okay well I have done it... I have finally moved out of the hospital... so now i have gone from my one room which I finally got to myself after months ( no offense Schelle- you were a great room mate) to a three bedroom house to myself complete with backyard( concrete- patio really with border type garden).
The house is fabulous it is in the perfect area for me close to the hospital but secure and still Dominican ( ie not full of expats or other missionaries- but actual Dominicans). They are a great bunch of people so far very friendly. I actually know two families in the street already through the hospital and have very quickly met several neighbours.
The local Colmado (like a corner store) delivers my delivery guy is called Victor and he knows me already as I have been getting hielo (ice) regularly as my fridge did not arrive till last night... only three days after purchase and only on threat of me coming to get my money back...after this threat it arrived 30 minutes later.... an important lesson. My neighbour Frank taught me this one. He is teaching me many things. how to check gas pipes on the stove for leaks, how to organise my garbage, change the piping on the sink when leaking etc. He has been an invaluable help to me . He worked here in the hospital and his wife even house sat so I could get out on Saturday to shop. She waited patiently in the house for two hours for the fridge and stove just in case they showed up.
I am going to be on a steep learning curve and the local church that meets at Franks every Monday and Wednesday for prayer and praise convened at m house last night for a prayer session. Franks preached on the need to welcome to stranger and the helps that I will be needing... nice to be reminded that I have no idea what I am doing most of the time and very nice that all my neighbours now know this.... I guess they guessed the Gringo has no clue. they will all be in a panic tomorrow as I won't be putting my garbage out tonight as I have to go out.... well don't have to but want to. Madison my friend has a birthday so I am taking him and friend to the movies a real treat for them.
Well let me get to moving day. Saturday March 4th while meanwhile my cousin in Australia tied the knot I was packing up my one room and transporting in a car and a ute all my things ( I had shopped pretty manically the day before moving for plates, sheets, towels, glasses, dishracks, saucepans frypans etc. A lot of fun.)
Got there and the landlady was there still clearing away things. The electrician was installing light fixtures and the furniture was arriving..... phew... action central.
THe fridge and stove should have arrived but as previously explained they didn't. The day of the move I was to have the inversor installed but the shop ended up being closed as a local youth was killed in a car accident. ( this was a friend of Edison and the shop owner)
I have one more piece of furniture arriving today or tomorrow a set of drawers, that will allow me to unpack my clothes. I also have to have the ceiling fan/light installed.
I also need to purchase locks to change all the locks after all the workmen have been there.
I am also expecting a gate to be changed this friday and screening to be put on the windows.
Still thinking about what type of dog. I have a name for it but no dog. I will call it Guachi. ( this means guard or watch man) they all think it is funny that I was saying in Spanish I need ot buy un guachi perro. Which literally translated menas watch dog. They do not use this term and it is new and original... they think it is sooo cute. Anyway I like the name so I now have a name.
I am very happy to say that I have spent Sunday cleaning like a crazy person and now have no wasp nests left on the windows of the spare room.... would have been nice for guest hey.
I also am happy to say that i now have an inversor for the power so that even when the power goes out every night from 3.30- 10pm I have lights. I was using an oil lamp. I am also finding my citronella candle is working well as a night light and to ward off the mosquitos.
I am encouraging the little lizards to be in the house as they eat the mosquitos.... unfortunately they do have the tendency to jump outof the weirdest places.... had to save one from drowning when it was in my mop.
Hoping to receive many visitors as I now have the space.
I live in manzana 15 numero 6 en Ciudad Satelite Duarte.
I am loving it all.... still thinking re extra things I need like a mirror for the bathroom....hmmmm money money money. Will go gradually (don't worry MUM)
Love to all
Donna
