I’m proud of myself this week for a couple of reasons: On Tuesday, I had a committee meeting with most of my committee (not all because that would just be too lucky) and all of the workers at my technology center. I had two pages of questions all typed out in Spanish and three surveys I completed to start taking around to the community. The first survey is for the workers of my center, so I can figure out who has experience with computers, who wants to teach informatica classes in the fall or who is willing to be trained to possibly teach in the future. Another survey is for the youth of the community (los jovenes), with questions like what do they do in their spare time, if they would be interested in joining a community youth group, if they want to take English classes etc. The final survey is for general members of the community and asks questions from- if they have electricity in their homes, if they have a latrine or a bathroom to, if they own a computer, if they would take computer classes and English at the center and if they would be willing to pay for those classes.
The meeting went well. I took my time and slowly in my broken Spanish asked all my questions and got answers, even after I made my team repeat themselves over and over until I could understand exactly what they were trying to tell me. And then I showed them the surveys and had them correct my grammar and asked them their thoughts on the questions, if any needed to be deleted or if they wanted to add any of their own.
And then… And then the next day, because it didn’t rain, Gracias A Dios, we went out and actually conducting these surveys, which turned out more to be sit-down interviews. To me, in my American view, a survey is anonymous and you give people the paper, they read it and take their time and fill it out. Well, that’s not how it’s done here. We divided into two teams and went house to house and literally read each question aloud to each person we interviewed.
At times it was horribly awkward and uncomfortable, because here I am just meeting these people for the first time, trying to explain to them that I’m not just some gringa here to judge them. That I too am going to be apart of this community for the next two years, so please tell me slightly personal information about yourself and your life, like what kind of bathroom you have in your house.
It was also great for me, because 1)I am meeting members of this community 2)the people of La Caya are starting to see me more around town and associate me with the people I work with 3)everyone knows (or is discovering) that I am learning Spanish and so thus, every time I open my mouth and do not speak English, it helps.
The first day, we completed about 25-30 surveys between youth and members of the community. Yesterday we went at it again and completed another 20 more. Today, our journey continues and hopefully we can get at least another 25-30 done before the weekend.
What I am most excited about is my team. I told them, in our meeting, that this was one of the most important tasks I needed to complete during the summer and they got on it. It’s only week two and we are already interviewing families and youth about what they want to see happen in the center. Now, granted, it’s not the most scientific or accurate proceedings, but it’s getting done.
Everything we were taught as Peace Corps trainees, is motivation is such an important factor here in the DR. Keeping your committee and co-workers excited about your tasks and what you’re doing is half the battle. So once again, to be working with people who so far appear to be motivated and ready to work makes me very grateful.
In other news: Last Sunday I went running on a back road that takes you to the back of La Caya and winds you down to the main road. Anyway, I start to get into more houses, so I start walking a nice old man, who has to be at least 70 calls me over to his house and asks me where I’m from and all that stuff. I tell him my story, I am a Peace Corps volunteer, I will be living here for two years, working at the centro etc. He then asks me if I’m married. I tell him no and he proceeds to propose to me. No joke. He takes me into his house (which is still under construction) and tells me that I would be very happy living with him here and once the house is finished; he will buy a new bed and build a nice kitchen. And he just finished the bathroom, which was really nice actually, with a shower and toilet. He goes on and tells me he also has a house in Santo Domingo and I could stay there whenever I wanted and I would be very happy there too.
Now, this is not me not understanding Spanish. Because I asked him if he was really asking me to marry him and he said “Si.” So I politely tried to tell him no thanks that I had a boyfriend back at home and was very happy with him. But you know, if I every change my mind, I’ll come find you.
Like I said before, everyday is an adventure here in the DR. Everyday. Everyday is also a rollercoaster as I adjust to the culture, the weather (holy crap is it hot here), the bugs (don’t even get me started), the way of life, the food (I actually really like plantains, which is good because they are in every meal), being away from home (I am definitely without a doubt homesick), away from friends and family and Remi (I love you all so much) and you know all that jazz.
But hey, if old men keep proposing to me and my committee stays motivated, I really can’t ask for more. Because then I will always be entertained and together, with my committee we will be working to making La Caya a better place to live and work and just be. In the meantime, wish me luck with my Spanish and appreciate the fact you don’t have to marry a 70-year-old man to have a better life.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Number and Address
I just wrote another post, but I also wanted to put my phone number and address out there, in case any of you are ever bored and wanted to spend some money on phone cards or send me a package. hint, hint... :)
My phone number is 809-723-7829. You dial it just like in the states, with a 1 before the area code if you are dialing from a land line. I'm not sure if you need the one on a cell phone? That's my personal cell phone given to us by the Peace Corps. What? I'm a Peace Corps volunteer and I have a cell phone? What kind of crazy world is this?
I can receive packages, but they go to Santo Domingo. I think I'll be making a trip down to the capital about once a month, and it takes that long to get packages anyway.
PLEASE ONLY SEND PACKAGES THROUGH REGULAR US MAIL! Do NOT use Fedex, DHL, UPS or anything like that. All those packages automatically go through customs and the DR taxes them like crazy.
Also, padded envelopes are the best. No boxes or anything too big. So you know, letters are awesome or a letter with hand sanitizer or wet wipes or granola bars or a toothbrush or something like that. But mostly letters. I'd love to hear from you all. Really, it'd make my life.
Stacie Eliopulos, PCV
Cuerpo de Paz
Avenida Bolivar 451, Gazcue
Apartado 1412
Santo Domingo
Domincan Republic
My phone number is 809-723-7829. You dial it just like in the states, with a 1 before the area code if you are dialing from a land line. I'm not sure if you need the one on a cell phone? That's my personal cell phone given to us by the Peace Corps. What? I'm a Peace Corps volunteer and I have a cell phone? What kind of crazy world is this?
I can receive packages, but they go to Santo Domingo. I think I'll be making a trip down to the capital about once a month, and it takes that long to get packages anyway.
PLEASE ONLY SEND PACKAGES THROUGH REGULAR US MAIL! Do NOT use Fedex, DHL, UPS or anything like that. All those packages automatically go through customs and the DR taxes them like crazy.
Also, padded envelopes are the best. No boxes or anything too big. So you know, letters are awesome or a letter with hand sanitizer or wet wipes or granola bars or a toothbrush or something like that. But mostly letters. I'd love to hear from you all. Really, it'd make my life.
Stacie Eliopulos, PCV
Cuerpo de Paz
Avenida Bolivar 451, Gazcue
Apartado 1412
Santo Domingo
Domincan Republic
Officially official
Last Wednesday, May 13, 2009 I became an official Peace Corps Volunteer or PCV as the hip cool slang language of Peace Corps calls us. We had a grand ceremony, with guest speakers including the DR's Secretary of the Environment, who told us to plant a tree in our sites so we can watch it grow over the two years, just as we'll be growing ourselves. A great analogy in my opinion. Our host families from Santo Domingo attended and some veteran volunteers who have served in the country for six months or more. It was a really nice ceremony and it felt sort of like high school graduation all over again. We even received a Peace Corps pin with the American flag, the Dominican flag and the Peace Corps logo as well as a certificate. I mean, if that's not official I don't know what it is.
So now, as an official PCV, I am offically in my site, La Caya. I got here last Friday and have spent my time trying to adjust and figure out a daily routine. These first three months, I will be doing my diagnostic. Which is actually quite a blessing, because it gives me time to grow accustomed to La Caya, the people, what my daily life will be like here and also everyday is a chance to learn more Spanish. Which needs to happen as quickly as possible.
I am living with Doña Francie, who left on Monday to spend three weeks in America with her family. So, I have her house to myself. Don't worry, the guard is still sleeping outside of my room everynight. (PS, everyone in town knows this man is the guard at Doña Francie's house, but no one I have asked knows his name. It's pretty weird and kinda hilarious in some ways. He comes over around 10, and by that time I have zonked out, so I'm curious if I will ever learn his name or even see him. I should set my alarm for 10 and make a point to meet him).
Doña Francie being gone these first three weeks has it's ups and downs. Good, because I enjoy time to myself, especially now when everything is so new. Time to myself is an amazing get-a-way. However, the Peace Corps sets you up with a family for the first three months to help you integrate into the community. They figure the family will show you around town, introduce you to people, let the community know you are a normal person who they can talk to. So with Doña Francie away in the beginning, I have to make a serious effort on my own to meet people and become accepted. Hey, if you're going to go swimming, you might as well climb the high dive, take a deep breath, run as fast as you can and do a cannonball into the deep end.
That's actually a good analogy for how I'm feeling: treading water in the deep end. I'm excited to spend these three months doing my diagnostic. Figuring out what the community wants from me, from the technology center I'm working out, if they want me to teach classes this fall etc. But at the same time, there is no schedule for me. No one is telling me what to do. There are no guidelines. Everyday is my own. So what do I do?
Well, first things first, I have to run. I found this beautiful lagoon/lake seriously five minutes from my house. It's amazing. It's the best way I can think of to start my days. I get up at 6:30 (which for anyone who knows me, Mom and Baba especially, you are all in shock right now that I am even capable of functioning at that hour). Anyway, so each morning I get up and start my run around this lake/lagoon. I'm pretty sure the people of La Caya have never seen a person run because they want to, and not because they are being chased by a cow or something. Even the dogs don't really know what do to. I run by about five houses on my way to the lake and the dogs sort of perk up and give me this quizzical head-to-the-side look, as if they've never seen a human act in such a way. They don't even bark or follow me. They just stare in wonder. So if the dogs are surprised to see me running, you can only imagine the strange looks I get from the people of La Caya.
But that's all apart of the experience. Another Peace Corps volunteer who has been in country a year gave us newbies some good advice, "Embrace the Awkward." Oh yes, and that's excatly what everyday has been. Different culture norms between me and the people here. An interesting side note: there is no word in Spanish for awkward. Or if there is, I haven't discovered it yet. It's kinda interesting to think about, because even though things can be extremely awkward for me, these people here have seen so much more, been through so much more, that nothing can be awkward. It's just life. Strange and unexplainable things happen everyday. Like a white girl running for fun through town and around the lake. Just embrace it and move on with your day.
I have been trying to spend the mornings and afternoons at my technology center. Yesterday I began my process to dive into the computers to figure out what software they have, what's missing, what's needed etc. I can already tell there are going to be issues with me getting the authority and control to really hack into the computers. But hopefully, over time, it will happen. My center here, is a pretty incredible compound. Along with the computer part of it, there are also two large buildings in the back that have awesome potential to really be a place for the community to gather and host activities.
Right now, they only use the buildings a couple times a year, and they are a bit run down, with weeds growing and paint chipping. To be able to mobilize the community to want to fix these buildings up and use them, would be awesome and something I very much hope to do.
Another side note: Dominicans have mastered the art of indoor/outdoor living. Every house, business, building has a patio or open area with a covered roof. It's wonderful. But hey, when you live in the Carribean and the average yearly temperature is 80 degrees, I'd spend a lot of time outside as well.
There is a family here who has sort of adopted me, and I hope it continues. They are wonderfully welcoming and hospitable. And to be honest, being away from my own family, it's very comforting to be around another. Spanish is of course, my biggest weakness, but that's also what these three months are for. In the Dominican Republic, in Spanish, they call it "confianza." Bascially, it means you sit with the people, drink coffee and talk about the weather. Literally. It's fine with me. I like coffee, I like people and I like weather. Now, it's just building my language skills to really get to know the people and the community on a deeper level.
So far, my journey has had it's ups and downs. It's funny, because when I can sit and write on this blog I have the perspective of a week or more and I can really take time to examine my life here. But during day to day moments, or when I think way to far into the future, things seem overwhelming. Like am I ever really going to learn Spanish? Am I really going to be able to help these people? Will I make a difference in their lives? Sure I know some things about computers and I want to do everything I can to help, but do these people really need me? They seem happy, content, pleased with life. What exactly do I offer?
And the truth is, right now I don't really know. But I'm here. I'm trying. Whatever I can do, whatever I see that I know I can make better- I am going to try. And if it takes me 1000 cups of coffee and some strange stares as I run, so be it. I'd rather know that at least I am here, trying even if I am probably making a fool of myself between language barriers and cultural norms. The people of La Caya and myself will grow to understand each other.
It just takes time. Something I have learned over the last couple months. You can't climb Everest in a day. But everyday you wake up and try, even if somedays you end up lower than you started. One day at a time. One day at a time. And eventually you'll hit the summit. And Dear God, that day will be glorious.
So now, as an official PCV, I am offically in my site, La Caya. I got here last Friday and have spent my time trying to adjust and figure out a daily routine. These first three months, I will be doing my diagnostic. Which is actually quite a blessing, because it gives me time to grow accustomed to La Caya, the people, what my daily life will be like here and also everyday is a chance to learn more Spanish. Which needs to happen as quickly as possible.
I am living with Doña Francie, who left on Monday to spend three weeks in America with her family. So, I have her house to myself. Don't worry, the guard is still sleeping outside of my room everynight. (PS, everyone in town knows this man is the guard at Doña Francie's house, but no one I have asked knows his name. It's pretty weird and kinda hilarious in some ways. He comes over around 10, and by that time I have zonked out, so I'm curious if I will ever learn his name or even see him. I should set my alarm for 10 and make a point to meet him).
Doña Francie being gone these first three weeks has it's ups and downs. Good, because I enjoy time to myself, especially now when everything is so new. Time to myself is an amazing get-a-way. However, the Peace Corps sets you up with a family for the first three months to help you integrate into the community. They figure the family will show you around town, introduce you to people, let the community know you are a normal person who they can talk to. So with Doña Francie away in the beginning, I have to make a serious effort on my own to meet people and become accepted. Hey, if you're going to go swimming, you might as well climb the high dive, take a deep breath, run as fast as you can and do a cannonball into the deep end.
That's actually a good analogy for how I'm feeling: treading water in the deep end. I'm excited to spend these three months doing my diagnostic. Figuring out what the community wants from me, from the technology center I'm working out, if they want me to teach classes this fall etc. But at the same time, there is no schedule for me. No one is telling me what to do. There are no guidelines. Everyday is my own. So what do I do?
Well, first things first, I have to run. I found this beautiful lagoon/lake seriously five minutes from my house. It's amazing. It's the best way I can think of to start my days. I get up at 6:30 (which for anyone who knows me, Mom and Baba especially, you are all in shock right now that I am even capable of functioning at that hour). Anyway, so each morning I get up and start my run around this lake/lagoon. I'm pretty sure the people of La Caya have never seen a person run because they want to, and not because they are being chased by a cow or something. Even the dogs don't really know what do to. I run by about five houses on my way to the lake and the dogs sort of perk up and give me this quizzical head-to-the-side look, as if they've never seen a human act in such a way. They don't even bark or follow me. They just stare in wonder. So if the dogs are surprised to see me running, you can only imagine the strange looks I get from the people of La Caya.
But that's all apart of the experience. Another Peace Corps volunteer who has been in country a year gave us newbies some good advice, "Embrace the Awkward." Oh yes, and that's excatly what everyday has been. Different culture norms between me and the people here. An interesting side note: there is no word in Spanish for awkward. Or if there is, I haven't discovered it yet. It's kinda interesting to think about, because even though things can be extremely awkward for me, these people here have seen so much more, been through so much more, that nothing can be awkward. It's just life. Strange and unexplainable things happen everyday. Like a white girl running for fun through town and around the lake. Just embrace it and move on with your day.
I have been trying to spend the mornings and afternoons at my technology center. Yesterday I began my process to dive into the computers to figure out what software they have, what's missing, what's needed etc. I can already tell there are going to be issues with me getting the authority and control to really hack into the computers. But hopefully, over time, it will happen. My center here, is a pretty incredible compound. Along with the computer part of it, there are also two large buildings in the back that have awesome potential to really be a place for the community to gather and host activities.
Right now, they only use the buildings a couple times a year, and they are a bit run down, with weeds growing and paint chipping. To be able to mobilize the community to want to fix these buildings up and use them, would be awesome and something I very much hope to do.
Another side note: Dominicans have mastered the art of indoor/outdoor living. Every house, business, building has a patio or open area with a covered roof. It's wonderful. But hey, when you live in the Carribean and the average yearly temperature is 80 degrees, I'd spend a lot of time outside as well.
There is a family here who has sort of adopted me, and I hope it continues. They are wonderfully welcoming and hospitable. And to be honest, being away from my own family, it's very comforting to be around another. Spanish is of course, my biggest weakness, but that's also what these three months are for. In the Dominican Republic, in Spanish, they call it "confianza." Bascially, it means you sit with the people, drink coffee and talk about the weather. Literally. It's fine with me. I like coffee, I like people and I like weather. Now, it's just building my language skills to really get to know the people and the community on a deeper level.
So far, my journey has had it's ups and downs. It's funny, because when I can sit and write on this blog I have the perspective of a week or more and I can really take time to examine my life here. But during day to day moments, or when I think way to far into the future, things seem overwhelming. Like am I ever really going to learn Spanish? Am I really going to be able to help these people? Will I make a difference in their lives? Sure I know some things about computers and I want to do everything I can to help, but do these people really need me? They seem happy, content, pleased with life. What exactly do I offer?
And the truth is, right now I don't really know. But I'm here. I'm trying. Whatever I can do, whatever I see that I know I can make better- I am going to try. And if it takes me 1000 cups of coffee and some strange stares as I run, so be it. I'd rather know that at least I am here, trying even if I am probably making a fool of myself between language barriers and cultural norms. The people of La Caya and myself will grow to understand each other.
It just takes time. Something I have learned over the last couple months. You can't climb Everest in a day. But everyday you wake up and try, even if somedays you end up lower than you started. One day at a time. One day at a time. And eventually you'll hit the summit. And Dear God, that day will be glorious.
Friday, May 8, 2009
La Caya, a place to call home
La Caya is my new home in the DR for the next two years. It is a small town, of about 1,500 people in the Northwest part of the country in the providence Valverde. On Wednesday, we had "project partner" day where all of us new Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) met our community counterparts in Santo Domingo, had a brief orientation as to what it means to be from a different culture and how the community should be patient with us "new to the DR" Americans and then we all went our separate ways to our separate communities.
It took about 4.5 hours to travel from Santo Domingo to La Caya. My project partner, hopefully for the next two years, is a girl named Selsey who runs the lab. She is 23 and a graduate of the University in Mao. She seems very intelligent and motivated and I'm excited to work with her. My other project partner is an older guy named Juan Ramon, who is the coordinator of the lab. He too is very nice and welcoming and he likes to talk A LOT. And with me still learning Spanish, it definitely is increasing my attention span.
I had three large and HEAVY backpacks with me. One was entirely full of books that I brought from the states and many more books and materials the Peace Corps has given us for our two years. It was a pain to haul all these bags on a greyhound type bus from Santo Domingo. But I don't regret it, because I would never have been able to do all this by myself.
The best part of the whole journey... La Caya is about 5km away from the main road, and the only public transportation that runs from the main highway to La Caya is motorcyle taxis. As PCV, we have to wear helmets. Not wearing the helmet is one of the very few things that can get you kicked out of the Peace Corps, no questions asked. So we get dropped off at the entrance to La Caya. Motorcylces zoom up to our sides in seconds. One guy grabs one of my bags, motions for me to get on, I put my helmet on and we zoom off in about 20 seconds. My other bags and my project partners hop on motorcylces just a few seconds behind me.
The road to my community is gorgeous. Green fields, rolling hills, cows grazing. It's straight out of a country fairytale. As we are driving on the road, and as we get closer to town, every person is staring at me and pointing, because 1)I am a gringa 2)I have this crazy racer silver, red and black pin-stripped helmet on. Nobody in the DR wears helmets, especially not in a small town like La Caya. I can hear the people yelling "La Gringa, La Gringa!" And at that moment, I realize my life is about to be on display for two years. In such a small community, as I have been told over and over, everyone will know what I'm doing, who I'm with at every time of the day and night, always. Something to definitely adjust to. But we are finally in La Caya, and I know now the place I will call home for the next two years.
In La Caya, I will be working at a CTC, a technology center set-up in the community. Basically my Peace Corps IT group is divided into two sections: half of us are working in computer labs in schools for the Secretary of Education and the other half of us are working in CTC's, which have been set-up across the country by the Office of the First Lady. Apparently, the First Lady in the DR has a bigger budget than the Secretary of Education, and she seems to be doing many progressive things for the country. One of those things are these CTC labs. I think there are about 130 of them throughout the DR and basically they are community centers/computer labs in small towns and big cities throughout the DR.
Each CTC is supposed to have 20-30 computers, a scanner, a printer, internet, a plasma TV and if you're lucky a projector. In my community, La Caya, we are actually in pretty good shape, because we have working internet (how lucky I feel, it's unbelievable), 22 computers, a working copier, a plasma TV (which they never use and I haven't figured out why) and a scanner. We plan to fundraise this summer for a projector, a digital camera and a water cooler. Those are my project partner's priorities, and thus they are mine as well.
The great thing about CTC's, and what I am most excited about, is that they really can serve as community centers for the entire town. Like a technology based YMCA. The property that my CTC sits on has a large, covered patio area, a dirt area where kids can run around and play volleyball or whatever if they want. And there is also another small building for the "Madres y paz" Association.
The first three months of being here (so from next week until August), I will be undertaking my diagnostic. Basically I have three months to get to know my community, understand how my community works, figure out who are the movers and shakers of the community, figure out what my community needs and wants and then start planning. After three days of being here, I know I will be giving English classes (there is no doubt about that), computer classes in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and maybe Photoshop and I also want to form different youth groups. As ICT volunteers, we are required to form a computer youth club, which will be cool, and I also want to form an environment youth group- so I can hopefully influence these young minds to throw their trash away in a trash bin and NOT the street.
I most likely, will also be working in the school (there is one building: elementary school in the morning and high school in the afternoon). There is no computer lab there, but I will hopefully work with the teachers and kids to start youth groups, teach English, all kinds of good stuff.
My second day here, my project partners took me to every class in the morning and the afternoon (about 12 classes in total between the young kids and high school kids) and basically introduced me as a "technology expert and a person you will learn to speak fluently in English from." Can we say pressure? But as I am learning more and more everyday, it really is best to take things one day at a time and these things will sort their way out. I am going to try to be everything this community hopes I am, but in the end I am also only a human.
Some highlights: One of the girls who works in the lab took me to her family's home yesterday, and they were so welcoming and friendly. Her Grandma told me I have brought good luck to the community because it rained the day I got here and it downpoured yesterday (complete with thunder and lightening- it was awesome). That made me feel really good.
I had some problems and confusion with my living situation, but it all seems to be fixed now. I am living with a woman who actually lived in the states for 30 years. She speaks English fluently, which is awesome because we could actually have a conversation about how to use the water to take a shower and so on. But it's not good, because I need to learn Spanish as quickly as possible and her speaking English sure makes it easier for me.
Her house is really nice though and I have my own room with a TV and radio (I am so lucky, it's unbelievable). She also has solar panels and two big water tanks, so for the most part I will have electricity and running water (again I am so lucky). And the best part is, this woman, Francie, lives alone so she hires an arm guard to sleep outside the bedrooms each night. So literally, there is a man who sleeps on a cot on the terrace with a gun. Interesting, yes, but I've never felt safer.
So I am in La Caya until Sunday, then I return to Santo Domingo for the next week where my group offically gets sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers. On Thursday, the DR Peace Corps office is hosting the All Volunteers Conference, where all the volunteers in the country from every sector (there are about a 160 of us) come to Santo Domingo for the day. I'm excited to meet and talk to other volunteers. And then by next Sunday, I will be back in La Caya, helmet on my head, for two years.
It took about 4.5 hours to travel from Santo Domingo to La Caya. My project partner, hopefully for the next two years, is a girl named Selsey who runs the lab. She is 23 and a graduate of the University in Mao. She seems very intelligent and motivated and I'm excited to work with her. My other project partner is an older guy named Juan Ramon, who is the coordinator of the lab. He too is very nice and welcoming and he likes to talk A LOT. And with me still learning Spanish, it definitely is increasing my attention span.
I had three large and HEAVY backpacks with me. One was entirely full of books that I brought from the states and many more books and materials the Peace Corps has given us for our two years. It was a pain to haul all these bags on a greyhound type bus from Santo Domingo. But I don't regret it, because I would never have been able to do all this by myself.
The best part of the whole journey... La Caya is about 5km away from the main road, and the only public transportation that runs from the main highway to La Caya is motorcyle taxis. As PCV, we have to wear helmets. Not wearing the helmet is one of the very few things that can get you kicked out of the Peace Corps, no questions asked. So we get dropped off at the entrance to La Caya. Motorcylces zoom up to our sides in seconds. One guy grabs one of my bags, motions for me to get on, I put my helmet on and we zoom off in about 20 seconds. My other bags and my project partners hop on motorcylces just a few seconds behind me.
The road to my community is gorgeous. Green fields, rolling hills, cows grazing. It's straight out of a country fairytale. As we are driving on the road, and as we get closer to town, every person is staring at me and pointing, because 1)I am a gringa 2)I have this crazy racer silver, red and black pin-stripped helmet on. Nobody in the DR wears helmets, especially not in a small town like La Caya. I can hear the people yelling "La Gringa, La Gringa!" And at that moment, I realize my life is about to be on display for two years. In such a small community, as I have been told over and over, everyone will know what I'm doing, who I'm with at every time of the day and night, always. Something to definitely adjust to. But we are finally in La Caya, and I know now the place I will call home for the next two years.
In La Caya, I will be working at a CTC, a technology center set-up in the community. Basically my Peace Corps IT group is divided into two sections: half of us are working in computer labs in schools for the Secretary of Education and the other half of us are working in CTC's, which have been set-up across the country by the Office of the First Lady. Apparently, the First Lady in the DR has a bigger budget than the Secretary of Education, and she seems to be doing many progressive things for the country. One of those things are these CTC labs. I think there are about 130 of them throughout the DR and basically they are community centers/computer labs in small towns and big cities throughout the DR.
Each CTC is supposed to have 20-30 computers, a scanner, a printer, internet, a plasma TV and if you're lucky a projector. In my community, La Caya, we are actually in pretty good shape, because we have working internet (how lucky I feel, it's unbelievable), 22 computers, a working copier, a plasma TV (which they never use and I haven't figured out why) and a scanner. We plan to fundraise this summer for a projector, a digital camera and a water cooler. Those are my project partner's priorities, and thus they are mine as well.
The great thing about CTC's, and what I am most excited about, is that they really can serve as community centers for the entire town. Like a technology based YMCA. The property that my CTC sits on has a large, covered patio area, a dirt area where kids can run around and play volleyball or whatever if they want. And there is also another small building for the "Madres y paz" Association.
The first three months of being here (so from next week until August), I will be undertaking my diagnostic. Basically I have three months to get to know my community, understand how my community works, figure out who are the movers and shakers of the community, figure out what my community needs and wants and then start planning. After three days of being here, I know I will be giving English classes (there is no doubt about that), computer classes in Word, Excel, Powerpoint and maybe Photoshop and I also want to form different youth groups. As ICT volunteers, we are required to form a computer youth club, which will be cool, and I also want to form an environment youth group- so I can hopefully influence these young minds to throw their trash away in a trash bin and NOT the street.
I most likely, will also be working in the school (there is one building: elementary school in the morning and high school in the afternoon). There is no computer lab there, but I will hopefully work with the teachers and kids to start youth groups, teach English, all kinds of good stuff.
My second day here, my project partners took me to every class in the morning and the afternoon (about 12 classes in total between the young kids and high school kids) and basically introduced me as a "technology expert and a person you will learn to speak fluently in English from." Can we say pressure? But as I am learning more and more everyday, it really is best to take things one day at a time and these things will sort their way out. I am going to try to be everything this community hopes I am, but in the end I am also only a human.
Some highlights: One of the girls who works in the lab took me to her family's home yesterday, and they were so welcoming and friendly. Her Grandma told me I have brought good luck to the community because it rained the day I got here and it downpoured yesterday (complete with thunder and lightening- it was awesome). That made me feel really good.
I had some problems and confusion with my living situation, but it all seems to be fixed now. I am living with a woman who actually lived in the states for 30 years. She speaks English fluently, which is awesome because we could actually have a conversation about how to use the water to take a shower and so on. But it's not good, because I need to learn Spanish as quickly as possible and her speaking English sure makes it easier for me.
Her house is really nice though and I have my own room with a TV and radio (I am so lucky, it's unbelievable). She also has solar panels and two big water tanks, so for the most part I will have electricity and running water (again I am so lucky). And the best part is, this woman, Francie, lives alone so she hires an arm guard to sleep outside the bedrooms each night. So literally, there is a man who sleeps on a cot on the terrace with a gun. Interesting, yes, but I've never felt safer.
So I am in La Caya until Sunday, then I return to Santo Domingo for the next week where my group offically gets sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers. On Thursday, the DR Peace Corps office is hosting the All Volunteers Conference, where all the volunteers in the country from every sector (there are about a 160 of us) come to Santo Domingo for the day. I'm excited to meet and talk to other volunteers. And then by next Sunday, I will be back in La Caya, helmet on my head, for two years.
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