I have reached another milestone in my time here—I finally moved into my own house. Sola, something rare in this culture. Most Dominican families have at least 3 generations and a handful of extended relatives living under the same roof; I have a sizeable house to myself. Kind, concerned neighbors ask me everyday if I’m doing all right, if I’m lonely, sad or scared. I tell them I love it, and they still bring me avocados and other fruits to make me feel better.
The house is a typical wooden house, green and pink with a cement floor. It has the zinc roof that makes the rainstorms sound like a drum cascade, and the drafty walls that let in the cool night air. (And the cockroaches…de vez en cuando) It is quite spacious, and thanks to my new landlady I have some real furniture. The yard is a mini orchard conglomerate, with cherry, avocado, plantain, banana and lemon trees. I don’t know if any of them actually produce any fruit, but the possibilities are wonderful.
The house out back is actually the kitchen, where I would normally cook over a fire—fogón—but
since I have the space and a little electric range, I set up camp in the main house. Note the avocados waiting on the table. You can also see my bathhouse. Open air, open to the elements. One afternoon I was bathing and the rain started. The first drops felt like minty sprinkles, energizing flavor crystals for the skin. It’s also incredible bathing at night under the brilliant theater of stars.
One of the best parts is the galleria, the front porch. In the late afternoon I have shade and a nice breeze and can take part in one of the essential components of Dominican lifestyle:
sitting. And chatting. Thanks again to my dueña, I have 2 chairs to accommodate a my visitors.
As much as I love my house, it does come with its hazards. Yesterday evening the electrical wire that stretches over my yard to the house behind me exploded and fell, striking and killing an unlucky dog that just happened to be passing by. Because the wire was tangled around the dog and still con coriente, we had to wait for the lights to go out this afternoon before the neighbor boy could get rid of the body. So the path to the latrine was a little grisly during the hot afternoon hours.
In other news, we are wrapping up the painting phase of the world map mural. And the pizza wave continues. This last pie stuck to the pan, but it was still a tasty hit. Well-worth the 20 minutes of chipping at the cement, I mean crust. 
The house is a typical wooden house, green and pink with a cement floor. It has the zinc roof that makes the rainstorms sound like a drum cascade, and the drafty walls that let in the cool night air. (And the cockroaches…de vez en cuando) It is quite spacious, and thanks to my new landlady I have some real furniture. The yard is a mini orchard conglomerate, with cherry, avocado, plantain, banana and lemon trees. I don’t know if any of them actually produce any fruit, but the possibilities are wonderful.
The house out back is actually the kitchen, where I would normally cook over a fire—fogón—but
since I have the space and a little electric range, I set up camp in the main house. Note the avocados waiting on the table. You can also see my bathhouse. Open air, open to the elements. One afternoon I was bathing and the rain started. The first drops felt like minty sprinkles, energizing flavor crystals for the skin. It’s also incredible bathing at night under the brilliant theater of stars.One of the best parts is the galleria, the front porch. In the late afternoon I have shade and a nice breeze and can take part in one of the essential components of Dominican lifestyle:
sitting. And chatting. Thanks again to my dueña, I have 2 chairs to accommodate a my visitors.As much as I love my house, it does come with its hazards. Yesterday evening the electrical wire that stretches over my yard to the house behind me exploded and fell, striking and killing an unlucky dog that just happened to be passing by. Because the wire was tangled around the dog and still con coriente, we had to wait for the lights to go out this afternoon before the neighbor boy could get rid of the body. So the path to the latrine was a little grisly during the hot afternoon hours.
In other news, we are wrapping up the painting phase of the world map mural. And the pizza wave continues. This last pie stuck to the pan, but it was still a tasty hit. Well-worth the 20 minutes of chipping at the cement, I mean crust. 
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