Kulture & Learning

Bienvenidos! My name is Kareen Sanchez and I am a Peace Corps Master’s International student at the University of Miami and a Youth Development Promoter in the Dominican Republic (Aug 2014 - 2016). As a Mexican-American from Los Angeles, I know that diversity exists among the Latino population in America and around the world. But everyday is an opportunity to understand culture and learn from each other in order to improve well-being. Join me on this ongoing journey. Disclaimer: The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.

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TBT: Peace Corps Training

A through back to 2014: 

Where should I start now that I finally have Wifi?!? I do not know so these pictures should help give you a general idea!!

We started Core Training in Santo Domingo with 42 Volunteers (half are in the Health sector & the other half are in the Youth sector). It was soooo hard to remember everyones names, but I finally learned them with time! Since then, four trainees decided to leave for multiple reasons. Luckily for me I have adjusted very well and it definitely helps being a native Spanish speaker and understanding Dominican people and culture in relation to my Mexican family, culture and upbringings. But there is still a lot I do not know and I want to learn. So I ask questions and clarifications. 

Joventud es el mejor programa!! I am in the Youth sector and I support the Youth program's purpose and goals because it aligns with my Community Psychology values and UM coursework. We are now learning about the various Youth initiatives with "charlas" from current Peace Corps Volunteers and working with our own youth groups from Monte Plata.

Training includes language classes, Peaces Corps policies and other important topics that applies to our service like water, diarrhea & mosquito related illnesses to coping with unwanted attention and sexual assault and learning about dominican pastimes like music, dance and dominos. For instance we learned how to use a "motoconcho." DR is the only country that allows Volunteers to go on motorcycles, but they have very strict rules about wearing helmets and if we are caught without a helmet its an automatic dismissal.  

But Dominicans do not wear helmets and often fit 3 people in one! 

Living in the Dominican Republic is an adjustment, but I embrace the changes. On the first day of our retreat, many trainees got an allergic reaction to our mosquito net. My eyes were burning and I do not understand why!! But now I have a blue mosquito net and its essential to sleep with one.

Our living situation varies from Volunteer to Volunteer. I have lived with an 80 year old Doña in Los Cocos and now with a Dominican family in Monte Plata. Overall Dominicans treat you like you are part of the family and they are so attentive, make my breakfast, lunch and dinner and teach me how to bucket flush..

Training can be exhausting, but I am not stressing. Dominicans are chill people and they sit in plastic chairs to talk and play games in front of their house.

Dominicans love to sit in plastic chairs in front of their house and we do too. Lots of talking and chesme It defiantly helps being a native speaker and being placed in the advanced language class.

 Free time includes historical tours in the Zona Colonial, enjoying the beach and the rivers of this country. 

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Lack of Medical Attention

Last week, my family called Peace Corps headquarters in Washington DC on my behalf to complain about how the Peace Corps doctors in the DR treated me and how worried they were. Last week I complained about stomach aces in the morning and one Peace Corps doctor told me to drink te and 3 hour laters I got worse and called twice & they never returned my call so I decided to go to the clinic for medical attention. (The doctor reassured me that I didn't have a fever even though I felt really warm & gave me a shot for the pain. Thankfully my Dominican friend took me, used his insurance and willingly wanted to pay for my medical fees!!) The next day I felt sick again and when I communicated with another peace corps doctor she was mad I went to the clinic without their authorization?!?! Btw I had a lot of amoeba and finally got medication two days later! I feel better now but makes you disappointed!

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Alfiler con cabeza = safety pin After translating safety pin from English to Spanish using google translate (pasador de seguridad), Dominicans still did not understand me. So I had to ask my friends what it was called (alfiler con cabeza, because there are different kinds!!) and where I can buy 200 of them. After finding them at a fantasy store, I forgot what it was called, tried looking for them at the capital but finally found them at our international market weeks later. 10 safety pins for 10 pesos!! So I bought $180 pesos worth of safety pins. Can't wait to use them for World AIDS Day next week!

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After 1 year of many uncomfortable, sweaty, noisy and long guagua (bus) rides, my dad and I were able to drive in a private vehicle. We started in the airport in Boca Chica and went to the Zona Colonial, then to Elias Piña and now we are in Punta Cana. We literally drove from the Dominican-Haitian border to the other side of the island in 7 hours!! Time for some needed rest & relaxation in an all inclusive resort!

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Community involvement- 6th graders from my Deportes Para La Vida class drawing their ideas for a world AIDS Day mural to be painted outside their elementary school

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Skin Color

What color am I? In the United States, I am a colored person. I identify as a Mexican American female with brown hair, brown eyes and brown hair.. But coming to to the Dominican Republic , Dominicans started to call me "Americana" and "rubia" as I walked down the street. It was puzzling to think I was rubia since I don't have blonde hair or blue eyes like other PC Volunteers. But then again there is no cookie cutter image of what a Peace Corps Volunteer or American looks like. We can look very diverse!! Being exposed to the blazing Caribbean sun daily, I have gotten tanner. When my family first saw me in May they commented on how tan I have gotten. My brother joked we adopted a Dominican aka me. Even the Peace Corps doctors advised me to use sunscreen daily, wear sunglasses, use a hat and an umbrella when I am outside. And lately I have heard it from Dominicans too. They say, " te estás poniendo más morenita," which translates to you are getting browner. Skin color can get pretty confusing. But I teach my Chicas girls group and boys group the importance of self esteem, identifying their strengths, appreciating their uniqueness and ultimately loving themselves. I am not really brown or white. My skin color is a combination of different color pigments, ever so changing. People will call me different names, but I know there is only one Kareen! I want my Dominican girls and boys to accept their identities, not discriminate on Haitians and come to love their natural hair, but it is hard when it's ingrained in the culture.

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Sept 8, 2015 After 13-14 months in the DR, I hit my rock bottom. My boyfriend and I decided to break up and I also broke down. It was hard for both of us to let go when we still wanted to be together. But we had religious differences that we couldn't overcome. I became depressed and the last place I wanted to be was in Elias Piña. I still left my house and did work, but it was a struggle when I had little motivation. Dealing with a breakup is already hard enough especially for a rookie, but imagine doing it in Peace Corps. When your support network, people who really know you and love you, and comforts are in the States. Also the hot Dominican sun didn't help my mood and I faced many housing problems. Off course I told my Peace Corps Volunteer friends, but only a few really supported me. My ex boyfriend was actually there for me when I was crying and was super negative. Only we knew what really happened and how we both felt. But then again my friends told me to stop talking to him so I can get over it. They care about me and didn't want me to get hurt again. It was easier said than done. They say it gets better with time and it took like 2 months of riding a roller coaster that I finally believed it. These quotes help me stay strong, accept the past and move on. I am still not recovered 100%, but I am in a better place. My ex boyfriend and I talk less frequently, but he is still a great guy. I can still call him if I need a favor, advice or talk with his family. Everything happens for a reason and I have learned so much about myself in this relationship. I fancied quitting Peace Corps, but I knew I wouldn't do it. Even though I felt like shit, I knew I had work to do and goals to accomplish. My Dominican mom told me a breakup shouldn't be a reason for me leaving. He told me the same thing, that I can finish my service. I admit I am worried about being here 1 more year, but I am resilient! Also during Peace Corps training, we learned about the cycle of Volunteer service and that at 12-14 months volunteers experience a mid service crisis. They question why they are here and if they can make it another year. After taking to other PCVs, we all are feeling like this. But most volunteers bounce back with support. Ready or not, year 2 started!

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Day 5 of Gripe/Cold/Sore throat/Sneezing/Cough/tiredness Lately in site (Elias Piña, Dominican Republic) it has been really hot in the day and then crazy thunderstorms in the evening and night. When it rains Dominicans like to go outside and have fun playing in the rain. My boyfriend asked me if I wanted to go out in the rain and I said no because I felt sick with a minor cough (I have been stressed out financially trying to move out of my host family's house with my limited Peace Corps salary, finishing my youth groups and preparing to come home)..I never played in the rain and yet five days later I got even sicker!! I've tried the following: -cough drops -pills for colds from the Peace Corps Medical kit -Ifebrofen for the pain -vapor rub on my sore throat -gargled warm water with salt - drank warm water -tissues for sneezing - ate soup - slept more - ate sancocho at a baby shower - gripe pills from the colmado -Gatorade - took a hot shower - cough drops from the airport -cold & flu pills from the airport - water & now I'm drinking complementary tea with lemon on the airplane. There is still 8 more hours until I land in LA. I'm so excited to finally come home after 9 months of service. Even though I am sick, I know I will get better and what better place to be then at home with my mom and family. I have enjoyed my Peace Corps experience so far even though I face daily struggles everyday. It feels great to come home and I feel privileged that I can do so because I think about the youth in my community who don't even go to the capital and probably won't be on an airplane. I have a lot of youth programs in progress, workshops and conferences in the future and other things to looks forward to. So I'll be back to the DR soon, hopefully healthier and relaxed 😀

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A conversation with my 80 year old Dominican doña who has known me for 9 months now.. Me: I am going on vacation next week Doña: oh to New York? Me: haha yes to Los Angeles

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This is funny, but so true!

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Concept of Time & Disappointment

Some Dominicans like to wear watches, but only a few are punctual. Being late to events is defiantly part of Latin American culture. Mexicans invite people to the party at 4, but people won't show up until 6. It's Mexican time we joke! Also I remember a store in Miami had a sign that said "..We open at 10 am...(Cuban Time!). If I have an important meeting, class or event I will get there at least 5 minutes early! But usually I will get there right on time. While I was a City Year Corps member, work started at 6:30 am and later at 6:45 and it was really hard to get there on time because I wanted to sleep as long as possible and we carpooled and had the longest commute. When we were 2 mins late, we got warnings and eventually those warnings turned into an action plan on managing time better, which I thought was ridiculous! City Year definitely disciplined me in many ways, but I have gotten use to DR flexibility of time. At times I enjoy getting to places late because I know people will not show up on time. My creole class supposably starts at 8 am but it always starts at 9, so I have no rush or purpose to get there at 8 anyways. Or a Plan International workshop says it starts at 9 am and the agenda says it too, but it won't start until enough people show up or the breakfast comes. Other times it frustrates me when people are late or do not show up. I had an especially bad experience this weekend! I support the Junta de Vecinos and they have meetings every 15 days. Last Saturday I go to the Center at 4 and no one is there. I talk to the president who is waiting for the members to show up but no no does! Not even one! She says people go to parties and forget their obligations. Then a community leader tells me on Thursday she wants to do a charla/meeting with youth in my community. We agree it will be on Saturday at 5. I want to support her and so I go to the girl's house to invite them to the meeting. Since I invited the girls the day before, some girls were already going to a girl's birthday party, but we agreed 7 girls was enough. The day of the meeting, I am already at the center and waiting for the guest speaker to show up while 3 youth come. It's already 5:20 and I call Carmen who works for Plan. I don't have the guest speakers number and so I ask her if she is coming. Turns out she was there at 3 and that she wanted to reschedule. But why did she call me? I have a phone with mins. Lack of communication!! Anyways Carmen asked if we can do the workshop instead Monday at 4. It's a holiday so the girls won't be at school, so I thought it was a good idea and even though I didn't not want to do it, I decided to help out. Once again I invite some girls to the charla on Monday and remind them about the meeting. I wanted to be there when the guest speaker did the meeting, but I already had a Skype meeting at 4 and told her that. But I was conscious about the meeting and was going to go there before to open the center and wait for her. But I got a text from Carmen an hour before the meeting that the guest speaker can't show up and it has to be cancelled. I felt so disrespected! I walked around to tell some girls that the meeting was cancelled and complained about the lady. I wanted to make sure they knew her actions did not reflect mine and we could have been playing volleyball instead of waiting for her! After being disappointed two times, I do not want to work with her again! Im sure she will suggest another date, but I need an apology from her and the girls needs an explanation too!! Once I start my youth groups, I know the youth will get there late, but I will make rules and hold them accountable just like City Year did. A Health Volunteer has a money jar and her students have to pay if they are late or are absent without an excuse. She told me she had to cancel her English class one time and she contributed to the jar too! Great idea! And when I have parent meetings I expect parents will be late or not show up, but I will plan accordingly and keep myself busy. Time is precious and I don't want to waste it. I can be flexible and patient, but sometimes you can't work with everybody.

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Monte Plata Patronales

January 18 - 21, 2015

Every pueblo/town in the Dominican Republic have "patronales" to honor a Saint. It is usually a week of celebrations and the Youth Volunteers during Community Based Training (CBT) said we would return for Monte Plata's patronales in January. Not surprisingly only Michael and I returned maybe because we have to the best host moms (Donas) and we are true to our word!!

 Monte Plata's Patronales are known for their horse shows!

Some Dominicans looked like cowboys, but others rode their horses with babies or women and their cup of beer! Basically anyone could take their horse and ride it. 

They also sold cowboy hats. 

Michael riding a horse with a youth. He recorded his ride with his GoPro, which documents better then any camera or phone. 

My mom Ibe always fun to be around. I joked with her and told her subete en en Caballo! It is a catchy dem bow song!

Michael's host mom Victoria made tacos for us and they were delicious! OMG I ate four and wanted to eat more even though I was full. 

We party together too. They had a ferris wheel and other rides, lots of food stands and we ate cotton candy! They also had an outdoor concert. We saw a well known bachetero and we danced. They apparently have good artist ever day and its all free!! 

My host mom loves me and knows exactly what I like to eat. She made me fried chicken, spaghetti and dumplings! One time during CBT we made 10 pounds of dumplings for our last dinner with our host families. 

Overral I had a great time in Monte Plata, but then again I always do when I am with my host family and good people. I lived with 3 host families and I am lucky to have great relationships and positive experiences with all three of them!

My host sister Melanie and I. She loves to take Selfies! 

It usually takes me 2 guagua rides, $1000 pesos ($22 dollars) and six hours to get to Monte Plata. But on my ride back from the capital to my site, I had some bad luck. We left Parada de Sur (bus stop) at 2 pm with a half empty bus, so the driver was cruising to recruit more passengers. Then we got a flat tire near Bani and it was impressive to see how they change a flat tire and how long it takes. Finally the engine/battery died while we were in the middle of the mountains near San Juan. 

We waited on the side of the road as cars and buses drove by. Finally a Elias Pina bus stopped by and we abandoned the broken guagua, got our stuff and switched buses while the sun was setting. After 8 hours on public transportation, I finally made it to site! My host mom was scared and worried that our guagua broke down, but that is typical dominican republic public transportation for you. Would I do it again? Yes I would be on any crappy guagua to visit my host family, but then again I have no other options. 

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A ten year old on a donkey going to the river to get water. He lives in los campos de Las Matas, where school is still half the day.

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January 29, 2015 Translation: There are no bad youth rather misguided youth. This was on the wall of the bus stop in my community. Instead of blaming the youth for their "problems" it's important to understand their context and the multiple levels that influence their behavior. For instance, my neighbor is a nurse at the hospital, but she still maltreats her children. I have seen her hit her four year old grandchild and yell at her 12 year old to clean the house and wash the dishes. But culturally parents and grandparents EXPECT their daughters to do housework and babysit, but the boys are not!! So when I'm playing cards with them, they girls start fighting, curse and hit one another. All learned behavior from their house and their community. So when do they have free time to play? Children have the right to play and it's important for the development. But as a Youth Volunteer it's my job to organize boys and girls groups, give them workshops and promote constructive use of free time. After a focus group in my barrio I learned that girls ages 10-18 like playing volleyball. Many of them have been trained with an NGO called Plan International and even got jerseys, shirts and bags. As my easy win, I have been playing volleyball with girls but now I am trying to organize the girls to play volleyball daily. However I don't have a volleyball and we always have to find someone who has one. Also it's difficult for the girls to come to practice because they have school from 8-4 pm and then come home to do homework and housework responsibility. Also when we get to the basketball court it's always filled with men. Despite the limitations, I applied for a Peace Corps volleyball tournament in May and I hope I can take 6 youth. My site mate is letting me borrow his volleyball and I also spoke with one of the volleyball coaches who is going to help me identify good players and Plan is going to give me a list of the players who participated. It is frustrating being a PCV because I do not have the resources like Plan international. People in my community are supportive, but the pace of "work" is very slow and I'm constantly trying to meet new people and build relationships. Everyday is an open book and I decide what I want to do. In order to stay focused and motivated I try to set daily goals and play with the youth. Even though it upsets me how some adults treat the youth, I've realized that it is important to talk to the parents, ask permission to play with girls and remind the girls to come to play volleyball on the weekends. Any advice or experiences organizing a sports group?

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After eating white rice, beans and fried oil food everyday here, you start to miss the simple American foods, snacks and my mom's delicious Mexican food! I grew up eating rice and beans too, but we didn't eat it everyday, it tasted better, was cooked healthier and I also ate American and Italian food. Also I had the freedom to pick what I wanted to eat! So after our second medical mission to another campo with the Doctors and nurses from Wisconsin, we made guacamole and salsa. I helped cut the tomatoes and we ate it with chips. There are plenty of Avocados in the DR, but Dominicans eat it with rice and meat and many have never tried guacamole! (My friend and I made guacamole before and we shared it with Dominicans in his barrio) We also had a cook out and we ate hot dogs. My family loves to have BBQs during the summer and it reminded me of home. My hot dog tasted like a five star hot dog and I was very satisfied. I even ate it with mustard, which I never do. How things change. Im happy living in the DR, but it's nice to be with other Americans. Talking with them you realize how many things you know about the country, its people and culture and can share with them your experiences. 

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January 17, 2014 Instead of eating the usual fried plantains & salami for breakfast (I like it, but it's so oily), I ate my honey bunches of oats cereal with fresh cow milk!! That is all I need in the morning. (My host family have been selling cow milk for years and people come to our house daily to buy a carton of milk for 100 pesos/2 dollars) I was very angry this week because someone has been munching on my cereal without permission. I left the cereal box on top of the fridge and someone kept picking at it. I also bought icing to bake a cake and someone also opened the icing jar! I was so upset I decided not to bake the cake. I'll make it another day! It's part of dominican culture to compartir or share with others. In fact it is expected you offer food to people who come and visit your house even if you don't have much. I don't have a problem sharing my food, but it upsets me when someone eats my food in a sneaky way without asking. The kids like eating plain cereal as snacks and they go to the colmado and get a bag of cereal for 20 pesos. I don't consider cereal a snack and not surprised the little girls denied it was them when I asked them. I doubt anyone will admit it was them! I hate to be like this but I had to put the cereal in my locked room. This past week my host mother has been in the capital getting medical analysis, but when she comes back tomorrow I am going to have a conversation with her so the behavior doesn't continue. She treats me with respect, always concerned for my wellbeing and safely and helps me do many things. I miss my doña and can't wait for her to come back so we can solve this cereal mystery together!!

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Today was my first medical & dental mission with St. Raphael the ArcAngel. Every year Doctors, nurse practitioners, hygienists and other Volunteers from Wisconsin came to Elias Piña for a week and go to the rural areas. Since these Americans don't speak fluent Spanish they need translators. A few of my PCV friends, Dominicans and I volunteered to translate between English and Spanish. Only one Dominican knew creole and we relied on him for the creole patients. I am disappointed that I still don't understand Creole even though I attend weekly Creole classes in my community and took a week intense course with Peace Corps. It takes time to practice the lessons, learn vocab and most importantly practice it with Haitians! We went to Pinzon, which is about a 20 minute car ride from my barrio. I have heard about it before because my project partner's second wife (yes he has 2 women and they know about it ) teaches at the elementary. The missionaries were very organized and they set up their supplies and stations. I worked with Dr. Chris and we saw 39 patients including elders, mothers, pregnant women, children and babies. The majority were Dominicans and 3 Haitians who only spoke Creole. Most people had high blood pressure, complained about stomach aces, headaches, rashes, back & joint pains, fever, colds and problems with their vision. The people in these communities are the poorest of the poor since Elias Piña is a neglected providence. Besides having dirty clothes & health problems, they lack the resources to maintain a healthy lifestyle. A few admitted to us they had stomach aces when they didn't eat food. If they don't have money to buy food do you think they have money to buy medicine? Nope! Many said they stopped taking medication once the pills were done. Also the poor air quality & contaminated water in the community contributes to negative health problems. As a community psychologist I know that economy and community influences well being at multiple domains. Since many lack money and transportation to access a clinic and hospital many took advantage to come to the community center and consult the doctors, get medicine and for the kids to get toys! I have been sick for the past two days with a cold. gripe is very common in my barrio mostly because of the bad roads that contaminate the air with dust. I was coughing all day, but after meeting these people and knowing about their health problems my problems seemed minor. This little girl came I think she was 5 with an infection near her ear. The mom said she has had it for 2 months now and she was taking medicine and cream that didn't work and it finished. The little girl was afraid of the doctor and yelled when he tried to examine her infection. For me it was not easy looking at it. Eventually 3 doctors had to clean her infection with soap and water while the mother tried to hold down the screaming girl while I translated. I told her to calm down, she was doing a good job, it was almost over and that she was going to get a ball at the end. The doctor said the infection will heal and gave the mother medicine so she can continue to clean the infection. It was great to see the little girl smile when she played with her ball and know that her infection would get better not worse. Overall I had a positive experience working with the doctors, meeting Dominicans and translating. I know that I'm privileged because as a peace Corps volunteer I have a medical kit filled with medication, access to 3 medical doctors for emergencies and the support and resources if I have health problems. For my gripe I simply took pills from my medical kit. Now I realize how valuable these medication are especially for those who lack it. Even 20 pesos (approx 50 cents) for one pill is a lot of money for some people! Even though my parents never had health insurance in Los Angeles we took advantage of free shots at schools, clinics and looked for cheap doctor appointments. Once I had mandatory student health insurance at my university, I went to the doctor for check ups and tests and always remained healthy. No doubt the public health system is better in the United States then the Dominican Republic even for working class Immigrants who have more opportunities and live in better communities. I learned a lot today about myself and my community and I know there will be more opportunities to get involved in medical missions. There is still a lot I need to learn about my barrio especially the cañada/contaminated sewer, its influence on health and well being and find ways to improve it during my service.