Saludo de la vista de mi cuarto,
What an amazing morning here mi primer día completo en Dominicana república. Estoy en mi balcón y la vista está maravillosa.La temperatura está aproximadamente en 85 grados Fahrenheit y hay un poco de brisa. El sol está brillante. Estoy comiendo fresa mango y sentado en mi balcón, escuchando a música para mi iTunes. Estoy regresando para del supermercado con Juan Carlos. El hablo muy poco inglés y yo hablo poco español. Nosotros tuvimos una pequeña dificultad pero nosotros manejamos.
Today we went to the same little local restaurant we went to last night. The staff is so friendly and the food is so amazing. Sr. Galán is able to make people laugh wherever we go. He is really very personable and engaging, and that is just the surface. There is so much more. While I know I do not agree with everything he professes, I most certainly respect his passion and the rationale he employs in his thought processes. I really do think he is tremendously funny. We had a great time at lunch teasing Juan Carlos. If my Spanish was better, I would imagine even more craziness. We have purchased food to eat in this evening and I think we might go out later again. I found that all the video taken last night did not save. That is unfortunate because the party we attended with dancers and such was phenomenal. I will also note that using the internet and the use of technology in general is so very different than I have been conditioned to have. While we are in a resort, which is a complete 180 from being in town, the internet connection and the way it is used is spotty at best. That is not a value statement, but rather a statement about difference. I am fearful that I am going to get killed on my AT&T bill next month. That is in spite of buying a plan, which was anything but “barata”.
This afternoon was spent at lunch and running a couple of errands. Now I am hanging out by the pool and relaxing. I think this might be the most I have unwound in a very long time. I had to smile on a number of occasions today and I told Sr. Galán, “Ronnie would be beside himself if he were here. I think I have seen some of the most beautiful women I have ever observed. Ronnie would have been “loco todo” last night at this gathering. His shirt would never be found. Yet, this place we are in caters to those who have money, or at least money that is not typical among the local people. I could not help but wonder what some of the smiling faces that work so hard to attend to us go home to? While I have had those times in my life where I was broke I did not believe my life would always be such.
What happens when people barely eek out an existence? What makes them happy? I certainly know that money is not equal to happiness, but we still take so much for granted. I do not really take much of anything for granted at this point, but for other reasons. Yet I think it is, perhaps, better to see everyday as a gift, as an opportunity. I could have never in my wildest dreams a year ago imagine where I am now. It was a year ago today that Jordan completed my class. I was leaving for Placerville and getting ready to grade my summer classes. The number of changes in the year have been rather overwhelming. Deckers were gone and I realized how important they were in my life. I have moved on in some other ways in my life and while I have some sadness in that, it is strange how things work out. I am in the middle of a new situation and taking on a fight with more tools and things at my disposal than I could have imagined. The most important tool is that of family and friends. While the other changes in diet and such are profoundly important, not being alone is most significant for my mental well being.
It is Friday night and my desire to go out again tonight is minimal. Tomorrow I need to get a better lay of the land. This is a huge complex and there is so much here. I think I want to be on one of the beaches tomorrow and merely hanging out and being a lizard in the sun. I am assuming we might have lunch or dinner in the same place. La restaurante llame el Cocinero. Juan Carlos y Sr. Galán ate an entire fish. It is a very large fish and was caught fresh this morning. I tasted it and it was fabulous. They got the phone number so we can call ahead and it will be quicker. They let me know I needed to do this entire fish tomorrow. We’ll see if I decide to take that on.
Today has been a good day and one to learn more things. I have found that my reading comprehension is very strong. I even enjoy the writing.. My difficulty is listening and picking out what is being said. It moved so quickly. I pick up words, but sometimes the connecting words are pushed together and I am completely overwhelmed. I thought about what it would be like if I were alone. It would be frightening. While I have learned a lot in 4+ months, it is not nearly enough. Tomorrow will be yet another day. Until then.
Thanks for reading.
Michael
thewritingprofessor55 