2. Update!

Hello Again!  Thanks to everyone reading, I LOVED the comments so keep them coming!

Here is a brief rundown of what I have been up to...

As of now, my group is still in training.  Training is good overall but the days are extremely long.  I do not think there is one subject they have yet to cover: tarantulas, Dengue Fever, politics, history, food, music, baseball, dominoes, EVERY medical issue known to mankind etc. etc. etc....you name it and we have been trained on it.  I think I have learned more about the Dominican Republic in the past 3 weeks than I have about the United States in the past 26 years, or maybe I am actually listening for once because most of the lessons are in english so it's nice to understand something!  We then have Spanish class at some point in the day.  The time varies, some days its for an hour and others it is from 1:00 - 5:00, I then come home and attempt to speak Spanish until I go to bed and then wake up and do it all over again!  My brain hasn't stopped hurting.

This past weekend I went to visit a current volunteer's project site.  It was nice to get out of Santo Domingo, have a little freedom and get the lowdown about the Peace Corps...not in a classroom setting from someone who served 40-some years ago.  I was visiting a volunteer in Imbert which was about a 3.5 hour bus ride North from Santo Domingo - but not for me!  Everyone in my group was assigned to different places so we were all traveling somewhat alone.  Anyways, my bus went cruising by my stop.  I guess the bus driver asked numerous times if anyone needed to get off in Imbert and I must have missed the memo - 3 times.  Again, that's my spanish for ya!  I finally arrived and met up with the volunteer I was visiting.  It was nice to ask questions and get honest answers, see the living conditions and relax a little.  We did have to kill a rat in the first few hours of my arrival - I did not do the killing, I just filmed it.  All in all, I would say it was a successful weekend.

This Thursday I depart for Constanza for 5 1/2 weeks.  My large group breaks into smaller groups based on the sector they will be working in.  I am working in the youth sector so 25 of us will be living in the same community and doing more training.  From my understanding, the training is more focused and we will actually be working with youth groups and the community.  Constanza is in the mountains so I hear it gets "chilly" which is exciting because I haven't stopped sweating.  I am also looking forward to getting to know a smaller group of people and having a little more freedom to go out and such!

Thats my life as of now...there are sooo many things going on and I still never know what to write about!  Here are just a few random thoughts...

-I haven't had a cold drink since I have arrived.  They don't even chill milk.
-I have had Ramen for breakfast three times...imagine waking up sweating and having to eat a massive bowl of hot noodles.
-I have made some awkward translations, for example, I read my paper out loud today that stated that I was "aroused" all weekend.  I have laughed sooo hard at some of the things I have said once someone tells me what it really means.  I have for sure kept my spanish class and host family laughing as well.
-My Dona (host mom) is taking me to get my hair done on Wednesday...I am a little nervous because I never know what is going on and I just say "si" to everything.  Could be a recipe for disaster.
-My feet are covered in mosquito bites.
-My host family still is feeding me the largest mounds of food although I have yet to finish an entire plate.
-It has rained everyday the past week because of the hurricanes.
-I did a horrible job packing.
-I have a big spanish test Wednesday.  The test is oral so I am sure that will be interesting.
-Whenever I tell a Dominican I am from St. Louis, they ask if I know Pujols.  My answer - "si".
- I have heard little girls singing Justin Bieber in some of the most rural parts of the country.
Young Dominican Girl: "do you know Justin Bieber"
Me: "si".
-I am on my fourth book (any/all suggestions are much appreciated)!
-My host brothers take guitar lessons once a week and a bunch of boys in the neighborhood bring their guitars over and play together.  It's great.  I have heard the same song from them everyday...they are improving though and I'm considering making them the next Menudo.
-I still love my host family.  I am going to miss them, they have been great.


That's it for now!  I will post pictures soon....I have yet to take any, sorry!  Also, please forgive my spelling and such, I am not even going to reread or spell check what I just wrote.  My brain is too fried to even attempt to make corrections.  Thanks for understanding!

Until next time!  Miss you all xoxox