Neptuno's Refugio Boca Chica

... helps us get through Immigration departure stamps from Costa Rica and then we wait a half an hout in the 100 degree sun as the Costa Rican customs inspector tries to get windows to print out a form for one of the people in front of us in line to clear their vehicles (mostly truck drivers who are laughing at the customs official as he just cant get the printer to work). Finally its my turn and the guard tells me he wants to see the bikes in ...

... food and clothing costs, let alone the cost of a surgery of this magnitude. As one can well imagine, his parents are devastated, and they are at a loss for what to do. They wanted to talk to me because they know that I am a Rotarian, and they know that I came from a school that was very generous with school supply donations. They are hoping that I may be able to ask for help in Canada, as they really have no other means or ...

... either I would win and he would die, or he would win and I would be forever paranoid of the attack of the killer cockroach. So, I grabbed my brush, counted to three, threw back the pillow and started wailing on the bug. And he didn't die!! He finally did stop moving, but I didn't squish him - his outside was so hard and crunchy! Oh, I forgot to mention that I was talking to Scott on the phone while this attack was going on...and he was dying with laughter on ...

... in Haiti, where he still has a house. He and his wife (from Mexico) split their time between the DR and Haiti. There is a large administrative staff, including social workers, who assess possible candidates for entry and provide counselling for the children once they arrive. They just built a brand new administration building, which is beautiful. The orphanage also has a board of directors, and much outside interest and donations - especially ...

... fares. I ask for and reach the rental car offices and here is the first challenge. The lady at the rental car counter speaks very little english and I speak almost no spanish ( my vocabulary is limited to these 2 words .. gracias, buenos dias). I rent cars often and the transaction takes about 5 minutes; here it took about 45. Anyway alls well that ends well I get into the car and drive away towards Santo Domingo. the roads remind me a lot of ...

... in Juan says goodbye and we go into our single-rooms. Take the bikini and go down to the beach. The weather is amazing and a great atmosphere... But either.. after the first minutes in the water we notice, that it's not the "kind of hotel" that we looked for. The beach is VERY SMALL!!! Really... like 30 meters or so!!! We decide to call Juan and tell him our problem with this hotel. He promise to come in the evening to look and take us to an other hotel ...

... where we are going to be, and we are dying to find out! We have all really come to love Sabana de al Mar, and our families are so great. The two year old boy in my family has become my favorite person here...I think I am learning the most Spanish from him! This really is a good town, though, because we all feel so safe here. We all know everyone, I can run in the mornings without any problems, it´s close to so many great sites, like Samana, Los Haitises, Miches (the great ...

... Valentines is all about romance, yes?! They had sprayed perfume all over the place. So, the moment we stepped in, it was like being we're being transported to a fantasty world! The Arabian Decor is worth taking note of. And did I mention about the food?? It was DIVINE! Perhaps, we're in for the tastiest dinner ever. There was a band playing some classic love tracks, and it was ...

... sucks because my house has a tin roof, so the rain makes tons of noise when it hits the roof. You pretty much can't even hold a conversation when it's raining because you can't hear anything. So with the sick baby crying at night, the roosters crowing at 5 am and the rain, you could only imagine how much sleep I've been getting. I'm sure once these 2 years are over I will be able to sleep through anything. Some of the volunteers have ...

So after the AIDS vigil was a huge success, I felt a new wave of energy in the hopes that things could get started FINALLY in my community. I started a girls basketball team and softball team. The girls had always watched the boys play basketball, but now, they are unleashing talents they never knew they had! We have practice once aweek right now, but they are always knocking down my door asking if we can go to the "cancha" to play. I also started two youth ...