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.

Dogs outside the church, most bone skinny
and one missing an eye. Sad to see but
they loved to be pet

Hunter with his new amigo

Abby pouring out her fresh water to the eager children

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?

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

Hunter & I
(Those are the scrumptious candy
coconuts I was telling you about)

Then off to Cabarete! We ate sandwiches and fresh juice by the beach before going shopping once again and practically buying out the store between us (it was our last time!). We relaxed in the water, talking to some locals and then dried off in the sun eating delicious candy covered coconut macaroons from a street vendor. Before we left, I got a banana strawberry smoothie for the road. So much food, so much goodness.

Sitting pretty!

We played our team building activities after, which consisted of a balloon picking up and passing game, our geography game (which we won, what a surprise!), a land version of I-T, and  4 corners - tree style. Everyone dispersed afterwards, hurrying back to the cabins to dress up for the gas station dance we were going to. It was the first time we'd worn make up and made any effort to look nice in over 2 weeks, and we all cheered each other on as we walked on the bus - the girls in dresses, the guys in nice shirts. The dance was in a little bar area, but there were dozens of restaurant tables set out around it. The gas station was just after that. We all had a blast, dancing with Dominican guys and the GLA guys, and we somewhat learned the salsa.

Nehemie doing her moves!

The dancing scene

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.

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!!

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.

Post cement fight...

Emma and Savannah managed to start a cement/water/mud/wateragain fight with the locals which Leonard and I got dragged into, but luckily the crazy weather brought us several heavy rain showers to wash off in.

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!

Gabby and Soline

Bee Keepers Children
- So sweet and beyond beautiful!

We completed 2+ walls!
(Check it out in the background)

After chilling in the pool and eating dinner, we all talked before being split into four groups for a team building activity. We had to make a game, any game, that all four groups would play but that we would win. So we assessed our strengths (Jake's infinite geography knowledge, Wesley's My Little Pony expertise, and Ben's ability to chug a glass of water kind of fast) and used them to our advantage... well most of them...

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

On our way down

Painting again!

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

The beautiful falls (we slid down there)

We hiked up a neat trail of wobbly bridges and steep mountain inclines that led us to the first of many waterfalls today. It's called 27 Charcos and it's a big, worn rock gorge filled with that same unbelievably blue water as the mountain rivers. We met the 10 day group here, made up of 19 girls, and together (all 50+ of us) we single filed it through the streams, down the falls, and into the rocky caverns. It was a blast, the best part not to be jumping off the falls or slipping down the rock slides but just to be there with smooth, 20 ft high, who-knows-how-old rock walls towering above either side of us, floating in misty blue ice water with a lush rain forest surrounding us. That was the best part.

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

We returned to our newfound friends in Acention today, working on a project to build a greenhouse and flatten out a dirt pile into the surrounding gardens. Because this work was incrementally easier than the gardening labor, we all switched off working with exploring the village and talking to the children. The two pups we found yesterday were rescued by little Jake (he took the girl and named her Lily) and Louisa (the boy - Ollie). The puppies could barely lift up their heads, and as we were pouring water into our hands for it to drink from, the surrounding children became irritated, questioning why we're wasting water on a dog and not them.

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.

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.

Sohpie and Ollieee!


*Tuyens Photos!:)

Day 12: Haitian Refugee Camp I

The houses and road - the town they live in

We woke up early to embark on yet another hour long bus ride through countless little cities and towns, until we began on the bumpy roads winding through a sugar cane plantation, which led us to the camp. We parked next to a 'global improvements' building (there were many of the like) and made our way to a trashed garden: today's project. Many of us agreed that it was one of the more difficult labor days because the work, however easy (picking and piling up trash and hay to clear the field) was unbelievably tedious and hot under the beating sun. After an hour or so, the group split into two; half stayed behind and half were toured around the camp - then visa verso. My group went first, and as we walked around the dirt "roads" of the cramped village it became truly evident how poverty stricken these people were - and how much of an issue it was that most of their incomes were from the bracelets they sold to tourists like us.

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.

Carbon burning cooking stove they use

We saw the form of cooking the refugees use, some sort of carbon makeshift stove which emits awful gasses into the air. But because of its cheap price and their lack of education, these people and millions of others around the world continue to use it. As we left the housing section of the village and made our way to a sitting area under a pavilion, we learned a bit about our Haitian tour guide. He needed money to fix his motorcycle so he could return to work, he aspired to be a rap artist (he gave us quite a good preview of one of his songs), and if the roles of the clashing Haitians and Dominicans (or Haitians and another 1st world country) were reversed, he personally would help anyone who asked for it because no one deserves to live like they do.

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.

Some adorable kids selling their bracelets

Afterwards we played with the children in a large stretch of field. I gave rocket powered piggy back rides to a line of excited children, raced a few speedy boys to a soccer goal and back and sat in the shady grass with my Kermit pez stick doling out the purple, brick shaped candies. I convinced some of the boys to sing for me, and we shared the same music interest: Bob Marley (and disinterest, J Biebs...). It was a hot hour, playing in the sun, but it was great being able to connect with these children over the little things, like basketball or Bob Marley. It all really does display how small of a world we really live in - but also demonstrates how painfully large of a wealth gap there is and how that can drastically alter their lives.


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!!

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 :)

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

"Alex! Leonard! Get in here!!"

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 :)

Day 10: Bottle School II

Septic holes getting deep!

Experimenting with sanitizer

Today was pretty much a repeat of the previous day, except we didn't go back to the honey mans comb paradise, we visited his house instead, where several of us purchased bottles of honey to take home (or chug on the spot, as Hunter seemed to do).  The hole got a few feet deeper, to the point where Jake could stand in one part, and have just his head stick out. We all made friends with the kids, who loved to have their photos taken - we had a photo shoot. Abby gathered a group of followers who helped her dig and wire in bottles, while some little boys had fun using the remainders of my hand sanitizer, as they'd never seen anything like it.

Told you it looks like a fetus!!

"We can't keep Puppy?"

We found an adorable puppy, which everyone wanted to rescue, and which Louisa (who aspires to be a vet) determined had worms, fleas and skin issues, among several other health issues. Hunter and Patrick discovered the cocoa nut (I think that's what they're called), the fruit(?) from which chocolate is derived. Once the nuts had been cracked open, the inner white-slime covered cocoa beans were revealed. Everyone had...an interesting time sucking the white covering off the beans, which tasted like sour mango (I thought they looked like alien fetus's), but I soon discovered the actual bean tasted a w f u l aka not like chocolate at all. It was a successful and entertaining day all in all, and our last time for a while at the bottle school.

Sunrise on a morning walk - beautiful way to wake up 

Little Alejandro helping us shovel dirt

Bottle School Boy

This boy made his toy himself, and
would run up and down the beaten
road for twenty minutes, so entertained
- he was great

The well they get their drinking
water from :/

Amelia makes friends!

Day 9: Bottle School I

We all got bused over to a small village, where our project lay: a school made from bottles. It began when the local priest asked Dave to build him a school. Dave agreed upon the promise that the priest and villagers would collect 30,000 bottles and stuff them with trash - all within the following two weeks. A fortnight later, Dave returned to discover that they had in fact completed their task. Now it was just ours to help them build it.

Jake hard at work

The wooden structure and tin roof had already been constructed, and the groups before us had made some progress with several walls, however there was so much still left un-bottled. So we set to work nailing chicken wire on either side of the posts, filling them with straight lines of bottles layered up to the ceiling, securing these bottles with metal wire, and finally cementing over these bottles a few times. A septic tank was also started, with several of the group members digging a 6 ft hole in back of the school. We took breaks to play with the kids, buy snacks from the store, and even visit the local honey man.

This was probably one of my favorite experiences of the whole trip, visiting the honey bee man. 9 of us took the journey to find him, walking through the village, down a forest path and across a ridiculous 6-inch wide bridge made of wire. As we walked up the small incline to his comb kingdom, he spotted us and made his way down with an enormous cloth covered bowl. After greeting us, he began plucking large, green leaves from a nearby branch. On each he placed a fist sized comb, dripping with this sticky, fresh goodness. We emptied our pockets and gave him the coins we had as thanks, and made our way back. I'd just tip the leaf down and let the honey drip down the center of the leaves and into my mouth. The best was to just take a huge bite out of the comb, letting the  honey spurt out of each hole as I chewed the waxy comb - savoring every moment. This experience, among many others, will stick with me for a long time.

Sophie plays patty cake with Soline

There were so many adorable kids there too, who helped us build their own school. We all took time from work to play patty cake and tic tac toe in the dust with the children, who were all so beautiful and cute.

After our sweaty, cramped bus ride home, we dove into the crashing ocean waves followed by the pool where we relaxed for the rest of the day followed by another riveting movie and discussion











     

One of the many adorable boys 

Crossing that treacherous bridge to the honey keeper

He presented the comb on the leaf to us,
- tasted like heaven

Siblings :)

My girl, Soline <3

Working hard!

Progress!!

One of the many dogs Dave's picked up
at Beach Comber living' the life &
soakin' up the sun