DR Living

So there’s nothing profound to update you with; there’s no big news to share; life is just….life here. However, I have noticed several things that make me smile and well, several things that while I knew while I was in the states, it is made even more clear here in the DR. Let me give some examples and maybe that can help you picture some day to day interactions and experiences.

I have learned…

·       that it’s tremendously difficult to sign using American Sign Language while singing a Spanish song that you know in English. However, I’m determined to learn how to do it!

·      That learning Spanish is not a 3 week process…Oh, boy am I a slow learner! On the same hand though, being silly and rapping a Spanish tongue twister will lighten your heart when you think you just can’t learn anymore that day!

·      That sigueme is not that same thing as un segundo although they sound similar when a Dominican says them b/c Dominicans tend to chop off the ends of their words. Sigueme means, “Follow me” and un segundo means, “one second.” And, actually, I’m not fully convinced even at this moment that I have those words correct!

·      …and this is the big one, that it’s all about relationships! From relationships with my students and their parents, to the Dominicans that work at SCS, to my wachis (the guards at my gate) to fellow expatriates, living life together is so important. They fill you up when you think you are empty. They give comic relief in tense situations. They play silly games with you so that you can learn Spanish so that you don’t feel so intimidated and dumb when conversing with the nationals. They sharpen my spiritual knowledge (can you name all the kings in chronological order of when Daniel was alive and what their significance was?). They cry with me and let me see that I’m not alone. Relationships take a while to grow and become a safe place to let down, learn and love, but when they do, man! It’s like a breath of fresh air cooling you off and refreshing you.

Thank you, Jesus, for relationships that continue to grow but also new relationships where I see you reflected.