EN LA LUCHA!! (In the fight)
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As much as I enjoy my time in the D.R. and, in general, try (try) not to complain too much, sometimes it feels like I am fighting. Although the phrase "en la lucha" was surely born in the vocal chords of a Dominican peasant who was working 12 hours a day doing backbreaking labor in the fields only to come home to his or her little wooden, tin-roofed shack in the woods and a group of hungry children (and I by no means believe that my life is in any way nearly that difficult), I can sometimes relate in a sort of abstract manner.
Maybe it's a characteristic of the culture here that leaves all of us feeling at times like we are fighting, or maybe it's just life, but Dominicans do have a knack for describing how frustrating the old day-to-day can be. They also, not coincidentally, have a number of ways to describe the manner in which one can cope with fighting a seemingly losing battle - "God willing," "We'll see," "Yeah...maybe," "That's just life," etc.
Ironically, sometimes I feel that the losing battle that I am fighting is against the feeling that I am fighting a losing battle. Or, perhaps more accurately, I fight against the attitude that "aquí no hay vida" (here there is no life) - how do you convince people that they can move forward when all they've ever known is the lack of opportunity in the face of institutionalized poverty, political corruption, and any other number of deep-rooted factors outside of their immediate control?
It's the kind of question that makes you want to go to the beach.
Which is what I did when my dad came down a couple of weeks ago. I've attached a few pictures at the end of the post. We had a great time and it was a good opportunity to get away for a few days.
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So...what am I up to these days besides making myself crazy?
*I am working with a women's group to try to start a micro-business, selling household cleaning products. This project, although sometimes frustrating, is worth it. Many of these women have never had the opportunity to practice any sort of entrepreneurship or really gain any money for themselves. At times I feel like a mother bird pushing her chicks out of the nest so they can learn to fly - but these chicks are old women. And I don't like pushing old women off of things.
*I am facilitating a community diagnostic in my new community. Rather than doing it myself, I am helping a community group to create and implement the project. So far, so good.
*I am still facilitating the youth environment group. We are currently practicing our presentation that we are going to give in the high school. After that, it sounds as though we are going to get our green thumb on and make a garden. MMMMMM....veggies.
*I still teach English. They have an oral exam tomorrow. Study up.
*I've recently been put in charge of ecotourism at my partner foundation. After well over a year of marginally terrible relations with them, I get more responsibility. Go figure. Every time I pull out my matchbook to burn the proverbial bridges, something comes up. Maybe I'm just a sucker, but hopefully we can accomplish some positive things.
*Whatever else comes up! Staying busy, but not too too busy.
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That's all for now! I'm going out to eat, because I just got paid. I'm thinking a sandwich as big as my face. And french fries. And maybe a milk shake.
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Pictures:
-Me and Dad at the beach
-Me and Dad at Salto de Limón waterfall
-Salto de Limón (check out the people swimming in the pool for size reference)
-Me and Dad chowing
-Me, Cecilia, Evan, and Dad chowing
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