Things Around the Town

(from Sunday 7/11/10)

These are just a few pictures of sites around Mao. A week ago, the newly restored park opened. It had been under construction for at least a year, but it’s really nice now.

There’s a river that runs along the outside of town (named Mao River), as well as canals that cross through the center. If you look on the map at the top of the page, you can see the Yaque del Norte river, which is where the Mao River connects. Here is part of one of the canals near my host family’s house.

And a little note on luz: In my neighborhood, people pay for luz (electricity), which I didn’t know at first, and which also explains why we usually have it. Recently though, the luz “se fue” (electricity went out) for three full days, which caused quite a stir in my neighborhood. Well maybe “stir” isn’t the best way to put it. No one I talked to particularly questioned why the the lights were out, or knew what exactly happened to cause it. Still, “Luz se fue! Se fue la luz!” were the phrases coming out of nearly everyone’s mouths. By the second day, I really wanted an answer for “luz se fue.” I asked around, but no one seemed too concerned with finding out what happened. Here’s an example of a conversation:

Me: “Why did the electricity go out? What happened to it?”

Any Given Neighbor: “Oh its because the lights are out! There’s a problem with the lights.”

Me: “Yes, they’re not working, but do you know why? And doesn’t everyone pay for electricity here? Why isn’t there electricity today?”

AGN: “Yes we pay, it is so expensive! But the lights are out right now.”

Bueno, now I understand...

The conversation later with my host brother yielded more results:

Me: “Simon, we haven’t had electricity for three days. What did you do to it?”

Simon: “Nothing! It’s your fault.”

So aside from that explanation, no one knew why “luz se fue,” and no one really cared to find out either. It’s one of those instances where I feel even more foreign than usual. At home if there were an unexpected power outage for three days, people would want to know why, and would most likely be pretty upset by it. Few would adhere to this nonchalant DR mentality. Here when the lights and running water “se fue,” the general attitude is “Oh, it will be back eventually” whereas if this ever happened back home its, “What’s happening and how can it be fixed asap?” I should mention that in general, water and electricity go out pretty regularly, especially in areas where no one pays. If the community pays, its likely that electricity and water won’t “se fue” as often. Typically, there is some kind of schedule you can depend on for lights and water - you have it in the early morning and night but never during the day, for instance. Where I am now, there are random power and water outtages, but they’re very rare and never last for too long - definitely never three days, anyway. By the last day with no lights, I saw a group of electricians working in the neighborhood and when they left, the lights finally worked again. Even though no one else in the neighborhood knew what happened, I can only assume that at least these guys might have had the answers of why the “luz se fue.”

What else is going on...Finished the diagnostic mas o menos...Looking for a house... House hunting is a lot more challenging than the diagnostic was, but its turning out to be a good way to get to know the community, too. And people are open about sharing their opinions about where I should/should not live. I want to stay where people already know me. 1. Because its easier, and 2. Because I like the people around me. So I started looking in the neighborhood right next to mine, because its a lot bigger with more houses, but still close to where I am now. Then in a disturbing conversation, a muchacho tells me that I shouldn’t live there because “Haitians live there. They might kill you.” ...Which led to an attempt to dismantle stereotypes in an awkward talk with a 10 year old. I think my neighborhood is great, and its always people who don't live here who try to tell me otherwise. I told a friend of a friend about how I’m looking for houses, and he tells me that he would “never go in that neighborhood at night because its very dangerous.” I guess all the old men playing dominoes might intimidate some people - but come on, cheer up, senor! There's nothing to worry about - except of course the mosquitoes. :-)

After house hunting one day, I walked back to my neighborhood and right into a wedding party in the middle of the street. Here are a few pictures before and after the neighbor’s wedding that I went to with my host sister.

Lots of love and miss everyone at home. Take care!

XO