Monday November 1, 2010
Day 59
I worked on my two month summary today and finally finished it. It was originally four pages but I cut it down to two pages. I had so much to say but I figured no one would want to read something that long. I also worked on translating an article about last week’s visit. Project HOPE made the news of course! We stayed at the office until almost 8:30pm and then went to my favorite grocery store to get some things for tomorrow. Tomorrow they are having a special mass at the clinic and the Nuncio is coming.
Tuesday November 2, 2010
Day 60
Today was a very busy morning. Teresa and I went to the grocery store to get more things for the mass and the little snack after. Teresa had something else to do so I was in charge of preparing the food. We wanted to provide some refreshments to eat after the mass for the caballeros and damas (knights and ladies) of the Order of Malta and of course for the Nuncio too. I cut about 5 pounds of cheese and made it look lovely of course. (Thanks mom for teaching me about food presentation.) I helped prepare the room and set the table as well.
The mass was really nice. There were probably about 60 people who came, many of which were employees from the clinic. Earlier in the day, a few people transformed the clinic into a beautiful little chapel. It is amazing what a few white sheets and flowers can do. The Nuncio is like the ambassador for the Dominican Republic to the Pope. In other words, he is really important! He is actually from Poland and was the Nuncio for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan before his time here. They move around like other ambassadors and I think he is getting a good deal serving in the Dominican Republic.
After the mass we went to the conference room for the refreshments (only the important people like the Order of Malta people and of course, Jaclyn). One of the caballeros introduced me to the Nuncio and that was special. He is really down to earth and speaks English too! The secretary to the Nuncio (a priest) overheard and started speaking in English too and asked me what school I graduated from and when I told him of course he replied “Oh, IU, the Hoosiers!” I found out after that he was from Nebraska (Cornhuskers). I could obviously tell when they were both speaking during the mass that they weren’t native Spanish speakers but for some reason I didn’t think the priest from Nebraska was from the US. Oh those Americans can be so sneaky with their accents!
In the afternoon I observed in the administration department. I learned a few things but ended up leaving early because it had been raining a lot all day and Matteo was afraid it was going to get worse. Remember that thing I wrote a few weeks ago about people being afraid of the rain in this city? Still true.
Fun Facts:
1. Tomas is making me nervous. I have an important visitor coming Friday and fun plans with friends on Sunday. I am also worried about the people in Haiti and I am hoping it turns away from Haiti.
2. The Nuncio and Secretary had a little traveling mass kit, complete with all of the things they needed for the mass and it was packed neatly in a suitcase.
3. I was eating my soup on Tuesday and encountered a big piece of meat. I thought it was fat on the bone so I didn’t eat it. Teresa asked me why I wasn’t eating it and I told her it was because it was all fat. She said that it wasn’t fat and that it was cartilage. I still was unsure and then she told me it was pig feet. After that I politely declined to eat it. This is where not knowing about meat really can be dangerous.
4. People wash bananas here.
Peace,
Jaclyn
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