I bet you didn´t know that the past week was the telling week for this upcomming year of rain. And woulnd´t you know it but we didn´t get one drop; here comes the biggest drought the greater-metro area of Pedro Sanchez has ever seen! This is all according to my one hundred and five year old Dominican Grandma. Not only is she a Meteorologist (which I am highly jelous of) but she also doubles as a medicine woman and get this...she smokes a pipe. I'm not exaggerating when I say people come from all over the providence with their sick and lame. But to say the least, I am skeptical of her 105 years. This woman has way to much together; in 105 years she hasn't lost a single marble. She even has the libido to fight on a daily basis with my 4 yr. old brother. I mean fighting both physically and verbally. Obviously, in her susposidly 105 year lifetime, she is still learning how to deal with children. And on a very truthful and sad note, I would say the better majority of Dominican parents are clueless when it comes to raising children. I already know this will be one of my focuses here. Physical punishment is almost a daily occurance in my house and that says nothing abuot the psychological damage little Carlitos is subject to.

On another note, also from the homefront, I was caught off guard and shocked the other day. Not by the donkies again, but by my ohhh so old Grandma....wait I mean...she said something that caught me off guard and shocked me. One of the little girls who lives down the street was over once again for dinner. She coincidenitly (or not so coincidentily... which is another subject) will show up around meal time a few times a week. This day she was over for dinner and after downing her soup she went out to play with my little brother, another little boy, and Nereida (the 11yr old girl who does all the chores at our house). As they were playing in the front yard I hear my Grandma yell in the voice of a 105 yr old grandma who smokes a pipe "Naiomi! Go home! Little girls shouldn't be playing and jumping around like this, they should be cleaning in the house. Go home and clean something. Now I've told you!" She also added soemthing about brooms and mops which I wasn't able to catch. I was in my room doing something or another and just stopped in my tracks when I heard this. I would say it even stung! This is deffiently not the first time I've seen Machismo here but this for some reason this was the one that made me stop and think, for a long time. My pesos are running out so I can't get into my thoughts right now but I'll let you dwell on this one for a while yourself.

Before I go I would like to share a success I had last week. I gave a presentation on communication to a group of about 60-70 parents. It was only a small little diddy but it felt great. This group of parents meets every two weeks and I am looking forward to getting into some good stuff with them in the future. I got a lot on my mind I share with them.
Until next time we meet...

love from me