October 6, 2010
Day 32
I was supposed to go to the clinic today but instead I stayed at the office. There was a bunch of stuff going on that was more important than my ride to the clinic so I really didn’t mind. I was happy to stay at the office and do some research. I researched more about breast cancer awareness in the Dominican Republic as well as dental hygiene education for children. Those are the two things I am focusing on now when I am not at the clinic. I am trying to learn about all of the prevention, advocacy, fundraising, etc. that goes on here for breast cancer and then put it in some form of a presentation for Tennis for Life. Tennis for Life is a breast cancer support group that my mom is in (and loves to devote her entire life to when it is time to make the annual ad journal). Now, a word from our sponsors: “Tennis for Life is offered in cooperation with the Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center. Our non-profit organization offers tennis lessons, organized tennis matches, peer networking groups and professionally-facilitated discussion groups to unite and assist breast cancer survivors in their recovery.”
My mom’s friend, Dr. Mary, donated toothpaste and some activity sheets that I am going to use one day in the clinic for a little dental class (with the help of a dentist of course). I have been trying to find good teaching materials in Spanish that I could use for the class. I would like it to be a poster that I could leave in the clinic for future use. It needs to be mostly pictures (the kids are young) and easy to understand. I might have to create my own.
In the evening, I went to the Dominican Fiesta to use the gym. I ran for a while and then went for a swim. Note: goggles at night make it extremely difficult to see. The lights in the pool combined with the goggles make it nearly impossible to see anything underwater. Weird. After the pool I went to my favorite supermarket to pick up the essentials: yogurt, cereal, milk, carrots, and fruit. We ran in to people we knew at the supermarket and while we were chatting outside something bad happened…a centipede was crawling on my foot and I thought it was a string from the bottom of my pants and boy was I wrong. Those things are so ugly!
What I learned today: crossing borders with medical equipment is not easy.
October 7, 2010
Day 33
First of all…HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM! I am missing the birthday festivities as usual but I will celebrate with her when she and my dad come to visit me next week. Do they have ice cream cake in the Dominican Republic? I must figure that out.
Today was a bit more interesting than yesterday. We had two meetings this morning and I was a bit unprepared. Before I begin I must say that I did not know where these meetings were. Teresa drives everywhere so the location usually isn’t important to me. Our first meeting was with UNICEF and when we went through a metal detector I knew I was in trouble. I didn’t have any form of ID with me and that was required for entry. Well actually, I had my Dominican Fiesta Gym Membership card with me. Believe it or not, that worked for my ID. Side note: my named is spelled incorrectly on my gym membership card. The meeting with UNICEF went very well. The gentleman we met with was helpful and very knowledgeable. I learned today that people in UNICEF only stay in certain countries for a short period of time and then must move to another country. When they have a bad country assignment, they only stay there a few years but when it is a better country they stay there longer. This man was in Dominican Republic for 5 years (because it is a nice place) and will now go to Paraguay for a few years. It is an interesting way of life and I am still trying to decide if I could do that.
Our next meeting was with USAID and of course it was on US Embassy property. I definitely wasn’t going to get in there with my gym membership card. Or was I? Sure enough, they let me in. They called me back to ask me for my passport number or license number but I didn’t know either of those. (Everyone couldn’t believe I didn’t know my passport number, sorry guys, I don’t travel to other countries every other week like you Project HOPE people) When all else failed they asked me for a telephone number and that worked. Not only was I nervous that they wouldn’t let me in but I was nervous because I had to answer all of these questions in Spanish. I think it was my innocent look and nifty card that swayed their decision. After we were checked for guns and other dangerous items we handed over our phones, cameras, computers, etc. and were allowed inside. The gym card saves the day again. The meeting was interesting and I understood 100% of it! Oh right, it was in English. The woman we spoke with is responsible for the maternal-child health program and Project HOPE and USAID have a lot in common that they could work on together.
My homework from Teresa: Learn my passport number (did that at lunch), blood type, and blood pressure.
Fun Facts:
1. In between meetings we had a late breakfast/early lunch and I tried mangu for the first time. It is mashed up bananas or plantains (it depends) that are cooked and seasoned. Since it was early it was served with scrambled eggs. It was delicious and I am sure it was very healthy! (Not)
2. There is a big market area on the street next to the office and the people leave their stuff there at night. Teresa said that some of the people sleep there and look after all of the goods.
3. It is much more fun to watch Yankee playoff games on TV. Sorry Gamecast but the anticipation is painful.
4. When hotels advertise here, under amenities they list “hot/cold water bathrooms”. Some places only have cold water bathrooms so I guess that it is good to list.
5. Wheat/Gluten free food here is even more expensive than it is in the US. Teresa is always amazed at my grocery bill.
Peace,
Jaclyn
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