USA Christmas Vacation

“I just want to taste everything!”  This was one of the first things Jesus said to me during our trip to Miami.  I had this same feeling for weeks leading up to our Christmas vacation.  The both of us wanted to buy and taste everything so we really had to pace ourselves and our wallets.  We had so so much fun this trip!  We stayed with Jesus’ aunt and uncle just outside of Fort Lauderdale along with his cousin Eli and his kids and his cousin Uki and his girffriend Karen.  The two bedroom house was packed!  We did so many cool things together!   It feels like too much to list but to name a few, we rode an airboat in the evergaldes, walked on South Beach, shopped at the malls and Best Buy and then Best Buy again, ate sushi and then ate sushi again, ate thai food, seafood and fancy cheese, walked on the pier/boardwalk, visited several beaches, went to the Seminole Hard Rock and even made a day trip to Orlando!

Miami Beach

 

Florida gator

Ready to ride the airboat

One of many sushi experiences

Cute!

Trending at South Beach

Joaquin wasn't scared of anyone in costume!

In front of the Dominican display at a Christmas program

Outside of historic landmark Viscaya

Rare to see my serious husband being silly in public!

Orlando was very special because we met up with Martin and Katy, some of our best Minnesota friends! We got to spend time with their sweet little twins who are 9 months now.  We walked around downtown Disney and had Italian food together for dinner.  The day went by much too quickly because so much of it was spent stuck in Orlando Christmas tourist traffic.  I learned my lesson to not go to Orlando at Christmas again…but still every minute of it was worth it to see our best friends!  We just love them so much and were so happy they were visting Florida the same week as us!

Spencer, Madi and Joaquin!

Spencer and Joaquin at the splash pad

My favorite!

I find that living in the Dominican Republic and the US are like night and day and it’s true that you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.  I almost forgot how different things were until I left and came back.  There is so much in the United States I took for granted!  The first thing I noticed once back in the US was the level of cleanliness and maintenance of yards, streets, etc.  I remembered what it was like to be in a car driving around as a family with our baby safely buckled in his carseat.  In the DR we have to taxi or walk and drag the carseat everywhere. Since he is now in the convertible carseat that no longer fits in strollers, it’s quite the task to bring him out.  However I do walk a lot there and while it’s scorching hot even in the winter, I’ve become accustomed to putting my groceries  or whatever I need in the bottom of Joaquin’s stroller and trekking along.  Other things taken for granted in the US are road safety and the obedience of laws.  Do you know in the Dominican Republic you do not have to turn in the turn lane?  You can cut the whole turn lane off and just turn from any point in the road.  It’s normal and is not enforced as being illegal.  That’s just one example of how difficult driving is there.  While we were stuck in back to back traffic in Orlando, that didn’t compare to the amount of crowdedness and traffic in the DR.  I’ve even taken for granted the ability to pull over during a road trip to buy water for the baby or to go pee.  When traveling on the “highway” in the DR, you can’t just pull over.  Gas stations are few and far between so pee before you leave and you better have everything you need prepared.  Not that road trips in the DR aren’t their own experience with the fruit stands, people selling candies on the side of the road and the restaurants to stop at with fresh food cooked right out of people’s homes. 

Many people that we’ve visited here have commented on how brave I am for making this decision to live in the Dominican Republic with my family.  These particular people happen to be Dominican but have have become Americanized and recognize with me that it really is night and day.  I love the people, the rain and a lot of things in the Dominican Republic but let’s be honest, I like convenience in America and I never had dreams of living internationally.  If I was single or studying abroad things might be different, but it isn’t the easiest of places to raise a baby and have no car.  However it’s an experience we will never forget and are counting our blessings.  While a large part of me would like to just stay here in Florida, another part of me is ready to return home to a routine and structure in my life.  I have English classes to teach, a church calling to fulfill, my little puppy and I want to see my friends!  It’s good that I recognize that I live there and being here in the US is now vacation.

Oh I can’t forget to note about Christmas!  Jesus’ aunt cooks the best Dominica food, actually she can cook everything.  We had some traditional Dominican items and a ham for me just like my mom makes with pineapple on top.  After dinner we danced the night away starting with Merengue and bachata but finishing with American hip hop.  And the best was Joaquin opening presents!  When we clapped, he clapped too with the biggest smile!  And who doesn’t love a baby rnuning around in new pajamas each night?!  We are flying home on New Years Eve during midnight and celebrating New Years on the plane.  Domincans always clap when the plane lands so we are pretty sure they’ll have fun ringing in the new year on board as well!