Getting a taste of the future...

I recently got the chance to visit an active volunteer in the field for about 4 days last week. I was not all that excited at first (typical of my outlook lately), but soon realized I was in for quite an inspiring set of days.

After acute nausea on the bus ride to my site, I hopped onto a ¨motoconcho¨ for about five minutes and ended up at my volunteer´s host family´s home. She, however, no longer resides with her family and has instead opted to leap out on her own...partly because she would then be able to chose and cook the food of her choice. After visiting her extremely humble home, we rushed out to the major grocery store in the largest nearby town. She explained to me that based on her experiences she was sure I wanted a short break from beans and rice and therefore proceeded to pick out some obvious American favorites. To state it plainly, I got a small taste of home during those few days (as far as food is concerned).

During the next few days I had the opportunity to sit in on a few community meetings consisting of eco-tourism guides and artisans. My volunteer also guided me through a local trail in the East National Park which contained one of the most amazing treasures towards the end of the walk. Not only did I get to swim in a very dark, bat-filled, freshwater cave but I got to enjoy the sights of cave drawings as well. All I can say is that it was quite inspiring.

Downside: Unfortunatly, during the time of my visit, my volunteer slowly started to realize that some of her belongings were missing. Ultimatly, she came to the conclusion that her home had been broken into at least twice which brought to mind (my mind of course) some serious concerns surrounding security. I am still not sure what to make of this but I daydream of getting placed with the perfect family that I will not want to leave during the entirety of my service...wishful thinking I know.

Due to the robberies, my volunteer and I were sent to stay at a hotel in the nearest community...which also happened to be a tourist hotspot. Of course, we were able to enjoy very rare commodities for the Dominican Republic (that of course I had always taken for granted) such as cable television, air conditioning, and a warm water shower. I also spent a few hours on the extremely nearby beach but of course not all is perfect in Eden...there actually was no sun by the time we got to the beach.

Anyway, what was the strongest lesson that I took away from this visit?

Well, I recognize that even with all of my recent doubts, I have the ability to do this job and make the necessary sacrifices...but best of all...I really want to do this (and not because the beaches in this country are phenomenol...in fact, I´m not much of a beach-lover).

Gotta run...but will write again as soon as possible.

Mucho amor,

Kimberly

First few days...

Hey everyone,
I am relieved that I finally have the opportunity to write about my first few days in the Dominican Republic. It will be difficult to put everything about these past few days into words but I will try.

Family: I am staying with a small family of three women...one is my ¨Doña¨ and the other two women are her adult daughters. They have all been extremely attentive and comforting. What is somewhat difficult is communicating with them. Although I speak fluent Spanish, our Spanish is not the same and so I can´t always get my point across. Also, there is alot of indirect communication used in this culture and I have slowly begun to realize that when I am being asked something I am actually being told to do something or respond in a particular way...almost like overt hinting.

Training: Our training center is amazing. I feel as though we (the volunteers) are provided with so much support and resources that there is no excuse to fail training. We spend most of our day (8am-5pm) at the training facility and have the rest of the day to ourselves...of course we are encouraged to spend most of the remaining time getting to know our host families, the community, how to get around and so forth. Yesterday, a huge group of us spent a few hours after training drinking and socializing while playing dominos at a community ¨colmado¨/ street shop while passers-by starred at the ¨Americanos¨...and of course commented quietly to themselves. Every afternoon isn´t always as relax.

¨Everyday Living¨: Everyday living and the changes in it as compared to my everyday existance in the U.S. is what has been the most difficult to manage as of right now. My showers consist of a large bucket of cold water and most meals are a play on rice, beans, and an amazingly small portion of meat (usually chicken or salami). I typically sleep with a small fan on all night because air conditioning is totally unaffordable for my family. Throughout the day, I carry my trusty handkerchief because sweating profusely will be an absolute certainty. Public transportation is a daunting reality that either means getting into a small four door sedan with seven people or riding in a small minivan-like truck called a ¨guagua¨ which is always carrying twice its capacity.

Anyway, I am really just taking this adventure one day at a time right now and hope that I slowly learn to cope better with the challenges I face day to day.

Promise to write again as soon as I can.

Luv Kimberly.

STAGING for the Peace Corps...

On Tuesday, February 27th I headed off to Washington D.C. for staging (better known as orientation) and met some of the most stimulating and accomplished young souls I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. On the taxi ride to the hotel I looked to my left hand side and through the glass of the taxi cab window I witnessed the impressionable sight of the EPA building on 12th Street...I smiled (only some of you may know why). From all corners of the U.S. the other volunteers and myself were brought together with a shared goal and desire to accomplish the unfamiliar. For two extensive days, the ¨Monroe Room¨ at the Washington Plaza Hotel was filled with an excess (37 to be exact) of talented, driven and generous young professionals that have focused on a common goal. I must admit, no matter how corny, it was an impressionable pair of days that have set a strong foundation for what appears will be the two most difficult years of my life.

One of us did not make it and ultimately chose that it was not the best time in her life for PC...hopefully we don´t lose anymore members of the family...myself included.

Will write soon about my first few days...they have been ¨interesting!¨

Luv, Kimberly (don´t be afraid to comment)