Well, several things have been learned thus far in my 4 days stay here in the DR.
First, there is the language barrier and mi espanol is muy malo (My spanish is very bad)!!! I have knowledge of certain words and phrases, but I am AWFUL at grammar, which is always something that made me so mad or frustrated in the states when people wouldn't use correct grammar. Now, my compassion has INCREASED for people learning another language. It takes time and I have been encouraged that it will progress, but to be honest it's very hard and frustrating for me. For those of you who know me, yall know that I am very much a quality time person, so to go home to my host's family and not be able to communicate with them over a cup of juice or coffee is really hard for me. This culture is very much relational in everything they do. I mean the whole country shuts down between 12-2 everyday for lunch, socializing, and siesta!! Of course the school will not close, but that just goes to show that they desire very much to be in constant communication with the people close to them. And yall know how much I love to talk, so it's KILLING ME!! Luckily, the Lord is the Lord of ALL languages and HE transcends just the right words, feelings, emotions etc for us when we clearly can't.
Second, there is the fact that personal space is non existent! When driving or walking there is no regard for anyone else on the road. Their philosophy is that the bigger car/person wins. This seems pretty logical except when you are the smaller vehicle and you are feeling the gust of wind on your arm hairs as the bigger and more arrogant vehicle passes by. Don't worry I don't walk in the streets much, so I am safe:) Also on this note, it's not uncommon for people while standing in line, have their front sides pressed up to your back sides, when clearly there is enough room for everyone to stand at least a couple of feet apart!!! Just one of those things that I apparently will grow to love that they just want to be that close to me:)
Third, the food is actually quite tasty for my liking. Lunch is by far the biggest meal of the day and it usually consists of chicken, beans and rice (sometimes brown or white), then salad of lettuce and tomato with a homemade "italian like" dressing, and then some form of juice. Breakfast will usually just be cereal that we buy at the supermercado (super market) and then everyone has coffee! This morning, Maria (host mother) fixed me coffee and I was a little nervous, b/c as my dad used to say I like milk and sugar with a little bit of coffee, and it was just like that!! It made me feel at home. Dinner is usually later than in the states about 8-9 pm and is pretty small. We had mangoo (sp?) which is mashed plantanes (similar to bananas) with red onions and yellow bell pepper on top. It was pretty good, but I am for sure not going to lose weight here, b/c everything is healthy portions and lots of carbs, which are my favorite!!
Laslty, I love the school!! It feels so great when you find people or an organization that is doing something right and you just want to jump on board b/c you feel the same way about everything they do. From the way they view teaching to the way they view their role as a private school in another country, they just are very considerate of where they are and exemplify Christ in everything they do!! What an opportunity to be apart of something like this at this time in my life! Right now is orientation and we will be in orientation mode for the rest of this week and next week. Once, we get going into classroom mode, I think I will adjust much better and be able to really see how everything plays out. Right now it's alot of information and not exactly knowing what needs to be done or how it's getting done. I'm still in transition mode right now.