Top 10

I was in the guagua (public bus, in this case, more specifically a pickup truck) sitting two to the passenger seat on my way back to El Limón from Las Terrenas, watching the waves roll up the beach from the turquoise water, and I thought to myself, is this the last time I´ll make this trip?

It´s getting to the point now, with just 35 days left of Peace Corps, where I´ll probably start wondering that about a lot of things. So, speaking of public bus rides along the beach, I thought I would come up with a Top 10 Things I´m Gonna Miss about my life in the Peace Corps.

10. Public transportation

Yes, it´s unbearably uncomfortable at times (You might not know this, but a 1988 Toyota Corolla actually fits seven people, three up front and four in the back, according to the laws of Dominican public transportation. And that´s without air conditioning), but public transportation in the DR will get you just about anywhere for not much cuarto (money).  And they´ll pick you up and drop you off wherever, for maximum convenience. First you can take guaguas, the big buses that go from city to city, then you can take little guaguas, that may be minibuses or pickups, then you can take carros publicos, public cars, for short distances in cities or between them, then motorcycles, for the places where cars can´t make it because of the roads or remoteness. In the States, you´re often screwed if you don´t have your own car. And in case you´re wondering, yes, I have tried to imagine a Dominican-esque public transportation scheme in the US. The problem is people don´t trust each other.

9. Tropical treats

Avocado, mangoes, plantains, zapote, papaya, chinola, oranges, coconuts, and all the juices and sweets made from them. I´ll miss walking out of the hostel in the capital and buying a huge plate of cut tropical fruit for about US $2. I´ll also miss the coconut vendors who push a cart around and pour you a fresh coconut water with ice for less than US $1. And I´ll miss being gifted so many avocadoes in one week that I eat guacamole every day for lunch.

8. Afternoon naps

Enough said. See related, being my own boss.

7. The beach, the river, the mountains, etc

From Campamento

Samaná, not to exaggerate, is a diamond in the gem-filled necklace of the Carribean. We have beautiful rolling green hills dotted with coconut trees, beautiful blue rivers cold with spring water, and miles of pristine beaches. I´ll miss being able to take off from my house for a nature break whenever I need one. I´ll miss bathing in the spring-fed stream next to my house when the water goes out in my house. I´ll miss being Peace Corps DR´s guide to the El Limón waterfall.

6. Bachata

I like to think I am notorious among PCDR volunteers for my love of bachata, the country music of the DR. I seriously love it, more than I have ever loved a genre of music before in my life. And that´s really fortunate, because it is everywhere. In the streets, on the bus, in the bars, blasting from your neighbor´s house. It is basically inescapable. And, if I do say so myself, I am really good at dancing to it. I´ll miss going to the El Limón discoterraza and dancing bachata with all my male students and neighbors.

5. Jovenes

From Esojo Este

Last night I met with the youth from my sex ed peer promoter group in the park in darkness. We were planning a group trip to the beach. My stomach was feeling funny, so I laid down on the concrete slab tables that I think were once meant for ping pong. One of my jovenes (youth) was cuddling up on my leg, as she tends to do. I lifted up my head to say something in the conversation, bracing it with my arms around my neck, and my little friend Cuca tried to help me support the weight. The youth talked about how they don´t want me to leave. They debated, planned and joked around, being responsible young adults, and I laid back and looked up at the stars and the little rain clouds passing by. I love my jovenes so much, and I think they love me, and I will miss that feeling of creating goodwill through programs for such good teenagers with so few opportunities.

4. Everyone knowing me and everyone knowing each other

The reason why things work in this anarchic country is only because everyone knows each other. This makes things that would be really hard in the US totally simple, for example, to find out the bus schedule, you just ask anyone in town. They probably know the driver and have his number saved on their cell phone. If you need to borrow a speaker, just ask, because everyone in town borrows it from the same person when they have an event. The DR has a true sense of community because people are not as mobile as they are in the US, and generations of families grow up knowing each other.  I’ll also miss everyone knowing my name and greeting me like the town celebrity – especially kids. They get such satisfaction out of me just responding to their yelling “Estefani!”

3. My house

From steph`s new house????

From steph`s new house????

I had a tremendous stroke of luck when Peace Corps sent me to El Limón, and I had another when I found the house I live in. It´s beautiful, made of natural materials, secluded, and cooler than a lot of other houses. I have 24 hour electricity and water. There are beautiful flowers all over my yard. At night, the crickets sing louder than the noise. I´ll miss having a beautiful place to retreat to when I´ve had a long day.

2. Being my own boss

This is probably the universal favorite thing about Peace Corps. It has its drawbacks, like when you realize that you did something amazing in your work and you don’t even get an e-mail response from Peace Corps administration. Also when you aren´t the best self-starter and you need some motivation from a supervisor. But I´ve managed to solve a lot of problems and accomplish a lot without a boss, and it certainly has its rewards, like afternoon naps, five-day weekends traveling to visit friends, and giving yourself a day off whenever you need it. In all seriousness, though, it´s also a rare gift to be able to decide for yourself what´s worth your time and effort and to do whatever inspires you. It´s the best part of the job.

1. Peace Corps friends (and places to crash)

From med mission

Oh, how I´ll miss you, Peace Corps friends. Spending two years with a group of just more than 30 people and facing huge challenges together in a foreign environment where it seems neither your family and friends from home understand you nor your Dominican family and friends really helps you make unforgettable friendships with your fellow volunteers. You really have a special bond, and your own language – Dominican Spanglish! My relationships with other volunteers have taught me so much, allowed me to fully appreciate people I probably wouldn´t have become close to in the US, and have been a constant solace in the innumerable crazy-making frustrations we face.  These relationships have been facilitated by awesome get-togethers all over the country as we´ve taken advantage of knowing people in different places to travel like locals.