Fillings, Extractions, Root Canals, & Dr Gerry

Yesterday, Saturday was my second day working when the clinics were open.  I sure enjoyed it more than last week.  I got to work in the dental clinic with the main Dentist.  His name is Dr. Gerry.  Almost every patient needed a filling, a tooth removed, or a root canal.  I really enjoyed being able to help with the procedures.  And of course the patients were very appreciative of the work we did.  

Because I've obviously never done dental work, Dr. Gerry had to tell me what to do, and which instruments he needed for different things.  I felt like I was in his way the whole time, and was nervous about doing the right thing...

At lunch, Gerry's wife came up to me and said that he was very impressed by me.  She said that he was hard to work with "He's particular" were her exact words, and it takes the right person to work with him.  I was glad that I was keeping up with his expectations.  I found out later from Chuck, the owner of MJ, that Dr. Gerry requested to work with me over his normal assistant, who just happened to be gone yesterday.  So I will now be in the Dental clinic each Saturday!  :)  Chuck gave me 2 scrub tops with the MJ emblem embroidered on them to wear for the summer, so I'm officially an MJ dental assistant! 

Today was my day off, didnt do much!  Slept in, went into town and got some groceries.  This next week is the start of high season, so we're supposed to be pretty busy!  Gonna get to bed early tonight to get ready for the week ahead!  Sure missing home and Clear Lake for the 4th of July!  

Settling In...

Getting settled in has been a little bit difficult for me.  There are so many comforts from home that I'm missing.  The past few days have been a little hard, as I've come down off the high of arriving and am realizing how much I miss from home!  I'm sure this will pass!

Yesterday was my second day off.  My spanish is still not great, so I was very nervous about going into town by myself, but really wanted some time away from MJ and the nearly empty house.  I asked Lesly to call a taxi for a ride to the beach.  He had the day off also, so he said he might meet up with me later.  I was nervous about riding into town with a stranger who I can barely communicate with.  I have been to Cabarete a few times now, once with my family in December, and then last Saturday night when the whole debacle with the car happened.  So I knew I would be more comfortable when I made it there safely.  

The taxi driver's english was as good as my spanish, so we were able to use our Spanglish and communicate pretty well.  His name was Miguel, and he only had 4 fingers on one hand.  He joked about his wife cutting it off when she was mad at him.  Haha, was nice to have a few laughs to get rid of my nerves.  He dropped me off at the bank in town and asked when I'd like to be picked up.  Because I dont have a phone here, I couldnt call for a ride.  We agreed he would pick me up around 2 o'clock at the same place.  

I got to the beach and had a pancake breakfast.  Then parked it on my lounge chair to enjoy the sun!  I had my book and sunscreen, I was set!!  Was nice to relax, but weird to be on the beach alone.  Lesly did come around 1:00, so we sat and talked for a little while!  Its tough when neither one of us know much of eachother's language.  He speaks Creole, I speak English, and both speak a little Spanish.  You have to get creative with hand gestures and word choice thats for sure! 

One of the things I'm finding amazing is how quickly the locals pick up on other languages!  I took 4 years of Spanish in high school, and can barely remember any of it.  They'll tell me a word and I can repeat it 5-6 times, and still not remember it very shortly after.  If they ask me how to say something, even FULL sentences, I'll tell them once, and they will remember it completely!  And many of the zip line guys are Haitan, so they speak Creole, Spanish, English, some of them French and more!  Sure makes me feel like a stupid American!!

Anyway, back to the beach!  At 2:30, it started to rain so  we packed up and headed back to the bank.  Miguel, the taxi driver, was there waiting!  He gave Lesly a ride back to Sosua and took me back to MJ!  The day was great!  I showered and laid down for a nap.  

When I woke up I went down the apartments to play some Dominoes with the zip line guys!  This has become a nightly thing!  Not much else to do, so I'm getting pretty good at Dominoes!

Anyway, not much else to share for now! 

Lessons Learned

Day 7, My first day off!

Yesterday was Saturday, which means the clinics were open.  We served 133 patients.  I was assigned to work in the pharmacy.  Wow!!  What a difference from the states.  Pills are counted and put into small plastic baggies, then you take a little white label, and write the name of the med, and the directions on how to take it and stick it to the front of the bag.  Liquid medications for children are dispensed in empty plastic water bottles.  I was SHOCKED!  But it was very humbling to see all these people being treated for free because of all the work I had was able to do the week prior.  Chuck & Candy have an amazing organization set up here!

Being it was Saturday night, AND pay day, the zip line boys were all going out for the night.  They asked us to come along.  Because Manuel and I were both fairly busy all afternoon, Kori made arrangements with the guys for transportation and where we'd go.  Unfortunately, he didn't realize that the Dominican culture isn't as trust worthy as it may be in Canada or the States.  He paid $35 to "rent" a car for 24 hours, which was supposed to be brought back to our place at 9pm.  Manuel and I quickly explained to him that its not a good idea to pay ahead, and we shouldn't count on the car showing up.  Around 9:15 when the car didn't show, we decided we'd better make other arrangements.  This was when we realized we didn't even have a phone that we could call for a cab or to make other plans! Needless to say, Manuel and I were not extremely pleased with Kori.  But it is what it is, so we were preparing to hunker down for the night.  Then Manuel suggested we ask Pele, one of the farm hands that lives below us, if we could borrow his phone and then we'd ask him to come along with us for dinner and we'd pay.  Pele of course thought this was a great trade, and we called for a cab. He was to arrive in 20 min.

No joke, 2 minutes later the car shows up the Kori had planned for.  After much debate, we decided to call the cab and let him know we had found a ride.  We all piled into a minivan and made the trip down the hill.  When we got to Cabarete, we went to a restaurant on the beach.  It is actually a place I had eaten with my family in December.  Great place, owned by a Canadian, called Kahuna's.  We got a table, ordered some drinks and had a good time goofing around.  We got our bill and Manuel, Kori & I started to get out our money to pay for our drinks, food and for Pele.  The guy that Kori had made arrangements with and the driver had both had drinks, and at this point decided to tell us that they didn't have any money.  They were expecting us to pay.  WHOA!! Wait a second!  Manuel and I were already feeling like we got taken advantage of and now this?!  It ended up that we covered the extra on the bill and we decided to go home.

On the walk back to the car, Manuel again tried to explain to Kori why he and I were upset.  The car ride home was fairly quiet. When we got back to the house, Pele thanked us for everything, and went to his apartment, we all headed to bed.

Sunday, today, is my day off so I was able to sleep in this morning!  Was great.  I got up and straightened up my room.  Made my bed up, swept my bed room, and straightened up my clothes.  Living out of a suit case, its tough to keep things organized!   So it was nice to have the time to fold clothes back up and straighten up some.  I'm finding it hard to keep myself busy on my day off.  Gonna do some reading and sun bathing this afternoon I hope.  It is definitely humbling to realize how spoiled we are in the states with TV, air conditioning, game systems, cars & transportation, etc.

Sipp Lyne!

Wow!!  Day 5 was great!

Woke up feeling well rested, took my daily cold shower, and headed out to meet Candy at "the Jungle".  Candy and I did the first feeding of the monkeys.  I love to go in with Candy, because she knows each one of them by name! And they LOVE her!  We had a few tourists this morning, but the afternoon was a little slow which meant...

I got to zip line for the first time at MJ today!  Akon, Wesley Snipes, and Usher took me and a group of visitors.  The course here at MJ is much safer than the course I did in December when we were here.  The course is 5500 ft long, 7 stations.  One of which is a 50 foot free fall into a cave.  I was freaked out!  You sit down on the edge of a platform and basically scoot your butt off the edge.  I was having a hard time actually getting myself to do it, so Usher, his real name is Leslie, 6'3" 250lb. Haitan, picked me up and dropped me!  I could have KILLED him!  My stomach was in my throat, but it was pretty awesome!  On the last line, #7, Wesley Snipes, his name is Steph, told me I didnt have a choice but to go upside down!  He attached our harnesses and went with me while I hung upside down, and he flipped me back over when we got to the end!  That was CRAZY!  I probably wont do that again!

After zip lining, I did the final monkey feeding then we closed up shop for the day!

Wanna give out a special shout to my sister Whitney, she turns 20 today! :)

I've been missing you like Candy...

Day 4

            Today, Chuck's (the owner of JM) wife Candy arrived.  She had been in the states having eye surgery.  It was so nice to finally meet her and learn the "proper" way to do so many things!  Chuck did his best to train us, but she really knows ALL the details of "The Jungle"! 

            Candy LOVES the monkeys, they are definitely her babies, and they definitely missed their Momma! I was fortunate enough to get to spend the day with her, learning all of her tricks and tips about how to care for the animals and how to bond with many of them as well!  As goofy & wild as Chuck is, Candy is just as calm & sweet!  Was nice to have her around to keep things calm when we got busy!  

            Not sure if I've written about the other volunteers yet or not.  Manuel is 
Venezuelan, but lives in Toronto, Canada.  His spanish is impeccable.  Even 
the locals ask where he's from because they speak "jungle spanish" and his is
very proper.  Kori is from Calgary, Canada.  He got in 2 days ago and has jumped
 right in.  So I'm stuck with two Canadians for the summer, Eh?

            The boys did some zip lining today with some groups, and I was able to 
work the bar. Which was fun.  I've never "bar tended" (if you can call it that) or even 
weighted tables!  My extent of this kind of work was the concession stand in high 
school!  And don’t get me wrong this is very similar, but I don't count AMERICAN 
change well, but now I have to count US Dollars AND Dominican Pesos.  Oooofta! 
It gets a little rough!  It has been so neat for me to meet all the tourist and find out
where people are from and what their stories are.  One of the zip line groups had a
lady who was slightly disabled.  She walked with canes and had significant braces 
on her legs. She was able to zip line with the help of Leslie (one of the "zip 
line boys") and also even walked into the Jungle (which is lots of stairs)!  Zip 
Lining was on her bucket list, so she was thrilled to complete the course!  This is 
the stuff that will be so rewarding all summer long; seeing people enjoy what I get
to do every day.  I’m feeling very fortunate to be here.  

            Last night we walked down from the house were staying in to the apartments 
that the "zip line boys" live in. and spent a little time with them.  They listen to US
music, but its older stuff that I listened to in high school, even middle school!  So it 
was fun to know the songs and jam out with them to the "oldies" for me!

            I should probably explain that Chuck gives all the "zip line boys" (who 
are local Dominicans or Haitans) what he calls monkey names.  Michael 
Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Akon, Wesley Snipes, etc.  So if I ever refer to one 
of them, NO the celebrity is not here! Although, a few big namers have been; 
Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith! 

            The clinics are open on Saturdays, so I'm very anxiously awaiting Sabado.  Working hard on learning spanish words here and there!  Chuck says they serve about 150 people on a Saturday, that’s including medical and dental work.  The last 2 Saturdays they had to turn away 60 people.  I'm sure it’s going to be a very over whelming and humbling experience.  

Welcome to The Jungle!

Wow!  What a whirl wind the last few days have been!

On Saturday, my cousin got married, I was supposed to meet my family at the wedding at 4pm.  Tim and I took off around 1, so should have had plenty of time! I was set to fly out to DR the next morning at 6:25am, had all my bags packed and was ready to go!  I thought!!! After a few mishaps on the drive up, I realized I didnt have my purse, which of course had everything important, passport, medicines, travel money, you know all the stuff you CANT leave behind!  Unfortunately, I realized this around 2:30, so there was no way to turn around and get my purse and make it to the wedding also.  :(

We turned around, I got my purse and we hit the road again, enjoyed a nice dinner and then met my family at the reception!  Spent my last night in the states enjoying Margaritas and Bowling!  Was up pretty late and then after about 2 hours of sleep, the alarm went off to head to the airport!

My flight was pretty awesome!  I was fortunate enough to fly first class, was served two full, hot meals, booze, and multiple soft drinks!  As I'm on the flight thinking about the fact that I'll be landing in a 3rd world country, I definitely was feeling like a spoiled rotten American!  When I landed in DR, got my bag, came out of the Airport and met Chuck.  He is the owner of Monkey Jungle.  Great guy, from Tennessee, very welcoming and easy to get along with.  He and I waited for Manuel, the other volunteer.  He is Venezuelan, but was raised in Canada, so he speaks english, spanish, and some french!  So he has been a huge help today as I know almost NO spanish!  Chuck took us to the grocery store, and we picked up a few things for snacks.  Then it was off to The Jungle!

We are living in a home built on the land but off the main "campus".  It is just up the hill (which means lots of walking, which will be great for my summer weight loss program!)  I have my own room, with a KING size bed!  Nuts!!  and my own bathroom.  Only problem with the bathroom so far, is no Hot Water!!  Showers are very quick, but obviously greatly appreciated!  Anyway, after arriving at our casa, Manuel and I did a little unpacking and I laid down to "nap".  Woke up the next morning!!

We start our work day at 8am.  Just so happens that Chuck, the owner, had to take some of the staff to Sosua (into town) this morning.  So it was up to Manuel and I to open the place.  I was a little nervous, but some of the other locals who are on staff here helped quite a bit!  The day went smooth, we had a couple monkey tours, but no zip liners!  Chuck said the tips Manuel and I made was a record, so I guess we're doing something right!

Tomorrow is another day, another cold shower, and more monkey fun!  Hopefully more Spanish for this girl!

The Begining...

April 3 of 2012, I was living in Augusta, GA.  I got a phone call from my mother, while I was home on my lunch break, that my grandmother had been hit by a car while walking home from the bank.  She was being taken into surgery immediately in hopes to relieve pressure and swelling around her brain.  A few hours later, back at work, I got another call that the surgery was unsuccessful and she hadn't made it through.  I was shattered, broken, lost, and alone!  I wanted nothing more but to get on the next flight out of town and be at home, in Iowa, with my family.  I had no idea at that point what an amazing blessing my grandmothers death would be!

I did fly home that evening and spent the next week with my family and friends, celebrating what an amazing person, an Angel really, my grandmother was!  I returned to the south, and over the next few months life changed quite a bit.  Due to other circumstances, I made the decision to  moved back to Iowa in August 2012. 

Later that year, as Christmas got closer, a holiday we had spent every year at Grandma's, Dad decided that we should have a "completely different Christmas".  He began the planning and research and ended up booking a trip to the Dominican Republic.  I was very excited to spend some time in "Paradise" with my immediate family.  We had never been able to take vacations like this while I was growing up, and I had spent the last 4 years living 23 hours away from my family, so I was not only looking forward to the once in a life time opportunity to travel, but also to spending time with the people I love (& at times dislike) so much! :)

The trip was life changing!  Not only for Me and my family, but we were able to make numerous connections that truly have changed our lives, and I feel the lives of local Dominicans as well.  We were blessed to use money that my Dad inherited from Grandma's passing to sponsor an event called "12 Days of Christmas", which is held at a restaurant just around the corner from the home we stayed at in DR.  Local orphan children are brought into town to this restaurant and served a traditional Dominican meal, Santa Clause comes and gives out gifts, games are played, pinata is hit, its over all an amazing day for these children who truly have only each other!

At this event our family met Pastor Joel, who runs an orphanage in Puerto Plata, DR.  He invited my family to come visit the orphanage and spend an afternoon with the kids! Because I had to return to the U.S. for work, I wasn't able to make the visit with my parents and sisters.  But I heard all about it when they returned home!  It was very clear that a forever connection was made that day!
 
In March, my Dad, Brother, Sister and a good friend of our family returned to DR and the orphanage.  They spent a week there, and were able to start a second story addition to expand the living area for the kids.  It was on this trip that my Dad, Brother & Sister heard about and got to visit Monkey Jungle. When they returned home, they told me about the summer "internship" opportunity, and all about what the facility does, I was immediately interested!

Monkey Jungle is a medical/dental clinic in Sosua, Puerto Plata, DR, which is funded by a tourist Zip Line attraction and Monkey Tour.  I have always enjoyed the medical field and have always hoped to do some type of missions work, so after hearing all that Monkey Jungle does, it seemed like a great opportunity & fit for me. I decided I was going to take the plunge!  I knew I had a limited amount of time before I turn 26 in October, and would no longer be able to be on my parents insurance, which as a diabetic, I cant go with out.  So this was it, I booked my ticket, and I would leave June 16!

Now my departure is just 12 days away!  The packing is overwhelming, my Spanish has not improved at all,  and I've made new friends in Clear Lake & reconnected with so many people that I know its going to be hard to leave.  BUT, I know this will be an opportunity I will never regret!  Gramaudie always encouraged us grand kids to do what made us happy!  And she was such an amazing example of giving, and caring for others, I only hope that I can be half of the woman she was!  I look forward to bringing a little piece of Maudie to the DR again with me! 

I will continue to blog over the Summer, in hopes to share my adventures with y'all!!  I'm sure its going to one heck of a journey!  :)