[Laughter] Public Transportation Guarantee: You will be entertained.

One of the most entertaining/interesting moto ride I've taken.

Went to La Sirena last night, and as I'm leaving I tell the moto driver that I'm going to the Parada (I said the right place this time). He says something like "Okay linda" (Linda= cute in Spanish. Dominicans use terms of affection all the time, especially this term) Okay, so that was compliment #1. I put my feet on the pedal things, and apparently I put them the wrong spot.. so as he is fixing them he says: "Oh wow, your toe nails are so beautiful, did you paint them yourself?" I reply with "Yup." And he says, "Wow, what a talent you have." (Compliment #2 & 3). So we're leaving La Sirena and he stops by this bush and picks off a leaf. I just go with it.. and we continue to drive. He continues to ask me questions, and compliment me (you have a lot of energy, you have alot of joy, you're so nice-- so let's say like Compliments #3-10). Halfway through the ride he hands me the leaf (that he picked off the bush in front of me) and says... "It's not a rose, but you know, it's the symbol that counts" By this point I am cracking up at this guy/the situation. He continues to explain to me that next time I come to La Sirena he will have not one, but two roses for me, and that he'll actually have the real flower. We continue talking all the way to my stop.. at which point he refuses to let me pay him for the moto ride. He finishes the conversation by asking me to bring back the leaf next time I'm at La Sirena. I guess.. maybe to show that I remember him? 

What a character.

---Also, you know you visit La Sirena too much when you walk in and immediately one of the employees says.. "You like it here, huh?"

Okay. Just thought I'd share that funny 20 minutes of my life here in the DR. Adios!

Imani


PS- I promise to blog about other things soon! AND include pictures. I feel like I'm a bit behind?

[Laughter: DR Style]- Our accidental moto ride.

*Disclaimer: This may be more funny to Sarah (my roommate) and I. 
       We go grocery shopping at a store called La Sirena (think Dominican style walmart). When you leave La Sirena at night your choices of public transportation are limited because the carrito (Dominican style inexpensive taxis) stop is too far away to walk with alot of groceries. This leaves us with the option of taking the expensive taxi, which of course is waiting for you right outside the doors of La Sirena.
 Tonight, since we didn't have too many groceries we decided to take two motos to the carrito stop, and then take a carrito home (all to save money). So we hop on the motos, tell them to take us to the Gran Parada (the carrito stop that is 5 minutes away in Puerto Plata) and we get moving. I don't think anything of our trip until we start passing landmarks that signified that we were definitely outside of Puerto Plata, way beyond the Gran Parada, and halfway home to Montellano. I scream to Sarah on her moto: "Where are we going?" And Sarah screams back: "I don't know." A little bit later when our motos are next to each other again, the conversation continues.  Me: "They're taking us all the way home, aren't they?" Sarah: Yup, I think they are." Sure enough, we continue to pass landmarks that signifiy that we're getting closer and closer to home, and farther away from La Gran Parada in Puerto Plata.
          I then realize that out moto drivers probably thought we said La Gran Parada in SOUSA and not the one in Puerto Plata. (Sousa is past our home). I tell Sarah and we both start hysterically laughing (read: laughing/spitting in our own faces because of the wind) at the situation of us accidentally carrying two weeks of groceries* home on a twenty minute motorcycle ride. I've never felt more accomplished, nor more Dominican in my entire life. Accomplished for saving money/not dropping the eggs I was desperately holding on to. And Dominican for carrying a huge cargo on the back of a motorcycle.

I think God knew Sarah and I needed a good laugh tonight.

*Groceries included: eggs, bread,  2 cartons juice, chicken, a plunger, bread, cheese, canned goods, fresh vegetables, etc. etc. 

[Mi Vida] Makarios First Day of School

Hard to believe the first day of school was weeks ago! Sorry for the lateness of this blog post. Enjoy the pictures anyway! (Also I technically blogged backwards, the first day of school was before my first day of ESL classes).

Makarios is primarily a school, that educates children: grades PreK-2nd. As ESL Teacher/Community Outreach Coordinator, I will be working mostly from the villages, and not the school... but in these first few weeks I was able to spend most of my time at the school while I prepped/planned for my village visits and classes. I think I may be in love with each and everyone one of the kids at our school.

Here are some pictures from the first day of school (a day spent of getting to know new students, new teachers, and of course, recess)

Profe Yomo & Wilner

Profe Yomo & Alylin

Profe Miranda & Chinada

Profe Nicole on the playground

Myself & Chinada

Vanessa!

Profe Nicole & Profe Dena singing

Profe Yohan, Myself, and Profe Sarah singing with the kids

Myself & Bernito

Franchesca, Memo, and Rachel

Erickson eating breakfast

Profe Belizeur playing a game with his class as they wait in the line for the bathroom.

Lisela, Ana Wendy, and Mary Ledy

Andy lifting up Anthony

Son

Raidi (who has the best natural facial expressions)

There's a smile!

[Mi Vida] ESL Classes in Los Ciruelos

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while! I'm hoping that once things in our apartment are settled.. I'll be able to spend my afternoons relaxing, catching up with people, and blogging.. versus the endless To Do lists I've been having to complete. Here's a photo filled blog on the ESL part of my job:

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After my schedule is in full force, I will eventually be teaching an ESL class 7 times per week! So far I have started with the class in Los Ciruelos (where the Makarios host house is located). These kids have already captured my heart, and I look forward to spending the next two years with them!

Erika (wife of the original host couple that has ended their time in the DR) and I began the process by walking around Los Ciruelos to advertise for the upcoming class. I was so amazed and overjoyed by the warmth of the people that invited us into their house, laughed spoke and spent time with us. (I expect that a similar thing will happen once I start spending time in Chichigua and Tamarindo conducting the Community Outreach part of my position.. and I greatly look forward to that!) Once we passed out the enrollment forms, we formed the classes, and held the first two classes of the year! Take a look through the pictures to see the dynamics of the class:

We spent the first class going over the goals of ESL class and playing icebreaker games with simply English so that we could learn each other's names.

Darlin, Yonalis, Sindy

Estrella

Grelin

Luisanna

Gouri & Esteban

Yonalis, Sindy, Patricia

Patricia

Esteban, Gouri, Simeon

The hope for my ESL class is to provide a much needed service to the people that live here on the North Coast. Because this country attracts many tourists, knowing English is a valuable resource that will allow Dominicans/Haitians to obtain better jobs. Through my teaching I also hope to let Christ live completely through me, exemplifying his love in an audible & tangible way.