Feliz Navidad

This year, I was a bit nervous about being away from my family for Christmas (for the FIRST time!). Though I didn't get my annual snowfall or Christmas tree, I really enjoyed my holiday season. For one thing, there was NO school and so I had tons of free time to read, relax, and hang out with my muchachos. For nine days leading up to Christmas day, we got up reaaaaally early in the morning (with the help of baseball player Ramon Ramirez and his BLASTING Christian music from his jeep) to go to church, sing, and drink hot ginger tea. The traditional Christmas food is pork, so I had the great fortune of seeing WAAAY more piggies roasted than I could ever desire. One day they roasted FIVE in one day....right in front of my house! On Noche Buena (Christmas Eve), I had like half the families in the neighborhood trying to shove pork, rice and peas, and potato salad down my throat. One neighbor even made special "American" dishes that she learned from her gringo husband! It was a low-key Christmas for me, but I spent more time with all the little would-be-delinquents in my town than I ever had before and now love them more than EVER!

OMG Being V.I.P. is SWEET!

As my Dad informed me, I must be rather sheltered because I had NO idea how awesome all-inclusive resorts are. Thanks to Robyn's family, I not only got to enjoy the luxury of all I could eat and drink on a BEAUTIFUL beach, but I also got to be V.I.P.! We had our own special area with BEDS overlooking the Caribbean!!! How AMAZING is that?? We also ate delicious Italian and Mexican food in the restaurants (no extra charge to us) and had options of ANY alcoholic beverage we desired. Unfortunately, we had a little toooo much champagne and now may never drink it again :) Bayaibe was incredibly gorgeous. The water was literally like a SWIMMING pool! I could see my feet!! Since I am such a bleeding heart hippie, I am sure that I will never have enough money to be V.I.P. ever again, but it sure was sweet while it lasted :)

Childrens' Day Celebration

When working with my kids on reading, I am (more or less) always happy to be at school. What I don't understand, however, is why the principal is more than willing to spend THOUSANDS of pesos on crazy parties rather than purchasing things like oh, I don't know, BOOKS. Also at issue, is that said events are always out of CONTROL. At the Independence Day march, kids were outside playing with homemade firecrackers. On Mother's Day, parents were literally fighting each other to get to the Brugal Rum. "The Day of the Kids" was no exception. The principal invited all 1,500 students to come to the school at 9am in their regular clothes, so that we could have a huge party. After a near riot broke out as the kids flooded in through the school gates, a huge truck drove up that BLASTED merengue, bachata, and (of course) reggaeton, so that all of the little 10-year-olds could grind on one another. The principal had also purchased HUNDREDS of pounds of rice, two whole cows, a couple of pigs, like a bazillion pounds of beans....then had half the neighborhood cooking the food in ELEVEN of those giant outdoor pots. The food arrived prepared in little boxes...and truckload after truckload fled in, but most of the kids STILL had to wait hours on end until their little hungry tummies were filled. Just as I thought the insanity was coming to an end, a CLOWN showed up and I was forced to dance on stage with him.....in front of the ENTIRE school. Good thing I am so sin verguenza :) As much as I believe in the importance of celebrating with children, I am definitely okay with the fact that I will NOT be here for the festivities next year.

"Roberto" in the barrio

Since Ann's vacation went super bien, Rob decided that he had to check out life in the DR as well. After a CRAZY first day of playing baseball in the POURING down rain (all of us covered in mud and grass from falling down so many times) and climbing the mountain (only to SLIDE down in the mud on our derriers), I thought that Rob's vacation might be a little TOO "loco". But, the rain subsided and we were able to do fun things like go to Cabarate and drink mojitos during happy hour, ride the cable car, climb the 27 waterfalls (in which we almost DIED because the water levels were SO high), visit the campo, eat our weight in rice and beans, and drink Dominican beer on the Malecon. We also played dominoes (one day I WILL learn to beat my 15-year-old muchachos) and took Pilar and the kids to Sosua Beach. Rob wanted to buy them dinner to thank them for taking SUCH good care of us...but some random drunk Canadians ended up paying our bill!

We had lots of fun hanging out in my barrio and playing with all of my kids, but I will admit that Rob got a special souvenir that he may rather have gone without. It appears that some of that free food we ate contained some rather unsanitary lettuce and, let's just say, that he and I spend a lot of time in my bathroom which, unfortunately, did NOT have water!! Coming to mi casa is always an adventure...... :) Now all of my kids ask about "Roberto," as they call him, and have begun to call me Sparky (pronounced eh-sparky). Yay for visitors!

Yay for Murals!

Well, after a hang up or two...or three...we FINALLY finished our educational murals!!! With the help of fellow volunteer Janet and some artists from her community, we painted the entire alphabet. Unfortunately, I had spinal problems and we weren't able to finish with the drawings until recently. I hand drew all of the drawings that correspond with the letters (A-apple, B-boy, etc). Then I had a bunch of teenage muchachos paint them...which was great because they really wanted to help....but also not so great because they were rushing, painting bees with green heads, fighting over who got to paint what, etc. Lori and I were able, however, to touch up any little errors and I think that both murals (one in each of the 1st grade classrooms) turned out really great. The best part is that we still have lots of paint left and some money for materials, so one of the teachers at the school wants to head up a painting project in which they create map murals! So thank you all for your generous donations and we will be sure to continue putting the funds to good use!

Happy Baby to the Best "Son" in the World!

So, for those of you who don't know already, I have unofficially adopted a Dominican son. Granted, he has a mother (who happens to be my best friend in the barrio), but he is just SUCH an awesome kid that he temporarily has two moms. I am his "Gringa" mom and Pilar is his Dominican one. We pretty much spend everyday together playing games, watching movies, doing homework, and, of course, practicing English. He recently had his 12 birthday, which was the event of the CENTURY. We juntar-ed all of our money to buy fruit (to make a delicioso punch), snacks, popcorn, decorations, and a piñata (yes, i know, they are a mexican thing, which is precisely why our piñata was not the most aesthetically pleasing). Since I am the town baker, I whipped up two 2-layer cakes that though delicious, were clearly made more with love than any professional skills. After the house was covered with balloons, and the reggaeton was bumping, it was ready for the festivities to begin. To my utter dismay, however, there were like THIRTY kids there!! Needless to say, Pilar's small, 3-room house was busting at the seams with little muchachos who, naturally, started dancing some of the raciest reggaeton I've ever seen! If you think that the adults at the discoteca dance a little dirty, you have never seen the 8-year-olds in my barrio. Precisely why I told my little son Miguel that he is LUCKY that I'm not his REAL mother because I would have turned that music off and put on some nice, kid-friendly bachata. Unfortunately the most disturbing videos were accidentally deleted, but this little show still survived:

Anyone want a gato...or two???

Well all, here she is. My beloved Dominican "hija," also lovingly referred to by neighborhood children as "La Gata Diabolica." She looks so cute and innocent, playing in that attempt at a piñata, doesn't she?? Too bad that in addition to her adorable cat hugs and kisses, she has a tendency to bite, scratch, and generally claw me and my guests to death. The GOOD news is that she is apparently pregnant! That means that I get to spread Frita's wonderful joy through her (hopefully not too many) offspring. Stay tuned for photos and videos of her precious babies!!! I'm accepting orders..... :)