Hotel Casa Valeria Sosua

... somewhat explains the blank stares when I asked for frijoles), and within minutes of asking the Comedor lady about Emma (a.k.a. la gringa que cuida a los perros), we were on a motoconcho heading to her house. Surprise!!<br><br>I felt bad dropping in on her unannounced, but it was great to see her. We knew we were at the right house when five dogs bounded out to greet us. Emma arrived in Cabrera more than two years ago with virtually no Spanish, but ...

... were shocked - shocked! - that the terrace-level rooms were $15 for the two of us. The rooms are basic and the terrace isn't well-maintained, but we walked out of our room to a wide expanse of ocean and a little beach off to the side. Really, the hotel made my week.<br><br>As soon as we checked in we headed back out for Playa Grande, supposedly one of the prettiest beaches in the area. It's hard to know how ...

... the next six months.  The<br>comforts of home with the people I love, will surely see me through. That I<br>know for sure-<br>I hope you have all enjoyed the blog.  I have loved sharing some thoughts,<br>albeit probably a bit superficial at times, as feelings are often difficult to<br>retrieve-<br><br>Thank you for following my journey.  <br>Please look for more pictures in the days to come.<br><br>Love,<br><br>Lani<br><br>< !--EndFragment--><br><br><br>

... he said, "I don't have the money or the time."  It was maddening.  I truly believe in my heart that this child will not survive this illness, just because of his living situation.  It was difficult to walk away-<br>Please offer your positive thoughts, good karma, prayers, or wishful thinking to this little one tonight.  Maybe they will help.<br>Missing all of you,<br>Love,<br>Lani

After spending some time in Cabarete and avoiding some major storms, I spent a day in Sosua before heading to Las Terrenas. I had the chance to speak to the locals and walk around the quiet town and enjoy tasty Dominican food. It's very quiet time of the year here and with the rain it makes it more difficult to interact with others. Although Playa Sosua is nice, I think I enjoyed Cabarete much more.

... being cut out of, that really makes it a lot more real. I can't believe people were actually eating it - barbarians. Every living being has the right to live - not just people. As my t-shirt says that I was wearing yesterday: "The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for whites or women for men." - quote by Alice Walker After dinner we went to watch the dancing show at ...

... t go in the water at all, so she just documented the experience with the still and video camera, but my dad and I, and Lynette's family, thoroughly enjoyed and immersed ourselves in the water. Once I got myself it, it was actually warm, and you could feel warm currents of water passing beneath you. After swimming for quite awhile I finally went to the beach to lay down and get some sun. I actually fell asleep on the beach and it was relaxing. I don't know ...

... local rum-based cocktails on the beach whilst the sun slipped away behind the mountains inland. The PKRA riders left Cabarete a few days later for its next destination Tarifa and Cabarete relaxed even more in true caribbean style. Our jobs at the Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding centre are going well and we are working most days when the wind is good and kitesurfing ourselves when we are not ...

... because there is never a dull moment. However, you are slammed into meeting and seeing all these new things and before you know it you are on a bus to you new site that weekend. I am not even going to get into Christmas last-year for me. Let's just say that I buried myself in as many Dean Koontz books as I could possible find and found comfort in the existence of another world at that time. Of course, everybody in my community thought I was nuts and just ...

... the life and culture here so that you can understand as well. I so far am not doing a good job, but hopefully this will change in the future. I want to give you accounts though you would not normally tell others people about these stories we volunteers talks about them on a daily basis. I want you to understand how you grew up and appreciate what it is you have in this life. Further, if in the future you have the opportunity to help others to not even think about ...