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Working Hard...But Not for the Money

Hello bold, brave world!

As usual, I am here to update you on my time and travels in the Dominican Republic. And further, per the usual, those time and travels have been fruitful and enjoyable. I have spent these last few weeks traveling and as you can probably guess from the title of this post... working HARD! 

La Universal Seguros has sequestered me another fantastic working opportunity with yet another prestigious law firm in this country. For the past two weeks, and for the rest of my time here, I will be working at this law firm. And when I say working.... I really mean working! I was recently given the monumental task of translating one of the firm's attorney's billable hours from Spanish to English!

Now some of you may think to yourselves... Translating? I mean, how bad can that be? WELL LET ME TELL YOU.... It takes forever!!! Not only am I translating from a different language into my own, but I have translating the professional, legal usage of this language (And if you don't already know...NO! This is not the Spanish they teach you in school!), and FURTHER, I'm trying to translate the attorney's Dominican slang into regular Spanish AND THEN into English!!!

ARE YOU GETTING THE JIST NOW?! M-O-N-U-M-E-N-T-A-L!

While this is taking me a while to complete, I am learning quite a lot! For example... The word hipoteca means, "mortgage". And the phrase en ocasión does not mean on occasion. In fact it means, "regarding". I am so proud of my newfound knowledge and I look forward to continuing to work through the EIGHT PAGES of translation I have to complete.

The other good news about this task is that the deadline for its completion is after I will be gone. Therefore, I do not feel ridiculous pressure to finish this task in two days. I can take my time and make sure its correct. Not only that, I can learn in the process! I mean... isn't that what they are "paying" me to do?! "Paying" me in experience! 

So I will remain at my little desk... working hard, but not for the money... but for the EXPERIENCE!!! 

VIVA LA REPUBLICA! 

ESPAÑOL:

Hola audaz y valiente mundo!

Como de costumbre, estoy aquí para informarles sobre mi tiempo y viajes en la Republica Dominicana. Y además, por la costumbre, esos tiempos y viajes han sido fructíferas y agradables. He pasado las últimas semanas viajando y como Uds. Pueden adivinar del titulo de este post… trabajando MUCHO!

La Universal Seguros me han encontrado otra oportunidad fantástica con otra oficina de abogados excelente. Por las últimas dos semanas y hasta el fin de mi tiempo aquí, yo estaré trabajando en esta oficina. Cuando yo digo trabajando… Quiero decir trabajando mucho! Recientemente fui dando esta trabajo monumento de traduciendo uno de los abogados horas contables desde Español a Ingles.

En este momento unos de Uds. están pensando… Traduciendo? Quiero decir, como mal puede ser? BUENO, DÉJAME CONTARSE… Lo toma un eternidad. No solo tengo que traducir desde idioma diferente a mi lengua natural, pero tengo que traducir el uso profesional y legal (Y si no sabía… NO! No es el Español que enseñaron en la escuela!) y ADEMAS, estoy tratando a traducir las palabras dominicanas escrito por la abogada a “español normal” y después a ingles.

ENTIENDEN UDS. AHORA?!?! M-O-N-U-M-E-N-T-O!!!

Aunque este trabajo esta tomando mucho tiempo, estoy aprendiendo mucho! Por ejemplo, la palabra “hipoteca” significa mortgage en ingles. Y la frase “en ocasión” significa regarding. Estoy muy orgullosa de mi conocimiento nuevo y estoy emocionada a continuar a trabajar en estos ocho paginas de traducción.

La otra noticia buena es sobre este trabajo es que no tengo que cumplir un plazo exacto, porque el plazo es después que yo dejo. Por lo tanto, no siento una presión grande a terminar este en dos días. Puedo hacerlo en el tiempo mejor para yo y hacerlo correcto.  Y no solo eso, pero puedo aprender al mismo tiempo. Quiero decir… no es esto qué ellos “me pagan” a hacer. “Me pagan” en experiencia!

Entonces, me quedarme en mi escritorio pequeño… trabajando duro, pero no por el dinero… sino la EXPERIENCIA!!!

VIVA LA REPÚBLICA!!!  

***Disclaimer: If any of my Spanish grammar is incorrect, please feel free to comment! I am trying to expand my horizons by trying this in English and Spanish!***

A Post in Photos

I know I have been slacking so I decided to do a post in posts! This is our trip to La Zona Colonial. This is the area of the DR that was first colonized by Christopher Columbus! I hope you all enjoy!

The Statue of Christopher Columbus

The house of Diego Colon (Chris' son)

Inside the first church in the Americas

A confessional

This is supposed to be lucky and blessed cross. When you touch it you become blessed and protected.

A Flame tree.... So beautiful

A sundial

J!!!!

View of La Zona

Trabajando en La Republica

Hey guys!

I know it has been a while (3 weeks) since I blogged last, but my schedule has become so hectic! Everyday is so full of trying to see and experience everything. But alas, I am a blogger and therefore blogging is what I must do!

Let me give you a quick update on my schedule.

M-F:

8:30 - Go to work at La Universal Seguros (actually right now I am working at one of the top law firms in the country. I will be here for a total of three weeks.)

9:00am-12:30pm - WORK! WORK! WORK AWAY!

12:30-1:30pm - Lunch 

1:30-4:30pm - WORK! WORK! WORK AWAY!

4:30pm - Quitting time

This is pretty much the schedule that I have daily, with variations sometimes, depending on if I have a special trip planned for the day or another special task. My work at the law firm has been so meaning and I have been learning so much. These past two weeks that I have been there, I have worked on two movies contracts for films soon to be released in the DR. I spent my time going through the contracts and making sure all of the small details aligned together. I have also worked on power of attorney agreements (where an individual or an entity gives their power to complete certain tasks and make certain decisions to an attorney). The kicker about all of this, other than the fact that all of the contracts are in Spanish is that I have done none of these type of agreements in ENGLISH!!! I am sure you can imagine how intimidating it is to conquer such intricate matters in English... but Spanish is a whole other battle. However, I am proud to say that the attorney's offices are still standing and I have not burned anything down.

I have also been lucky to visit the Dominican Congress. I went to the Senate and the House of Representatives. While there I was able to meet both Senators and Representatives. While the type of law practiced here is different from the United States (the US exercises English Common Law and the DR exercises French Civil Law), the separation of the state powers and the means by which they operate are quite similar. I know I have bored you to death with all of these facts, here is what you really came for.... AWESOME PICTURES! These photos are from my time in the Senate. I attended a public viewing that was discussing a new piece of legislation regarding the Dominican peoples involvement in their daily decision making processes.

Lost in Translation

Just this past Sunday, myself and my Dominican travel companions, J & A, were attempting to find a good place to eat that served native Dominican food. At the time, we did not realize that on the island, the food is called comida criolla. Dominicans believe Dominican food to be any restaurant here in the Dominican that serves food! So, all afternoon we were walking around in the hot Dominican sun, asking everyone we could were would be a good place to eat Dominican food. We kept getting responses like...McDonalds is down the street, and what about the Wendy's over there.

(Now, I do not know about you, but when I am in another country, the last thing I want to eat is some "down home" American food! Thanks! But NO THANKS! I've got enough of those around me back home to last me a life time! )

Anywho, the entire time we are trying to find some comida criolla that we subsequently calling Dominican food. (Shame...at our Americanness!!! ) We finally spoke to one of the drivers of the program that is sponsoring our internship here, and asked him if he would take us to a place that served authentic Dominican food. His Spanish was really fast and spoken with a deep food and a strong Dominican accent.  We thought we were understanding what the types of restaurants that he was suggesting. When we would ask us a question, we would respond..."Perfect! Sounds good!" (Our pride wouldn't let us admit that we were completely missing some important part of the conversation!)

The driver swerved in and out of the lanes throughout the downtown area and he stopped in front of a big building downtown. He asked us if the place was ok, and confidently we all said... "Sure! It'll be great!" We got out of the car and he told us to call him when we were finished... It was then we realize that we did not have any cell phones! (We were scheduled to purchase and activate them the next day with our sponsorship program, but we had yet to receive them.) He tried to give us his number, but none of us had anything to write with! We finally got his card and phone number, and as he left we turn around to realize.... He had left us at....

                   THE GROCERY STORE!!!!


Oh.... the irony. 


Although we eventually found something to eat... needless to say... we had quite an adventure!


Until later.......

Llegué

I have arrived in Santo Domingo! I am so flipping excited and I know that by the time this summer is over I will be speaking Spanish like a native!!! The "English crutch" is pretty much NON-EXISTENT! This is absolutely perfect because there will be no way to not perfect my Spanish, because people here speak little English!

Because this has been such a full day and I am so tired, I think I'll say later for now...

However, one last comment... (for my Selena fans) "Estoy muy... muy... muy... EXCITED!!!"

Until later

Packing in Pictures

I have a problem... And I can absolutely admit that I am not a "packer." I need options.... and I just can not go to a place without having them.

Just an FYI.... I also hate airline baggage fees and limitations! Just saying... they could give us a little leeway... what is a 50lb bag going to do for my 2.5 month international trip.

However, I digress.... Here a few of photos of my fun...Enjoy!

The scale to weigh my bags

Immediate baggage leftovers

My two checked bags

The remains of everything else I had to leave behind. *insert sad face*