Christmas here is pretty low key as far as decorations, lights, music, and presents go. They make up for all that with weeks of music till 4 a.m. and all day drinking. Here in the Dominican Republic families, neighbors, and friends gather on Christmas Eve for a big dinner. They do it big and bake chicken and pork, which they normally don't do because using your oven is expensive. Spaghetti, a spread of cold salads including green salad, potato salad, and macaroni salad crowd the table along with tostones, apples, bread, and brightly colored sodas.
On Christmas day everyone puts on new clothes. My project partners son asked me if I had purchased my December clothes yet. I told him it wasn't in my budget. The day is full of visiting, eating leftovers, and the whole family taking a trip to the discoteca.
I made myself pancakes for breakfast and settled in to watch a movie. My neighbor came by shortly after I had enjoyed Love and Other Drugs to tell me she had some bad news. She went on to explain how my land lord's daughter had said that my bed and my plastic chairs are going to be 'repossessed', and that I needed to find a new place to live. Merry Christmas, your family is coming to visit in a week, you are leaving to the capital in two days and there is no other available housing in town. Ahh!
Thankfully this girl was just talking smack. I spent a whole day fretting over the whole ordeal, and there were definitely some tears involved. The situation brought be to my New Year's Resolution though, I need to grow some thicker skin.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Uninvited
Remember when I described how great Sonia and her family are to me? Well, that all quickly changed after I won the pig..
As soon as I won, Sonia and her son told me I would keep the pig at their house and butcher it there. All I had to do was give them the intestine and the feet. I would then give meat to the butcher, the police, the man who comes to check to pig is in good health, and finally the man who sells the meat. After all that I couldn't imagine there would be much left, so I opted for option number two, sell the pig whole, and alive to someone who would butcher it. Sounded way easier, and that is what I did. I sold it to the highest bidder for a couple thousand pesos.
Ever since this all went down I have been getting the cold shoulder from Sonia. I would visit their house less and less because I started to feel uncomfortable. Then I heard they were saying I was selfish, and not easy.
They used to say I was like their daughter and sister, and now they look the other way when they see me coming. I guess things change quickly around here. I am not sure what I will do. The culture here is very indirect. If I were in the States I would probably march over there and set this all straight and tell them how ridiculous it is they are upset because I sold the pig that I won, but I think the Dominican way is to ignore the Elephant in the room until we just pretend it didn't happen.
My plan was to eat Christmas dinner at their house. They had invited me long ago. Not a word about my attendance at dinner has been spoken recently. I am going to say I was officially uninvited when I won the pig and didn't them them take advantage of that.
They are only one family of hundreds here in the community. People have been reaching out and inviting me to share their Christmas Eve dinner. So, last night I ate 3 of the exact same Christmas Eve dinners, because everyone cooks the same thing, the same way. My neighbor pulled me aside to tell me that all she wanted was for me to feel welcome and loved and know that they are my family here, I was so touched by her words. I am glad I got to share Christmas Eve with my neighbors.
The fun continues today with non stop music, leftovers and an afternoon trip to the local discoteca.
As soon as I won, Sonia and her son told me I would keep the pig at their house and butcher it there. All I had to do was give them the intestine and the feet. I would then give meat to the butcher, the police, the man who comes to check to pig is in good health, and finally the man who sells the meat. After all that I couldn't imagine there would be much left, so I opted for option number two, sell the pig whole, and alive to someone who would butcher it. Sounded way easier, and that is what I did. I sold it to the highest bidder for a couple thousand pesos.
Ever since this all went down I have been getting the cold shoulder from Sonia. I would visit their house less and less because I started to feel uncomfortable. Then I heard they were saying I was selfish, and not easy.
They used to say I was like their daughter and sister, and now they look the other way when they see me coming. I guess things change quickly around here. I am not sure what I will do. The culture here is very indirect. If I were in the States I would probably march over there and set this all straight and tell them how ridiculous it is they are upset because I sold the pig that I won, but I think the Dominican way is to ignore the Elephant in the room until we just pretend it didn't happen.
My plan was to eat Christmas dinner at their house. They had invited me long ago. Not a word about my attendance at dinner has been spoken recently. I am going to say I was officially uninvited when I won the pig and didn't them them take advantage of that.
They are only one family of hundreds here in the community. People have been reaching out and inviting me to share their Christmas Eve dinner. So, last night I ate 3 of the exact same Christmas Eve dinners, because everyone cooks the same thing, the same way. My neighbor pulled me aside to tell me that all she wanted was for me to feel welcome and loved and know that they are my family here, I was so touched by her words. I am glad I got to share Christmas Eve with my neighbors.
The fun continues today with non stop music, leftovers and an afternoon trip to the local discoteca.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
All Up in My Business
I am going to make a sweeping assumption and say that small towns all over the world share one unfavorable quality. No matter what country, language or culture. That is gossip, which we call chisme here in the DR.
As I sip my coffee or shell legumes with my neighbors, there isn't much else to talk about except the weather, and the latest neighborhood drama. I will admit, I have gotten caught up in the juicy details at one time or another, but I have reached my breaking point. Especially, since I have been a topic of gossip and bad mouthing. I would rather not know you think I'm selfish because I sold the pig and didn't give everyone and their mom a piece of my winnings, or that I am stuck up because I don't visit every house daily.
I know way too much about everyone's private lives and am tired of hearing the bad things they say about me. I imagine after weeding this chisme out from my life, I will be an all around happier person with more faith in my community.
I would also like to wear a sign that says if you call me fat I will punch you in the face. First, because it is none of your business, and second, because you are fatter than me!
Bottom line, I need a break. At first I thought staying in my site for Christmas would be a good idea, but now I want to run away as fast as I can.
As I sip my coffee or shell legumes with my neighbors, there isn't much else to talk about except the weather, and the latest neighborhood drama. I will admit, I have gotten caught up in the juicy details at one time or another, but I have reached my breaking point. Especially, since I have been a topic of gossip and bad mouthing. I would rather not know you think I'm selfish because I sold the pig and didn't give everyone and their mom a piece of my winnings, or that I am stuck up because I don't visit every house daily.
I know way too much about everyone's private lives and am tired of hearing the bad things they say about me. I imagine after weeding this chisme out from my life, I will be an all around happier person with more faith in my community.
I would also like to wear a sign that says if you call me fat I will punch you in the face. First, because it is none of your business, and second, because you are fatter than me!
Bottom line, I need a break. At first I thought staying in my site for Christmas would be a good idea, but now I want to run away as fast as I can.
Monday, December 12, 2011
I won a pig!
I entered a raffle to win a pig. The tickets were 100 pesos. I picked number 73. The winning number would be the first number picked in the National Lottery on Sunday night.
News spreads here like wild fire on a windy day. At first they were saying 23 won. Then 73. I was skeptical because everyone likes to pull my leg. One of the organizers of the raffle came to congratulate me. I won! I asked several times if he was joking or lying, and if I'd really won. I just couldn't believe my luck.
I walked all over town telling my friends I had won a pig. They congratulated me and asked when we were going to eat pork. As a rule of thumb, I don't eat pork here. The meat is always so fatty and tough, it just isn't appealing. Oh and there is no bacon, tragic, I know.
I got back to Sonia's house where I first found out I won. Rosa, my 15 year old ex-best friend, comes in laughing saying number 63 was first and I didn't win. I wasn't sure who to believe. Nobody could tell me for sure if it was mine or not.
I was fuming because I thought they were playing a joke on me. Maciel was in the fritura, I went to tell her about the drama. Like a big sister she told me we would sort it all out tomorrow and not to worry about it. She even called me after I went home to reassure me.
Before heading to bed I watched some Modern Family. Mid-episode I smelled cigarette smoke and then heard people talking out in my yard. Sunday is a big night to drink, so I thought they were just randoms drunkards hanging out. I texted Maciel to send her massive husband over to get rid of them. Turns out it was my 15 year old, slightly crazy enamordo, who slipped a love note under my door a couple weeks ago. He was serenading me.
After all the happenings that night, and the day before (Sonia's sister-in-law felt the need to call me fat, I didn't take it well), I was sick and tired of Dominicans.
This morning I was still not sure if I was the winner. My emotions were all out of whack. I wasn't sure if I should celebrate or be disappointed. I went by the Banca, where they post the lottery numbers, and saw 73 at the top of the list. I WON! It is official.
I plan on selling it whole to be butchered. I don't have any plans for my winnings yet.
Update: I sold the pig and spent most of my winnings on a bed frame. A rather anticlimactic end to the story.
News spreads here like wild fire on a windy day. At first they were saying 23 won. Then 73. I was skeptical because everyone likes to pull my leg. One of the organizers of the raffle came to congratulate me. I won! I asked several times if he was joking or lying, and if I'd really won. I just couldn't believe my luck.
I walked all over town telling my friends I had won a pig. They congratulated me and asked when we were going to eat pork. As a rule of thumb, I don't eat pork here. The meat is always so fatty and tough, it just isn't appealing. Oh and there is no bacon, tragic, I know.
I got back to Sonia's house where I first found out I won. Rosa, my 15 year old ex-best friend, comes in laughing saying number 63 was first and I didn't win. I wasn't sure who to believe. Nobody could tell me for sure if it was mine or not.
I was fuming because I thought they were playing a joke on me. Maciel was in the fritura, I went to tell her about the drama. Like a big sister she told me we would sort it all out tomorrow and not to worry about it. She even called me after I went home to reassure me.
Before heading to bed I watched some Modern Family. Mid-episode I smelled cigarette smoke and then heard people talking out in my yard. Sunday is a big night to drink, so I thought they were just randoms drunkards hanging out. I texted Maciel to send her massive husband over to get rid of them. Turns out it was my 15 year old, slightly crazy enamordo, who slipped a love note under my door a couple weeks ago. He was serenading me.
After all the happenings that night, and the day before (Sonia's sister-in-law felt the need to call me fat, I didn't take it well), I was sick and tired of Dominicans.
This morning I was still not sure if I was the winner. My emotions were all out of whack. I wasn't sure if I should celebrate or be disappointed. I went by the Banca, where they post the lottery numbers, and saw 73 at the top of the list. I WON! It is official.
I plan on selling it whole to be butchered. I don't have any plans for my winnings yet.
Update: I sold the pig and spent most of my winnings on a bed frame. A rather anticlimactic end to the story.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Chicas Brillantes
A few weeks ago I was feeling a little down. I was trying to start a girls group but nobody was showing up for our Sunday meetings. Then one Sunday morning two of the girls came to my house and said they had rounded up a group and were planning on meeting me at the school that afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised to find 14 girls waiting for me.
We discussed what kind of activities they wanted to do, rules of the group and roles of each member. I was secretly elated when they voted me in for President. We do fun things every Sunday and I find myself looking forward to our meetings.
So far we have made friendship bracelets, cooked a Christmas feast and decorated a banner to hang up. I want to keep it fun. Does anyone have suggestions of craft projects or activities I could do with the girls that do not require a ton of supplies?
We discussed what kind of activities they wanted to do, rules of the group and roles of each member. I was secretly elated when they voted me in for President. We do fun things every Sunday and I find myself looking forward to our meetings.
So far we have made friendship bracelets, cooked a Christmas feast and decorated a banner to hang up. I want to keep it fun. Does anyone have suggestions of craft projects or activities I could do with the girls that do not require a ton of supplies?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)