The professors here are on strike - they want a 100% raise. Their economy here was headed down the same trail as ours in the US but the new president really seems to be making a difference. It is just that people don't like it because they like what they have had. We have seen so much illiteracy and poverty that you would think the country would be for spending the money they promised on education - as he is doing. It looks like one of the few ways to really help the people make better lives for themselves instead of following in their parents footsteps of poverty. We would love to see our little kids here be better educated than their parents! There is so much complacence here. " We just do with what we have - why try to do better .
Scott and I have become salsa gurus. I usually eat it in some way three times a day and he loves salsa and chips. So we are always making fresh salsa. He's cutting up some peppers and onions now before he goes to the temple - I'm not going to tell him his hands will stink the whole night!
I didn't blog yesterday so will add about our trip to Los Llanos. It finally hit me as I walked out the door of the church there and the country atmosphere, the goats tied to rocks by the building, chickens clucking and running around that the reason it feels so comfortable there for me is it is like where I grew up! There is just a feeling in the country that is not in the city. Anyway, this tan goat was hilarious as tried to get him to look at me so I could take a picture. They say he gets bored on Sundays and tries to come into the building - the two doors are always open.
These other two were much quieter! You can't really see the chickens in the background but I love seeing them running around. The musical cart-taxi passed a couple of times during the lesson - which is always fun but I guess it would have been inappropriate for me to leave the keyboard and go out to take pictures! Will see it again sometime on our trips out there. The people are great. In Santo Domingo one of the women students stayed after to tell us how much she appreciated the opportunity to learn to play because she could never afford the expensive it is here to take lessons or have her children take lessons. That warms my heart because that is what is important to me - for us to give them opportunities that they would not be able to have.
We also went with Yturraldes yesterday to the Colonial Zone to see a replica of an old ship like the one Magellan sailed on. It was actually beautifully finished with polished wood inside. When I went to take a picture, I had forgotten to put the media stick back in my camera. Sister Yturralde said she would send me some pictures so I will put them on when she does. It was a fun experience and not too many people out and around early in the morning.
Just got back from the temple. The Mahon's work at the Institute where we teach. The professors have been on strike and the Institute is just across the street from the college. On Tuesday they got caught in a riot with black masked people and smoke bombs etc. She said it was really scary. The past two days the roads have been closed so we couldn't have gotten there. Guess someone was killed there in the rioting this week. I am surprised that hasn't been in the newspaper. That is maybe a mile from us and we have two colleges within the block next to us but haven't seen problems here.
Now that is unusual! Scott did here shots the other morning at 3:30 but couldn't see anyone around outside. That's probably because they were laying dead in an alley somewhere nearby!
Scott and I have become salsa gurus. I usually eat it in some way three times a day and he loves salsa and chips. So we are always making fresh salsa. He's cutting up some peppers and onions now before he goes to the temple - I'm not going to tell him his hands will stink the whole night!
I didn't blog yesterday so will add about our trip to Los Llanos. It finally hit me as I walked out the door of the church there and the country atmosphere, the goats tied to rocks by the building, chickens clucking and running around that the reason it feels so comfortable there for me is it is like where I grew up! There is just a feeling in the country that is not in the city. Anyway, this tan goat was hilarious as tried to get him to look at me so I could take a picture. They say he gets bored on Sundays and tries to come into the building - the two doors are always open.
We also went with Yturraldes yesterday to the Colonial Zone to see a replica of an old ship like the one Magellan sailed on. It was actually beautifully finished with polished wood inside. When I went to take a picture, I had forgotten to put the media stick back in my camera. Sister Yturralde said she would send me some pictures so I will put them on when she does. It was a fun experience and not too many people out and around early in the morning.
Just got back from the temple. The Mahon's work at the Institute where we teach. The professors have been on strike and the Institute is just across the street from the college. On Tuesday they got caught in a riot with black masked people and smoke bombs etc. She said it was really scary. The past two days the roads have been closed so we couldn't have gotten there. Guess someone was killed there in the rioting this week. I am surprised that hasn't been in the newspaper. That is maybe a mile from us and we have two colleges within the block next to us but haven't seen problems here.
Now that is unusual! Scott did here shots the other morning at 3:30 but couldn't see anyone around outside. That's probably because they were laying dead in an alley somewhere nearby!
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