Weekend: Parte Dos (Part two, duh)
Now that I had successfully avoided the stalker by walking quickly out of Pollos Rey (see previous story for lots and lots of detail), I returned home and finished translating/writing out my interview from the day before. At five thirty, Elizabeth (intern whose family hosted us last week at Casa de Campo) and Jordan returned from work. The interns were coming up to Santo Domingo this weekend, for lack of any better plans, and crashing at our apartment for the weekend. Elizabeth and I met up with Natalie (another intern working in Samana) at the Conde and we headed for my first joyous reunion with Barra Payan. Payan, in case I haven’t already raved about it to you, is a fantastic Dominican restaurant that has a wide variety of delicious sandwiches and juices and batidas (fruit shakes, more or less). Honestly, I think it’s my favorite place in this country. When I’m sitting at that counter, I have no desire to be anywhere else in the world.
Coming back from Payan, we met up with the other interns (who found their way to my apartment without me having to give directions… that was a nice surprise). From that point to the end of the night, there were a bunch of people coming in and out of the apartment. Jordan was throwing a going away party for himself (since he leaves next Friday) so he invited everyone he knew on top of the interns that were there. It was a fun crowd; loud enough that the neighbors probably weren’t too happy with us (but I could really care less about those above us since they flooded my room that very day). I finally went to bed quite late and woke up around 9 am on Saturday. The other interns had found creative ways to make themselves comfortable despite our lack of beds. When people finally got moving we all wanted food so guess where we went? Payan! Delicious. I bought two sandwiches and took one home with me. This also marks the first meat that I’ve had in months, which my stomach wasn’t too happy about. But by eliminating meat from Payan that only leaves you with one choice which I had just had for dinner the night before. Oh well, my body will enjoy the protein. Make some muscles out of it.
We got back and the majority of the group decided to go to a cock fight. While it would have made a very exciting blog entry (that’s how I’m starting to think of things sometimes now), I didn’t want to pay the 700 pesos or be stuck in a place surrounded by sweaty Domincan men watching chickens battle to the death. While it would have been interesting for about 20 minutes, I think I would have just been bored and no one likes that person who always wants the group to leave early. Morgan and Grant also didn’t want to go, so we went and spent RD$100 (about 3 bucks) to see The Last Airbender (in English). It was good and air conditioned, but it ended a lot sooner than I thought it should have. Afterwards, we found our way to a 24 clinic (after asking directions from the gas station attendant) since Grant hadn’t been feeling well for the last 3 days. Let’s just say I do not want to get sick here (knock on wood). The worst part was that there was no soap in both the men and women’s restroom. Uhhhh… seriously?! And the nurse left the needle/syringe she used to inject medicine taped attached to his arm for 30 minutes. When we asked why, her answer was “just in case.” Just in case of what? She didn’t have an answer for that one. Eventually the analysis of his stool sample came back and we learned that he had an ameoba so he would be fine with some pills.
Finally, we got back to the apartment at 10:30 or so and a few of us decided to go into the Zona with Jordan and some of his Dominican friends. We went to a place called La Parada which had good dancing and the coldest Presidentes that I’ve ever had in this country (that’s a feat!). Upon walking in, I saw Robin (the American woman who works at CIEE who I would love to be someday). Actually, I saw her boyfriend first and said to myself “Hmmm he looks familiar,” until I realized that I recognized him from her Facebook profile and that that blonde with her back to me was most likely her. It was fun to run into her outside of the office. So the rest of the night we danced merengue and attempted salsa and the Dominican friends we were with did a good job of keeping the old drunk men away from us gringas.
Today (briefly, since it’s way past my bedtime) we went to get ice cream for the 3rd time this weekend (4th for Elizabeth). On our way back her and I stopped in the salon in the bottom of my apartment building and got US$6 pedicures (including the tip). Awesome and now my toes look pretty. After that, the interns peaced out and I went over to see Stephanie and Beliks (Finally!!!). It was so so so good to see them again and we picked up right away where we had left off over seven(!) months ago. I got caught up with all the gossip and her and I went to McDonalds (meat two days in a row, that’s a new record). It’s been strange that I’ve been craving meat and soda recently, two things that I got over a while ago. I think the ways of this country find interesting ways to infiltrate you. Stephanie and I hung out until 10:30 when I figured I should probably walk back before all the tigueres come out. And now it’s 12:30 am since I just wrote these two blog entries. And I’m waking up at 6 am for a day trip to Jarabacoa with Jordan and his family tomorrow. Should be fun!
