Isaac

The first days of training have been surprising.  Our diverse, accomplished 43 person group preceeded a trpocial storm that was possibly going to become a level 1 hurricane.  Barricaded in the luxurious Hotel Barcelò, enjoying amenities such as electricity, hot water and buffet meals, this has certainly been an unexpected beginning.  It has however served as a platform for increased interaction and bonding among the training group outside the training atmosphere.

We have seen only glimpses of the realities of life here, our only chances on bumpy bus rides through the chaotic streets of Santo Domingo.  While many think we make a great sacrifice to live in conditions less common than what we experience in the US (and it is quite different), being whisked away to an amazing hotel at the first inkling of a storm is a reminder of the privelages we enjoy.

Tomorrow we all meet our familias anfitrionas, host families, and will be spending our first weekend with them.  We will spend a our mornings and evenings there for a few weeks, the bulk of our days being spent at the training center, and then move in with another family during Community Based Training elsewhere on the island.

The PC training ground is a lush, green, gorgeous compound that could be straight out of Jurassic Park.  The following weeks will consist of intense language training, heat, water purification, bucket showers and the neverending battle against mosquitos and other jolly jungle insects.  Not to brag or anything, but I already have a killcount of 1 cockroach from noche numero uno.

Time to enjoy these luxuries, they will most certainly not be afforded to us in the future unless the situation is a bit more serious.  Afterall, there aren't any other volunteers here, which means they are buckled down in their communities - a place I can't wait to get to.  

Starbucks

I hate this place (Starbucks that is, DC so far is a pretty cool city for the little that I've seen of it), but only as a general rule.  It is just too convenient and I am forced to use it's internet services for the lack thereof in my hotel.

I am currently awaiting the orientation meeting, completing last minute things - paying credit card bills, procuring property insurance, updating the ol' blog, etc.

I shared a room last night with fellow PCT Josh.  We have a lot in common so I'm stoked about that.  He plays soccer, already knows Spanish, is very well traveled, likes the same movies/documentaries, and we've already started the information sharing from our external HDs.  He will be working in Youth Development, and we plan to piggy back each others' projects and look for ways to work together.

Part of me hopes we get placements near each other, but I'm trying to not hope for anything to avoid expectations that may very well be shattered.  At any rate, I am either excited or nervous.  It's getting hard to discern the two these days.

Questions...

My time in Spain has come to an end.  Fortunately I have been able to come home and enjoy quality time with friends and family (including giving my mom one hell of a scare on the fourth of July).  My stint home has been short, just under two months, but I feel blessed to have this home to come back to after my travels.  This makes it all the more difficult to pack up and march on yet again.

I won't start in on a bunch of self-righteous malarky about the Peace Corps, but it is something I have been interested in since I learned of it in college.  I think my country needs some good ambassadors working for it, and I hope I'm up for the job.  I have a wide spectrum of emotions fluttering about in this noggin of mine of the road that lay ahead, and just as many questions.  Do I have what it takes?  Will I even help?  Will I get lonely?  Have a dog?  Get malaria?  Dengue?  Crap in a hole in the ground?  Spawn illegitimate children?  Just to name a few...  

11 days till departure.

Welcome

Welcome and thank you for embarking on this adventure with me. I have been invited to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic in the area of Community Economic Development. Through this blog I will keep you abreast of all situations, happenings and what-have-you's I encounter. I will do my best to keep this updated and interesting for friends, family, or any random onlookers to enjoy.

This is my second attempt at a blog. The one I attempted while in Spain kind of got away from me.  Guess my heart just wasn't in it, or maybe I was...um...working too much. I looked into Wordpress.org to start a blog, you know, because they have more templates and design options for my excessive need to express myself, but as it turns out you need a very basic level of know-how in website creation, which I am now painfully aware that I sorely lack.  Luckily Google makes it easy enough for a monkey to accomplish.

I have been contemplating just how much detailed personal disclosure of my life on this trip is appropriate and I have concluded that full, unabridged, uncensored, horrible, awful, shocking, disgusting, radical truthfulness is the best way to go (otherwise it wouldn't be interesting at all would it?)  So tag along and experience all the adventures and hijinks I may find myself in on this 27 month ride - I will try to keep it as accurate, humorous and ridiculous as possible.