Pico Duarte

So, i have climbed to the top of the tallest peak in the Caribbean! Pico Duarte (look it up).

It took 7 of us 4 days, 5 mules and 15 pounds of rice to reach the summit and come back down. It was the most physically demanding thing i think i have ever done, but definitely worth it and i cant wait to do it again!.

The first day we hiked 4 kms. to a cabin where we camped for the night. The next night we hiked 24 kms to the peak, but it was too cloudy to really see anything. The next day we hiked down 14 kms. to the Valle de Tetteros, which is a really cool valley with rivers on both sides, very picturesque. The next day we hiked down the nearly 20 kms. back to the base. We actually ran most of the way down the mountain, it was too steep to tiptoe down so to reduce the destruction of my knees we jogged down pico duarte, haha! So much fun it was like a video game, trying to keep our feet under us.

Each night we had rice and solomi for dinner, and each morning we had hot cocoa, boiled bananas and solomi. We had to drink out of the rivers, which means yes......i ....drank.....from...a....river. You would think that all the times that i got sick from merely looking at faucet water in this country would deter me from sticking my head under the river and sucking in all the bacteria, haha. We also bathed in the rivers....but we did not drink and bathe at the same time, we made sure to always drink up stream....lol.

All in all it was an incredible trip, im trying to attach some photos. Enjoy.

Dajabon

Sorry again for the massive gaps in between my posts. Activity is starting to pick up here and the next few weeks are looking pretty busy.

So, i just got back from Dajabon last weekend. Dajabon is a region located near the border of Haiti. I was there with a few other volunteers helping out at a medical mission. It was a really great town. The organization was called Waves of Health, they are a new non-profit that has been in the country for about 3 years. They are doing big things here. It was exciting to collaborate with them.

Towards the end of the trip they took to the Haitian border. Yes, the border. I know all the other 0 volunteers who read this are saying, noooo you will be fired if Peace Corps reads this blog! But as far as i know the border is in bounds, as long as i dont step across it. I could see Haitim though. We saw this Haitian guy carryign chickens across the border, the gate shuts, then all of a sudden there is this ruckus and up fly 50 chickens back to the DR. The Haitians were throwing the chickens back at us, it was the craziest thing i have ever witnessed. A people starving for food put their pride ahead of eating. Idiots. I dont know the whole story because i dont speak Patui or French, but thats the just of what i understood.

We also went to a national park in Monti Cristi, which is on the north coast. We climbed this really sweet hill and could see for miles in every direction. I hope to get a few of thosepictures up on this blog when i have some time.

Then when i get back on Friday we were being consolidated to a Hotel in Santiago because of Hurricane Tomas. So i enjoyed 2 nights of hot showers, and 24 hour electricity, and ESPN!!! Arrived back at my house on Sunday night and have been coming to the school trying to do some work since Monday. So, today im in the lab trying to fix these darned computers still.

Tomorrow i leave to climb the highest peak in the Carribbean, Pico Duarte. Look it up on google. Im pretty pumped, its a 3-day trek up the mountain, and we will be reaching the peack before the sunrises, i cant imagine how beautiful it will be! We will have pack mules, and a few guides with us. Pretty stoked about that! Wont be back until Sunday i imagine.

So thats whats going on, ill try to get better at updating this thing.

Miss you guys, and ill be seeing most of you in about a month!!!!!

Photos of english

Here are some photos!

D-train is back

I know its been a while folks, and i also know you definitely do not want to hear about it again, but the D-train has left the station. Were chugging at full speed, lol. Its been a long time coming, im just glad i had such a good run there for a little while. I think it was because i ate 3 day old street food........I just got greedy. Im just glad im here in my own apartment, with my own bathroom, and running water. Couldnt be under better cicumstances, lol.

Anyways, Finally have something to write about. I am graduating my first English class next friday. They take their exam next wed. and i am planning a little graduation party for them. Ill bring some sodas, a few twinkies, some candies, etc. It should be fun. I printed out their certificates. Certificates are a huge deal in this country, you get them for just about everythin. Peoples resumes are like 5 inches thick with these ridiculous certificates, with everything from recess MVP to Chess Club. Anyways, I made them for the students and now the director of the school wants me to make one for the school, lol. She wants it to say something like, "Certificate of appreciation for letting Peace Corps utilize one of the classrooms to teach english." She wants to put it up on the wall of her office.........i guess whatever makes people happy, who am i to rob them.
Im also beginning a 4 week computer repair class at the school. They have been begging me for it, so i decided to just suck it up and do it. Even though we dont have electricity half the time, ill still try to teach a computer class, lol.

Im also going to the border town of Dajabon next sunday. Its....60 miles from Haiti? Something like that....we have also been advised that there is a breakout of Cholera in Haiti......when was the last time you heard that.....anywhere.....isn't there a book thats titled "Love in the time of Cholera"? It just makes me think of a really old obsolete disease that just rose from the grave to torment the unfortunate people of Haiti. Symptoms include but are not limited to: Painful pure white liquid diarrhea and vomiting......sounds like dinner at a Dominican restaurant to me. I guess the difference is that this disease will kill you in 24-48 hours purely from dehydration. Bring it on!!!

Also, another woman has jumped off the bridge to their death here in Santiago. This is the second time a woman has jumped off this bridge. Its crazy! Its the bridge of death. Ive never really lived near a bridge so i dont know if this is normal bridge behavior, but its wild to me.

Thats about it for now. Miss you guys!

Lately

Sorry, i have not been updating my blog very regularly. Work has taken up most of my time, so i don't have as much internet free time. I have begun work on the other laboratory in my school. So, the good new, the first one is done! Computers are all up and working with the required programs and internet. Took my long enough with the inconsistent electricity and the constant pestering of the students, lol.

Other than that, i am still carrying out my duties at the detention center. Still.....really tough, lol.

Medical Missions business is really heating up. Trying to coordinate a few missions right now.

There is really nothing special going on right now. Just working working. No cool stories or anything. Ill make sure to keep you posted though, lol.

Here is a picture of some of my Dominican friends, enjoy.

Parents

So my parents just left the country yesterday.

It was an exciting time. They arrived last thursday afternoon and left yesterday afternoon. We squeezed a lot of stuff into a small window. We visited Yasica, Cabarete, Puerto Plata, Santiago. I had some amazing meals, slept in AC, had hot water, swam in a pool. IT was so nice. It was great to get to see the fam also.

Now, im back to the ol grind. 5 people showed up to english class today, so i can see the interest is waning.

Not much else really going on here though. Just same ol same ol.

Anyways, adios and cuidanse

Pica Pollo!

Pica Pollo is fried chicken...and made my first batch of fried chicken last night!!! So pumped! There was this pre-made pica pollo mix at the store, picked it up slapped some on a few drum sticks let those bad boys sizzle. Delicious! My cooking portfolio is expanding greatly here. The other day i made scalloped potatoes. Just sliced a potatoe and threw em in the frying pan with some veggies for a few minutes. Super simple, cheap, easy.

I also would like to say that i have been in relatively good health for almost 2 months. Ever since i moved into my own house, i have been feeling so much better. There are a lot of reasons, i think.
1. Im home. I lived with 3 different families over the course of 4ish months. All the moving around and adapting to different environments was stressful.
2. No one washes their hands here, that would be ok if they didnt serve the food by sliding it on your plate....with their hands..
3. Everyone "rinses" cups and plates of with tap water aka devils juice. They dont get that ever bead of water contains a bajillion little parasites.
4. Im eating smaller quantities. Im not eating until i throw up anymore just to appease my host family and feel socially accepted.

Life is pretty sweet.

On the flip side, i saw a woman jump from a bridge yesterday. I think she intended to kill herself, but it really wasnt high enough for that. She ended up landing on the sidewalk with severe injuries.....man that must suck. Whatever she was going through before is now tripled with physical pain....but God obviously had some other plan for that woman.....makes you think.

Well i gotta go teach english now.
Adios