La Republica Dominicana

So I just got back today from my first immersion in the campos. The Campo was called "Ocho De las Caballeros" and it was amazing!!! We pulled up on Sunday afternoon and immediately upon getting off the bus we were welcomed with warm smiles and hugs by everyone in the community. Then we did introductions and met our families. My family was wonderful! My campos dad's name was Jose and my campo mom's name was Aura. I had 3 brothers and 3 sisters. The oldest was 18 and her name was Romeri, then Annibal he was 17 then Magdelina she was 16 then Ivan he was 13 then Alex he was 11 and finally Veronica she was 7.
Immediately they grabbed my bags and even Veronica offered to carry my water bottle. It was like nothing I have seen before. The first thing I noticed was the Gorgeous lake and mountains. It was sooo pretty there and so green and the water was so blue. But this natural beauty made the contrast of the poverty of the homes that much more great. I immediately noticed was that there are no boundaries there between animals and people and there were chickens, pigs, dogs, goats, and cows everywhere. But they don't really seem to like people that much they don't really bother you. (except for one time there was a chicken in my bed lol- but my brother just picked it up by the wing and took it outside haha) Then I noticed all the clothes hanging on the fence around the yard. We went inside and there was a small kitchen area with a table and three bedrooms. The walls were wooden and the floors were concrete (the group that came down last semester put in the concrete floors- so thanks to them we didn't have to live with dirt floors). We also brought cots that ILAC gave us but our family insisted that we wait for our Jose to set them up that we could not do it. so it was me and another girl in my group, Joanna, and then the oldest sister in one room, the parents in one room, and the other 5 kids in the other room! I couldn't believe how little the room was that they all 5 shared.
So that first night it was a little intimidating with the whole family only speaking spanish. Our brothers wanted to play cards. It was a game called Casino and that was fun them explaining how to play in spanish. But they were very patient and we caught on with their help and it was one of our favorite games to play the whole time we were there. So they were def. a few things that first night that were quite different then I'm used to. First of all, no electricity. They just lit some candels and went on about things. It was def. frustrating at first, but it was amazing how quickly you didn't seem to notice. Then it was time to go to bed and it was so funny cuz I had to go to the bathroom and Joanna was like well you are going to have to go in a bowl. I was like are you kidding me?! But sure enough...Yeah so that was interesting. lol
So Monday was our first day of work. I don't think I mentioned this, but our project was buliding an aquaduct for the community. Yeah it was the most intense physical labor I have ever done (lol I don't know if thats saying much) but seriously like the first day there was this huge pile of cinderblocks and we had to carry them down to the water tank(which wasn't very close I might add) I thought my arms were going to fall off. They were so heavy and there were soo many and it was sooo hot! Oh and FYI there definitely ARE tarantulas here! I saw like 4 while we were working. But you won't believe it, but I wasn't really that scared I didn't run away or yell or anything lol. I think I am actually getting over my fear! So we worked everyday from 8-12 and then again from 2:30-5. We did a lot of moving rocks, pushing sand and stone in wheel barrows, digging, shoveling, using a pic ax for the first time. But its amazing because the closer we got to the people the eaiser the work became because you just thought of your family and the fact that they deserved clean drinking water and that gave you the inspiration to keep going. So we didn't completely finish the project but we got really far. So the Dominicans are VERY hard workers. They have so much endurance and are so strong it was kind of frustrating at times cuz the guys would take your shovels cuz they knew they could do it better. But overall it was a good project and I'm so excited for the people to be able to use it.
The food was good, it kind of got old, but I guess that is to be expected. It was a lot of rice and beans, some pasta, plantans, a lot delicious pine apple, a lot of coffee (I know I never thought I would see the day), eggs, and bread. Aura, our campo mom, was actually one of the ladies who helped cooked all the food and one day I got to spend the day in the kitchen helping cook. Showers were another story lol. It was basically like a roman bath. It was in the middle of the forest and you would just go in your bathing suits and there was a little spiket and you would fill up your bowl and dump water over your head. It was actually amazing how much cleaner you felt-- well I guess you had to from all the dirt caked on from the work.
We had a few dances while we were there and they were sooo fun. Jose, our campo dad, was an amazing dancer! He taught me how to do it and it was great and we just danced with everyone and I love the music down here and the different types of dances. So I really connected with my little brother Ivan- he was so cute and fun. We would just joke around all the time and we would teach eachother the other's language. And my little sister Veronica. Every night on the way back to our house she would carry my water bottle and then hold my hand and we walk back in the night with the stars shining the brightest I have ever seen.
At nights were mostly down time with our campo families. I loved just sitting around talking and laughing with them. It is was amazing how close their family was and how much they just simply enjoyed being present to eachother. While I am so greatful for all the things we have in the states like ipods, phones, computers, tvs, and the like it was just amazing to see the interaction when all of those distractions are removed. I remember one night we were just all gathered around the table (they didn't even have enough chairs for everyone to sit on- but they ALWAYS made sure we had a seat) and we were just playing with some candel wax. we would just shape it into different animals and i dunno it prolly sounds really weird. But I was just amazed at how something so simple could bring a family together and just laugh and enjoy eachother's company. The faith of the community was also incredible. We had a few chats with Jose, about the time a hurrican hit the village and they had to rebulid everything but he just had such a strong belief that they survived because of God. A very common phrase was "si dios quiere" which means "if god wants it" so like when you say I'll see you later they would say if thats what god wants to happen. They just trust in God so much.
It was just an overall amazing experience. I was worried about not clicking with the family or how hard it was going to be to communicate, but my spanish got so much better and I could not have asked for a better family. So despite the bug bites, the sunburns, the latrines and bowls, the darkness and the candels, the cots, and the bugs-- none of it mattered. The friendship, the smiles, the laughter, the compassion, the work ethic, the hospitality, the concern, and the love overshadowed the hardships ten fold. I can't believe how fast the week went and how hard it was to say good-bye. My campo family wrote me letters that I will be able to keep and it is amazing how humble they are cuz they were like "don't forget us when you go to your other campo" and I was like are you kidding me? I could never forget you. I think we get to go back and visit them again before we leave which will be great.Ocho de las Caballeros was a place that I will carry with me forever.

Sorry the ridiculously long post. That is the most of it, of course there are many stories along the way but that should paint the basic picture. I can't wait to post some pictures!
So now its spring break! Two of my friends and I are off to the beach for a week on monday! yipee!
Well I love and miss you all!
God Bless and thanks for your prayers- they worked!!
Caitlin