Beisbol!

I recently got to go to my first baseball game here in Caracas- something I had been very keen to do. It was not the rowdy beer throwing affair I had been warned about- I guess that comes later as the season's rivalries heat up- but it was great sitting in the park with a group of teachers yelling "Sucio" at the opposing team when they plunked our batter with a fast ball.

"Our batter" you say? why yes I have a team: the Tiburones, who happened to be taking on the Dirty (sucio) Cardinals. Choosing your team is very important in Venezuela and if you are from here is quite easy- you go with the team from your home state. From Caracas? You cheer for the Leones. Live in Valencia? The Magallanes are your squad. It is much tougher for a new teacher and expat in the country- choosing your team can have negative consequences: endorse Leones and Romolo might "lose" your next copy request. Cheer for the Tigres and your next paycheck might not make it (accounting loves Leones.) Luca had a smart way of deciding: we were looking at the different jerseys and when I told him that Felix liked Magallanes he promptly took a jersey and sealed his choice. Felix works security and is quite simply the man, greeting each child each day with a "good morning" and a fist bump. Many of the schools kinders when asked who the school's director is reply: "Felix". I chose the Tiburones due to the fact that I really think they have a cool name- as well as they are the team of Ian and his daughter Ana- two very cool employees at ECA. Ian put together a trip to the stadium, we found our jerseys and off we went!

The walk up to the stadium: food to the left, vendors to the right.

Boston has Big Papi (#34),  the Tiburones have Cabrera (#38), and we have big Stein-Ross (#38). Just as you don't crowd Ortiz or Cabrera at the plate- you don't crowd Stein-Ross at the table. Brothers gotta eat.

Mike tried to enter the team's clubhouse telling them that he has played professionally in Japan (he really has) but they didn't seem to need any extra help that night. Might have been the double fisted beers that turned them off.

The field of dreams- so good to be at a ball field.

Just like American ball fields there is a lot of standing around with your hands on your hips. And look at those sweet seats on the 3rd baseline! I gotta upgrade.

from the right: Innes, Mike, Kameron (in a Leones jersey!) Michael, Ana. Claudia and Ian seem to be the only 2 actually watching the game

The amount of times the two of us were mistaken for Venezuelans that night! We really do look local now that you mention it. 
One other nice thing about the game were the beers- unlike the 7 dollar beers at American stadiums we got to enjoy 50 cent beers- and many of them. Just like in the States there is a rule that you cannot buy after the 7th inning. Unlike the states the beer vendor asked how many more we might need for the last two innings and then lined up that many glass bottles at our feet- made me glad they weren't throwing beer at his game.

So about the game then- Unfortunately the Tiburones didn't bring their A game and got crushed 8-2. I even put on my rally scarf to help them load the bases in the 8th but it wasn't meant to be. No one seemed too bothered after the game as the Tiburones have a tradition of a big Samba dance after the game- it was great! I took video but haven't been able to upload it... will keep trying, couldn't have been the 50 centers could it?... I did at least take off the scarf.

Republica Dominicana

Hard to believe 8 weeks of school have flown by and we have been in Venezuela for 10! When we first arrived October break looked far far away but we heeded the advice of another teacher to book early as many flights fill up. We also knew that with all of the newness we would be getting used to, our brains would need a break so instead of exploring a far off remote cultural gem... we went to the beach. and I must say it was very nice that the main decision I was faced with each day was should I have a beer at 11... or 11:30 today. 

Hello Dominican Republic!

One of the first things I noticed in the large open air buildings were the fans- big fans, I am talking some big.... well see for yourself

(best fan company name ever by the way)

So there we were at an all inclusive resort on an amazing beach with our friends the Simpsons. How in the world were we going to find enough to do all week?

Some people see paragliding as a thrill seeking activity- we saw it as babysitting- we tipped the guy an extra few bucks and didn't see Wilder and Luca for hours!

We did indeed finally let them down- even the DR has child services it seems.

What would a vacation be without shopping?- no kidding there was a Bon Jovi gift shop around the corner... but their sign was pathetic.

This one is for Gord Fraser- "for you- almost free!"

I sat and watched this guy take in and store his fishing nets, just a nice slow pace to his work- and the two dogs were happy to just roll around and play. I was also excited because I had just bought a yellow Presidente Beer shirt at the Elvis gift shop.

We signed up for an afternoon zipline tour and one of the best parts was driving out to the site. Every building is so colorful- it was great to just watch it all go by. The guy leading us out there was funny he would say "we will be coming up to a photo, get your cameras, NOW!", and then as we drove away would explain what it was that we had all just missed taking a photo of- we did have a tight schedule I'm sure.

The one that got away- just around the corner was a small roundabout with and older fellow sitting there with all of these plastic bottles on a table- some clear some not. I figured he was selling moonshine- then realized he was the local gas station for motorcycles- can't believe I missed that picture-darn.

The ziplining was great- I figured it would be a couple of 100 meter lines- no way- there were 12 in all and the 2 longest were over 700 meters. I was giggling like a schoolgirl- hey I'm sure I wasn't the only one.

Wilder

Luca

the pros

Our best excursion from the beach would be the day trip to Sauna island, a small nature preserve off the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic.

There were a few "try to separate the tourist from their dollars" schemes along the way- like the bathroom break at the giftshop, rum bottle with your families picture on it, or dancing lessons on the boat ride- but even still it was an amazing day- The guide said that the movie Blue Lagoon was filmed there but I didn't see Brook Sheilds.

we stopped at a shallow section so we could get photos taken with the local giant starfish- This nice lady just wanted her starfish as a hat picture but Luca was determined to photobomb,

Do you know how hard it is to get a family of four to all look and smile in the same direction? Seriously

amazing beach- amazing kid

You could pay for a fresh coconut oil massage- but Luca got one for free!

He is a little too young to be looking that comfortable with a drink in his hand on the beach.

Awwwww shucks.

I cannot get used to the variety of colors the Caribbean sea offers up.

Wilder's little friend Millie- one of the coolest little chicas in Caracas. 

There is just a vibe that really cool dads can give off... can you feel it? Yeah, I knew you could.

Starfish: look cool, taste terrible

I love this photo

So what a great trip- sand in our toes, beautiful water and skies, and sharing it with awesome friends- I guess we could have done worse. Now I just have to work off the effects of that buffet.

Guacharaca vs Guasacaca

This is a guacharaca bird. It looks like it came from the dinosaur age. It has a very loud raucous non melodious squak. It is very very different from...

...Guasacaca which is a delicious sauce made mainly from my most favorite of all plants- the avacado. You would think that only a real fool could mistake one of these for the other. Well my friends I am that fool! read on..

I am a remedial spanish speaker. What I lack in actual language skill I make up with enthusiasm. This often leads to interesting switches. Example:
At a restaurant I wanted to show that I had learned the name of my new favorite sauce. So I ordered an arepa (delicious little thing) with a side of guacharaca.
I got an interesting look and I think he was game for going back and telling the cook to go out back and catch one. Luckily a table mate saved me and i got guasacaca instead.

There are a few words that I am finding have the opportunity to get mangled and switched by yours truly- here are a few:

 Sopa is soup which I tend to order often. Sapo is toad... its only a matter of time till I order this.

Mano is hand and Mono is monkey- "Kids remember to watch your monos after you go to the bathroom." and I wonder why my students think I'm weird.

Lisa came upon this one while trying to say she did something embarrassing:
Embarrassed  as in "I am so embarrassed"
Embarazada as in "I am so pregnant"
so pretty much don't say your embarrassed about anything here.

cocina: the kitchen or the cook in the kitchen
cochina- a pig

Don't call the cocina a cochina.

I'm not sure on this last one- can't find an actual translation but I did see it written somewhere- anyway

feliz cumpleaños- happy birthday
feliz cumpleanus- Not sure- but don't wish me one.

I will keep looking for ways to mangle this fine language- till then I'll leave you with the image of me ordering sushi delivery last night.
"Dynamite por favor" "Dynamite"... "Dragon por favor?"

needless to say we did not get sushi delivered.