my address and more

This morning I’m headed over to a friend’s house just a barrio away; we’re going to the beach (Boca Chica) with her host family, and the SPF 30 is going to be plastered on this winter white skin! I haven’t been able to take many pictures, because there’s a fairly high crime rate where we’re living and I’m afraid to have my camera stolen -- especially at places like beaches and in the city when we have to ride on super crowded guaguas and public cars. The rule here for public cars (different than taxis) is that the passenger limit (and norm) is 4 passengers in the back and two in the front passenger seat of these old beaters, which makes for some interesting rides with strangers so close together. This weekend is a three day weekend because of Independence Day on Monday (celebrated with Carnaval in some parts), and we’re going to be going to the beach today, to the campo tomorrow, and who knows what else we’ll be doing. Hopefully going to the grocery store soon, because I haven’t had fruit at home for a while! Before I forget, my new address is the following for the next 10 or 11 weeks: Rebecca Anderson Cuerpo de Paz PO Box 1412 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic This week we went to the city center to practice our transportation knowledge again, and it is a beautiful city. We toured the Peace Corps office, as well as the hospital where we have to go if we get really sick while we’re in the country. We got to see the main street in the old section of downtown, and the oldest cathedral in the “New World.” We talked to one guy who had just climbed Pico Duarte, and it definitely sounds fantastic; it takes two or three days to do it, amazingly enough. We also learned how to dance the bachata and merengue this week in class, with a couple of my neighbors coming in to be extra male bodies helping us learn. Immediately following that lesson, we learned to play dominos, which many old men play in front of the colmados (like little general stores) here all day long. I got to put my dancing skills into practice last night when my host family went to their daughter’s house (a block away) for some drinks with their other daughter and friends visiting from grad school, and it turned into dancing at the end. It’s only been a little more than one full week in this country, but I feel like I’ve been here a long time. I still feel like I’m studying abroad! I am excited about Tuesday, though, when in our technical training we get to learn how to take apart, clean, and put back together computers manually so that when the dust and sand and rats get into the computers, we know how to fix it!

Ya llegé!

My first go at a computer, and its pretty exciting!
Training in Miami was a pretty good time, other than feeling like a pack horse with my luggage. We are a group of about 30 volunteers, and everyone is cool. The only exploring we had time for was in the couple nights we were there, and so we all went on a huge group "date" for Valentienes Day in Coco Beach. Thursday morning it was off to the DR. . .
At the airport we experienced our first apagon, or power outage, while we were waiting for our luggage. We caught a brief glimpse of the beautiful sea before we got whisked away to a retreat center on the edge of Santo Domingo. There we were supplied with our mosquiteros (mosquito nets), bug spray, and our first dose of malaria prophylaxis. We met a bunch of people, and then early the next morning we headed to the training center.
The training center is in the NW part of the city, and we all live in different barrios around the area with what here is lower middle class families. Its cool; my family has a mom, dad, and 15 year old son living in the house and about a zillion other relatives and friends always popping in. Being alone is something you never need to worry about here! I have a new friend here who is 9 and is stuck to my side like glue. We have electricity sometimes, and running water sometimes too. I sleep like a princess surrounded by the mosquitero, and always forget about it when I wake up in the morning.
We spend most of our days in classes for language, culture, and technical stuff, and almost everything is fun. My host mom here (Tita) is a great cook and basically understands vegetarianism, which is good. I have a couple friends who run, so we go together (before the dark, after the hot), and we have only been chased by a couple dogs. My host mom recommends carrying a stick or rocks.
My time is up, but more to come. . . along with pix.
Oh, and I think we are going to La Vega for Carnaval this weekend. I miss you guys, and wish I had money to pay for the time to email you all! But write back :)
Hasta pronto!

countdown to departure

I'm getting ready to leave home in less than 2 days. I fly to Miami early in the morning on Valentine's Day. On Feb 16, we leave as a group of about 30 trainees from Miami down to Santo Domingo, where we'll get placed soon with a host family for our training.
Right now my current challenge is deciding what and what not to pack!