So sorry to leave you hanging for the past few days…in case you were wondering, I did make it safely to Santiago. I took the right bus, got off at the right stop and everything.
My first few days in Santiago have been a struggle, to say the least. I am, for better or for worse (100% for better), my mother’s daughter, and I don’t do well with being far from home. My parents and I joke (although I think it is probable) that as soon as my mom retires, we will buy houses right next door to each other so we never have to be more than a short walk apart. Since this blog is a place where I plan to be completely honest, I must tell you that I have cried for the past three days straight. My mom can attest to that. In fact, I’ve been on Skype for a total of about 8 hours in the past two days. While I know this kind of a reaction to a new culture is completely normal, it doesn’t make it any easier. What keeps me going is knowing that I am here for a reason, whether I know that reason or not, this summer will be an invaluable experience I will have with me for the rest of my life. So when I saw a beautiful billboard this morning with MIAMI (written in all caps) as an advertisement for American Airlines, I knew that while at that moment I would have given anything to get on that plane and fly back to my family, I am in the right place. I am entre dominicanos or among Dominicans, as my host family likes to say, and I am so lucky to be here.
My host sister Sara is absolutely AMAZING. She’s 21 years old and calls me her hermanita (little sister). The first day I was here, she told me she’d always wanted a little sister, and now she has one. Last night, she and a few of her friends from church took me to see the monument in Santiago (the one and only tourist destination of this city). It was absolutely beautiful, and we could look out above the entire city. I also have two brothers, Dani and David, both of whom are very nice. My host parents, Rafael and Pilar, are so sweet and have put up beautifully with my sudden outbursts of homesickness over the past few days. We live in a small house located on the second floor of the church (where Rafael is the pastor). On the third floor, there is a school that is also associated with the church. I wake up every morning to the sounds of roosters (we have three that we often have to shoo out of the kitchen) and children arriving at school.
While I haven’t been here long enough to truly understand my work routine, I have seen a few very cool bank meetings so far. On Thursday, Dani and I drove up to Puerto Plata on the north coast where we visited a few schools with Milton (from the central office) as part of the Edify program with Hope International that is working to set up loans to schools here in the DR. We also attended a “reconocimiento” which is the meeting right before the “entrega” when the people actually sign the paperwork for their loans. One of the best things about Esperanza is that they don’t just give loans. They also educate. They hold several meetings during which they teach the clients about how to run a business, how to account for their earnings and expenses, etc. prior to the actual disbursement of the loan.
My first "entrega" and Kiva photo!
Tomorrow I will start my first full week of work. I’m hoping it will be everything I expected it to be and that I will be able to establish a routine quickly. For now, the endless Skype dates will continue. I just have to trust that God will protect me every minute of this journey and remember that I shouldn’t spend what little time I have here worried and homesick. Now, I’m going to my second church service of the day…
Besos
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