Update from Hellish Events

26.3.07

Last Wednesday was In-service Training with all the other CED volunteers from my group. We stayed at an Evangelical Center in the capital for two nights and three days. There was a picture hanging at the entrance of the Pope looking at his watch with the frase "Es la hora de evangelizar" (It's time to evangelize"). I brought two women from my project to the conference. I don't know how I survived with them. To illustrate how bad it was, other volunteers, during the conference, would come up to me saying things such as, "Your women are CRAZY!" or "Christina, I don't know how you work with them. You deserve an award," and even "I'm so so sorry for you." How out of control were my women? Imagine, if you will, my fellow volunteers and I and our respective project partners discussing various themes and issues after watching a documentary, when someone's project partner makes a comment that in all parts of the world, it is the south that is the poorest. Now imagine, my proud, hefty-sized, born-and-raised in the dirty south of the DR project partner standing up to defend her dear region of the country. With her hands on her hips, she shouted to make sure everyone heard her reasons why the south is not poor, but in fact has many natural, rich qualities. All this while in her nightgown. My other project partner is just nuts. She was the queen of the dinamicas (or icebreakers and activities such as scavenger hunts). She sang the National Anthem. She participated with vigor. She ran amock. I'm surprised the conference lasted without one random, slap on someone's rear end initiated by her. Because she would do that. By the end of it all, I needed a stiff drink. In fact, our last session was a medical one by the PC doctor about alcohol awareness. The whole time during the lecture, I was thinking to myself, "When is this doctor going to stop talking so that I can find that stiff drink".

I never found that stiff drink, but I did have a highlight from that trip to the capital: Korean food. I finally got to satisfy my cravings for kimchi and bulgogi at a Korean restaurant. It was a splurge. I found it pretty cool talking to Korean immigrants at the restaurant in Spanish. The owner of the restaurant had lived in the DR for about fifteen years and a Korean patron told me his children speak to him Spanish although he speaks to them in Korean.

31.3.07

Resting in my room right now, after getting back from a youth "conference". An international NGO that has offices in the DR hosted a weekend for youth groups involved in environmental awareness projects. Originally, I was told this was for facilitators only and that I would learn how to coordinate and form my own youth group. Nope. It ended up being about sixty high-schoolers ready to hook up with their peers. We slept in moldy tents on cushions. The youngsters didn't learn anything about the environment. Well, maybe they did today, but I left as early as possible this morning. Lesson learned: don't go to another conference without knowing full well the "plan".

I've been talking to other volunteers about their opinions about relationships in this country as volunteers. The general consensus seemed to be that the criteria for dating another volunteer is whether or not they live within two hours of your site. As for a Dominican, he or she needs to be of age, isn't married, doesn't have children, and is least likely to cheat on you. Although there is potential for a rewarding shared volunteer experience in a relationship with another volunteer, unfortunately for me, in this Peace Corps country, there is a lack of supply of male volunteers. Seriously, the ratio is something like 5 female to 1 male volunteer. The pros of dating a Dominican is the deeper cultural exchange, local companionship, and --why not-- improved language skills. One thing is for sure, due to my limited options here, my guy-dar is going to be off when I get back home. Is he semi-cute? Can he hold a conversation? He's perfect.

Things I enjoy:
sandwiches at Fidel's
a drive, preferable by moto, along the southern coast
singing to Adventura
teaching English classes