Mojitos on the Beach...

Just Breathe

Yes, more airplane safety. Following the instructions on how to correctly place the oxygen masks, the flight crew announces that although the airbag might not inflate, oxygen is flowing through the mask. In life some times things go so wrong so often that it appears as though our oxygen mask is not delivering this element that keeps us alive. The truth is that air is indeed flowing through these masks. We get so caught up in the negative things in our lives that we ignore or forget all the beautiful things that surround us. One needs to accept that beneath all the hurt, the pain, and the grief there is beauty. So rest assured that although it may appear like everything is falling apart and your oxygen mask is not inflating, air is flowing through your mask.

My Trip to the Movies

10/06

Today I went on my weekly date to the movie theaters with my girl friend (pana fria or manita) and a really cool thing happened. During the movie the protagonist mentioned that his ex-fiancé was Dominican. Had I been in the States, I would have had the biggest grin on my face from so much excitement that my people were being represented in an American flick (even if it was a minor character and even if they only mentioned her Dominicaness once). But nobody would’ve been able to relate. However here in the DR, everyone felt the same way I feel back in the U.S. The entire audience went berserks. Everyone was ecstatic. At that moment I felt what I feel when I am back in Boston after I’ve been at school (in PA) for a long time. I look around and notice that all the license plates around me say Massachusetts and I get excited. Then a few seconds later, I’m like, “Hey dummy, you’re back in Massachusetts, remember?” Yup, that happens to me here all the time, but not so much with license plates, but with people’s faces. I am still getting use to the fact that almost 99% of people around me are Dominican.

Some Thoughts

10/09

So to make things even more complicated, I am not only an American girl in a foreign country that’s actually not that foreign because I was born here and I have strong cultural ties to this place, but I am also an immigrant yet again. Yes you read what I just wrote correctly—I am an immigrant, AGAIN. I know it’s probably a little hard to keep up with these terms, but I moved here to an unfamiliar place trying to find employment and a way of life without really understanding the cultural rules or why they exist. So I am somehow (don’t ask—at least not yet) an expat and a native at the same time—check that out an oxymoron that might make sense once I can figure it out.

Mi Tio

10/07

On Tuesday I spent the day with my paternal uncle. I’ve only seen him a few times throughout my post-Dominican Republic life. We lived in the same house when I was born and I asked him to tell me what I was like when I was a baby. He said I use to dance a lot and nod my head to the sound of music. He’s a cool guy, my uncle. As I browsed through his music collection, CDs to be exact—remember those? Anyways, the kid has really good taste is music; I think I get my feel for music from him.

Preguntas y mas preguntas...

10/08

I sit in my room thinking once more, what the h am I doing here again? Then my brain says, “well duh silly, you are here because you want to get to know your country better and understand where you came from, you know so that you can know where you’re going and all.” My heart concurs with a soft whisper “That’s right sweetie.”

It’s almost been a month and for those who know me, they know I have the names of the streets that surround me down by heart. I can walk these streets with my eyes closed with no problem (don’t worry I haven’t really tried it, just trying to make the point that I am really good with directions!). Soon enough I’ll memorize a map of the entire country and learn how to get to and from each corner of it. I start thinking, “knowing my way around,” is that really what I came here to do?

I then turn to ALL the major newspapers in the country and try to read up on my Dominican news. What do I get? Well for starters, they killed this person in this town, gas prices are up, and lets see what else, oh yeah the President was visiting the U.S. So this stuff is just news, same old news I would get if I were to open up a newspaper in just about any country in the world. So now what you might ask, well I am still figuring that out.

Where is your oxygen mask?

“Although rare, if the cabin pressure seizes, an air mask will fall down. Please make sure to put yours on before assisting someone else.” While this might sound pretty obvious, in life we get so caught up in helping others that we forget to put on our mask so that we too can breathe. Being here for me means taking the first steps in putting on that mask and allowing myself to breathe. It’s different for everyone, but it is essential; you need to breathe in order to live. To those selfless souls out there, no need to worry; know that once you have adjusted your own mask, you can assist others with theirs.

If you are a frequent flyer...

After the speech that was given at Baccalaureate, I was very attentive when the flight crew spoke (in my skeptical mind, they were speaking in codes and in reality they were trying to give us advice on life). The first thing they bring to our attention is that it is important to listen to these suggestions even if we are frequent flyers. Human beings have the misconception that just because they engage in something many times, they know everything there is to know about it. But on the contrary, every time I revisit a book, a movie, or a place, I learn something new that for reason or another I missed the previous time. Lesson: always listen, always pay attention, and always be attentive even if you are a frequent flyer.

Tranquility in Playa Bayahibe

"The nearest exit might be behind you"

During the graduation ceremonies this year many people said interesting things in hopes that their words would motivate us to lead successful lives. Many of the messages included “don’t give up, keep going,” “stay strong during difficult times,” and of course the famous “always follow your dreams” line. One of these messages however, really stuck to me and has remained on my mind the entire summer. The speaker at Baccalaureate said to remember what the stewardess tells us on an airplane, “Your nearest exit might be behind you.” This completely challenged the idea of ‘always look forward, never look behind’ when in fact the way out might be behind us. Many immigrants who leave their countries in search for a better life in America (or any “developed/ing" country for that matter) see going back as a damaging set back (understandably so, considering the terrible economical and political state of their respective countries). I consider returning back to this country, my country (?), as the nearest exit that happens to be behind me. Ever since that speech, my plane rides have been very philosophically entertaining, as I now pay a lot more attention to all of the wise things that the stewardess has to say.

Bella Compañera

Las Palmas de Playa Bayahibe

Home Sweet Home?

I still feel like an American girl in a foreign country and not like an immigrant who returned home. I hope that this feeling will change as time passes and I begin to find a little of myself in the faces of others, in the rhythm of the merengue and bachata, and in the taste of La Bandera Dominicana (the Dominican Flag: rice, beans, and meat). It’s only my third day here and I understand that my feelings will continue to evolve as the time goes by; but for now, I am blessed to be here and to have this opportunity to live, to learn, to love, and to really appreciate all that surrounds me, including the terrible smells of dead kittens and nasty trash.

Mi Primer Dia en La Republica Dominicana

First I would like to apologize for neglecting the blogger sphere for so long. I am still figuring out how I can have regular Internet connection without paying the $1,800 pesos (about $50 USD) of wireless every month, yes I am now thinking in pesos and not dollars because I have no choice!

My first official day at my new place was great. As I was walking towards the apartment, I noticed that there was a bright yellow Nissan SUV, exactly the same vehicle that my mother drives. Seeing this right before inserting the keys into my new lock, gave me a comforting feeling that I had arrived at the correct place. After inspecting the apartment and getting acclimated with my surroundings, I started up my laptop and attempted to borrow Internet connection from a neighbor. What did I see? The first and only name that pops up on the list of available networks has the last name Contreras. Weird. Unfortunately, her server was blocked, so I was unable to log on.

There are things that I will definitely have to get use to like the cold showers and the aggravating mosquitoes and ants. However, my apartment is amazing in its own unique ways. I can’t really compare it to an apartment in the US because I guess it just doesn’t compare. Things here are different and undoubtedly special, so instead of comparing them to what I had before, I simply embrace all of the particularities that I enjoy. It is a small place with a small kitchen, a living room, dinning space, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. I have decorated the walls with some of my pictures from my travels and some of the pictures I took of the Santo Domingo the last time I was here. Pasito a pasito...step by step.

Fabia Oliveira

A great friend, Fabia Oliveira just joined the blogger community!

"I'm starting to Write about what it's like to chase after your dreams when things in your life may make it harder to reach them. And hoping there are others out there that feel the same but are still chasing them regardless, and sharing what experiences and opportunities are heading my way because I refuse to stop listening to my heart." ~Fabia

Check her out at www.mrslivingthenewdream.blogspot.com