The Holidays

Holidays have never been overly traditional in my family.  We don't always celebrate at a specific house, or have a special family recipes.  We can celebrate anywhere, as long as there is delicious food and drink involved.  I think this adaption has been helpful to me over the years.  After moving to Arizona, I was wearing shorts and sandals to Thanksgiving and opening Christmas presents while the lights on the cacti blinked outside.  When I was studying abroad I celebrated Thanksgiving in Spain and Christmas in Paris.

Now as a PCV in the DR, having a pool party, drinking piña coladas, and carrying leftover pie on the guagua for Thanksgiving feels right.

My mom always goes all out when it comes to food, for anything.  Since arriving here I forbade her to give me the low down on what she is inventing for whatever party, holiday, or Friday night dinner she is hosting or attending.  I miss family dinners and cooking with my mom.

For Christmas I will be here in the DR.  I keep asking around about traditional food.  It doesn't seem like there will be anything too out of the ordinary from everyday Dominican fare.  I am going to try and recreate some of my favorites from home.

My mom, grandma, and Auntie Shelly are coming to visit me at the end of this month.  They get here New Years Eve and will spend a full week here.  I can't wait to see some familiar faces.

Sleep

this rooster is lucky to be alive 

I didn't sleep a wink last night thanks to the donkeys, roosters, dogs, and pigs that decided to gab from dusk till dawn.  A nap is definitely in order this afternoon.

pumpkin bread and the olla I bake with

Both my neighbors gave me a ridiculous amount squash this morning.  So, I baked something that resembles pumpkin bread, it was pretty tasty.  I will have to bake 5 more loaves to use up all the squash.

someone brought over a years supply of ginger

I need to get up some courage to ask my landlord about replacing the wood.  I want it to be finished before my visitors come.  Not sure if that will happen because the coffee harvest is in full swing, and every available worker is pick or processing coffee. I have been learning a lot about the process.  I helped out a bit too.  I hope to roast my own coffee in the upcoming weeks.

The State of Our School

Every time I visit the school I get a little depressed.  Today I was there to help teach gym class.  Olga, a twenty-four-year-old university student, is substituting for a teacher who broke his leg. Our supplies consisted of one dilapidated soccer ball and a small area behind the school in between the bathrooms and the garbage pile.  I tried to think up some activities and games that did not use equipment, we ended up doing jumping jacks, burpees, wheelbarrow races, and the crab walk.  The kids and I had fun while Olga tried to be serious but couldn't help laughing.

The Ministry of Education sent supplies to our school, but that was 5 years ago. This is just one of an endless number challenges facing the students here.  There is no library, the kids share a couple text books, they sometimes share chairs, there is no crayons, no markers, the bathrooms is out of order and there is no drinking water.  I want to help, but where do I begin?

*I wrote this post awhile ago but did not published it.  I have good news to share though.  The Route 66 Rotary Club is donating sports equipment to the school in my community.  I will post some pictures when we receive our supplies.  I am also working on a grant to repair the school.

Mi Casita

my latrine and yard

looking out my side door

through that door is my bedroom, it's just a 2 room house

my lovely plastic chais

there are 2 doors in my house and no windows

my neighbor 'reading' a book