Campo Smoothie

I have been dreaming of whipping up a smoothie ever since I got to this fresh fruit filled country.  Today, my dream was fulfilled!  It was no easy feat to put it together.

First, I spotted the nearest colmado owner enjoying strawberries.  My mouth was watering as I asked him where he found them.  Turns out he brought them from Santo Domnigo.  He gifted me four.  The little neighbor girl saw me carting them home and asked for one, and another one for her sister.  Ugh, I'm down to two strawberries 

I went on to look for bananas at another colmado.  They were out.  Maybe tomorrow they told me.  I then saw a little friend of mine eating grapes.  I asked her which way the grape lady (a Haitian woman who walks around with a huge bucket of grapes balanced on her head) went.  I didn't end up finding her, but I did score some bananas while visiting Celia (where I paint my nails).

While walking back to my house, bananas in hand, my landlord, Sonya, handed me a sack of limes.  I borrowed Maciel's blender.  Combined my strawberries, a banana, lime juice, milk, and dry oatmeal (if you have never put dry oats in your smoothie you must try it.).  I drank my smoothie with great satisfaction.  

Cornbread and Tutoring

While in the capital last week I bought a dutch oven or olla horno.  This special little device allows me to bake on the stove top.  Yesterday I decided to christen my olla horno with a loaf of corn bread.  I used to have a serious obsession with corn bread, so I am pretty good at making it.  There isn't a stick of butter to be found in this country, so I will have to be a creative baker.  I'm sure there will be many less than fabulous baked goods.

The first loaf was a little dry and didn't rise.  The Dominicans didn't seem to mind though; it was gone in minutes.  My neighbor Maciel loved it so much, she asked if we could bake another loaf.  The second attempt was better than the first.  It was more moist, but still did not rise properly.  Here is the recipe I used, I tweaked it a bit to better suite the available ingredients.

• Olla Horno Corn Bread
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1/2 cup azucar crema
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• *note: due to lack of measuring cups, just eyeball measurements

This is a sharing culture.  If someone comes over, you offer them coffee or juice, rice or boiled bananas.  My neighbors bring me bowls of rice and beans, tostones and fried chicken, and rice pudding.  In keeping with this theme, I need to give them whatever I make.  After I saw how quickly my corn bread disappeared, I decided that when I make something it has to be large amounts so I can share with half of Monte Bonito.  

Maciel and I are going to make brownies or a chocolate cake today.  We discussed baking in secret so we don't have to share.

I started tutoring my first literacy student, my friend and old neighbor Albania.  She is a mother of 2 who used to work at a hotel in Punta Cana.  She knows the alphabet and the basics of reading and writing.  We are using an old first grade workbook.  I am impressed by her motivation and work ethic.  We had a serious discussion about her wanting more out of life than just cooking and cleaning for her less than amazing husband.  

School starts next Monday.  The kids are all getting ready. I look forward to visiting the school and helping in anyway that I can.

Great Homecoming

I got back to my site today after almost a week in Santo Domingo where I attended a conference to present my diagnostic and work on my 1 year project plan.

My last night in the capital I went to see the new Harry Potter movie, and had pizza and beer for dinner.  It was a great end to my trip.

I brought a ton of goods back to my community.  I now have a dutch oven which I can use to make quick breads and brownies on the stove top.  I also have a sleeping bag, some wash tubs for dishes, a collection of children's stories, a stock of lactose free milk and a loaf of wheat bread.

The book caused quite a frenzy.  After I saw their excitement I decided I want to create a library here.

The toilet was installed yesterday in my latrine, it is amazing.  My neighbors and I all gathered around to awe at it's greatness.

A truck came around today selling chickens.  I couldn't help but get one.  It is staying in my neighbor's chicken coop until I construct one.  It is still pretty young.  I'll let you know when I have my first egg.

Needless to say it has been an exciting and exhausting day.  I am ready to relax tomorrow and bake some brownies to share with everyone.

Latrine

The shack in my yard that serves as my 'bathroom' has been stressing me out a bit.  I have forever had a dislike for port-a-potties, outhouses, and biffies.  My only stipulation for a house during my search was an indoor bathroom.  An actual room in your house to bathe and do your business is very convenient (please note how pleasant your experience is next time you enjoy your bathroom).  Note: Here it is rare to find a flushing toilet; you have to manually flush with a bucket of water.


Needless to say, with my luck, there were no available houses with indoor bathrooms.  I thought it wouldn't be too bad.  After all it was my own private latrine and in pretty good condition.  Let's just say, I am not as good at roughing it as others.  I trying adding a toilet seat, hoping that it would improve my experience, but no, I was still uncomfortable.

So, after a community wide discussion about my comfort level and 'bad aim' I purchased a second hand toilet  that is being installed in my latrine while I am away.

I can't wait to see my new and improved latrine!

Maciel

I have this awesome neighbor, Marciel.  She gifts me coffee, food, her kitchen utensils, borrows me her wash machine.  She is all around amazing.  Her two daughters are great as well.  We all play dominoes and chat on their porch.  Today we were talking about her back; she has some sort of back issue and needs surgery which she cannot afford.  I asked her how old she is and was shocked to find out she is 23, the same age as me!  Her motherly nature makes her seem older, and in some ways she seems wiser.  I then thought about our two lives, and how completely different they are.  She has been married 11 years, has 2 children, built her own home with her husband, and is attending night school to get her high school diploma in hopes of going to the university to become a teacher.  I am single, without children, and have my bachelors degree.  I think we bond over our love for cake.

This reminds me of the documentary Babies.  I have only seen the trailer but I would love to watch it.  It follows babies in their first year in various parts of the world.  Have any of you watched it?

I leave for to the capital tomorrow for our 3 Month In Service Training.  My project partner is going with me, and I can't wait to see him interact with the other volunteers and project partners.  It may be awkward at times as well, because I haven't spend such a prolonged period of time with him.

I want to post about my house, but it will be much more exciting with pictures.  I need to work on getting a camera, and then I can give you a glimpse of my fabulous life here.

Cyclone Emily

I am here in San Juan waiting in a hotel for the cyclone/tropical storm to pass.  I received a call yesterday from the PC telling me I needed to pack my things and get to San Juan right away.  The storm has yet to arrive and the weather is hot and sunny.  Hopefully it turns out to be a mild cyclone.

Update: The Southwest is expected to get heavy rain, 20-25 inches.  We will continue to wait out the storm in our hotel.

Update 2: Emily has passed and I will return to Monte Bonito this afternoon.  I hope the road up to my site is passable after the rain.

Water

The rain, clean drinking water, and the lack of running water are all affecting my life now more than ever.

Rain- In Arizona it rarely rains.  I am not used to so much rain.  There has been few days here on my mountain that it hasn't rained.  All this water complicates things.  Since our streets are unpaved they turn into mud.  I hop from one stone to the next hoping I don't fall into the mud.  People don't visit when it's raining, so it can be boring.  And lastly, when it rains, it's cold!  I am currently cooped up in my (new!) house.  It's been raining all day and there hasn't been any electricity.

Agua buena- I believe I told you previously about the drinking water situation.  Agua buena is basically purified drinking water that is sold in 5 gallon jugs, called botellones, like the one below, they are a staple in most Dominican homes.  Mine has the same cool pump on top thanks to my mom & dad.

 Things can get tricky on the mountain when it comes to filling these jugs.  We have gone days without agua buena. I will be purchasing two so I will always have drinking water.  I carry around my nifty thermos full of water so I don't risk drinking bad water when I'm out and about.

Hauling water- My house doesn't have a kitchen or a bathroom.  Therefore, I don't have a sink.  I have a big trash can that I fill with water at the neighbor's house and keep in my kitchen.  There isn't always running water from the tap.  It comes usually once a day and the women take advantage and fill up various containers with water for bathing, cooking, and cleaning.  Since moving into my own place I have joined them in this routine.  I fill a bucket for the latrine that I use for bathing, and then I make sure the trash can is full.  I stick some chlorine into each bucket for good measure, and I'm set until tomorrow when the water (hopefully) comes again.

I already look forward to hot showers where the water comes out of the shower head.  Mom, I will gladly wash dishes in the sink with running water; and I will enjoy the AZ sunshine and clear skies.  Until then, I need to invest in an umbrella, some rain boots and that extra botellon.