No new 'stories' per se, I've just been getting settled into beautiful beautiful La Guazara. This past week, though, I've acutally been in the capital with my old host family and some other volunteers for Kreyol language training.
Kreyol, Kreyol, Kreyol...... thoughts on Kreyol.
It's not as applicable anymore for me, considering in the Batey it was their main spoken language in 'informal' settings (with family, in colmados, with friends) I was out of the loop for 6 months. Now I'm in the loop and outta the Batey. I really wish they wouldve let me take this back in December. My spanish wasnt getting much better in the Batey- since they mainly spoke Kreyol.
It will still be applicable, however. I live in the hills/mountians, surrounded by fertile land. meaning haitians in bateys who work the land surround my community. the batey that is outside- Palo Bonito, is a lot smaller than Batey 3 but they definately speak Kreyol.
My main projects so far in La Guazara have been what will classify on my trimester report to Peace Corps as "youth excursions with the promotion of cross cultural exchanges". MEANING- I take a group of kids from La Guazara on hikes through the woods in the hills to bathe and play in the river outside of Palo Bonito. You have to pass through Palo Bonito to get to the river and I've gotten my Dominican Kids to start playing with the Batey kids just fine. AND oh does that nice cool river ever feel good with the hot carribean sun.
Still no phone signal- I'm working on that.
END NOTE: got my green card so i can make my first trip home to KS is coming up- July 12- 26- best part is its literally a card that's green! see you all then.
Enrique Franco- the one-eyebrowed cali-can's addition-
hi mom we miss you, please com eback to visit and bring more brownies!
