IST

I just got back today from our 3-month IST (in service training) near Santiago. We spent the first 3 days in a center just outside of the city with our project partners presenting our Community Diagnostics and doing workshops on job/project planning, then we loaded up in the vans and went to paradise.
We stayed in a conference center outside of San Jose de las Matas that is situated on the top of a hill in the beautiful mountains of the Cibao. It was cool, breezy, green and drier...I thought I was in Montana! All 4 of the sectors in our group were there--IT, Special Ed., Enviro. Ed., and Ag-Forestry--so it was a big reunion and we had a lot of laughs, especially thanks to Alissa, Jake and John.

And a lot of Pinochle! Ever since CBT, John, Alissa, Angela and I from the IT group have been hooked on the game and we are converting followers at every chance. We drank a lot of coffee and fresh juice made from the plentiful gardens and fruit trees around the center.
The training itself was also quite productive, and I learned things like web designing, how to manipulate photos with Photoshop and various other programs, and how to troubleshoot the lab when the mischeivous muchachos "accidentally" break things. Mostly, we got to understand each other's projects and problems and exchange ideas and solutions. I'm feeling pretty excited and motivated to get back and get things rolling.

Some of the SPED beauties: Megan, Robyn, Sarah and Kelsi

Alissa and I posing after the rain.

Colleen and Alan...look at those smiles.

John and Ryan getting their Domino groove on.

This isn't from IST, but it's Angela, me and a good time so it's included.

A Bailar

This week was the Fiesta Patronales here—patron saint week. There were games, horse races, kids activities, the park was full of vendors and multi-colored tents bristling with trinkets, toys, books and jewelry. Fried food galore, hotdogs on a stick and coconuts for sale. Interestingly, imported apples were the most popular of treats. In the evenings the streets filled with people and the giant speaker systems (called “disco lights,” pronounced “dico lai”) started pounding. Lots of beer and brugal, but for me this meant lots of dancing.
Merengue, bachata and palo, oh my. Palo is a traditional dance, kind of like a Dominican version of the polka, played by a group of men on drums and the scrapey grader-like thing and a high, wordless singing. Very rhythmic, as one of my host sisters said, it’s “música que llama.” Music that calls you. Usually the crowd dancing palo turns into a sort of informal contest dominated by the old people. The “viejitos” have been dancing for years and years and are incredible to watch. I was able to dance with a few of them…I have a lot to learn about palo, but it was a lot of fun!
In other news, I was sick for the first time last week. Much stomach distress, pain, I won’t go into more detail. Some guy back home is spreading the word I had amoebas. Don’t know for sure I had the buggers or not, but it kind of sounds burlier than a bad “gripe” (the flu, pronounced gree-pay).
I was just in the capital to get my mail—thanks for the letters, they made my month—and get some materials for the preschool we started in the center. I also got to say hasta luego to a friend that returned to the states Saturday. I’m excited for her, but will definitely miss her being here in the DR. Good luck Leah!
The preschool in the Ludoteca is trucking right along. We have 2 “tandas,” three hours in the morning with the 2-4 year olds and then 3 hours in the afternoon with the 5 and 6 year olds. I am helping another girl teach, and I am ever so thankful for her. I am definitely learning patience and improving my Spanish. This last week I learned “!no la muerdas!” (don’t bite!). It is frustrating and exhausting, but also incredible to watch the kids learn. Even in the short time we’ve had the classes—just finished the 3rd week—I can see progresses. One example is with the puzzles. Many of the kids had never even seen a puzzle before and awkwardly handled the pieces, confused by the mixing of colors and shapes. It is fun now to see them maneuver the pieces, trying first one way then the other and the big smile of satisfaction bloom on their faces when it finally fits.
The world map project is also continuing, turning into a much longer project than either of us had imagined. But it is looking good (“it actually looks like a map!”) and we’re still excited about the painting. Maybe someday soon I’ll get a picture of it up on here.
Happy 4th of July. And no, they don’t celebrate that here.
Jake: still no house. how do you feel about camping?