Homestays Part 1: Settling In

Posted by Maddy September 23, 2024

Homestays Part 1: Settling In

Hello everyone! For the past two weeks, I’ve been in homestays! Frankly, it’s been a wildly different experience from last year's homestays, both logistically and emotionally.

Last year, homestays meant that we were not in sites, and instead during the day, we were in language school. These homestays lasted two weeks each, and there were two homestays a semester, for a total of four homestays over two semesters. This year, things are a bit different-- we have a single homestay this semester and none in the spring semester (because of teams!). This homestay lasts a month and we are continuing to go to sites during the day. Also last year we were paired up with another person at random, and this year, we are paired up with those who have sites in a similar location. (Or in the case of two of the girls, they are doing this solo!)

Since Chloe and I both work in El Callejón, we’re staying together for this month! The first two weeks have definitely been a bit of a transition, but I think I’m about to hit smoother waters-- at least, that’s what I’m praying for. I had the strange realization during the first week of homestays that the amount of English that I was going to be speaking was about to decrease dramatically. Yes, I have Chloe, but a good amount of the conversations I’m participating in while in homestays are in Spanish, as our host parents don’t speak any English. I don’t speak any English at site, and meeting up with all the girls is something that happens, but only one or two times a week. It’s pretty exhausting, but I know that I’m growing a whole bunch in my language skills.

Yecenia and Gilberto (my homestay parents, who are basically like grandparents) are so kind, and welcomed us into their house with so much hospitality. There are so many small interactions, too many to speak about, but I’ll try and note a few here:

It’s adorable to see how in love these two are. Gilberto will yell “Amor!” when he’s calling for Yecenia. He frequently, and giddily, proclaims, “I’m in love with my wife!”
Gilberto and I have a running joke that he’s got the best hairstyle in the country and that he’s always ready for church and looking sharp. He’s also bald and therefore there is no conceivable way for him to have a hairstyle.
Yecenia makes breakfast for me and Chloe every morning and let me just say that the U.S.A. needs to take notes when it comes to having hot chocolate for breakfast.
Gilberto taught me how to prepare coffee in a greka (pictures below) and that was a fun learning experience!
Yecenia’s daughter, Orquidia and her family (Alex, husband, and Ayden, their three year old son) live in the apartment below us. Ayden comes to play quite often. When he enters the house he yells, “CHICAS! ¿Dónde está?” (Girls! Where are you?) He always wants to play and is deeply enthralled with dinosaurs (often the subject of our conversations and games).
It feels like there is a constant stream of neighbors, friends, and family in the house. There’s always someone new to visit with. This has resulted in a lot of new faces and names, and I don’t remember half of the ones that I’m supposed to.
This family is so, so sassy and I am loving it. This year, I finally have a solid enough grasp on Spanish where I’m able to understand (some) of the jokes that are going on around me and feel a little bit like I’m actively participating in the conversation instead of just passively listening to it.

Slightly switching topics, but it’s time to talk about church! Church here in the DR can look like so many different things, just like in the US. The church I’m going to would be considered conservative and Pentacostal in the States. (I know you might be wondering…is anyone speaking in tongues? Short answer, I have no idea if anyone is speaking in tongues because I have been having a very hard time understanding Spanish during the services.) They have services every night. (But we don’t go every night, because of homework or because we get back too late from Spanish class.) The community in the church is strong, and every time we go, we are greeted with a “Dios te bendiga” (God bless you), and a handshake or a hug. There’s one particular older woman, who’s name is Sita, who is so warm and friendly. She invited me over to her house, and I, along with an entire horde of neighborhood kids, went to visit with her one Sunday afternoon. I look forward to continuing to visit her house and getting to know her throughout the rest of this homestay.

Some of you may be asking, but Maddy, what about Spanish class? Do you have it this year? Are you so good at Spanish that you no longer need Spanish class? To that I say: I think it wonderful that you think so highly of me, but alas, I cannot currently imagine a point in time where I am so fluent in Spanish that I am able to forgo the dire necessity that is, in fact, Spanish class. Myself, along with the five other girls, are being taught twice a week throughout both semesters by two teachers, Jim and Miriam. Miriam is Dominican and Jim is from the States, but he’s lived in the DR so long that he’s fluent (and even has a Dominican accent).

Both of them are so encouraging and kind, and I walk out of each class feeling like I learned something. They are continually telling us to make notes of the things we are hearing and seeing during homestays and to ask questions about them, which has resulted in a very long list in my notes app of Dominican turns of phrase. One of my favorites currently is “Sí te barres los pies, te casarás con un viejo” which literally translates to, “if you sweep your feet, you will marry an old man.” I’ll get back to you guys on what the figurative meaning is after I ask in Spanish class this week, because I'm just as confused as you are, and I'm also laughing.

Switching gears once more: Sites have been going wonderfully! I’ve been able to connect with the kids so much! I’ve been given more responsibility with teaching, as Carolina has asked me to do some of the devos in the afternoon. I’ve started to learn not only the names but the personalities of the students. Every once in a while, Carolina will give me a small project to do in the mornings, but it’s a relatively quiet time as the students don’t always come in the morning. We’re hoping to start going to the public school sometime in the future to help out with their reading classes twice a week.

Thanks for taking the time to read this update! I appreciate all of you who are supporting me in prayer and financially. Quick reminder that I am still needing funds for second semester, and if you feel led to do so, you can find the donation link in the sidebar. I’ll talk to you guys at the end of homestays in two weeks!

Dios te bendiga!

Maddy <3