The last 4 days of my life have been absolutely ridiculous.  I honestly think that I will come home a crazy person in 2 years, if life continues like this.  On Friday we get…”It’s not if cholera makes it to the DR, it’s when…kids and old people can die within 4-6 hours of their first symptoms…you will see people die…you need to know how to properly dispose of the bodies…”  After swallowing all of that, I came to my site on Saturday.  On the guagua – alone – with all of my stuff, I have a guy probably in his mid 40′s start up a conversation with me.  It begins with the usual, why are you here, what are you doing, how long will you be here, etc.  Then it turns to, “I want to kiss you.  Can I have your number? I’m going to visit you tomorrow.” BARF.  I told him that I have a boyfriend in the states.  He told me I needed one here.  I told him that I didn’t have a phone.  He told me I was lying.  I told him that PC said my phone was only for work.  That didn’t work.  I now have Jose Miguel’s number scribbled on a piece of paper stuffed somewhere in all of my luggage.  Perfect start to my new life in my site.

I don’t really know what to write about Sunday, but I pretty much spent most of the day trying not to burst into tears in front of my new family and project partner.  Peace Corps told us that this would be a rollercoaster of the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, and sure enough the next day was great.  Except of course for the call that we’re being consolidated in the capital to ride out this storm…I think it’s name is Thomas??  Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to AC, my first hot shower since I got to this country, good food, and buying my guitar 2 weeks earlier than I had planned…but this is terrible timing.  I just got here!  And even though I try to explain that I don’t want to leave, and that Peace Corps is forcing all of us go to the capital, my credibility and committment in the eyes of my community without a doubt just sunk lower than it probably already was.

So in the end, I’ve learned that I won’t die if I get cholera, because I will have Peace Corps doctors at my side immediately, but I will (apparently) see people die.  And I won’t get hurt in this storm, because I get to stay in a nice hotel in the capital on Peace Corps’ dime, but my family has to stay behind in the campo.  Life seems so fair right now.

Sorry for the whiney post.

P.S. Had another middle aged man ask me if I had a boyfriend on the guagua  on my way out of my site today.  Instead of getting annoyed, I’m looking on the bright side and relishing in the fact that my Spanish with respect to turning down guys (creepers) is superb at this point.