Cultural Brief

Okay, per request of a special friend (hey, Jenny!), I am adding in some quick cultural notes:

-Every other Friday at school, we have club meetings. My favorite to watch is dance. There's a lot of newest rap-dancin' moves thrown in and combined with salsa-esque hip sway. Dancing comes naturally to lots of these kids. I can't imagine my friends in high school dancing so freely -- and particularly, so well -- during dance club.

-This afternoon, I went to the Villas down the street for a business run, to give some money and collect a receipt. We first greeted each other with kisses on the cheek, asked how the other was doing, and then she proceeded to ask me to please sit. Before even getting to why I came, we shot the breeze and talked about random bits of our lives. This is typical.

-For lunch today, I ordered a wrap; however, the lunch plate served was like the national dish, La Bandera. There was white rice, saucy chicken, and slaw salad. The plate is always served with juice -- usually tamarind(o) or limon. As previously mentioned, it is impressive for Doulos students to form a line around the lunch serving windows in a very American style. Lines are nonexistent here in the DR. We like to observe this heavily, so us teachers rarely cut.

-Cafe is a daily part of life here for many, like many Americans' routines. However, here it is brewed fresh from beans harvested from Doulos' coffee farm, Spirit Mountain.

-I had a specialty with lunch...the few and far-between Dr. Pepper. It can be found basically at one place in town, on the outskirts near YL camp.

-I am about to walk home from school and will most certainly get "hissed" at multiple times, about every few steps by guys driving by on motos, or those who are standing or sitting across the street, or you name it. Culturally, the DR is very machismo. I am thankful to be in a Christian work environment, allowing freedom from this idea during the day. It is normal for men to behave in this way, and often times I am thankful I don't speak fluent Spanish. Just call me "Rubia."

-At morning flag, the song we sing (or I hum) is very dramatic and orchestral with an operatic-like male voice singing the pledge.

-I need to stop by the bank on the way home, where I will exchange my money beside a bar that is always open. Next door, there will be another bar most likely with men sitting there who have been relaxing in this way for quite some time today. Merengue-type music or reggaeton will also most likely play in the background.

-On the corner beyond that, there is always a woman selling a homemade cinnamon, sweet corn drink that I have not (yet) bought.

-I will walk by, and cross intersections, of mad chaos where children have just gotten out of school in their blue-collared shirt and khaki bottomed uniform, where motos and cars alike are driving every which way all without street signs and traffic lights.

Tonight, I could not be more thankful to babysit for a fellow staff member and friend, Miss Sara, where my roommates and I will have the opportunity to use the Vonage phone, watch television, and use the internet. (Yes.)