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!