Hodelpa Caribe Colonial Santo Domingo

THE BREAKDOWN: I have had my share of frustrating moments, even days, since being here in the Dominican Republic, but this topped the list. Since the doctors left me 150 mosquito nets from the medical mission, Jackie (the volunteer in the next site over) and I decided that instead of just giving them out to community members we should give a presentation explaining the importance of mosquito nets, such as preventing Malaria and ...

... t get any fresher that this) food ? What beats swimming in the Caribbean with good friends and two dogs, while the locals turn their stereos louder and louder to lure us into their beach restaurants - where we then get served the best fish I've tasted in a very long time ? Forget about the rat, the lack of electricity and running water; those obstacles will be overcome soon. Forget about the mosquitos (unless the one that's left finds a partner, it ...

... and your support is greatly appreciated. Also, many thanks to the generous people who have donated money to purchase books in Spanish. If you are interested in helping out, there are two options. First (for those who live in or near Indy), you can buy the books yourself and I will pick them up when I am home to carry back with me in my luggage. Alternatively, you could send a gift certificate to a chain bookstore ...

... for a good 10 mins while Fernando, the little boy gets the chicken out of my room. Have I mentioned how much I hate the roosters? OH! Package update. First of all, THANK YOU mom and dad for the sweet care packages, you're the best. Second, I am not changing my mailing address, so people can keep using the address in the Santo Domingo. I will be going into the capital every now and then to go to the PC office and whatnot, so I can pick up my mail there. Also, if you ...

... another family, but they are sweet. There is a doña and a don(so a husband and a wife), and they are probably in their 60´s maybe, and then their son lives with them and his daughter, who is 9 and is learning English...yay! His wife is studying in the capitol, so she is there only the weekends, with their son, who is 2, and we are now best buds after a day of playing outside, giving airplane spins, and then watching the Little Mermaid together. He is ...

So I have just survived my first week along at my site...and it was not at all too bad. I basically just spend the last week walking around trying to get to know everybody, and playing 3 hours of dominos everyday. Dominos is a big deal here, and every afternoon there is always a big social gathering around all the domino tables. I enjoy playing it, but I still have a lot to learn...its a pretty stratigic game. I don´t like playing it with the young people ...

... it is hard to stay awake when it is so hot outside! There are 4 other american girls that live on my street so I am not all by myself. The dominicans seem really nice and friendly. The men go off to work, and the women stay at home, cleaning all day. Really, the Dominicans don´t do much, they kind of just sit in front of their houses and watch other people. They also talk about a lot of the other people that live on their street. I´ve already experienced some gossip. When I came down ...