An Inconvenient Life

I don’t think you can possibly imagine how many times I’ve tried to write this entry. My laziness coupled with the inconveniences of Dominican life have made it seemingly impossible to do what I want to do when I want to do it!

For example, the wireless of PUCMM, the university I attend, goes out every night when I need to blog or Skype (call via internet) home. The electricity goes out a lot but only seems to go out when I need to use high voltage appliances such as a blow dryer or laptop. The water sometimes goes out (I didn’t know this was possible), and only when I want to wash my hair or when I am in dire need of a shower. The satellite goes out when it rains or storms and guess what, it rains just about everyday here!

But wait, the inconveniences do not end here. I have to walk to school through a selvita (a little jungle) and cross a major highway to get to school. Of course, this 15 minute walk is lovelier when I have to do it in 90 degree weather! Riding public transportation is also an inconvenience. Conchos or pubic cars are the only way to get around Santiago without taking a taxi. Most of the conchos are Toyota Corollas or other subcompact cars designed to carry a MAXIUM of 5 people, but are filled to the brim with 8 to 9 people! I remember the first time I rode in a concho, half of my body was out of the window and the other half of my body was on another passenger in the car. It was definitely an exhilarating ride. The greatest inconvenience of all, I must say, is how Off (mosquito repellant) has become my new fragrance of choice. Dominican mosquitoes love foreign blood, therefore I wear Off all the time!

I point these out, not to complain, but to demonstrate how much this place, my new home, has made me so appreciative of things in America that I never really think about. As a matter of fact, I went to Washington DC last weekend and it was thoroughly too convenient. The wireless, electricity, water, and satellite in the hotel I stayed in worked all the time; there were no interruptions in service. The weather was extremely cold and I didn’t see any mosquitoes. There were crosswalks and drivers actually obeyed traffic signals! Everything was too orderly and convenient and boring.

On my plane ride back, I began to realize how much I love this place.  The ‘inconveniences’ that I face on a daily basis are not necessarily inconveniences but breaks in the monotony of this thing we try to control so much, life. Inconveniences or not, I love my new inconvenient home, La Republica Dominicana!

Regina

Comments

[Kool Bear]

womp womp

[Rochelle]

I am so glad you love it.......but don't think you are staying down there!!! I will come get you!!!!

I am so glad you are experiencing this!! This is more things that you can bring back and share with the kids!!!