Hola!!! 12/12/10
I hope that you are all doing well.
Things have been up and down for me. This month has been hard. One positive is that I went and visited some other PCV’s in the south. I got to spend 3 days on the beach. Its crazy that some volunteers get a beach site. Talk about being blessed and living the life!!! I saw Barahucco, Los Platos, and San Rafael. My favorite was San Rafy’s . The river water literally flows into the ocean. Beautiful beautiful. If your ever here skip the all inclusive and go to the south, there lay some of the last untouched beaches in the country.
During my trip I met an American couple who had built a house on top of a mountain in San Rafael. Took the guy 13 years but he has a great lay out. Trying to start an eco-tourism project and swims/surfs every day. This is a couple that’s doing it. Living outside the mold and couldn’t be happier.
Living here makes me question a lot. I wonder if I will ever be able to live in the US again. Not that I don’t love where I come from but Miami is super expensive to live in.
What I pay in rent is what you pay for your electric or water bill.
Whats wrong here?
Im just going to say it. Americans have way too much and still want more. What happened to simple living? Were we all convinced by what the media told us we should want and have? Do you know that I barely use a whole bucket of water to shower every day? Think about how much water you use. Is there ever a time where you could turn some water off soap up and then turn the water back on to wash off?
Here I don’t have internet and I have to go to a certain spot to get reception to use my phone. When I think of how much time some people my age spend on changing their FB status or texting or watching television it makes me sad. It’s like an itch that we need to scratch. Have to get that new I-phone because it will make us happy… until the new one comes out and then were not satisfied with the one we have. All these things that supposedly make us happy but they are just things! Things don’t make anyone happy.
All that time that people waste on their phones when they are actually hanging out with their friends or family. And for what?
What is it that we have to prove?
When did we get like this?
When did we grow so disconnected from each other?
Im not judging anyone im just stating some things I have seen along the way that I do not understand from my generation.
I love to see spending real time. I love to see people sharing and going out of their way to help someone else. I love to see people say hi to one another. That is what I see here in the DR.
It is in the US too. You just have to look a bit harder. I believe there is a silent revolution going on. One where more people my age are becoming aware of the truth. And there getting mad and there talking to their friends about it. But unlike the 60’s were not making noise like we should.
I’m rambling. I am aware. I just think that some of these things should be said.
During this Christmas season and throughout the whole year, your whole LIFE… spend time with the people you love.
Tell them you love them. We do not have all the time we think we have.
Ill tell you one thing I don’t think I can truly be happy without my family. Im happy but its not the same. I miss my sister’s laugh and words of wisdom that make me question if age means anything at all. I miss my mom so much, just sitting down and talking to her. Miss watching football with my step dad and dancing with my brother.
I miss my friends. I miss so much. This Christmas will be the hardest one of my life. But I pray that the Lord will give me the strength I need.
I’m here for a reason. And for however long I am supposed to be here I will be here.
So send your love and strength my way because Im going to need it. Until next time… I will leave you with a Whitman quote from 1855-
This is what you shall do.
Love the earth and the sun and the animals.
Despise riches.
Give alms to everyone that asks.
Stand up for the stupid and crazy.
Devote your income and labor to others,
Hate tyrants, have patience towards the people,
Take off your hate to nothing known or unknown,
Or to any man or any number of men.
Go freely with powerful uneducated persons
And the young and with the mothers of families…
Re-examine all you have been told at school
or church or in any book and
Dismiss whatever insults your own soul.
Sending you all my love,
Vera =)
