The Time I Got a Free Llegó Papá Snap Back

As a rule I am not interested in politics. To me its just an “elite” few posturing while the livelihoods of the hang on their (in)decisions. That is a bit dramatic but you get the picture. I am more of an ideas and actions type of cat. However, when presented with the opportunity to attend a political event here in the DR I could not resist. I already had some basic knowledge of the political climate. The event that we attended didn’t clarify or deepen my perspective on the “political climate” but it gave me a good glimpse of how politics look and play out from the point of view of the people in my hood. Now is the time I do damage control and say as a Peace Corps Volunteer I have no political affiliations and do not support any political party nor cause in the Dominican Republic. 

That being said I went to a Partido Revolucionario Dominicano breakfast. The event was to begin at 8:30am. I woke up at 7:30 to allow time to shower, get ready, eat, and get there fashionably late (which I love cuz I live for CPT). The rest of the fam wakes up at 8:30. We get ready and my mom reminds me not to wear my purple polocher, or polo shirt, so there is no confusing what party I am reppin (purple is for PLD the current ruling party). The official Llego Papa guagua arrives at 9:15ish. Picture a party bus thats crackin’ with music blasting. Now substitute the screaming frats boys wearing busted white baseball caps with me and a bunch of older Dominican women. Sprinkle in my 16 year old brother and a few other teens and you got the basics of our demographics. Once on the bus we all were given political party hats, flags, and instructions to make “buya”. Between our new propaganda swag, the music, the curb side pick up, and the stares from our neighbors we sped off feeling important.  

We pulled up to the event to find a sea of kindred souls. We swam in and made a direct sprint to the food. It was a breakfast event after all. All we encountered was ham and cheese sandwiches and juice boxes. I was a little disappointed because I had visions of a grand smorgasbord with all kinds of delicacies. Despite my broken dreams I happily slurped down my juice box. 

The political aspect of the event consisted of slogan chanting, sweeping promises, and bashing of the current party in control. Pretty normal I assume as far as how political events go worldwide (yes, I am being serious here). What was interesting to me was that they had a lot of testimonial. Sort of like televangelist who have folks testify and then broker their salvation with the lord. At least 3 people were given the microphone to speak who were once of a different party but now are with the correct one. It gave a grassroots and participatory feel to an event and political process which is neither. 

My favorite part of the day was when a speaker was getting the crowded hyped up: “Women with Papa! Youth with Papa! Workers with Papa!...Environment with Papa!”. It was funny because how is the environment finna be with a presidential candidate?! It wasn’t funny to anyone else at the time and probably won’t be to anyone reading either but it is to me dammit!

When we left the breakfast we found out our curbside bus ride was only one way. We hitch-hiked home. In the back of truck we all complained about how badly planned the whole event had been. Hardly any food, not enough chairs, no time to interact with Papa, and no way to get home. During a lull, my host mom chimed in “you all are right but we all will still vote for him in May”. This was a poignant moment for me. She saw passed the excitement of the day, through the disappointment of how it ended, and got to the heart of home people feel here. It was nowhere near ideal but when economically and socially oppressed you make the best out of what you have.