Cockfights for Christmas

I spent another Christmas here in the Dominican Republic and this year I decided to do something a little different. After "noche buena" which is Christmas Eve (where I ate with my host family, the tradition) came Christmas day. I went with my boyfriend up to see the cockfights at the cockfighting ring. This is a HUGE deal on Christmas day. After the fights there is a huge party and is kind of the social event of the year. I really just wanted to see the cockfights as these parties have a tendency to break out in violence.
The point of cockfighting is to bet on the cocks and make money. As you can see from the first picture, the cock handlers go around and take bets on their rooster and the audience also bets amongst themselves. Then, as the fight is taking place, the betting continues and people try to hedge their first bets if they feel they are loosing or make more money if they're winning. The whole thing is based on a honor system and while there is a good amount of shouting and hand gestures, people know what's going on and there usually isn't a problem.
About 2 minutes after we get in they were still settling bets from the last cockfight and two people were arguing over a bet and started fighting physically. We ran out of there and waited until the fighting stopped to go back in and see the rest. After the cockfights were over, we decided to leave before the party really got going. I heard the next day that a huge fight broke out at that party as well, and there was flying glass (guns and knives aren't allowed into the cockfighting arena) everywhere.
I had a good Christmas and need to thank everyone who sent me cards and packages! My friend Chris from Custer is coming to visit me for New Year's, so I'll have another story to tell then!

Merry Christmas!

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As I prepare to spend my second Christmas away from my family and see everyone else in full Christmas mode, I can’t help but reflect on how this season, regardless of your beliefs, makes you contemplate so many things. I’m not trying to say that Christmas is a more valid holiday than any other or that Christianity a more valid religion, but the real message behind the holiday is that the world needs peace.
Why are there so many things wrong with the world when, in general, the majority of the individuals in it are good? I have run into your run of the mill “seedy” individuals here in the DR, but most of the people want nothing more than to help each other. When I did my diagnostic a year ago, the biggest “strength” mentioned was the solidarity among the community. How can we achieve peace on nearly all small scales, but hardly ever on a large one?
Now, I am not a peace worker or even a pacifist, but it seems as though every group of people has its group of people that it hates but every individual in that group can name an individual of that other group that it likes. Imagine what the world would be like if we only pursued that bad individuals and not the whole group that that individual belongs to.
Christmas down here is a big deal. It’s not a big deal like in the US where we all worry about presents and shopping and deals and sales. Most families can’t afford to get presents and it’s not the custom to give them on Christmas (families that can afford it give their children presents on the 6th of January, 3 Kings Day). In my area people are a little better off in general and right now everyone just sold their coffee so they have a little more money. Instead of buying presents they maybe buy new clothes (the only time during the year they have the money to do so) and spend the rest of their “extra” income on food so they can invite their neighbors and friends to eat and share. Don’t get me wrong, I like getting presents and giving them as much as any American, but it does seem nice that the emphasis is on honoring the relationships you have with all people. Now, if we could only get that emphasis to cross boarders and carry beyond Christmas.