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.

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.

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?

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