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 :)