Hotel Discovery Santo Domingo

... me with a hole in my leg and no one to get me to a clinic. When Rigil eventually showed up, we talked about it in English and he agreed that my cut needed medical attention. He talked to Luzlanda and told her to take me back to the clinic. An hour or so later she showed up at the office to use the internet and I had to invite her to look at my leg. In classic Dominican fashion, she said we would go to the clinic in an hour or so, meaning my cut would have another ...

... we're all learning, so she speaks slowly and clearly which is a tremendous help. Santiago had three months of language training so he speaks and understands much more than Mark and I. Mark has been here six weeks with three weeks of language, and he and I are more or less at the same level of proficiency. Santo Domingo and more specifically the part of town I'm living in is definitely not a representation of the rest of the country. I feel very spoiled ...

... somewhere - their specialty is merengue (donīt really know what it is though). The people are black or hispanic, many very attractive (but the clothes arenīt quite as skimpy as in Cuba, much to Rayīs disappointment!) There are tons of stray dogs everywhere and of course tourist areas are their favourite. One night we were having dinner in an outside restaurant, and a pack of seven grown dogs started having a brawl only a few metres from us! Then thereīs another one I ...

... to be fine. You forget all the troubles at home.... you're here... right now... at this place ... the sun goes up... and you're just amazed!! That's what I feel.... that I never want to go away from this place... But ya... how it is... unfair but reality... the minutes and hours pass by... we eat our last breakfast and go back down to the beach. I swim with Daniel in the sea and we have ...

... 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

... several plastic bags with trash, one of the muchachos asked me if he should throw it in the river!! I recently received a donation of more art supplies and I will be putting them to use this summer in a summer camp. I am planning one for the end of July. One week of older kids (12-16), and one week of younger kids (7-11). I am going to use the first week as a sort of training and then pick the best of the kids to help me with ...

... 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 itīs a girlīs 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 ...

... bed. Since there were no locks, I had to leave some clothing on. Nothing like saying hello to your family the next morning naked or for one of them to walk in accidentally.

The night passed and morning came with still no electricity and no running water. The water is pumped through the faucets by electricity. So I took my first bucket bath (very cold). Did I forget to mention that hot water does not really exist because you would need a ...