3rd birthday

Yesterday was my 26^th birthday. It was a great day celebrated with Dominicans I love. There was an activity in my center promoting girls using technology, so I helped give two charlas in the morning and another one in the afternoon. In between, I went to Silivia’s for lunch and had my favorite meal -la bandera: white rice, beans and chicken (there are many variations of la bandera, but that one is my favorite). After lunch, Angel and I picked mangoes off the trees in their yard. After watching him (and yelling at him) climb a tree and then their eight feet high water tank in search of mangos maduro – or ripe, I couldn’t help but feel how much I am going to miss it here. 

In the evening, I came home to find Francia making about 35 sandwiches, American style, which apparently means ham, cheese, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. She had invited our neighbors over and some of my friends who work in the center. Francia is seriously one of the most memorable people I have ever met in my life. About half of the guests last night were all the neighbor kids (all under the age of 10), and as she gave them each a sandwich she proceeded to lecture them about how these were American style sandwiches, and they better like them because it’s what people like Stacie eat, and since it was my birthday we all had to eat American food, and also if they ever go to Nueva York, they will have to eat sandwiches just like them. 

It was just hilarious. The kids just sat silently in their chairs and stuffed their faces as fast they could. I’m not sure if it was because they truly enjoyed the American style sandwiches, or if they just wanted to get it over with so they could continue playing. In any case, it was really entertaining, and again I felt so grateful for all Francia did. I really love her with all of my heart and will very much miss her and all the daily surprises that come with living in her house. 

All day I received phone calls and emails from Dominicans and Americans wishing me a happy birthday. I felt very loved and I am grateful to everyone for your kind words.

This is actually my third birthday celebrated in the DR, which makes me feel like I’ve been here for a long time. I leave La Caya a week from tomorrow and I leave the DR two weeks from today. It almost seems surreal. There were so many moments when I felt like two years would never pass, that I was doomed to stay on this island for the rest of my life. But now, with literally only days left, I can’t believe two years did pass by so quickly. I have learned so much during my time here, and am forever grateful to La Caya and all the people who live here. 

I know I will be excited to return home, to be with my family, friends and Remi, and to once again start my American life. However, with so little time left I am already feeling nostalgic for future birthdays that won’t be spent sweating, speaking Spanish, eating a plateful of rice and beans and mangoes for dessert and dancing merengue and bachata. Yes, it’s a hot little island, but it sure has been good to me.