The Haiti Commission

I walked to my center yesterday driven by my new idea: we should start a collection for Haiti relief and advertise it using the center radio station.  I informed the encargado of this and he told me that at that very moment, the local TV station and radio station were holding a telemarathon to raise funds and solicit in-kind donations.  I couldn't believe it! 

I went online to check all the community blogs, and sure enough, there were photos and announcements of the telemarathon.  I called the TV station to get some more details and one of my project partners answered the phone.  I felt so proud.

I left the center soon after to go down to the station to see what was happening and to make a donation myself.  There at the station were all the community leaders, people hanging around outside, and a huge van being packed with supplies.  The community members had formed a commission to head the telemarathon and the collection. 

During the entire weekend, the community members involved in the "Haiti Commission" will be going around to collect the pledged funds and in-kind donations.  All the local churches have united as well and will be soliciting donations during their weekend services.

Yesterday was a great day.  I felt so proud to be a part of this fine community.

Earthquake

It was Tuesday evening. I was at my tech center, waiting for my 5 o’clock English class to arrive. It was pouring rain outside. Looked like class would be cancelled because no one had showed yet…. It was 5:30 pm.

I was perusing the internet while waiting, chatting with my friends, complaining that none of my students had come. And then I felt it. This strange movement of the ground, making circular motions beneath my feet. Was I crazy? I looked behind me and saw the large conference table swaying back and forth. The center was quiet. None of the other employees were commenting on it.
I sent an IM to my friend online, another Volunteer: “Um, the ground is shaking now.” Nothing from him.

And then it stopped. Silence. My phone started ringing: my Volunteer neighbor who lives in the next town over. “Did you feel that?!”

I replied, “Yes! I thought I was hallucinating!”

Then my friend online sent a message back, “What was that??”

I left shortly afterward. Walked home in the rain. It was dusk. I thought it was just a small, strange occurrence. Nothing major.

I made dinner, prepared my computer to watch a television show, and sat down to eat. Then I received a couple phone calls from some Peace Corps people, checking in on me. Standard practice when something happens. Peace Corps just wants to make sure we’re safe.
Then a friend called me a little while later. “Did you feel the earthquake? The epicenter was in Haiti’s capital. They’ve suffered incredible destruction. The presidential palace has collapsed, many other buildings….”

The next day at work when I could access the internet, I checked the news. Unspeakable horror. Crushing destruction. Thousands feared dead. The photographs, the stories… And so close to home.

Reporters and aid workers are flying into Santo Domingo to start their trip to Haiti. Haitians are being transported to this country for medical attention. Many in the Dominican population are fearing for the fates of their loved ones.  Everyone is sympathetic here.


Haiti’s history is characterized by cruel acts, constant instability, immense poverty… things Americans have never experienced. And now this. Their people, now more than ever, need hope.

Please help give them some light. Donate to the many relief efforts. It’s a small price to pay for you, but a huge gift to them.

Red Cross

Donation by Cell Phone - MSNBC Report
Donate $10 to the Red Cross to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."

White House Blog
The White House's suggestions to help.

Salvation Army Haiti Earthquake Relief

Yele Haiti

Dominican Winter = Mucha Lluvia

So I know most of you americanos stateside are suffering from a cold front.  We aren’t necessarily “cold” here, but we are wet and chilly.  I actually put a blanket on my bed (normally, Dominicans sleep with only a sheet because it’s so hot)!

For the past week, there has been a dreary rainstorm, day and night.  It’s certainly not helping with the motivation. It's killing my mood.  Where are you, happy sun?   Normally, when it rains here, people leave work early or don’t attend class.  Today’s my first day back teaching English class, so we will see how it all turns out.

It’s a new year, and now it’s time to implement new projects.  The last couple months were lax for me because of the holidays and the personal time I needed to get through my rough period.  But now I’m back, and I have ideas, tons of them. 

I’m adjusting back to pueblo life gradually.  The Spanish is slow in coming.  Doesn’t help that I spoke only English for the past month.  So I’ll need some time to get myself back into the groove, but right now, I’m a confused mess in the linguistics department.  I’ve been hanging out with my host family a little more, catching up with them.

I’m getting used to the food again – rice, beans, salad, and chicken.  While spending some time with other Volunteers after my return from the States, I learned some new exciting recipes.  So I’m going to experiment with my food a little.  I want to eat healthier.  Maybe once I finish my service, I’ll be a great chef.  As we say here, vamos a ver (we shall see…).

Regarding relations, things are much warmer here.  People have been glad to see me.  My host family hugged me tightly, going on about how they missed me, and asking about my family allá (over there).  While I was in the States, I noticed a certain kind of rigidity among people who are mere acquaintances.  Though it is our cultural standard, I was a little surprised.  I think I’ve integrated in the Dominican culture more than I originally though.  When you meet someone here or when you greet a friend, you exchange cheek kisses and a half-embrace.  Dominican people accept you immediately.  All the introductory handshakes I did in the States seemed so unnatural to me.

Here goes to readjusting and reintegrating…. It’s a new year, the perfect opportunity to start anew.  Sixteen months left… Let’s see where this adventure will take me.

**Also, my fine friends, notice that I put up a translator gadget in my sidebar for your translating convenience. **

Thanksgiving through New Year's in Pictures

Fabulous pancake breakfast with good friends in Cabarete, New Year's Day

 

Helen and I, New Year's Day

Mini Coral Springs High School Reunion at Panera.  I went home to Florida for Christmas.  It was awesome.  I indulged in the wonderful comforts of America and spent quality time with my family and good friends.

Out with the ladies - my best friends for more than 13 years!

Interpretive dance to Arya's rendition of Foo Fighters "Everlong" on bass, Peace Corps Thanksgiving Celebration 2009

Our IT Spring '09 Group "Cross Country Team" at the PC Turkey Trot, Thanksgiving Day.  Yes, we were very sweaty!  It was soooo hot that day!

Our cross country team won best dressed at the Thanksgiving Celebration.  Here we are all cleaned up!

Cooking dinner at Stacie's house.  The weekend before Thanksgiving, her doña invited us over to her house to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a lot of fun being with close friends.

Walking through Stacie's campo

In Stacie's campo, her host uncle owns a large house and infinity pool built into the side of a large hill.  We had to pinch ourselves.  This is Peace Corps?  Swimming in a luxurious infinity pool?

Helen and I enjoying the pool...

Group pic of us at Stacie's pre-Thanksgiving party

*Photos courtesy of Helen, Andrea, Angela, Geoffrey, and Lindsey

Back to Reality

First of all, happy new year, everyone!  I hope 2010 is full of exciting experiences for you all.

For Christmas, I went back to Florida to indulge in the luxuries of American life.  And indulge, I did.  I basically slept, ate, hung out with friends and family, ate, watched TV while using the internet on my laptop, ate, took long hot showers, and ate.  I felt like I was on "vacation" even though I was really at home with my family.

Food was the highlight of my trip.  I remember the very first thing I ate in America - a yummy Publix roast beef sub.  I even remember the glorious first bite..... Ahhh.  I made a mental food checklist that I had to fulfill, and thanks to my wonderful friends and family, I completed it!  Caesar arugula salad, BBQ ribs, steak and potatoes, Mexican, Thai, Japanese Hibachi, roasted garlic hummus, lots of chocolate, Mountain Dew, sweet tea, pizza, Chick-fil-A...  Yes, these things may be old news to you, my Stateside readers, but to me, every meal was memorable.  Now that I'm back on the island, I must consume the usual rice, beans, chicken, yucca, platano, etc...  America really does have a variety of flavors and cuisines, and I hadn't realize how food-deprived I had felt until I took that first bite in that scrumptious Publix sub.

I was a little worried about how I would feel returning to the States with my new single woman status.  Sasha and I had spent a lot of time in Florida (we were from the same town), so of course there are a lot of memories there.  However, I am proud to say that I felt good overall.  It was great to spend time with my friends and family.  I spoke to him a couple times on the phone while I was there.  It felt good, a little strange, but good to talk to him.  Maybe I felt a little closure... and now I feel that I'm ready to move on.  More adventures await me...  Who knows what will happen on this little island.

I came back to the Island (as I came to call it while at home) four days ago.  I left my house at 4 in the morning.  It was a little chilly by Florida standards.  My family stood outside shivering and hugging me.  I cried.  I wasn't ready to leave.  Life was just so good there.  But I got on the plane and spent the entire day making my way to my site.  When I arrived, I was greeted by several friends waiting at my house, cooking dinner.  It was the best homecoming ever. 

I spent a magical New Year's on the beach with my awesome friends (though we were missing quite a few people who remained in the States.  Ustedes me hacen falta).  I'm very honored to have such great friends.  I feel loved here.

While I was in Florida, I got so wrapped up in the easy life.  I wanted Florida, the USA, to be my reality.  But it wasn't right.  It's not meant to be at this moment.

The U.S. was just a dream.  My reality is here.