Benni

Something that has really made our stay here special and fostered our love and respect for the Dominican people, is the wonderful staff at our condominium who take such good care of us.  For our ten unit complex there is our property manager who is here intermittently, two housekeepers and the gardener Benni. 

Benni just recently turned 23 years old, so still very young.  He has a wife and young baby and helping to care for his 7 year old step son.  Benni works six days a week, like most Dominicans.  Although he is officially the gardener, he's also the jack of all trades.  If the housekeeping staff is short handed, he helps clean rooms.  He lugs the five gallon jugs of water to our condo when we need a replacement.  If the supply of water at the condo is out (which it has been for two weeks) he gets on his motorcycle and hauls some to us.  When he thinks our motorcycle needs to be washed, he takes care of it.  He takes care of the pool and helps us carry our pool chairs to the beach.  He also helps Matt with his beach clean-up project.  When we decided to buy a motorcycle, Benni went with us to Gaspar Hernandez, a nearby town, to help us negotiate and serve as interpreter.  The problem is Benni doesn't speak English, but he has the ability to  talk to me in Spanish slow enough and simply enough that I can usually understand.  And he does all of this with a sweet smile.   The housekeepers constantly lean over the balcony and call "Benni, Benni, Benni" when they need something.  Now that's the inside joke between Matt and me.  We are always calling "Benni, Benni, Benni" when we need anything, even when Benni isn't around.  Benni's standard saying is "esta bien" or "its ok" and that pretty much seems to sum up his attitude.

Benni struggles sometimes to get to work on his motorcycle.  It's "muy viejo" (very old) he tells me.  But nothing seems to get him down.   If it does, he never shows anger, irritation or impatience.


Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting Benni's beautiful family. This is Benni with his wife Tanila, step son Feli and beautiful little LiBeni.  Cute family, huh?

Oh, and Matt couldn't taking a pic of me with sweet little LiBeni.  Matt thinks I have a "what do I do with this thing" expression on my face...

Jane, Toni & Me Getting Ready to Ride

The "Mississippi Girls" left on Saturday after a three week stay.  Jane and Toni were my horseback riding buds so probably won't be doing that again for a while.