Paciencia es la actitud que lleva al ser humano a poder soportar cualquier contratiempo y dificultad. Or in English, patience is the attitude that leads human beings to accept any setback or difficulty. Not that we´ve experienced any setbacks or true dfficulties, but I have noticed this trip more than any other, that I lack the patience of these people.
Dominicans, and perhaps most people who live in less developed parts of the world, have patience I can only dream of having someday. Where does it come from, this abundance of patience? Maybe it´s so apparent to me because at home we work so hard at speeding everything up. So then it´s really difficult to re-adjust to a slower pace. Everything moves slower here, and sometimes doesn´t move at all. I´m referring not just to electronics, such as internet and phones, but also traffic, food preparation, construction projects, etc. It is certainly a gift I would like to possess. Maybe more time here will do the trick. I sure hope so.
Hope you´re enjoying these posts as well as our photos on facebook. If you cannot access the albums on facebook for some reason, send me an email at kiskeya2011 at gmail.com and I will email you the links. Enjoy!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Dominican Life vs The Catholic Worker Movement
I have recently recognized that life here in the Dominican Republic is interestingly similar to life in the Catholic Worker Movement. Although there are certainly contradictions, such as distribution of wealth and issues of gender inequality, I think you´ll agree with me that, in some respects, life here is a mirror of what we strive for in the Catholic Worker Tradition.
Most folks here share everything, children and adults alike. Everything here is recycled and reused. Most economize, trying not to take more than his or her fair share. Each village is one big community, many families having lived in one place for generations so that most are related in some manner or another. Several generations often live together under the same roof, caring for one another if they are ill and as they get older, cooking for them and continuing to share life with them until the end. They have learned the art of true recreation and allowing life to pass by at a slower pace. It costs little or nothing to go to the beach for the afternoon together or create games in the streets with neighborhood friends. Meals with family and friends are a daily occurance. Work is shared too, from farming to fishing, small construction projects, clothes washing, cooking meals together, caring for one another and for each others children.
I believe that if someone here needed a glass of water or to use a telephone or was stranded without a ride somewhere, that one could stop at anyones house, ask for help, and recieve whatever was needed without expection of remuneration. Tools are shared with others as needed, such as wheel barrows and shovels. Concrete is mixed by hand with picks and shovels rather than machine, and there are always folks available to chip in to help.
The concept of personalism is embraced, in that if something needs to be done or taken care of, then the person who notices it works towards taking care of it. There doesn´t seem to be much hierarchy here, in that all are empowered or encouraged to do what they need to and want to in order to improve conditions. If you need a septic tank, then you build it yourself with the help of extended family and neighbors. If you want to open a small business such as a restaurant, then you do it! And when something is really needed that a person cannot do by themselves, then there is no shame in asking others to pitch in and help. Everything seems possible with time and a positive attitude. If not, then the feeling here is that it likely wasn´t meant to be at that moment in time. Everyone here seems full of patience, having faith that eventually whatever it is that one wants or needs to happen will happen, with time and God´s will.
Relationships and taking time to enjoy simple things are valued over making lots of money and accumulating lots of stuff. Daily chores and manual labor are valued. Things are purchased as needed for the day from the market each morning. Nothing goes to waste, as there are always pigs, chickens and dogs available to eat the leftovers, if there are any. Many folks here have fruit trees and vegetable gardens in their yards so that much of what they eat is home grown. Meat is purchased fresh each day from the butcher at the meat market, while coffee, rice, sugar and other staples are grown locally.
Although I still note that there are distinct gender rolls in place, women are now accepted in the police force and military positions, as well as small business owners and are often seen driving motorcycles, something I rarely saw when I began coming here some 18 years ago. Occasionally men are employed as elementary school teachers now and are often seen caring for and playing with their children. Even though it would be odd for them to know their way around the kitchen, they can be seen tending to the barbeque grill!
I have plenty of photos to share of this past week, including Deisi in her kitchen and Domingo building a septic tank so that their indoor plumbing project can progress, but it will be later this week before those photos can be uploaded. Stay tuned!
Most folks here share everything, children and adults alike. Everything here is recycled and reused. Most economize, trying not to take more than his or her fair share. Each village is one big community, many families having lived in one place for generations so that most are related in some manner or another. Several generations often live together under the same roof, caring for one another if they are ill and as they get older, cooking for them and continuing to share life with them until the end. They have learned the art of true recreation and allowing life to pass by at a slower pace. It costs little or nothing to go to the beach for the afternoon together or create games in the streets with neighborhood friends. Meals with family and friends are a daily occurance. Work is shared too, from farming to fishing, small construction projects, clothes washing, cooking meals together, caring for one another and for each others children.
I believe that if someone here needed a glass of water or to use a telephone or was stranded without a ride somewhere, that one could stop at anyones house, ask for help, and recieve whatever was needed without expection of remuneration. Tools are shared with others as needed, such as wheel barrows and shovels. Concrete is mixed by hand with picks and shovels rather than machine, and there are always folks available to chip in to help.
The concept of personalism is embraced, in that if something needs to be done or taken care of, then the person who notices it works towards taking care of it. There doesn´t seem to be much hierarchy here, in that all are empowered or encouraged to do what they need to and want to in order to improve conditions. If you need a septic tank, then you build it yourself with the help of extended family and neighbors. If you want to open a small business such as a restaurant, then you do it! And when something is really needed that a person cannot do by themselves, then there is no shame in asking others to pitch in and help. Everything seems possible with time and a positive attitude. If not, then the feeling here is that it likely wasn´t meant to be at that moment in time. Everyone here seems full of patience, having faith that eventually whatever it is that one wants or needs to happen will happen, with time and God´s will.
Relationships and taking time to enjoy simple things are valued over making lots of money and accumulating lots of stuff. Daily chores and manual labor are valued. Things are purchased as needed for the day from the market each morning. Nothing goes to waste, as there are always pigs, chickens and dogs available to eat the leftovers, if there are any. Many folks here have fruit trees and vegetable gardens in their yards so that much of what they eat is home grown. Meat is purchased fresh each day from the butcher at the meat market, while coffee, rice, sugar and other staples are grown locally.
Although I still note that there are distinct gender rolls in place, women are now accepted in the police force and military positions, as well as small business owners and are often seen driving motorcycles, something I rarely saw when I began coming here some 18 years ago. Occasionally men are employed as elementary school teachers now and are often seen caring for and playing with their children. Even though it would be odd for them to know their way around the kitchen, they can be seen tending to the barbeque grill!
I have plenty of photos to share of this past week, including Deisi in her kitchen and Domingo building a septic tank so that their indoor plumbing project can progress, but it will be later this week before those photos can be uploaded. Stay tuned!
Monday, June 13, 2011
That was quite a day!
I´ve encouraged Izabelle to write in her journal every night since arriving in the Dominican Republic. Although it may be just one page each day, or less, she manages to cover all the high points. And she ends each entry with, That was quite a day! or something similar.
Every day here is, in fact, quite a day! Days are full of surprises and blessings and simple things we often take for granted, like running water and electricity and an abundance of food, friends, good music and breath taking scenery.
My friends, Deisi and Domingo, lived in a one bedroom house with their children when I met them some 16 years ago. All but one has left the nest since then. And they have since moved into much more comfortable environs, including running water indoors, nearly constant electricity, etc. When we´ve visited them in years past we´ve enjoyed outdoor bucket showers and candle lit evenings. Now we can shower in the privacy of an indoor bathroom and have a fan blowing on us all night to shoo away the mosquitos and the unforgiving heat.
Delicious meals are available morning, noon and night since Deisi´s restaurant is up and running at full capacity. We always have rice and beans for lunch with our choice of chicken, pork or fish along with salads, fresh juices, etc.
The beaches in the southwest of the Dominican Republic are some of the most beautiful and peaceful places I´ve ever been. Their music is so lively that one cannot help but sing along and eventually get up and dance.
Dominican people are content with today and with what today brings, always praying for the future, but not caught up in it so much that they miss the blessings of today. They are so firm in their faith that every future thinking comment is followed by the phrase, God willing. Their faith extends to knowing that God will always provide enough of whatever is needed, especially at meal time.
On Sundays Deisi´s restaurant is closed, but she still cooks three meals for her family, and for many friends who will inevitably stop by at just the right time. Yesterday was no exception, lunch always being the biggest meal of each day, and Deisi cooked a gigantic pot of speghetti, fried plantain and potatoes, and a whole chicken roasted on the barbeque grill. I was gathering plates and utensils to set the table and asked Deisi how many we should expect for lunch. She said to get at least 10 place settings ready even though there were only 6 of us at the moment, because she said that someone else will always appear. And in fact, when we set down to eat, there was a group of kids present who had been playing with Izabelle that morning. Deisi happily served all of them, about 5 or 6, and all of us, before making her own plate. In total, about 15 of us had plenty to eat together. And there were even some leftovers!
One more quick story to complete the week. Izabelle has been hanging onto my loose change during our trip. It´s cumbersome, not very useful except for small purchases of suckers and gum, plus that way she always feels like she has a little spending money with her. As we were sitting and writing in our journals just now at an outdoor cafe in Barahona, a little boy, barefoot and dressed in some tattered jeans and a tshirt, was begging us for something. I asked Izabelle if she wanted to share some of her pesos with him, and maybe the rest of her soda. She quickly located a 10 peso coin (about 35 cents) and pressed it into his hand. Before she could get back to him with what was left in her soda bottle, she found that he was drinking water from a garden hose nearby. She offered him her coke and he happily accepted it. She said he told her, Gracias, both times. She then spent some time trying to figure out why he would have been begging, barefoot, drinking out of a garden hose. She wondered where his parents were, and what would put a child in those circumstances. We can only guess. And keep him in our prayers. I´m sorry that she has to see that reality. However, I´m glad that she was so willing to share, and concerned enough to wonder what has caused this boy to be in this position.
Every day here is, in fact, quite a day! Days are full of surprises and blessings and simple things we often take for granted, like running water and electricity and an abundance of food, friends, good music and breath taking scenery.
My friends, Deisi and Domingo, lived in a one bedroom house with their children when I met them some 16 years ago. All but one has left the nest since then. And they have since moved into much more comfortable environs, including running water indoors, nearly constant electricity, etc. When we´ve visited them in years past we´ve enjoyed outdoor bucket showers and candle lit evenings. Now we can shower in the privacy of an indoor bathroom and have a fan blowing on us all night to shoo away the mosquitos and the unforgiving heat.
Delicious meals are available morning, noon and night since Deisi´s restaurant is up and running at full capacity. We always have rice and beans for lunch with our choice of chicken, pork or fish along with salads, fresh juices, etc.
The beaches in the southwest of the Dominican Republic are some of the most beautiful and peaceful places I´ve ever been. Their music is so lively that one cannot help but sing along and eventually get up and dance.
Dominican people are content with today and with what today brings, always praying for the future, but not caught up in it so much that they miss the blessings of today. They are so firm in their faith that every future thinking comment is followed by the phrase, God willing. Their faith extends to knowing that God will always provide enough of whatever is needed, especially at meal time.
On Sundays Deisi´s restaurant is closed, but she still cooks three meals for her family, and for many friends who will inevitably stop by at just the right time. Yesterday was no exception, lunch always being the biggest meal of each day, and Deisi cooked a gigantic pot of speghetti, fried plantain and potatoes, and a whole chicken roasted on the barbeque grill. I was gathering plates and utensils to set the table and asked Deisi how many we should expect for lunch. She said to get at least 10 place settings ready even though there were only 6 of us at the moment, because she said that someone else will always appear. And in fact, when we set down to eat, there was a group of kids present who had been playing with Izabelle that morning. Deisi happily served all of them, about 5 or 6, and all of us, before making her own plate. In total, about 15 of us had plenty to eat together. And there were even some leftovers!
One more quick story to complete the week. Izabelle has been hanging onto my loose change during our trip. It´s cumbersome, not very useful except for small purchases of suckers and gum, plus that way she always feels like she has a little spending money with her. As we were sitting and writing in our journals just now at an outdoor cafe in Barahona, a little boy, barefoot and dressed in some tattered jeans and a tshirt, was begging us for something. I asked Izabelle if she wanted to share some of her pesos with him, and maybe the rest of her soda. She quickly located a 10 peso coin (about 35 cents) and pressed it into his hand. Before she could get back to him with what was left in her soda bottle, she found that he was drinking water from a garden hose nearby. She offered him her coke and he happily accepted it. She said he told her, Gracias, both times. She then spent some time trying to figure out why he would have been begging, barefoot, drinking out of a garden hose. She wondered where his parents were, and what would put a child in those circumstances. We can only guess. And keep him in our prayers. I´m sorry that she has to see that reality. However, I´m glad that she was so willing to share, and concerned enough to wonder what has caused this boy to be in this position.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Week #1
In this first week of transition, many exciting things have happened.
To begin our travels, we got to spend a night and part of a day with our friends in Louisville, KY who are connected to the Casa Latina Catholic Worker House. Maria and her 8 year old daughter, Fernanda, were wonderful hostesses. Besides good food we enjoyed a bike ride through their neighborhood as well as time for painting some pictures, as Fernanda is quite a talented artist!
The following couple of days were spent reconnecting with Alexandria, who is on her way to a summer internship with The Shepherd Poverty Alliance working on the Clinton Foundation's Haiti Initiative at their offices in Harlem while living on campus at NYU. Alexandria's true challenge this summer is to figure out how to live on $14 a day for metro transportation, food, laundry and other incidentals. Thankfully, her room at NYU is covered. And she will have access to a kitchen. Perhaps she'll locate some soup kitchens and a pantry or two where she can get some help stretching her summer stipend!
The remainder of this week has been spent having fun with cousins, reconnecting with my sister and her family. On a sad note, her father-in-law passed away last week at age 87, so they had traveled back to Missouri at the same time we were on the road to Georgia. We likely crossed paths on the highway. Alexandria was here at their house to greet us. We've had a full week of visiting our new town, including Izabelle's new school and our new apartment complex. We've shopped for things we'll all be needing for our summer adventures outside of Georgia. We've played in the hot tub, at the parks nearby, and even climbed Stone Mountain together!
We're almost packed and ready to go. Stay tuned for weekly updates!
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