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First Night

8/22/2012

7 Comments

 
'There appears to be a delusional rooster in the courtyard of the hostel. I met Ziggy, the hostel guard dog, and heard some chickens out there last night, so it isn't completely shocking that a rooster is also on the grounds.  However, I say delusional, because 4:00 a.m. is NOT when the sun comes up, and neither is 4:42, 5:12, or 5:50. The rooster, however, must of thought he glimpsed a ray of light on the horizon because he deemed all of the aforementioned times as appropriate to begin his wake-up call. And by the way  "cock-a-doodle-doo" is not the correct onomatopoeia for a rooster.  I might not have minded being awoken to a sweet sing-songy "cock-a-doodle-doo," but whoever came up with that was giving the rooster far too much credit. It really sounds more like "SQUAWK-a-SQUAWK!" Or perhaps my poor delusional rooster also just fails miserably in the song arena as well. 
In any case, I managed a few more hours of sleep before rolling out of bed at 8:00 a.m. I showered and took a lovely stroll through the streets of Santiago from which I have drawn several conclusions.
1. Honking your horn in the Dominican is used just as much to accompany the music you are listening to as it is for actual traffic purposes. Probably more so. 
2. I should plan on being hot and sticky most of the time.
3. Expect "psssts" and cat-calls when walking. Even from the police (La Policia Nacional), which is super comforting.
4. Selling the most adorable little puppies out of cages on the street corner seems to be common-place.
I was pretty cautious and didn't go far since I don't have a map, or any Dominican money to run errands with. I did buy a mango at the corner store and the lady was happy to accept my American dollar and provide me with some Dominican change. My mango-picking skills need some improvement however, because it was too green to eat. Darn. I don't meet with my program director until 2:20 so I may need to venture out again in search of real food. 
Holy Shit a RAT just sprinted across the floor!

Picture
Ok, so i'm adding this picture post-rat traumatization. This is a picture of the rooster in the hostel courtyard (far right corner of the cage), taken from my room. I might add that I will be changing rooms tonight in order to sleep in a bunk bed that will hopefully be harder for a rat to climb...
7 Comments
Rob
8/22/2012 11:49:57 am

Sounds like chicken dinner to me!

Reply
Molly
8/22/2012 12:49:27 pm

I wish

Reply
Laura
8/22/2012 02:33:14 pm

In response to your conclusions so far:
#1 Sounds like my Spanish street in Linares. Another reason I was afraid to drive. I'm skittish with horns.
#2 Sounds like Sevilla in August/September, but I bet that it's pretty much all the time there. Wasn't that something you were looking forward to?? ;)
#3 Again, familiar, but the policia?? sheesh
#4 Are you going to have a pet before long? A puppy would be a great souvenir!

Keep up the posts!

Reply
Molly
8/23/2012 12:12:38 am

#1. I actually found out that honking horns is a way of picking up passengers and letting them know you have available seats. Although its definitely still used as a musical instrument as well.
#2. Ya i like hot, but the humidity is a little oppressing. My sheets stick to me at night, and I sweat all day long! Neal would hate it here, lol. Its not seriously uncomfortable though, I just have to drink plenty of water.
#3 Right! Seriously.
#4 O gosh that would be so awesome, my mom would kill me! good thing she's not here lol. But I should probably get a little more settled before I start thinking about that.

Reply
Leanna
8/22/2012 03:00:13 pm

oooh a rat yuck and a squawking rooster that early in the morning sounds unpleasant alreadY!\ hope gets better!! pick up MACE!!

Reply
Molly
8/23/2012 12:04:59 am

I don´t think they sell it here.....at least if they do, not sure where to get it.

Reply
Aislen
8/23/2012 04:00:19 am

that might be a good question to ask some of the college students that you teach, if they do have it I am sure some of the women on campus carry it =)




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    Hola! My name is Molly and I was recently hired through the travel abroad company CIEE as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher for the PUCMM, a university located in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Hopefully this blog will give future travelers an insight into teaching abroad, while also helping me log my adventures and stay in touch with friends back home. 

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