Hola,
Well, this blog is going to be about how difficult immersion is. Yes i have stated it. Just living in a different country
does not force you to change. If you choose you may continue to be a gringa with no clue as to what is happening in the world
around you. I have swiftly (this is a joke) realized that my membership into this program is not going to create an immersion
experience. The first reason is that i live with Americans, eat sleep and yes even go to the bathroom the American way. (That
way involves toilet paper if you really want to know!)
This relization has led me to a few decisions, the first being a willingness to claim responsibility for how involved i am
in the culture of the DR. Unfortunatley i am not allowed to go anywhere alone and typically i must be with someone else
in our group. (So please pray for a Dominican girl that has nothing better to do than hang out with a gringa.)
My second decision is not yet a decision but i would like prayer for it. I want to fast from english. Yes this sounds silly
but i am feeling God calling me to radical obedience. I want to be pushed outside my comfort zone and this is what just might
push me over the edge.
The third decision is to limit the amount of time i spend contacting the outside world. Whether it be phone conversations
or internet access my heart soul and body (this includes mind) needs to be present with the people here. I am here to learn
their needs and pour into them (this does not mean i wont be in any contact just less)
That is my talk on immersion, i am happy to report that i am making friends with two older Dominican women. Unfortunatley
both want to speak english more than practice spanish. (Pray that my courage would endure.)
Now for a story!!!!
I talked a little about how i am working a part time intership in the Old Folks home, this is because the after school internship
does not start for an hour after my alloted time. (There are many stories about that to.) But the nursing home, Imagine a one
level cement house. This house has a small backyard with tiny walking trails covered over by weeds and trash and a pavilion
that resembles a tribel hut without walls. The front of the nursing home has a raised platform with a tin roof covering where
the residents sit passing the time by yelling at the people passing by through the 12 foot barbwire fencing surrounding the
home and “gardens”. Whether this is to keep the residents in or people out i have not clarified yet. But when brought up in
discussion the single most know english word is presented many times. (F..k)
Well, i was hanging out with some of the residents, most of which are either mentally handicapped, unable to care for
themselves or abandon by family members for unknown reasons. And Isabell (had brought pineapple or pina) they were very excited
The dating couple (novios) Cleorpha and Miollo fed eachother, missing most of the time but it was cute because how often do
80 year olds feed eachother.
Well besides that I was walking to clean the dishes and Elainia (a cute little lady with a sort of mental inabilities). She
began to totter around beind me mumbling “Dame un peso!” which translates to “Give me money!” This is pretty normal but as she
began to follow me i began to recieve a little surprise. I got the FULL PAT DOWN, official hands on the hood what you got,
pat down. If i had had anything on my person this little lady would have found it. Satisfied that i was not withholding
pesos from her she gave me a, thanks for the good one grunt, and moved on to her next victim.
They tell you to watch the men around here, but apparently its the older ladies that you need to watch for or they will give
you the skinny (that was a pun for Abby).
Thats all for now but there is shure to be much more later!
I love you all be safe…
lov emily
