The most important news of the month is that I'm going to be a "madrina" (godmother)!!! Marina said because I was present when Baby Anali was born, we have a special relationship. I agree. I have 2 other goddaughters in the states and I was there when they came into the world as well. One of the greatest things about being a Dominican godmother is not only did I gain a goddaughter I also gained a "comadre" (Marina) and a "compadre" ( Edi). I don't think there is a word in English to translate the word comadre. The best I can do to explain it is, I have a special place or relationship with Edi and Marina, and now instead of calling me Courtney they refer to me as comadre. Its like I was promoted!

I learned a lot of interesting cultural practices with Anali I never knew. When a baby in the campos has the hiccups, they put a little piece of string in between her eyes on her forehead, I kept seeing this piece of what looked to be lint or a piece of string from her clothes on her face all the time and I kept picking it off. Finally after the 4th time, I said to Marina "Is someone putting this piece of string on this baby on purpose"? "Yes" Marina said, "to take away her hiccups". I felt so bad I keep taking it off. " Another thing, women with their periods (menstruating) cant hold a new born baby. I tried to hand the baby over to the younger sister of Marina one day and she said "I cant hold her, I have my period." like I should know. Why? I investigated with Crisitna, its because it causes the baby to have green poop. Third, they tie a black ribbon around the wrist or sometimes pin a small black horn to the clothes of the baby to ward off the "EVIL EYE" Dominicans feel if someone says "Oh what a cute baby" and they don't back it up with "Dios le bendiga" ( God bless her) the baby is now JINXED! The ribbon will protect her from the evil eyes of the people. I remember one day, I don't know it might have been gas or diaper rash, (its only so many things it can be with a baby) Anali was very bothered and wouldn't stop crying. Marina was convinced she was jinxed by someone and on went the black ribbon.

I continue spending my days working on the "acta de nacimiento" (birth certificate)  project. I have now a group of 80 children I'm getting ready to help declare. Can you imagine being born and your not counted, like you don't exist, not having any rights. I cant believe how fast the number is growing and word is spreading, They come at all hours of the day and from all over 15 different communities looking for me so that I can take a picture of the child, and then sit with the parents for 5 minutes, hear the story why the child was never declared and help them organize the necessary documents. I am also continuing to write and send out proposals to help the people of my community find funding for their hydroelectric project. I just finished writing a proposal for the Peace Corps Partnership Program which is a GREAT way for my friends and family to support my community. Ill let everyone know when that is posted on the Peace Corps website.

Now that the "mujer en el espejo" has ended, my nights 7-8 are filled with teaching Cristina (Sarahs mom) to read.  She wants to be able to read a bible. When I first mentioned it...she was discouraged "I'm too old to learn!" "I don't want to waste your time" But I told her, if you give me one year, I think I can help you to read a little bit. She said if you can help me read even a little bit Ill be so grateful. Its been 1 month and she almost knows the sound of every letter, she is a fast learner and I think that she will succeed because I have never met anyone more determined. I even catch her studying on her own during the day. I love it when we are working and all the little kids want to be around us I guess to them what we do looks like fun. "Pero dejame tranquillo, estoy estudiando!" ( leave me, she says, I'm studying!)

Last week my friend Nanas husband Jose took me up to the other communities about an hour rides on a motor in La Cienega to do some work for the acta de nacimiento project. Nana sends me with a glass bottle (an empty Brugal Rum bottle) filled with milk from her cow to deliver special to her dad that lives in one of the communities. I successfully handover the milk to her dad who received it with great joy. Meanwhile little kids from community start coming to the house to see who is the "rubia" (white women) that speaks Spanish funny with the funny purple helmet. For this reason I am always surrounded by children, I guess I'm very interesting for them.

So this one little "muchacho" about 9 years old "muy gordito" (chubby!) while exiting the house, crashes into Nana's dad, BOOM goes the milk to the ground SMASH goes the bottle, milk everywhere! Well you would have thought this boy killed the old mans best friend. The old man whips off his belt and starts going after the boy "CONYO!!!!" (dam it) he's yelling... the muchacho hides in the house with me. Maybe he's safe with the "Americana". The other men are trying to hold the old man down and calm him but the old man doesn't want to calm down after the boy destroyed his special delivery. I see the old man (through the walls of the house) coming around the back, belt in hand. "Corre!!!" "RUN!" I yell, the muchacho takes off running out the front door, he runs right through the milk, BOOM hits the ground like a sac of potato's. Of course the old man catches him and is giving it to him with the belt, there was nothing I could do. The boy was screaming, the men are trying to hold the old man back...The muchacho is trying to get up but he keeps slipping in the milk. Finally he's up and he takes off running to his house with he old man yelling and waving his belt "CONYO!" What a scene.

On my way out I found the muchacho sitting under a tree with his knees in his chest, "Where's my sandals" he says, "they fell off and I thought you would bring them" Nana husband says better send one of your little friends because the old man is still fired up. Why did I tell you this story? Sometimes I cant explain it...(because I'm like a magnet for children and I'm around them constantly) sometimes I feel I relive or revisit the feelings of childhood. Its like watching a old home movie of myself. My other point is I hope I never get that upset over spilt milk.

Last week we celebrated "Patronal" which is a celebration of "San Pedro" (Saint Peter) who is our patron saint of Manabao. It rained everyday but there was a mass and activities through the church for 9 days. They also elected young women in the communities to be the queen, and princess. The girls were present at every event with their prom dresses and crowns on. I don't know what the purpose of the royalty is. My friend Alicia explained its probably just to get youth more involved in the church. It really has no significance. Anyway it was fun and I really enjoyed going to the services and the activities. Prayer services at night in peoples houses, saying the rosary and then drinking the ginger tea (I will send the recipe in a separate entry its the best!) with bread. The best part was walking home in the dark with Cristina and the other women at night our only light, was the moon, a million starts in the sky (so close I thought I could touch them) and hundreds of "coocooyo" (fire flies) their green lights flying all around us. Times like that I'm so content and I think how blessed I am to be here.

Happy Fourth of July everyone!!! Love Courtney