Friends' Visits

It is such a treat to receive friends from overseas who come all the way to Dajabón. Acha was the first (brave) one to make up her mind quickly to travel 2 days to get here. Her travel journey is more comprehensive than this blog :)
http://4travel.jp/traveler/acha/album/




Gina grew up in South Carolina and Miami, and now lives in Washington, DC. Practically all Dominicans thought that she was Dominicana. She said that many aspects of Dominican culture and everyday practices had lots to share with those of African-Americans, even the way muchachos walk!
http://nihongigi.blogspot.com


Photos: (right) Maririn and Acha in Clavellina. (left) Gina, in the right front, with community health promoters of Los Cerezos rural clinic.

Dominican Pace

Before coming here, I had heard about how the time flows slowly in the Caribbean. I think I was less culturally tolerant or flexible than I had thought. My patience has been challenged almost everyday, and even after being here for 8 months, I often find myself rushing for something, walking quickly, and tells myself that it's no use to rush in an environment where no one else but me rushes.

"Al paso... el cambio necesita como 10 años (Take it easy... it takes like 10 years to see the changes)" told me the village women representing the project. Okay, but the headquarters in DC needs to rececive evaluations including some kind of numerical values. But only half of the people are at present in the meeting that was cancelled the other day due to a heavy rain. Things don't move. The excuses for arriving late or missing the meeting can range from cow's sickness, missing chicken to son's baseball game.

There seems to be no "deadline tomorrow" in mind when Dominicans are dancing merengue or bachata. Maybe it's better because they are dancing not to forget about the deadline but simply to enjoy the present moment.

At any rate, I ask myself, as always, whose projects are they, and for whom are the projects?


ドミニカのペース

「そんなに急いでも無駄よ。こういうのは10年くらいしないと、その変化が見えないんだから。」と村のプロジェクト代表女性。ワシントンDCの本部は、数値化できる評価を待っている。なのにこの間雨で延期になったミーティングに集まったのは半分。物事が進まない。牛が病気だったとか、鶏がいなくなったとか、息子が野球の試合に出ていたとか、遅刻・欠席理由はいくらでもでてくる。

メレンゲやバチャタを踊っているドミニカ人の頭には、「明日が締め切り」なんて言葉はどこかにいってしまっている。まあ、締め切りを忘れるためではなく、ただ「今」を楽しむために踊っているだけ、まだいいのかもしれない。

考えをめぐらす。誰のためのプロジェクトなのか。