Originally Posted by
terrierist
Installment #2: Adventure to the Campos
Monger warning - no chica content in this installment!!
But it was daylight, and I frankly felt much safer than in downtown Edmonton, L.A., Boston, or a number of other places I've been. The people were always friendly and helpful, even though I have nearly no Spanish.
I stayed in and awoke in the morning around 4:30am or 5:00am to the most beautiful wistful music I've heard in my life. It gradually got louder until I finally dragged myself out of bed and looked out the window. There, on the Avenue de Circumnavigacion, or whatever it's called, only a block below my bedroom, was a procession of well over a thousand people singing in Spanish. In retrospect, I believe it was a recreation of the journey of Christ to his crucificion. I'm not very religious, though, so I may have the details wrong. I lay awake and listened to this wonderful, soothing, melodic and superbly delightful singing for another hour before it had completely faded away as the procession passed out of sight.
My novia had been making excuses about needing to go home to the San finally we got to her village!!!
Enough for the whole village!! As two men carried it into the kitchen, I did understand as one of them said to the other, in Spanish, "Don't drop it...it's worth a small fortune". As seemingly the guest of honour, I was asked to sit and was served first; a mighty large plate piled far too high. Luckily, it was quite tasty and I didn't find myself involuntarily doing anything rude. Then the rest of the men joined me and we ate heartily, all of us telling stories, even me. I understood not a word they said, and vice versa, but they listened intently as I told my story too. I suspect they were talking about the departed grandmother, but as I had not met her, I talked instead of my first night at Cristal's. They couldn't understand me anyway.
Later I had the opportunity to wander around the village more, and went over to Jeitme's father's house. Her sister cut me down a Coco nut, sliced it open, and I had my first taste of Coco milk, and Coco flesh. Yumm...it was like candy and the children were all jealous until they got one too. I called it a coconut, but was corrected. Only Coco. Idunno, I'm a city boy from the Great White North.
First time eating coco flesh or drinking milk...where the hell do you live!
Compared to the rest of the village, I think Jeitme's dad is quite well off. He has a about 1 1/2 acres enfrente the creek, three goats, a horse, a dozen (well, only eleven now) chickens and several Coco palm trees. They even have an old 12" T.V. set that gets only one channel, and a light bulb that works. I'm not sure where the power comes from. In retrospect, it seems odd that Jeitme could complete her grade 12, I insisted on a taxi back to spend the night, and although Daryy was well-behaved, I also insisted that she find a sitter in the future. I'm too old for a two-year-old on anything but day-visit frequency.
What a day!!! And what an experience!!! I am forever amazed at how strong family is among the Dominicans, and how happy these people are. They have nothing, but seem to want little more than family. Methinks the ambitious ladies found in Puerto Plata / Sosua may be more the exception than the rule.
I'm now free for the next four days...and I'm gonna do me some mongering...of course, in the next installment.
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