Hola Americans!
What a week this has been. This is Eli typing. Like they always say "best for last" :D. This week has been amazing. I think I'm talking on everyones behalf when I say this a was an eye-opener and an experience that we will never forget. Today we worked a classroom in the school, outer-walls surrounding the school, and the pre-school walls across the street. The last three days including Saturday, we've been painting a lot. We have the very artistic people who can paint awesome, but very difficult murals on the wall and then we have the people that try to draw a flower but it ends up looking like a circle. I am the second person. But our talents do not matter in the end because both are being used for a great cause. After we painted, we had a quick lunch and then headed off to our final adventure. I guess you could call it our reward for the trip. First off we toured some bateys which are run-down villages where Haitian and Dominican sugar cane workers live. They are not the cleanest places in the world. After that we headed to a waterfall in the forest. It was quite an event to journey up the water and rocks. Most of us made to the top with a lot of teamwork. Finally to finish our final adventure off in the DR, we went to a beach where there was nice warm water. I enjoyed this trip so much. Not only did I meet and make new relationships with the Dominican people but I also made new relationships within our own group. In about 12 hours we will be US bound! See ya then!
Eli Norden
p.s. Sarah had to use the restroom after the climb of the waterfall so she found the nearest place and was in for a surprise. She asked the lady where the restrooms were and the lady handed her a bucket, a napkin, and then gave her privacy by shutting a "door". That gave everyone a good laugh. Poor tortuga. Ask what she did with the napkin... :-)
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| All the blocks and sand we carried up are now made into a wall for the Creole church. |
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| Daily life in the bateys. |
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| Our group wandering through the batey streets. |
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| Even though they have little, there is always something to smile about. |
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| This was in Batey 5, about a half hour from Barahona |
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| They all wanted to get in a picture. Only Julie took her camera through the batey so she will have to share them with all once we are home. |
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| A house and stick fencing around it. |
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| Walking up the waterfalls. |
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| Sliding down was lots of fun. |
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| All the gringo guys with Jonathon Sam pose for a picture. |
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| At the beach on the way back from the waterfalls, Lauren got brave enough to ask if the guys would give her a push on the board down the hill into the water! |
