MontanaRon

An English teacher's blog about his travels and his digital art.

Category: Santo Domingo (Page 3 of 5)

Dentist, Traffic and Rain

February 7, 2007 /

I had to go into the capital Monday for a dentist’s appointment to check on a filling. I was a bit nervous about the professional quality, but Rex Moser (the Cultural Affairs officer and my supervisor) told me that he had seen a guy who spoke very good English and seemed like a very good doctor; he was. He works in a very modern office, with all the equipment, aides, etc. He did a couple of fillings and found a cavity, which I have to go back in for this coming Tuesday. The price is right–less than $100 for the two fillings and about the same price for Tuesday’s appointment.

Getting to his office was a nightmare. The appointment was for 10 a.m., but I didn’t arrive until 10:30 due to the unbelievable amount of traffic pouring into the city at that time of day. It took about an hour and fifteen minutes to travel a distance that normally takes 20 minutes. The taxi driver decided to get off the main road and went to Washington Ave. (the Malecon), because normally the traffic is lighter there. Unfortunately, it was just as clogged. I would have expected traffic jams earlier in the day, with people trying to get to work, but what’s up with the snarl at 9:45 or 10 in the morning? Really incredible.

The doc told me that the next appointment date is considered an “unlucky” day in the DR, where Tuesday the 13th corresponds to Friday the 13th in the States. Interesting. I jokingly told him that I might change the day, but he laughed and said don’t worry, it wouldn’t affect his expertise. Check out this site for many more DR superstitions and beliefs.

I spent a pleasant afternoon at the beach in Boca Chica this past Saturday. My first impression of the place, back in October, was that it wasn’t the nicest of areas, but I’ve changed my mind. It’s ok, though compared to the world-class beaches on the east coast, the Boca beach leaves a lot to be desired, I’m sure. Still, it’s a nice enough place to while away the time, though it’s very crowded on the weekends.

We had a driving downpour last night, the first rain to speak of since I posted about the frequent afternoon showers in Santo Domingo several weeks ago. The centerfield areas of the fields have a lot of standing water this morning, so that gives me a reason not to go jogging today. 🙂
More later.

Holiday Time

January 28, 2007 /

Today was my last on the Malecon for a while, I’m sure. There seemed to be a lot more people out enjoying the beautiful weather than there have been recently, especially the rollerbladers, who numbered in the dozens. The rain showers have disappeared, giving way to bright, sunny, fluffy-cloud days. However, you can feel the heat coming on; I’ve been told that summer temperatures are almost unbearable. Thankfully, I won’t have to put up with the heat here–I’ll be in Thailand and/or Laos, putting up with the heat there, hopefully, during July/August/September, however my time off works out.

Tomorrow’s a holiday, as I posted last time, Patriot’s Day, the birthday of Juan Pablo Duarte, the country’s founder. Since Friday, I haven’t heard any fireworks, singing or drum-playing, so perhaps that was a one-time celebration of the official date of the event.

One more workshop to lead on Tuesday, then, on Thursday, it’s back to the beautiful, peaceful “Field of Dreams” at Yankeeland in Boca Chica. Needless to say, I can hardly wait. More later.

Long Time

January 27, 2007 /

Whew, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. Like I said, I had some very limited connectivity here at the apartment, but, lo and behold, I turned on the computer yesterday and found that a full-blown wireless network had been installed. So, I can’t use the excuse that I don’t have good Internet access. Of course, when I move back to the baseball campus, I’ll be connected all the time.

I’ve also been busy doing research for a few workshops that I’ve had to conduct before going back to Boca Chica, the last of which I’ll do this coming Tuesday. I did a couple of workshops at UASD about alternative methods of assessing students, and the upcoming one is at Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), a workshop for teacher-trainees which will cover teaching English to young learners.

This Monday is a holiday, Duarte (or Patriot’s) Day, celebrating the birthday of the founder of the country. The actual day is January 26th, so we’ve got a nice, long weekend. Last night quite a few fireworks were set off, and around 11 p.m. I could hear people singing and banging on drums somewhere down the street.

I finally made it to the Colonial Zone and did a bit of walking around this very historic area, which features numerous old buildings. Below is the Catedral Primada de America, the oldest operating church in the western hemisphere, being used as a house of worship for about 450 years. That’s a statue of Columbus in the foreground. Watch out for the large flock of pigeons which hangs out here.

Catedral_Primada

Ok, kid, don’t mess with the pigeons.

Pigeons_1

Oh, oh. You were warned!

Pigeons_2

More later.

This ‘n That

January 15, 2007 /

The wireless signal that I can sometimes get from my apartment is becoming rather sketchy, so I’ve not been able to post as frequently as I’d like to, and sometimes I’m just too lazy to walk to the Internet cafe down the street. I’m usually able to check my email when it’s on, but it doesn’t stay on for too long. Oh, well. . .

I think I’m finally learning the difference between salsa and merengue music. Salsa is fast and merengue is faster. I really can’t tell the difference and my Dominican friends are surprised at my lack of discernment. As I jotted down notes for this post, I was sitting in La Parada listening to very fast music, so it must have been merengue.

La Parada, an open air bar/restaurant is a great place to while away some time. It sits right on the Malecon with a good view of the Caribbean and is great for people watching. There is also the occasional cargo or cruise ship coming or leaving. A few weeks ago I saw a HUGE cruise ship putting out to sea. I think I counted about 8 decks on this leviathan. Awesome.

The afternoon showers seem to be increasing in frequency and are making walking an adventure. Friday, I had to walk to UASD to meet another teacher. The threat of rain seemed small as I left the apartment, but several blocks away, a large, black cloud that had been hiding somewhere suddenly appeared and I was caught in a downpour. Santo Domingo is blessed with an abundance of leafy trees, so I ducked under a large one (sorry, I don’t know too much about tree names), and stayed somewhat dry. Usually I seek refuge in one of the numerous rain shelters dotting the city–Santo Domingans call them “bus stops,” but their covered benches make for a good place to stay out of the rain. After finishing up at UASD, I started walking to La Parada and, luckily, got there just as another torrent washed over the city.

Saturday, though, I wasn’t quite so lucky–I was caught in the open with only a few smaller trees anywhere nearby and I got drenched as I made my way to their somewhat ineffective shelter. I know what you’re thinking–buy an umbrella, dummy! I should, but I never remember to get one when I go to the market. Usually the warm tropical sun comes back out and dries me off very quickly.

Great, only a few more weeks left until I return to the Yankee campus–I can hardly wait. I’ve been working on lessons and materials to use in class, but I feel that I can never be prepared to my satisfaction. I’ll probably be doing a lot of things “on the fly,” master procrastinator that I am.

Geez, I keep reading about crappy things going on in Thailand. First, the coup, then the New Year’s Eve bombings, then a big train wreck, more beheadings in the southern provinces, and a new law limiting foreign ownership in businesses. Crikey (thanks, Steve Irwin), I hope they don’t ruin my retirement plans. That’s right, folks, many of you probably think I’ll eventually return to the USA to settle down in beautiful Montana, but I’ve got a news flash for you. At the present time, it ain’t a gonna happen. I can’t go into all the reasons why, except to say that’s where my heart lies. Of course, nothing is immutable, so things could change. More later.

Christmas (Still), Police Escorts, Santiago

January 9, 2007 /

It looks like most of the Christmas decorations are still up. On Saturday, walking along the Malecon, I noticed that many businesses and the avenue itself are still adorned with the signs of the season. This probably has a lot to do with the extended celebration of Christmas in the Dominican Republic and most of the rest of Latin America. Saturday, the 6th, was El Dia de los Reyes, commemorating the three Magi who brought gifts, according to Christian tradition, to the new-born Jesus. Thus, this is the day of gift-giving, rather than Dec. 25th in the U.S.

On Sunday, the celebration continued, with many families and their children, sporting new bikes, skateboards or rollerblades, out enjoying the temperate weather. Every day recently, however, Santo Domingo has been getting very predictable afternoon showers, some of them heavy enough to tax the drainage system, leading to areas where the streets are somewhat flooded. I’ve learned to walk as far away from the traffic as possible to avoid getting drenched by passing cars scudding through the 2-4 inches of water. (Unlike in Benin, Africa, where I was soaked on my bicycle by a large, heavy truck splashing through brick-red, muddy water–a real laugher, looking back on it.) Sunday afternoon brought another heavy torrent, but I was able to race to D’Luis Restaurant, where I usually have a late lunch, before the clouds opened. I did get a little wet, but the shoeshine boys who hang out there managed to stay dry.

Shoeshine_Boys

Afterwards, walking back along the avenue, I was caught up in the dancing, chanting and horn playing that you see in the photo below. Some of the guys here were playing what looked like didgeridoos, but the sound was more like that of a foghorn. I assume this had something to do with El Dia de los Reyes, since three of the guys were bedecked in various colorful costumes, representing the three kings maybe. Very interesting.

Celebration_3
The sunset was also quite interesting and beautiful.
Malecon_Tree

Also on Sunday, there were several instances of police escorting big black SUVs. The first thing you notice when this happens is the presence of police at all the intersections, blocking and holding up any approaching traffic. You hear the sirens and then the escort comes into view, several motorcycle cops and the speeding SUVs. Probably some kind of government poobahs. I saw four of these escorts on my way to the Malecon; there’s usually only one.

My workshops in Santiago last week proved very productive and I think the teachers enjoyed it, though only three attended–the entire English faculty of the Agriculture Institute. The campus there is very beautiful, with well manicured lawns, dense jungle-like vegetation in places, and very large, old trees–oak and mango, among others, I think. If I were to work in the DR, this would be the place. It’s higher up than SD, so it’s usually a bit cooler and less humid. (Of course, if I could find a campus on a beautiful beach . . .!) More later.

New Year in Santo Domingo

December 31, 2006 /

I’m kind of at a loss for words. The scene here at midnight is incredible, and I have a very narrow view of the city from my apartment. Most cities in the U.S. have laws against setting off fireworks within the city limits, except for organized events. It’s far from organized here in Santo Domingo, and there are no restrictive laws. I don’t think there are any limits on the firepower of these things either, and a pall of smoke is drifting across my view. The place is like a war zone! These are world-class fireworks, and they’re in the hands of ordinary citizens. Because of the noise and concussion, many automobile alarms are going off. Also, meringue music is being played all around on huge loudspeakers, and to top it off, there are some large thunderheads over the Caribbean showing off their own firepower. Really, it’s one of those memorable lifetime events, something not to be missed or forgotten. Also of note is that most places are closed tonight, such as bars (!), pizza parlors and restaurants, whereas these same places were open on Christmas Eve. Seems to be just the reverse in the U.S.

It’s interesting, too, that the Muslim Hajj and Eid ul-Adha are also taking place at this time of year, and, of course, I send my best to all my Muslim friends, and may they have a blessed year, Inshallah.

On a more pessimistic note, several bombs exploded in Bangkok, Thailand today. My heart goes out to the beautiful people there. What a sad thing to happen to this wonderful part of the world. May Buddha heal the hearts of those affected by this crap.

Well, I’d better get to bed. I still have a bit of work to do tomorrow before leaving for Santiago on Tuesday for 3 or 4 days to conduct some workshops at the Instituto Superior de Agricultura. Happy New Year to all. More later.

Happy New Year

December 29, 2006 /

Still living in my apartment in Santo Domingo, I’ve discovered that if I set up my laptop in an exact position by my one, lone window, I can access the Internet through an open wireless connection from somewhere. I don’t know where it originates from, but it is somewhat reliable, somewhat strong. Nice. I picked up a few viruses from going to the local internet cafe, where I was downloading files to my memory stick. I would then come back to the apartment and plug the stick into my laptop, thereby transferring the virus. It seems, though, that my anti-virus programs picked up on the infections before they took root. However, if anyone gets any weird emails from me, delete them and accept my apologies. I think that everything is ok, though.

Well, it’ll be another month until I return to my dream. In the meantime, though, I’ll be going north to Santiago on January 2nd to conduct a four-day workshop for the English teachers at the Agriculture Institute. I met the friendly folks there a few weeks ago and look forward to returning to impart what knowledge and resources I have. That’s the reason I haven’t posted in a while; I’ve been working on what I want to present to them.

I’m not used to it, at least from my experiences in wintry Montana, but fireworks are a feature of Christmas and New Year celebrations here. My mom tells me that the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, where my brother lives, is also heavy on the aerial show. It must be a warm-weather thing, I think, but if anyone knows of fireworks shows at the end of the year in cold-weather locations, please let me know.

It’s about time I posted a few photos, so below is a shot taken on Christmas Eve, sunset along the Malecon. Enjoy, and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all. More later.

Malecon_Sunset_2

Santiago Visit

December 23, 2006 /

It was interesting to get out of the Santo Domingo area and head north to Santiago. The trip takes about two hours as the bus journeys through the green foothills of the Cordillera Central. To the west, the cloud-clogged peaks loomed over orange groves, pastures and croplands–this is the breadbasket of the Dominican Republic.

Santiago itself has about 500,000 people, and it seems much more tranquil than Santo Domingo, which Forbes Magazine named one of the world’s ten densest cities, citing in particular the terrible traffic. The Instituto Superior Agricultura (ISA) lies on a beautiful campus. Since the 700 or so ag students need experience and research opportunities, the institute has many crops, animals and flowering plants. The buildings seem fairly new and are interspaced with luxurious, well-maintained grounds. ISA has ambitious plans to diversify the student population, opening up majors in business, engineering and technology. They hope to expand from 700 to 10,000 students over the next 10 years and want to make the English program an important part of that expansion. I’ll be staying there from Jan. 2 through the 5th, conducting a series of workshops for the few English teachers. It should be a nice relief from SD.

The Forbes article doesn’t lie about the traffic; it’s horrendous. On the return trip the skies opened just outside of the capital, a torrential downpour flooding the streets. On top of that it was during rush hour, and it took the bus 30 minutes to travel about 4 or 5 miles. It kind of reminded me of the huge jams in Seoul, Korea, which was also cited in the article.

Two more days until Christmas. I was going to buy a Butterball turkey breast, but I don’t feel like shelling out $20, so I’ll probably fix up some chicken breasts, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas and dinner rolls (I’m a traditionalist when it comes to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners) in my tiny kitchenette; luckily, it includes a fair-sized oven. I won’t be able to post again until after Monday, so once again, Happy Holiday to everyone, whether it be Christmas or Hannukah or Winter Solstice or whatever you might celebrate this time of year. More later.

Santiago, Fire

December 20, 2006 /

Not much to report lately. Tomorrow I’m traveling to Santiago, in the northern part of the country, to talk to folks from the Agriculture Institute about setting up an English program, something they really want to push. I’m going to the bus station right after posting this to buy the ticket. It’s about a 1 1/2 hour ride, not too bad, and Rex told me that the bus system is very good, very modern. I’m coming back on the same day, around 7 at night.

Then, it’s a 4-day holiday, more or less, with Christmas coming up. I’ll probably take a few strolls along the Malecon and maybe spend some time in the old Colonial Zone. I want to take some photos, something I haven’t done in a while.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas to everyone.

P.S. Oh, yes, I almost forgot. I was walking back from the Malecon last Sunday, and I had to use a restroom pretty bad. I decided to stop at the Hispaniola Hotel and use the facilities in the casino (there are lots of casinos in the D.R.). When I got there, I found that someone had fallen in the entryway and she was surrounded by hotel staff. I didn’t know what to think–maybe she was ill and had fainted. She looked like she was going to be ok. I walked further and when I got to the entrance doors of the casino, I noticed there were lots of people milling around and the lights inside were off. Something was going on! As I stood peering through the doors to the inside, I noticed that the lights were on in one room towards the back end of the casino, but there was a lot of smoke billowing into that room. Fire!! Strangely, people, mainly staff and security, were going in and out of the main casino as if there were no danger. Perhaps the lady who was being cared for in the entryway had taken in some of the smoke. Security finally closed the doors, but only after calling in a few more of the staff who had been waiting outside. I walked out of the hotel and continued my journey to my apartment, noticing that a fire truck had arrived at the other entrance and that most of the patrons had been evacuated to that side of the building. I didn’t hear anything about what might have happened–I suspect a grease fire in the kitchen. I’ll probably walk by the hotel soon to see if it’s still standing. I did make it to the apartment in time to use my own bathroom. 😉

Busy-ness and Holidays

December 11, 2006 /

As expected, Rex found a lot of projects for me to work on. First off, this coming Thursday, I’ll be doing a workshop/presentation for teachers at the Dominican/American Cultural Institute (ICDA). The presentation will cover how to enhance students’ oral skills. At some time before the New Year, hopefully, I’ll be going up to Santiago to help the Agriculture Institute implement their new English language programs. I’ll probably stay there for a week, conducting training sessions. From there, I might take a few days off and go to Puerto Plata, one of the resort areas near Santiago. Fun in the sun! I’m also going to visit a non-government organization (NGO) here in Santo Domingo to check into their English program. They’re seeking funds from the Embassy and Rex wants me to check them for legitimacy. In January, I’ll be doing a week-long workshop at UASD for their English department, helping them to get up to snuff on the latest teaching methodologies and evaluation/assessment techniques. In addition, I want to do some work on teaching materials I’ll be using when the baseball camp reopens in February. Whew! A bit busy, but nothing overwhelming.

I was invited to the Embassy’s Public Affairs Section staff party at Bill Millman’s house Friday night and got to meet a few people I hadn’t run into before. It was a pot luck (I was told to just bring myself) and everyone had a good time. For the last 3 years, in Korea and Morocco, it just hasn’t seemed like Christmas around this time of year. Morocco, a Muslim nation, had very little in the way of holiday decorations, music, and the other trappings of this time of year, and Korea, though about 50% Christian, didn’t seem to have the festive spirit that’s found back home. Santo Domingo, though, is awash in Christmas lights, the stores are bedecked in displays enticing shoppers to buy their wares for Christmas gifts, and the people are in a holiday mood. It seems much more like Christmas this year than it has in a while, for me. Except there’s no snow and cold. I definitely don’t miss the weather. More later.

« Older posts Newer posts »

© 2026 MontanaRon

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑