Happy 2009!

After one year in country I can say that I feel comfortable in my new home, comfortable in my community and in my work. I find that everything happens in waves. I make a small accomplishment with the cooperative or with the community and feel useful and productive. Then I try another activity and I crash and burn. I try again and each time it’s a roll of the dice. Luckily by this time in my service I understand the roller coaster and don´t hang my hat on any one activity. At the end of the day I have my dog Layla and she is always happy to see me...

Wednesday was a holiday, Día de la Virgen Altagracia who is the patron Saint of the Dominican Republic. Nagua is celebrating 50 years as a city and 70 years in the province so for the entire month of January they have a fair set up with music and games. My next door neighbor has been after me to ride horses with him for a while and Wednesday was the day. He initially wanted us to ride with a group from Los Pajones into Nagua but his wife would not allow it, saying that a two hour horseback ride into Nagua with a bunch of men drinking rum and whisky was not something a young lady like me would enjoy... (I didn´t think I should protest although I think it would have been hilarious.)

She and I went into Nagua and met the group of cowboys at the fair. I then took the horse and spent the next two hours riding in a parade around Nagua. It was so ridiculous. I felt like one of the cowboys I always see in the Rose Parade… except for I stuck out like a sore thumb as the Rubia Americana. We looped around the entire pueblo waving at all the grandmothers and little babies that had stayed at home while parents took their kids to the fair.

It was the perfect way to finish the holiday season and get back into the swing of things in my site! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Feliz Día de la Virgen Altagracia!