So the last few days have
been a series of goodbyes for our beloved Milena. Milena came here from Germany
straight after high school and has been here for over a year and a half. In the
volunteer house, we joke that she is the most Dominican of any of us. Since she
came here without any Spanish, she’s completely picked up the Dominican accent,
slang, etc. and speaks Spanish just the same as a Dominican 8-year old. Of
course, this was helped out by the fact that she spent her time here as a volunteer
in Santa Lucia, the baby house, working with our youngest ones. She left on
Tuesday after goodbye after goodbye, and it was real tough to see her go. Besides being a great friend, she was a
bit of a cross-cultural bonding agent in the volunteer house. She’s done such
an amazing job as a tutor, pottery instructor, and guitar teacher so, of course,
it was difficult to say goodbye.
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| One of our first photos together from early 2012...me, Milena, and Avriel. We all look SO young! |
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| Volunteer dance number 1: Graduation! |
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| Volunteer dance number 2: Christmas! |
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| Volunteer dance number 3: Talent Show! |
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| Outing with Santa Ana girls to San Pedro! |
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| The crew that extended...me, Nelly, Milena, Pili, and Avriel! |
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| Visitor Day...always an important time to be there for the kiddies! |
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| Hehehe, scaring Milena one night in the volunteer house... |
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| Hanging out with my sisters when they were here... |
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| Attempting to stay dry... |
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| Dancing the night away! |
Anyways, this has been
quite the wake-up call for me as I’m realizing that I’m leaving in less
than 4 months. I’m part of
the next group out. My despedida isn’t
off in some uncertain future now. I’m leaving here at the end of July. Oh my
gosh…even just typing that makes my stomach sink. On that note, I’m looking
into a couple different options for some transition programs for volunteers to
help me jump back into life in the US when I get home…Here’s part of what I
wrote for an application where I try to sum up my thoughts on making this next
big life change:
Eighteen hot, sweaty months. 225 abandoned and
orphaned children fighting for your constant attention. Four concrete walls.
These three statements sum up life here in the Dominican Republic. It’s a
demanding life, it’s a heartbreaking life at times, but above all, it’s a
fulfilling life.
In July 2013, I will be
finishing up a year and a half commitment as a volunteer at an orphanage in
what is commonly known as the “armpit of the Dominican Republic”, San Pedro de
Macorís. The land is covered in trash, a stench greets you as your enter the
city, and worst of all, a brutal form of modern day slavery continues to exist
in the form of manual labor in the sugar cane fields. However, as can be
expected, after such an intense experience I’ve come to love the country
despite its flaws.
The thought of leaving the
DR downright scares me. I’ve developed relationships here in this short time
that are stronger than some relationships I’ve been working on for years at
home in Minnesota. I’ve grown and changed and stretched during this time; I’ve
formed new opinions and reprioritized many parts of my life particularly when
it comes to material things.
After living in such an
unconventional environment, the meaning of family has truly taken on a new
meaning for me. Oftentimes, I feel more like a mom or older sister than a
professional who has graduated with honors from college in a developed country.
In a way, I’ve lost myself in the Dominican culture by putting my whole heart
into what I do here, and I’m not quite sure how to return to what was my only
‘normal’ just under two years ago.
For over a year and a
half, I have lived, laughed, and cried with a multitude of Dominican children
who have all become my hijos and hermanos. This experience has been
intense, rewarding, frustrating, emotional, and most of all, life-changing. I’m
very much looking forward to coming home, but it’s going to be quite the change
for my mind, brain, and heart. But the time has come to trade in my chore chart
and Crayola crayons for a real planner and pen. I am looking for all the
resources at my disposal to make this a smooth transition so I can move forward
using my unique experiences to benefit others as well as myself in this next
stage of life.
And there we have it…the
countdown has begun. Here’s to making the next couple months the best yet!
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| The fearless fivesome on our last night out together... |
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