Losing track of what day is what

I didn't even remember what I blogged about last time until I looked over my last one. It's like all the days are just mushing together and I couldn't even tell you what happened on what day, it all just happens. I am loving it here, it is so amazing to experience the culture here. From squeezing 6 people, even if they are strangers, into a car for transportation to all the new foods i get to try. I can tell you for sure that I have had rice every day, if not twice a day. Last night it was a little funny when my host mom ordered Dominos for dinner. It's so american and I never thought I would be eating that over here. 

Anyway a few days ago we traveled up to La Isabela to have a little lesson on Christopher Columbus. We were at the place that he had built a house at and could see the outline of where his house would have been. It was really cool to be able to explore this and not just sit in a classroom and hear a lecture about it. While we were there we had a glass of the most amazing lime-aid, made fresh! It was amazingly good, I don't think I can drink juice once I get home because it's all made fresh here and doesn't have all that sugar and preservatives in it. Then we had a lunch of fried chicken and fish with some rice, platons, and salad. The weather was perfect that day so there were no problems getting around. Then for the end of our first culture class we spend a little bit of time at a beach near by. The water was like warm bath water, yet still refreshing. It was so nice until I walked out a little further and found the stuff all across the bottom that was like seaweed and then hit my calf on a coral reef. I didn't get cut as bad as the other kid that came across the same problem though so I was the lucky one. Then right as we were leaving it started to rain, we had made it out just in time.

On the following saturday night the three boys and I were taken to the little food cart by my favorite intern, Grey. I had asked her what her favorite food was and she told me Yaroa and this was a place close by where we could try some out. It was also the place that invented the concoction. It was a layer of fries on the bottom then had meat and veggies pilled on top, finally covered with a nice layer of cheeses. I wasn't feeling so well that night so I did't buy one, but of course tried a bite of Greys and it was very good, I loved it. Unfortunately that night I came down with a burning fever, insane head ache and all my joint and muscles were still and in pain. My host mom gave me some meds for it and its possible that I had a little case of chikungunya. You can only get it once so I'm glad I got it over with right in the beginning. The only thing is now I get a constant red rash all over my body and it itches. It doesn't hurt but the worst part about it is the way it looks is just scary.

Besides all of the fun adventures we get to take we are also in spanish class and take a class on how to teach English. Out last class on how to teach english was yesterday but I'm thinking I might do that for one of my volunteer options. It may have been the end of that class but we will still be taking spanish every day from 9-11:30 everyday. That is completely fine with me because i really need the help and practice with my spanish. I think I am getting a little better with it but only by a tiny bit. Somehow i managed to get the highest score on our spanish placement test. It might just have been that my guesses were right. Also it could have been because I had such an amazing spanish teacher, Miss. Moorse (Mrs. Lobozzo). Recently we have also started having dance class for the last half hour of spanish class. Which is really good cause I can't dance at all and really need these classes. Our homework was to come up with a little bit of a choreographed Marangue dance, that was the dance we were learning. I'm a little worried to present that in front of the class but everything will go well... I hope.

I am loving my time here and can't wait for the many adventures I will get to take during my time here. I love trying new foods and like the music so much better here! Yes I am listening to some spanish music right now. It's all so different and I am so glad I jumped into this trip so I can discover a different part of the world.

SO hot but just as beautiful

Let me start this blog of with our sunday excursion. Sunday we traveled with the CIEE study abroad students to Playa Ensenada. It was really nice to meat a bunch of them and there's even a girl from Portland that is one of the study abroad students. Such a small world. So anyway we went to the beach and it was BEAUTIFUL! We got there and right off they took a group of us on a boat ride to where we could go snorkeling. The boat ride was very awesome and we kept getting slapped in the face with some water, but I can't say that I didn't like it. We got to a little island and jumped out to try out some snorkeling. I wasn't the only one who was new at it so it was a huge relief. It scared me at first because when you first look down you see all these fish just swimming around you. Because in Maine I'm used to the fish scampering away as soon as you get anywhere near them. These fish were beautiful a lot of them were blue, green and yellow, I was also swimming above the coral reefs as well and they were almost at pretty as the fish. By the time we had all finished there were many of us that were so ready to chow down on some Dominican food. So we got back to the beach and had some lunch, a little ice cream and some relaxing time on the beach. Compared to Maine the water was like bath water, so much nicer than at Reid state park. After our refreshing expedition Monday was the start of our classes. We started the day off with a spanish class. The whole class was just taking a placement test, which I didn't understand half of. Then we all walked home for some lunch and stopped on the way home to get some aloe vera for our newly scorched skin. Lunch was great I got to chat with my host parents a lot who know a little english so they are always helping me with my spanish. After lunch we headed back to have another class at the school called ALPI. This time it wasn't spanish but it was a class on how to teach english. I actually really liked it and I think that will be one of the things I choose to do for my volunteer work. On my way home from that class I stopped to get a pair of sunglasses and found some rey bands, which are probably fake because they were only 100 pesos (about $2) but they still look great so it doesn't matter. Now I'm on my lunch break at home between my classes and I am dying of heat today. It's a killer out there but in another month ill be appreciating that when all you Mainers have a couple feet of snow. :)

Day two

So tonight will be my second night at my host home. My room here is WAYYYY nicer than my one at home(love you mom) I have a big bead, huge walk-in closet and my own full bathroom. I also get to be in a house that has internet which is very lucky! I have an older and younger sister and they are both very nice and I think they speak a little english. My host mom and dad are also very nice the mom can speak english some but only talks to me in spanish, I think its to help me learn easier. My spanish is sucking right now and I hate it so much and it makes me want to come home but I know it will get easier.... I hope. The heat here is crazy but It's gonna be great once it starts snowing in Boothbay, sorry everyone. I've loved all the food i've eaten here so far, mucho mucho arroz! Tomorrow we'll all learn how to take conchos(cab things that are wicked cheap) and visit some of the places we can do community service and the sunday w'll be off to the beach! Hopefully I don't get to burnt, the sunscreen will be my best friend for sure:)

The start of it all

Alright so here I go starting a blog so I can keep you all updated on my exciting journey. That is if I can remember to keep updating it. I leave tomorrow and am just as nervous as I am excited. I know it will be an amazing adventure and I am so happy to be doing this instead of starting off with college. I just want to thank everyone so much for all the money that they donated to me through my rough patch. The money that is left over that wasn't needed for medical bills and such I will be using to help pay for this trip. You all donated to help me so I'm going to put that money into this trip where I can have a turn helping others. It means so much to me how much care came from my tight knit community and I love you all! Tomorrow will be crazy and I cant wait to be in Dominican Republic and explore some new things:)