Happy Thanksgiving!

The T-Committee was comprised of 15 volunteers and we essentially spent the entire year planning for the big day. The idea was to have a family style dinner of all the normal fixings and have a full day of fun. Sounds easy right? Now think about adding 200+ people (PCVs, RPCVs, Embassy employees, and PCDR office staff). Also, keep in mind that the committee has the added bonus of figuring out how to fund this one day event. Still sound easy? It wasn't. Instead of boring you with all the pre-day details (there are really too many to write about), I'll just tell you that the PCDR Thanksgiving celebration was fantastic! It was held at a country club where we played volleyball, basketball and dominoes, swam in the pool, ate TONS of food, watched an awesome slide show (thanks Bexx), laughed at the no-so-talented talent show performers, had a merengue and bachata dance contest and danced until we were kicked out of the club. This Thanksgiving was so much better than last year's and I'm happy I was a part of the committee because people can't stop talking about how awesome it was.
**Thanks mom for the package of all the stuffing and brownie mix! Thanks to everyone else in the states who sent stuff down too.....we wouldn't have been able to do it without ya!
Look forward to the Starbucks story...coming up next!

Here are a few pics from Thanksgiving:
me and Dave by the pool

Turkey trot runners ( I worked the finish line)

Trot workers Me, Tod, Judy

cooking veggie lasagna and stuffing at our country director's home

Health Promoters' Conference

These are a few pictures from the Health Promoter's Conference held in San Jose de Ocoa on Nov. 7-8, 2008. The entire conference was centered around a new didactic manual created by another PCV who is finishing her service really soon. The manual is called "We're Healthy. We're Examples. We're Health Promoters." The two women shown next to me are members from my community that are currently completing my nutrition course.

The next big event is a World AIDS Day activity with youth from my region.

HAPPY ELECTION DAY!

Present: I, along with a ton of other PCVs, am in Santo Domingo today to watch the election coverage. Apparently, we are all supposed to put up this front and be apolitical during service. Go ahead and laugh at the thought of a Peace Corps Volunteer not expressing political views. Funny, right? Since this is a public site, all I'm going to say is ----- Get out there and vote!!! It is your obligation as an American. I don't care if you are in California, New York or Washington and think your voice doesn't matter; you are wrong. I saw a bit of Palin's appearance in Reno via CNN. Unfortunately, I haven't heard from anyone that went to see Palin or Obama. How was it? I'm so excited for Nevada because it's getting so much attention as a swing state and not just because of Yucca Mountain. Again, GO ROCK THE VOTE!

Past: I recently completed a week at a Medical Mission for ear, nose and throat operations. A medical team from the U.S. (mainly Nebraska) came down and provided operations for children (some adults) of underprivileged families. 6 PCVs worked as translators in screening, pre op, operating rooms, and post op. Though it was so tiring (I'm not used to being on my feet, under flourescent lights all day), it was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a PCV. I saw (IN THE OPERATING ROOM!) and learned a ton during that week; it was incredible. The nurses, techs and doctors we worked with were so amazing, patient, caring and encouraging. I hope to be on their side of things one day.

Future: I'm taking a small group of women (hopefully 5) from my site to a Health Promoter's Conference this weekend. PCVs in the San Jose de Ocoa, Bani and Azua regions are training about 30 women on how to use our new health manual in the communities. This is an integral part of my Peace Corps assignment. Sadly, I'm not too passionate about it. The reason? I don't believe it to be entirely sustainable. There. I spoke my peace and now I'll shrug my shoulders and do as is expected of me like a good little volunteer. :)

News: we got a raise recently. Jealous? you shouldn't be....my raise is roughy 6 dollars. That pays for a one way ticket from the Ocoa pueblo to the Peace Corps office in the capital. I guess I can't complain, afterall, I did CHOOSE this lifestyle.

Well, that's it for now. Have a great November full of pumpkin pie and black friday consumerism.