I know it has been a while, but I thought I would give this worthless blog another chance. Three big events have occurred in the last month. To start off, I moved into my own apartment. After five months of living with four different host families, it was time for me to get my own place. As much as I loved living out of my backpack, to have a stable home that is all mine for the next two years is extremely comforting. I think I’ve succeeded in turning the space into a true representation of myself: a little disorganized, colorful and inviting. The apartment is on the third floor of a hotel in my town (making it safe to say that I live in a penthouse) and has constant electricity and water, two necessities that in the United States are considered obligatory for any household, but here in the Dominican Republic, where electricity only comes for about 8 hours a day (if you’re lucky), it is a luxury. I’ve adorned the walls with photos from home, family and friends, and put up a few maps that I got last minute from AAA around the kitchen and living area. The greatest aspect of this place has to be the panoramic windows that stretch around the kitchen area, giving me countless excuses to stare out onto the mountains that encircle my town. One major downside, however, is its proximity to the only discoteca in my town, where every weekend is commenced with blasting merengue music that lasts well into the early hours of Monday morning. Can’t say that I haven’t caught myself dancing along to the loud tunes in the privacy of my own home, but it has made sleeping a challenge.
Secondly, I finished my first task as a Peace Corps volunteer, which was to put together a community diagnostic of my town. For those of you who are wondering what exactly I’m doing here as a volunteer, the diagnostic, as a three-month project, forced me to study the needs and resources of my town, so that I can address them with future projects. What I realized in doing the diagnostic was my town’s inherent need for a latrine project. With all the expansion that has taken place, especially recently with the onset of new Haitian communities in the upper parts of town, there has been no real effort to regulate and assist the sanitary needs of those families. Since La Descubierta sits at the base of a large mountain range, it naturally is inclined down towards the lake. All of the rivers and streams that meet to form the natural pools in my town (where everyone bathes in at least once a day) pass through the town, in people’s backyards and along the streets. Because there has not been a latrine project in over twenty years, those who do not have proper sanitation areas go to the bathroom in the streams, which has caused a great deal of water contamination in the pools, resulting in various forms of infections and diarrhea. Naturally, I have yet to swim in the pools, as enticing as they are on such hot days, for fear of what I’m actually swimming in. So that’s one project I’m starting immediately. I also realized the need for a reforestation project with two local agricultural associations. Even though there is already a tree nursery built, for some reason or another, it has been left to decay over the years. I’m hoping that within the next month or two, I can, along with the members of the associations, can get the nursery up and running again so that individuals can begin to reforest parts of the Sierra de Neyba that has been harshly deforested in the past 10 years due to charcoal production and the burning of plots for cattle and sheep herding. Along with these two primary projects, I’ll also be working in the schools, giving classes on environmental subjects and will be working with the local women’s groups on small family garden plots. Considering the latrine project will be slightly expensive (still need to figure out where I’ll be getting the money for this), I’m trying to work within the resources that my town already has to implement other projects that can hopefully be more sustainable while having an equally important impact on the lives and environment of this town. Wish me luck!
And lastly, the third event that has taken up so much of my time and energy—I got a dog! Well, a puppy to be precise. Her name is Fifa (yes, as in the soccer federation) and she is a pure-bred golden labrador. I had a very difficult time trying to name her, mostly because I wanted to name her Pretzel (my dad’s suggestion) but couldn’t imagine how anyone in my town would be able to pronounce that in Spanish without butchering it every time. So Fifa works just fine, as she is becoming more popular in this town than me, but I’m not complaining (takes the stress out of being the only “rubia” here). This past week has been all about understanding her schedule of things and puppy-proofing the house. I have a strong feeling she will destroy all of the furniture I’ve recently purchased and eat the majority of my shoes. I’m watching her right now as she sleeps underneath my sink (which oddly doesn’t have tile and is just an unfinished area of gravel and dirt). August is proving to be the hottest month of the year and it is a task, each and every day, to find a cool area to relax in.
Monday, the 16th of August, is the official day when the new government takes office. This includes all congressmen and local officials (like my town’s mayor). From the sounds of it, the entire day will be devoted to celebrating these new politicians and their commencing the next six years of their term in a very Dominican manner. I can’t wait, it should give me ample time to try and pitch my project plans to anyone that will listen.
After Monday, summer officially ends. School starts next week and politics will be back in order. I can’t wait. Time to start working!
Secondly, I finished my first task as a Peace Corps volunteer, which was to put together a community diagnostic of my town. For those of you who are wondering what exactly I’m doing here as a volunteer, the diagnostic, as a three-month project, forced me to study the needs and resources of my town, so that I can address them with future projects. What I realized in doing the diagnostic was my town’s inherent need for a latrine project. With all the expansion that has taken place, especially recently with the onset of new Haitian communities in the upper parts of town, there has been no real effort to regulate and assist the sanitary needs of those families. Since La Descubierta sits at the base of a large mountain range, it naturally is inclined down towards the lake. All of the rivers and streams that meet to form the natural pools in my town (where everyone bathes in at least once a day) pass through the town, in people’s backyards and along the streets. Because there has not been a latrine project in over twenty years, those who do not have proper sanitation areas go to the bathroom in the streams, which has caused a great deal of water contamination in the pools, resulting in various forms of infections and diarrhea. Naturally, I have yet to swim in the pools, as enticing as they are on such hot days, for fear of what I’m actually swimming in. So that’s one project I’m starting immediately. I also realized the need for a reforestation project with two local agricultural associations. Even though there is already a tree nursery built, for some reason or another, it has been left to decay over the years. I’m hoping that within the next month or two, I can, along with the members of the associations, can get the nursery up and running again so that individuals can begin to reforest parts of the Sierra de Neyba that has been harshly deforested in the past 10 years due to charcoal production and the burning of plots for cattle and sheep herding. Along with these two primary projects, I’ll also be working in the schools, giving classes on environmental subjects and will be working with the local women’s groups on small family garden plots. Considering the latrine project will be slightly expensive (still need to figure out where I’ll be getting the money for this), I’m trying to work within the resources that my town already has to implement other projects that can hopefully be more sustainable while having an equally important impact on the lives and environment of this town. Wish me luck!
And lastly, the third event that has taken up so much of my time and energy—I got a dog! Well, a puppy to be precise. Her name is Fifa (yes, as in the soccer federation) and she is a pure-bred golden labrador. I had a very difficult time trying to name her, mostly because I wanted to name her Pretzel (my dad’s suggestion) but couldn’t imagine how anyone in my town would be able to pronounce that in Spanish without butchering it every time. So Fifa works just fine, as she is becoming more popular in this town than me, but I’m not complaining (takes the stress out of being the only “rubia” here). This past week has been all about understanding her schedule of things and puppy-proofing the house. I have a strong feeling she will destroy all of the furniture I’ve recently purchased and eat the majority of my shoes. I’m watching her right now as she sleeps underneath my sink (which oddly doesn’t have tile and is just an unfinished area of gravel and dirt). August is proving to be the hottest month of the year and it is a task, each and every day, to find a cool area to relax in.
Monday, the 16th of August, is the official day when the new government takes office. This includes all congressmen and local officials (like my town’s mayor). From the sounds of it, the entire day will be devoted to celebrating these new politicians and their commencing the next six years of their term in a very Dominican manner. I can’t wait, it should give me ample time to try and pitch my project plans to anyone that will listen.
After Monday, summer officially ends. School starts next week and politics will be back in order. I can’t wait. Time to start working!
Sounds like you're settling in! Post pics of your apartment and more of Fifa- she's adorable. Love the post.
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