Ya tu sabes Coconaaaa me entiendo mano

As my summer with VISIONS Service Adventures comes to a close it is hard to recap the whole experience. The programs came and went in a flash, but not without totally experiencing this country and learning more about my strengths and weaknesses than I thought possible in such a short period of time. VISIONS of the DR truely has a community built behind it that makes the experience extremely enriching for both the participants and the staff. I am greeted every morning by a hug and a kiss on the cheek from out neighbor/father of our director/maestro at the work site, I can´t leave the house without hearing my name or my new adopted nickmame ¨Coco naaaaaaa,¨and the kids and staff are constanly sought out by the neighborhood kids and friends.

The Dominican Republic where:

:Sleeping and sweating is a way of life. For those who didn't know... It's HOT here and some nights with no power (thus no fan) left me in a lovely bath of my own sweat.
:Banter is the only way to have a real converstaion with someone. Dominicans have a lovely way of conflict resolution that only ends with smiles and laughter and everyone feeling stronger after a bit of verbal abuse.
:Music and dance IS the culture.
:Checkers is an itensely competative game.
:You have to proove your way as a woman..Machismo dominates. Many times I had to fight off neighborhood boys to tote things around. 
:Fresh fruit juice costs about $0.50 AND they reconize me at the window.
:Coconuts are everywhere! Trees, beaches with straws, cookies, and rice.
:I have adopted the name Coconut because of my obsession with coconuts and coconut water or anything coconut flavored. Coco naaaaaaaaa is something I respond to faster than my own name. 
:A brunette is concidered a blonde. After many debates with a coworker I convinced him to call me morena instead of rubia.
:Rice cooked with Con Con at the bottom by far surpasses any other rice I have ever tasted. For those of who haven´t tried it they let the rice sit and a lot of it cooks to the bottom. This makes a hard and flavorful rice which they call ¨con con.¨ I have been told that I will be remembered as the Coco girl-Coco, con con, and Cocacola.
:The locals have a hard time drinking anything but cold water.
:Bachata and Merengue music can be heard and danced to on every street corner. Bachata is easily my new favorite dance, it has so much feeling behind it and is just plain old fun!
:People are more than willing to lend a helping hand at the drop of a hat than any other type culture I have confronted.
:It is not everywhere that you get escorted to the dentist by their son and treated with family homemade juice while waiting.
:Last minute decissions to go out dancing or to travel to the North Coast are unbeatable. Especially when you pull up to the beach at sunrise.

:Outdoor Salsa festivals happen every Sunday. Their is so much spirit and pride behind the celebration that it just hooks you to the Dominican culture right then and there.
:Living, working, and playing with the same people everyday really builds a tight and understanding community.

:The locals serve Coca-Cola for guests... No matter what hour of the day. Numerous mornings I was visits people and they sent people to the store to buy a good ol' Coke to share with me and my buddies.

:If you run... You run to win. I have had numerous people extremely confused my my love for running and fun dress up races, yet my lack of metals to show for it.  

:Bucket flushes and bucket showers are your best bet for maintaining a clean toilet bowl and body.

:Street light, thus power, in houses comes and goes on and off on an hourly. 

:Plantains and or yucca accompany most every authentic food. The average family of five can survive on about $7.50 USD a day.
 

As I wrap up VISIONS and head for vacation in this country. I am more than thankful for a real peak into the Dominican world... Now off to see how the tourist see it!