Manuzca

If I could adopt one child from the village, it would be Manuzca. I don't have a picture to show you. Hopefully, I will get one soon. Manuzca is Carlitos' youngest sister. She is funny and quirky. Manuzca is either 4 or 5. I can't be sure and neither can she. She speaks Creole much better than Spanish. Manuzca will sing and dance on command. Her favorite song is "La cucaracha." When she sings it she swings her tiny hips side to side and always end the song with a solid CHA-CHA-CHA. Manuzca loves devotions mainly because she gets to sing songs and clap her hands a lot.

Manuzca will also act surprised and raise her eyebrows if you tickle her suddenly. The funny part is that she will act surprised over and over again during the same tickle attack. Manuzca is also the only little kid at school that can say my name correctly. I was shocked that she even remembered my name, but she said it perfectly (most of the kids say Yorya or Jorda and sometimes I am even called Juian.)

I love all of these things about little Manuzca, but my favorite thing about Manuzca is that she is always happy. She walks around the playground smiling. Sometimes she just stares into space with the most contented expression on her little face. I often wonder what she is thinking or dreaming about....

I love this little girl so much!

"Think of every day as a Sunday"

Sunday was a perfect day. The sky was a beautiful clear blue. The cane fields were blooming (I didn't know it either, but sugar cane does actually bloom) their golden "flores de la cana." There was no trace of any rain clouds and the temperature was just right.

I mustered up the courage to take a moto by myself out to the village to go to the Creole speaking church. A lot of our kids attend church there. I missed Thursday because of Thanksgiving, so I was missing the kids. I sat with Ramona. Romona didn't like me for a long time, but she has finally come around. She whispered to me in church, "¿Quieres ir al acueducto, Georgia?" I had talked to Ramona several days before about hiking up to the aqueduct high up on the cane fields above the village. I hadn't really planned on doing any hiking that day as I was dressed in a skirt and sandals, but I coulnd't say no.

So, after church Ramona and I started up the hill. We picked up Yermena (one of my 6th graders,) her brother Jorje and Pamela (a headstrong 8th grader that still scares me sometimes.) We hiked high into the cane fields and explored the aqueduct and passed by a fancy house where a Cuban family lives (according to my kids.) Once we had done that, I was ready to head back to the village. It was getting hot and I was hungry and thirsty. The girls wanted to walk all the way back to the highway and then to Montellano and back to the village. Essentially, we would be making a huge loop. I agreed.

Forunately, an elderly Canadian man offered us a ride to the highway. I hopped in the cab with him and my four little buddies jumped in the back. The Canadian man, Leonard Murphy, owns a farm and he and his wife spend 6 months per year in the Dominican. Leonard was nice enough to take us all the way to Montellano.

When we arrived at my house, I gave the Pamela 50 pesos and told her to buy water for everyone. I went into my house to get some more money to pick up some lunch for us. When I got back, the kids had purchased one sprite and a bag a chips. I was a little miffed that they didn't listen, but what can you do? I took them to get a tostada and water in a bag and walked them part of the way back towards the village.

It was a fun little adventure, but the best part happened today. Pamela, Jermena and Ramona were really excited to see me at school. I feel like I am starting to build relationships with these young girls. I am so excited about getting to know them better! A few teenage girls that usually don't pay much attention to me asked me today when I was planning to go hiking again. They asked me to come and find them next time :) I can't wait until Sunday to spend more time in the village with these young women.

Anne Marie is here (it's still raining part ii)

Anne Marie arrived yesterday! It's so great to have her here. Luckily, the clouds parted long enough yesterday for it to be warm and sunny upon her arrival. We woke up this morning to gray skies and more rain and no school. I think its freezing and I am sitting here typing this in long pants, socks, three shirts and a blanket thrown over my legs...Anne Marie informed me this morning that it was only 70 degrees and I needed to stop whining. I guess my body just likes to be hot and sweaty.

We still went out to the village this morning to see the kids and to walk around a little. It was fun to hear some of Anne Marie's stories about living here. A lot of the kids remembered her from when she worked here two summers ago. We had a really nice time. Anne Marie wanted to buy food for a family and let them cook it for us. Then we would eat with them. The family would have a decent meal and some leftovers as well. And we would get to visit with them and share a meal. We decided on a family with seven children. The oldest girl, Johana, is in my sixth grade class, so I was really excited to eat with her family.

Anne Marie and I went into town and Anne Marie purchased rice, black beans, onions, garlic, a pepper, sazon (a dominican all spice), salami, and vegetable oil. We went back into the village via motorcycle through the cold rain and mud puddles. It was a miserable ride and halfway there, I wished we had stayed home. When we finally arrive back at Johana's house, all of her little brothers and sisters were so excited to see us. I immediately regretted wishing I had stayed home!!

We hung out with the kids while their mom, Yani, cooked away in the kitchen. Six of the seven children were quite calm and enjoyable. Most of them just enjoyed being cuddled and hugged since it was so nasty outside. The seventh and smallest bit Anne Marie's fingers a few times and insisted on screaming at the top of his lungs most of the time we were there. We didn't really try to cuddle with him too much...

Although we thought we had purchased all ingredients needed for a Haitian Dominican feast, Yani complained that we forgot to buy salt, bouillon cubes, and "salsa." Yani also decided to treat us to fried yuca which, while inexpensive to make, takes a lot of hard work. We made a couple runs to the local colmado to pick up the ingredients we forgot and yuca and butter. Poor Johana slaved away grating the yuca into a fine mush that would eventually be combined with butter and fried. I offered to help and ended up cutting my finger. Yani found me some gauze and told me to get out of the kitchen.

When we finally sat down to our meal, we were all hungry. Natanail, the second oldest girl that also attends our care center, prayed for us. The food was delicious! There was plenty of rice, beans and salami left over for another meal for the kids (although the next day, Natanail and Johana assured me that all of the food was consumed later that night.)

Anne Marie and I left shortly after we finished eating. We were afraid the the river might rise too much for us to get out of the village safely! We made it home semi-dry, safe, and excited about the time we spend with Yani's family.

It was a perfect way to spend a rainy Monday.

More soon. Love to all.

'ta lloviendo...todavia

The sky became really cloudy and gray on Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoon brought rain and school let out early. It was still raining on Thursday- school was cancelled completely. It rained all day yesterday and continued through the night. I woke up this morning to a foot of water in our neighbors yard! I am so thankful that I live on the second floor!

The weather forecast for the next 10 days is rain. Please pray that it lets up or we may not have school until January (School gets out for Christmas December 10.) Pray for the people living in Montellano and in Caraballo that are cold and wet this morning! I'm going to wade around outside for a little bit. Hopefully, I can post some flood pictures later today...

cositas

I hope you can appreciate these "little things" as much as I did today...

Abdiel: Mi mamá no vive en la casa. Mi mamá vive en la selva.
My mom doesn't live in our house, she lives in the jungle.

Diana: [very angrily although she had already eaten breakfast with the other kids]
GEORGIA! ¿Porque no me traes queso a comer? ¿Porque no me traes queso en una funda?
Georgia! Why don't you bring me cheese to eat? Why don’t you bring me cheese in a bag?

I guess she likes cheese as much as I do, but cheese in a bag?

More grammatical errors...

Limate: Yo no va a escuela. [Threatening to stop coming to school]
Georgia: Limate, yo no VOY a escuela. Dime- yo no VOY a escuela.
Limate: Georgia, yo no voy a escuela.
Georgia: Limate, por favor, que vengas a escuela.

Little ladies

The little girl on the left bit my finger the other day because I wasnt paying her enough attention. Estafani, on the right, loves the camera. She is always posed for a picture.
I'm excited to go to school today to see them both! :)

giant lizard living behind of the tiles of my shower!!!!

I was up late last night because the power came on at about 11:45 p.m. I got up to utilize the light for an hour or so. Right before I went back to bed, I went in the bathroom. And there was at 6 inch (no joke) lizard on the wall. Luckily, it was pretty shy. It quickly slithered (more like a snake with legs) back behind the shower tiles. I suppose I have two options: caulk the top of the shower or live with the monster of another 5 months... My other thought it that if I stop up his escape route, he might freak out and slither in my direction. There is a similar lizard living (about an inch long) in my kitchen. My concern is that he will continue to grow...

Eeeek! Thank the Lord for mosquito nets to keep these creepy crawlies away from me while I sleep!