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!
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