door-lock

In American terms this van could hold about 10 people. In Dominican terms they fit as many as are physically possible, which could mean 25. I was the last one in. We sat 4 deep in a row that should fit 2. My right foot was on the runner board and only half my butt fit on the seat. the sliding door didn't have a latch or a lock. So that piece of twine was for that purpose. I cinched it down and did my best not to put weight on the door, if I had shifted right in a turn. . . that twine door-lock was my safety net.

photo bloging

From bottom to top: habichelas negras - black beans, bosque silvestre para protejer un arroyo - "wild forest" to protect a stream, guineo con cafe de 2 años - bananas with 2 yr. old coffee trees, regido para lechuga - veggie plot for lettuce, lomas peladas - deforested mountains, cielo - sky.

Diones

Antonio's First Grandson. He is a cool little man.

more bull tails

That's Max, we met when Tonka Trucks were too big for our little hands so we played with off brand Hot Wheels. He is responsible for my website looking so beautiful in every version.

Thanks brother!

Much love,

b.

Lessons from Peace Corps. . . mellow out

Tis almost that time of year. Harvest time. The DR is a small country on a small island shared with Haiti, the DR calls the island Hispaniola and Haiti calls it Quisqueya. In the South of the DR, we harvest coffee from late September to mid December. On the other side of the same mountain range, the North, they harvest from February to May.

It is early August, and the stress sits just on top of my shoulders. In early September, when I make my pre-harvest prep trip, I'm sure the stress will sit closer to my neck. I've made enough trips to know how I react by now. There is always so much to do on these short trips, many phone calls and follow ups precede my departure. If I were to list my to do's, it would look pretty lame: walk the entire farm, spend a few days playin' in the dirt, balance the farm money books, possibly build some more raised beds, check in with all my friends, visit the Nuclio de Cafecultores de Monte Bonito, meet with my lawyers in the capital and stuff. Lots of little things, but not 9 days worth . . . .

If I had a helicopter and good weather, that could all happen in 4 days. But I travel like any non-vehicle owning Dominican: bus - guagua, mule - mulo, truck - camion, on foot - a pie, and my favorite public taxi - carro publico. I learned after my first year of Peace Corps service to: have faith that I will arrive at my destination before night fall (and if you don't, ehh [shoulder shrug] you will find a bed or not), leave a little wiggle room in all my plans, focus on the fundamental point of it all not the task at hand and mellow out.

Almost always at some point, I wonder if I should take my return flight home. . . then I realize that I have bills to pay and the point of it all is bigger than me playing in the dirt.

[in the picture I have a bull's tail as a goatee]