Colonial Zone Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Churches, Hospitals and Clinics and Public Works I wrote before about
living without electricity/sin luz but trying to GET electricity is more difficult sometimes than learning to live without it.
So here's my story.
Thank goodness that my first apartment had everything included in the rent. This at least gave me time to learn a little about the way things work in Dominican Republic. I did have to get the phone/internet hooked up but I'll write about that later.
So I moved to my apartment in Colonial Zone after living in the country for 6 months. I wanted to live closer to the Zone since I didn't have a car. I found my apartment quite fast and was able to move in with in 2 weeks. So all was good.
I called to have the phone transferred..oops...phone later... I had to get someone to sigh for me to get the electric. So my friend Mamita went with me to the office. I got the address all correct and we went into the little office to talk to the guy.
I was getting frustrated within minutes of being there. The guy was asking how many rooms I had. How many lights I had. If I had a fridge. What did that have to do with anything? Mamita took over and told them I had 3 lights, no fridge and had 1 room. All was a little exaggeration, not much but a little. I didn't know they charged by how many electric consuming items you have in your place. That just didn't and still doesn't make much sense to me.
But anyhow...got all the papers signed and the deposit all taken care of. They said the guy would be there to hook it up in a day. I was content.
So the next day I went to the apartment to wait. Figured I'd clean while I was there. I'm not very domestic. Never was good at house keeping. But I spent the day cleaning, killing my back in the process. They never came. Who wouda thunk??
So the next day I got in the public car early and went to see Mamita in the galeria. Told her they didn't come. I asked her to call the company for me to see what happened (its easier for her to talk because of my limited Spanish)In true Dominican form, we had to discuss for at least an hour, what may have been the problem. That maybe the person that will answer the phone won't know what we're talking about. That maybe the man was there and couldn't find the apartment. Instead of just calling and finding out all the answers to the questions we had to discuss the what if's for a while. This is the Dominican way. I didn't realize this at that time. I was still a newbie.
So When she called they said they would be there that day. I went to the apartment and sat there. My back wasn't happy and I didn't want to push it with anymore useless cleaning. Why clean, everything just gets dirty again?
So by about noon I was really bored. I went down to the Colmado to get some bread (pan de auga)and ham to eat and of course I got a beer and started to meet my neighbors. I talked them out of 2 plastic chairs to borrow until I got my belongings moved in. WE were talking and guess what..the electric guys came!
I looked out the door of the Colmado. I was keeping an eye on the apartment for them. They were pulling away! I went running out to stop them. They stopped, probably wondering why this rubia was running after then waving arms wildly. I got them to return. I went and grabbed my beer and my chairs and headed back home to get power.
Didn't take long. He put a meter in and talked a bit and he was gone. All was good. I returned to the galeria to spend the afternoon with Mamita and be happy.
I moved in the next week and all was good until I realized that the neighbors were hooked into my electric. I called the landlord to fix it. He sent a guy and the guy made it better and my electric was good. Until the neighbor came over yelling that he didn't have lights! He was yelling at me for disconnecting him stealing from ME!
So finally we made a deal. He gave me a deposit and I gave him a few extending cords with the deal that if he didn't pay 1 time I would disconnect him and keep the deposit. He signed a contract with me.
Well that lasted 2 months and it was too hard trying to get the money and the next month he was 3 weeks late so I literally pulled the plug. He was mad at first but he got his own electric and he let the other neighbors have an extention cord, which they were not paying him on time and he was coming to me complaining. Imagine ..he did the thing same to me and he had the cajones to come to me and complain when the next guy did the same to him!HUMANS!!
Anyhow. My electric at first was under $100 pesos. Then 1 month it went to $800 pesos. Noone was connected to me. I called the office. Dumb me...not in USA anymore and have to remember one doesn't call, you have to go directly to the office. So the lady on the phone told me who to ask for when I went to the office. I went in ant it was caos as usual. Asked for this gal, they said she was at lunch that I should come back in an hour. So me and a friend that worked there went to lunch. I returned and asked for the lady. The receptionist said the gal didn't work there. Just an hour before she told me that the gal was at lunch! She said I had to take a number. I had a number but it was called while I was at lunch which the receptionist told me to do! I was ready to kill all Dominican electric people!
FINALLY, I got into the office. Noone would talk slow for me to understand. It took another hour for someone to talk English for me. Long story short..I never got the problem resolved. I did try but after months of going to the office and listening to people talking out their asses I gave up.
OK. All normal. Power in. Power out. Bills averaged $300. I'm content. I have to return to USA. After 3 months in USA I had to give up the apartment. My wonderful boyfriend, Felix, moved all my stuff out. He went to the electric company and had it all disconnected. He got the papers. Paid the last bill for me. All good.
Then he was visiting my old neighbors a few weeks ago. One of my neighbors told him that I had an electric bill. He got the bill and it is still in my name! The guy living in my old apartment is paying the bills, thank goodness. But they are still in my name! Felix went 2 times to make sure all was good, to the office. He has the contracts termination papers. And the electric is still in my name!
At this time we are still trying to resolve the problem.
Still gotta love Dominican Republic! It is my home.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Meeting my first Dominican Family
OK...Where was I? While on line ,I had ICQ, and some guy wanted to talk. He lived in DR so since I was always friend finding I talked to the guy. Ended up, after we conversed awhile, that we had crossed each others paths before from a message board we both had frequented. And, too funny, his family was originally from the same area in Pennsylvania where I was born. He lived in Santo Domingo for about 20 years and had a business in Zona Colonial and his Dominican wife had a Galeira there also.
He offered to help me out with some of those hard questions I had about how to survive in Dominican Republic and told me to come by the gallery any time and hang out and have a beer or 6. I decided to take him up on the offer one day and made the trek in a public car from where I was living at the time, Enchanse Julietta. Normally I just walked to Colonial Zone but this day I decided to be try something new.
I finally got to their gallery without much trouble and met Jimmy and Mamita. Who would have ever thought they would become my closest friends in the country and Mamita and I would become like sisters.
At first I wasn't sure about meeting Jimmys wife because I heard about how Dominican women are very jealous and I didn't want any trouble. I was so used to having men friends my whole life that I just figured it would be the same in DR and the women wouldn't consider me as a threat the same as in USA. With Mamita it was great! Her and I bonded right away. We even thought somewhat the same for coming from 2 different cultures. And Jimmy had a plethora of info about how to survive the daily life in the country. Loved them both right away.
That day was a good time. We got some beer, sat in the gallery and talked away. Mamita and I enjoyed standing in the door way of the gallery and people watching, which was always one of my favorite things to do. We would laugh at all the humans and she would tell me their histories. She taught me lots of Dominicanismos and the famous Dominican lip and nose talk.
They are both great humans and I'm so thankful they took me into their family and made this crazy Americana one of them. We have had our little tiffs and our special moments just like a real family. I think Mamita and I are related in some lost-line type way...jejejej.
Anyhow. I remember that day when I left the gallery to go back and get a public car before it got dark. It started raining as I got to the place at Independencia park to get a ride back. It was raining hard so I decided to wait it out and had me a beer. Started talking, as usual(my grandmother always says I have diarrhea of the mouth!), to some guy that wanted to practice his English. He ended up being some kind of police. He and his friend offered to take me home on his motor bike. I didn't like riding them but they promised to go slow for me and not do any zig-zag movements.
The rain stopped for what I thought was for the ride home. Well, I was wrong, it came down harder than before. I had ma an umbrella and took it out and was holding it over the three of us on the bike. The guy did go very slow for me, thank goodness. But it didn't matter much. We were soaked and dirty. I was laughing so hard. What else was I to do? Get upset about it or just take it and laugh about it. So I did as I usually do and laughed.
We got to my place and stood under the patio. The guys wouldn't go! This is when I thought, ohoh, I may have made a booboo. I wanted to loose these guys and didn't want them to see which door I went into. Cause if they did try something I for sure couldn't call a police cause the guy was police! So I decided the only way to get rid of them was to give them my umbrella so they got the idea they weren't coming in the house. And those poops! Took my fav umbrella and left! I liked that umbrella. But I was rid of them. Soaking wet. And had learned much that day about living in my new country.
All was good...
He offered to help me out with some of those hard questions I had about how to survive in Dominican Republic and told me to come by the gallery any time and hang out and have a beer or 6. I decided to take him up on the offer one day and made the trek in a public car from where I was living at the time, Enchanse Julietta. Normally I just walked to Colonial Zone but this day I decided to be try something new.
I finally got to their gallery without much trouble and met Jimmy and Mamita. Who would have ever thought they would become my closest friends in the country and Mamita and I would become like sisters.
At first I wasn't sure about meeting Jimmys wife because I heard about how Dominican women are very jealous and I didn't want any trouble. I was so used to having men friends my whole life that I just figured it would be the same in DR and the women wouldn't consider me as a threat the same as in USA. With Mamita it was great! Her and I bonded right away. We even thought somewhat the same for coming from 2 different cultures. And Jimmy had a plethora of info about how to survive the daily life in the country. Loved them both right away.
That day was a good time. We got some beer, sat in the gallery and talked away. Mamita and I enjoyed standing in the door way of the gallery and people watching, which was always one of my favorite things to do. We would laugh at all the humans and she would tell me their histories. She taught me lots of Dominicanismos and the famous Dominican lip and nose talk.
They are both great humans and I'm so thankful they took me into their family and made this crazy Americana one of them. We have had our little tiffs and our special moments just like a real family. I think Mamita and I are related in some lost-line type way...jejejej.
Anyhow. I remember that day when I left the gallery to go back and get a public car before it got dark. It started raining as I got to the place at Independencia park to get a ride back. It was raining hard so I decided to wait it out and had me a beer. Started talking, as usual(my grandmother always says I have diarrhea of the mouth!), to some guy that wanted to practice his English. He ended up being some kind of police. He and his friend offered to take me home on his motor bike. I didn't like riding them but they promised to go slow for me and not do any zig-zag movements.
The rain stopped for what I thought was for the ride home. Well, I was wrong, it came down harder than before. I had ma an umbrella and took it out and was holding it over the three of us on the bike. The guy did go very slow for me, thank goodness. But it didn't matter much. We were soaked and dirty. I was laughing so hard. What else was I to do? Get upset about it or just take it and laugh about it. So I did as I usually do and laughed.
We got to my place and stood under the patio. The guys wouldn't go! This is when I thought, ohoh, I may have made a booboo. I wanted to loose these guys and didn't want them to see which door I went into. Cause if they did try something I for sure couldn't call a police cause the guy was police! So I decided the only way to get rid of them was to give them my umbrella so they got the idea they weren't coming in the house. And those poops! Took my fav umbrella and left! I liked that umbrella. But I was rid of them. Soaking wet. And had learned much that day about living in my new country.
All was good...
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Body Here ,Heart There
This picture is what it looked like out the front of my parents home this morning. It's beautiful to see but I truly wish I was only looking at this foto instead of seeing it in real life. But I'm still in USA so I have to make the best of it.
Yesterday was Independence Day in Dominican Republic. I kept feeling like it was holiday here in USA and had to keep reminding myself that the mail was coming and there were no parades on the TV.
I remember my first Military parade I saw in DR. I really didn't understand that it was their Independence Day, Doesn't everyone in the world all celebrate Independence Day on July 4th (this is I guess what I thought because the problem was I never really thought about it before)? Well, I came out of my little world and discovered that every country had their own Independence Day, imagine that!
My Friend Leandro took me to the Malecon to see the parade. It was interesting. There were all these men, looking very proper and handsome in their respective military uniforms. Have to admit, a man in uniform always looks good. There were so many different uniforms. I remember thinking (and I still do) "Why does such a small island need so many army guys?" But I guess for that day every military man that could be at the parade was. So it looked like there were tons. It seemed to me that half the island was military!
All these brand new turquoise/off blue cars and motorcycles were blowing their sirens and riding around (I found out later that they were showing off all the new police vehicles). All around was an electric feeling in the crowd. Everyone was so excited. People were cheering and laughing and it was so festive. I was taken up by the moment and felt that this was MY country and that all these people were MY military people. It was a feeling like I felt like I was home. Hard to explain. It was a bit emotional. I don't know why but it was. I can be silly in this way sometimes.
The second Independence Day parade I went to was when I was living in Colonial Zone. Me and Sniffy (the blind wonder dog) went to see the parade. She loved to be in the center of things. And she thought she was the princess. She loved all the attention a cute dog gets, with her bandana around her neck we were off to face the crowds.
I had my camera that year and got a lot of good pictures that can be seen on my World is Round Tourist Pictures page. I remember there was some sergeant looking guy. He was marching on the outside of the other marchers so he was some higher up guy. He was yelling at the crowd and everyone was laughing and yelling back at him. I had no idea what anyone was saying buy I knew what ever it was it was funny.
There were so many different colors and types of uniforms. I really have no idea who was who but they were all pretty to look at.
The best part of the parade was the people watching. There was these 3 men dressed as women, butt ugly women too! jejej They were dancing around acting all fagot like. They were so funny. Malcons on the Malecon! I took a picture of them and they loved that. Sniffy liked them also. Who knows if she would have felt the same about them if she had eyes to see them. They were very hard on the eyes!
I love to meet new people and I started talking to a group of people. Me and this guy ended up going to a colmado to have a few beers. He was a nice young guy. I took a picture of him and Sniffy. They were eating Chicharones together sitting in the Colmado. They both had hugh smiles on their faces! Teeth showing! Sniffy was having a good time eating her Chicherones, drinking a funda de auga out of a plastic glass and being the center of attention.
We finally made it home after dark. Tired and happy. I talked to so many people. Sniffy got so much attention and she talked to people too! It was a good day.
Monday, February 20, 2006
My Big First Job
I needed to find a job and start being responsible again. I really wasn't sure how to go about looking for work here in Dominican Republic so I did what I heard was a good thing and started asking people. They say its not what you know but who you know so I started asking around.
Alex had a friend who knew a guy that had a business and needed a secretary that knew English. I was no secretary and thought it would be so boring because I'm so used to being around people, talking and having fun while I work. But I decided to go see the man anyhow. So I made an appointment for the next day and found out where the place was.
I didn't have any secretary-type clothes so I just put on a pair of white pants and shirt and started walking. It wasn't that far from where I lived so this was a good thing. But a bad thing happened. It started raining! It came down hard. Dirt from the road splashing up on my white pants. I did have a little folding umbrella which didn't do much in the Dominican downpour. So by the time I got there, about a 15 minute walk, I wasn't looking my best.
I walked up to the door and there was a man getting in his car. He asked me who I wanted and I told him. This was the guy I was looking for! He was leaving and I was 5 minutes early. He told me to get in the car and he would take me home and we could talk. So I did as told and it ended up he was a really nice man and he gave me the job even though I had never been a secretary, had never used Microsoft Word, didn't have the right clothes and couldn't speak Spanish well.
So ,of course, I had to celebrate. I got Sniffy and went to the Colmado and we celebrated my new job. I really didn't want the job but I needed it. Oh well, this is life
I went there the next day. I found out the business was called Grant Thorton. I didn't know what they did until about a month later. They are an accounting firm. Mainly what I did was play on the computer. Practice with Word. Get the Faxes out of the machine and put them in a bin. Check the emails and answer them if they were in English ( maybe 1 to 2 emails a day). I was very busy (sic). I was really BORED. I couldn't even answer the phones. I couldn't understand what the people were saying. I'd puck up the phone and then yell to Martha of Jennifer to help me.
I told the boss that if I didn't think I could do the job or didn't like it to let him know. They would give me 3 months to try it out. When the 3 month time was up I was waiting until he wasn't busy to go and talk to him when I was called into a meeting. They all had these sad looks on their faces. I hurried and said I had to quit and they looked so much better. They said they felt bad. I didn't feel bad at all. I was so bored there. The people were great but I just wasn't the secretary type.
Alex had a friend who knew a guy that had a business and needed a secretary that knew English. I was no secretary and thought it would be so boring because I'm so used to being around people, talking and having fun while I work. But I decided to go see the man anyhow. So I made an appointment for the next day and found out where the place was.
I didn't have any secretary-type clothes so I just put on a pair of white pants and shirt and started walking. It wasn't that far from where I lived so this was a good thing. But a bad thing happened. It started raining! It came down hard. Dirt from the road splashing up on my white pants. I did have a little folding umbrella which didn't do much in the Dominican downpour. So by the time I got there, about a 15 minute walk, I wasn't looking my best.
I walked up to the door and there was a man getting in his car. He asked me who I wanted and I told him. This was the guy I was looking for! He was leaving and I was 5 minutes early. He told me to get in the car and he would take me home and we could talk. So I did as told and it ended up he was a really nice man and he gave me the job even though I had never been a secretary, had never used Microsoft Word, didn't have the right clothes and couldn't speak Spanish well.
So ,of course, I had to celebrate. I got Sniffy and went to the Colmado and we celebrated my new job. I really didn't want the job but I needed it. Oh well, this is life
I went there the next day. I found out the business was called Grant Thorton. I didn't know what they did until about a month later. They are an accounting firm. Mainly what I did was play on the computer. Practice with Word. Get the Faxes out of the machine and put them in a bin. Check the emails and answer them if they were in English ( maybe 1 to 2 emails a day). I was very busy (sic). I was really BORED. I couldn't even answer the phones. I couldn't understand what the people were saying. I'd puck up the phone and then yell to Martha of Jennifer to help me.
I told the boss that if I didn't think I could do the job or didn't like it to let him know. They would give me 3 months to try it out. When the 3 month time was up I was waiting until he wasn't busy to go and talk to him when I was called into a meeting. They all had these sad looks on their faces. I hurried and said I had to quit and they looked so much better. They said they felt bad. I didn't feel bad at all. I was so bored there. The people were great but I just wasn't the secretary type.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
My First Carnival
Colonial Zone Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Carnival in Santo Domingo
My friend Tony and his gang invited me to go to the carnival in La Vega. I really had no idea what to expect but I went anyhow. I really didn't want to leave Sniffy alone the whole day but I did it, worrying about her the entire day. This was my first time to leave her alone for a long time since she turned blind. She was getting around better so I went.
They came and got me and we took a public car to get a Guagua. There were so many cars and people everywhere. I had no idea where I was. Of course we went to the Colmado on the corner and got a few beers. I also got a little bag of some snack (can't remember exactly what it was). The bag had a little plastic toy to put together. I couldn't figure out how to get it together but I'm sure a kid could have done it immediately. I played with this toy while we sat around drinking. I entertained myself a lot, especially when I couldn't understand what anyone was talking about. I'd just go into my own little world until I understood something or until someone spoke directly to me slowly.
I had no idea why we were just sitting around. We got up early. It was about 10AM and we were just sitting. I found out that we were waiting for others of the group to show up. As usual people were late.
Finally it seemed that people were there. They were getting up and returning. Giving me the hand signal to sit and stay. Just like a dog. I sat and stayed and kept my little plastic glass full of beer waiting for the call to move somewhere else.
Finally I was called to get on the bus. We got a few beers for the road and all loaded onto the Guagua. It was a nice Guagua, it even had air conditioning.
We were on our way. I had no idea how far we were going but I was enjoying the music and everyone laughing and talking. It was for sure a party even thought I really didn't understand much. I knew this for sure.
We stopped at some road stop place. There was a lot of people everywhere. I remember stopping there before when some friends took me to Jarabacoa once when I was on vacation. We got a sandwich and more beer then we were off again.
We pulled into the town of La Vega. There were people and busses everywhere. I had no idea what was going on. I just followed the leader to another Colmado. We all sat down. Got more beer. Some of the group disappeared and some stayed. Some came back and others left. We were there for a few hours. I finally got someone to listen to me and I asked when the Carnival was to start. Tony told me it started a long time ago but it was in the other street. Why didn't anyone tell me!? I came to see the Carnival, I could sit around and drink at home.
I finally got Tony to take me to the next street to see what was going on. He said he didn't like the Carnival. So why was he there? I never did understand that one. But he did take me to the next street.
I couldn't believe the change. Where we were sitting there were many people but this was unreal. There were people everywhere. All mashed in. It was difficult to even move. There was so much excitement in the air. Everyone was loud and moving around like they were frantic.
then I saw it. I was in shock.
There were monster faces. Big ugly masks. Really they were beautifully done but were of the most viscous and toothy demons one could imagine. All larger than life. They were painted brightly and the clothes were all shiny and bright. They were in the center of the street with people running in every direction seeming to want to get away from them.
Then I saw it. Well, I didn't see it until it was too late. One of those masked demons hit me! They hit me hard! I didn't expect it. I heard about getting hit but I had no idea it was like this. The demon had a balloon type thingy in his hand (later I found out it was a dried animal bladder or rubber made into a ball) and he was swinging it around and hitting people on the butt! That thing hurt too. I turned around shocked and saw Tony close behind me laughing. I guess the look of shock on my face was pretty funny told me to stay out of the street. Now why didn't he tell me this before? One can only guess. He liked to see me get my first whack!
Now I understood. You had to watch all around you. Stay off the street and away from the dressed up people. It wasn't as easy as it seemed. With all the humans sandwiched in escape wasn't always easy. There was loud music. Humans everywhere. People yelling. Humans everywhere. Bladders butt-wapping. Humans everywhere. Everyone having a good time. And did I mention humans EVERYWHERE!!??
After about a half hour I gave up fighting the crowd and just let them move me along until I came out the other side and was free. All the while holding on to Tony for dear life and laughing hard. It was great fun. Good thing I wasn't claustrophobic and that I had had a few beers to relax me. I made it our of the crowd and we went back to the Colmado to our seats and another bien fria(beer)to cool off with. This is when they explained to me what this Carnival was about, in English. They must have waited to see my reaction and to get a good laugh (which I did to my family a year later when they got their first Carnival experience also).
It was time to get back onto the Guagua. I had no idea how they knew where ours was but we got there. Got on and situated. The ride home was a little quieter because everyone was tired and maybe a bit sore. All in all I had a great time.
Another new experience to add to my many here in Dominican Republic. I love this country!
My friend Tony and his gang invited me to go to the carnival in La Vega. I really had no idea what to expect but I went anyhow. I really didn't want to leave Sniffy alone the whole day but I did it, worrying about her the entire day. This was my first time to leave her alone for a long time since she turned blind. She was getting around better so I went.
They came and got me and we took a public car to get a Guagua. There were so many cars and people everywhere. I had no idea where I was. Of course we went to the Colmado on the corner and got a few beers. I also got a little bag of some snack (can't remember exactly what it was). The bag had a little plastic toy to put together. I couldn't figure out how to get it together but I'm sure a kid could have done it immediately. I played with this toy while we sat around drinking. I entertained myself a lot, especially when I couldn't understand what anyone was talking about. I'd just go into my own little world until I understood something or until someone spoke directly to me slowly.
I had no idea why we were just sitting around. We got up early. It was about 10AM and we were just sitting. I found out that we were waiting for others of the group to show up. As usual people were late.
Finally it seemed that people were there. They were getting up and returning. Giving me the hand signal to sit and stay. Just like a dog. I sat and stayed and kept my little plastic glass full of beer waiting for the call to move somewhere else.
Finally I was called to get on the bus. We got a few beers for the road and all loaded onto the Guagua. It was a nice Guagua, it even had air conditioning.
We were on our way. I had no idea how far we were going but I was enjoying the music and everyone laughing and talking. It was for sure a party even thought I really didn't understand much. I knew this for sure.
We stopped at some road stop place. There was a lot of people everywhere. I remember stopping there before when some friends took me to Jarabacoa once when I was on vacation. We got a sandwich and more beer then we were off again.
We pulled into the town of La Vega. There were people and busses everywhere. I had no idea what was going on. I just followed the leader to another Colmado. We all sat down. Got more beer. Some of the group disappeared and some stayed. Some came back and others left. We were there for a few hours. I finally got someone to listen to me and I asked when the Carnival was to start. Tony told me it started a long time ago but it was in the other street. Why didn't anyone tell me!? I came to see the Carnival, I could sit around and drink at home.
I finally got Tony to take me to the next street to see what was going on. He said he didn't like the Carnival. So why was he there? I never did understand that one. But he did take me to the next street.
I couldn't believe the change. Where we were sitting there were many people but this was unreal. There were people everywhere. All mashed in. It was difficult to even move. There was so much excitement in the air. Everyone was loud and moving around like they were frantic.
then I saw it. I was in shock.
There were monster faces. Big ugly masks. Really they were beautifully done but were of the most viscous and toothy demons one could imagine. All larger than life. They were painted brightly and the clothes were all shiny and bright. They were in the center of the street with people running in every direction seeming to want to get away from them.
Then I saw it. Well, I didn't see it until it was too late. One of those masked demons hit me! They hit me hard! I didn't expect it. I heard about getting hit but I had no idea it was like this. The demon had a balloon type thingy in his hand (later I found out it was a dried animal bladder or rubber made into a ball) and he was swinging it around and hitting people on the butt! That thing hurt too. I turned around shocked and saw Tony close behind me laughing. I guess the look of shock on my face was pretty funny told me to stay out of the street. Now why didn't he tell me this before? One can only guess. He liked to see me get my first whack!
Now I understood. You had to watch all around you. Stay off the street and away from the dressed up people. It wasn't as easy as it seemed. With all the humans sandwiched in escape wasn't always easy. There was loud music. Humans everywhere. People yelling. Humans everywhere. Bladders butt-wapping. Humans everywhere. Everyone having a good time. And did I mention humans EVERYWHERE!!??
After about a half hour I gave up fighting the crowd and just let them move me along until I came out the other side and was free. All the while holding on to Tony for dear life and laughing hard. It was great fun. Good thing I wasn't claustrophobic and that I had had a few beers to relax me. I made it our of the crowd and we went back to the Colmado to our seats and another bien fria(beer)to cool off with. This is when they explained to me what this Carnival was about, in English. They must have waited to see my reaction and to get a good laugh (which I did to my family a year later when they got their first Carnival experience also).
It was time to get back onto the Guagua. I had no idea how they knew where ours was but we got there. Got on and situated. The ride home was a little quieter because everyone was tired and maybe a bit sore. All in all I had a great time.
Another new experience to add to my many here in Dominican Republic. I love this country!
Friday, February 03, 2006
The Washing Experience
I did buy the machine. Heres the story I wrote soon after my first laundry experience. Hope you get a good laugh reading it as I did when I worte and experienced it.
Dominican Wash Machine!
Well, I did it! I bought a Dominican wash machine. I never used a semiautomatic before...wash machine that is. For those of you who don't know what this Dominican wash machine looks like...its plastic, light weight, has a place to wash on one side and the other side is a spinner to extract the water out of the clothes. I never saw anything like it in USA!
Getting this thing delivered to my house was not as bad as I thought it would be. Using the machine was another story indeed, it was much worse than I ever could have imagined. Lucky for me the instructions were in English or I may still be trying to interpret them. I had so many dirty clothes I couldn't wait to use my new machine.
I proceeded to unpack this fine, what I thought would be, a great and helpful purchase. Since my place was so small I figured I'd just slide it over to the sink to fill and drain it from there. I slid that baby right over to the sink. It was very light. I pulled out the hose, attached it to the back of the machine then went to hook it onto the spigot. Dumb thing didn't fit. Now I had to think for a minute and come up with a new plan. Ah Ha! I attached the garden hose to the outside facet and drug it into the house, stuck it in the machine and commenced filling my fine plastic dream machine.
As I stood back, content, waiting for it to fill, the hose got a life of its own. It flipped right out of the tank. I was right on it! I got the floor a little wet. But hey! No Problema! The floor needed a washing anyhow. I put that wild, whipping hose right back in the tank. I wasn't going to let it get the best of me.
With the tank filled and the soiled clothes agitating wildly in the tank, I was content. All seemed to be going well. The soap was bubbling nicely. The clothes were going to be happy clothes for being washed properly once again.
The first cycle complete I get the supplied drain hose ready so it can do its job. The hose is connected to the bottom of the machine without problems. Then I put that expandable hose in the sink. This made me have to face the next problem. Water doesn't flow up hill. Imagine that! I always thought I was pretty smart but at that moment I knew it was not so. I set the hose down on the floor to think of what to do and to my surprise all the water started running out onto the floor. Now I was feeling really feeling stupid as the soapy water was flowing, quite rapidly I must say, out onto the floor! It took me a few seconds to think of what to do. Then it came to me, run outside and shut the water off, big dummy!
You could never imagine how much water can drain out of a hose in a few seconds! I had a small pool in my home by this time. I got my trusty bucket, that because of some strange enlightment I had the brains to buy. I put the hose inside. The bucket filled up faster than I had anticipated. I had to think fast, how to empty it, hold the hose up, and get it back into position without adding to the flooded floor. Well, let me say, I didn't succeed in my attempt. The small pool was growing rapidly and becoming quite a large pool rapidly. As I lifted the bucket to the sink the water would spill out on the floor. I decided it was futile and just let the water flow onto the floor as it desired. Maybe this is why I see the Dominican women sweeping water out of their houses into the street all the time.
Now the water was emptied from the tank. I got out the directions and read again. They said to remove the clothes from the big tank and put them in the smaller tank. This is the water extractor or centrificar (I think that is how to spell it). I turned it on and it was spinning fast. Then water started pouring out of the machine onto the floor again. So that is what the spinny thing did. It removed the excess water. It did make the clothes quite dry. I was impressed. Much dryer than the hand wringing they were used to receiving. I was really gaining some intellegence this day for sure.
The first load was done.I made clothes clean and created a pond all at the same time. I was doing great! I swept some of the water out the door and I was ready to give it another try. Now that I was a seasoned pro and had the technique down I was ready. I had this thing all figured out, I thought. I decided not to sweep out anymore water just incase it happened again. I had to save my strength just in case there were any more mishaps.
I got the hose in the machine went out to turn on the water. The hose popped out again, but oh well, the floor was already a pond! The machine did its job again and as before it was my turn. The drain hose popped off again.
This time the neighbor was walking by my open door. She saw me on my knees in the flooded kitchen with water shooting out of the machine. I was laughing out loud to myself. She stopped and had a look of shock and amazement blended together on her face. I'm sure she was thinking what is that crazy Gringa doing. She said something, I have no clue what it was because it was all Spanish to me. She started laughing also. Then, of course, she went and got two other people to come see the Americana kneeling in a pool of bubbly water in the middle of her kitchen. They were laughing at me. I was laughing at me. Everybody laughed!
What was Sniffy doing? She heard the laughter and she always loved a good laugh. Her tail would wag and she'd get in what we called her horse shoe position. Her back end curving around almost touching her face. She really had no clue what was going on but she wanted to be involved. She came out of the back of the apartment, stopped at the edge of the pool looking very confused yet happy (she did smile). I don't know how she knew it was the edge of the pond when she was blind. Many times she amazed me, She then decided to enter the water, slipped and fell right in. My poor blind wonder dog Sniffy. Now there is a wet dog and a wet human. People laughing at us from outside the door, and water everywhere. What a site it was.
I was feeling good. I had my first load of wash done. It was hanging on the line on the roof happily soaking up the sun and swaying in the gentile Caribbean breeze. I had a good laugh. Entertained the neighbors. Sniffy and I both had a swim in our own little pool. Sniffy got a bath since she was wet already. The water was swept out of the house, floor and patio clean.
I called the Colmado to bring me a few beers. I had to sit back and reflect on my new experience. I was proud and content. My first Dominican laundry experience and I survived. I just never realized how much water a little plastic wash machine held! I hope this doesn't happen every time I wash or I'm going back to hand washing...it takes less time
Copyright © 2002
Dominican Wash Machine!
Well, I did it! I bought a Dominican wash machine. I never used a semiautomatic before...wash machine that is. For those of you who don't know what this Dominican wash machine looks like...its plastic, light weight, has a place to wash on one side and the other side is a spinner to extract the water out of the clothes. I never saw anything like it in USA!
Getting this thing delivered to my house was not as bad as I thought it would be. Using the machine was another story indeed, it was much worse than I ever could have imagined. Lucky for me the instructions were in English or I may still be trying to interpret them. I had so many dirty clothes I couldn't wait to use my new machine.
I proceeded to unpack this fine, what I thought would be, a great and helpful purchase. Since my place was so small I figured I'd just slide it over to the sink to fill and drain it from there. I slid that baby right over to the sink. It was very light. I pulled out the hose, attached it to the back of the machine then went to hook it onto the spigot. Dumb thing didn't fit. Now I had to think for a minute and come up with a new plan. Ah Ha! I attached the garden hose to the outside facet and drug it into the house, stuck it in the machine and commenced filling my fine plastic dream machine.
As I stood back, content, waiting for it to fill, the hose got a life of its own. It flipped right out of the tank. I was right on it! I got the floor a little wet. But hey! No Problema! The floor needed a washing anyhow. I put that wild, whipping hose right back in the tank. I wasn't going to let it get the best of me.
With the tank filled and the soiled clothes agitating wildly in the tank, I was content. All seemed to be going well. The soap was bubbling nicely. The clothes were going to be happy clothes for being washed properly once again.
The first cycle complete I get the supplied drain hose ready so it can do its job. The hose is connected to the bottom of the machine without problems. Then I put that expandable hose in the sink. This made me have to face the next problem. Water doesn't flow up hill. Imagine that! I always thought I was pretty smart but at that moment I knew it was not so. I set the hose down on the floor to think of what to do and to my surprise all the water started running out onto the floor. Now I was feeling really feeling stupid as the soapy water was flowing, quite rapidly I must say, out onto the floor! It took me a few seconds to think of what to do. Then it came to me, run outside and shut the water off, big dummy!
You could never imagine how much water can drain out of a hose in a few seconds! I had a small pool in my home by this time. I got my trusty bucket, that because of some strange enlightment I had the brains to buy. I put the hose inside. The bucket filled up faster than I had anticipated. I had to think fast, how to empty it, hold the hose up, and get it back into position without adding to the flooded floor. Well, let me say, I didn't succeed in my attempt. The small pool was growing rapidly and becoming quite a large pool rapidly. As I lifted the bucket to the sink the water would spill out on the floor. I decided it was futile and just let the water flow onto the floor as it desired. Maybe this is why I see the Dominican women sweeping water out of their houses into the street all the time.
Now the water was emptied from the tank. I got out the directions and read again. They said to remove the clothes from the big tank and put them in the smaller tank. This is the water extractor or centrificar (I think that is how to spell it). I turned it on and it was spinning fast. Then water started pouring out of the machine onto the floor again. So that is what the spinny thing did. It removed the excess water. It did make the clothes quite dry. I was impressed. Much dryer than the hand wringing they were used to receiving. I was really gaining some intellegence this day for sure.
The first load was done.I made clothes clean and created a pond all at the same time. I was doing great! I swept some of the water out the door and I was ready to give it another try. Now that I was a seasoned pro and had the technique down I was ready. I had this thing all figured out, I thought. I decided not to sweep out anymore water just incase it happened again. I had to save my strength just in case there were any more mishaps.
I got the hose in the machine went out to turn on the water. The hose popped out again, but oh well, the floor was already a pond! The machine did its job again and as before it was my turn. The drain hose popped off again.
This time the neighbor was walking by my open door. She saw me on my knees in the flooded kitchen with water shooting out of the machine. I was laughing out loud to myself. She stopped and had a look of shock and amazement blended together on her face. I'm sure she was thinking what is that crazy Gringa doing. She said something, I have no clue what it was because it was all Spanish to me. She started laughing also. Then, of course, she went and got two other people to come see the Americana kneeling in a pool of bubbly water in the middle of her kitchen. They were laughing at me. I was laughing at me. Everybody laughed!
What was Sniffy doing? She heard the laughter and she always loved a good laugh. Her tail would wag and she'd get in what we called her horse shoe position. Her back end curving around almost touching her face. She really had no clue what was going on but she wanted to be involved. She came out of the back of the apartment, stopped at the edge of the pool looking very confused yet happy (she did smile). I don't know how she knew it was the edge of the pond when she was blind. Many times she amazed me, She then decided to enter the water, slipped and fell right in. My poor blind wonder dog Sniffy. Now there is a wet dog and a wet human. People laughing at us from outside the door, and water everywhere. What a site it was.
I was feeling good. I had my first load of wash done. It was hanging on the line on the roof happily soaking up the sun and swaying in the gentile Caribbean breeze. I had a good laugh. Entertained the neighbors. Sniffy and I both had a swim in our own little pool. Sniffy got a bath since she was wet already. The water was swept out of the house, floor and patio clean.
I called the Colmado to bring me a few beers. I had to sit back and reflect on my new experience. I was proud and content. My first Dominican laundry experience and I survived. I just never realized how much water a little plastic wash machine held! I hope this doesn't happen every time I wash or I'm going back to hand washing...it takes less time
Copyright © 2002
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Colonial Zone Dominican Republic Casandra Award Nominees
Colonial Zone Dominican Republic Casandra Award Nominees
Just saw the Casandra Awards Nominees. It's good to see my close friend, Juan Cuevas on the list for best classical vocals. You go Uncle Juan!!
My first Christmas in Dominican Republic was very interesting. I really didn't have a boyfriend to hang out with his family. Many of my friends came through and included me in their celebrations.
A lawyer friend of mine (who was helping me to get my residencia) took me with him to his families home. They were really nice people and had some great food.
Juan Antonio (the man I was with when Sniffy got hit) came and took me to the park and we had a great time. People kept thinking we were tourists, when hex 100% Dominican. In a Colmado they even tried to charge him tourist prices for a beer. Then when he swore at them in typical Dominican Spanish the price suddenly went down. I learned a lot that day along with some new words to add to my vocabulary..jejee.
Many of the people I met on the computer came and took me out also. All in all it was good and I really didn't miss my old home at all.
I even got to meet the DR1 people at our Christmas party. That was fun meeting some of the people that told me not to move to the country. They told me I'd never last more than 3 months. They thought I was an old lady with my little dog. So I had to wow them a bit. I wore my little black dress and then I was much thinner. This was before I had to have at least a presidente beer a day. We discusses all the important things for example, what was a raccoon pecker (they are always hard by the way), where exactly was the town of Mars, and many more things very important to life as one knows it. I enjoyed meeting these people much.
I did have my computer hooked up by this time so on those boring nights I was on line talking. I liked to go out and walk at night instead of sitting at home but in Julietta it just didn't feel safe. They who lived here all stayed inside their gates and didn't hang out in the streets like in the areas I was used to. The streets were dark and people-less so I couldn't go out far from home. I hated paying for a taxi unless it was necessary. Have to set your priorities when it comes to spending money.
But it was all good. I did have a lot of company and my neightbors were really nice people. My one neighbor was from Trinidad-Tobago and she was a very interesting human for sure.
One thing I didn't understand was there were no Christmas carols. Later I did find out that they just don't sound like the ones we have in USA. So much to learn.
I learned how to do all my laundry by hand also. I thought my hands were going to fall off. Especially trying to wring out bed sheets. That was really tough. But I did it until I decided it was time to go out and buy my first Dominican wash machine.
Just saw the Casandra Awards Nominees. It's good to see my close friend, Juan Cuevas on the list for best classical vocals. You go Uncle Juan!!
My first Christmas in Dominican Republic was very interesting. I really didn't have a boyfriend to hang out with his family. Many of my friends came through and included me in their celebrations.
A lawyer friend of mine (who was helping me to get my residencia) took me with him to his families home. They were really nice people and had some great food.
Juan Antonio (the man I was with when Sniffy got hit) came and took me to the park and we had a great time. People kept thinking we were tourists, when hex 100% Dominican. In a Colmado they even tried to charge him tourist prices for a beer. Then when he swore at them in typical Dominican Spanish the price suddenly went down. I learned a lot that day along with some new words to add to my vocabulary..jejee.
Many of the people I met on the computer came and took me out also. All in all it was good and I really didn't miss my old home at all.
I even got to meet the DR1 people at our Christmas party. That was fun meeting some of the people that told me not to move to the country. They told me I'd never last more than 3 months. They thought I was an old lady with my little dog. So I had to wow them a bit. I wore my little black dress and then I was much thinner. This was before I had to have at least a presidente beer a day. We discusses all the important things for example, what was a raccoon pecker (they are always hard by the way), where exactly was the town of Mars, and many more things very important to life as one knows it. I enjoyed meeting these people much.
I did have my computer hooked up by this time so on those boring nights I was on line talking. I liked to go out and walk at night instead of sitting at home but in Julietta it just didn't feel safe. They who lived here all stayed inside their gates and didn't hang out in the streets like in the areas I was used to. The streets were dark and people-less so I couldn't go out far from home. I hated paying for a taxi unless it was necessary. Have to set your priorities when it comes to spending money.
But it was all good. I did have a lot of company and my neightbors were really nice people. My one neighbor was from Trinidad-Tobago and she was a very interesting human for sure.
One thing I didn't understand was there were no Christmas carols. Later I did find out that they just don't sound like the ones we have in USA. So much to learn.
I learned how to do all my laundry by hand also. I thought my hands were going to fall off. Especially trying to wring out bed sheets. That was really tough. But I did it until I decided it was time to go out and buy my first Dominican wash machine.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Friend Finding
Colonial Zone Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Helpful survival hints
Since I didn't have many friends in Dominican Republic so I had to go out friend finding. Walk around and talk to people. Get to know my surroundings. Make my self at home in my new country. So Sniffy and I went out on many walk abouts. Of course on all our walks we had to stop in the Colmados and have a liquid refreshment. Sniffy got a funda de auga(Bag of water),a plastic glass, and a piece of pan de auga (bread). I got a Presidente pequina (small beer). Then we'd talk. Sniffy talked also. People always loved her. She really didn't think she was a dog so she joined in the conversations with a bark or a body move which made many a person laugh. People knew her name before they knew mine.
We walked everywhere. Started out in the morning when it was cool. Many times returned home after the sun went down. One day we walked from Enchanche Julietta to Gazcue then down to the Malecon. Ended up at (can't remember the name right now) the place that had the big beer mug on their billboard along the Malecon. Since there weren't amny people there yet they permtted Sniffy to be inside. We sat near the doorway. She was so tired from the walk that she didn't talk much. These 2 men came in and sat near us. We started talking. They were really nice humans. We all decided to go and get some mondongo. It was great because I was going to have to get a taxi home. It was way to far to walk to return (we had that problem alot. Walked so far that when it was time to return we had to get a taxi). So we went out with these men. Which ended up that one of them, Tony, has remained one of my closest friends to this day. I have met many of his friends and we have all become very close. So friend finding does have its good points.
I went with Sniffy to the first Colmado I ever went to on my first trip to Santo Domingo. They remembered me and one guy there even remembered my dogs name from ne telling him stories of her when I was on vacation.
Once walking, I was having a bad back day, A man started talking to us. He looked familiar. It ended up he was one of the owners of a famous restaurant in Mirador del Sur. He drove Sniffy and I home. Sniffy got to ride on fine leather seats that day!
We went to visit some people I met on the computer who , it ended up, lived one street over from me. Sniffy got to ride on an elevator that day. She didn't even seem to mind.
We walked everywhere. Every direction. Met good and not so good humans.But it was all good for me. I was where I wanted to live. Where I felt like I belonged. Where I could take Sniffy into a store with me . She was even permitted into some of the cafeterias with me. She seemed to like her new home also. She was the star of the Colmados and someone once gave me the title the Colmado Queen (jejej).
Next came Christmas...
Since I didn't have many friends in Dominican Republic so I had to go out friend finding. Walk around and talk to people. Get to know my surroundings. Make my self at home in my new country. So Sniffy and I went out on many walk abouts. Of course on all our walks we had to stop in the Colmados and have a liquid refreshment. Sniffy got a funda de auga(Bag of water),a plastic glass, and a piece of pan de auga (bread). I got a Presidente pequina (small beer). Then we'd talk. Sniffy talked also. People always loved her. She really didn't think she was a dog so she joined in the conversations with a bark or a body move which made many a person laugh. People knew her name before they knew mine.
We walked everywhere. Started out in the morning when it was cool. Many times returned home after the sun went down. One day we walked from Enchanche Julietta to Gazcue then down to the Malecon. Ended up at (can't remember the name right now) the place that had the big beer mug on their billboard along the Malecon. Since there weren't amny people there yet they permtted Sniffy to be inside. We sat near the doorway. She was so tired from the walk that she didn't talk much. These 2 men came in and sat near us. We started talking. They were really nice humans. We all decided to go and get some mondongo. It was great because I was going to have to get a taxi home. It was way to far to walk to return (we had that problem alot. Walked so far that when it was time to return we had to get a taxi). So we went out with these men. Which ended up that one of them, Tony, has remained one of my closest friends to this day. I have met many of his friends and we have all become very close. So friend finding does have its good points.
I went with Sniffy to the first Colmado I ever went to on my first trip to Santo Domingo. They remembered me and one guy there even remembered my dogs name from ne telling him stories of her when I was on vacation.
Once walking, I was having a bad back day, A man started talking to us. He looked familiar. It ended up he was one of the owners of a famous restaurant in Mirador del Sur. He drove Sniffy and I home. Sniffy got to ride on fine leather seats that day!
We went to visit some people I met on the computer who , it ended up, lived one street over from me. Sniffy got to ride on an elevator that day. She didn't even seem to mind.
We walked everywhere. Every direction. Met good and not so good humans.But it was all good for me. I was where I wanted to live. Where I felt like I belonged. Where I could take Sniffy into a store with me . She was even permitted into some of the cafeterias with me. She seemed to like her new home also. She was the star of the Colmados and someone once gave me the title the Colmado Queen (jejej).
Next came Christmas...
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