* * *
In the DR, Christmas lasts a long time, so everything, nearly everything in town is put on hold mid-December through mid-January. Including but not limited to: school, classes, work, buses, stores, supermarkets, internet cafes, banks - all closed/operating less often/working less than usual, etc. Maybe to paint a picture: it is sort of like you walk down the street your first week back in the DR from the States, but the bank’s closed, then after walking a few more blocks, you see that the supermercado is closed, and finally, defeated and walking home, you discover that even the trusty colmado across the street from your house has its wooden doors shut, too. Hmm, thought you might buy groceries today? Nice try. Peso-less, and with only oatmeal left in the kitchen - looks like you’ll be bola-ing to your dona’s house for lunch instead. (Which those who have visited me will tell you - is always the better option, anyway). So the entire town is more or less on the winter vacation schedule of a college student. Welcome back to the DR - right now there’s a month-long break for nearly everyone you know! ...Hmm, actually sounds pretty fun, right?
Well maybe that’s not every volunteer’s experience, but that was me the first couple days back in Mao. Before all that though, I aprovechar-ed the Dominican holiday season and went home for 10 days, came back, and then had my fourth and fifth visitors from the States for about a week. Going home and friends from the US? So. darn. lucky.
I’ll save save Angela and Lisa’s visit for the next post (lots of pictures coming soon!) and start with home. Home was really good. Busy. I felt guilty at first for leaving the DR. Then while at home, occasionally I still felt like a big Peace Corps cheater, mostly due to all the hot water/(water in general) available all the time. And internet. I could literally send emails faster than ever while lying in bed. Glorious.
Seriously, though, I was glad to be home and lucky to be able to visit with friends and family. To those I saw - thanks for making time for me! :o) To those I missed because of the blizzard (thanks so much, New England weather) - well, all the more reason to come down here and visit now, right? Yes.
All in all, (but snow completely aside), it was a good time at home. Oh yes - and I got to meet Sara’s/mom’s pet (aka new dog that replaced me post-leaving for Peace Corps). If you haven’t had the pleasure to meet Ellie take my word for it - she is such a cute, little, sad-eyed charmer.
Be well, all!
XO
No comments:
Post a Comment