Advice from a Novice

Hello my Friends!
I have officially made it to the Dominican Republic, and am excited to be writing you this post from my host family´s uncle´s house...a little confusing but it works! If I were going to explain the last few days in detail, this post would be long, filled of mixed emotions and just too much for anyone. SO. I´m going to break it down into some advice that is useful for all traveling, or staying. Read on, mis amigas.

1. The night before your plane leaves, NEVER go out with Brendan Thomas Lavery. Even if he organizes a surprise party for you including karaoke, the best of friends, and chinese food. You say no. You thank him, and walk out before the first, second, third, fourth and fifth drinks are put in your hand. Walking out will avoid a ninety second timed breakdown in the middle of a bar, spilled drinks, photo documentation of the entire event, and a miserable hangover the following morning. Granted, you will also miss the best night of your life as organized by the best brother, so take the advice with a grain of salt. And a margarita.

2. Pack a lot of tissues. You will cry on the plane, in the bathroom, getting your bags and basically for the first four days. I don´t ever remember being as close to tears for as long as I was this week, but apparently I do the same thing every time I travel. Homesickness is real, and is powerful. It can make you feel weak, as if your decision was a mistake and like everything is muted in color. But a good pack of kleenex travel tissues can solve all of this with a quick wipe, followed by another. They also double as good toilet paper in dire situations.

3. Do NOT give up your seat on the airplane. If a large woman demands that you move in a foreign langugage, shake your head and say HELL no. It may make you seem rude, however you will avoid a miserable flight where the woman proceeds to fall asleep on you, refuses to move and then gets mad when you ask to go to the bathroom after three hours. It is not worth being nice. Never ever give up your aisle seat.

4. If your bag is not on the circular thing and you are close to tears because you don´t know where it is and are trying to remember thë word for suitcase, chances are it´s actually three feet away from you because someone took it off the circle thinking it was theirs, and then left it to die. In such situation, after you find said suitcase, refuse help from a man with a badge and a cart, no matter what. He is not in fact being nice because you are a crying white girl, but instead because he wants a tip, which he fails to mention until the end. There goes 8 American dollars.

5. Just like homesickness is real, so is culture shock. Going on a service trip and using bucket showers for a week is fun, adventurous and exhilerating. Realizing that this is how you are going to shower for the next five months is overwhelming. It takes about five days to get over the hump and start to think in long terms, but be prepared for the shock. Also remember that things that seem impossible to live with, or without, seem to become easier over time. For those Type A buddies like me out there, just make it through the first five days. The six day it really does get better, and those huge obstacles now look like little mole hills.

6. Don´t be afraid to call home. Staying in touch with ones you love makes it easier to be away. You don´t need to be strong for them, because chances are they knew you were going to call and breakdown even when you thought you were stronger. It seems like they actually know you better than you know yourself, and are already waiting patiently for the phone to ring.

7. Be prepared to understand nothing, and be confused at all times. Even though you made it to Rosetta Stone level three, it means nothing. This is exhausting, as you will never know what is coming, or what you are even talking about. Buy a spanish english dictionary and just hope that eventually you will learn by osmosis. Once I come up with a better solution, I´ll share it.

And last, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, when asked if you have a ¨novio¨, or boyfriend, answer yes. As soon as you admit that you don´t, it becomes everyones mission to find you one, and that gets awkward quickly. So before leaving do yourself a favor and buy an engagement ring to wear at all times. Cracker Jack boxes are a great place to start looking.

These last few days have been a whirlwind, but I am doing my best to get through, and enjoy what is coming. I haven´t really started volunteering yet, but am working on that just as I am working on finding a shampoo that doesn´t make my hair feel like straw. Baby steps, right?

Sending my love from across the ocean,

Sabrina