this is it

after changing the date x many times, it is officially official. i start tomorrow.

i am nervous. i am excited. i am full of anticipation.

the kids spend half of the day speaking english in my class, and half of the day speaking spanish in a class taught across the hall. the other second grade teacher told me i look fragile. i don't know if that's a compliment or a warning...

something to get used to: being called teacher lesa. one person at the school even introduced herself to me as teacher nellie. it just sounds so...so...not cool

on a side note, i found a church today! it's called the hub, and even after one time i'm already hooked. it's a bunch of americans either teaching down here or doing peace corps. it also doubles as a hostel! and they've got a library where you can check out english books. which is great considering i've almost used up the supply i brought down here with me!

now i have something important to share.
i have fallen in love. with the dominican republic.
yesterday we took a bus to sosua, the most BEAUTIFUL beach i have ever seen! the crystalest clearest bluest water you have ever seen, sea side manicure/pedicure stands, the smell of frying seafood filling the air, dogs and cats roaming freely (that says something for hygiene), souvenir shops upon souvenir shops (i found a "wall's mart" and "bob barker's price is right" stand), and a sense of "this is where it's at" lingering over everything. on the bus ride to and from my eyes couldn't soak up enough of the gorgeous landscape whizzing by. rolling green mountains, lush fields of palm trees.
i certainly have my moments (hours, days??) of frustration with the country, but at the same time it's all so forgivable.
i do not like the fact that paper plates don't exist here. i do not like the fact that the country doesn't recycle. i do not like that they turn off the water to my building and i can't take showers at night (which is G-Rossss considering how much the human body can sweat in a day!)

but then going up on the roof and looking at the sun setting behind the mountains surrounding santiago with the wind cooly blowing in that "it's about to rain" way, it feels amazing.

i can't wait for what the year has in store. bring it on