Que pasa!

So, not too much going on here. I just got back from a trip to Yasica to help translate for a medical team that comes up twice a year from Maine. This trip is always fun because we usually hike to different villages in the mountains to administer care. These people are the primary car physicians for over 15 different villages. Anyways, this time i got the opportunity to hike up to Los Hobos with a team of students, nurses, doctors, etc. This was probably one of the more challenging hikes i have ever been on. First we drive a few km's up the mountain, then we get out because no vehicle is capable of scaling what we are about to climb and descend. The trail is one of perpetual mud...up to your knees kind of mud. Not even 2 steps in and i am halfway in the ground. It was tricky trying to avoid the big holes, which you cannot see very well with the nude eye. We had a pretty pleasant hike up to the village, but the whole time your hiking this challenging trail you begin to wander if these people ever come down off the top of this mountain. We hiked at least 5km's up to the top in very wet mud. This is not mud that dries when the suns out, it goes so deep it is always muddy. At the top is this tiny village of no more than 60 families. It is so pristine and the air is so pure. The nearest car is a few miles down a mountain. Now, think about a village this small, so secluded from the rest of the world that most of the people have never left. There is constant running water because they live at the source of a river, but they have never had electricity....ever. No blaring music, no tv, no motorcycles, no cars. It was so interesting, and so beautiful up there. With these tiny populations come other problems, too. There is a substantial albino population, which the nursing staff informed me is due to incestual relations. You think you grew up in a small town? Ever date your sister? I don't know this for sure, but i imagine it was out of necessity, maybe to sustain the population, that certain people had to do this. I did not get a vibe that incest was frowned upon in the village either. Maybe im just an idiot, lol. Anyways, the trek down was even harder. I did it barefoot for a while because my shoes kept getting stuck deep, but after a mile or so i put them back on because i was stepping on sharp rocks, lol. It starting pouring rain the second half of the hike, so that was fun. Just another cool experience that ill never forget.

Other than that, my life is not that exciting. Francisco and I are taking my class to see a baseball game! Saturday we are going to watch the Aguilas vs Licey, which is like Red Sox vs. Yankee-type rvialry here. Not to mention this is a playoff game. The kids are really excited, and it should be a cool experience. Some of them have never been to a game.

Thats about it, just had some free time thought id write a little diddy.

Adios!

Oh! I went exploring the other day and found this cool park area under a bridge. It goes back about half a mile into the woods right along the river. It is really really nice and quiet. Every second of every day is filled mith revving motorcycles, blaring bachata and screaming children. Here.....nothing, just the babbling of the brook. Here are some photos: