In my recent posting of a journal from 17 Nov 2001, there is some context that needs discussing. I am doing my best not to edit or censor my 15-year-ago self, but if someone actually reads any of this, s/he’s going to want to know a little bit about a few things. I wrote this…
17 November 2001 Bed Mierna’s House Consuelo 9PM Today I feel genuinely doubtful about my career as a Peace Corps Volunteer. These people in the bateyes are like slaves but only poorer. What can I do about such oppression, exactly? I don’t see how it is that I can integrate into such a poor community when…
8:43 16 Nov 2001 Consuelo, Distrito Escolar Yesterday, I arrived at the District Office at 8AM. E was not there. Crescencia put me to work sorting and counting textbooks. We did this for about two hours until E arrived and we got in the Jeep for a tour of the different facilities in the…
House, Consuelo 7:35 15 November At the office of the school district, I met C, an education volunteer. At first, because she’s dark-skinned, I wasn’t sure if she was a volunteer with the Japanese Volunteer Corps, so I talked with her in Spanish. It was a nasty shock when I realized her Spanish was…
14 Noviembre 2001 6:00 PM Somebody’s house, can’t remember name Consuelo, San Pedro de Marcorís I meant to get up early. By now I’ve realized that my alarm was set for five in the evening instead of five in the morning. I tossed and turned, not being able to decide whether to get up….
[no date] I will go back to study Zen. The image that has been repeating in my head is this grand beach that expands in every direction. The beach is empty and absolutely gorgeous. Everything on the beach represents something in my mind– every grain of sand. I want to run through the beach forever,…
Morning 9 November 2001 Francisco’s Didn’t want to get up this morning. Today I’m going to have to deal with people, and people annoy me right now. Maybe I’ll feel better after breakfast. After all, the other group, the rest of the group is coming, and some of them aren’t so bad.
There are a number of ways that I hurt inside, ways that I’m not entirely whole. Does everyone feel lacking?
Francisca’s Aguacete de Jacagua Santiago, RD 8 Noviembre 2001 Lord, forgive me my sins. I am a sinner, an evil, evil person despite all my intentions of good. I have tried to serve everyone, I have tried to live up to my beliefs, and I have failed.
