About a week has passed since I last posted a blog, and everything seems to be going relatively well. With Semana Santa, school is closed and youth seem to be distracted by the relaxing week ahead, but I still had a great turnout in my Escojo Mi Vida group. I only had about six of the twenty-two participants from last week come to this week’s group, a number to be expected during the holiday. But, strangely enough, I had about 9 new members come today as well! That puts my number at 32 for potential Escojo members in El Mani -- way too high for just one group. I’ll have to wait and see how many members consistently come to the group, but I might have to form two groups from the 32 youth who have showed interest. Very exciting!

I just got back to Bani yesterday after spending a few days at my boyfriend’s site in Los Rios, near Lago Enriquillo. He just moved into his own house so I helped him clean, purchase, and organize everything that will fit into his new home. Eric’s site is very different than mine; it’s isolated, a small town, close to the Haitian border, etc… but most of all, his new house provides the quintessential Dominican experience. The house is a traditional wooden structure, painted bright blue and pink with a nice latrine. But the interesting part of the house can be found in the back yard. Eric’s patio opens up to about four other backyards. This semi-communal land has become an intersection for hungry streetdogs, practicing grounds for cockfights, playspace for mostly naked children (I even saw two kids with bloated parasite-stomaches, very sad), and general viewing area for gossip. The sharing that goes on in these five backyards that touch, the sharing between animals, conversation, observation and food, is what makes Eric’s house the most Dominican living experience you could ask for. And for this reason, I loved visiting. Bella loved the visit as well because she got to chase chicks and hens, play with other dogs, and run after birds. She got a true feel for life in the country and she loved it.

Now I am back to “city” life, which still isn’t that urban but feels a world away from Los Rios. It should be a low key week with just a little work to do each day. I hope everyone back in the States is enjoying the Spring! The weather never really changes here but it is becoming steadily warmer...

Highs and Lows of PC

The past week has certainly been full of highs and lows (though I would like to think the highs outweigh the lows). I’ll start with the lows so that my entry can end on a positive note!

I have recently uncovered the ugly side of Peace Corps service when ego and politics get in the way. I am surprised by how helping others can actually become a selfish endeavor, and that ego can interfere with one’s desire to wholeheartedly serve others. Unfortunately, I have found that in the case of one of the local community leaders who was assigned to help me in my work. It feels as though she has become so focused on accomplishments, on really big feats, that she has lost sight of the beauty in human-to-human connection that lies at the heart of service work and the key to changing lives. She has decided that my projects are weak and not effective and yet her critique of youth development work has only made me more confident that it is, indeed, the one-on-one connections that make a difference. It has been a frustrating and sometimes painful experience to listen to this said person’s perspective, but as my boss said, I am here to work with kids, not to appease her.
Despite the minor setback last week, this week has begun on a high note! I began my own Escojo Mi Vida group last week and only three people showed up… but last night, for our second reunion, we had 22 participants! What a dramatic change from just one week ago, and it was inspiring to see so many youth show up. Not only did so many youth from El Mani arrive for the meeting, but I had an additional 6 youth from the already existing Escojo group come to support my efforts. It felt great to have such support and enthusiasm from these youth who have already graduated from the Escojo program.

Another fun update is that my mentoring group has begun a geography unit. The girls do not know a single thing about geography… it seems as though they have never even learned how to read a map! Most girls in my group do not know the difference between a city and a country, and some do not know that we live on an island! Thus, there is a LOT that we can achieve in this unit.

The last two weeks I have been fortunate enough to hang out on the beach, and I have discovered that Bella, my puppy, likes to swim! Last weekend we went to my local beach and I left her on the sand as I went into the water. Soon after, as I entered the water, I heard a splashing behind me -- and it was Bella swimming after me! Just a few days ago I went to visit a couple of other youth volunteers, one of which lives on the water, and Bella got to swim again. This second beach adventure took place in a town called Najayo, which is where Trujillo lived. You can actually see his old house on the cliffs!

One last update on Bella, her mange is almost gone! The poor dog had a skin parasite and it was eating away her hair, making her face look bald, but she is looking better and better. Hopefully she will be 100% mange free in a couple weeks! By the way, contrary to popular belief, mange very rarely spreads to humans. Phew!

Next week is Semana Santa, or the week before Easter. There is no school and most families take off for the beach or local rivers to spend time together. There is always a reason to celebrate in this country! For me, it’s just another new Dominican experience to look forward to.