July 20 was my 65th birthday and I had a wonderful time! I spent the weekend with the family in Monte Plata I like so much. I took my favorite book of recipes and brought imported feta cheese, olives imported from Greece, and other Middle-Eastern foods purchased in Santo Domingo with me on the guagua to Monte Plata. We cooked together throughout the day on Saturday, and part of Sunday too. The girls were so eager to help, and Charo was really glad to have help in the kitchen! Charo is really open minded when it comes to trying foods from different parts of the world, so she really enjoyed the different flavors of foods from Greece and the Middle East. Below, Charo and her youngest daughter, Gabriela, are working together with me in the kitchen preparing the shish kabobs. And after that is a photo with Marianna, Charo's older daughter.
We were all involved with making shish kababs of chicken marinated in olive oil, garlic and oregano. We alternated peppers, and onions together with pieces of chicken. The shish kabobs turned out so beautifully. Below is a whole plate of them before we put them on the grill.
We made Greek salad with bell peppers, cucumber, onions, tomatoes, olives imported from Greece and imported Feta Cheese. It was delicious. Below is a photo of the hummus with pita bread and moussaka we made and served Saturday night.
Below is a photo of the dolmades while they are cooking. We wrapped meat and rice seasoned with dill in cabbage leaves and boiled them for about a hour, then topped them with a lime sauce. They were a labor of love and they were delicious, too. Charo's daughters squeezed a lot of limes for the dolmades, as well as the hummus, made of garbanzos, garlic, cumin, lime juice and tahini. In addition to all of the food we made, Charo's good friend Andrea brought over bread and appetizers. We had a feast Saturday evening and another one on Sunday afternoon!
Charo, the girls and I are all seated on the sofa together in the photo below:
And next is a photo of Andrea, presenting me with my birthday cake:
Below, Charo, Andrea and I are all together with the birthday cake:
Below are some of the neighbors who have joined us on Sunday evening, and we are all in the living room watching videos on the computer together, dancing. I really enjoyed myself. Among some of the artists we danced to was Gustavo Lima, a young Brasilian with a huge Latin American fan base.
Next is Gustavo, Charo's second oldest son (the oldest is in the United States playing baseball with the Minnesota Twins) and his friend. Gustavo is helping with the youtube selections.
After the dancing in the living room we lit the birthday cake and everyone had a piece. It was a fantastic birthday! I admit I was relieved that the whole event went so well. I was thrilled everyone was so kind to me, and felt deeply nourished by their support.
Now, on to something completely different! Earlier in July, I went to the beach with the teachers at the local colegio where I have been volunteering. The following photos were taken on the day of that trip. Below is the guagua we took to get to the beach. Next are some of the teachers and their children riding the guagua.
Below are some of the teachers at the beach.
Next, children are shown swimming in the water.
Next is a photo of some of the teachers at the school with all of the food they brought.
In the next photo, the director of the school and another teacher are serving the food.
Next are two teachers and their cousins. I am especially fond of the two sisters who are teachers.
I really had fun with these teen-aged girls in the ocean, and appreciated their inviting me to play along with them while they were having a good time. They enjoyed the attention they were getting from the teen-aged boys on the beach that day.
Finally, this is a photo of the man who drove the guagua. He clearly gained the trust of the toddler seen in the picture, who is climbing a tree branch. The little boy is the son of one of the teachers.
Next I am including a photo of myself with good friends Julie and Mark, who
came over for lunch one Sunday a few weeks ago. Mark is an English
translator and Julie volunteers with me at Mercedes Amiama. Mark and
Julie have been living in the Dominican Republic forty years and are
both fluent in Spanish. Mark works as a Translator. He recently served
as Translator for Ban Ki Moon, Secretary of the United Nations, while he was
in the Dominican Republic for a few days meeting with President Danilo and other officials.
I hosted several good-bye dinners at my house over the past weeks. I invited my neighbors as well as some dear friends on the next street over. I really knocked myself out preparing fine feasts for all. I also got my projector hooked up to my computer and showed photos of the times we've shared during the past couple of years. I am leaving the Dominican Republic on September 6 for Lima, Peru! I am sad about saying good-bye to people who have meant so much to me here. Yet I also feel ready to move on.
I didn't take a picture of the next door neighbor (previously featured in this blog) and her sister (also previously featured). Both came to my house two weekends ago with their husbands for dinner. We had a beautifully heartfelt evening together. I was too busy enjoying myself to take photos. However, I did take photos of the neighbors who came for dinner last weekend. Below is a photo of my dear friend Rubia and her husband, Rafael.
Below are Muñeca and Santos, another couple that live nearby I enjoy very much.
And next are both couples together.
Most of my furniture has been sold! I decided to sell the furniture for low prices to neighbors, who don't make very much money. I gave the buyers receipts and they agreed to wait until the end of August before picking up their items.
I am giving my generator to the woman who has been cleaning house for the past two months. She comes in on Friday mornings and cleans about 2 hours. She also does my laundry. I've appreciated her help and she is really excited about finally having a generator, so when the electricity goes off she will at least have the option of turning on a fan and some lights. I'm also selling my stove to the same woman for half of the price I paid. She's worked as a cook in a hospital for 27 years and doesn't have a good stove in her own house. Wages are very low in this country.
I'm giving my air conditioner to the next door neighbor, who has helped me out so much. A 22 year old setting up house for the first time bought my living room furniture for a low price. And a doctor living on the next street bought my bed and a dresser. She has been sleeping on a bed that is uncomfortable. I am glad that I am at least able to help out a few people on my way out of here.
My plane leaves Saturday, September 6, for Lima, Peru. I am so ready to get on with the next phase of life. It's been a challenge to pare back down to the two packs I came to this country with. I am going to miss my terrific bed and the other creature comforts I've enjoyed. I'll be starting all over again. I don't think it will be easy to live in Lima, yet the people with whom I will be staying are wonderfully welcoming in their emails. They live in the centrally located Jesús María district. It is cooler in both Peru and Ecuador, where I also plan on traveling. The summer has been so hot here. I keep thinking it is worse than last year. I am ready to leave the DR! I will post again before departing. In the meantime, I hope you have a good month. Thank you for reading my blog!
