Paciencia

Well today I'm reminded that history can be a little boring. New skill: paying rapt attention to boring details about conquistadores, in Spanish, walking away remembering very little.

Accomplishment of the week/month: memorizing a verse in Spanish!
"Queridos hijos, no amemos de palabra ni de labios afuera, sino con hechos y de verdad."
                   -1 Juan 3:18
(Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.)
This has been a huuuuge challenge here b/c love, something very universal, can manifest itself in veeery different ways depending on the culture. Definitely did not take that into account before I left. But it's a great test, how can I creatively show people I care without actually telling them? So many options.

I've also learned more about patience here than I could have imagined. I'm sure I've taught my Spanish speaking acquaintances a ton about patience also, haha. It's a big challenge to try to speak Spanish, especially with people who know English. Forget about feeling like an idiot; it's so much better to ask questions than to remain silent. I'd end up on the other side of the city without a clue almost every day if I never asked a concho driver how to get where I need to go. Part of the fun is being corrected about the simplest things I never thought I'd forget. I think I've learned the most about patience through my dance and sculpture classes; two things I was originally terrible at, but as of today I can dance a half-decent bachata and I made a nose that actually looks like a nose! Haha, we'll see what other improvements await when April rolls around.

 

Diamond: free awesome music in Spanish now on my iPod. and most definitely our banana boat ride.

 Coal: historical videos about dictators in Spanish. Could be so much worse.

New fav food: Chicken Pastelon. YUM. or Sancocho which is basically a soup with different meats, yuca, and plaintains, served w/ rice and avocado. Giant avocados you've probably never seen before. Saturday night my family and neighbors had a big gathering where we talked out on the balcony and ate sancocho till about midnight. So not much else is really new i guess. I hung out with the other Reparto Imperial girls at the colmado Thursday night, very typical. I thought I was locked out of my house one day but really wasn't.. so I talked with the colmado guys for a while, it's the perfect place to practice Spanish, and they're not creepers like most of the guys we come across. I'll do a little research on Carnaval for the next post. It's a big celebration that lasts all of February across the country. The tradition has something to do with ridding us of demons in preparation for holy week. The cities are packed and tons of people wear these huge extravagant masks unique to their region. They do it in Brazil and I think Peru too. Could be wrong, more to come in February on Carnaval.

It's been almost a month already! Thanks for reading and I hope all is well in the States!

Oh just for fun...

I really can't describe the foundations of my relationships here. The way people relate is similar, yet I feel like their hearts are more open here. You could meet someone and five minutes later they want to hang out and be your best friend. I strongly encourage studying abroad. We have SO much to learn from other cultures. I'd seriously go to every country if I could.

Note to self: Don't go for a run when it's sunny and 86 degrees.

New discovery: there is most definitely a banana tree on my street. Yea obviously I had to let you know.

Random observation: At first I thought the chickens and roosters were obnoxious, but I'm finally used to them crowing at dawn and scurrying across the streets. And if you're curious, the chicken crossed the road so it could peck at trash and water in the gutter. Yea, they don't tell you that version of the joke, do they?

Honestly my words and pictures will never do this place justice (not that I attempted to in this random post). It's just unique and interesting and indescribable.

Our Bachata dance skills are improving! Watch out! We've danced to this song multiple times now in class and in the clubs.. and in the ISA guagua (bus) Aventura- Obsesion

PS I finally got a tan.

Hasta luego

Vínculos

Considering every day is a new adventure, it's hard to sum up the week in one update so I'll give you random tidbits of what I remember! We crammed 10 people into a small car last weekend and laughed the whole ride home. A few days ago I ate two of the strangest foods I've ever tried: pig hoof soup and equipe. I got equipe from a sketchy dude off the street. It's like a pile of stuffing with ground beef and random bits of foreign ingredients rolled into an oval and fried. Never again. I didn't get sick but it was definitely the sketchiest thing I've ever tasted.

3 of the 10.. 2 people are buried under these guys.

Today I went to a Dominican biology class thinking it was my hispanic caribbean culture and society class, which I have yet to go to. Thank goodness I noticed people had carbon molecules drawn in their notes and asked the guy behind me for the course name. Oops. I wrote my first paper this morning and I'm really hoping Llisan is a sympathetic grader. I met a Puerto Rican med student in a concho on the way back from the supermarket, gave him my number because I didn't have my phone with me. Not the best idea, but I'm making friends? It's about a 20-25 minute walk from the concho stop across campus back to my house, and something got stuck in my foot and rubbed against my shoe so I walked barefoot. This old guy stopped me and tried to get me to put my shoes on; he was like, there could be glass on the street! I'm like dude I know but I'll be on the lookout, no worries! So then this other old guy on a moped pulls up next me and he's like let me give you a ride to your house. It was really close so hey why wouldn't I. I know what you're thinking, and no this was not a possible kidnapping scheme. The culture's different, people are super nice and everyone helps everyone. And the guy was like 100 so I wasn't to worried. All this before noon! See what I mean by every day's an adventure?
Fifi just brought me a chunk of chocolate. She knows me so well already. haha

I have a feeling motivating myself to go to class may become difficult since every day feels like summer. Nah.

God's lesson this week: love with actions and in truth.
It is so easy for me to come home, head to my room and attempt to reach home via facebook and skype. It's also really easy to observe and listen without saying a word because maybe I'll make a mistake or because I can't communicate as effectively as the Dominicans. BUT my challenge here is to avoid doing all of the above! I'm not just here to learn from a new perspective from people of a different culture. I'm here to love them and show them that God's light shines in all races and languages.God's also brought me here to be his ambassador among my fellow Americans who don't know Him. The majority of my time here spent with people is with my host family and the other American students, which means I need to invest that time, make it mean something.
Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.1 John 3:18
Not being an eloquent Spanish speaker is no excuse for selfishness. I'm seeking ways to love God and people through actions and truth. It's sweet to learn from the Lord in Spanish from His word and His people! The people here love with actions. Simple examples: everyone shares everything, the grandpa that gave me a ride, I told my host sister I like the watches here so she brought one home one day and gave it to me, greetings generally include a kiss on the cheek and a warm hug, etc. etc! I'm learning so much more than I imagined. Praise the Lord.


Vínculos = bonds/ties

Inside a cave in Santo Domingo! Las Cuevas de los 3 Ojos

Sand in your pants

Well friends, I've now been in Santiago for a week! It feels pretty much like home already; it seems like we've been here MUCH longer than 1 week. Last night, almost all of the girls went out together which was super awesome because I think we got to bond more. We drank blue daiquiris, exchanged our most embarrassing moments on the steps of the monument, and danced the night away at boca nada.

We went to the beach yesterday; that's right, in JANUARY. haha The water was warm and clear and gorgeous.

"I love when you stuff sand down my pants!"

Thursday our "estudiantes de apoyo" (Dominican students that work for ISA, hang out w/ us, and teach us the ways) taught us to dance the merengue, bachata, and salsa. I didn't realize that really anyone can dance! A couple of us couldn't at first, sure, but we're getting the hang of it ;)

Stephanie from Pittsburgh dancing w/ Randoll, one of the estudiantes de apoyo

 A few fun facts..
--The chocolate milk here is pretty bomb.
--Stuff is cheaper in general.
--Biscocho= butterscotch
--You turn on a switch to use hot water, and wait 15 minutes before showering so the water heats up.
--The pipes are smaller so toilet paper goes in the trash, not the toilet.
--Everyone knows how to dance. Literally everyone.
--Nobody eats wheat bread. It's available but Dominicans tend to just buy white bread from the panaderia.
--It's weird when a woman doesn't hear whistles, cat-calls, or hisses when she walks down the street.   Especially Americans.

So I kinda forgot about the "high and low" I said I'd include each week.. but I guess it has only been a week so let's see.
High (diamond :) ) Getting to know my host family, laughing with them, understanding their accents better, hanging out w/ Isa (neighbor) and her mother, who I call abuelita :) she loves me, sooo cute.
Low (coal) never being able to open the front door b/c the lock is tricky. haha sheesh. or drinking too much last night and being nervous that we wouldn't know where the heck to go after the taxi drops us off.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Matthew 6:21
God humbles me a lot and reminds me to get to know people's stories, and to live as a witness.

School starts Tuesday, woohoo! Good luck this semester to all of you back home; love, learn, grow, and serve the Lord!

Tour de Santiago y la Piscina

Last night my host dad's brother, his wife, parents, and niece came over for some ginger tea and chatting. I mean real ginger tea, like Fifi boils actual ginger from the ground to make it.

This morning four of us toured the city w/ a Dominican student (amauri). We rode in conchos, which are basically taxis that cost 15 pesos, aka less than 50 cents, and take you as far as their route will go, but you can stop wherever you want. There are tons of conchos and routes. Four people "fit" in the back, and two in the front. These are just cars, like smaller than mine, so it gets cozy. We learned how to get to the post office, market, and the two bus stations that people use for longer trips, like to the beach, country, Santo Domingo, and other cities.

Have I mentioned that Dominican bananas are my favorite food? Man I'm never eating a tasteless dining hall banana again! Haha mmm so good. It is all delicious, I promise to return with recipes.

 In the afternoon, we met a bunch of Dominican students, "estudiantes de apoyo" who are basically here to be our first friends. They are toooons fun, super outgoing, caring, and hilarious! We played pictionary in spanish, swam, and danced. They love to dance here, and are super good at it. Of course I'm still super awkward when I dance but they aren't that difficult to learn, I promise to teach you all my skills! Hopefully I'll have some by May!

Tonight is ladies night at like 7 different bars, so a bunch of us.. Americans (and i think my host sisters).. are going out on the town!! I can't wait, we've been chillin inside alone w/ limited internet most nights.

This was the verse of the day on bible gateway; I was surprised because it's one of my favorites! (the one in Spanish on the painting in our apartment) Thought I'd share.

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:16-17

Random

Dominicans eat a lot. Haha, I'll fit in. Fifi is singing "single ladies" while she hangs laundry over the chairs on the balcony. She's absolutely wonderful. I met Lina and Victor Alfonso today!! They gave me a salsa lesson; oh man, I have so much to learn. Last night I danced the merengue with a man named Jean Carlos (sounds like John Carlo for you non-Spanish speakers) Check it.

People care a lot about how they look here. I might miss comfy sweats days. Orientation starts today, the end.

Day 1 in Santiago

So I really thought I was dreaming when I woke up to clown-car horns (actually on motores, like little mopeds) and chickens clucking outside my window...but I wasn't! Church this morning w/ mis padres.. I understood waaay more than I thought I would. I loved the priest, the mass was awesome! and not boring like I expected. We're leavin soon but I'm here, lovin' it and my host parents are sooo nice and so much fun!! Already met the neighbor who lives downstairs and her family that lives down the street.. went to the mall and ate some legit dominican food (name will come later.. haha) I'm about to go w/ Fifi & Victor Jose (host parents) to a cross-stitching party or something? haha i'll post pics of fifi's cross-stitching; it's amazing and super time consuming. She makes everything!! Even these huge Christmas dolls. It is so warm outside. like perfect warm, not hot. and there's always a breeze comin in through the window. I think I can dig it. Everyone walks sooo slowly.. and they speak more slowly than Santo Domin..gans? (people who live in the capital) according to Victor Jose. Sometimes it's hard to understand their accents.. especially the neighbor, Isa. She drops the 'S' on endings.. and everywhere else.. haha but she's a blast and her mom says to call her abuelita. I love abuelita already. She knows the location of NY and DC.. so explaining Nebraska was a little strange. There are some sweet watches at the mall.. like every color of the rainbow.. I'll take pics next time. My host sisters get here tonight, can't wait!
This post is a little spastic, I just wanted to get something down before we leave/ I forget! 

Uploader isnt working for pics, but I promise to post some when I get time! I also promise to come up w/ more creative blog titles. haha. Love you all!