In the last few weeks I have developed about a hundred witty blog ideas. As I sat down to begin writing them today, I realized that they really aren't as funny if you don't have a background of where I am living, who I see everyday and what the view from my window really is. So please excuse me as I take a break from my ever entertaining sarcasm and humor to describe my everyday life here, as it is so far.
Let me start with the people, because there are a lot of them and they are the center of my life here. I live with Freddy and Argentina, the hilarious and loving dominicans. Argentina is a teacher in one of the villages, or campos, and Freddy works with ADESJO. Together, they have four children: Joel who is 16, Manuelo who is 14, Joan coming in at 12 and their daughter Joelle rounding out the pack at 11 years old. I am closest with Manuelo simply because he thinks my Spanish is amusing, and he doesn't get frustrated when I make no logical sense. We also like to arm wrestle and make funny faces. I think Joelle views me as a strange being, watching as I do my sit ups and just staring in wonder when I come back heaving from a run. She has yet to be impressed with my laundry skills. The seven of us live in a one floor house, with two bedrooms. I was given Freddy and Argentinas bedroom, while the three boys and the two adults sleep in one room. Yes, I am still on a guilt trip about this but as I have come to learn, there is no saying no. Whether it is having a whole room to yourself, having seconds and third helpings of everything or having your own hair washed by anorr, no is never an answer.
Attached to frddy's house by a covered little passage is another one floor living space. Here, we have Cindy and her husband, who is Freddy's brother,along with their two kids who are 2 and 3 and finally starting to warm up to me. Grandma Lydia and grandpa (insert name,I'm not sure) also live here. I think Joelle may also sleep in this house, but I can't seem to keep track. In addition to these 12 main players, the house is always occupied by neighborhood friends,relatives,chickens, turkeys and the sounds of dogs and cows. Needless to say the silence of the suburbs stops in the US and in no way has found itself over the ocean.
Days here are warm, with the nights cooling down pretty significantly. I've been eating my own body weight in food, and have tried to run some it off, much to the confusion of the neighbors whose dogs chase me as I go down the street. Showering consists of a bucket and good aim. I do get hot water, as I proclaimed the I am a child and can't handle agua frio without screaming.
Most days, I do a lot of hanging around and listening. I've gotten over the feelings of anxiety that persisted the first few days, although sometimes they return in waves. When I am overcome with the fear of another earthquake, with the thought of smelling for 5 months, of eating rice everyday, of falling off the motorcycle/ scooter we take everywhere or of other natural disasters, I remind myself that this is how they live everyday. The people here, kind, sympathetic and always loving, cannot escape back home. This is their home. These are their anxieties everyday, and they keep living. They keep surviving, smiling and drinking coffee. And I remember that if they can do this for years, generations, and centuries, I can do it for five months. This is their everyday, and For me it is just a brief moment of learning. I can do this, because I have to. Because they have, and I am capable.
Loving you from my seat in the sun,
Sabrina
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