Christmas Past & Present

Well, Christmas this year was certainly different. I spent the 2 days with y family in Los Dajaos. Relatives came in from the capital and town to spend a couple days. Most of their time was spent going from house to house visiting friends and family. On Christmas Eve day (Noche Buena), we roasted a pig. They roasted it for 10 hours in the yard next door, and we had puerco asado for dinner. This wasn't my usual sit-down-with-the-family dinner though. I think about 15 people came in to eat. Everybody grabbed their own food, and some sat at the table while others took the food elsewhere. Within 15 or 20 mins, everybody had eaten and most had cleared out to go back to the colmado to talk and drink. The women stayed behind to clean up or went to clean their own houses & take care of the kids. Later that night, Fernando put on some music in the colmado and a few of us danced. But about 9 pm, the lights went out and then the radio died, so we all went to bed early.
Christmas day I assumed I would stay around the house with the family, but I shortly found out that half were going to the cemetary, and the other half to a vela (similar to a wake) across the valley. I opted for the vela, and soon found myself on the back of a truck with about 10 other people. A vela isn't a very somber affair here, and the guys grabbed a few beers to enjoy on the way over. It took over an hour to get there, and when we arrived there were lots of people there. Generally for a vela, people come visit the house, eat, and talk. I think the close family was in the house praying and crying all afternoon. It's almost like a family reunion! We were there for a couple hours, but the people I went with didn't know many people there, so we sat off by ourselves in the shade. How's that for a Christmas?
After that interesting Christmas experience, I celebrated Christmas night in a very Dominican way - dancing. Several of us went out to Las Guazaras and danced the night away. I discovered I like bachata, but my merengue needs some work still! We left about 1 am, and I was the party pooper who was too tired to go to another club. :o) For New Year's we'll "amanecer" (wake up) dancing though!
Hope you all had good, or at least interesting, Christmases as well! I definitely missed seeing all the family and friends... but you were all in my thoughts! Here's to an interesting New Year!!!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope the holidays are treating you all well. This year, Christmas will be very different. I will be spending it at my site with my family. It definitely doesn't feel like Christmas time here... even in the cold of Jarabacoa. It's been a busy start to my service. But hopefully I will get a chance to calm down and reflect on the meaning of the season in the next couple days. I will definitely let you all know how Christmas goes and how we celebrate here!
I wanted to thank all of you reading my blog for your comments and well wishes. I love getting the notes from you all! Keep reading to discover life in the DR!

Welcome to Insanity...

...it´s a state of mind.
I don´t really have much to update on, but I owe you all something for this week! I´m still adjusting to my living situation and trying to figure out my role for work. Last week I attended 3 meetings with various organizations, and this week I attended a 2-day computer workshop with Arelis in the capital. This weekend there is an artesianal fair in the capital also, where I will sell ASCAJA´s coffee: Café Jarabacoa. Last year they sold 300 lbs! Hopefully I´ll do as well with Chris´ help. Soon though I need to buckle down and work seriously on my diagnostic!
On the home front, it´s been interesting. My dona is currently in Nueva Yol (as they call NYC), although rumor has it she´s returning while I´m gone this week. In the meantime, I´ve been living at her house with her son (48), daughter-in-law (19), and 2 grandsons (1 1/2 and 3, with another on the way). We´ll see how things change in the house when the dona returns! Next door is the local colmado where the community congregates to talk, drink, and play pool. It´s a great place to meet a lot of people, although occasionally it gets a little rowdy. I´ve found a few people in my community that I can hang out with. One is a Spanish lady who´s been in the area 5 years teaching ceramics to the ladies in the area. The ladies all have their own kilns now and are working from their own houses. In Jan, Angie is going to start working with kids in a little school where I might help if I have time. The finca de Julia Alvarez is right up the hill from me. I´ve gotten to know the lady who cooks there, and it´s nice to spend time at her house where it´s tranquillo (quiet). She always gives me coffee too!
Overall, December is a month for transitions here. Lots of adjusting: new house, new family, new friends, new coworkers... (luckily not a new language too!). Although things are a little tough at the start, I´m sure things will smooth out soon. Lucky for me, there´s 2 volunteers from my training group nearby, who I saw this weekend, and one that´s finishing up. It makes things easier to have someone to share with!
As Christmas is coming quickly, I might not have another chance to write. So... Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year!