Post Crescent Newspaper Article Link - Project Donation Information

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20110201/APC04/110131124/Peace-Corps-volunteer-from-Appleton-looks-for-an-assist-from-hometown

Dancing Baby

Learning to dance and walk at the same age...no wonder so many booties around here shake it in a way I just cant get down.

Carrot Harvest!! Jan 15, 2011

Finally picked some of the first veggies from the backyard garden! Tasty treats as well as great motivation for the local kiddos to get going on their own garden space. Thanks to the above helper for building my chicken proof fencing!

La tranquilidad de enero --- A Calming January

There are many spanish words, that translate obviously into English, called cognates. Such words are easy to remember and were of great use to me the first few months in this country. But then there are those that translate nicely, such as tranquilo – meaning calm or quiet, or tranquil – but mean so much more when used in Spanish. Tranquilo is one of these words for me. For example, when asked “how are you” in English, would you ever answer with “Oh, I’m calm” or  “I’m quiet” or “Oh, I’m here feeling tranquil.”? Probably not. But a common response on a lazy Sunday afternoon to the same questions gives the answer of “Aqui, tranquilo” or “Tranqui” if you are speaking with a hip teenager. There is a state of being that seems to be so much more relaxed here, especially in the rural "campo" areas that just doesn't exist back in the States. With all of our connections and access to facebook, email, cell phones, and all the new Apple products, we are rarely just hangin' out and tranquil is the last word I would use to describe the thoughts, worries and to-dos that constantly run through the average American's head. I'm not saying all Dominicans are live care-free lives and Americans are crazy worry-worts...maybe the difference is just in the way free time is often spent outside sitting in the shade gossiping versus reading the news on the internet indoors. I've posted a few photos of a few tranquilo afternoons and evenings I've been fortunate to enjoy the last few weeks.

 While I do miss the seasons, and a taste of winter when I was home for the holidays was nice...it actually kind of changes here too. The pictures above show what my little town looks like now...much drier than a few months ago. Given it hasn't rained in over a month, most of the green is gone and turned to brown. Several of the trees have lots their leaves as they go into the dormant-dry period which is similar to the cold-winter season. It felt a bit like fall on this walk as we tramped through brown leaves that had fallen to the ground in previous days. There's been some windy afternoons bringing rain-threatening clouds; 70 degrees and breezy has been feeling a bit crisp.