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