Dominican Republic

My morning greeting! Best way to start off a day.

Kids waiting to sign up for camp.

Delinquent blogger here. Two months ago I started a blog and quickly thereafter abandoned my stab at the ever so popular phenomenon of blogging. Forgive me dear blog readers (all one of you). FYI I don’t even think my mother reads my blog. Whoever you are here is my update.
My summer adventures never consisted of going to the Dominican Republic. I went there last summer to volunteer at a youth camp for the DREAM project (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Project http://www.dominicandream.org/) and never thought I’d return. Last minute life change and I was on my way. As I was preparing to go, I still had no idea why I was going but felt that I needed to…and I was right.
I taught math in the adolescent camp (ages 13-18). I taught five classes of 20. The kids come from the local community. They attend camp for four weeks and take classes such as math, reading, writing, English, health, and grassroots soccer. They also get to go on amazing fieldtrips which provide opportunities that they would never be able to have. I loved my students and overcame some difficult hurdles with a few of them. A life changing feeling was seeing the light in their eyes become brighter as they learned and understood something that has been taught time and time again. I really broke down the curriculum and they responded well. One girl wrote on my shirt on the last day, “Por ti puedo multiplicar.” Because of you, I can multiply. Best feeling ever. Math was voted by the students as the best class of the camp!

My classroom...everyone is hard at work. My sweet students Teaching Ronald the Waltz-he loved it and always asked me to dance. Sabrina and he pretend adopted son Yoni! Both are artists.

I absolutely loved living in the Callejon! It’s the main road where the Dominicans live. With dusty roads, motoconchos (motorcycle taxis), street children, garbage, fruit stands, and a myriad of other things, I fell in love with it! I loved walking down every day and saying hi to all of my new friends. I loved heading up to the Loma (the mountain) and hanging out with my favorite family. The dirt in the Loma is red and I usually left with red toes. Fresh fruit was amazing. I regularly bought fresh cut pineapple. I fell in love with the fruit stand baby and would hold him and sing him lullabies. I wanted to bring him home with me! I also enjoyed attending church in a neighboring town and rekindled some dear friendships.

The Callejon The hotel Humingbird where I lived

Fruit stand baby! He was so beautiful! Dinoli - camp girl from the Loma China - My BFF for 2 years in the Loma Loma girls I fell in love with this kid. He'd always talk to me on the street. The most inquisitive 2 year old I've ever met. I wanted to bring him home too! The Salazar family. I met Lizbeth (the little girl) last year at church and became best friends. Her family is absolutely amazing!

The camp is located in Cabarete on the north coast of the DR. It is a tourists’ destination as it boasts opportunities for world class kite boarding/surfing and wind surfing. It was amazing living near the beach. Most mornings I enjoyed water aerobics in the ocean as the sun rose. I highly recommend this as a day starter. For only 75cents I could hop on a local bus, also known as a gua-gua (a minivan crammed with 20-30 people and livestock) and ride down to Sosua. Sosua boasts an amazingly pristine shoreline with crystal clear waters. I frequently went there and became obsessed with collecting sea glass. I now have a huge bag of it…any ideas of what I can do with it? BYU sends a group of student every semester. Great peeps to pal around with.

Santo Domingo Temple is one of my favorites!

I loved roaming the streets in Santo Domingo. Amazing photo opps. The coolest guys on the block...we preformed a pretty amazing step routine for the parents.

After the 27 waterfalls! Amazing! Jumping off the waterfalls was such an adventure. My last day was spent with amazing people on an amazing beach! I heart Sosua!

Caribbean Dreams

Amren-Alesa-Jerah (aka sexy sister Divas)

Seven single girls, plane tickets in hand, a billion pounds of luggage, and a cruise ship are quite the makings for a more than memorable adventure. We boarded Carnival Cruise ship Valor with anticipation of midnight chocolate buffets, sun tanning on the concourse of blue lounge chairs, and the promise of Caribbean love. Our first day at sea was amazing. Jogging along a deck side track as we glided over the pristine blue brought a serene sense of relaxation and the desire to stay forever. The ship was more than amazing. It's a community that never sleeps and constantly changes its' zip code and time zone.

Adventure 1: Grand Cayman Island

Becky (coworker/soon to be roommate) Jenni (roommate) Heidi (old roommmate) Me (you should know me) Jerah (roommate and sister) Kathryn (cousin and old roommate)

We were herded off the boat as cattle are herded down a quaint village road. Solid ground and shouting locals welcomed us. We soon discovered that we were brilliant adventure seekers. Not purchasing excursions on the boat saved us a wallet full of cash. Plenty of excursion vendors greeted us and offered a “good deal.” We opted to swim with sting rays in the inviting crystal-blue waters. Kissing the sting rays was much more pleasurable than any past experience involving kissing (lol just kidding). We then ventured for a few minutes of snorkeling. We worked up quite the appetite and ate in a local-recommended restaurant. With jerk chicken and out-of-place country music playing in the background, I was soon satisfied with my 6 hour stay.

Adventure 2: Roatan Honduras

Anticipation flooded through me as I was returning to my mission. I never served on Roatan nor saw the beaches. I knew one thing….I wanted a Balleada more than anything. Balleadas are been filled tortillas with cheese. I’d make a pilgrimage to Honduras any day of the week just to have one. I suppose learning to make them would be easier but not as satisfying. I found my balleadas and shared their goodness with my friends…all of which approved.
For our adventure, we suspended ourselves high above the jungle. Relying upon Honduran workmanship and materials we glided down 16 zip-lines. Flying free above the tropical majesty while overlooking the ocean was an amazing experience. Having relatively no fears has allowed me to experience the beauty the world has to offer. The beaches were more “bella” than anyone had ever imagined. Warm ocean water is the best way to relax. Once again a Catracha (nickname for Hondurans), even if for a day, was a much welcomed opportunity.

Adventure 3: BELIZE!!!!!

Me and Robert Smith (member and good friend)

Me and Ardone (Got baptized after I left) We'd have to beat him at checkers in order to teach him! Or we taught him how to make cookies just to get a discussion.

Me and Omar Velasquez (member and good friend)

Me and Dannette (investigator who is amazing)

Me and Katherine (investigator who was baptized just after I left)

My bestest friends all in one place! Omar, Jerah, Becky, dreadlock brother, me, Heidi, Jenni, and Robert

Some dude on the street who wanted a picture. Very funny people!

Me and Ardette (investigator whom I love!!)

Typical! Obedience...should have taught more about that! Belize was a lot dirtier than I ever remember.

Saying Goodbye to Robert and Omar. I was so happy to see them and sad to leave them!

I was early to bed….for the following day would be my most cherished and anticipated day for the past 6 ½ years! I was up at the crack of dawn wanting to be the first in line to get off the ship. Long story short…getting off the boat was a crazy, confusing process. As soon as I stepped on land, I was in my area (Cinderella) of nine months. My friends (member from the branch) Omar and Robert came to greet us. Omar took my sisters and me around town for the entire day. We walked a lot! I was finally in the place that I love! The streets were recognizable! Kriol, rap music, and “Hello beautiful!” and many other pick up lines filled our ears. I was able to see some many wonderful people. People whom I only dreamed I’d see again. We even did some investigating to track people down. One man whom I taught in a park a few times a week was still sitting at his post in the same park!
Belize was much dirtier and more ghetto than I remember. I may have been used to it while I served there. It was still majestic and beautiful to me because of the love that I have for the people. I ate some rice and beans and found the Chinese bakery that sells the most delectable coconut buns! As the time to return to the boat crept closer, the tears began to swell. I wasn’t ready to leave after only a few hours. Saying goodbye to my modern-day pioneer heroes Omar and Robert was difficult. It’s hard to leave people behind when plans for seeing one another again aren’t in the immediate future. What a blessing it was to return…even if it was for a day.

Adventure 4: Key West

Jet skiing around the island was a blast. I drove like a banshee! Luckily no one else wanted to drive so I got to be crazy for the entire perimeter of the island. To top it off we ate some famous Key Lime Pie purchased at the famous Blonde Giraffe (which reminded me of my sister Kristy…she’s blonde and tall…like unto a giraffe).
I know this post, my first, is long! Long story short….go on a cruise! It’s absolutely amazing. Best vacation yet. Dancing, pool side deck chairs, first class service, late night serenades by Joel, and good company make memories that will forever stamp there place in my timeline. I’m sure it won’t be my last!