Hotel Waterfront Sosua

... which is built up along the entire coastline. As such, it really looks like you are on a tropical island when you drive through the north, and it is SO different from the south - much more beautiful, in my opinion. We stopped for lunch in Cabarete, which was quite good, but the service was very, very slow. After that, it was full steam ahead to Luperon...which turned out to be quite tricky to find. We almost missed the turn-off, and then made our way ...

After Shen's disappointing attempt at surfing Thursday morning, we decided to head to Cabrera, a relatively small town not far from Playa Grande. Through my work with HSI, I know an English woman who lives there and runs Animal Balance, an NGO that brings veterinary services to island dogs around the world. She does tremendous work, and her impact was quite apparent in Playa Grande, where the dogs are friendly, well-fed, and free of the myriad diseases ...

Our good luck with the guaguas continued, or maybe they're just good here. Our trek to Rio San Juan required four buses, and we weren't really sure of the route, but we made it quickly and with no complications. We headed straight for a hotel listed in the guidebook that sounded great, but we had heard different prices from different people. When we walked in, we both said, Oh no, this doesn't look like a place ...

... gives me the fortitude to be a good mother and role model for my<br>daughter.  Someday I'll share stories about these people, and I hope that<br>by doing so, my daughter will grow up to be sensitive and caring, and<br>hopefully, will have the same opportunity to offer her time and expertise to<br>those less fortunate than her.<br>I'm certain that I will be staying home for a while.  Only two semesters left<br>until graduation, so I have a long haul ...

... imagine what it smells like, and what a health risk it is to live there.<br>I saw a little boy today.  He is 4 years old.  He lives with his parents and 4 siblings in a one-room "house" built out of rusted tin and tires.  Upon meeting him, I could tell that this child was gravely ill.  He contracted Dengue Fever over a week ago, was hospitalized, but released home.  I'm not sure ...

... aren't spoiled by anybody,<br>Who go to bed hungry and cry themselves to sleep,<br>Who live and move, but have no being.<br>We pray for children who want to be carried,<br>And for those who must,<br>For those we never give up on<br>And for those who don't get a second chance.<br>For those we smother,<br>And for those who will grab the hand of anybody kind enough to offer it.<br> -----by Marian Wright Edelman 

... they can inside, and there really is no concept of "a seat." They pack people so tightly inside that sometimes people are half-sitting on top of each other. And since everyone can be crammed in so tight with no aisle in the van, if someone way in the back needs to get off, usually a few people near the door need to physically get out of the van to let that person out, and that person is still usually stepping between and ...

... 70, but it gets a lot cheaper (half price and less) with 4 people or more. (Later on I asked around if anyone wanted to go scuba diving with me and about 5 of us want to do it so we'll see!) He'll give you a free 15 minute lesson in the pool as well to see if you want to do the whole scuba lesson + diving, so I'll probably do that just to make sure. I wanted to look into getting a pedicure (which I badly needed), so Leanna and I ventured past the pool and further ...

... pendant that I liked. I asked him how much it was and he told me to put all the items I wanted in one pile and then he would quote me a price for all of them. So I was obligated to look some more. I found a pretty blue stoned ring that I liked, and then also a beautiful silver dolphin bracelet that I really liked. I asked him how much for all three and he said $90US! There was no way I was going to pay that much and I told him it was "trop" (too much ...

... Yesterday, myself and 4 other people walked to Ascension village instead of joining the rest of the group at Nazaret. We walked to Ascension in order to get a little understanding of what it's like to walk to work in the hot DR sunshine.. It took about an hour and a half. It was a very nice walk- pleasant company as well. However, my legs were killing me because I have a couple nice shiners that have become evident since the 27 ...