What time is it? Wait.....what day is it?!

So I definitely know when it's during the week and I have training, and I know when we start and get out....but that's pretty much it. Dominicans don't believe in clocks! I have a wristwatch but don't wear it anymore because the safety and security session freaked me out too much and I can't really look at my phone during work. It's actually very nice not worrying about what day it is, when something is starting, counting the minutes until the next hour, etc. You just go when it's time to go! Whatta concept.

It was pretty funny, last weekend about 10 of us got together and someone asked what the actual date was and not one of us knew! It went something like this, "Well I know it's Sunday....and Tuesday was the 20th? Wait, was that Tuesday? When did we get here? Today is Sunday, right?". Eventually we figured it out (after looking at someone's phone), but it was nice to know that everyone else was on the same page as me.

I've officially been here for 10 days, but it feels like it's been at least 3 or 4 weeks. I'm starting to get used to living in Pantoja. I feel more comfortable walking around and talking to the kids playing in the street, and the roosters/dogs at 5 am don't even wake me up anymore! Spanish with my host mom has gotten a ton better, she has slowed down a lot and now points to things and helps me understand when I look confused.

Earlier this week we were assigned site visits to current volunteers, and I am visiting the wonderful Erin and Tyler Kesler in Pedernales! When I got my invitation, I stalked Peace Corps Dominican Republic hashtags and found Erin's instagram and she gave me her email. She's helped me tons in figuring out what to bring/how to prepare these past 6 months and now I get to finally meet them! I leave Thursday, and it's about a 5 hour bus ride by myself, but fingers crossed I'll be ok.

I'm missing America a ton, and I'm hoping that once I get into a routine and I'm placed in permanent housing that will go away a little bit. We lost another person this week, they're dropping like flies! Hopefully after we go to the campo for 5 weeks we won't lose anymore, but some people may not like campo life and want to leave. So scary to think that it's possible to make that life altering decision to leave, I'm praying to God that I'll be strong enough to handle everything and hang in there!

August 19, 2013: Day before staging

'Twas the day before staging, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring.....just kidding, I'm going CRAZY! No matter how much one prepares for leaving the country for 27 months, there always seems to be something else to do up until the minute you leave. Format/load hard drive, shop for last minute clothes, cancel phone service, straighten out loans, bother people for that check they were supposed to send you months ago....hard to believe I've been working on these things all summer and they're still not done!

 It seriously feels like last week I had just graduated from City Year Orlando and I was gearing up to enjoy my summer of travel and relaxation before heading off. Actually, feels like last week I was reading the email with my invitation and everyone in the Walker Middle School team room was singing the "Megan/Spongebob" song and celebrating. HOW WAS THAT ALMOST 5 MONTHS AGO?! Trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this is really happening tomorrow. I vividly remember hearing about the Peace Corps for the first time when I was 15, one of my friends explained the program and was considering it when she got older. I was immediately intrigued by it and went online to read the requirements and current PCV stories. Better question: How was that 8 years ago?? I guess some ideas never go away. 

Currently, I'm on a bus from NYC back to Washington, D.C. and I'm thinking back to the very beginning of my summer. I did a TON of things from May- August. Brief outline: Ocala -> Orlando -> Rhode Island -> Miami -> North Carolina -> South Carolina -> Washington, D.C. -> New York City. I traveled a bunch and saw many important people in 3 months, it was wonderful! 

However, throughout all these adventures, I will never forget the Medical Office ordeal I went through around May/June. Quick overview: I was in the process of getting physical exams, vaccinations, and whatever I needed to be medically cleared and hit a major road bump. I have a slight peanut allergy and the medical office in the Dominican Republic told me that peanuts were "unavoidable" and that my application needed to be "put on hold until I was able to be relocated". WHAT?! I can't even begin to explain the panic that ensued. I had turned down jobs and basically turned my life around for this, and it was going to be taken away all because of peanuts (for perspective, my allergy is less than a class one out of six, I eat peanuts all the time). After much time spent in doctor's offices, I received and submitted a doctor's note to my medical portal with a bunch of prayers they would lift the hold....and obviously they did!

You know those huge ordeals you go through and you tell yourself you'll never forget how hard this was, etc, and then you kind of move on and forget after it's all said and done? Not this time. I'll probably remember the feeling of this email just as much as I remember reading the actual invitation. Now for the fun stuff:

Bristol, Rhode Island the night before July 4th. Not bad RI, you exceeded my very low expectations of a good night out. Now if only we had taken that picture with Brad Marchand instead of talking to him about the spaghettios with hot dogs we were going to eat when we got home. Seriously, that happened. 

Blount's Market, Water Street, Warren Rhode Island. 

Next stop: Miami with my number one! Every time I come here and see this girl it's the time of my life. We've been doing this since high school and every time it gets better and better. First flight back from the DR will be stopping in Miami first :) 

So very obviously killin' it in the DJ booth. Professional enough someone put headphones on me!

After the chaos that was South Florida, road trip with my parents to North Carolina to see my grandma. 12 hours in a car there and back with my parents: not nearly as hard as expected. 

Hit up the zoo in NC and my dad wanted to go through the dinosaur exhibit, but they only come in a ticket package that included a carousel ride. Give the ticket to a kid or ride the carousel myself? RIDE IT! I'm going to be a wonderful youth volunteer. 

Spent the day/night in Charleston, SC. Deceivingly awesome aquarium, but everyone there is ridiculously nice. It's weird. 

Mr. Leo on one of the many trips to Orlando <3 you know those nights that were meant to be low-key and definitely weren't? Yea.

Last night in Ocala with who else but my BFF, Kyle Anderson. Last caption, times 5. 

This doesn't even begin to do justice to what packing was like. Spending 27 months out of the country with very little idea of what people wear or what your everyday life will be like? Sure, just go with your gut on what to bring. 

Last thing to do before leaving Ocala: chop off 7 inches of your hair! Range of temperature in the Dominican is 65 to 95, short hair it is.

How lucky am I to have staging in DC and have Peace Corps send me up a week early to spend some time with my lovely sister? Jazz night in the National Sculpture Garden with some awesome friends.

One of the best things about Washington, D.C. is being in an amazing city but also being able to do things like kayak the Potomac River. Best of both worlds!

Last weekend in the states, why not go to NYC?

First part spent with sister and friends, last part with Carvajal. Biggest (not really very big) accomplishment: NY subway and navigating my way home in the wee hours of the night.

I've got the best friends ever! Love you Natalie :)

Topping off this massive first blog post with this. With everything that's running through my mind right now, I'm so excited to embark on this adventure and learn a ton about myself and another culture. I'm imagining all the good I accomplished with City Year and I'm hoping to do the same/exceed that expectation of myself. Adios America!