another day in paradise....

or so i say...torrential downpours in the night, but my daughter slept right through it all. we worried that that the day would bring grey skies however, much to our surprise, a beautiful day was ahead.

we are back in sosua. i say back because this is is our home away from home....new owners of casa valeria, and while we miss mayela and family the new owners have made some very nice changes to the place. many changes to the north coast, but one thing that remains the same is the german bakery in sosua! yeah us.

after a breakfast of nutella and bread we headed off to the beach. it was a perfect day on the beach....even a little breeze here in sosua. lunch on the beach was ok....i didn't have my lambi, so it couldn't be that good! we just caught a little softball game at the schoolyard in sosua, and are planning our day of horseback riding and beaching in cabarete for tomorrow.

we took the gua gua from las terrenas to sosua yesterday....it was packed and we rode for 3 and 1 half hours with 5 across on the bus and a suitcase on our lap, but it was inexpensive and a fun little experience.

after a brief bout of fever for one of us, we are all in vacation mode now, with some nice tans...even my kid has a tan! no sitting under the parasol for her this year!

going to call my friend tomorrow and see if he knows the exact dates of the merengue festival and how he could help my group in july.

think warm thoughts.

a

choppy waters ahead....

literally and figuratively. literally, i mean today on the whale boat the waters were very rough. both my daughter and i suffered. and i mean suffered! we did however see whales...mamas and babies. we boated right along side them. it was amazing! the need to protect these animals and their habitat is intense as the numbers, while once again climbing, almost had them to extinction. and every year these beautiful mammals travel from norway to samana, dominican republic. they make this journey once a year to birth their babies or to bring them here shortly after their birth, as they would not survive the chilly waters off of norway. a big thank you goes out to the crew of the victoria II, as they were so very decent to us as we rode the waves in a very in elegant manner.

as far as figuratively...choppy upon my return. so many things to get caught back up on. so many things to begin. so many things to end....new beginnings in cold times...choppy, i say...

well, i can say 1 thing or sure....no worries that my daughter is going to run off to join the circus or the coast guard!

kisses to all...
a

how beautiful the day. how lucky my life. wow...to wake up and have the ocean directly ahead of you as you look out the window. to have the ocean directly ahead of you as eat breakfast. and to have the ocean to your side as you walk into town.....

today we see the whales! i am quite excited. we took bets lwast night at how many whales we shall see...5-13 were the bets amongst the 4 of us.....hhhmmmm. i tried to act as the bookie and not make a bet, but just to collect the money and take my 10%......

last night i took a dance class. at first i thought i was going to toss my money aside, as we were unable to communicate in the same language...the language of dances, but after about 20 minutes we were more in stride....nothing will match what i learned with my last teacher in santo domingo.....the high i feel when dancing is too much. i wish there was someone i could dance with at home....just one person that i coulod make my dance partner....have fun with, sweat with and practice with....that is going to be a mission of mine. upon my return, i will put out the word...¨needed. one male dancer. must love salsa, merenegue and bachata. to practice with and go out dancing with. in town and or montreal.¨if you only speak spanish, even better, as i would like to practice that as well!¨

if i could just stay here in the country, i would. not here in las terrenas. as beautiful as it is, it is just too small, and european.....no, for me....i need santo domingo or puerto plata. i need real life, but close to beach. i would sell my home with all of my things, and set up some business right next to coco boutique hotel. yes, it might be considered running away however, that is what i fell like doing right now. the thought of returning to the cold, the snow, the people, the silence....it is just too much to bear.

tomorrow we head north! sosua, cabarete, puerto plata! mary laura might even join us!

still no going out. no crazy dancing. going to sell the women´s trip to the merngue festival, as i will get my dance teacher and we will all dance the nights away!!!!

my daughter!

yeah me! my daughter is here! she is a ton of fun to be with. she is used to the country and has no problems adjusting, as well as she is an easy traveler. if that isn't enough, she talks to me non stop and holds my hand and wraps her arms around me the whole time. that makes all worth it. you know the commercial....air tickets to the d.r., 700., meals out 600., hanging with daughter, priceless!!!!!

when friends and family arrived, we began our stay in santo domingo. our hotel, coco boutique, was beyond our expectations!!!! i can not say enough good things about the space or the couple that owns it.i think for my friends however, that santo domingo was too much for them. as it is filled with exhaust, trash and noise pollution...however, the people are friendly and the history is tremendous. i love santo domingo!

this trip has been most wonderful in the people i have met. we went to the synagogue for services, and i was overwhelmed with no matter where you go, the similarities are tremendous. the jews at the synagogue were completely different from the typical dominican. and the fact that services were in rapid fire spanish and hebrew, didn't deny the commonality of the people and our faith.

also, i met a fabulous walking tour guide for zona colonial that will be able to work with me in the future. i also met a woman who owns a farm in the southwest territory, that brings groups for birding! bricknell's thrush anyone? that is the bird that journies from vermont to the dominican annually! what a very smart bird! i have a fabulous dance teacher that i can not wait to return to...i had more fun in a few hours than i have had in 3 years of dancing in vermont! i can't wait to bring people to him!

and now, we are in samana. it is a peninsula in the northeast tip of the island. the beaches are straight out of a magazine. absolutely breathtaking. however, for me it is as if you could be anywhere...mostly french, italian and german are spoken here....the music is mostly not dominican and the town seems to roll up early....when i am here in this country i like to know i am here. i must say that the experience of getting here is a blast, as after a bus ride from santo domingo for 4 hours we had to take a taxi over the mtn. we had a truck and our suitcases were rolling around in the back of the truck, as we wound our way up and down through the mtn.....it was a blast!

so, more later and my apologies for being out of touch for a few days....it actually looks a little overcast today....we are arranging for a whale ride tomorrow! i can't wait!!!!

kisses to you all and stay warm.
a

wow....what a difference a day makes....

well, here i am in my final 3 days of school, and guess what? i am finally feeling settled and comfortable. doesn´t that just go to figure? what you ask, has made the difference? well, let me tell you.

actually, let me tell you about my weekend before i get to that. first, i went back to the beach. you might never know that by looking at me, as only my nose appears to have been in the sun however, i was better able to enjoy my experience and had a blast by myself. i had fabulous lambi a la criolla en la playa, but the rice left a little to be desired. while on the beach i called the synagogue and the lady who leads the afro dominican drumming village we visit with groups.

saturday night she returned my call and told me about an artisan fair they were at the next day. so, my teacher (who has become much more than my teacher, but a dear friend as well) joined me in the adventure. we saw josefina, from the village and she was so happy to see me and fill me in on all that is going on there. then she invited me to the community tomorrow for a tour with her. my teacher wants to join and together we will go and explore the community. i am so excited! josefina would like to work with me directly and to bring specific groups there to study drumming, art and dance! i would suggest to many that we make a group of this but then plan to stay at a hotel not in the community, to get some rest and to take in some other sites as well. any takers?! it would be an experience of a lifetime! i will be talking with her tomorrow about an itinerary and costs.

i also found out that there will be services at the synagogue this friday at 7:30pm. so, i look forward to going to that to see what i shall see.

after that, we went to another department store and i purchased 7 cd´s for 15.-!!!! i have an omega cd! if you know omega you will be happy for me. also, if you know the older song la langosta you will giggle with me, as i now own it! along, with many other great songs!

now, for how so much can change in one day....upon my return home to my house, waiting for me was a lady from germany who is staying there this week with me! she is lovely. she has more spanish than i do and we have a fair amount in common. after talking together and sharing dinner at the house we went down to the calmado together and shared a beer or 2. what a relief!

to top it off today at the school there was a new group that was all very open to meeting me, and to going together for excursions. how cool is that? 2 weeks and finally people to go with! also, it was quite validating to hear that my new friend had the same overwhelming feelings about the house in which we live, as i do. so, i wasn´t just being overly sensitive. as a matter of fact, when i leave she will move into the school´s apartment, as it is closer and easier in every way.

in a few minutes i begin my new classes with a new dance teacher that is going to help me with some street styling for merengue and bachata!! finally!!!

i have 1 new walking guide and am working on another. i also heard that omega will be performing at the carnival in la vega this weekend!!!!! i need VIP passes. must see omega. he is shaking up the country here with his new styling. i did miss him and sergio vargas yesterday somewhere in the capital for another carnival event. but, i was with josefina, which in the end is going to be good for business. these weeks are about business....

ok to all. 3 days from right now....my daughter will be in my arms!!!!!!

kisses to all.

a

viernes

well, it is has been a decent week here in the dominican republic. i know that i could live here despite all of the irregularities that occur. irregularities you ask? site an example....

well, power could go out anytime, and no one knows for long. you could lose water for who knows how long? don´t wear white during the day, unless you are going straight from your lovely air conditioned car to your lovely clean home to your lovely clean and airconditioned work....expect waits for crazy things. expect to be checked out by men and women (not because the women are interested in you, but because they are curious), expect to be hot.....

but also expect to talk to people while waiting for your food or a gua-gua. expect to have people help you or answer questions for you.

expect the unexpected!

tonight i am going to go with some of the girls from my school (ones that work there) out for drinks and then out dancing. we are going to go to the bar at the new coco boutique hotel, that i am staying at next week! this excites me!

when i return to my home this afternoon there will be a new woman from germany staying there. i will see if she needs any help, would like to join me on any excursions....tomorrow i would like to go the beach. i think i will return to boca chica for the day. i thought about going north and visiting family of friends but i would need to leave soon, and that means not going out tonight...and i would rather go out!!!!

sunday, i think i will go to zona colonial or back to the mall. there was a piece of art there that i liked as well as some very cool clothes....but i really should not spend much money....but as far as the art, it depicts a cultural moment. it is of a chicken done in bright colors and the artist came in while we were there. a very cool older man with a long white beard. i was able to take a picture of him and when i return home i will upload it to todays entry in the blog....

as for yesterdays excursion to the lyle reitzel gallery. i will definitely bring the women to that area, as it has some cute little cafes and exclsuive shopping as well as the gallery and it is close to a very nice mall, the acropolis mall.

ok....that´s all for now and maybe for the weekend. i am going to head home so that i can rest, meet my new neighbor and clean up to go out!

tienen un buen fin de semana.

un beso.

a

to those i love.....

happy valentine´s day. i hope this finds you all well and filled with love for yourself, as well as love for others and by others. it doesn´t need to be the love of one special person today, but simply love. here they sometimes call it the day of love.....so, express your love for life today. and be happy with what you have.

don´t worry about me, as i have the love from an admirerer. the man, hipolito, who sits outside of my school watching the cars that come into his ¨jurisdiction¨and protects their windshields with cardboard from the sun, has expressed his emotions for me. i can tell you that he has a very sweet face, and a very gentle spirit....and he works! what more can a girl ask for?

here is a brief look into a moment in dominican life....yesterday i tried to go to the university area for a cultural dance show. my dance teacher is the director of one of the groups. he told me it began around 6pm. it was to be a free show outside of the new university library. my teacher and i headed over there. at 7pm...still nothing happening. at 7:15 a band showed up and began to set up. it took them a while to set up and a while for a sound check. the sound man was having some serious feedback and electrical problems. by 8:00 pm...still nothing! we left. tired and hungry.

dominicans will in line at the local cafeteria for 45 minutes to get lunch. they will wait 2 hours for a dance show, but the minute the light turns green at a stoplight they lay on their horns and or try and race threw the light. go figure.

today my dance teacher canceled my class. so, here i sit writing this earlier than usual. but i am going to get cleaned up and go to the art gallery i mentioned yesterday to meet with them. i am also going to make some calls regarding the services at the synagogue, as well as josefina from the congos. there was a great article written about them in today´s paper, about their selling art t-shirts to help support their cause for passing on their musical heritage to the next generations.

i hope you are staying physically warm and that your heart is also filled with warmth and overflowing with love.

a

dancing...

whatever it is that you do for yourself...whatever it is you do to release tension, to fill your heart with happiness, to take your mind elsewhere, is a joy. take care to protect that for yourself. make sure you take care to find time for that one release, as it will help to keep you young, healthy and happy.

for me, it is dancing. last night we went to a merengue typico bar, right in the center of town, with a live merengue/bachata band. and maybe for 265._ (what we think the band got paid) for the night, right there was a tight little band of 7 musicians. add into the mix mas cerveza frio (see my spanish is ok...) and a few single dominican men to ask us to dance and we had a night filled with silliness! i danced, danced and danced some more....and the real thing. not the lesson thing. there were 2 other gringas there with dominican men and they could not even count to 4 for the bachata....i wanted to run over and give them some pointers, so as to not give americans such a bad name here in the d.r., when it comes to dancing!

my teacher told me today that i need to write a book and make a video for other gringos on how to dance merengue and bachata, as i know how to do it perfectly!!!! what a very nice compliment! i was also complimented by her on a short story i had to write in spanish, about my last birthday...she was so pleased with it, that i asked for her to make a star on my paper and i told her i was going to keep it, to remind me of a good spanish day!

although, i think she is in such a good mood because she met a fun young man last night while we were out dancing!! she had a very good time and he has already called her today and they have spoken. as tomorrow is valentine´s day, i am trying to get her to go to dinner with him tomorrow night. one of us should have a valentine on this lonely heart´s day!!!

i think that slowly, slowly i am making progress with my spanish! did i happen to say slowly????? i wish i had the whole month just to study spanish. i think it would finally sink in.

this afternoon my teacher and i are going to go see a performance of a folkloric dancing that my dance teacher is involved with. i was so tired today, that i could barely dance in class...but that´s ok, as i danced so much last night.

tomorrow afternoon i am supposed to check out a contemporary art gallery that i want to bring the ladies from the merengue trip to see. it is supposed to be a leading gallery here in the country, and this director has another studio in miami.

also, my teacher and i are talking about saving our money and going on a vacation together next year!

kisses to all....

a

trying to understand....

what it is that i love so much here....i have been looking around trying to understand it, as i prepare to show my friends around. i am trying to see it through their eyes....

i asked my mama, what she thought i saw. she asked if there was still trash on the streets? i am able to say with authority, that the answer is a BIG yes. so, it´s not because it is so clean...she asked if places are still chaotic? and again, without thinking i can say yes....so, it´s not for it´s tranquil atmosphere.....is it because my spanish is better and i can understand what it is going on around me? nope.....that´s definitely not it.

but i think in some crazy way that is what i love so much. i love that people have a discussion about which way to go in the car. which taxi to call and why. how the restaurant cooks the food. i love it that the people of the country are so proud in so many ways of their food, their traditions, and that people love to come to their country. i love how obvious the men can be with their wicked ways....whether they are straight out asking me if i will marry them for american status, to how they can stop and stare right at you as you pass them. no wondering if they think you are attractive. no wondering how they feel about much. when they are happy they are loud and rambunctious, when they are angry they are loud and rambunctious.

i think they epitomize the fuego side of me. and yet, they are also the dulce side of me when it comes to certain manners and customs.

i thank everyone who is at home in vermont, helping to keep my kid, my dog, my house and my car all together while i am gone. i have always known how lucky i am, but i am being reminded every day now, how truly lucky i am.

tonight, going with some people from school for some dancing. i am pretty tired, but i won´t miss out on a little night life....i am going home to do my homework and to take a little nap....

i´m back......

quiero todos bien por ustedes....i had difficulties logging in on friday.....i am sorry. i hope everyone is staying warm and driving carefully! i hear it has not been very pretty in the north.

things here are going well....i am settling in, and now beginning to wish i had more time for classes before my family gets here....i can´t wait to see them however, i feel classes are moving rather slowly for me. not due to the teacher but i fear it is the student that struggles. i probably need to have more classes each day, rather than dancing in the afternoon.

so, you ask...what have i done, since last i wrote...well, on friday after my classes i went to the photography studio of a friend of alejandro´s. she is a succesful photographer of children here in the capital. her studio is darling and is a bustle of activity every afternoon...while i visited she had triplet 3 year old boys there, and boy was it cute!!!!she took me back to her apartment and it is more than lovely! she has limited english so, i needed to use my spanish all night...although, her husband is from puerto rico, and has traveled everywhere and speaks fluent english. her sons are darling and are learning english in there private schools. they have quite the life!

on saturday i got up and took a taxi to playa boca chica. it was 39.- one way. i stayed at a hotel recommended by my teacher. it was perfectly clean and right on the beach, for 60.- night. no frills, but a tremendous shower!!! this is my first time in boca chica. and while i am sure all of the rumors regarding the reputation of boca chica are accurate, i did not see anything that was anymore disturbing than anywhere else.

on sunday, my teacher joined me on the beach where we sat in the sun for a short while, but then moved to a cafe on the beach where we ate, drank, talked and were approached by sankies all afternoon! it was a blast. together we took the gua-gua back to the city for under $2.-, then i needed a taxi..in total costing me about 6.- to return home!

i would not recommend boca chica as your resort destination. if coming to the caribbean, there are places so much more beautiful! let me help you get to those places!!! however, for a day or 2 it is a party!

so, i now have a new company for walking tours here in zona colonial for the women´s merengue festival. and i am going to check out an art gallery to visit for the merengue festival also. restaurants and food are never a problem....as i actually have too many choices!

tonight i would like to go to jet set, a club in santo domingo that has live music on mondays, but once again, i find myself solo...so, i am not sure i am going to go.....there is a man from switzerland staying at my house that is up for many things, but he is visiting san pedro de marcoris today. i don´t think he will be back in time to go out....i will see however.

missing you all, but glad i´m here.

a

let´s talk....

so, there was a transportation strike this morning, for the autobus and gua-guas....they had it until 10am this morning (they wanted to disrupt rush hour) because they are wanting money from the gov´t per passenger? this is what i have been told...i am so glad i take the taxi, as it i had no worries as we passed the streets lined with people waiting to get to work.

the other positive in this was that my cafeteria was empty for lunch....even though i did not get there until after 12:15, i was still able to get my food, eat it and be back for dance class by 1!

my teacher wants to show me a vegetarian restaurant near the university. she said it has comida typico, but with soy substitutes! i have to see this! today, she also showed me some of the jewelry she is making. i want to maybe buy some and sell when i get home, or to have for myself! she is now taking a metal making class! she is a cool chick.

today in class i talked politics with her, and have begun asking around about the political scene here...i am aware of the history a little bit, but am curious to hear where people fall now, as elections are in may...when i am less tired i will say more about this.....also, on their thoughts for the united states elections....

we also passed the office for visas to spain....the line was so long i thought they must be giving something away for free? i hear they line up at around 5 am waiting and hoping.

ok....so, let´s talk money....

40 pesos, 1.18 for afresh pineapple cut, sliced and put on a plastic tray with a kabob stick and a plastic bag

150 pesos, 4.41...each way by taxi from home to school...this is the same cost as 1 gallon of gas.

120 pesos, 3.53...piece of salmon, mashed potatoes and salty fried yumminess and 3 bottle of water, small

my school, dance classes, homestay that includes breakfast and lunch....about 67.- per day averaged out, including weekends...

i beer and 3 cold waters, 3.-!!!!

kisses to you all. i miss you, but i am happy...and right now...exhausted.
a

it´s getting better all the time....

a new day...in many ways yesterday was sooooo much better than monday....of course, i now know where my house is....i gave the taxi driver directions home yesterday, in spanish!!! i know where my school is and my head is getting a little more into spanish...my teacher is darling.

i listened to the words of my mama, and yesterday i walked into school and began introducing myself to the rest of the group. i tried to rally the troops and get them to go with me tonight to casa de teatro, a small art and music house in zona colonial, but to no avail....

my teacher introduced me to her afternoon student, a spanish speaking new yorker, here paid by the military. again, i mercilessly threw myself on him too, looking for someone to do things with. i think they all think i´m nuts....i do not however, want to go to clubs and bars by myself. we shall see how it all pans out...i don´t think they understand that i am looking to do things with people, not get intimate, not get drunk, just to go out and see the world while i am here....

i am now trying to get my teacher to ask her afternoon student out to join us....i analyzed the situation with her this morning, and i think she might enjoy his company, a little more than teacher/student...the good news is that my teacher, maria laura, is going to go to casa de teatro with me tonight!!!!yeah, i have a friend. and she is the smartest one in the bunch and the most interesting! and she is local! who wants to hang out with europeans, when i can have the real thing?

the part of my day yesterday that was so difficult was that emma was having some very grown up things to deal with, and i wasn´t there to help her. my mama was, so she was lucky for that, but i needed to be there. however, if i had been there, the issues would not have even come up....my heart hurt so much for her yesterday.

we are both so very lucky to have family and good friends that have our back....thank you to you all.

today i had my first dance class. i am so happy to be moving a little bit....the teacher´s style is very different than mine, which is good to learn however, it is still not the street style. so, i need some street sass in me.

lunch today at the local cafeteria. i got there earlier so, i did not have to wait so long....yesterday i had eggplant parmesan...today more salmon and enough mashed potatoes to sink a boat, but YUMMY!!



i am making plans to go on a VIP trip on by bus to carnival on sunday, for only 500 pesos. $15.- more or less...i will probably be the only gringa and non spanish speaker on the bus!!! aye, aye, aye...it is either going to be tremendously fun or tremendously stressful. i don´t think there will be any in between!

now i am going to begin looking up these art galleries for the women´s trip in july...i would like to see some of them soon, and figure out where we should visit.

kisses to you all.....and so sorry about the yucky weather!

a

where do i fit in?

so, yesterday i found myself in tears...i am caught. are my eyes bigger than my stomach? do i want more than i can actually handle? is that the lesson of my life? do i want to crave adventure, but in reality shy away from it all? when sad, this is what i think....however, i think in reality i either chew off a lot close to home or get myself to another place and then need help...but, do it all?

yesterday, at 3:15 i was back at my house...i made a few calls, did my homework, checked into art studios and galleries and then was alone for the rest of the day....if i slept more last night than usual, was it because i was exhausted, bored or depressed?

no dancing...i need to move.

no friends...i need friends.

no daughter...i need my daughter.

focus...i am here to work on my spanish. i am here to remember who i want to become....not sure what that is right now, but becoming it, none the less.

my daughter called me after school yesterday...and i have never been so happy! she handled so many things yesterday alone, and it was just day 1! i am so proud of her, and she had a sense of humor about it all. maybe she will grow more during this time than i will!

so, where do i fit in? my mama told me yesterday on the phone, that she was sure i would have the group of students organized to do things.....but i am not so sure....i told my teacher today that i was going to make new friends today, but not so sure it is going to work....i want to get out and see the country...not only go to the calmado for beers...some of that, but more...and until i have more spanish i can not fit in with the dominicans.

annoying things:

1. mosquito net over my bed

2. distance between house and school

3. no friends

4. no organized school activities (the organizer is on vacation this week!!!)

5. no dancing yet

6. my showers are so freezing that i can not put my whole body in at once....or my heart would stop beating!

good things:

1. lunch...salmon, morro y papas con agua por 95 pesos...about 3.00!

2. my teacher is delightful

3. it is 80+ degrees

4. my daughter called

5. i used my exercise tube

here i am....

well, much to my relief and panic all in the same breathe, i am here! my flights were perfect except for: 1. i wore my brown boots instead of black! 2. the airport in burlington confiscated my present for my family, because i forgot it was liquid and exceeded the alloted amount!!!!aarrgghh..

upon arriving at the airport here, i could not find my driver, but a nice police man assisted me, getting my phone working, and letting me use his at first. my home is a fine middle class home, just not easily located to the school. auto bus is not a direct route, and i am told i will need either 3 buses or to walk a distance...tomorrow, my teacher is going to walk me there, on our break. even still...it feels a little daunting. i took a taxi this morning and will take a taxi this afternoon.

my teacher is darling...maria laura. as i expected there are no other students in my level so, i am solo. there are those above me and below me....always, i walk alone! because of this, my classes are shorter and i am not going to begin dancing until wednesday, so that leaves me with a long stretch of time before anything else happens to me. i like to be busy. i want-need more things or people to know.

after this, i will take a taxi back to my house and do my !homework!, make some calls...i am going to see if tomorrow afternoon i can either meet a friend or meet with the walking tour people.

the owner of the school would like to do business with me in the future. i think (and thought) there were more activities for the students after hours. i am going to see if i can arrange some of this....the others seem to know each already. but, he would like to maybe work together with some groups.

i am always shocked by me....i can travel here on my own. i can make things happen, but yet i am so afraid to be alone. how can this be? how can i be such a combination of strong and weak at the same time. i can walk into places and talk with people and yet, have a very strong shy side to me in that very same moment. must figure this out and change it.

also, i like to get around and see things but i also like comfort and nice things. now i see where my daughter gets her interest in regular activities, to know her favorite places. to visit the same places, to eat at the same places. come to find out, she is much like me....hhhhhhmmmmm.

my spanish classes are next to the university here, which is the first university in the americas! and it is still working. quite impressive. my thoughts about the city....it really seems quieter but here, by the school the sidewalks are a mess...if you can even call them that. i can´t understand how more people don´t fall. and what about the old getting around?

i apologize now for any typing boo-boos, as all of the computers i will use will have different ways in which they function.

my little house seems so far away. it feels as if i left it years ago.....and yet, i have so many days ahead, before my family gets here. here is to growth. here is to stepping out of my comfort zone. here´s to me!!!!

kisses to you all!

a

and here we are....

the night before i depart. i am exhausted.

i was up and in middlebury by 8:30 am this morning to help teach a zumba class, as they are preparing to kick off their zumba classes there. the girls will do a great job. it will take a little bit to get their choreography to the point that it is easy enough to cue and do, but the ladies there are going to be a great support. they are all ready to booty shake and have the zumba girls lead the way! best of luck to you both! you rock!

cleaned my house, did every article of laundry, including sheets, and finished packing....i always act like i can't find shampoo and body wash in the d.r....once i'm there, i actually prefer purchasing my things there, but i will come prepared.

have said good bye to my kid and my dog....teary farewells. i know i will speak and e.mail with my daughter practically daily, and that i will see her in a little over 2 weeks, but i couldn't help think..."whose stupid idea was this for me to go away without her?" and our poochie...aye, aye, aye...it breaks my heart...but she is in doggie heaven, staying with her friends... her human friends too!

but that's all the practical stuff....what will this bring me? will i be more fluent in spanish? will i love dancing in the capital? will i meet interesting, creative and bright people? will i get lost? will i be able to immerse myself into the land? will i be ready to come home or will i want to stay there?

i guess i can only say..."stay tuned...same bat channel, same bat time...for the latest in the life of me"

un beso grande!

a