Now I have a Tinaco!

After promising me a tinaco, the property manager for my house did not follow through. I called him up and told him he had no shame (along with a few other unflattering comments, all in Spanish), and the next day he arrived with his installation crew. Voila! I now have a tinaco. Glad my Spanish is now effective enough I can chew someone out and get results. The tinaco is installed and thanks to my neighbors, who have a pump which brings the water to the second floor, (the tinaco is connected to this pump), I now have running water. For those who are unaware of the purpose of a tinaco (as I have been most of my life), water is available when the power is on, yet most other times is not. The tinaco serves the function of storing water so that it is available, even without electricity. That's good, because electricity in Santo Domingo is out much of the time.

This man is high on a ledge on the second floor of my building, repairing leaks in the tubing which carries water from the tinaco into my kitchen and shower. I watched him for awhile and then I couldn't bear my anxiety anymore. He got the job done, and I am greatly appreciative of his skill set and perseverance every time I take a shower.

The property owner, Andrea, is on the left, talking on the phone. Nelson Lopez, in the middle, is the Abogado, and property manager. For the past few days I have been calling to get the "tapa" or top put on the tinaco, and he says, "Ahorita." Then no one shows up. For now I have a plastic bag sealing the top of the tinaco.

Guess I will have to drop by the office and pick it up. That's pretty much the way things go around here. It seems to me (the limited point of view of an Americana, I know) that the team would want to finish the job and feel good afterwards about themselves for a job well done. Oh well! I am appreciative the job was mostly done.

Also, the property owner promised an electrician would come to repair several outlets that don't function, and her husband did come by the next day. Nothing was done, and the owner promised to send an electrician, but never did. That's typical too. It's why people here just pay someone in the neighborhood a couple of hundred pesos to get the electricity up to par. I suppose paying $4500 pesos per month rent (Equivalent of $115 month US dollars) doesn't come without a few wrinkles.

This photo is taken while on the roof of my apartment building.

My apartment is on the upstairs left of this yellow 4-plex.

I always hear my neighbors across the way in the morning, as they are frequently sitting out front on their balcony. The sounds of the children are always pleasant to my ears, and so are the greetings of "Buenas dias" from their mother and Abuela every morning when I walk out of the door.

This is my kitchen. My neighbors took me to Villa Consuelo, where I bought all of the items (for bargain prices) you see here. I have never felt so much support from women helping me to set up house. We took a long circuitous (and hilarious) ride on a guagua together to get to our destination, and spent a few hours picking out dishware, silverware, a coffee maker, blender, cutting board, knives, storage containers, serving spoons, and so on. It was about the most fun $100 I ever spent.

This is the stove another friend, Tiko (Tiko is an architect and a Peace Corps Contact) helped me pick up and transport to my house.

Aside from helping me move furniture, Tiko and I have enjoyed hours with his family downloading tunes from Youtube and singing together. An accomplished guitarist, Tiko loves oldies but goodies (The Supremes,  Everly Brothers, Neil Sedaka) and other music from the US as well as music from the Dominican Republic.


And here we are unpacking the new stove and refrigerator:

Tiko, also helped me buy this canister and get it filled with gas. Then he attached the cylinder to the stove.  Everyday, I'm getting wiser to the way much of the world lives. This system seems a lot more practical (and liberating) then paying a monthly bill to a company like Pacific Gas and Electric.

A new refrigerator! I never thought I would pay this much for a refrigerator here (about $200). In the US, I always bought everything used. Here there is no Craigslist, and I am not well enough connected to know where to buy good electrical products second hand.

My first cup of hot coffee (with milk and no sugar)! Yea! A thrilling morning here in the DR--well worth the trouble of buying a stove, cylinder of gas, and refrigerator.

A spinach salad (with chunks of Spanish cheese, and hard boiled eggs)! I dutifully soaked the spinach leaves in chlorinated water for 15 minutes before tossing in onion, tomato, avocado and an olive oil dressing. A wonderful lunch, and rare here in the DR, where people do not generally eat salads.
Bedroom and sanctuary from life where I've spent a few weeks just holed up every chance I get, reading novels and relaxing from the stress of six months living in other people's homes and sleeping on sagging, small, or lumpy mattresses. This bed, like other items I've bought here in the DR, was pricey, one of the downsides of being here. There doesn't seem to be good used furniture available. Yet, I am thrilled with the comfort this Queen Sized bed has given. The Community Contact Person Peace Corps introduced me to,  Camila,  helped me buy this bed, dresser and fan.

Closet area with most of the earthly goods that I brought with me from the US in August.

Clean and functioning bathroom, with running water!

Table for studying and dining! Rooms with lots of light, too, which I find delightful.

It's great to have internet again. I signed an 18 month contract and got a modem from Orange, for about $24 month.

Tiko and his beautiful wife Candida came to dinner Saturday night, along with others who have helped me so much to settle in these past few months.

I served a lasagna loaded with mozarella, parmesan, ricotta, and a meat sauce simmered for hours. The dinner of lasagna, fresh salad, and toasted french bread was a huge hit. When Candida complimented me on my talent as a cook, I felt acknowledged by one of the DR's top chefs!

The best part for me was having all of these beautiful and kindly people, who have made leaving everything behind in California (including my psychological practice) so worthwhile, over for dinner in my house!

These are my neighbors, Batista, Espidia, and Camila, who have all helped me in countless ways. Without their support I would never have made it the past months. Batista and Espilda live next door, while Camila lives the next street over.

And here is Espidia in her apartment, which is right next door to mine:

This is the lovely and elegant Camilla, with whom I have spent many an evening over the past months. Her entire family has been a source of inestimable comfort to me. I have such gratitude to Camila for her great generosity in terms of guidance and support. She is patient with my language limitations and actually understands most of what I say.  Her niece, who lives with her, has been great help with regard to my Spanish, too.  Everyone says my Spanish is so much better!

In the excitement of the evening, I forgot to take a photo of the gorgeous lasagne I spent an entire day shopping for and preparing. However, I did have a piece left over and took a photo later.

Yesterday, after the exciting evening in which all of my good friends came to celebrate,  Peace Corps Volunteer Julie Chou and I met for lunch. We met at the Peace Corps Office in Gazcue, and walked to the restaurant from there.  It was great to catch up some with Julie:

While on the topic of Peace Corps, I'll mention here that I am no longer with the Peace Corps.  At the end of January I resigned, and what a big process that was, at the time. All of the Peace Corps support staff were very kind, by the way. Here is Ana Saba, signing the last few signatures I needed to complete a very lengthy termination form:

 

I turned in my Peace Corps passport, phone and identification that day. What a relief it is to have my own passport and to just be myself again. I really haven't missed much about the Peace Corps.

This is the statement I wrote on my Facebook Profile page upon completion with the Peace Corps:

As of January 22, I am terminated with Peace Corps. I am loving the site Peace Corps assigned me to, my community contacts, and am staying in the Dominican Republic, applying for other positions in Santo Domingo! 

As the only older person in the group that came to the DR August 22, 2012 (everyone else, excepting a few in their late twenties or early thirties, was in their early twenties), I felt frustrated much of the time while in the Peace Corps, and longed for more connection with others my age. I am glad Peace Corps is seeking older volunteers to serve; however the reality is that most Peace Corps policies are geared toward young volunteers. Peace Corps training does not consider the life experience of older Volunteers. Peace Corps staff, in my experience, have a tendency toward micro-management (possibly needed by those in their early twenties) inappropriate for those in their sixties.

I feel fortunate in that PC gave me a wonderful launch! However, I feel I will find more meaningful work (and relationships) elsewhere in the Dominican Republic. PC Program Director Diane Partl met with me yesterday and offered terrific leads (encouragement, too) for employment within the Dominican Republic. Thank you to our FB Peace Corps 50+ Group (for which I have been Administrator), FB DR PC Group and to Peace Corps for all you have given me.

I'll close with these photos, taken late January at an event held at the Hogar Renacer, where I continue to volunteer. A similar photo to the one above was published in the Santo Domingo Newspaper, along with photos of the Comptroller of the Hotel Jaragua,  and the Ambassador to the DR from Taiwan. Other local luminaries came to the Hogar Renacer and they too were featured in the newspaper article. The hotel donated an industrial kitchen to the Hogar Renacer, as well as a generator. 

The Hogar Renacer was transformed during this gala luncheon event, complete with a fountain of chocolate at the dessert table. I'd never been part of anything like this event, and I'm sure it was quite a memorable occasion for the girls and staff, too.