Greetings from the DR

Written on 7.3.09

Hi again!

I am writing my first blog entry as a real PCT. Today was my first full day of training. It has definitely been a day of “firsts.”

1) I learned that “soccer is the national religion and gossip is the national sport.”
2) I sat through a full “day” of school—in Spanish (9-5pm)
3) Took my first bucket shower which was not very successful
4) Ate “yucca” which tasted like a sweet version of a hard potato (It was good!)
5) Learned to strategize and play dominoes with other volunteers living in my area and an old “wise” man in town
6) Played baseball with a stick, a baseball, and bases made of garbage
7) Learned that Dominicans are some of the nicest people but they talk SO fast
8) Ate a homemade potato popsicle (which could bite me in the ass tomorrow) because my cute host brother bought me one and who can turn down a nine year-old with puppy eyes!
9) Sweat more than I have in my entire life
10) Had to ask how to flush the toilet (throwing a bucket of water down the toilet)
11) Learned that showering is not satisfying because you begin sweating the second you step out of the shower

Anyways, I hope you get a better idea of how my life is here. If you thought any of those previous 11 “firsts” were pessimistic, they were actually the exact opposite. I love my life here. For the first time in forever, I actually spent time outside for a reason besides umpiring or walking to and from my car. The entire community played dominoes and marbles, drank juice, talked, and enjoyed their time. At dark, my host mom began cooking dinner. I showered, ate, and went to bed. I know I will continue enjoying my life here. Actually, I am scared that my life will never seem as good in Honduras as it does here. We are living in an impoverished paradise with some of the greatest people—it doesn’t get any better.

I love everyone.