La Hostal Colonia Santo Domingo

... able to chat together for an hour and a half. There were still things I had to ask her to clarify, but I was able to hold up my own end of the conversation. (CSA evaluated my Spanish again with the same written test they gave me when I got here, and I only scored just a little bit higher. I think that proves I knew the grammar rules when I got here and I could write well if I had time to think about what I wanted to say. The big difference now is that I have ...

... of these organizations, and had to find them (which of course, hilarity ensued). The journey took us around in circles because, as we learned, Dominicans like to "save face" even when they don't know the answer to a question. For example, if you asked a Dominican for directions, if he/she did not know the answer, the person would just guess and point in an arbitrary direction. BUT VOLUNTEERS DON'T DRESS UP: That is, of ...

... things at restaurants and hotels using a mix of broken Spanish and hand gestures. Although the average Dominican's salary is $300 per month, the typical dress does not differ that much to anything I've seen in the States. The only thing I will comment on is that despite the extreme heat and humidity here, the people all wear suits and jeans during the day with no worries and sweat! This is how you are able to spot many of the tourists ...

... more pleasant. We couldn´t find it at first and you´d think finding a huge fort wouldn´t be much of a problem except that directions we´re given are often very general although they sound very specific they are actually only an "over there somewhere" type of directions. Sorry, had a few problems with directions on this trip. Eventually we got there and had a good look around. The walls still had cannons lined up along two of the walls and there were a pile of cannons ...

... Corps front, I have been really busy since I got back. I went and picked up 25 sets of ceramic pieces for my stoves (see my Flickr account for pictures) and installed 30 water filters. I am in the process of soliciting more filters for the families who didn't get one in the first go-around, so we will see if that happens. I am wrapping up my educational workshops for the ceramic ...

... boy waiting for me, asking me why I never ran by the other day. Ahh, AWKWARD. I'm trying to be more direct with people here, but it's hard for me. I thought the indirect communication the Dominicans are so known for would work, but I guess not. I'm hoping this guy is harmless!! Another "cultural experience"...the other week, a couple of us girls went up the mountain to another volunteer's site, which is GORGEOUS, but it ...

... As you walk around the Zone, there are many monuments to famous leaders in Dominican history and gorgeous plazas. We decided to have lunch in la Plaza de España which is home to Christopher Columbus's and his son's house. It was fairly hot and humid out so we had a good time eating lunch in the shade on a balcony at the Brazilian restaurant called Costelao, with an amazing view of the plaza.

... which is when the women go. So my cousin decided not to return home one night and the following morning my host aunt told me that she got married. Her boyfriend....or now her husband...came by the house to pick up her clothes. She wont come back to visit her parents until next sunday...which is the tradition....and then on Sunday there will be a big celebration because my cousin has turned into a women....although most people do not think she should have gotten married! So ...

... had one in her front yard, and her host dad grabed a knife and chopped it up into peaces. Hopefully I won´t witness any of that! In community based training I have 4 hours of spanish class everyday, and then four hours of technical training. We are basically learning about different methods we can use to help reach out into the community. We also have to do a mini community diagnostic which involves going to people´s houses and asking them a whole bunch of health ...

... to the city more that once a month. I guess rules are optional in a country where laws are optional. So the crash courses are starting to annoy me. We came with our instructors, but were then were then expected to go home alone. Fortunately for Peace Corps, I made it home in one piece.

I have to go for now. I will try to write when resources are made available. I hope to get letters from you all or those that can.