Dominican Republic ( Quisqueya)

Well, I seriously can’t believe that it has been so long! my life in Portland now feels like an eternity away… as all of my energy is consumed daily by kids that need to be asked to sweep, taught how to hammer, supervised in a food distribution center, have aloe rubbed onto their sunburns, reminded to put on more sunscreen, bandaids over their blisters etc. etc. Not that I am complaining, they are GREAT kids and I have thouroughly enjoyed spending time with them and getting to know them one by one.

For the most part they are all from the Northeast, most are in boarding schools or private schools, a few in prep schools. All are very well traveled and educated. The parents are either president of NBC or NYC tv stations, a commercial HANES ans Crystal Light actresses or a psychologist. They have done several programs like VISIONS and have a really interesting reality.

The work has been good. We’re constructing an outdoor classroom at the school we’re living at, to help promote environmental education and assist the communities goal of creating a greenway through “Turkey Creek”. I’m loving building again, I will also be heading up the mosaic designs for the ground, which should be exciting. We also head out into Biloxi and surrounding areas to help organize donation centers where people come for donated food…the kids love it because they collect all the people’s info like FEMA #’s and address and then prepare food baskets for them and hand them out. It’s very tangible results. Through this process , you find out if they lost employment or their house due to the hurricane and you receive some pretty amazing stories. It’s rewarding and devastating.

We have been adopted into a Baptist church, with the name of a preacher named “Big O”. We met him at his other job, pouring cement, as he poured the cement into our outdoor classroom ( that was REALLY hard work by the way…picture me in rubber boots raking cement) He’s by far the most colorful character I have met down here….and the competition is stiff. Within 5 minutes of our meeting he was calling me “BB” and talking like Ludacris and reciting his love for Fried chicken. I can’t quite explain his church services, but they’re incredibly fun, alive and full of singing, swaying and clapping Hallelujah!!!!!!

Today is my day off and I am in New Orleans. I love this city. The charm just sort of grabs you and won’t let you go. It’s hotter than an oven and I’m sweating balls….which isn’t helping my swamp ass syndrome. This is most likely way too much info…but I’d say 10 out of the 32 people I live with are all suffering….and you just have to swallow your pride and apply diaper ointments to your bumm daily to ease the pain. Sweating constantly + humid, moist air = swamp ass….if ya know what I mean.

Alright ya’ll, on that note….I’m gonna cruise. I do have good news. I received my Peace Corps placement last week; The Dominican Republic is where they have invited me to serve. I will depart on September 5th.

Much Love,
bianca