Thursday, March 13, 2008

Funeral, Anyone?

Don't ask me why but, for some reason, Dominicans (at least in my community) have a tendency to invite people to wakes and funerals. I definitely love being invited to do things, but I think that these activities might be a bit of a stretch. The first time I went with Pilar's family, I didn't find the invitation tooooo strange because it was really more of a memorial than a funeral. It is something like every seven years after someone dies, his family/friends get together on the day of his death and have a small mass and eat lots of food. On this particular occasion, we went to the campo, ate lots of fruit, had a delicious moro with chicken, and spent time with their relatives.
More recently, however, they invited me to the funeral of the childrens' uncle, a famous judge who lived in the capital. Though there were many people in attendance, I felt very uncomfortable. I did not have the opportunity to even meet the man and, although I adore Pilar and her family, did not particularly enjoy being surrounded by such mourning. His children and siblings were beside themselves with grief and, Gracias a Dios, I have been fortunate enough in my life to have experienced very little of it. All in all, I am touched that Pilar considers me part of her family, but I think I will stick to birthday parties...

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Independence Day Mania







As Robyn astutely noted, the Dominican Independence Day (27 de febrero) somehow brought on MORE work in the school than a regular school day. On the eve of that insane day I was stuck in the school painting, drawing, coloring, etc. mostly because the teachers INSIST that my writing is so "pretty." At 8 o'clock in the morning, I was downtown with a bunch of teachers and students from my school, getting ready for the parade that was supposed to start at "8 o'clock." Around 9:30, it actually began, and then we marched for about an hour and a half. The Dominican sun was a little unforgiving; I returned home pretty similar to the color of this little muchachitas pom pons! All in all, it was an exhausting day...most of us americans agree that our Independence Day (drinking, barbecues, fireworks, etc.) is the way to REALLY celebrate :) I will note, however, that we lack the ridiculous HOMEMADE fireworks seen above. Yes, that's right. These 10-13 year-olds (See Above) were playing with fireworks made out of rusty old tomato cans, tape, gun powder, and some sort of flammable liquid. Sounds suuuuuper safe to me!

Sparke the......baker?


As mentioned previously, the fact that I own a digital camera makes me the community photographer. Apparently, the fact that I have a muffin pan and some boxed cake mixes (Thanks, mom!) makes me a world class baker. Many a Dominican doña has said to me, "Sarah, you know how to make cakes? You MUST teach me!!" These women, who make rice, beans, stews, plantains, fish, chicken, etc. EVERY day and almost exclusively use raw materials (No Hamburger Helper here!) are asking ME how to cook something. For those of you who have tasted my "cuisine," I am sure that this comes to a rather hilarious surprise. But, hey, my deal with them is as follows: If they teach me how to make all of their scrumptious Dominican comida, then I will show them the magic of Duncan Hines. I have a feeling that my host mom might not be SO impressed when she sees that a chimpanzee could make my "sabroso" chocolate cake. =) (Pictured: my little neighbors painting a cake).

My Muchachitos are the Bestest!!!




Oh, what would I do without all of my little amigitos? Yes, they are all under the age of 12 but oh, how much entertainment they provide! In just the last month they have turned my house into a baseball field, a discoteca, a movie theater, and a bakery. We color, play mancala, do puzzles, eat candy, and generally do things that I loved when I was 12 and, apparently, still can't get enough of!

Some of their more hilarious adventures involve the day that Angel and Miguelito (pictured in photo in front of my bathroom: first and second from the right, respectively) asked me if Angel could take a shower in my bathroom. He has wanted to for a LONG time because I have...that's right...running water! I for one, am a fan of the bucket bath (at least I can make it warm!) but he had never had a running shower, especially in my I-have-an-obession-with-hygiene-products-shower. I of course, said claro que si! but just dont tell the mean, old owner of my house because she will have a fit that I am "wasting water." When Miguel was explaining to Angel which soap is for what he got so excited that he decided that HE had to bathe, too! So they BOTH jumped in at the same time and were giggling up a storm as they showered and lathered up in my girly soaps and shampoos. I, meanwhile, was dying of laughter and how much they were enjoying it. If only I could take them to Nueva York and let them have a HOT shower!

Another classic was the day they decided that they wanted to do my Pilates video. I told them that it was kind of "for girls" but they responded, "No importa!" Again, I was curled over with laughter as they streched and rolled and tried to do things like "The Saw" and "Rolling like a Ball." Sadly, I probably look JUST as ridiculous...

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly



So, I realize that it has been AGES since I last updated my blog but I have been trancada in my site and am just now in the capital where I have access to that god of an invention known as Wi-Fi. That said, there are a few random incidents that I thought were blogworthy. For example, one day I went to the "far" colmado (being about 20 steps away instead of 15) because my usual was closed for lunch. As I was purchasing my usual gourmet lunch (bread, cheese, etc.), the little muchacha who works in the colmado (one of four siblings who essentially run it for their parents) said, "Ah, Sarah. A buen tiempo!" Which always means: FOOD. As I had happened to arrive as their lunch was being served, they regalar-ed me a whole plate of moro (rice and beans mixed) with chicken! Might not seem like that big of a gesture, but I am sometimes taken aback by the extreme generosity of many Dominicans. No matter how rich or poor, sharing (especially food) is as inbedded in the culture as bachata and merengue. I stood there at the counter enjoying a delcious domincan meal (though I admit, I had to decline the chicken claws) from a family that hardly knows me and for whom I have done absolutely nothing. I know we may complain a lot, but Dominicans are freaking sweet.

That said, not EVERY aspect is so desireable. The other day, por ejemplo , I discovered that the new cock fighting location is DIRECTLY in front of my house. Gather 'round kids, lets watch two chickens peck each others' eyes out. Not exactly this Animal-Planet-loving volunteer's idea of recreation.

I am also at issue with the tigueres who get drunk and, subsequently, very angry, and decide that throwing bottles is a fun idea. When I went to some INSANE festival on the malecon (pictured above) the other night, I spent about one hour with Pilar and her family, treking through a humongous crowd. As we stood around waiting for Pilar's two sons, suddenly people started RUNNING for their lives, screaming and practically trampling one antother. Apparently, this was the signal that all of the borrachos were breaking their Jumbo bottles and throwing them, cutting each other, etc. I later learned that this is a REGULAR occurance and that there are often innocent bystanders who end up bleeding from head to toe. Luckily for me, Pilar treats me like I am 9, grabbed my hand, and RAN with me to our pick up truck, at which point I and about 13 muchachos hopped in the back and we flew back up to the barrio. On the way home, they taught me where the "women for sale" are and starting yelling "5 pesos!!" at them. Let's just say, I was happy to get home to my quiet house and my insane little kitten pie!