I think in paragraphs. I sometimes speak in them - much to the annoyance of Cat - and I write in them as well. To embrace this Blog Challenge as an actual incentive to try something new instead of just indulging in my old habits, I've opted to write this entry as a listicle.
1. Good relations between Dominicans and Haitians
Unlike the rest of Latin America, the DR celebrated it's independence not from Spain but from it's neighboring nation. Things have been pretty tense between the two cultures since that time. So I am especially grateful to see the Dominicans in my community treating Haitian immigrants with a respect and decency that its not universally common across the nation.
2. Multi-generational environmental awareness
While deforestation is exactly improving fast enough, there is a wide-spread awareness of the problem. The old hands know it firsthand from comparing the paisaje ("landscape") of their youth to the bald hills of today, and they have instilled this knowledge in their children. The local national park was declared in 1995 and the local technical high school teaches conservation.
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| Mural on the side of a local store |
3. Conservation of cultural
When cheap digital cameras came to the pueblo in the form of cell phones, what is the first thing the jóvenes (youth) did? Well, after they got on WhatsApp. they made a movie telling the story of a local Don and Doña. Two, actually!
The first, Una Boda de Oro, focused on their courtship and marriage. Cat and I are very proud to have arranged a local that featured this film.
A second chapter, Teofilo Mora 1966 which premiered Wednesday night at the local community center, tells the rest of the story.
They have be abandoning the old ways in the city, but here in the capital, the young people still young ones can play the traditional music and still dance the traditional dances no matter how much time they spend chateando.
4. Steady arrival of modern convenience
30 years ago this village was all wooden shacks. They had neither running water, electricity or telephones. Now, it has suburban style houses with all the essential services (however imperfectly implemented) - plus internet. Hopefully this comfort and convenience in the campo will make the capital and points further afield less alluring and thus slow the brain drain.
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| ¨What a difference 300 feet of steel makes" |
5. Religious diversity and tolerance
Two generations ago, the pueblo was mono-culturally Catholic. Now it has multiple, well-established Evangelical congregations and a thriving Salon de Reinos (Kingdom Hall) for the local Jehovah's Witnesses. I am officially fine with Catholicism but am a fan of religious diversity because new ways of worship often means new ideas.
Like ethnic inclusion, religious tolerance better prepares a society (however small) to whether the changes in a rapidly evolving world. Unsurprisingly, the members of these minority religions have a major religion in the local culture. Los evangélicos and los Testigos are well-represented in non-religious leadership positions around town.
CHALLENGE FAIL
OK, so my bullet points turned out to be paragraphs. At least I tried. Thinking positive, especially as I emerge from a mild holiday induced depression, was challenging enough.
This post is part of Blogging Abroad's 2017 New Years Blog Challenge, week four: Change and Hope. My final one actually! I hope you've enjoyed the more regular posting schedule. I'll be taking next week off. If you want something to read in that absence give the other bloggers participating in this challenge a try.
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