Courtyard By Marriott Santo Domingo Downtown

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

... have left, now it is less than 8 months! I posted a few new pictures on my Flickr site and will get some wedding pictures up soon for anyone who is interested to check them out. A big thanks to everyone who supported my projects by purchasing rice sack bags and donating money to buy books. Your help is greatly appreciated and the women in my mothers group were so excited! Thanks again. Take care all, and I hope to see some of you in September! Love Maggie

... which is nice because it makes the day go by a lot faster. Besides my work going into full gear and LOVING my new community, things are fine. It has been really cold lately which has been nice because I can enjoy a few hours where my body isn't constantly sweating. There was actually a tornado that passed through dajabon a few days ago, and that town is only about 35 minutes away from where I live. There where romurs about it the day ...

... let me know, I am now an expert. The second night was about drinking here in the DR...very interesting. The weekend is here, and it is so needed! This week was stressful, and we are all excited to relax, and it´s a girl´s birthday on Saturday, so we are having a party and going out dancing. Ah, and tomorrow, we are going to Haitises National Park, which is a must see in this country, so we are lucky to get to go. Ok, hopefully you got through this all. Take care, guys!

Hi All! Happy New Year! Well, here I am back in the DR after a lovely three week vacation home. I had a great time catching up with friends and family, eating good food, and doing lots of shopping so I could bring home some comforts of the developed world back to the developing world with me! Paula came back with me and we spent a night in Santiago before heading to my campo for one night. We unpacked all ...

... and told everyone what I had, and that I needed my rest. I went to Los Limones with the Padre to give the girls their permission slips and went right back home to rest. I arranged with Anna to bring me meals so I wouldn't have to leave the house. I was feeling weak and a bit short of breath because of the lung infeccion, but other than that I was doing great...no fever, no body aches, no cause for alarm. All was great. But then, I realize that I am in an ...