My first week of training

So I’ve been thinking the past few days of what to write about as my first official blog post. Technically I’ve only been here for 10 days, but it has been 10 packed days for sure.

To start with the basics: at my request I’m eating an insane amount of fruit (at least 2 big bowls/platefuls a day it is delicious), already am noticeably covered with mosquito bites but am religiously taking maleria pills and sleeping under my mosquito net, and am doing pretty good communicating but am working on all their slang and how rapidly they talk.

I live with a family, 2 parents (my dona and don) and then 4 of their grandkids whose dad works in the US and the mom has a visa and is currently visiting him for the next 2-5 months. I get along well with the family and can for the most part understand everything they say. Except the 2 year old, whose own siblings sometimes don’t understand so I don’t feel too bad. But he is super adorable and just yells the same thing over and over again so eventually we catch on =D He laughs all the time, but gets serious for the camera:

In my barrio (neighborhood) there are 2 other PC volunteers/trainees who live with siblings of my dona, and we basically live right next to each other which is very convenient, especially since we have to take 2 shared taxis or buses to get to and from training, so it’s nice to have the company. Also, one of the girls is awesome and likes cribbage so we’ve been playing the last few nights.

I am lucky enough to live in a very social neighborhood, so almost every night we just sit on the patio and talk to the family and neighbors and the kids play and wander the streets, everyone looks out for everyone else. Also there is a slight breeze outside, so I’m almost never in the house and really enjoy our evening situation. The humidity is (unfortunately) definitely something to get use to. My host sister with a neighbor in front of our house:

This is my neighborhood, a friend came over and we played dodgeball (more or less) with the kids:

The majority of my days are packed with training, getting up at 6:30 to train from 8 to 4:30/5 everyday. They pack our days with Spanish classes, technical training, general cultural information, and dos and don’ts in the society. Between the information overload and the heat I sleep very well every night.

One cultural difference that I’m trying to quickly adapt and often forget is that they almost never say no. If someone asks if you like something, rather then say no, you would say I would prefer…Similarly if someone asks to borrow something, generally an excuse is made rather than being direct. Even if you aren’t hungry, if food is offered you shouldn’t say no but rather enjoy your food, etc. I’m really bad at this and luckily mainly am offered things by my host family, who aren’t insulted by my constant use of no.

We’ve also gone on a few trips into downtown to get comfortable with the transportation and to get historical information. This is some of my group on one of our bus rides downtown, nice and packed together:

I’m really overall feeling comfortable with everything we are asked to do at the moment. Am definitely not envious of the 5 people in our group coming in with pretty much no Spanish background. But I’m assuming the next few weeks will get to be more challenging.

Here are some things I enjoyed coming across on our trips downtown:

Their China town, although Chinese restaurants here are actually Dominican fast food so...I'm not sure what there is in Chinatown, just that it exists

Segways are everywhere in the world : )

...as are crocs. This one is mainly for my mom =D

At least a basic intro to my life here the past week. I may have cheated and used a lot of pictures, but at least a peak in. Hopefully I’ll have another chance to write soon, but I’m happy, healthy, and learning a lot!