Ups and Downs

It is said that your PC experience is like an emotional roller coaster.  So true.  I try to be optimistic and positive, but sometimes it is challenging.

Saturday did not start out very well.  As I drank my coffee my host mom made a comment to me that got under my skin.  I quickly went to my rooms as tears welled in my eyes.  I collected myself and then went over to my neighbors to get my milk out of her fridge.  I caught her looking through her husbands text messages.  She informed me and the other females in the room there was nothing suspicious there.  (The lack of trust in relationships here is really getting me down.)

After packing up, I went to wait on the main road for a truck to leave for the pueblo.  As I waited I witnessed a woman hitting her child repeatedly with her shoe.  Another woman cheered her on, "Harder, harder!"  Good thing I was wearing sunglasses, because I couldn't hold back the tears.

My afternoon was definitely better than my morning.  I was greeted by Laura's smiling face in Tabara Arriba. I went to stay the night with her and get to know her site, she is the closest volunteer to me; it took an hour and a half to travel to her site from mine.  

Her host mom made us limeade, mango milkshakes, and coffee.  We walked around her town and swam in the river.  A neighbor had a mini fiesta where we ate delicious mofongo (plantains, garlic, and fried pork rind).  Laura and I chatted about our frustrations, spoke English, and ate Snickers.  It was rejuvenating.  

My first day back I met more potential literacy students.  My house was approved by PC but not until we complete some updates.

I have started to hike a little bit too.  I need to take advantage of the cool weather and great views.  I went up to a line of mango trees and on my way down, this old man gifted me limes, chayote squash and this large tropical fruit (it's supposed to make great juice).

chayote

I think this roller-coaster will continue for awhile.  It is challenging to live in another culture away from everyone you know, especially when all eyes are watching your every move and mood.  

Goat

I will be eating goat tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

I wish I could...

eat vegetables.

button my jeans.

cook!

drink iced coffee.

lounge in sweats on the couch.

forget about 'agua buena'.

take a hot bath.

Housing update:

Someone from PC is coming to check out my house on Monday.  I will then have the electricity installed and be able to move in.  I can't wait!

While I was walking today (working on buttoning my pants) I passed a pile of puppies outside someones house.  I had to stop and see them.  Their mom wasn't around so I'm going to go back to see if they'll be guard dogs or lap dogs, I'd really take either.

Locally Grown

view of Monte Bonito 

In the US it is fashionable to eat locally. It can be difficult to find locally grown products some places, but here in the DR and especially up on my mountain it is challenging to not eat locally. While I was still tucked in my covers this morning I heard the bull being slayed across the way. I wandered over to the neighbors place after getting dressed to find a plate of fried beef and toastones waiting for me. It was probably still warm while she cut it up. I then went to help shell beans that were harvested up the road yesterday. Then my host mom and I went to visit the pollero (chicken man). He cut up a freshly plucked chicken next to the coop that held ten of this little guys friends. I washed down my locally grown lunch of beans and chicken with limeade made with limes grown here in Monte Bo. To top it all off I had a banana for a snack. There are so many here they are practically free.

Lets just say by US standards I am pretty darn fashionable when it comes to eating locally.
I look forward to getting some laying hens and planting a garden. I may even try to compost. I will keep you posted on my progress.

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).