Day 36

I think I’ve run out of foreign words / phrases to use, and run the risk of having boring conversations with people here unless I learn some more. This came to me today as I approached a Dominican I recognized and realized all I was going to say was how hot it was (mucho caliente), which I said to him every day. My most used phrases:

-are you very busy today -which can be followed, if they say no, by “oh, very calm, eh?”
( muy occupado oy? Muy tranquilo, eh?)
-how are you? (and all the possible responses)
( como esta? Bien, et tu? Bien bien. Caliente. Muy occupado. )
-is this here? there?
( -whatever it is – aqui? Ayer? )

HERMIT CRABS

PAUL AND KATIE – Paul is a retired Boston policeman who moved down here 7 or 8 years ago. I say moved, because he is here 10 months of the year, but he says he lives in Scituate, outside of Boston, where they have a house on the ocean. Paul is from Southie, and his godfather is Billy Bulger. He likes to send postcards to friends in the Boston area signed “Whitey.”

Katie has made us a must-stop on her morning rounds through the town. She has lived and traveled all over the world, and is a fount of information on all happenings Las Galeras. We had a nice conversation this morning, where she perfectly phrased something I have been thinking about as I get more accustomed to the rhythm of life on the island – “there aren’t that many emergencies.” I think of it in terms of my newest pride in being here –I haven’t answered a phone in over a month, hadn’t felt that little shock of compulsion that I have when a phone rings. I realize how much I’m enjoying that feeling, even though Paul points out I still have to check my e-mail. I hope to take these lessons of relaxation back north with me.


“THERE AREN’T THAT MANY EMERGENCIES.”