hey Guys

Long time no talk!!! Nothing much has been going on lately, just wanted to let everyone know I would be home for Xmas if anyone wants to get together!!! Let me know!

I miss yall!!

Here is a link to my Dominican Pics....Enjoy!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8BZuHDNq0csJ6&emid=sharshar&linkid=link4

Another Funny Language Mishap!

Gotta love my spanish. Just when I think I am truly getting a hang of the language, I go and make a complete fool out of myself. So, today I was truly parched. I needed something to drink and fast. Well I absolutely love pear juice, which is served here like apple juice is served in the US. It is very popular and very good. Anyway, I have never actually pronouced "Jugo de pera" before. Well, in this occasion, I got a little over rolly with my RRRRs, and said "PeRRa" instead of "PeRa." Well, this "slip of of the tounge" changed my request from "Please give me the pear juice," to "Please give me the bitch juice." Of course the lady reponsed with, "Perdoname?" And I again with a smile on my face, and a sense of pride in my ability to roll my Rs, "Por favor, dame el jugo de PeRRa." She started to crack up laughing at this point and called three only Dominican women to hear my version of pear juice. Well, to make a long story short, I was the laughing stock of the store. I immediately claimed my American heritage, and they quickly replied with, "Oh I understand now, it is ok."

But at least I can look at myself and laugh!

Peace guys!!! Until Next Time....

Aventuras de Holly!

Yeah...Its a holiday

Yeah I have a 3 day weekend...and I am going to the beach!!! I will send pics!

Update!

So I have not posted in awhile...sorry I have been busy. Currently, I am super busy with traveling around the country, going out dancing, and working.

As far as traveling around the country, I have been to the beach in Juan Dolio, to La Romana, to the "Cuevas de Maravillas." In Juan Dolio, I soaked up some sun, relaxed, swam in the crystal blue caribbean ocean, and of course had a few ice cold Presidentes!!! The trip to La Romana was my first road trip. I went with my friend Teylor, my roommate Gwen, and a friend of ours named Mario. We drove there with the specific intention of eating the best Kibbe on earth...and that is what we did. Kibbes are actually lebanese type meat pies, but they are so popular here in the Dominican Republic because of the huge lebanese influence on the country. (Similar to how we eat french type food in New Orleans.) Anyway, we went to this this fabulous restaraunt, and we inded had the best Kibbes and empanadas de yuca EVER!!! On the way there, we stopped at the cuevas de maravillas...which mean wonderous caves. They truly were amazing...anyone who comes here to visit me, must take a day and go check this place out. It was breath taking!!!

Next thing that has occupied my time is going out....though I usually stay in most weekends, I have been going dancing a lot lately. I am mastering my salsa! I can merengue and bachata like a Dominican, but I have always had my issues with salsa. I can do the steps, but the sencond I get turned around by my partner, I usually start stepping on toes and it is a huge mess. I used to look like a huge GRINGA!!! Anyway, I have been practicing, and I must saw, I am a PRO. I cannot stop dancing salsa these days. I love it.

Now for the thing that occupies the majority of my time: WORK!!! I teach 4-5 hours a day, but I teach Literature, History, Debate and US Government....those classes require a ton of planning, grading, reading, and a mastery of the information. The students are no dummies....there is no beating around the bush with these guys. They are smart, witty, clever, and they know when you do not know what you are talking about. But, they all seem to think I am a walking encyclopedia when it comes to these topics, but the truth is 4 years of college and 3 years of law school really did my brain good....and of course good teacher's editions don;t hurt either! I really love the areas I teach. We just finsihed reading The Canterbury Tales in one Literature class, and "The Fall of the House of Usher" in the other one. In history we are studing the making of the Constitution, and in US Government we are studying the 1st Amendment, Due Process, and other Individual Liberties afforded by the Constitution...I have found my calling! I am also [preparing my debate class to go to the Model UN competition...that has been so much fun and so interesting. I get to use my love of politics and international affairs!!!!


Anyway, I have to go...it has been nice filling everyone in on my last month here...I promise to write more in the future....Miss everyone!!!

Until next time America...Cuidate!

Here are some Pics:

First hair cut in the DR...

So let me start my story by saying there is this crazy man that is always hanging around my apartment...and when I say crazy man, I mean a strange man who is always dressed like he is going to work in a bank, does not speak very much english, but loves to tell me..."hello teacher, you so pretty." He is always drinking everytime I see him, talking about random bullshit that makes no sense, and is always telling me he loves his country, and welcome home teacher. My friends and I pander him, and I even gave him 5 pesos one day to help him buy a beer. This is that guy....you know, that guy that everyone knows, and they just laugh at his outrangishness....

So needless to say I was quite shocked when I walked into get a hair cut and he was the hairstylist!!!! OMG, I wanted to walk out, but he started to amuse me....so curious adventurous Holly that I am thought...well what is the worst things that could happen. If I end up with a strange sort of Dominican styled mullet, well I could always shave my head......so I decided to sit in his chair, and that is when the aventure began!!!!

So the man proceeded to do what appeared to be rituals...folding and re-folding the towels, picking every single hair off his counter by hand, taking deep breathes over and over again, and walking around my chair looking at my head, as if he was about to preform brain surgery. As I sat in his chair, which he called his "throne of edward scissor hand," I could not seem to get my look of, "OMG this guy is a freaking joke," off my face...so this lady walked over and proceeded to inform me that hi guy worked at Paul Mitchell's salon, and that he was "a hair artist." So once again, I was so intrigued I just had to stay and watch the show...even though my hair was about to be one of the main characters!!! So then he says in his broken English, "hair have feeling, it has face and cry and happy too." I said in Spanish....You can speak in spanish, I speak spanish....and he said again in his broken english, "no no no teacha, I wanta try speaka english wit chu." So I said fine....whatever. Then he proceeded to talk about hair having a face and it can smile or be sad, etc etc etc...but then he took the end of my hair and started to brushed it all over his face..he said..."u hair is so so angry!" I was like WHAT...so he told me in spanish that my hair was angry and needed to put cut because it lost its soul...I was like ok, I am out of here. So just as I was about to leave, he said...sory, did I scare you..and I said uh...YEAH!!! So he said, let me cut your hair...so he did and it turned out pretty cute....

Anyway, I had to share my story with everyone...it was too funny!!!

So hope everyone is doing well...chat later.

Living in paradise!!!

hahahaha....well, not exactly. I have not had electricty for 4 days!!! It is complicated, but the bottom line is that the girl who lived here before me was apparently stealing her electricty from a store near the apartment...well what does that mean for me? Well the electricty company found out and CUT all my lights!!!! So, I had to call and say...no, I was not stealing electricty...wow was that fun. Anyway, I have lights now, Thank GOD!!! But, I am scared everything thinks it was me stealing the electricty...as if I would even know how.

But thank God I live in paradise, because it has been 70 degrees or below every night, so I have not even needed AC.

Well, I have to get back to work...so talk to you soon!

First Day of Class and a Hurricane

So I survived the hurricane. It really was not too bad, but lets hope that is all we get this year...both here and in New Orleans. Thanks for all whose emailed, called, and wrote on myspace asking how I was...I appreciate the concern...but I survived. We did get some pretty intense wind and rain, but it lasted less than a day. Really, the worst part was the high waves that did some damage on the ocean front...other than that, the city was fine. I actually went to see Transformers in Spanish that day....

So, today is the first day of classes. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job....though than emotion may change throughout the year...lol. As of now, I love it. The students are amazing, and I am so excited about teaching this year!

Once again...I am out of here...but I will keep you informed...Miss everyone!

OK, so I got homesick

Greetings from the Caribbean!

So, I got really homesick last night...so what did I do??? I went to TGI Friday's...lol!!! Oh and I never thought seeing so much flare would make me so happy, but it did. I went with some American friends and we ate generic American food, but it was nice to have a taste of home. And there are plenty of american chains here, so I will be fine. I think tomorrow I will have Taco Bell!

Anyway, other than my homesickness last night, I have been pretty comfortable here. I feel like I fit in, other than being called gringa or Americana every few days because of my accent...but other than that, I blend right in.

So a side note about the electricty....there seems to be a problem in my area with the electricty, because I loose electricty for about an hour at least 4 times a week. That has made things interesting, especially when I am in the middle of making Eggplant Paramsean when the electricty decides to leave...what fun! But, I have learned to cope. I just turn on my flash light, lights some candles, and I am good too go.

The weather has been amazing...I rarely even use my AC!!! I usually just put the fan on and open the window and it is very comfortable. I know everyone in Louisiana is sweating like pigs!!!! Sorry!!!! But, you should move to the Caribbean too!

Well, I am here in my classroom....so I better get back to work. I miss everyone!!! Talk soon!

Until next time America....

Hola...K lo K

K lo K...means what is up...for all you americanos out there. Anyway, let me tell you what exactly is up here in the big DR!!!!

First off, I made my first Dominican meal in my apartment. It was Mangu, eggs, and batida de lechuza. Mangu is mashed platains with purple onions and olive oil, and a batida de lechuza is a payapa smoothie....WOW was it good. I have been eating the fresh fruit here like crazy. You can get a HUGE papaya for less than 50 cents, and 5 ripe juicy mangos for less than a dollar! It is amazing. I have been making fresh juices and smoothies everyday. YUM! I also have taken a liking to Dominican coffee, which let me tell you will grow hair on your chest it is so strong. Which is why they comically serve it to you in a small shot glass, rather than a mug. And trust me, that is all you need...when I drink it, I feel it coursing through my viens....but it tastes SOOOOOO GOOOD!!!!! Que Rico!!!!

Well next topic....I have been spending a lot of time designing my classroom and preparing my lessons plans. I am going to shape young minds....Wow...poor kids. Just Joking! I actually like doing this teacher stuff....it really fits me perfectly....I love to talk, hate to stay still for more than 5 mins, and I get bored entirely too easy....so this is working out well. Always a new challenge for me, and I actually get paid to talk and students cannot tell me to shut up!!!! I love it!!!

I really am happy here. It is strange, but living here feels like I just bought the perfect pair of shoes...It just fits perfectly for me.

Until next time America!!!

Hey...I am here

About the culture:

OK, so I have officially been "dominicanized"....wow, what a culture shock. I mean, I grew up in a half Dominican family, so I thought I would be prepared, but it is much different coming here with family when I have my father to help me with everything. I am here alone, and what a shock that has been. First off, I learned never say "estoy Caliente" when you are trying to say you are too hot too dance. In this country that means you are "excited and interested in sexual endeavors" aka "horny!!!!" I could have died when I said that to a man asking me to dance at a club...OMG....the look on his face was priceless!!! Then, the Spanish word for cemetery sounds a lot like the Spanish word for bathrooms....so I proceeded to have a conversation with my uncle at a restaurant about how I really wanted him to go to the BATHROOM with me so I could see my grandmother....being the polite man he is, he waited until I finished and asked me why I thought my dead grandparents were in the bathroom.....JESUS!!! I was hoping to re-invent myself as a sophisticated American...hahaha....oh well...I am Holly, and that will never change in any country I move too. But, I must say...I LOVE it here. I am so happy, and I have meet a lot of new friends....both American and Dominican. There are a lot of Americans that live here because they love the culture, food, and weather just like me. And believe it or not, other than the few afore mentioned mishaps, my Spanish is improving a lot.

About my Job:

So, I do not know if everyone knows this, but I decided to teach for the year. I originally wanted to practice law here, but after trying to find the perfect job, this teaching job fell into my lap, and I could not be happier. The school is called MC School...which stands for "Mi Colegio School" Spanglish for "My High School." It is a very small private high school that believes in the arts, self expression, creativity, and creating well rounded students so they can become productive members of the Dominican society. The school is taught in English and Spanish, and I will be teaching 11th and 12th grade US Government, US History, World Literature, and Debate. So you ask, how am I qualified to teach all this when I am a lawyer by profession? Well, I do have a degree in English Literature and I am 6 credits short of a History degree...also I started in education, so I the 21 credits of education that MC School requires of its teachers. As for Debate and US Government, that will come from being a lawyer I guess....lol. In those two classes, I have 9 students, and in addition to teaching, I will be preparing them for a Model United Nations competition. The 12th grade is 9 students and the 11th grade has 14 students. This year will be the first graduating class for the school, and as the American teacher, they want me to help with the first prom, graduation, senior day, etc...so I am excited to be a part of it. Teaching has always interested me, so I think I will be happy doing it. It will be a challenge, but I love a challenge.

So, there it is...it has been my first two weeks here, and I am very happy. I am home sick though!!! Until next time America!!!

9 days left of civilization

Just joking...it is pretty civilized over there...in a latin developing country sort of way. Anyway, 9 days until I leave...I promise to keep everyone informed of my advetures!!!

Peace out

The decision to move for a year

So I have decided to move to the Dominican Republic for a year. This is where my father is from, and my roots are. I have always wanted to move abroad for a year or so, and experience life in another country. Why not move to where my culture is? And learn more about where my father is from and more about my heritage?

So I decided to do it!!! I ma moving in July of 2007 to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for a year. I am going to teach US Government, History and Economics at a very well established School. I also plan to take some classes at the University of Santo Domingo (which was the first University established in the New World). I plan to study some international law classes, some advance Spanish classes, some beginner French classes and maybe some Dominican History classes as well.

I am so excited about the move, and I will keep everyone posted on my year in the DR!!! I am sure I will have some interesting stories to share!!!