Happy Anniversary mi pobrecito, I wish I could be there with you, but we will make it up when I return. Love, miss, wish I were there with you lots.
Here's to another year...let's see what happens next! ;-)
My 21st B-day...smootching
At Pullen Park.
Christmas, me with a "fish tail" braid at mommy's place.
Hehehehe...this one is self-explanatory.
Ok, so this is going to be a LONG post...be prepared.
We went to Samaná this past weekend. Below is a picture of me and maureen at the café we ate lunch at. It was pretty good, but I'm tired of sweet ketchup. I'm tired of anything sweet that's not a cookie or cake or pudding. I thought I just didn't like it much, but I have a general dislike of most sweet foods. Weird. $240 + $75 pesos to get there. Lunch ~$220 pesos.
A very cool shot I took of em between my two drinks (hey, it was hot and I needed a water ad wated a soda. Period.)
So, after lunch it was the beach of Las Galeras, there was a very climbable tree so I climbed it. Yes!
The water was a beautiful clear sea-green and had the best-whitest-softest powdery sand I've ever seen in my life....loved it even though I ended up not going to Playa Rincón. For someone like me that doesn't differentiate on the same basis as others it didn't really matter.
The beautiful sky and a bit of paradise. I know its dark, but we did stay out there like 4 hours after all, the sun was behind that illuminated cloud and was setting.
What I'm not showing on this post: (I may have pics, I'll check)
the name of a good story by a latin american writer. also how i feel right now. "just one those days....that a girl goes through...", thanks tlc.
trying to write a paper on language in spanish is hard. more than halfway done though, think I'll shower and sleep and get up early to finish after reading a potentially useful article. thank goodness i have 2 culture classes, they complement each other, to say the least.
i'll get to writing about this crazy weekend, though emily may have done a well enough job, i haven't read it yet. emilygoes.blogspot.com
soooo tired, but I have made more progress than i thought possible. and i really cannot wait to start reading vivas en su jardín, ut it will probably be on the plane.
the waxing was fine and good, nails and feet done, though i feel she clipped alittle more skin off the edges of the nails (hands and feet)than were necessary so I'll have to pay for an overpriced american job of it once the skin starts regenerating. eso es.
off to bed now, miss everyone, 10 days left now (once I wake up). Carájo! I forgot about finding something cultural for class in the morning...oh well, I'll ad it to my wake-up list.
Buenas noches.
uuugghhhhh....no more fooddd.d....it hurts
So, vamos a un salón de belleza to get waxed and fingers and feet done. I'll get the hair done next week after the nastily hot Santo Domingo trip. To be cute for honey and mommy when i get back. Gotta wait for em to flush her tummy problems down the toilet first though (hahaha...I'm silly). Can't wait to get pampered after such a nasty sunday. Ughh.
If anyone knows the serenity prayer...I've been saying it all day today.
Went to Samaná this weekend, would not have traded the trip, would have traded the return home.
Must do:
Today with ISA we went to the Mirabal Sisters' Museum, located in the last house they lived before they were assassinated and martyred. While we were there we me the last, fourth, and remaining Mirabal sister, Dedé, who is 84 years old and in (almost) perfect health. The story of her sisters is a terrible and wonderful one, and made famous by Julia Álvarez who wrote a historical fiction account of their lives called In the Time of the Butterlies (which is also a movie with a young Salma Hayek playing Minerva Mirabal).
Meeting her and hearing her talk about those times was moving, to say the least. Before I came here I had seen the movie, and it was a story that moves my heart still. I bought her account of their history, a factional rathen than fictional tale, Vivas en su jardín, and she signed it for me! While I was sitting right there next to her! My excitement is incontainable. I have pictures of and with her as well, and of the garden of their last home. It is a story Dedé wants every young person to know, so that the terrible and brute history of the Dominican Republic's dictatorship under Leonidas Trujillo cannot repeat itself.
Trujillo = F*ckface (according to Junot Díaz, famous dominican author of 2 books to date, one a winner of the Pulitzer prize, the one in which he calls Trujillo some awesome stuff. Very fitting.)
This sign is basically the title of Dedé's book, without the "siempre".
A picture of a tiny slice of her garden...their garden.
Busts of the three muertes sisters: Minerva, Patricia, y María Teresa.
Just a crazy picture of me in the garden, I have no idea what I was looking at. It was quite hot...nice and sunny...
I cannot believe this. My he rest in peace. He was too young! 50 years old, and suspected of dying of a heart attack!
This shows us how easily and unexpectedly life can just...go. I will NEVER forget him. Such an amazing singer and misunderstood man, is a person there is only one of, that touched the hearts and minds of so many, so young, across so many boundaries.
And, ironically enough, an awesome new movie came out today. Transformers 2. And I hate to admit, honey, but I just saw it, fantastic movie, but it was in Spanish so I will more than gladly watch it as though for the first time (since it will be!) in English.
I miss you, pobrecito, amorcito. You drive me crazy and half the time I just want to smack you around a bit, but I miss you. During the movie, while I was wishing the actors' real voices were being used, guess what song came into my head??? "Say it..." but of course you know what. You must play that for me when I return...sing it too.
What a long day. Turned in two assignments, an idol of mine died, had an exam, walked to a movie, then got followed walking back, bought a pizza empanada, and now i have to finish my bosquejo before bed or i will not forgive myself. Eso es. Tired of malditas hormigas. Hormigas everywhere!!! (ants)
Writing now (bosquejo). Miss you mommy. Pobrecito. Mi Lena. Mi cama. 2 semanas más, solo dos.
Praise god. Stained glass window in a church in Puerto Plata. The one set up for a wedding that made me ponder coming back for my own...
That book that someone that loves me will (hopefully) have waiting for me at the airport.
Yummy cafés vainillas at Square 1. No sugar necessary!
It was hot, she was working (hehehe) in Square 1 . . .that's all you need to know!
Diligently being a good teacher in Square 1. Way to go Darhower. Heard you have a tiny dog that fits in a bag. Cute.
Man. So, apparently I don't have the ability to get the grades I want or deserve. I'm not going to dwell on the painful event of the day, its already permanently etched into my journal. But let me say, a miss-understanding-agreement-event should not so drastically alter the perception of previous interactions. End. I must learn to evoke a thought and cast it away. A HUGE problem of mine. I don't necessarily hold grudges, so to speak, but my mind holds on. Holds on like white on a piece of paper. Who knows what the original color was? And if my mind feels slighted, it hurts my heart. And my heart is huge and sensitive and sticky. The best way to get over it? Feel avenged, so to speak. But I never want that way. So time, hopefully, heals all, except that it cannot erase what the mind commits to keep. C'est la vie. Desafortunadamente.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>-<<<<<<<<<<<<<
F***. My computer erased half this blog. Oh well. Mostly random pity stuff about how school never goes right, every semester. And how Square 1 plays a ton of Beyoncé and I heard Halo today, and that I love that song. Fin.
Oh, and how usually feelings are irrational.
Usually.
B/B-
My fukú. Might as well be what he meant. C+.
Man...blogging is aweful hard without internet.
Tuve empanadas de una stand at the corner. Creo que me gusta mucho empanadas con queso y me gusta un poco empanadas con pollo porque eventually I have to dig out most of the pollo. I have always had a thing against eating large amounts of meat at once. Unless its beef. Like steak or filet mignon. Mmmmm.
This weekend is Samaná baby, yeah! Can't wait for the long (freezing) bus ride and the nice fitted up house ya know!
Once again, if anyone loves me, check out the previous post from today (fukú). I want that book. Like July 11th. K?
Sarcasm is a gift. Use it. Understand it. Don't get offended by it, especially if its because you didn't realize at first it was sarcasm. Unless you're european.
Miss you Mommy. Miss you honey bunches of oats (you know who you are...sexy beast). Miss you monkeys. Lena beena. Roomie.
Pics will be more numerous soon. Gotta get my mojo back. Or go somewhere interesting. Home life.
---I think I'm leaving homework undone that may or may not be due today or tomorrow one of those because I haven't had the internet long enough to do anything useful and I can't write a nothing paper out of thin airs.---
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Díaz (if anyone loves me it will be waiting at the airport upon my arrival)
Soooo...much been going on. Mostly blackouts and lack of internet at home. Bbut Squuare 1 is now like the BEST PLACE to take ur homework, maybe a book, your computer, and drink and eat overpriced (i.e. american priced) food and bebidas in AIR CONDICIONING. Get this, its across the street from the (opposite) entrance to school. Hells yeah. (sorry mommy)
Ohhhhh Mrs. Mercer...and those John Brownnit kids!!! Oh Mercer the Curser...does Riggs the Pigs still work there? I miss Miles Davis too...
I think that procrastination has taken a very solid root in my life, and in order to get anywhere I need to envoke some "zafa" to get rid of that gosh dern fukú. I wanna be something some day.
white girl: do you taste like chocolate?
black girl: i dunno, do you taste like vanilla?
(corrina, corrina)
the world can be a funny, innocent place.
today was rainy and boring, but I've gotten lots of work done. now in the final stages of planning a weekend trip, just gotta see if its me and em or me and em and two other girls. either way we found a wonderful house to rent for pretty dern cheap since its on the beach! (Juan y Lolo Vacation Rentals en Las Galeras)
we've started to form cliques. bummer. not healthy for short time periods. or at all really, but inevitable.
do i taste like chocolate? i prefer caramel...
emilygoes. you should catch her. dot blogspot dot com.
Must own: The Illusionist, The Prestige, But I'm Cheerleader, the other Harry Potters
Must see: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Obsessed, Transformers 2
Must get: new computer before old one bites it, upgrade camera, shoes? always, car (important)
wanna know the last thing i said to my husband? slow down. (wink wink. nasty reference.)
(corrina, corrina)
somewhere over the rainbow
skies are blue
and the dreams that you dared to dream
really do come true
some day i'll wish upon a star
and wake up where the clouds are far behind me
where... troubles melt like lemon drops
away above the chimney tops
that's where you will find me
you know...today that song is singing to me. i have to say, 3 weeks is a good record to start missing home.
missing my mojo.
gotta try fulbright next i guess. and MED. then back to my original course.
gotta get where I'm supposed to be. where is that?
Today Em and I went to a catholic mass (Mommy, I was in church!) that was the first communion of her niece (actually her cousin, but is 10 years old, and is pale and blond w/blue eyes. WEIRD.)
The church, if you look closely wayyyyy up at the front you can see a few pews of white, the kids. There were probably a hundred people behind us and you can't even see the far right side of the church!
Julissa in black. A cousin with grey sleeves, it was Samantha's First Communion, the blond in white. You can see Bryan's head and another aunt in orange.
The church was nice and big, rather warm and full of bustle, there were 60 young catholics there for their first communion and probably 300 people there to watch! Spilling out of the church they were, and beggars everywhere outside and in.
(Me and Julissa)
After the mass we were carried by the current of Julissa's family and eventually ended up at her sister's (really her aunt) house. VERY big and nice...and its where Jewel and Rickiyah live! We had no idea. They say the blond girl is a mess, not at all the sweet little girl she looks like she ought to be. And the girl's older sister looks positively US born black. Very light skinned, but not much lighter than rickiyah, and with almost black, thicker hair. How did two dominicans related to Julissa have a black child and a white one?!
(ME and Emily. A white one and a black one. Lol.)
Anyways, at the aunt's house we had yummy finger foods (quiche, empanadas, etc.) and soda and the 4 gringas mostly chilled together till it was time to go. At home now, hot as heck and tired, gonna take a nap before harassing Markanetta over getting her notes and the questions for tomorrow. Hate homework, but it must be done, but after my nap!
The aunt.
Was a good day, and its still early, hopefully I won't nap more than a couple hours. I suck at getting out of bed.
Rest of the day...
Donkey in front of an old fort of Chris Columbus' that was later used to prison the husbands of the hermanas Mirabal. Oh, and Jewel walking off. CuTe dress.
View from the table we sat at for lunch on the 2nd floor of a restaurant. I have more practical pictures, but this is my favorite. Se llama Tam Tam Café Restaurant. Wonderful breeze the whole time and mediocre huge burger and tease-worth's of fries. Ice was sketch too, didn't drink all my coca-cola. Ate all my papas fritas.
A cathedral we saw in the central plaza of PP. Was set up for a wedding inside...kinda jealous, what a beautiful church! Practical to come all the way back to Puerto Plata, DR for my future (distant) wedding...?
The beach we went to in Puerto Plata. No idea what it was called, the entire area is lined with beaches, so they're all the same to me. Don't care what you call it. Just like Sosúa y Cabarete. They are freakin right next to each other, the only difference is the city name next to it. Expecially if you've never seen one of them people. Seriously.
I was so not paying attention...SMILE! You're on candid camera!
I think the wave scared me. I did just get my hair done yesterday. Geeze.
Today was Puerto Plata.
We rode the cable cars up and down Isabella del Torres ($350RD...RIPOFF! Rough Guides says its $200RD and I get the feeling that's the "local" price!). Beautiful views, very green. Reminds me of Bella's nightmare's when Edward hears her saying "it's too green"
Me at the top. The view behind me. Gotta cross my legs like a lady, I have on a skirt after all. Nice Presidente Light chair encroaching on my nice photo...I'll have to try one of those...
My Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want...
Meet Jesus. Well, a very large statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of a dome-shaped building.
Thought this was a nice, sweet photo Mommy would like. I'm a church girl ya know.
There was a butterfly sitting on the window on the wait down. I tried to take his picture, but he decided to flutter his wings, so his pattern is blurry. Eso es.
Of COURSE there are more pictures, so there will be a post shortly following this one. Until then?
So, I had my first excursion to a peluquería today to get my hair done...was $250RD (about $6) and I tipped the hairdresser $40RD (about $1.50) ...OMG... it was washed (like 3 times) then sectioned off and blown out...I've never had my hair so straight so FAST...and were it not for the 99% humidity it would last I believe, but here I need some reinforcements by way of hair stuff...WHICH IT APPEARS I LEFT AT HOME!!! Luckily my roomie Em had a bit of something for me to borrow...but for about $7 I would totally go once a week. The pics will be up later. Of course there are pictures.
Oh, and the washing? Reminded me of my Auntie Belinda when she was still in NC and would scrub your hair till it squeaked! Ahhhh...the good old days! (bad picture, I know)
Probably heading out into the town tonight, then off to Puerto Plata bright and early in the morning, around 8am. Coming back tomorrow night.
Malditos mosquitoes bit another one of my toes!!! WORST place to get bitten...SERIOUSLY. OWWW!!!
Guess I'll get dressed now...if I'm going to meet my folks across campus in 1/2hr. I guess. Gonna miss ya Em. Gotta put some alcohol on those bites. Dernnit.
Sooo...been really bored and surfing the net for blog templates...finally found a goldmine of ALL BLOGGER templates, instead of those annoying, incompatible wordpress things...
http://btemplates.com/category/blue/
I will admit, the page the link leads to takes you to all the ones dealing with my fav color...azul...but there is a handy menu on the right-bottom-handish side where you can choose whatever you'd like to search for. Promise. ish.
I want a signature...but how to get one? Don't know how to make those things...do I?
Breakfast was bland...except for the pineapple and strawberries...yum. Tired of having a sick tummy. Think I've lost a few pounds...wish they were from my thighs.
Sooo...paradise... Isla Saona... (above)
Uhhh...a fallic symbol...hehehe...I think if you tried to use it you might get splinters...great conversation piece though!
Don't you just LOVE eating DICK??? I hear the smell there alone will change your life...hehehe...at least that's what my profesor said!
Ummm...yeah...decided to make a personal party outside the colmado one night...the things that happen with Dominican Rum and American Coke....hahaha....(nothing, actually...)
My ROOMIE, Em! Hey Em! What's going on??? Have a good time at our corner party? Representing the Red and White from STATE!!!
A bit borrowed from another...
Un instante. ¿Y que es un instante? Un instante… Ni siquiera es un segundo. Un segundo esta compuesto por infinitos instantes. Un instante es un momento, una alineación particular de las estrellas, instantánea, que no se volverá a repetir jamás en toda la historia del universo. Un instante, pero aún así, siendo tan insignificante, es capaz de definir la vida completa de una persona.
Wooowww...I love it. I'm sorry, its too nice in Spanish. A rough and incomplete translation...(ok, a fairly good one thank you very much)...
An instant. And what is an instant? An instant...not even a second. A second is composed of infinite instances. An instant is a moment, a particular alignment of the stars, instantaneously, that can never be repeated in the history of the universe. An instant, but even so, being so insignificant, it has the ability to define a person's entire life.
I know, not necessarily original, but the Spanish is killer...wish I could have written it in Spanish myself (without a dictionary) ... someday.
----<<<>>>----
About to start Dreams from my Father by our insanely famous President Barack Obama. I'm really sad I finished Mansfield Park, but the brain always needs new excercises.
Think I'll see if Markanetta is getting her hair done in the morning...will go with her and get her class notes. I MUST study up some grammar, and Em and I REALLY need to nail this trip to Puerto Plata into the ground...if we're staying the night we need a room, etc. And to know the bus times and such. Craziness. Didn't think I would be so apathetic about a trip. Probably a result of being sick this week for 1.5 days. Almost 100%. Almost.
Been glancing at people's blogs (what a weird word) and taking in styles and subjects...people really are willing to put the craziest things online...about themselves...
Emotional cutting. Is that what I do? Maybe mental. Maybe Stressing out. Maybe need tranquilising.
ummm...bored. writing helps, and i don't have my journal at the moment. thought I'd post this cool oldish (like 2 weeks) video from a cigar fábrica.
I think Carrie Bradshaw had something going when she said some people are "emotional cutters"...heck, probably plenty of mental cutters out there too...but no actual cutting please...
Napped after lunch. Ahhhh...
Wrote Herman...on a real computer for once! Go ARMY! Lol.
Emily is still sick...I'm really hoping it IS NOT from a common diet...it might be my turn AGAIN?!
(a ti te amo jugo de tamarindo)
Was really pouring this afternoon, and I refused
About to finish Mansfield Park by Jane Austin. Love the movie. Haven't decided which is better.
Class este mañana was not painful. Hablamos de música dominicana como merengue.
Something people should know about Loperamide HCL (Lopex, Imodium, Dimor and Pepto Diarrhea Control) it is contraindicated for grapefruit juice and black pepper and taken concurrently can cause respiratory depression (make it hard to breathe easily).
I know, I'm a nerd, but its something people don't know about a common OTC drug. I.E. DO NOT REHYDRATE WITH GRAPEFRUIT JUICE (duh anyways, too acidic) if you're taking Immodium and the likes.
Oh, and my roomie Em is sick now, and I'm slowly reaching 100%. Malditos tamarindos.
Need to study grammar. Of Spanish. Duh.
And start on my papers.
Benadryl Allergy Ultratab tablets rock. Thanks Em.
An excerpt from an article on the tamarind, the juice I've have more than 3 GLASSES OF!!!!
The ripened fruit is edible, as it becomes less sour and somewhat sweeter, but still very acidic. It is used in desserts as a jam, blended into juices or sweetened drinks, or as a snack. It is also consumed as a natural laxative.
HELLO?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I DRANK GLASS FULLS OF A NATURAL LAXATIVE?! NO WONDER I'M SICK!!!
This is very concerning. While it was yummy juice, I will probably NEVER drink it again. This year. Seriously. OMG.
So...apparently jugo de tamarindo can be bad for your stomach if you have more than one glass (because of the acid or some terrible excuse)...
Someone PROBABLY should have mentioned that when I was drinking most of it yesterday and the day before since no one else would touch it...
Tastes MUCH better going down than coming back up....
...............................................................................
At least I'm out of bed now...kinda...hopefully I will make it to my last class.
Tired of people debating the ins and outs of a trip that wasn't even their idea. Me and Em are going to Puerto Plata this weekend, anyone that wants to join us is MORE than welcome. No waterfalls. Just Puerto Plata. Cable cars, beaches, Malecón. Love it.
Trying to rehydrate is REALLY HARD by the way. Don't want any liquids. Or food. Just want a non-pissed-off tummy.
Waldry comes and says:
Sabes un jaguar? Como un animal?
(Do you know the jaguar? an animal?)
We say:
Yeah!
He says:
Sabes lo que el jaguar dice al otro?
(Do you know what the jaguar said to the other jaguar?)
We say:
Nooooo?
He says:
Jaguar you!!! (How are you for the slow folks!)
We think:
WoooooooooOOOOOWWWWWWwwwwwww......
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This is SUPER FUNNY if you heard his dominican spanish accent saying "ha-guar you"
Made my night.
So...finished movie (Yuniol)^2 today at Prof. Darhower's house. Interesting, now I have to write a short essay on it in my journal in spanish. Sweet.
Tried to narrate in the past tense today in class about a complicated event. Painful. VERY Painful. I should get on memorizing those past-tense verb charts again. Today.
After class we got followed by a pitiful and sick-looking stray. All the way across the main road, through the entire campus, and home. It tried to climb through our fence twice before we got inside. WEIRD.
Lunchtime NOW, I'm hungry, and no food is ready. Que triste. Que lástima. Tengo hambre. Ahora.
Pictures really take way too long to upload here.
Avena. Oatmeal. But ground, then milk, cinnamon, and sugar added. OMG. Soooo good. Like a fat man breakfast cake in your mouth. Only better. I SHOULD NOT be eating this at night. Especially right after an actual 4th meal.
But it was good.
I did some verb charts. So that counts as studying, though I gave up out of tirednessssss before I finished with the irregular preterite verbs (oops). There's still tomorrow.
Night.
Before the waterfall, we visited a coffee plantation. I though this picture was more important than the pictures of the plantation and factory. Why? I was tired as heck. We got to try the coffee. It was AMAZING. Best coffee ever. Know why? I tried it BLACK and loved it. Hello?! Do I ever drink coffee darker than me?
