Category Archives: Uncategorized

Saying Hello Means Saying Goodbye

The days leading up to my departure have been bittersweet. While they have been filled with exciting milestones, they have also carried moments of sorrow. One of the main reasons I chose to embark on this journey was the opportunity for growth—growth in my career, my understanding of myself, and my perspective on the world. However, welcoming new experiences, perspectives, and people also means saying goodbye to the ones that have brought me so much comfort over the past few years.

Growth rarely happens when we stay within our comfort zones; it comes when we embrace the discomfort of the unknown. So that is what I am choosing to do. I am embracing the sorrowful moments of saying goodbye to my friends, my family, and even the version of myself I have known for so long—because I know that through this, I can grow into who I am meant to become.

One of my favorite parts of my preparation period has been the time spent back home with my family. From small design projects with my mom to discussing qualitative research methodologies with my dad, this project feels like a member of our family—one we all want to help grow and see flourish. Sharing this journey with my family has been incredibly meaningful. My parents made getting my education possible, and being able to showcase the skills I’ve developed because of their support has been one of the greatest feelings.

The next chapter of my story is beginning, bringing with it reflections on the chapters I have already closed and the people who have helped me write them along the way. As I embark on this new adventure, I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me get to where I am today. You are just as much a part of the telling of this story as I am because you have given me the strength and opportunity to use my voice to amplify others. From the bottom of my heart, thank you—I couldn’t be here without you.

Let this next chapter begin!

Spring is Coming!

Last week, I was unfortunately very sick. I don’t want to point fingers, but I know exactly who gave it to me and they are now my sworn enemy. I had to take two days off work, which was unfortunate because I hate missing workshops. They’re my favorite part of the job! This week, we had an incredible workshop with supported learning students. Their enthusiasm, support for one another, and wellspring of creativity made the workshop just perfect. One of their teachers shared that many of them were stepping out of their comfort zones, and that she was surprised and delighted to see them speaking up to share ideas, smiling and chatting with others, and reading their individual writing to the whole class. It never gets old hearing this, because it shows that the workshops can be an eye-opening experience for both the students and the teachers. Both become aware of just how much the students are capable of when they are celebrated and supported as writers. Other than the workshops, I’ve been working on a supplement for the Irish Times, which will include some stories from our workshops with NI schools and a piece written by yours truly. I’m very excited to share some thoughts on my experiences with Fighting Words and so grateful that they’re offering me this super cool opportunity to get my work published! I’ll be sure to share the link when it comes out. 

Outside of work, life has been full! Last weekend, I traveled to London. The day before I was supposed to leave, there was a terrible storm in Belfast with 100 mph winds, but thankfully my flight still took off right on time. The last time I was in London was in 2022 when I studied abroad with Belmont, so I felt sentimental revisiting some places and reminiscing on that formative time of my life. My fantastic experience abroad was what made me so passionate about living abroad post-grad! I made the genius decision to stay in a 33 bed hostel room, so that was certainly an adventure. What I did not account for in my grand plan to save money on lodging was the reality of having 32 people snoring, sleep talking, whispering, watching videos out loud, and emitting various odors throughout the night. Needless to say, I did not sleep well. 

My sleep-deprivation didn’t dampen my spirits, and I had a lovely mix of alone time and friend time. On Saturday, I met up with Elisabeth and we did what we do best: meander, chat, and enjoy delicious foods and sights. On our walk back from a coffee shop and the National Gallery, I was telling Elisabeth about my desperate craving for an authentic Italian sandwich and in a lightning strike of serendipity, an Italian deli appeared! We couldn’t believe our eyes, and believed that it must be a sign. We ordered sandwiches and practically skipped to the register to pick them up, but then disaster struck. The sandwiches, while delicious, made us feel terribly nauseous. Maybe it was to teach us to be careful about what we interpret as signs or maybe it was just a bad bit of salami, but it did make us giggle that these serendipitous sandwiches were ultimately the cause of our destruction. 

Back in Belfast, I’ve been enjoying moody mist punctuated by rare glimpses of the bluest skies I’ve ever seen. Spring is coming, and with it, more sunlight! I have now been here long enough to have friendships that feel familiar and comfortable– I’m out of the phase where I feel like I’m interviewing for friendships. It’s nice to have a solid base. Coffee dates, home cooked meals, ice cream and movie nights, coastal walks, and visits to new places are all made happier by the company of good people. I’m now about 4 months in, leaving 5 months until I go back to America. At my friend’s sardine-themed birthday party last weekend (awesome, right?), I had so much fun mingling and chatting with new people. It reminded me of how much possibility there is in my remaining time. I want to continue to meet people, try things, and explore with the same vigor that I did when I first moved here! Who knows what or who I will encounter next? 🙂 

The Power of Friendship

Hi again! It’s been an emotionally turbulent few weeks, but instead of reporting on my inner turmoil, I want to share the good that has come out of the end of January (which, can I say, has been the longest month of my life. Kaveh Akbar has a poem called “Wild Pear Tree” that begins: it’s been January for months in both directions, and I resonate with this sentiment strongly). 

First—London! It just so happened that two of my dearest friends—Grace Wiles and Eleri Hadaway—were both in London on the same weekend, so I spent Thursday and Friday with Grace and Saturday with Eleri. I missed Grace bad, so when I walked into the Waterloo Station Nando’s at 8pm on Thursday night and spotted her with her white knitted sweater and carabiner of camp bracelets, I lit up with delight. Even though I had weeks of lore and heartbreak to update her on, I didn’t want to talk about any of that. What a joyful moment this was: to be in a city I loved with one of my best friends (from my home of Indiana, I might add!) thousands of miles away from the city we met in, sharing halloumi fries and laughs. No, I wanted to stick around in this joy. 

Grace in London!

The next morning we woke early to tackle the day doing what we loved most: walking, visiting bookstores, and drinking coffee. With Pret Americanos in hand, we stopped at a lovely bookstore near Russell Square where I bought a poetry collection by Kaveh Akbar and we spoke to the cashier: a kind American woman who moved to London to live with her partner (which, I fear, is my calling). We visited two more bookstores, had another coffee, and shared great conversation about the last six months of our lives and where the future was calling us. In the evening we saw a theatre production called Starlight Express, and I’ll preface this by saying neither of us knew anything about this show except that it involved trains and the actors wore roller skates. Even as the theatre skeptic I am, I had a blast with this, specifically because of a particular song called Hydrogen that, for some reason or another, sparked an obsession in me.

As we took the tube back to Waterloo from Wembley, Grace said something along the lines of, “I love hanging out with friends, because you’re always like–What will we laugh about next?” And I’m grateful that there are a few things in life I can always count on, and laughter with friends like Grace is one of them. 

Eleri and I in the National Gallery (we had to wear our backpacks like this)

With the power of friendship on my side, I returned to Bournemouth feeling refreshed and capable. I’ve had lots of business meetings to attend alone, which have boosted my confidence and proved that I’m capable of being in charge and professional. I spoke with two local charities to discuss merging our services through workshops and online curriculum, and our team met with a grant-giving charity to discuss funding opportunities. My next big task as Charity Manager is to apply for as many pots of funding as I can to ensure that The Story Works can hire a full-time manager like myself to fulfill my position come September. 

In the past two weeks we’ve participated in a Holocaust Remembrance workshop, delivered two successful story writing workshops, and I delivered my second Songwriting workshop. Tomorrow is our first-ever Comic Book workshop, so lots of new things are happening. I’ve felt very fulfilled from my work lately, and it’s rewarding to see how much the charity has grown since I got here in September.

Doing what I love!

 

Until next time,

Elisabeth x

Off to Japan!

I am so excited to be in Japan! I have been making the preparations since my internship ended right before Christmas. There was a lot to do and it kept me busy until now, and I am so relieved that it is done! There were so many moving parts. Nothing difficult per se, just detail-oriented. I needed to make sure I got each detail correct. I also took my music therapist board certification exam. I passed! Now I am an official music therapist! Packing gave me some perspective I was not expecting. I realized how much I need to get by and what I use daily. It helped me see how many luxuries I have in my life. In a way it has made me very grateful for the few items I am bringing that have deep importance to me. I still have a lot of stuff though because I had to bring all my music therapy resources. I did my best to also make sure I dedicated plenty of time to my family and friends before I left. Saying goodbye is hard, but everybody around me has been so supportive and I will see them all again! I made sure to get my fill of dirty bird fries from Hattie B’s since I won’t be able to eat them for a while. The First Art Museum in Nashville had an exhibit all about Japan in January and I went with my friends to get a taste of what is to come. I made sure to savor the comforts of familiarity before it got lost in a new environment. I love change and thrive when I get to experience everything fresh and new, but I wanted to make sure I did not forget to appreciate the luxuries of being home before letting my excitement run wild. 

I am looking forward to a gentle start to my project. Since I will be in Japan for 6 months, my program director decided to let me have the first week to acclimate to Japan, get to know my host family, and set up meetings with the school teachers I will be working with to find a plan for my schedule and the use of music therapy. I appreciate Naoko allowing me that time to adjust. Everybody I have talked to while preparing for this trip has been so kind! I am excited to meet them and work with them in person. As nervous as I am about my Japanese skills, I am very excited to be immersed in the language and learn it better! I am excited to meet my host family and get to know them better. They have a boston terrier! I love dogs so that makes me excited. I do have one friend who is working in Japan as a missionary. I am excited to see her and have somebody who can support me spiritually and as a friend. I can’t wait to walk around Toyohashi and go to seven eleven! I hear the seven elevens in Japan are way better than the US! I am excited to try the ramen and Wagyu beef and enjoy all the food and drinks I will have in Japan!

Here’s to a safe flight and happy travels! “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord…” Joshua 29:11

Home for the Holidays

I overslept my alarm.

My roommate woke me, explaining that the Uber driver I scheduled the night before and New Hope Girls’s driver, JM, were both waiting for me.

The night before, I planned for an early rise: collecting my laundry off the line (it rained the day before, so I had to leave my clothes out drying all night), making my bed, cleaning my bathroom, washing and blow drying my hair, emptying the trash. None of those things happened…

JM took him to the airport, though I was surprised to see him that morning. I suppose someone informed him of my flight home, and told me so, yet I failed to understand that through conversation alone. Either way, I got to the airport.

One Miami layover and six hours later, I was home in Nashville!

My dear friends Emma and Kaylee picked me up, hugging me before I could glide my suitcases toward the trunk. My voice jumped three octaves when I saw them—just so excited to be reminded of their real existence outside the parameters of my smartphone screen.

Mom made white chicken chilli (my favorite) and we watched Charlie Brown and Frosty the Snowman, but the Charlie Brown YouTube movie playlist shuffled, making for an advanced watching experience.

Illinois Christmas

Breaking tradition, Mimi’s Christmas Eve celebration occurred on the 22nd, which happens to be my sister Caroline’s birthday—double celebration.

The usual lineup includes: three of my sisters, Mom, my brother, his in-laws, his wife, and their five kids. Mimi decorates fantastically, emphasizing the dining room table. The appetizer section is quite the display as well. Its the crown jewel of the kitchen area, aside from the tree. My family loves the cheese ball the most.

We played fishbowl and catchphrase and the once-little-kids have grown enough to fully participate. Growing up.



Country Christmas

Caroline and I drove thirty minutes to our hometown, Carmi, IL. We made the usual stops at McDonalds and Walmart before driving down—I kid you not—Possum Road toward our Dad’s house.

I was in charge of mac and cheese this year, so we were the first ones there. It was a hit, and with over thirty people eating it—eight of them little kids—I was good with that.

Country Christmas at my Dad’s is always the largest and loudest with all six of my siblings, all ten of my nieces and nephews, and not to mention aunts, uncles, and cousins. Secret Santa occurs annually, and this year I bought my older sister a necklace with her three kids birthstones set in a silver charm.



Christmas Eve and Day

The day before Christmas, Mom and I wrapped presents together and helped prep food for our Christmas Eve dinner. My three sisters, Mimi, and my new brother-in-law met at the candlelight church service before returning to Mom’s house for dinner. It was simply a very nice time—I really missed my family. We ended the night with It’s a Wonderful Life, one of my favorites. Here’s a good quote:

“Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”

The next morning, I gave away New Hope Girls and Helina’s Heart merchandise to my family, and in return I received a polaroid camera, an engraving pen, the game We Are Not Really Strangers, and a pickleball padel (because part of Alexa’s wishlist was that I received one too so we could play together).

Mom and I prepared breakfast (I prep the oranges and pomegranates every year). After we ate, we played the WANRS and it’s a tense premise, but we all agreed it was good to play.

We watched four movies, one of them The Holiday. A few days later, Mimi, Mom, and I had a oldies movie marathon: Meet Me in St. Louis, The Shop Around the Corner, Holiday, and Holiday Inn. Random shift, but we watched Good Will Hunting.



NYC for NYE

One of my dear friends and former roommates moved to NYC this year, so we organized a girls trip for the holiday, which happens to be Kaylee’s birthday.

We ate pizza, navigated the subway, cooked a Trader Joe’s dinner, went to The Strand and Barnes and Noble, toured Greenwich and West Village (GC works at NYU, but not for NYU), walked around Central Park by night, and tried a few coffee shops by day. My dear friend Emma joined us for a NYE celebration at a restaurant on the west side. We walked home in the rain, laughing.

After graduation, we began what I call, “sisterhood of the traveling journal.” Which is to say, we have a journal we keep for a month, then ship off to the next girl. There are four of us.

Over the few nights we were all there, we read our entries and discussed how our lives had changed since we last saw one another. As I read my entires from July ‘24, I felt older than the girl who wrote them. Probably because I was, but I’m really saying that this Lumos experience has helped me grow up, and in my hands layed documented evidence of that. Retrospect made that possible. A luxury.

After a wonderful trip home, it was time to return to the DR and complete my last three months! When I arrived, my room was exactly as I left it...unfortunately, a mess.

The Story I Wish To Tell

The story I am about to tell is a complex one. It’s not a story confined to history books but one that lives and breathes among us. It is a story that continues to unfold in classrooms, around family dinner tables, and in the aisles of grocery stores. It is the story of a people with a pain-filled past—a past that remains palpable today, affecting individuals on both sides of the border. This pain lingers in news stories, casual conversations, comment sections, even within family relationships. While this pain persists, it is not the whole story. Can we acknowledge the people of the present without mentioning the people of the past? Why does it sometimes feel that giving one person the opportunity to share their story means taking away that same opportunity from someone else? Is it true? Does amplifying one voice silence another?

Telling a story like this carries risks. The one I fear most is simplification. In middle school math, we were taught that the first step in solving a problem is to simplify it. This approach works in equations and even in challenges we face in day-to-day life. But when applied to a story like this, simplification feels more like erasing someone’s perspective, allowing someone’s story to go unheard. I believe this hesitation is not a weakness but instead a strength. The story I aim to tell is about real people, and therefore must be handled with care and intentionality. I hope to carry this hesitation with me as a reminder of the weight of these narratives and the responsibility they demand.

The pain of the past was neither the beginning nor the end of this story. This theme is not unique to this narrative—it is a part of all of our stories. Pain transcends borders, race, and religion, reminding us that we all participate in the act of moving forward, every single day. Whether we like it or not, we are all active participants in the creation of tomorrow.   

As a young adult, I am on a journey of self-discovery, just like so many others my age. I am at a point where I get to decide the kind of future I want for myself and what I want my story to say. So much of who we are is shaped by the world around us. What strikes me as unique about the story I’m about to share is that people my age in Kosovo are on a similar journey—finding their identity in a region marked by uncertainty and conflicting perspectives. How do you develop a sense of self with people still questioning whether your existence should be recognized? 

My generation in Kosovo is not only shaping their own identities but also helping to build a nation. This is the story I wish to tell: a story of people who continue writing their stories despite carrying the weight of the past. It is a lesson I hope to learn along the way, and one I believe we can all learn from. As humans, we share countless commonalities, yet it is often easier to focus on what divides us. As I embark on this journey, I will keep asking: how can we create a future that celebrates these shared experiences without ignoring the pain caused by our differences in the past?

Navidad en el Verano

When I entered the gates, I felt like I stepped into a game show. TVs, microwaves, coffee makers, and other appliances lined the porch of the small breakroom house adjacent to the three-story workshop. Green and red balloons flooded the lawn, and Christmas music blared. I was so ready for the workshop Christmas party!

Wanda (the workshop manager) led the charge as MC, and she raised the energy exponentially. All 60 of the workshop women were there, ready to celebrate Christmas but also another year of hard work. This was their opportunity to be fully celebrated, and New Hope Girls pulled out all the stops.

We began the party with a message about Christmas, complete with a storybook reading from Joy and Ada. I was tasked with taking videos and iPhone pictures for the event, so I scanned for the best angles. I saw the contented faces of the women. Their unfiltered anticipation for the event brought me a lot of joy to witness.

After playing some fun games, the raffle began, and those women perked up! Fina (the residential caregiver in the home I live in) was gunning for the microwave. She got it! Two TVs were given out, and Vidal (Joy’s husband) announced one of the winners. Everyone rallied around this woman, cheering her on all the way to the porch steps. She fought back the tears at the extravagance of the gift—that’s when I realized this one wasn’t pure luck of the draw. I asked about this after, and Joy explained how everyone knew what she wanted for Christmas—and Vidal was determined to make it happen, even if it came out of his own pocket. He made it happen under the radar, but when they hugged on stage, I think she knew who to thank. Nothing looked more like Christmas to me than that moment.

“That night, she invited her whole neighborhood over to enjoy the TV. The kids were lining up in the small doorway!”

Graciously give and humbly receive.

the workshop Christmas party

The next day, I helped sell bags at an “Americans in the DR” Christmas party at the home of one of Joy’s friends. There are not many ex-pats in this part of the country, so it was great to be invited into another American/Dominican household. The hosts were on the board of a local American school. So, some of the teachers came over…since the other New Hope interns left in August, this was the first time I could talk to someone in my position (and in English, lol).

Over the months, I imagined my experience as very singular. As in, I am one-of-one, alone but standing tall. It’s an empowering stance. It can also be an isolating one, especially because it’s not entirely true. Meeting these teachers helped me see myself with a clearer lens. All this to say, that evening’s small talk made me feel less alone while also shrinking some leftover pride before it could callous into hardness of heart.

It was an important evening as well because it showed me an alternative life. Living in America for the rest of my life simply because I am American is not the only possibility for a happy life worth living. There were young, single women there like myself; there were families with younger children and older single mothers as well. I’m at the age where my definitive lifestyle is not yet permanent. I have options. Global ones, even.

I consider myself quite lucky for many reasons, but one of the more unique reasons is that I have been exposed to culturally different lifestyles in their native space—A luxury that not many women my age experience or consider necessary to explore. However, now that I have experienced it firsthand, I advise any and all to introduce themselves to a period of cultural immersion outside their home.

I am not the only one.

The finale to my summertime Christmas is, of course, Christmas at la casa universidad. On December 18th, 2024, my three roommates, Fina, and I costume changed into matching floral pajamas, listened to English and Spanish Christmas music, and absolutely feasted. Fina prepared mangú con jamon, queso, y cabellos. Un pollo grande. Pan. Dulce de leche y más.

We danced the merangue y salsa. We sang and opened presents. We expressed what we were thankful for. I said “¡La experiencia de estar con ustedes. Todos ustedes son mis amigos hasta el final!”

The experience of being with you. You all are my friends to the end!

¡Feliz Navidad!

us at the Christmas festival with Dominican santa

Winter Blues and New Workshops

I’m back at work and things with The Story Works are looking to be busier than ever! Workshops start back up this week, I delivered my first self-designed Songwriting workshop, and we’ve got several special projects coming up. Before I get into that, I’ll give a brief update on what’s been happening in my personal life.

I started working remotely after the holidays in the second week of January, so I have gone on less adventures and have spent less time practicing the fiddle. It’s good for me to have work to do, but most of my colleagues and friends spent much of January still away on vacation, so I’ve missed social interaction badly. Last Saturday, to spice things up, I took a little day trip into Ringwood, a small town on the way to Salisbury that boasts a priory, a few cafes and a handful of nice charity shops. Although there wasn’t much to do and my bus back was delayed by over an hour, it was still nice to get a change-up. A few days later, I had my first show of 2025 in Bournemouth! I played a short acoustic set at Chaplin’s Bar, a Charlie Chaplin themed bar and live music venue, and it was nice to do what I love and feel more connected to the city after my time away in December. 

I was anxious about starting my songwriting lessons, but visiting the school a few days before and meeting the kids soothed my nerves. They’re a group of about 25 Year 10’s (14-15 year-olds), and they were a very social bunch and had plenty of questions about life in America, a few of which included: Have you driven Route 66? Are there beaches in Nashville? What NFL team do you support? The lesson itself went well, aside from lots of attempts to quiet the room. The kids seemed engaged, which is all I can ask for, but it is always a little disappointing when you imagine the impact of something you make to be bigger than it actually is. I’m proud of myself for designing the class, finding a school, and implementing it. It seems like the teachers are really excited about it, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the next three lessons go.

Beyond that, I designed some prompts and activities for a one-off Holocaust Remembrance workshop that we were asked to attend. I’ve also started brainstorming workshop plans for collaborations with a paddle board non-profit, a non-profit that designs movement-based mental health teaching resources for schools, and a family therapy center. It’s exciting to see our charity expanding and being involved in so many new projects. On top of all that, we’re trying to find funding to support a full-time role after I leave, so I’m starting to prepare funding applications. 

To be honest with y’all, I’m feeling very lonely. So much time alone since Christmas has begun to take its toll, and I have not felt support from some of the relationships here that I relied on. I’m feeling quite nervous for the next three months ahead of me, but if this experience has proven anything to me, it’s that I’m adaptable, and I’m confident that the rest of my time in England will have good things in store. 

 

With love, 

Elisabeth

The Story Continues

Hello again! Once I returned to Belfast from my holiday travels, I eased back into my packed weekly routine while desperately trying to reset my jet-lagged sleep schedule. Last week, we had less workshops than usual, so work was very chill. Our Wednesday workshop was a highlight, because it was our fourth workshop with one of the classes we’ve been working with in our residency program. We adapted the workshop slightly to build on skills they have been strengthening throughout the program. For example, in a typical workshop, we verbally brainstorm character ideas and traits as a class. In this workshop, we gave them clipboards and encouraged them to write down their ideas individually before sharing with the class. Between our first workshop with the class and this one, there was a clear difference in the way they interact with each other, with us, and with the creative process. They have a new confidence in their abilities, speaking with boldness and excitement about their ideas and plans. A spirit of collaboration pervades the classroom, and while they are all passionate about their own ideas, they have developed their ability to listen to and build on each other’s suggestions. Even children whose ideas were not chosen for the collective story were eager to get involved with writing it. Fighting Words’s methodology focuses on valuing, respecting, encouraging, and empowering young writers; its efficacy is evident in what I have witnessed in these students. They have been taken seriously, celebrated, and nurtured creatively, and this has transformed their perception of writing and reading. They are excited to write and exchange ideas with their classmates. Storytelling is a fun creative outlet, not a drag or an obligation. I hope that this understanding will extend into the rest of their education and lives, because we sure need more passionate writers in this world. 

I’m still discovering new parts of Belfast all the time, but I’m also getting to a point of familiarity where I’m becoming a regular at my favorite spots. I went back to Cave Hill, where I hiked and experienced the sublime in my first weeks in Belfast. This time, it was snowy and majestic. Through divine luck, it was also sunny, so I got to see the city and water of Belfast sparkling in the afternoon light from my vantage point on McArt’s Fort. The visit was a poignant reminder of the passage of time– I reflected on the newness and apprehension I felt when I hiked there in October, and compared it to the comfort and sureness that I felt in January. The natural landscape’s transformation from verdant green to soft white parallelled the changes I felt in myself. It was a celebration of the different kinds of beauty and vibrancy life can hold. The green newness is still within me, but a swirl of snowy familiarity is in there too. I’m proud of how I’ve changed, and eagerly anticipating what the next season will bring. I hold tenderness for my past self and hope for my future self.

An Eagles Victory

After Thanksgiving, I went to a DR baseball game, and my roommates invited me to their Lazemiento. It is an event that “announces” their graduating class by performing a dance routine, complete with a full stage production with music, videos, and costumes. Kids begin planning as soon as grade school! My roommates D* and E* are graduating high school this year, so it was their turn. They personally chose not to perform in the production, but we still made a big deal out of attending.

The Lazemiento performance occurred on a Saturday, so I and my co-worker/roommate/friend Helina took on some responsibility for getting the girls to the school and hosting another girl from our organization and E’s sister at our house for a sleepover. I have six older siblings, and it was surprisingly fun to play “big sister” for the night (or, really, every day). The girls rode together, and Helina and I took a separate car. She mentioned that it “may not be what you expect.” Jokes on Helina because I had no expectations at all. I don’t even know what “lazemiento” translates to, or if I’m spelling it right. Suffice it to say that I was quite literally along for the ride. The only thing I knew to do was dress up for the occasion.

We arrived at the school. Like most buildings in the DR, it looked intimidating at first due to the electric fences surrounding the building, but once four unenthusiastic teenage girls asked for the entry fee at the door, I felt like I was back in my hometown of Carmi, Illinois, for what is called the “One-Niter.” Basically, it’s a variety show that the seniors produce every year. Think, SNL meets teen talent show. There’s a Rockette-style dance number performed by the cheerleading squad, ballads sung by the choir soloists, and sketch comedy enacted by the theater department. My mom took me to see it every year as a kid, and as Helina and I stepped into the neon-lit gymnasium turned auditorium, I was right back to my roots (minus the palm trees). I found my expectations.

Feeling the school spirit, I asked N* (one of the girls in our organization…she’s the student who I occasionally tutor in English) to join me at the snack booth. I bought us Sprites, and we returned to the nearly dark gymnasium. She was buzzing––just so excited to be out and about, counted among the teenagers and not the littles. I remember that feeling: that first moment you were allowed to walk into a new room that was once off-limits. She wore it well!

The announcer arrived on the stage and (from how I understood it) made her remarks about the definitive characteristics of this graduating class, how bright they are, and how hard-working they were to pull off their Lazemiento. She then launched into the narrative…the story was that the class “went to Brazil,” and then a sketch video played displaying just that. At the end of the video, the students came out dressed in rainforest tourist attire. The energy was high! Music vibrated the floor, giving the effect of a minor earthquake.

The dancers were super serious. They transitioned to the “partying on the beach” dance number, and the girls started doing some crazy dance moves. That’s when Helina and E turned to me, E said, “That’s why I didn’t want to dance,” and well, yeah, I understood why. It differed more than slightly from the Rockette-style number from my little rural town’s One-Niter, but we were still having fun due to the high energy of the production. Something I admire in E and D is that they are not easily impressed or influenced, especially E. They have a backbone. If they wanted to dance, we would have cheered them on, but they didn’t want to, and I admire their honesty.

The production ended with the introduction of their class title, which was a Portuguese word I’ve since forgotten. D and E were on the stage for the final moments. We cheered so loud! After the crowd cleared, we all returned to the house and Helina and I bought them Papa John’s. I could tell all the girls were having so much fun, and that was my favorite part. I was glad to be there, so glad to hear them laughing.

A few days later, a bucket list DR experience occurred: attending an Aquilas (eagles) baseball game in Santiago! The Reyes family are big fans, especially Vidal (Joy’s husband) and Isaac (Joy and Vidal’s oldest son). After Helina, S*, and I mentioned our desire to go, Vidal got us all tickets near him and Isaac.

We girls live a town away, so we ordered an Uber. Guess who our Uber was? My favorite one! I couldn’t believe we got him again. There are some very interesting and/or creepy characters who work as drivers in La Vega, but few are both characters AND nice/trustworthy. This guy was both. He immediately remembered me, and I remembered him. I told him I needed his taxi number, and we talked it over on the way to Santiago when…he blew out a tire. So, there we were on the side of the highway, lounging in the folding chairs this man set out for us while he calmly replaced his whole tire. It was hilarious. If it were any other driver, I might have been a little afraid, but this guy should teach a masterclass in how to handle a situation like that. In no time, we were on the move.

Our seats were in the right field. I purchased 8 Aguilas caps for my nephews. We had our tiny personal pizzas. We were ready…and I’ve never had more fun at a baseball game. Dominicans are super fans. A player would walk to first, and you would have thought it was a game-winning home run. The whole rivalry game played out like that. They tied, so the Aguilas won in the bottom of the 10th inning! It was crazy! I’m the biggest Aguilas fan now. I’ll learn to like wearing yellow.

 

bonus content: helina reveal. I accompany her to Jumbo to refuel with Mangoes Monsters.

My dear ole estadio. Best enjoyed at sunset.

I watercolor paint for fun nowadays. I call this one “flowers,” because that’s what it looks like.

me on the side of the highway because my favorite uber drive blew out said tire

Helina and S. On our way to the game. This is the car with the blown out tire

Aquilas v. Paray!