September 15, 2010
Day 11
Today was a long day and we didn’t leave the office until some time after 8:30. I enjoy working but after a certain time my brain just stops functioning properly. I was working on summarizing some articles (originally in Spanish but the summary was in English) that people have been collecting about maternal mortality in the local newspapers. In the last 30 days or so there has been at least 10 articles. I also continued my research project and that is always interesting too. During out lunch break we always pick up the kids from school (around 3:15pm) and today we came across more kids asking for money. This time there were two young girls who looked close to Cynthia’s (Teresa’s daughter) age. 12 year old girls should be in school or at home, not in the middle of streets asking people in cars for money. Teresa hates when people give the kids money because that only encourages them to keep doing it. After work we went back to paradise aka the supermarket called Bravo. I should really consider investing in the grocery store industry.
September 16
Day 12
Today Teresa and I went to the clinic in Monte Plata. It is a very poor town about an hour from Santo Domingo. The drive there was beautiful. The land is so green and there are beautiful mountains in the distance. There are a lot of trees and cutting them down is still frowned upon here (thank goodness for that). On the way we passed two MLB training facilities; one for the Mariners and another for the Brewers. That reminded me that I already miss watching the Yankees. Luckily, I get to see people wearing Yankee hats all the time here. After our scenic drive we arrived at the clinic and I was welcomed so warmly. Everyone at the clinic is so sweet. I must have hugged about 10 people there today. They talk to you like you are a family member. It also helped that they all knew Z (or Susi!) and with that connection they liked me even more. One of the nurses gave me a tour of the clinic and spoke slowly so I could understand almost everything. “Muy lento, por favor” ßThat is how I tell people to speak slowly to me. Yes, funny that I am asking someone to speak slowly to me when everyone knows I am the one with the rapid speech problem. (My only competition is my cousin, Grace. I think it is genetic because my mom speaks quickly too) I also got to meet the people who donated the land for the clinic. They were an older couple and they were just the sweetest and cutest pair.
Teresa, Angela and I went to the SeNaSa office (National Health Insurance in the Dominican Republic) in Monte Plata but the person we were initially looking for wasn’t there. Instead we stayed and chatted for 45 minutes with a different woman from SeNaSa who thought the clinic was just fabulous. We had lunch at Angela’s house next to the clinic and of course that was delicious. Angela runs the Monte Plata clinic and she is so incredibly nice. I met her little daughter and she was so energetic and adorable. When my aunt was here, Angela was pregnant with her and now she is here and ready to chat! Right before we left Angela and I picked some guava from the tree outside her house. I had a fresh fruit juice with my lunch and I was wondering what it was the whole time. As soon as we were close to the trees I could smell them and I knew that was what it was. They are so sweet and delicious and she gave me a bag to take back with me. I learned a lot about the daily operations at the clinic and I hope to go back to learn even more. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go back when the employees literally SING songs together. I felt like I was in a musical and it was great.
Fun Facts:
1. On the way to Monte Plata there was a little boy selling little bags of nuts and I thought that was quite thrifty of him: Buy in bulk, repack in small bags and sell for more than they are worth.
2. Hannah Montana was on the TV at the clinic and that made me smile. (Yes, I really am 22 years old)
3. Everyone here has coffee in these tiny little cups. I need to take a picture to show you the difference between a United States cup of coffee and a Dominican Republic cup of coffee.
4. There are so many dogs that just walk around the streets.
5. The stray cats are helpful because they eat rats. Gross but quite useful.
6. I realized that the drivers here are actually very talented. I haven’t witnessed any accidents yet (knock on wood) but they are always swerving and maneuvering into these crazy formations.
7. The Green Apple Man that I mentioned in a previous blog was in Monte Plata too! OK, it may have been his cousin, but still. I love those guys. (picture coming soon)
Mosquito Bite Count: 3 new bites since yesterday
Peace,
Jaclyn
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