Profe in the DR 42
7-28-12
Friday morning, Profeta, the 22 year old baseball coach, decided to do a huelga (strike) all by himself. He blocked the main road that goes by the batey with rocks and thornbush, and stood in front of his roadblock with two large stones in his hands. He managed to back up traffic a good ways. The drivers threatened him with all sorts of bodily harm, but he stood his ground, banging the rocks together in response. Eventually the police came over from Batey 3, and asked him what he wanted. He wanted the Sugar consorcio to bring a bulldozer over to help clean up all the garbage people had piled up around the backstop of the baseball field. He refused to move himself or his roadblock until they came. The Sugar Cosorcio sent a bulldozer to the batey and cleaned the entire infield and around the back of the backdrop.
8-6-12
I spent several days in the capital last week. I had a 3 day medical exam which is required to leave Peace Corps. On Saturday we had an away soccer game against Batey 8. We swung by Batey 5 on the way and picked them up to take them to Batey Cuchilla. As they were getting on the bus, Nicole, the volunteer in Batey 5, showed me a razor blade she had confiscated from one of her girls. She apparently had it hidden in her bra in case she got in a fight. Luckily the other kids told on her.
Batey Cuchilla’s girl’s team couldn’t play Saturday, as half the girls were at a funeral in Batey 2. So we decided to have the girls from Batey 5 play against Isabela, and then Isabela would turn around and play Batey 8. Everyone at Batey 8 was saying that there was no way the girls from Isabela could play two times in one day, but I knew my girls were tough. Although the games ended in ties, the girls from Isabela dominated both games, with countless shots on goal, and most of the time played in front of the goals of their opponents.
The boy’s team from Batey 8 showed up with more men than boys. I spoke to the coach and the men themselves prior to the game, giving them plenty of opportunities to quietly step out and give their uniform back to one of the boys, less they have to forfeit for having played someone over the age of 17. They continued their farce, so I let them play, knowing that regardless of the outcome of the game, it would be a loss for Batey 8. I also knew my boys could handle the men, which they did very well. Despite the game ending in a 0-0 tie, it was very much a one-sided game, with Isabela taking it to Batey 8.
August-12-12
I was sitting on the floor the other day typing on the laptop when I felt something scratchy on the outside of my thigh, practically at my hip. It felt like something was in my shorts, and when I touched there I felt a lump. I quickly stood up and shook out my shorts, only to see a large cockroach fall out. He was not long for this world after that violation.
Thursday I went to Pedernales with a few other volunteers. Pedernales is the most southwestern point in the country, on the ocean and the Haitian border. We stopped by the Haitian market on the boarder where Haitians can walk across a bridge and sell things in the market without having to go through immigration. The market is fenced off. Three of us decided to cross over the bridge into Haiti
Later we went to Bahia de las Aguilas. It is a large secluded beach, part of what I believe is a national park. You can get there by boat, but being poor volunteers, we all walked 45 minutes over the rugged terrain. In all my travels, I have not seen a cleaner beach, there wasn’t any garbage floated up on shore. There were only about 8 other people there besides us. After swimming, I decided to jog the length of the beach, but it turned out to be far longer than I thought, and it took about an hour to do so.
That evening I watched the Olympics on a channel from Cuba
8-15-12
Monday I cleaned out my house and sent most of my stuff off with Cortney the volunteer in El Palmar. I packed my suitcases and once again boiled my life down to two suitcases and a carry-on. Tuesday at 9am after saying a few quick good-byes, I left Batey Isabela, and headed to the capital. I spent the afternoon and most of today getting final paper work done so I can head back to the States. It is very difficult leaving all the kids I worked with. They have come so far. I had to make a lot of sacrifices (and my wife even more so), but I am very pleased with what I accomplished here in my two years, and feel it was worth it. I thank everyone who has supported me in my second Peace Corps service, especially Kaori.
On to my next adventure…
Dan
