Saturday, December 22, 2012

Christmas comes to barrio land

Tangerines for sale at the side of the road


Christmas is coming to barrio land. The first thing you notice is all the fruit for sale, especially tangerines, apples and grapes. The stalls look beautiful all along the side of the road. Unfortunately the apples don’t taste quite the same as those in the UK, and the tangerines are not as sweet nor as juicy, but in my house a net of tangerines only last a few minutes as everyone wolfs them down.




The second sign that Christmas is approaching is that everyone in the barrio is cleaning the streets and painting their houses.  The dustbin men (garbage collectors I think in American) have been round twice a day to pick up all the rubbish and all the trees which have been trimmed.  Pits are being dug in gardens ready to barbecue the pigs and charcoal is being bought.



Due to the generosity of people on Chivirico’s Facebook page,  we had money to go shopping in Santiago to buy the presents on Chivirico’s list to Santa. One crazy city when you are used to barrio life, zipping around in public shared taxis, with six or seven people squished in and all the drivers think they are Michael Schumacher. Still it is the easiest and cheapest way to get around. Once we arrived at the toy shop I was shocked at the prices of toys. I have no idea how the average Dominican family manages at all. Still a fun time was had by all and I can’t wait for Christmas day to come for him.

Husband and I having fun

As well money for the list for Santa, RD$5,000 had been donated to give to his family to buy food for Christmas. That is around US$125. They had had no money for food at all for a couple of days this week, so we decided to give it to them on 19th of this month.  I took Chivirico into the bedroom to watch TV and my husband went outside to make reindeer noises. Suddenly there was this reindeer noise coming through the bedroom window, well a bit of a snort really. I said to Chivirico, “I think I just heard a reindeer passing.” He agreed and luckily there was another snort. He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and then, whilst he was watching the television an envelope came flying in through the window and landed on the floor in front of him.



It was addressed to his grandmother from Santa Claus so we had to rush round to her house to give her the envelope. On arrival there he insisted on opening it.



I cannot explain the happiness there was in that little kitchen.


One Dominican family are going to have a great Christmas.



Also, the blog won an award for best blog in the Dominican Republic. You can see the award at the top of the page, and clicking on it will take you to the lovely comments made, and also some other great blogs about the DR. Thanks to all of you who voted, and a happy and peaceful Christmas to all readers of this blog and thanks so much for your support.

10 comments:

  1. This is such a touching story. It brought tears of joy to my eyes. I praise and thank God for the generosity and kind souls that brought joy for this famely. God bless you all. Merry Christmas indeed.

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  2. Thanks. I too was amazed and delighted at the money given by people. It really will make a difference and help Chivirico believe that dreams can come true.

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  3. I just started reading your blog a couple of days ago, but got caught up on the story of Chivirico...it does my heart good...I live in Connecticut, where the school shooting just happened and right after that I found your blog and it helped me with my sadness...I am a teacher and this year I have a student from the DR in my class and I told him about this blog and Chivirico. He was happy I was reading about DR...

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    1. Words cannot express what I feel about the shooting - it was worse than appalling and I am glad the blog helped you a little. So nice you have a Dominican student, say Hola from me. Thank you for reading the blog.

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  4. Well done on yet another award, Lindsay! And well deserved. Hope your Christmas is as happy as Chivirico's is obviously going to be. X

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    1. Have a great Christmas too and all the best to your, your family and animals.

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  5. Well deserved award! Can´t wait to hear about Chivirico´s Christmas and his reaction to the presents. Have a great Christmas with your family and may the New Year bring the whole world a lot of peace and happiness.

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    1. I can't wait to see Chivirico find and open his presents tomorrow either. Happy Christmas to you and your family too.

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  6. Hi Lindsay,I have been a fan of your blog for a year and a half now and my husband and I are on our second six months stay we are here to share the gospel with the Motoconchos and other people here in San Pedro de Macoris we live in a poorer area and are without power and Internet allot.We started a blog last year but are not continueing it because of this.It is called Mission Improbable Dominican if you want to look at it.

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    1. Thanks I checked out the blog and brought back fond memories of when I used to go to the market in San Pedro. Shame you can't keep it up but congratulations on the work you are doing in SPM and thank you for reading this one.

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