One Year In Country

I have now been in the country for one year. On August 19th, 2014 I boarded a plane and headed to Miami, Florida where I had staging and met my fellow volunteers for the first time. It is pretty funny to think back to all of the first impressions I had of them. The debilitating fear and excitement I had getting on that plane. It is funny how clean we all were. Everyone seemed so intimidating. They seemed like they had it all together, but really we were all in the same boat.

In this last year, I feel like I have changed so much. But then again, maybe I haven’t changed that much, but my environment is just so different. Who knows if I were in the US right now I would be a different person than I was when I left. I know that here in the DR at least I believe I have been more assertive, thrown all of my insecurities to the wind (I really didn’t have a choice after being embarrassed every five minutes for weeks on end), I have found new hobbies, and I have realized I can do without many things.

I often now think that people are trying to take advantage of me. When people try to make excuses for missing a meeting or tell me, “so and so told me that this was happening” or “I will see if I can come, if God wants it” I have learned to not trust any of this. I have learned to swallow my pride. The first couple of months I was here, I had a very hard time accepting gifts, help, free food, a ride to the next town over. I felt guilty like I had to pay them back, but now I can take these acts of kindness graciously and know that in some small way I am repaying them. I have learned to bargain. I now heckle over 5 pesos (10 US cents) when I know that I am being charged the American price instead of the Dominican price. I now stop and tell young boys to respect me as a person and as an elder to them if they hit on me on the street.

I have also learned some new skills. I have learned to play the ukulele better (for about the 4th time in my life). I have been scuba certified. I have learned to make the Dominican “bandera”. I have learned to bucket bathe to perfection. I have learned how to make my own baking soda and vinegar shampoo. I have learned how to most efficiently carry galloons of water from the well. I have learned to make mead. I have learned Spanish. I have learned how to fix bicycles. I have learned to make a stove oven. I have learned how to take care of a cat. I have learned how to make fertilizer and much more.

Throughout this year I have met so many incredible people and have had so many unforgettable experiences. And even though this year has definitely been hard at times, I would not give it back for the world. I have learned so much about myself in this last year and I do not know what the next year will hold, but I am so excited and ready for whatever it will bring.