other day my host brother name Yonatan (it’s spelled with a “Y” here) was arguing with his mom about how to spell his name. She insisted it was spelled Yonatna, which he was obviously forced to dispute. She then said, “well it’s spelled ‘Yonatna’ on your birth certificate”. His counter-argument consisted of some smart-ass comment that earned him a quick smack in the mouth. She then finished the argument by telling him that he wasn’t raised right (malcriado). </div>
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The issue: An argument with your own mother about the spelling of the name she gave you.</div>
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The result: Receive a smack in the mouth and get blamed by your mother for the bad upbringing that she gave you.</div>
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The lesson learned: Knowing how to spell will only hurt you, literally.</div>
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On a separate note, (yet for some reason still being related to violence), they celebrate Carnaval here, which is kind of similar to Mardi Gras except way more painful. People with crazy flamboyant costumes walk along the street and carry air-filled dried-out pig bladders attached to a rope. If you are a spectator watching from the sidewalk, you’re safe. But if you’re caught walking in the street or standing on the sidewalk with your back to the street, your ass gets pelted by a pig bladder that’s swung at full force by a man in a silly costume; it feels equivalent to getting spanked with a baseball bat. You’re thinking: easy enough, just stay on the sidewalk facing the street. Easier said then done. With the beers flowing nonstop, you start to forget about the consequences of putting your guard down; in fact, you start giving and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrn3wJ2h0doKV0YbdNn_E_SKcMB_Ir3xihJTb1i4H9s0KXP5EgaBg5IU5ZqrGSfMrDyUHVkIffAyT81npE_u12nAk8t5IRMmDDGvsiMhBbR3uSX1lOeZH3LIKcsqESrgI1Lr4s6qrh8E/s1600-h/desfile+043.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445520035446506754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMrn3wJ2h0doKV0YbdNn_E_SKcMB_Ir3xihJTb1i4H9s0KXP5EgaBg5IU5ZqrGSfMrDyUHVkIffAyT81npE_u12nAk8t5IRMmDDGvsiMhBbR3uSX1lOeZH3LIKcsqESrgI1Lr4s6qrh8E/s320/desfile+043.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 240px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>taking dares to get a bladder beating from the biggest dude on the street. The next day, my ass was so bruised I could hardly sit down. Next year I’m going with a pillow shoved down the back of my pants.</div>
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As far as my water project goes, I’m still faced with the same problem but the politicians claim to be “working on it.” In the meantime, I’m starting a youth group called Brigada Verde (Green Brigade), which will be a club to promote environmental awareness and go on cool trips. I now have my English class more organized with a beginner and advanced class. I’ve moved into my new house, which is on top of a convenience store. I intend to set up a pulley system so that I can go shopping without having to walk out the door. I pay US$118 per month which includes daily lunches.</div>
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Strange Dominican Superstitions:</div>
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<li class="MsoNormal"> If you take a cold shower while you are sweating, you will be forever stuck with this goofy look on your face.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">If you walk on the cold ground with bare feet, you’ll die. No one can tell me of anyone who has actually died from this.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Eating black pepper makes you sick. </li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbEDufdelYHHdQ3b1c05WODxTlBOwVjPhhNBswk6Z9ZE66QUoB53bayTdYhhtkr140VwVmpGq2gC60eFrfLknXrqCRNcex5vUcShxv9niqCPToeYGbNZSqEdG5sJYwAXU-6RmE3AhOOA/s1600-h/sort+041.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445541637284289810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbEDufdelYHHdQ3b1c05WODxTlBOwVjPhhNBswk6Z9ZE66QUoB53bayTdYhhtkr140VwVmpGq2gC60eFrfLknXrqCRNcex5vUcShxv9niqCPToeYGbNZSqEdG5sJYwAXU-6RmE3AhOOA/s320/sort+041.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 240px;" /></a>Dominican word of the day: <b>vela<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b> Vela </b>means candle. But more importantly, it refers to the series of social events after a person dies. The reason I refer to these <b>velas </b>as social events is because that’s exactly what they are. People show up, sit in plastic chairs, talk, then eat the free lunch that is dispersed in personal take-out boxes, drink free coffee, talk more, play dominos, and then leave. There might be a few people praying off to the side, but for the most part, you don’t hear a thing about the person who’s death you are supposedly mourning. The first <b>vela</b> is held on the 8<sup>th</sup> day after someone dies. Then there is a <b>vela</b> on the month anniversary of the death for the first 6 months, and once again on the year anniversary of the death. The <b>velas</b> then continue for every year anniversary for the next 6 years. That’s 14 free lunches if you stick around long enough. </div>
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This is why I have started participating in what I like to call “vela crashing”. In the 4 months I have lived in my community, I have been to 6 <b>velas</b> to “show my respects” to 6 people that I never met in my entire life. I also ate exactly 6 free lunches. If you’ve seen Wedding Crashers, you know that grief is ultimate aphrodisiac; well apparently here in the DR, grief makes you hungry, <i>crazy</i> hungry. I would feel bad but I’m certainly not the only one who <b>vela</b> crashes. Some people even send their kids to <b>velas </b>with orders to bring back 2 or 3 boxed lunches. If you recall the story from my previous blog, I was offered sex by two prostitutes while I was attending my first vela. Conclusion: <b>velas</b> have a lot to offer.</div>
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Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-25257205324709587762010-02-04T08:16:00.000-08:002010-02-04T09:30:48.994-08:00Slow Start<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjARyhWYW6zfaWoelUa13C6BBYkf7h5nANNUmblv77YFUaKQN-uHI_-UOWxnmrGPJ2Xzo38kC9GBQypUohLOAD9zxIvC4V6WXEWRPC-F3v3WKON0nSzC27-ZFht7mUi2yxPmOBNRCOyc/s1600-h/bela+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjARyhWYW6zfaWoelUa13C6BBYkf7h5nANNUmblv77YFUaKQN-uHI_-UOWxnmrGPJ2Xzo38kC9GBQypUohLOAD9zxIvC4V6WXEWRPC-F3v3WKON0nSzC27-ZFht7mUi2yxPmOBNRCOyc/s320/bela+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434439105776817122" border="0" /></a>Peace Corps reality is starting to set in as I’m finding out that things don’t always work out like they should. The owner of the land where our spring water source is located won’t let us trespass on his property, so basically I can’t even start my project. Furthermore, the senator, who is up for reelection, claims that he wants to do the project, which essentially makes my presence here completely unnecessary. However, politicians here always make false promises, so I’ve been told not to worry about it. I’m hoping these issues will work themselves out in the near future.<br /><br /><br />Meanwhile, I’ll just work on little side projects. For example, I recently worked as a translator at a medical mission. It was a great experience as I was exposed to some of the health issues that affect the DR. It’s pretty funny, however, to see how disillusioned some of these med mission people are in their overly romantic view of the DR. One night, after holding a rural clinic in a community way out in the back country, we were all discussing our experiences of the day. One lady stood up and said, “After working with these people for the past few days, I’m realizing that one of the best words to describe them is, sophisticated.” All the Peace Corps Volunteers <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b8nJXCygXfrU5zb3l4LAgj66DqusgP1l9cR1hq69UHosfJo11zz8yGyB0aas55SWThww8E6Iuy9oY0JJrtixwcNjc23kNzmtuuqQVgb8Pixrp4AfQDAc52WG9VUUH4fpf-RRheXkllc/s1600-h/bela+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6b8nJXCygXfrU5zb3l4LAgj66DqusgP1l9cR1hq69UHosfJo11zz8yGyB0aas55SWThww8E6Iuy9oY0JJrtixwcNjc23kNzmtuuqQVgb8Pixrp4AfQDAc52WG9VUUH4fpf-RRheXkllc/s320/bela+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434438140562471938" border="0" /></a>could hardly hold in their laughter. The people whom this lady is referring to are the same people that insist that you should only plant yucca on Thursdays to make sure worms don’t eat the leaves. In the U.S., we refer to these country folk as hillbillies. They are a bit silly and we love them for it, but as far as sophisticated goes….not so much. Inventive, however, is a great word to describe them. One day at the clinic, we saw a woman sitting in a rocking chair, which, just like a queen, was elevated by 6 men who were holding her up by a couple of long thick branches that they had tied to the base of the rocking chair. This woman was too ill to walk, so the men carried her from her home, chair and all, half a kilometer uphill to the clinic site. Genius. Pure genius.<br /><br />Today’s list of funny or peculiar things that most likely would never happen in the U.S.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcqEpBzYzmh3UsaLwyH5yRmwA3vZiEmq9MYmEU1OHnqaB93ln6yavBWFg-K5WCJ-JvGS9Ua_NhwV-7RkXpBmhyRJiFW1_nIq_l4dHthc4S7ef4jGRf0cRQ0NanZc7Lf-bTmbH5-tji1g/s1600-h/bela+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcqEpBzYzmh3UsaLwyH5yRmwA3vZiEmq9MYmEU1OHnqaB93ln6yavBWFg-K5WCJ-JvGS9Ua_NhwV-7RkXpBmhyRJiFW1_nIq_l4dHthc4S7ef4jGRf0cRQ0NanZc7Lf-bTmbH5-tji1g/s320/bela+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434441289398770898" border="0" /></a>1. My host mom found a drawing that my 6 year old host brother had made of two horses humping. After scolding him and telling that what he did was very inappropriate, she proceeded to draw naked pictures of him and his brother and then laughed about the size of their penises.<br />2. There are practice cockfights every week in my front yard. The cocks wear little boxing gloves so that they don’t hurt eachother before the real fight.<br />3. Everybody has a nickname here. A lot of the time, the nicknames are very simple word that describe the person. The English translation of some of the nicknames of people I know include: Grape, Crazy, Deaf, Little Fatty, Blacky, Horse, and Monster. I also just found out that our cat, whom they always just call “The Cat” not only has a name, but also has a nickname.Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-33250069286626479242010-01-19T10:24:00.002-08:002010-01-19T10:25:07.471-08:00Que Vaina Mi Vida<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CJ-Money%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">Here are some of the highlights since the last blog.<span style=""> </span>Thanksgiving: all the volunteers got together in the capital to party and have a big feast.<span style=""> </span>There was a talent show, and I decided to perform the most played out bachata song on the radio, so everyone knew it and got up and danced to it, fantastic.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I went to a “bela”, which is a gathering for the anniversary of someone’s death.<span style=""> </span>At these belas, I have found, you basically go and sit in plastic chairs and talk to people, and then at about 12:00, they come around and pass out take out boxes with lunch in them, everyone eats, and then leaves.<span style=""> </span>I’m still not sure who it was that died.<span style=""> </span>Anyway, this guarantee of free food often attracts uninvited guests, which I happened to meet this one particular day.<span style=""> </span>I found myself sitting in my plastic chair, talking to an old man and two younger ladies, who were trying to arrange for all of us to go up to the mountain to do the dirty.<span style=""> </span>I later found out, the two ladies were prostitutes that work at the local brothel and came to the bela to look for extra business and score some free food.<span style=""> </span>I also found out that one of these prostitutes is the mistress to one of the leaders in my community, and my neighbors warned me not to mess around with her; I informed them that while I appreciate their concern, they need not worry because I prefer not to pay for sex.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the 13<sup>th</sup> of January, I went home to be the best man in the wedding of my friends Wes and Michelle.<span style=""> </span>I stayed for Christmas and was back in the DR on the 26<sup>th</sup>.<span style=""> </span>I have started my English class again, and I will be doing the land survey for my water system this week.<span style=""> </span>I should also be moving into my own house at the end of the month.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Here is a list of things that I have noticed while living here that are funny or peculiar:</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My host grandfather, every night after dinner, instead of brushing his teeth, swishes around water in his mouth and then spits at the wall next to the dinner table.<span style=""> </span>He only has 3 teeth left.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->My host brother, at 7 years of age, on a nightly bases, enjoys blasting regaeton while he performs inappropriate dance moves such as grinding a broomstick.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->We found a dead baby pig at the bottom of our empty pool, and nobody could explain how it got there.<span style=""> </span>The crazy part is that nobody was really too worried about solving the mystery.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Rain gives you the excuse to forget about any prior responsibilities you had before it started raining.</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->While looking for tux measurements before the wedding, I went to a larger town, and asked where a tailor was.<span style=""> </span>I found my way to the tailor shop but when I got there, it was closed.<span style=""> </span>I asked a man on the street where the tailor was, and he explained that the tailor wasn’t there because he had died.<span style=""> </span>Disappointed, I went home and asked my host mom if she knew someone who could do tux measurements.<span style=""> </span>She walked me two blocks from our house to another house where we found a man sitting in his front yard with a sewing machine.<span style=""> </span>The man gladly did all the measurements for free.<span style=""> </span>When I got to The States and tried on my tux, the shirt was extra fat with sleeves up to my elbows, and the coat sleeves covered my hands.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">That’s all I got for now.<span style=""> </span>I’ll try to have more regular blogs now that I found a place close by with reliable internet.<span style=""> </span>As you all know, Haiti is a complete disaster right now.<span style=""> </span>I felt the ground shake from here but thankfully there was no damage in the Dominican Republic.<span style=""> </span>However, many Haitians live in my community and all over the DR, and the whole country is doing what they can to help out our neighbors.<span style=""> </span>I encourage any of you to do what you can to help.<span style=""> </span>Any donation will be of help as these people are literally left with nothing.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Hope everyone is doing well!<span style=""> </span>Let me know if you want to come visit, I’m already looking forward to having visit Wes, Michelle, Jessica, My Dad, and Mark, in that order!<span style=""> </span></p> Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-991738840449034767.post-4140971240095978012009-11-07T10:10:00.000-08:002009-11-07T11:17:38.460-08:00Training for....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iifQl2Y2n_8JPDOckAe877vipAN9xRr66pM5IbCHOnfCy6A8qjhESEj7eVD2hgfw9JL_s2vNFBr8gJw2kUnyTKQTWJppUAotJfbqttvNX2fnV0Dy1yHnHMOlIEqufV4zIoNor5UkQ0Q/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(62).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401430509585209122" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iifQl2Y2n_8JPDOckAe877vipAN9xRr66pM5IbCHOnfCy6A8qjhESEj7eVD2hgfw9JL_s2vNFBr8gJw2kUnyTKQTWJppUAotJfbqttvNX2fnV0Dy1yHnHMOlIEqufV4zIoNor5UkQ0Q/s320/vaiiya+001+(62).jpg" border="0" /></a>As this is my first post and I am already in my 2nd week of service, I have a lot to talk about, but I’ll try to keep it brief. Before flying out of D.C., I took the opportunity to visit my friends Derek, Chris, Jess, Mr. Lincoln, and Mr. Obama’s house (they wouldn’t answer the door). We arrived at the airport at 2:30 am and began our journey. Upon arrival, we spent a very drowsy day and night in a mysterious place in which we are still questioning whether or not it even existed, or if that day was just a figment of our imagination. The next day we started training at the training center. We learned a lot of Spanish and a lot of factual information about the country. But more importantly, we learned that any given carwash could possibly be a dance club by night, and El President is not just a powerful political leader, but a powerful cervesa as well. We found out that public transportation includes mini busses (guaguas) that fit up to 50 people, compact cars (carro publicos) that fit 7, and motorcycles that on occasion fit 4 adults and 3 babies, or 10 chickens and a giant bag of rice, or 2 mattresses, or 4 jugs of water, or pretty much whatever needs to carried somewhere. We also learned that here in the D.R. the national religion is baseball, and the national sport is gossip (chisme), and if you’re not doing one of those two things, you’re playing dominos or dancing bachata.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyjeEwji4Vjpjr_k9Gmrsm7qGPXjSsdeW27BGnfB6FWg_1PfAfdH5PCag4JEbveO2BjZae71hOLGkVWtpyM5xYeJHRSLYqbWmC7c1_GD_RiW3qvbuLxxcd1cWP3RPij-qpn_jP2SlbBA/s1600-h/vaina+236.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401435792795807506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyjeEwji4Vjpjr_k9Gmrsm7qGPXjSsdeW27BGnfB6FWg_1PfAfdH5PCag4JEbveO2BjZae71hOLGkVWtpyM5xYeJHRSLYqbWmC7c1_GD_RiW3qvbuLxxcd1cWP3RPij-qpn_jP2SlbBA/s320/vaina+236.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401431460256753826" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoY8JsW4Z7HEq4sX-6ItpaBbK5oKyJIfbQPKn5R5qqCypsg4s8jw5tD4M71ODtwf-SXLVBQk5VgNhNDbrk4snsHnedziryAIO0Zy62IZ7WPEEpwZSHQ1xH3axYiZ87jEf4bkrAxIsDn8/s320/vaiiya+001+(234).jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxBIt5ozk6c7LEfG2MMYRHixMVkAne9wWcmoVK9NuoJowfoMWxkZsL1m8JxaesueqapryV7YB260jsg-NwbTUMt2z9X08eAmbkaU-UqU8gvETe2QgtKf3OKo5ruz8q2oxt5oER26IWnk/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(452).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401434492217907490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfxBIt5ozk6c7LEfG2MMYRHixMVkAne9wWcmoVK9NuoJowfoMWxkZsL1m8JxaesueqapryV7YB260jsg-NwbTUMt2z9X08eAmbkaU-UqU8gvETe2QgtKf3OKo5ruz8q2oxt5oER26IWnk/s320/vaiiya+001+(452).jpg" border="0" /></a>After training in the capital city for a while, we went off to the middle of nowhere to start community based training. During this phase of training, we separated into our different project sectors, so I was with just five other water engineer volunteers, Gabe, Duncan, Ryan, Jen, and Amy. As you can imagine, over the next five weeks, we got to know each other very well. Throughout those weeks, we learned how to live the simple life. We were taking bucket showers, shitting in latrines, reading by candle light, and waking up every morning to crowing roosters and hyperventilating donkeys. The town was called Mancebo, and the population was just over 100. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73TaWGkQUFpTYO9hYRcLi0abKMWyCsBZpuH_ZUGsQbHxdjYjiXKOEnChxFJcCaOJqZdeF2XYgBt-ChxHYq8KkqP2WoP1qvUHQYf1WsMIxkC1jr3w_zTS1k6n_p_048mCvfClw4oVED4I/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(416).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401434360920703394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73TaWGkQUFpTYO9hYRcLi0abKMWyCsBZpuH_ZUGsQbHxdjYjiXKOEnChxFJcCaOJqZdeF2XYgBt-ChxHYq8KkqP2WoP1qvUHQYf1WsMIxkC1jr3w_zTS1k6n_p_048mCvfClw4oVED4I/s320/vaiiya+001+(416).jpg" border="0" /></a>There was no electricity (luz) or cell phone service, and the closest paved road was over two hours away. Nevertheless, the two little stores/bars in town still found a way to provide us with blasting bachata music and cold beer all day. If you were ever walking down the one road, anyone you encounter always asks you where you are going, and the answer is always the same: up that way, or down that way (I guess there’s just not that much to talk about).<br />On my first day there, I almost had an emotional breakdown. We arrived after riding in the back or a pickup for three hours, wondering how much further from civilization we could possibly get. Upon arrival I was dropped at my new house, and instructed to get to know my new family. I then sat in the living room, in complete silence, with my new mommy, daddy and six brothers/sister staring at me, (silently, without smiling, barely even moving actually, like statues). After an extremely awkward hour of this, our trainer gathered up the volunteers from their respective houses to start the community ice breaker. He then <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89WZwkZudUShFxw0Ehw7znuursaCamckrXqarQb6DdTGDiq6enkUu4CGSlHgCb2gT1F4eWnrBvxeHUQ3wCmZXPA8HjY4d77XHt5MNBsF0Ggh3d9oLMDJehYoHdamvTULhvolVb8wP7Zo/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(249).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401432833266392306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89WZwkZudUShFxw0Ehw7znuursaCamckrXqarQb6DdTGDiq6enkUu4CGSlHgCb2gT1F4eWnrBvxeHUQ3wCmZXPA8HjY4d77XHt5MNBsF0Ggh3d9oLMDJehYoHdamvTULhvolVb8wP7Zo/s320/vaiiya+001+(249).jpg" border="0" /></a>informed us that we would be building a bed. In this moment, it hit me; I had absolutely no idea where in the hell I was, I was just introduced to my new very awkward family, and then I was told that I needed to build a bed? Wtf? I almost lost it completely and was about to pack up and leave (or at least try to leave), but luckily, the donkeys only leave town once a day, so I was forced to stay and bite the bullet.<br />In the end, I learned to love Mancebo and every single one of my brothers/sister (all of whom ended up having no problem talking to me, in fact they never shut their mouth or let me have a moment’s peace). After that first very weird day, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5QyUTAr6lJZDDjPvmGCNjfcHvni9s8v3g0M6X3nzOTCDSCKsReHAcmMtsYjcPkzqufFMajZFkAcuPuuf1zWWYHuuSVYbXsvf5NcrW7mt5mr-UJK_aHJHe9DswW8Y0MpDx1RkjEc651Y/s1600-h/vaina+200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401435611517532834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5QyUTAr6lJZDDjPvmGCNjfcHvni9s8v3g0M6X3nzOTCDSCKsReHAcmMtsYjcPkzqufFMajZFkAcuPuuf1zWWYHuuSVYbXsvf5NcrW7mt5mr-UJK_aHJHe9DswW8Y0MpDx1RkjEc651Y/s320/vaina+200.jpg" border="0" /></a>things got a lot better. We discovered that we lived just minutes away from the nicest swimming hole/waterfall we had ever seen. We spent most days after class there, swimming and rock climbing with the local kids. Too much happened to write about everything, so here are the highlights of the five weeks:<br />Jennifer was romantically pursued by a 15 year old boy, who wrote her 3 love letters, one of which said that he loved her more than his own mother. He soon became known in the community as perrito (little dog) after Jen tried to explain to her host mom that it was just puppy love. We got to meet the notorious identical twins <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpcvybKD6Jung4T0piBtDE9izPPrQdjggshj2EJyYEFAfx0r8vFPC1ePaL_C_5UPDtXRU_k-Ydc-QSn2wH6U6z6M5Vr3G9gah7CJ-2_V__FlPrGgWD4E3rdBKNu2CeovV027n3wUap9w/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(221).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401432238325335602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpcvybKD6Jung4T0piBtDE9izPPrQdjggshj2EJyYEFAfx0r8vFPC1ePaL_C_5UPDtXRU_k-Ydc-QSn2wH6U6z6M5Vr3G9gah7CJ-2_V__FlPrGgWD4E3rdBKNu2CeovV027n3wUap9w/s320/vaiiya+001+(221).jpg" border="0" /></a>who live in the next town over, and who supposedly treat the male Peace Corps volunteers very well. Unfortunately, one of the twins was pregnant (perhaps from the last training group), and was never around, and without the twin factor in affect, the remaining twin just wasn’t that hot. I rode a giant pig for about 3 feet before it tried to attack me. I wore a red polka-dot dress in front of the entire community during an informational skit in which I played Maria, the responsible water committee secretary. Within the community, I had many names including Jutin, Yootin, Yutico, Jerkin, and my favorite, Maria. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CraRlrS7XooycTOtUK126LC7-mrzBMunnYDvGOJlBZiEXQum8HsUG7BoaN_9wsCljVFWMYad0ZYZKpuRKno-4LbD0zStwJ9ADFP8jn5b-ed_M84gyLiLTIIGQqghTztVmAr8lcJCkls/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(248).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401433096784569714" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CraRlrS7XooycTOtUK126LC7-mrzBMunnYDvGOJlBZiEXQum8HsUG7BoaN_9wsCljVFWMYad0ZYZKpuRKno-4LbD0zStwJ9ADFP8jn5b-ed_M84gyLiLTIIGQqghTztVmAr8lcJCkls/s320/vaiiya+001+(248).jpg" border="0" /></a>Amy hooked up with a 19 year old farmer boy; Jen hooked up with the town doctor (My brothers were the ones who informed me of this scandalous behavior after they had hid in bushes and spied on the two couples smooching by the river.) All the guys in the group wrote love letters to some of the other Peace Corps girls that we liked, (that’s what happens when you end up in a small town with 80% men and the two female volunteers are occupied with their Dominican boyfriends). We believe the letters are still in route via donkey postal service (DPS). We hiked to various mountains and waterfalls and posed for sexy photo shoots (all profits went to charity of course). We went skinny dipping in the river one night (the crazy ideas rum gives you) but we soon realized that the water was actually quite chilly (making the situation suddenly a lot more embarrassing) so we quickly aborted that idea and vowed never to speak of that night again (I hope they don’t read my blog). We learned how to build a latrine, a tap stand, a river crossing, a water storage tank, and a water intake works. I finally had the five brothers and <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsVbysV8M8qp1LtP13v2YG7YfwF7BL-YqdiD8O38haTHKuOUQ0VKLIOXWNmN4oSAAqs-nbpB3g4Gbaw5hAszsUsQDQ2yXPTnzJwpLzuAOhojbOtBye8mxwW85OjMtKD2arwNzo9q5iw4/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(380).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401433808394676290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHsVbysV8M8qp1LtP13v2YG7YfwF7BL-YqdiD8O38haTHKuOUQ0VKLIOXWNmN4oSAAqs-nbpB3g4Gbaw5hAszsUsQDQ2yXPTnzJwpLzuAOhojbOtBye8mxwW85OjMtKD2arwNzo9q5iw4/s320/vaiiya+001+(380).jpg" border="0" /></a>1 sister that I always wanted (I now carry their photos in my wallet). I learned that no matter how many pounds of unripe boiled plantains and bananas I eat, and no matter how much the Dominicans love them, the thought of just one bite still makes me slightly suicidal. I also learned that even though my host mom constantly forced me to eat until I was physically in pain and completely immobile, I wasn’t able to gain even one pound. I’m certainly going to miss Mancebo, everything from the 360 degree view of lush mountains to the overflowing pride that every woman has for her six-baby-producing belly.<br />I finally swore in on the 28th of October and have started my two years of service. My community is letting my live rent free in the nicest home in the community that belongs to a woman who lives in Norway and comes here to vacation every few years. I live in a town called Tubagua, which has a population of 900 something. I now have to figure out how to build these people a water system. But because I can’t start on that right away, I started offering English classes. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmp4giee03_DQlgY6WfL1hgD6FrFwwIcGUy9RPw1_v2641_bjhif8qObJ-GwmZWxJtmtunLbho1tSZMmqQ_eaI8ANb4eIUq3Q3psVhRG77S-Oe9yDq_flu8OVi6tv42tMcRk9TeIfnKE/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(384).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401437909535513266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmp4giee03_DQlgY6WfL1hgD6FrFwwIcGUy9RPw1_v2641_bjhif8qObJ-GwmZWxJtmtunLbho1tSZMmqQ_eaI8ANb4eIUq3Q3psVhRG77S-Oe9yDq_flu8OVi6tv42tMcRk9TeIfnKE/s320/vaiiya+001+(384).jpg" border="0" /></a>In my first week I already have 80 students and teach 5 days a week (this may have been a bad idea). Thanksgiving is coming up and all the volunteers are going to party up large in the capital. We’re having a huge event with all of our favorite thanksgiving food along with a talent show. I plan on dominating the competition with the Spanish version of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (Eclipse Total del Amor”). Vamos a ver.<br />I live in the beautiful province of Puerto Plata (where all the tourists go) with views of lush green mountains and beaches all at once. Anyone who once to visit for a very cool<br /><span style="color:#000000;">experience, just let me know. </span> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2298254&id=6411790&l=3ded83bf70">Click here for more photos</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7rSoUu4jffQs3h6_IB0cKWCvtozN59F7QCf9KWmG16dkeF1geZAE-QsMCAfFWwVIKxOjhb35J-XMvRqIfBML-U3CQ8omV1RmZP9gz1tf91p6uF1YDVlK0mGr5S7Q-Cvtke6eCKmPQYw/s1600-h/vaina+280.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401436123408550754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7rSoUu4jffQs3h6_IB0cKWCvtozN59F7QCf9KWmG16dkeF1geZAE-QsMCAfFWwVIKxOjhb35J-XMvRqIfBML-U3CQ8omV1RmZP9gz1tf91p6uF1YDVlK0mGr5S7Q-Cvtke6eCKmPQYw/s320/vaina+280.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7rSoUu4jffQs3h6_IB0cKWCvtozN59F7QCf9KWmG16dkeF1geZAE-QsMCAfFWwVIKxOjhb35J-XMvRqIfBML-U3CQ8omV1RmZP9gz1tf91p6uF1YDVlK0mGr5S7Q-Cvtke6eCKmPQYw/s1600-h/vaina+280.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLLh7bPv7yhb0MS-YsqIvK7cxKTO_3jY6dwNIgBzKN-pMKSIyP-7SSbsaKgvmV1MCwyJYV4SgvnpaO9nthEDilaLQblZMqSgMvUmAVp0BwUFSO7XICirK7sEUtsyLLzy1Z3PUbzncQUo/s1600-h/vaina+007.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401435334287103682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLLh7bPv7yhb0MS-YsqIvK7cxKTO_3jY6dwNIgBzKN-pMKSIyP-7SSbsaKgvmV1MCwyJYV4SgvnpaO9nthEDilaLQblZMqSgMvUmAVp0BwUFSO7XICirK7sEUtsyLLzy1Z3PUbzncQUo/s320/vaina+007.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEzUPVfBYNDisnWmdC8cv5cnUk8cOj4pyMeZUIMm6aQkiESW8r_wv8k7b1ef8-e6vTU0swSPOLVtv-NlniXY1DdjLR4g4aqtUVPgmLhdyUOmu1T41ikhJ1wVS-jcz81o11uyJruTM18k/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(457).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401434651641477330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 223px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEzUPVfBYNDisnWmdC8cv5cnUk8cOj4pyMeZUIMm6aQkiESW8r_wv8k7b1ef8-e6vTU0swSPOLVtv-NlniXY1DdjLR4g4aqtUVPgmLhdyUOmu1T41ikhJ1wVS-jcz81o11uyJruTM18k/s320/vaiiya+001+(457).jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#000000;"></span></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEzUPVfBYNDisnWmdC8cv5cnUk8cOj4pyMeZUIMm6aQkiESW8r_wv8k7b1ef8-e6vTU0swSPOLVtv-NlniXY1DdjLR4g4aqtUVPgmLhdyUOmu1T41ikhJ1wVS-jcz81o11uyJruTM18k/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(457).jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaEzUPVfBYNDisnWmdC8cv5cnUk8cOj4pyMeZUIMm6aQkiESW8r_wv8k7b1ef8-e6vTU0swSPOLVtv-NlniXY1DdjLR4g4aqtUVPgmLhdyUOmu1T41ikhJ1wVS-jcz81o11uyJruTM18k/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(457).jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLLh7bPv7yhb0MS-YsqIvK7cxKTO_3jY6dwNIgBzKN-pMKSIyP-7SSbsaKgvmV1MCwyJYV4SgvnpaO9nthEDilaLQblZMqSgMvUmAVp0BwUFSO7XICirK7sEUtsyLLzy1Z3PUbzncQUo/s1600-h/vaina+007.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></a></div><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXW13kzhjvMHEROpCNqAV1mfaJWr-eHYStTcWMlltpvyquqXMWxO65AzhJErn05CRVhAynXLObN4dLYVQSajZdmW7RYkEqi3F-wQwPKvRkpSLHkWkU9qPbf39XGZtzpDo4olon_hli-s/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(215).jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXW13kzhjvMHEROpCNqAV1mfaJWr-eHYStTcWMlltpvyquqXMWxO65AzhJErn05CRVhAynXLObN4dLYVQSajZdmW7RYkEqi3F-wQwPKvRkpSLHkWkU9qPbf39XGZtzpDo4olon_hli-s/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(215).jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXW13kzhjvMHEROpCNqAV1mfaJWr-eHYStTcWMlltpvyquqXMWxO65AzhJErn05CRVhAynXLObN4dLYVQSajZdmW7RYkEqi3F-wQwPKvRkpSLHkWkU9qPbf39XGZtzpDo4olon_hli-s/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(215).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401431839792206914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXW13kzhjvMHEROpCNqAV1mfaJWr-eHYStTcWMlltpvyquqXMWxO65AzhJErn05CRVhAynXLObN4dLYVQSajZdmW7RYkEqi3F-wQwPKvRkpSLHkWkU9qPbf39XGZtzpDo4olon_hli-s/s320/vaiiya+001+(215).jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLLh7bPv7yhb0MS-YsqIvK7cxKTO_3jY6dwNIgBzKN-pMKSIyP-7SSbsaKgvmV1MCwyJYV4SgvnpaO9nthEDilaLQblZMqSgMvUmAVp0BwUFSO7XICirK7sEUtsyLLzy1Z3PUbzncQUo/s1600-h/vaina+007.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWXW13kzhjvMHEROpCNqAV1mfaJWr-eHYStTcWMlltpvyquqXMWxO65AzhJErn05CRVhAynXLObN4dLYVQSajZdmW7RYkEqi3F-wQwPKvRkpSLHkWkU9qPbf39XGZtzpDo4olon_hli-s/s1600-h/vaiiya+001+(215).jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLLh7bPv7yhb0MS-YsqIvK7cxKTO_3jY6dwNIgBzKN-pMKSIyP-7SSbsaKgvmV1MCwyJYV4SgvnpaO9nthEDilaLQblZMqSgMvUmAVp0BwUFSO7XICirK7sEUtsyLLzy1Z3PUbzncQUo/s1600-h/vaina+007.jpg"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></a>Justinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10058275820709550008noreply@blogger.com2