I asked for
a Library, I got a Beach
That about
sums up my site. I can stop typing now.
Haha.
Just
kidding.
My site has
a beach, a very lovely beach, filled with small, white rocks and also some
larimar, which is a precious stone very common in the southern DR coast. It is
blue and very pretty. The Caribbean Sea is in sight of my house, and it is the
most gorgeous turquoise I ever have seen in my life. And I’m a Minnesota girl.
I know water.
It also has
mountains! Big, huge, green mountains which look like a baby version of the
Andes. The mountains kiss the water, quite literally, because when you stand on
a clump of giant rocks on the beach you can look north and see how the mountain
swoops down to the coast and touches the water. It is the most stunning sight I
have ever seen, aside from the view as the waves slowly crest upwards towards
shore and become white monsters striking the rocky, sandy dunes alongside the
sea.
No, I do
not have pictures yet. I had some mental complex about not taking pictures on
my first visit to the site because I wanted it to be pristine and free of
touristy implements like cameras. Plus, I do not even have internet in Santo
Domingo so I would not be able to post any until I get back and can befriend
the Italians who own a restaurant with wifi. Hehe.
Don’t worry
Italians, I’ll buy some Kola Real.
And have I
mentioned the river? Because it has one of those too. A wide, shallow little
thing that happens to be the shortest river in the world. Very shallow. Not
even a foot deep. With rocks. Sharp rocks that can cut a foot of the unwary
person unfamiliar with the way current can seize a floating human being and
drag them along said rocks. I know. I have the cuts on my foot to prove it.
One of my
project partners owns a restaurant along the river. That’s the most touristy
part of the town because Dominicans come from all over the DR to visit my
site’s river. And the beach of course. So I have a splendid excuse, when
running or strolling along the beach, to swing by the river and visit either
with him or with his friends and family who are usually there. It is awesome.
As for the
town. It begins right along the beach and extends back and upwards into the
mountain. My Centro (with the library! And the homework center! And the office!!!!)
is a bit up the mountain past the school, so there is a small climb. So far
I’ve only taken it via motorcycle with my other project partner, who was
showing me around. No doubt I will climb it frequently in the months to come.
Now that
you know what the appearance is of where I will live, I can describe what I
will be doing in order to live in this town just south of paradise. (Although
if the people talking knew what they were talking about, they would have named
my town that!)
Three years
ago, this really cool volunteer came to town and had a mission to get a library
in it. He started the library, the homework center, an internet center, and a
basketball court, all while building some latrines. He also got to know
everyone that I have met so far. So as far as I am concerned, he was pretty
awesome. Then, like all volunteers, he left. And the follow-up volunteers (a
married couple) suffered health problems. And left a month later. People don’t
really remember them. Once they left, El
Centro closed.
There were
a few other things going on and I have not had time to dig out the full story.
I know the mayor was not supporting the library either. And there was no money.
I’ll need to uncover the data during my diagnostic.
Anyway, now
I am there. My mission is to restart El Centro, including the library and the
homework center, teach Spanish literacy to children, and work with teachers on
improving literacy teaching since there probably will not be a follow-up
volunteer after me. (I am the follow-up.)
First, I
have three months to learn what there is to learn, and adapt to life under the
tree. A later blog post will describe the tree. It is very important. But I
think it belongs more in a post about conducting a Community Diagnostic in the
Dominican Republic.
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