Here's What I'm Thinking About...

Random strings of thoughts are floating in my head...while all together they are most likely unworthy of a blog entry, individually they are most assuredly so. However, I'm rolling the dice because 1) it's Tuesday 2) I'm in a holding pattern here at work for the next 30 minutes or so.

1) We went to a store yesterday to have some photocopies made. The first observation I had was that the guy running the machine was strikingly similar in personality and size as a buddy of mine named Clapton back home who used to work with copy machines. Unfortunately, the Dominican Clapton took his break right when it was our turn and we ended up being helped by another clerk. This is when my second observation kicked in. We've noticed down here that it sometimes feels like we are no longer in 2008 but rather, we've stepped back in time to somewhere around 1991 where life is a bit simpler, technology is a bit slower and people are looking eagerly towards systems improvement. This was especially true at the copy machine yesterday when he copied all of our 40 or so sheets by placing them one by one on the glass, rather than using the automatic feeder tray. Somewhere around page 17, as the line began to wrap around the endcap of the aisle and become restless, we realized that he was going to make them double sided, not by setting the machine to that setting, but by taking out the first copies, flipping them over, and adding them back into the paper drawer and starting over with the opposite sides. It was flat out awesome and an hour later we left with our copies.

2) We saw a floor aerobics/step class in a gym downtown. For some reason it struck me as strange to see that down here...

3) I only get bug bites on my feet and ankles. Seriously, only maybe 1 in 10 bites isn't on my ankles or feet. I can't explain it. In fact, my ankles and feet are the only place that I regularly put bug spray on and still, that's where I get bit. Last night, the inexblicability of this came to a head when I got 2 bites on my left foot while sleeping IN MY BUG NET WITH BUG SPRAY (read: Jungle Juice 100% deet) ON! There must be a joke or a parable in here somewhere.

4) The Gringos came out on top - problematically, we would have rather not. Here's the thing, (nearly) everywhere we go, we get an American price - consistently 15-60% higher. So, we try to be careful about going to places that seem to be more fair to us and we try our hand at negotiating from time to time. However, we found out yesterday that we've been taking advantage of the "conchos" without even knowing it. We thought it cost 10 pesos each person per ride so that's what we've been paying. More than once I've remarked to Kel that I was receiving funny looks from the drivers when I pay, but they never said anything. Yesterday, we got into a discussion about it with our staff who told us that it is 20 pesos per person per ride. How is it that the Americanos who always get the higher price, accidentally got a half price deal for the last 2 months?

5) Finally, and you can pray about this one from time to time. I am currently having mental arguments with myself about safety. Twice in the last 2 weeks I haven't been able to accompany the movie ministry that I am involved with, out to the movie sites, because it is too dangerous for me as a white American to go. The trouble of course is that I feel brave enough to go and end up feeling silly that I'm not allowed to. However, I know that it isn't a judgment against my valor, it's a fact about the color of my skin and the composition of the neighborhoods. On top of it, my presence would likely be dangerous not just for me, but for the Dominicans that I am accompanying. It's not frustrating so much as it is dissapointing you know? I want to go. That's my team out there. I'm not afraid. Yet, the fact remains, it isn't appropriate or safe for me to go, so later, I'll be at home while they're out doing ministry. It feels like a bummer...

Ok, more later because we have much to tell...

Separated from you by a couple of miles,
M&K