Tuesday, December 12 (martes, 12 de diciembre)

Feliz Cumpleanos de mi ... I don't think it is anything I want to celebrate, but today is my birthday ... 60 ... This is not going to be an easy one to get used to.

La familia de Angela ... I have a very special (sort of) adopted family here in Sosua. I have known the family for over a year and spend much time in their casa. I am always welcome there and have learned much about la cultura de la Republica Dominicana as well as the language while passing the time in their home. They have become very special friends of mine.

The family is made up of the mother, Angela (pictured above) and her four daughters, plus assorted other more distant family members who pass through. In the beginning of our friendship, Angela and the girls were living in a shell of an old unfinished building on Pedro Clisante. Now they live in a very small casa in the barrio, down the road from the colmado Zoilo.

This is a picture of the outside of the casa. I spend many evenings sitting on this porch. Of course, the family is very poor, but they are very happy and never ask me for anything. Nevertheless, I try to show up with fresh fruit or a chicken or something to help feed the crew. Angela is a limpia (maid) for a family in El Batey.

This a picture of the whole family. From youngest to oldest, bottom right, is Mercy, next to her Grismeres, standing left is Isadora, on the right, the oldest Charina and Angela in the middle. They are a beautiful family.

This is Mercy and Angela. They are cooking for me for my birthday and I am sure I will spend much of the evening sitting on the porch with them and my girlfriend. I am looking forward to this evening. It is the sort of an evening that appeals to me much more than going to some fancy restaurant.

Mercy doing her homework.

What big eyes you have Mercy. She is a 'ham' for the camera.

Grismeres inside the casa.

Grismeres with my Aguilas hat (gorra). This time of year I am very much into the Dominican Professional Winter Baseball League. Most of the people here in Sosua are big fans of Aguilas de Cibaenas, the Santiago team.

Isadora posing in front of the Christmas lights on the porch.

Charina is 16 and is stunningly beautiful. There is a never-ending trail of dominican guys stopping by the casa to chat with her. But, Angela keeps a close eye on her as she does all the girls. While many dominican girls have had children by the time they are 16, Charina is still refreshingly innocent. Trust me, you don't want to cross paths with mother Angela when she is mad.

One more of Charina.

This is Mercy with Yesi (y pronounced as a j). Yesi is a family friend and is now living in the casa with the family. The little casa is nowhere big enough for even the five of them, but they always seem to have other family members and friends staying there. Happiness in numbers.

In the casa with Grismeres and Yesi.

The girls posing. Thats Yolanda in the middle. She is Angela's cousin and is currently staying there.

Word for the day ... modales ... manners

To have good manners ... tener buenos modales.
To have bad manners ... tener malos modales.

Stay Tuned!