4th of July

Bright and early Saturday morning I caught a bola (free ride) down the mountain in a big truck.  It had rained the night before so the mud was thick and slippery.  At one point we were sliding down the mountain.  I was clutching the side and thanking myself for choosing to sit inside the cab and not standing in the bed(an 80 year old woman stood instead). I had to stop in Bani before going to Santo Domingo to pick up the police report. From the capital I traveled North East to Samana and then to Las Galeras. Almost all of the kids from my training group made the trip. It was great to see everyone. We stayed at a hotel within walking distance to the beach. It rained a good amount while we were there, but we had a good time anyway. On the last day, we boated through some pretty big waves to a secluded island. There were huge cliffs, an abundance of palm trees and coconuts, and only one other group of people on the beach. I felt like we could've run into Tom Hanks from Castaway.

Obviously it was difficult to leave this amazing place, but I had to get back to my site. I spoke with my project partner and my host mom and they all missed me.  Wednesay I went back to the capital and ended up hanging out too long. If I want to 'get up my mountain' I have to arrive early. So, on ThursdayI left early and I was greeted by the welcoming faces of my friends in Monte Bo (thats what the locals call it). It only took two guaguas, two hours waiting for a bola, and an expensive moto ride up the mountain.

It feels good to be 'home' though. The first day back I went to check out a house my neighbor owns. A Peace Corps volunteer that lived in this community 10 years ago rented the same house, how neat! It has two rooms and its own outhouse. There is already a bed there so I need to work on getting a stove, fridge and maybe a wash machine. I hope to be moved in within the next two weeks!

Thoughts and Facts

Here is some snippets about my life.

• Monte Bonito elevation 3,444 ft. 
• 300-350 homes
• Unlike other ´campos`, the houses here are clustered and their farm land surrounds the community in the mountians.  It makes for a stronger community spirit, which helps me integrate.
• I haven´t identified  suitable housing.  I may be constructing a bathroom or a latrine.
• I ate my first avocado of the season!
• Everyone is surprised when I tell them we don´t eat green bananas or plantains (which they eat boiled or fried).
• I explain frequently that no, New York is not the same as the United States, and yes I'm an American and not a Spaniard. 
• Almost every male in my community walks around with a machete.  I think I may do the same : )
• The normal greeting I get is, "Hi. What's your name?  Are you married? Have you ever been married?  Do you have a boyfriend?  How many kids do you have?"
• I have identified 2 literacy facilitators in my community along with 20 enthusiastic students so far.  I need to work on funding to pay the facilitators and a space with a generator to have night class.

I rode a mule!

The other day I was invited to visit Los Gajos to get mangos.  I enthusiastically said yes.  Like most situations I know little at first and as time goes on the light bulb goes off and I realize what is going on.  We were going to hike 3 km down a mountian to get fruit from a farm, then we´d hike back up.  Once I reached the bottom of this mountian.  I seriously questioned my ability to hike the 3 km back to Monte Bonito. 

Luckly, we visited this awesome farmer and his family.  Their spread of fruit trees was impressive.  Mangos, passion fruit, limes, oranges, pomagranates, star fruit and bananas.  After eating a ton of mangos, picking fruit to bring home, and drinking some coffee, we were ready to start our journey.  That´s when they said,"Nikki, you get on the mule."  I politely declined not wanted to look weak, but quickly accepted after they insisted.  The awesome farmer hoisted me ontop of this mule and off we went. 

I made passion fruit juice, my favorite, from the fruit I brought home.  I ended up giving away most of my mangos.  After you tell someone you went to Los Gajos, they ask you what you brought them.  They are all about sharing here, so I had to hand over mango after mango. 

There is another trip in the works.  Hopefully I´ll get to ride the mule back up the mountain again.  I still need to ride a burro (Mary K, they´re the same kind you have) and a horse (which happen to actually be large mules).

Busy settling in.

I arrived at my site on Thursday. I will be living with my project partners aunt. Her house is only a year old. It was built for her by Sur Futuro. There are 2 bedrooms, a bathroom(my toilet has a seat!), a kitchen and living/dining room. She has a son that lives in Santo Domingo so it is just the two of us. She sells chicken and cheese empanadas. We just made a fresh batch today. This could be dangerous for my already expanding waisteline. Besides empanadas, she doesn't cook. Therefore I will be eating with my project partner and his family. They live a short walk away in a house they just finished constructing. They have 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls all under 13.

On Friday I attended a seminar Sur Futuro was holding for coffee growers. Today I went on a tour of community and went to cut down some green bananas from the plot of a neighbor. This included a journey over the mountain, me stepping ankle deep in mud the first 10 minutes, and a million mosquito bites. It was a great hike though. So pretty.

Tomorrow I plan on making passion fruit juice, climbing a mountain to look for mangos,and attending a birthday party.

The weather up here on my mountain is wonderful. It is warm during the day but cools off at night. My host mom and I sit around the left over coals from cooking for warmth. I have to sleep with a blanket! They laugh when I say it's cold and tell me to wait until December. Who would've though I'd be shopping for a winter coat on my tropical island?

I'm moving the mountains

Yesterday I went to visit a community that solicited for a volunteer to work with Sur Futuro's literacy program.  The town is located in the Azua providence.  It was a 2.5 hour drive from the capital.  We drove up an unmaintained dirt road for 25 minutes to reach the community of Monte Bonito.  There are around 300-350 homes, a high school, a rural clinic and a ton of avocado trees.  Their main source of income is agriculture. My project partner will be a high school math teacher who served as president of their community orgaization. 

I've been in the capital for almost two weeks now.  I'm excited and anxious to move to my new place.  My parents are sending me a netbook this week, so I will soon have a computer and hopefully an internet connection. 

Things are looking up

I was at my site for about a month, and I have been in Santo Domingo for a week now. I am getting a site change after my community was found to be an unsafe environment for me to live. I am a little disappointed to have to start the integration process over, but I know I need to do what is best for my safety.

On Monday I will visit a community that solicited for a volunteer to work in adult literacy. I was told it was beautiful mountainous agricultural community (sounds great, I know!). My main project will be working with 80 illiterate adults but I hope to help them with their reforestation project as well.

This week I shoped at the mall, went to happy hour, ate chocolate cake and watched TV in English and lounged by the pool.  I feel so spoiled! I am going to enjoy the rest of my weekend here in the capital.  I will let you guys know how Monday goes.  It is possible I will be moving to my new home next week!

"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that
every experience develops some latent force within you, you
will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your
circumstances may seem to be."
-- John R. Miller

Wow.

I don't even know where to begin.  Quite a lot has happened since I wrote last.  I am currently staying in Santo Domingo.  Various incidents occured in my site and at my host family's house and will most likely result in a site change.  I no longer have a computer or my camera, but I am in good health and still in pretty good spirits. 

I will update you when I know more and I'm sure Mom and Dad can tell you guys in depth about whats going on.