1 Month in the DR!

It's hard to believe that four weeks I was on a plane to Santiago, Dominican Republic. It seems like such a long time ago for me. A lot of people have asked me if I've been homesick, and I can honestly say I really haven't. I've also been asked about what I've been surprised about since coming here, and for me it's hard to answer that question. I don't (or haven't had) any expectations, and am just taking everything in. Everything is new (other than the American fast food places! LOL)-- the driving, the language, the culture, living abroad....
It still doesn't seem quite like "home" yet here-- as I still feel like I'm from Kansas-- But I'm sure it will take a bit. I mentioned to someone today that I wanted to start doing some decorating for our apartment, and in the states I would know exactly which places to shop at, but here it's "foreign" to me to know what places to go--- and they don't have dollar stores unfortunately. :-( I'm so used to being self-sufficient-- and though I've started out in new places several times-- it's a lot different with the lack of immediate transportation and the language barrier. Normally when I've moved the things I needed, I just went to the store and bought them (within reason), whereas here I (a) don't have the transportation to carry it all, and (b) can't afford (or need to save) what I want to buy. Our apartment still looks very, um "pale?" with furnishing and decorations! But that will come, and isn't necessarily a necessity. (Also on the list a microwave -- which we're getting from an SCS teacher couple, hopefully soon), blender, bookshelves, curtains, etc. etc. etc. We do have a toaster oven though!) I've already found that you do learn what you can live with, or without.
**Side note-- I did order water from the colmado on Wednesday, and it was a lot easier-- and I think they understood what I was asking --- and I understood (some) what they were asking/saying. (or they've just figured out that I'm an American, and I'm just going to keep repeating the same phrase over and over! LOL) I haven't had chance to practice taking a taxi by myself yet, but hopefully that will come soon. I need to write down the Spanish words for "left" and "right." I've found that I do better with remembering a Spanish word if it's written down for me to see. If someone says, I will forget how to say it, and I can halfway read the Spanish words.
It is very hard to describe exactly what it's like here, though the first thing that does come to mind is "HOT" and SUNNY! It is like living in a city (though not in a city like Omaha or Kansas City), with the traffic-- you do have be an aggressive driver (which is probably why I won't be getting a car anytime soon!), but it seems the attitude of the Dominicans is very laid back and if someone cuts in front of you, or makes a two-lane into a three-lane, you honk, and it's no big deal. When you're on the busy streets (not in the housing areas), and your stopped at a stoplight, you'll see people walking down the aisles of the cars, selling chargers (of some sort?), sports drinks, foods, etc. Motorcycles basically have no boundaries. They will weave in and out of the lanes of traffic. There are fruit stands, people selling flowers, and other food stands-- though we've been told not to eat from the meat stands, b/c they cook with grease used multiple, multiple times, and will usually make you sick.
I'm slowly figuring out where things are, and walking helps with that the best (if I'm not talking too much and focusing! LOL). Though there are still a lot of times I get turned around. This week we had a bus route with the new and returning teachers, so I've gotten to see where they live (though I'm not sure I could tell you yet how to get to everyone's place). We get on the bus at about 6:40ish, and then can leave on the 4:00 or 4:45 bus.
I've learned that it's very common for the water and electricity to go out-- though I haven't had to deal with water out for an extended period of time (yet). I'm sure that will be coming, but I'm guessing we will become pros at figuring out to handle that. We need to stock up on water, which is on the to-do list... Our washer was leaking when Sarah used it on Wednesday, but the maintenance guy said he looked at it today, and it should be working fine now. I think we will be buying some fabric softener (and some different laundry detergent), as the washer made the clothes extremely "stiff!"
Things at school are slowly coming together. I met with the SST team, and then also met to divide the caseload. It works out that I have 2nd-5th graders, and the Level 2 students (those that need more support) with Language Arts support, and then two students that need both Language Arts and Math. With Ms. Siri's (my aide) translation help, I called my parent's to set up times to meet with them on Monday and Tuesday for them to sign the SST contracts. I'm also starting to meet with teachers to talk about our students. There's still a lot of unknown as to what I should be doing, but at this point my philosophy is "go with the flow...!"  and "Take it as it comes!" LOL
I am feeling better, but it's taken a little while for me to get back to normal. There were several of us that got sick-- it's hard to know exactly what it was from-- as it could be just trying to adjust to the food/environment here.
Last night several of the new teachers were invited over to another teacher's house for pasta-- gnochi-- great food and conversation! Tomorrow I'm going to the salon with some teachers, so that will be another experience for me!
Another side note-- please pray for my Mom's family-- My 97 year-old grandmother passed away yesterday. She had been in hospice care for several days prior, so it was somewhat expected. It's hard to believe that she lived to such an age, and what she was able to see over that expanded time period. I was able to see her a few months prior to coming here. Though it was somewhat expected, it is still hard to not be there to support my family.