Nuestros Aventuras

Hello one and all,
WE are well here in the DR. Dan here! We have much to say at the moment but haven´t taken much opportunity to organize our thoughts. I can say that we are alive and well. I am spending a majority of my days getting to know the Casa Hogar (Orphanage), Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos, getting to know the children, the variety of activities occuring in the orphanage, tia´s (tia is the spanish word for aunt and the tias are donas (respectful spanish for woman) who live with the children at the orphanage on a rotating basis, the administration, and other volunteers. There is a lot to take in on a daily basis and I will definitely have ample opportunities for projects.

My first three months consist of a diagnostic process where I plan to use a strengths based approach to learning about the organization. By focusing on what is working well, I hope to find and inspire the workers to replicate what works and develop more of it.´There are twelve houses on the property, about 40 acres, and in each house about 15 to 20 orphaned, abandoned, abused, or otherwise labeled as at risk children live. The company prefers to use, as to I, pequenos (spanish for littles). To get to know NPH I am doing a lot of observation, informal interviewing, going on excursions, visiting and appreciative inquiries. I´ll also begin more formal activities and interviews this week...

One of my first assignments which I´ve already begun, is as an assistant coach for the baseball team, actually three teams of kids with various ages and abilities! When you think of my team, think of the bad news bears, mixed with kids who´ve been raised in a machista culture, are always looking to save face, all want to talk at once, with the added fun that they all speak spanish, a language at which I have maybe a 60 to 70% grasp. It will be an adventure that I´m very much looking forward to.

Phoebe is doing wonderful as always. She is spending her days getting to know the community, sharing and making new friends and conducting her diagnostic process in the batey. Her personality shines through to everyone she comes into contact. We spent her birthday afternoon yesterday walking in the sugarcane and sitting on our front porch with a few other Peace Corps Volunteers from the area. She has quite a bit to say for herself in a blog to be coming in the near future, so I won´t spoil it for you.

What I will say, is that the three month diagnostic process is tough. People are scoping us out, wondering why we are here, they think I get paid bank because I leave everyday for the orphanage and think phoebe is just hanging out. We´re getting integrated, as best as we can, into our new life and world here in the Dominican Republic. More to come very soon. IN love, peace and feeling in a hurry...d