Courtyard By Marriott Santo Domingo Downtown

... function with tons of screaming, energetic Dominican children surrounding us.

GREEN LIFE: At the end of the youth business course that I gave, the teenagers that I worked with have the option of making an actual business plan to enter it to the national competition for a chance to win money and start their business. I had a group of 3 jovenes (teenagers) make a plan for a vivero (plant nursery) that they are calling Green Life. After a ...

The light just went off in the entire neighbourhood here in Zona Colonial in Santo Domingo. That happens almost every night, so we're used to it. Earlier today I returned to the capital, after two days in a small house in the countryside about a hours drive out of town. Out there we didn't have any electricity, except what the generator provided. For two days I have been eaten skinny by mosquitos, slept in a hammock and lived on whatever Mother Earth ...

... quite common here, and there was nothing they could do. They did, however, let me use their phones (none of which were working either). After talking to a few people, I did manage to find a phone that worked, and I talked to the Canadian girl that came with us from San Pedro. After walking 2.5 kilometers, I did finally see Victoria standing on the right. I was reunited at last! The walk itself was very pretty, through the main path of the ...

... lunch we drive to the family center and eat there with the other employees. (By the way.. we are the only swiss guys... the people which work there are all locals.) They spoil us with delicious food (rice, fish, chicken, beans, vegetables, potatoes, dessert,...). After lunch comes a little boy and his mother explains us, that he has 2 tumors in his right leg. So they need an other operation. So the local employees will contact the medical center in town to ...

... Tonight is the groupīs last meal out together and it also happens to be Vickyīs birthday! Celebration!! Well, Iīm off to have my first pizza in 5 weeks, so have a fantabulous day. Canīt wait to share pics and the like with all of you. Love you, miss you, and Iīm pretty sure the mosquito count is uncountable at this point... Mommy, daddy, and my lovely family... SEE YOU SOON! Amorte, Heidi Marie

... I have no guilt...it was glorious! :) Now I am at my official site in a campo site close to Santiago, and life is pretty great. My family is crazy, but I love them. They are completely overprotective, and I had to fight to let them let me leave the house alone...EVER. I couldn't go to the school sola, walk around my town, go into the city...nada. It was driving me crazy, BUT I've made progess this week as I've been going to the schools everyday, running by ...

... to pick up the remaining beens from the field after they had already pretty much cleared out the field. So I actually had to bend down and pick up beans. Doesnt sould that bad right? Well in the blaring sun it aint that much fun. Everybody was out there searching the ground for random beans. I didnīt have the patients and decided just to search for the beans in the plants. I didnīt find a lot, but I was satisfied considering it was my first time ever out in a ...

... sleep and be in a good energetic mood during the day!! Also, the other day I had an I am a white priveleged american moment. On of the men in my community was invovled in a fight and was cut all along his back and his hand. He was bleeding a lot and his family took him to the hospital that night. The doctor put stiches in him, and a cast over his hand (which mad no sense because his hand was not broken, just severely cut), and sent him home. The following day I saw him ...

... those of you who felt sorry for me and compelled by my last post, I have brand spakin' new carepackage wish list! Peat moss pellets by Jiffy (ask someone at home depot) Body wash and gel Dog treats and toys Headlamp Nalgene water bottle (go to camping part of sporting goods store) Liquid hand soap educational stuff (molding clay, craft kits, finger paint, anything) storybooks in spanish used and new sports equipment! seeds (vegetables and fruits, but flowers are ok too) flip flops