Another day, another zone conference! This one was in Asua which is two hours away to the west of Santo Domingo. The drive was uneventful - even the roads were without the huge potholes that plague Santo Domingo. We hadn't been to Bani yet so it was fun to drive through that city. These cities are all the same - congestion, congestion, poverty, poverty- I don't know where you would go to find personal space anywhere in the cities. We did go through some desert country with cactus spikes growing everywhere and rather barren mountains, but within 10 miles that was gone and the beautiful scenery along the highways in the country came into view again.
One thing that is very different here in the DR are the stop light vendors who are waiting at each light for the traffic to stop so they can try to sell their goods. I'm attaching some pictures of just a few of the things sold in the streets -
The small bags are nuts, the round things are peeled oranges, phone cards, sunglasses, charging cords for cell phones,umbrellas, all kinds of fruit and vegetables - especially squash. It's just very interesting and sometimes irritating because they stand at your window until you have told them "no" five or more times. Scott is most irritated by the "window washers" as you can see above. They come up to your car and start washing your window even though you are shaking your head and your finger that you don't want your windshield washed. (Pointer finger that is!) It is maddening when they throw their sponge on your window and lift the wiper blade so you can't take off on them. You would never see anything like this in the States because we have laws against it but it is part of what makes the Dominican unique.
We got home in time to make brownies for Scott's friend who was coming with his wife when she got off work if they could make it. He works nights and she works days so their time together is pretty slim. I don't know if they have a car but they both ride public transportation system of some kind and that costs money which they probably do not have. Anyway, they didn't make it so Scott went to get his hair cut at the Casa by the woman who works there doing other things but also cuts hair. He had her cut it shorter - and she did! I was thinking of having her cut my hair next time but think I may just stick with Scott.
Went to Price Mart to do a little shopping but mainly to pick up one of their pizzas which is close to the best we have ever tasted - plus it is cheap. Got some chicken soup made. Our fridge shelves are cracked and we are trying to figure out how to support them.
The Yturraldes stopped by to look at our fly box for the Internet so she helped me figure out how to get the Short Cut to Spanish audio working. Now I will have even another way to study. Sometimes I think that is what my life is from morning to night - Spanish - Spanish- Spanish. I wake up thinking Spanish, eat studying, go to bed memorizing. I am going to learn to communicate with these people or die trying!
One thing that is very different here in the DR are the stop light vendors who are waiting at each light for the traffic to stop so they can try to sell their goods. I'm attaching some pictures of just a few of the things sold in the streets -
We got home in time to make brownies for Scott's friend who was coming with his wife when she got off work if they could make it. He works nights and she works days so their time together is pretty slim. I don't know if they have a car but they both ride public transportation system of some kind and that costs money which they probably do not have. Anyway, they didn't make it so Scott went to get his hair cut at the Casa by the woman who works there doing other things but also cuts hair. He had her cut it shorter - and she did! I was thinking of having her cut my hair next time but think I may just stick with Scott.
Went to Price Mart to do a little shopping but mainly to pick up one of their pizzas which is close to the best we have ever tasted - plus it is cheap. Got some chicken soup made. Our fridge shelves are cracked and we are trying to figure out how to support them.
The Yturraldes stopped by to look at our fly box for the Internet so she helped me figure out how to get the Short Cut to Spanish audio working. Now I will have even another way to study. Sometimes I think that is what my life is from morning to night - Spanish - Spanish- Spanish. I wake up thinking Spanish, eat studying, go to bed memorizing. I am going to learn to communicate with these people or die trying!
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