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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------{ March 02, 2007 }
I'm still alive
For those of you who have commented on my lack of posting during February, no, I have not fallen off the face of the planet; I have just been working a lot and slow on posting. Right now at work we have to do a report for the organization that works with coffee growers' association and gives loans...it is essentially an audit from 2004 until now, so, we have been keeping quite busy in the office. I can't say I enjoy working on it, but it is helpful and necessary for the organization so it is a good step for us, especially since we won't get our next loan until the report is done.
We (the Association) had visitors from Mitsubishi in Japan come who are interested in buying coffee. I wasn't aware that Mitsubishi did more than cars, but they are apparently in a lot of different industries, including the importation of gourmet coffee. We took them to a coffee farm and to our beneficiado, where we process the coffee. We haven't heard anything yet because they had to go discuss plans with the home office, but hopefully something will come out of it! If nothing else, it's good exposure for our region. In April there is the first national competition of quality coffee in the DR; CODOCAFE (an organization that helps coffee growers in the DR) organized it and is bringing in professional coffee tasters from various parts of the world and the winners of the competition will get special prices at which to sell their coffee to prearranged buyers, not to mention great publicity. Each region can enter 5 individual growers and 1 group mix, but they have to have a certain production capacity to enter so that they can sell enough if they win. It's an excellent opportunity so I hope our region does well.
February 8-10 there was a series of events for the 45th anniversary of the Peace Corps in the DR. There were various presentations on what's going on in the DR now, PC projects, etc. and they invite former PCVs to come. There was also another, smaller artesan fair and one day all the current volunteers went to the National Palace to meet the vice president and have a toast- very political but at least we got to go there. It was a lot of fun (and a bit of work too) but one of the best parts was that I got to stay at Embassy housing. When there are big PC events, PC asks if any of the embassy employees if they will house volunteers because the cheap places where we normally stay in the capital fill up and we don't have the money to rent normal hotel rooms. The woman that housed Jessica, Morgen and I, Sarah, is very nice and the apartment is amazing. I had my first hot shower in this country and that alone made my trip to the capital 150% better than the last one. I'm in the capital now as well, trying to get some work done on my diagnostic and running various errands, so Christina and I are staying with her again. Ahh.
I'm trying to find a house to move into in Juncalito, which is proving problematic. The first problem is that there haven't been any available houses, and then when one becomes available either a) it gets snatched up really quickly or b) I don't know who I have to talk to about it and I go on a wild goose chase to find the right person. So, right now it 'appears' I have 3 options- 2 houses which aren't completed yet (one is being remodeled, and the other is a basement apartment of a brand new house- that's the one I really want but the people in charge live in NY so I'm waiting to hear from someone who is supposed to talk to them...read: not holding my breath) and one that I just found out about on Wed. which will be available in a few weeks, but I haven't seen it yet. I like the family that I am with, but I'm definitely ready to be on my own, cook for myself, and come home whenever I want without having to call if it will be late.
I've started to go on walks through the mountains and it is very calming and beautiful (not to mention good exercise). I'll start bringing my camera soon so I can take some pictures of Juncalito and post them so you can see where I live. Unfortunately there hasn't been as much dancing there as in Jarabacoa, but there was a party on Valentine's Day and I'm meeting a friend in Santiago to go dancing tomorrow before heading back up to Juncalito on Sunday. I visited my host family from Santo Domingo for lunch yesterday and then last night Christina, my host sisters' friends and I went to a karaoke place. Christina and I sang "I Will Survive," and, I know this is shocking- they didn't ask for an encore.
My parents are coming to visit in April so I'm excited for that- to see them and also to get to travel around a bit since I haven't been able to do that very much.
Cultural note of the day:
Dominicans. Love. Ballads. It's great going to karaoke and having these big men get up and sing a romantic ballad with a deep, serious, emotional voice- something very few American men would do. They get so into it- it's great. There's also no embarrassment about dancing. In the States, fewer people dance and most people stand around awkwardly, trying to look cool; here, everyone dances. I love it.
Posted by katie on March 2, 2007 11:56 AM | Permalink
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Comments so far:
thanks for the update! i'm going to do my best and visit some time this year -- i really want to see all these things you're describing. they sound lovely. good luck with the house hunting. you'll find new digs sooner or later (you realy have to call if you're going to be late?). take care, katie!
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Posted by:
justin |
March 2, 2007 06:09 PM
Mitsubishi is in the coffee market?!? Perhaps they're secretly working on an undercover project to develop coffee as an effective, renewable energy source? It gives a whole new literal meaning to the expression caffeinated "rocket fuel".
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Posted by:
andrew |
March 10, 2007 01:22 PM
Katie!!!!
What's up? I hanging out over at Cory's. (I know shocker)
It sounds like you are having a good time for the most part. I can't wait to see the pictures of the mountains.
Gamecocks update:
Baseball team is rocking and we beat the tiggers twice. Both teams are in the top 5 with us at #2. WOOHOO
We did have two guys get arrested though. We also had our top quaterback recruit get arrested. (twice)
Hey,you should send some of that awesome coffee to us.
I think MITZ should put a coffee maker in their cars.
See ya......
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Posted by:
Bubba |
March 22, 2007 09:58 PM
Katie,
All that gourmet coffee and Galen and I are over here searching for anything not starbucks!!!!!Send coffee!! Hope you are having a great time, I love your blogs, you need to come back and write a book!!!
love ya! Rhae
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Posted by:
Rhae Sutphin |
March 29, 2007 05:24 PM
How's it going girl! We miss you.
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Posted by:
Ashley |
March 30, 2007 04:13 PM
Hello- it's been a month!!! What about your tales from Susan's visit and I am sure your parents are there now and you are doing all this cool stuff.
The Yankees are finally coming to SC - my friends from Chicago this week and my sis and her bf at the end of the month.
Our small group girls miss you and so do I and they ask when you are coming back. You should come back to SC and at least visit before you head off to your great job after the Peace Corps. Until then I know you are working hard and helping the DR peeps.
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Posted by:
Cory |
April 4, 2007 09:48 AM
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