There's no way for me to show the oldest posts first and then go down, so to start from the beginning just click on the little side bar to the right that says... "2012 - June/July/August" and just click the first post in June and go from there....
(oh and not sure why the writing is mouse sized either, so just enlarge your page (command +) and you might actually be able to read it)
Enjoy!
Friday, August 3, 2012
The End...of the start?
Just explaining to my parents all of the amazing times I'd had and the fantastic things I'd experienced made me so DR-sick and I was sure I was going to go into a state of DR depression, however after a few days of getting back into the groove of things and seeing my old friends, I was back to normal. Well.. as normal can be after you've just come back from a three week, life shaping experience in the Dominican Republic. Although life will carry on, I've already made changes in my daily routine, like continuing cold showers, using less water, eating less processed crap and not buying Starbucks ever. again. And although sometimes these memories will be pushed to the back of my mind, they will never be forgotten. I think in the long run, they'll help me figure out what I wanna do, where I wanna go, who I wanna be. I'm hoping the people I met over there will remain my friends for much longer, and hopefully someday I can return to the DR, because my works not done yet. Not even close.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Day 21: The rest of it... Last Day!!! :'(
We had agreed to wake up at 530 for sunrise on the roof, however come 530 Andrea and I were the only ones not dead to the world. So we climbed up to the rooftop and were joined by Fergie, Patrick and Leonard. We all admired the beautiful sun create silhouettes with the distant palm trees and nearby flower trees and perching birds, the opening to our last day - last few hours - in the Dominican Republic.
Rudy had made us pancakes, so we each got a fluffy circle of goodness before starting our goodbyes. It may have been the lack of sleep I'd gotten in the past 24 hours or the fact that I'm just awful at goodbyes (as well as dancing), but a little ways in, maybe when Jake began to make whale noises while we were hugging, tears began to spring up in my eyes and a lump formed in my throat. These soon turned to floods of salty water works and sobbing, even though I really wasn't that sad (sorry guys..). After making my rounds, Emma and I confessed to Rick about the strange noises he'd heard last night. Luckily he thought it was funny. hahaaa
On the bus ride down, my eyes subsided a bit, and I was able to have a functioning conversation with Rick about Norah Jones and gap years. While waiting for the plane, we all sat at the only restaurant our terminal had, a greasy fast food place. So Hunter, Ben and Ollie shoved fries and hamburguesas down their throats, I drank some coffee and Gabby munched on a grilled cheese, while we waited for our flight. Luckily no delay this time (compared to the arrivals FOUR HOURS), and we made our landing in New York safely and smoothly. It didn't feel real, actually being in America and after our goodbyes (not so teary this time, thank gawdd), mom and I made the long car ride home.
Day 20: Free Day (Errand Running!) ~
6.18.12.
Then I got to go run errands with Jane (and Leonard, Louisa and Carly), which pretty much consisted of chatting in the car until we got to Sosua, spending an hour there drinking smoothies, chilling in the sand and doing some last last minute shopping. Then Jane had a lunch date with her best friend Darren, so we got to go to Cabarete one last time, where we did some more last moment shopping before eating sandwiches (yes, the reaallly good kind) on the beach drinking the heaven juice and some coffee (first time in 17 days). THEN we went to Beach Comber where we searched for left behind towels, honey and bathing suits (success rate 0%) before visiting the bottle school honey keeper for some more honey for the GLA members. However, before his wife had sold them for 50$DR when the actual price was 100$DR so we only had half the money we needed, and ended up getting zero honey. The Cabarete coffee company (where we were going to fill peoples orders for natural, organic, Dominican coffee) was closed on Wednesdays, so we didn't end up getting that either. All in all though, it was a fantastically fun 5.5 hours of 'errand running', where we got to visit all the places we'd spent so much time during the last 20 days, and say a final goodbye.
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| Pool Funsies |
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| Twizzlers and String: Ingredients for the perfect all nighter |
The night sky is so beautiful in the DR, so we figured we might as well make the most of it, and as we neared the roof top, we found half of our group perched on the roof or dancing by the flag pole. We chilled up there for a bit before heading back to the cabins to shower and get ready for bed. We'd already decided the previous night that we were going to pull an all nighter, though, and there was no going back now. So we gave each other hair wraps and traded artists and listened to Sophia's iPad music until there was just 5 of the 10 roomies that were still asleep. It was 1.45 am and Juliana and I went back up to the roof and stargazed again. I've never actually stargazed before, because I live in a tree filled neighborhood where the branches block out most of the possibility of seeing the night sky. Plus, the stars are never as bright as in the DR. I saw my first shooting star while laying on that white, sloped roof and it was wonderful. We ended up running back because every crunch and crack we heard (most were probably us) we were convinced were murderers out to get us. After booking it back to the cabin (ours was the only one left with the light on) we found everyone fast asleep. But it was only 2.30 in the morning! So after Abby and Emma had woken up (it may or may not have been because of us) we convinced them to come to the roof with us one last time. After stopping in the kitchen for a quick bread fix (Juliana was hungry), we climbed onto the roof.
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| Just hangin on the roof |
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| Messing with "Fergie" |
Day 19: Sosua Beach
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| The beautiful Sosua beach |
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| On the way to the reef! |
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| Snorkeling!! |
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| And off they go! |
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| Abby and her pina colada |
Then Leonard stepped on a sea urchin while racing Savannah to a far off boat, and later Abby did too - but nothing could be done until they returned to America - so they got to walk around with urchin spines in their heels for the next two days.
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| Tattooed. |
When we got home, we showered quickly and then went on to present our group projects which we'd been assigned earlier that week. We each had to assess a specific location in according to Dave's capital model. The girls cabins had Acention (the Haitian Refugee camp) and the Santa Domingo Slums (that's us!) while the boys dorms had *** and the whole of America. After presenting and debating in an interesting debate about politics and whether it deserves its own spot on the model, we drifted off to bed with only one more night afterwards left in the DR! :(
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| The Capital Model (thanks Jayvee!) |
Day 18: Haitian Border
6.16.12.
The drive to the border was 4 hours so after a back aching bus ride, we finally parked at a curb. Jane informed us that the people here will try to steal anything loose and hanging off of us, so we left most things on the bus besides cameras. After a filling, heavy meal at a diner where we got a plate for each food we ordered (it made me feel awful because I knew I couldn't finish all of the five plates they gave me, and there were thousands of hungry people in the market just outside the restaurant). I enjoyed pear nectar and caramelized plantains while I was there though, and afterwards we set out to observe the market. We first walked to a gate, which truly was the line between Dominican Republic and Haiti. Trucks crammed with goods were passing through a small opening in the fence, guarded by armed men. Children were on the Haitian side, with filled baskets and bowls balanced on their little heads, pleading with those around them to buy something.
We then walked to the market entrance, which again was marked by a fence where we were instructed to stay single file and close as we weaved our way through the market. We had all worn our red GLA shirts, and once we entered the craze of the market place, we realized why. People were whizzing by us balancing huge bundles on their heads or pushing crammed wheelbarrows, and the whole area was so jammed with people that at some points we could barely see our group ahead. A woman sat on buckets on the side, selling dried herbs and spices and fish heads while a man emerged from a tiny alleyway in between shacks with huge bags of rice on his head. The Haitians and Dominicans didn't seem to mind our presence too much, excepts sometimes they'd give us angry looks when we'd get in their way. Again, I don't blame them, as I would probably be just as irritated with a bunch of Americans storming through my market place observing us like animals.
For us though, I think it made a lot of people wonder how America and other first world countries can run like we do, living in ignorant bliss to the horrors and hardships that these people must suffer through every day of their lives. When we got to the ligament border, made up from several flimsy fence barriers linked together with chains, we saw children playing in the river. The river that was probably one of the few sources of water that these people had. While the naked boys were splashing in the water, their mothers were cleaning clothes and doing laundry, while another women filled up drinking bottles. It was appalling that this dirty river served so many purposes because they didn't have any other options.
We talked to the guards on duty, who informed us that the Haitians can come to the DR twice a week without a passport, every Monday and Friday for the market. This is where they generate most of their income.
The Haitian government cut down the trees and drained the country of its resources before fleeing and leaving the citizens helpless. Now, because they are unable to crow their own crops, they rely on the Dominicans who sell food. In return, the Haitians sell the goods they get donated from first world countries like America (clothes for example), and use the money they earn to buy food for their starving families. Although this may seem like a decent system at first, think of all the problems and issues that will arise in the future - hitting these poor, third world countries first - like the lack of fresh water, oil crisis, etc. Once this occurs, there will only be more competition, and food prices may rise or the Dominicans may stop selling food to the Haitians all together, in which case the millions of people residing in Haiti will plunge into a state of crisis.
We talked about these faulty systems on our long bus ride home and the discussion later that night, brainstorming things that could be done to help better the situation of these people.
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| At the border, the fence marks Haiti |
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| Through the market - very cramped |
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| Drinking, Bathing, Washing water, all in one. |
We talked to the guards on duty, who informed us that the Haitians can come to the DR twice a week without a passport, every Monday and Friday for the market. This is where they generate most of their income.
The Haitian government cut down the trees and drained the country of its resources before fleeing and leaving the citizens helpless. Now, because they are unable to crow their own crops, they rely on the Dominicans who sell food. In return, the Haitians sell the goods they get donated from first world countries like America (clothes for example), and use the money they earn to buy food for their starving families. Although this may seem like a decent system at first, think of all the problems and issues that will arise in the future - hitting these poor, third world countries first - like the lack of fresh water, oil crisis, etc. Once this occurs, there will only be more competition, and food prices may rise or the Dominicans may stop selling food to the Haitians all together, in which case the millions of people residing in Haiti will plunge into a state of crisis.
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| Caged Children |
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| Selling Trucks |
We talked about these faulty systems on our long bus ride home and the discussion later that night, brainstorming things that could be done to help better the situation of these people.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Day 17: A Packed Sunday
We woke at 6 and left early to visit a Haitian village and sit in on their church mass. We all sat on bench pews in their cramped church and observed the songs, sung by all and played by a guy on drums and another on an electric guitar - this church was awesome. Everyone had dressed up nicely for the service, the men in shirt and tie attire, the women in long skirts and a nice top, the children in suits or adorable Easter dresses. Half way through, we left and sat outside with the children, letting them borrow our cameras and buying them waters and iceys. We got a tour afterwards of part of the village, a housing area. We had a crowd of children following us, begging for piggy back rides or just to hold our hand. When we'd stand still, listening to the preacher tour guide, they'd wrap their arms around us and bury their faces in our shirts, as if soaking up the affection, like they didn't get it otherwise.
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| Dogs outside the church, most bone skinny and one missing an eye. Sad to see but they loved to be pet |
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| Hunter with his new amigo |
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| Abby pouring out her fresh water to the eager children |
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| The plastic pouches of fresh water they'd drink - 2 pesos a pouch or as much free water as they needed from the local (dirty and polluted) stream. Which do you think they choose? |
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| One of the most beautiful girls I've seen. She was such a sweetie! |
Here's a video of part of their mass
- it was a wonderful atmosphere and I'm
so glad I got to experience it
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| Hunter & I (Those are the scrumptious candy coconuts I was telling you about) |
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| Sitting pretty! |
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| Nehemie doing her moves! |
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| The dancing scene |
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| Emma getting her dance on |
After dancing, a few of us slipped over to Bon (amazing ice cream place) and enjoyed some frozen goodness before returning back to the group - where we found a dance off taking place. Jayvee versus one of the Dominican guys. It was crazy and everyone was laughing, but both the guys were fantastic! Dave was a bundle of nerves though, because it seemed that the diesel guys had diluted the gasoline with water, and the bus wouldn't work. So all the girls had to squish into a van and go back, leaving Dave, Jane, Fergie and Sydney to figure the situation out.
When we returned to our empty home, we were all hot and sweaty from dancing and had the fantastic idea to go skinny dipping - after all, no boys around. So we all stripped and ran into the pool, figuring we had at least 20 minutes til any others arrive. However, five minutes in we hear someone yell "BOYS!" and we could see their shadows nearing the gate. A chorus of screams rang out and we all grabbed someones clothing and booked it for the cabins.
We returned ten minutes later attired in proper swimming wear, and chowed on fresh cut watermelon as we laughed about what just happened. Then a few of us went to the rooftop to stargaze, and how magnificent it was. It was a whole stretch of sky, sprinkled with glittering stars, not a plane or skyscraper or city light in sight besides the dazzling suns. Then we heard a car making its way up the drive, and figured Dave and Jane must be coming home, so we booked it back downstairs and ate some more watermelon before going to the cabins.
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| Cornbread + friends = recipe for fun times |
After showering, we broke open a 6 pack of cornbread I'd bought at the bottle school the other day, and some Tostidos that Sophia had bought at Cabarete and together we all feasted and chatted until we were falling asleep with our newly formed food babies, and we decided to hit the hay.
Day 16: Last Day @ Bottle School!!
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| Bee Keepers Place |
We enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast of french toast (we all wrote down the recipe although mine weren't half as good) before making our way to the bottle school, where we didn't engage in too much work but more conversed and played with the locals. We did get a good chunk done today though, and looking at the school as a whole, a lot has been completed in the three days we worked there. Several walls have been created and completed, some more cemented, and the septic tank whole was begun and finished. We bought bottles of honey from the bee keepers wife (that's a good book title, eh?) for 50$DR ($1.25 - SO CHEAP!) and made one last visit to the bee keeper himself, with our conjoined decent Spanish skills we learned how he manages the bees, how long it takes for them to make comb (un meso - 1 month), etc.
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| Post cement fight... |
I made a little friend, Soline (soh-line-y) who followed me around passing me bottles to stuff into the wire and who I gave most of my little gifts to. She brought me back to her house, which we walked through to enter the outdoor kitchen, where her brother and father were unshelling the shrimp they'd caught and where I tried to communicate to her mother in very bad very broken Spanish.
Afterwards Juliana and I went back to work with some others, and because we were working two ladies came around with a pot of freshly baked cornbread. Oh.My.God. That stuff was heaven. I said the burritos were good, I said the juice was yummy, and the french toast was fab but this cornbread.was.heaven. We drizzled fresh honey on top and almost died. As we were leaving, after saying goodbye to all of our new found friends and exchanging facebooks, we bought two more pieces for the road.
This is Ollie - want to hear him...bark? Click play!
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| Gabby and Soline |
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| Bee Keepers Children - So sweet and beyond beautiful! |
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| We completed 2+ walls! (Check it out in the background) |
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| Poolio the leopard cat (5% I tell you!) |
Our game consisted of the first team member chugging a glass of water, then running to the other 6 team members who would form a pyramid. Once they'd gotten in pyramid formation, the last team member would have to write down 50 countries. Whichever team completed this first won. Considering that Jake knew all 198 countries and could list them off in alphabetical order with ease, I'd say we had a pretty good chance of winning.
Day 15: Orphanage - Round III
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| On our way down |
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| Painting again! |
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| Lenny hard at work! |
We walked down to the orphanage for the last time, and were met half way by the ten day girls. I spent most of the time painting the school again - this time, everything but the floor. We talked to our friends from the orphanage, and had a delicious lunch of avocado sprinkled salad, bread and chips up in the tree house-pavilion again. Another great day, yet again.
Day 14: 27 Charcos and Cabarete
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| The beautiful falls (we slid down there) |
For lunch we chowed down burritos (again), but a burrito is a burrito and a burrito is good, so I guess there's no room for complaint. Afterwards we hung out at Cabarete, shopping in a ridiculously cheap store that sold the exact same jewelry as the beach hagglers for a fifth (at least) of the price. We drank more juice (I swear, that stuff is so good) and bathed in the warm, afternoon rays until it was time to leave.
Good day, and only 7 left!!
Day 13: Haitian Refugee Camp II
A little boy started lightly smacking the pup, which we scolded him for. Later, when we asked if he liked dogs or not, he answered no because they just get in the way. These boys we viewed as bullies and were slightly appalled at were a little less evil in retrospect. They could barely provide food and water for themselves and their families, never mind these breeding canines, and the fact that a little dying puppy gets more clean water than them doesn't really make sense. The anger he took out on the dog however, the joy he got from bopping its head was unnerving and saddening. Will we ever be able to change the Dominicans views on animals and help the strays? I guess we have to target the people first and reach the animals later.
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| Sophie and the kids |
Our lunch was the same, we ate half and gave half. Everyone bought at least one bracelet and we spent the last hour with the kids again. I met a girl, Elena, who was 16 years old. She cared for her whole family, her 9 brothers and sisters and when offered food she let the other kids take it first. When Juliana was passing out toothbrushes, she waited in line like the rest of the kids, but let 3 smaller children push in front of her. Juliana ran out as she got to the front of the line. 16. Sixteen years old and she was already doing what most of us never dreamed of doing before we turned 25, before we married and had children of our own. And even then, we probably hoped for a little cash to help us out.
I said I'd try to get her a passport, so she can work and provide for her enormous family. So she could finally leave the camp for the first time in sixteen years. So she can work to become the doctor she aspires to be. I told her I'd try.
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| Sohpie and Ollieee! *Tuyens Photos!:) |
Day 12: Haitian Refugee Camp I
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| The houses and road - the town they live in |
We learned that many of the people here were born in the camp - making them not Haitian, but not Dominican either (the American rule stating if they're born in the US they're a US citizen doesn't apply to the DR). Hence the term 'Ghosts', the label children like these are known as. However, passports are difficult to attain (we were informed later by Hunter and James in our nightly discussion), because one would need birth certificates, other identification papers, and at least $56 - all things that most of these refugees lack and are far from being able to afford.
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| Carbon burning cooking stove they use |
We ate our staple lunch under another pavilion, with a large audience of hungry children surrounding us. As a result of this almost begging crowd, many of us left half of our food to give to the kids. The moment that touched most of our group was when we'd offer our half filled food plates to some older kids, and they'd always point to the younger children, placing the young one's needs in front of theirs. One little girl who looked about two or three seemed so dazed at the sight of food that Rachel had to spoon feed the little disbelieving child the rice and beans, as she couldn't do it herself.
We found two tiny puppies in some bushes, and were informed that their parents died of starvation. From the looks of their protruding ribs and inability to walk straight, we figured they wouldn't last too long either - so little Jake made it his mission to rescue one the following day.
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| Some adorable kids selling their bracelets |
After we got home, we engaged in our usual routine of pool dinner hang out but with a twist! Jane had brought back these delicious little limonella (or something like that) fruits, which you'd peel and suck on. They had a strange soft-slimy texture and tasted a bit like mango-lime but whatever they were, they were good!!
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| Hunter and Dave got haircuts. Can you say you got a cut with a razor, a comb, and a paperclip? Now they can. |
*Tuyens photos :)
Monday, July 30, 2012
Day 11: What Defines a Good Leader?
- Passion - energetic/impassioned about topic at hand, transmits that strong feeling over
- Charisma - persuasion, charm
- Education - they don't just talk fluff, bullshit. a.k.a. they know what they're talking about
- Ability to Transmit - effectively communicate thoughts
- Promises - does what s/he says, doesn't lie or promise things s/he can't keep but campaign isn't build upon promises either
- Realistic but Optimistic
- Looks/plans ahead [to future]
- Learns from Mistakes - doesn't repeat because blindly charging forward
- Can Admit Mistakes - not too prideful
- Chooses Right over Wants - does what's good for country/party/campaign/goal not for personal self
Day 11: Free day @ Cabarete!
Today consisted of...
Shopping 1: Gabby and I bartered on a nice painting
Swimming and floating: in the lulling ocean waves
Drinking juice [1]: mango lemon juice at the mojito bar = Yumm
Eating burritos: vegetarian of course
Shopping 2: I got a nice sling over black/grey striped bag
Beach Bartering: We all got jewelry from the beach hagglers
Chilled on the beach: chatting, napping and listening to oldies music
Juice [2]: mango pineapple = double y u m
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| "Alex! Leonard! Get in here!!" |
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| Savannah, Emma and Sophie chillin on the beach |
I got a little sunburned/dehydrated and felt overheated and tired the rest of the night, probably as a result. This was the first night I wore actual pants (I was chilly too)! Fun times though, fun times.
*Emmas photos :)
*Emmas photos :)
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