My Gramma is Dominican.

My Mother is not.

While my brain power has been leaking out of my ears here in the form of sweat, I have been thinking (along with the evolution of Dinosaurs into chickens) about all of the reasons my family and Swansboro is so much like where I live in the DR. I am from the country and here I live in the country. Everyone here fries food, greets each other, and speaks really respectfully and formal (m’am, sir, please, thank you, pardon me, excuse me), just like home.

After my careful strategic analysis Gramma wins as far as being most Dominican for the following reasons:

1. We cook on gas stoves
2. Everything is painted in bright colors
3. The base of any good meal: Garlic and Onions
4. 99.9% of the time God is the answer
5. Unconditional Love. All day every day.
6. We pray about everything.
7. Anything cloth can be used for a rug, blanket, towel.
8. Life without a fan in every room is no life worth living
9. We put up every single photo, framed or not
10. They save every little gift, creation, and display it with pride and love, just like Gramma.

Dad wins second place for this reason: There is no such thing as standing in line or waiting your turn. If I have less stuff than you, I get in front of you. If what I need is closer or easier to make, I get served first. It doesn’t matter what order or how long you have been waiting.

So while I am feeling anxious in these situations because I having flash backs of Mom fussing just quietly enough for our waiter to hear at restaurants about people coming in after our family and getting served before us (damnit). I think of dad’s response, “and just where (the hell) else do you have to be right now?” So true, the people here are mellow and patient, talking to each other about family, god and politics. (and they don’t even cut each other after!) Just living their lives this different way. I

At first this all made me want to scream (because I am my mother’s daughter), but after thinking WWWJDD (blaspheme? Sorry Gramma) I feel better. So what if I have to wait three hours to make 100 photo copies? (yes, that happened) What else do I have to do? I am going to go home and there won’t be power anyway.

So from my new Dominican life to my wonderful Dominican Family, thanks y’all for all the blessings and preparation. I love you.