Rats, Hopscotch, and Lyrics

I live in the Dominican Republic. For you that may create a picture of some beautiful tropical island and cute children by my side. To me, that means that I live in a house with eighteen loud people yelling all the time in another language for no particular reason. When I arrived they tried to explain to me that they were merely talking and not upset. Now that I understand what they are saying and not just the tone, I realize that for the most part, that’s true. They are great people, just not real aware of noise volumes. However, Tuesday morning I woke up to more chaos than normal. When I made it to the kitchen I found a bucket in front of the sink, the stove pulled out from the wall, and our dad sticking a broom behind the cabinets. The rats were back. The excitement didn’t die down until we had left for worship in the church. After school I heard rumors that one of the rats had been taken care of. I am assuming it was the one that used to visit our room at night because our things have stopped jumping off the shelves in the middle of the night. It’s somewhat of a relief considering I sleep on the floor.

Since the last time I wrote, the weather has really changed. Our supposed rainy season lasted for five days and then moved on. Thank goodness. During those five days we were stuck inside for hours hoping the sky would clear. Music lessons were cancelled, church and canchas postponed, and no one dared walk outside without an umbrella. I’ve heard various excuses of why ranging from pretty hair, to sicknesses you can get from the rain. I’m really not sure myself. I sat on the couch with the girls learning everything from their favorite color, to favorite food, to favorite country to visit. You can learn a lot about a person during a five day rainy spell. Now the rain is gone. Instead the air is thick and hot and we sit inside for the opposite reason. I’m afraid the grass will always be greener on the other side.

I’ve determined to start exercising. It’s always one of those notable goals I carry in the back of my head and only accomplish on the most boring of days. Ironically, I am writing this letter during the exercise slot in my day. :) However, for the most part, at least this last week, I have been much more successful. You may find it entertaining to know exactly what a successful cardiovascular workout amounts to. I am afraid that with the heat and especially the direct sunlight, I gave up running after 2 ½ weeks. Now, I turn on my iPod, put on my tennies and begin my multiple patterns of hop scotching across my tiled floor. It doesn’t sound like much but twenty minutes of tile jumping can really be a work out. You should try it. If you figure out any interesting patterns let me know. :)

I can’t believe that I barely have a month left here. In some ways it has been a really long year. I feel like I’ve known these people forever and lived here for half my life. But at the same time, there is no way that I am already nearing the end. I received a letter last week that I wrote to myself before I left almost a year ago. At the time that I wrote the letter, I had spoken random Spanish phrases with humorous grammar. I had decided to write myself in Spanish so that I could appreciate how much I improved in just 1 year. I couldn’t help but laugh as I read the phrases that had been so painfully hard to put together. It was a good reminder to realize where I had started. Even if I get after myself for stuttering every once in awhile in class, the fact that I can impromptu my lesson plan in another language is a huge improvement. Well, the tile jumping is calling my name and not much else has been happening here. But I hope everyone else is taking advantage of their last few weeks of the school year. I miss you all. In the chance that I don’t know you and you just happened to stumble across this page, I wish you the best as well. I’ll leave you all with these lyrics from one of my favorite songs. It’s a Brandon Moore song titled “Selfish Me.”

And I know that I can’t serve both you and me.
And I know a house divided cannot stand.
And it’s time to stop pretending I can do it on my own.
It’s time to give you everything I am.
So I’m laying down my life. Picking up your cross,
Taking all this gain and counting it as loss.
In a world of false I’m finding it so true.
Sometimes I’ve got to let go of me so I can hold onto you.

Pictures: My 8th grade class treasure hunt, Yessica during the family Olympics, All of my sisters, Me and Cessarina (9th grade).