Letters of Love: Did I Ever Tell You?

Did I ever tell you just how beautiful you are?

That when you smile my whole world stops, and for a moment I can see God.

That the freckles on your face are more wondrous than any night sky.

I sometimes connect the dots that form constellations under your eyes.

Those eyes are, to me, brighter than the summer sun.

I'm convinced that the warmth they hold could melt the coldest of hearts.

And your heart... the universe never thought such selflessness was possible in a single being.

You love in a way that all of humanity aspires to.

You are a reflection of all that is good in the human spirit.

And you don't even know my name.

© 08.2013 Alexandra Hall

Home is Near

I've got just a few more weeks in the Dominican Republic until my summer internship ends. After this, I'll return home to Atlanta to spend a few weeks with my family, and then it's back to Santo Domingo for a full 10 months teaching English.

I will be home for about three weeks, and there is so much I want to do. I still have things I'd like to do before leaving this month, but it's comforting to know that I'll be back soon. My upcoming stint in Santo Domingo will be the longest period of time I've lived outside of the United States. I'm really looking forward to this next adventure, but I also want to make sure that I take advantage of my short time at home.

Things to do before I leave DR this summer:
Bake cookies for the office again

Show Brigette the Colonial Zone

Teach an English lesson at the local institute

Go out to dance bachata/merengue once more
Have an adventure on my birthday

Get a lesson on cooking Pad-Thai with Tanya
Visit another waterfall

Things to do when I go home:
Send a “Thank you” note to all my coworkers this summer
Go on an outdoor adventure with my best friend
Write a reflection on my summer internship experience
Update my blog
Fly or drive to see my closest friends
Have a belated birthday party with my family
Spend time in Chattanooga with my Sister + her Boyfriend
Eat, cook, enjoy as much vegan food as possible at home
Upgrade my camera
Manage to pack for 10 months away from home
Register to take the GRE in the Dominican Republic 
Visit graduate schools in the U.S.

Midweek Music 5.0

1. Run- Daughter. My best friend introduced me to Daughter just a few months ago. I being the lover of chill music, as I am, immediately fell in love with the sound. I just came across this song, and it's one of those I've had on repeat. Love the lyrics.
2. Dragging You Around- Greg Laswell ft. Sia. Two of my favorite artists. This collaboration is golden.

Lost in Translation

The other night, while cooking dinner with my friend Brigette, she accidentally cut her finger in the midst of slicing an avocado. The cut was quite deep and no amount of pressure or gauze seemed to stop the bleeding. After wrapping her finger up better than priority mail, we finally decided she would be better off getting some professional care. Around 9PM at night, we set out to find a clinic that could treat her poor finger.

We came across the Clínica Abreu, just a few minutes from our apartment. I was interested in seeing just how fast my friend would be seen after entering a Dominican emergency room. In less than five minutes a doctor was attending to her, and we were being asked questions about her health insurance. My goodness,  that was fast!

The doctor didn't speak very much English, but we didn't mind that at all, especially because he was so incredibly good looking. Although my friend was being prodded with a needle filled with anesthesia medicine, she managed to smile throughout the whole procedure. Note to self: A good looking doctor is just the distraction you need to get through the pain.

In the span of just one hour at the clinic, my friend was stitched up and given a prescription. In the same hour, I got caught taking a few pictures in the clinic, and was almost thrown out of the place. However, the funniest moment occurred while trying to communicate with the beautiful physician. Since I understand the most Spanish in our little group, the doctor began to ask me all the questions about my friend's injury. I heard him say, "How was your experience in the hospital?" For some reason, I thought this was a completely natural post-operation inquiry. It's obvious now that I don't go to hospitals very often. I asked my friend the doctor's question in English. She responded, "Amazing. Really great." The doctor looked completely puzzled. He repeated his question, miming to get his words across. I finally understood what he was asking; "How did her injury happen?" We all burst out laughing. She had just told him that the her injury happened in an amazing, really great way. What a mix-up that was! Even if he had asked about our overall experience at the clinic, it's still hilarious that my friend described her experience getting stitched up and prodded by a needle as "amazing." It's good to know I've got such positive people around me!

Happy Birthday to My Sister

If you asked me to tell you who I am, I'd respond, "You have to meet my sister." 

Because the truth is, without her, I don't make sense. 

I carry your heart with me (i carry it in my heart)

I am never without it (anywhere i go you go, my dear;

and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

Excerpt from I Carry Your Heart by E.E. Cummings

Happy Birthday, Ari! 

I love you, Seester! 

Connect or Move On

I'm a relator by nature. I cannot go a day without feeling connected to other people. Since graduation, my closest friends and I have gone in very different directions. Literally, we are spread from China to South Korea and Tennessee to Hawaii. Once just a phone call or short walk away, we are now separated by countless miles of land and sea, time zones, international calling rates, etc. Initially it was very difficult for me to grapple with the stress of being so far from my friends. After some quiet reflection however, I came to the decision that it's all on me. If I want someone to be in my life, then I have to make every effort to be in their's. Life gets busy and complicated, people move on to do different things, but that's not necessarily an excuse to lose touch.

I think it is a beautiful thing when friends can go weeks, months, years even, without talking, and suddenly reunite on the same note they left off. However, there is something to be said about friends that remain in constant contact despite distance, time, and circumstances. That's what I want.

In part, it's probably my fear of losing relationships that keeps me from being content with not talking to friends for extended periods of time. I can still remember the regret I felt as a seven year old when I moved to a new state with my family, left my best friend behind, and realized that we would probably never talk again (mostly because I had an irrational fear of telephones as a child).

I think you should make every effort to keep the people you care about in your lives. Even still, I believe you have to move on when efforts become one sided. A quote I read recently definitely woke me up to this fact. It said, "Stop wanting someone who doesn't want you! What a waste of time and energy! God has a plan for your life and you're distracted. Be free!" So that's what I'll try to live by. God has a plan for my life. People come and go. There is something to learn from everyone. In the end, we make time for the things and people that matter most to us. That's just how it goes.

My New Vocabulary

I've acquired a new lingo in the last few months. Despite working in a bilingual professional environment, I've managed to pick up a whole slew of distinctly Dominican street terms and expressions. Let's call them "Dominicanismos" or "Dominicanisms." You'll be hard pressed to find many of these words/phrases used outside of the country or, in some cases even, outside of Santo Domingo. I've enjoyed joking with coworkers and throwing around the local jargon.
Here's my dictionary so far:

Táto- Okay                                                                    Largatijo- lizard
Caliente/Guapo- Angry                                               Freco- Fresh guy
Nítido- Alright                                                               Tonto- Dumb
Setiao- All set                                                               Vaina- Any "thing"
De lo mío/mi gente- My people/my crew                    Bonche- A party
Biberon- Baby bottle or uncomfortable situation         
Bobo- Problem/uncomfortable situation
Tirar- To take a shot
Cache bonita- Something in good condition
Corta- Shut up
Corrita- Someone who likes jokes

When someone hisses at you on the street to get your attention:
Qué pasó? Se pinchó la goma?/ What happened? Did you pierce your tire?
                                                               

Guyacanes

 

Summer weather in Santo Domingo can be a little unpredictable. Recently it seems as if there is a 50% chance of rain everyday. This Saturday, I checked the weather report in the morning..."30% chance of rain, and scattered thunderstorms." Earlier in the week, a small group of us had planned to go to the beach for a day. After a few minutes of deliberation, we decided our odds were good enough to make the trip despite the frequent showers we've been getting.

The beach at Los Guayacanes was absolutely gorgeous. It's located about 40 minutes outside of Santo Domingo, right next to Juan Dolio. The water is turquoise in color, and oh so clear. Near the area where we were swimming there were real coral formations and hundreds of small live sea urchins. I tried so hard not to step on any of these spiky critters while I was out there. My friend Brigette and I borrowed some snorkeling gear from our friends and went out exploring the shallow waters. Oh my gosh, there were so many, and it was quite a sight to see them up close. Brigette led me to a large coral strip and told me to look under it for a sea urchin. No exaggeration, this creature was the size of a basketball. I took one peak and immediately lifted my head from the water so that I could properly freak out and not drown. I'd never seen one that size before.

After some more exploring under the sea, we came out of the water to enjoy a delicious meal of tostones, avocado, fried snapper, octopus, crab, sweet potato fries, and Dominican rice & beans; an unbelievably filling meal after all of our swimming. Later we would try some fresh coconuts, brought by our young friend, Domingo. It was my first time drinking the water directly out of the coconut, no straw, no cup. Things got a little messy, but it was so great. I don't think I can drink it the way I used to anymore!

1/2. My new friend, Domingo, climbs up 20 ft. to score some coconuts for us to eat
3. Pulpo pours out some coconut water
4/5. Brigette & Domingo are all smiles with fresh coconut in tow
6. My coworker Tanya relaxes in a hammock while enjoying the scenery

Words for Today

YOUR LIFE IS REMARKABLE
-ABH 

Midweek Music 4.0

1. Poscards from Italy- Beirut. One of my old favorites, this is such a perfect summer song.
2. To Build a Home- Patrick Watson. I had Patrick Watson's Great Escape on repeat during my senior year of high school. The only way I can describe this guy's voice is "ethereal." To Build a Home is such a poetic piece, and I think this video is just splendid.