I rode a mule!

The other day I was invited to visit Los Gajos to get mangos.  I enthusiastically said yes.  Like most situations I know little at first and as time goes on the light bulb goes off and I realize what is going on.  We were going to hike 3 km down a mountian to get fruit from a farm, then we´d hike back up.  Once I reached the bottom of this mountian.  I seriously questioned my ability to hike the 3 km back to Monte Bonito. 

Luckly, we visited this awesome farmer and his family.  Their spread of fruit trees was impressive.  Mangos, passion fruit, limes, oranges, pomagranates, star fruit and bananas.  After eating a ton of mangos, picking fruit to bring home, and drinking some coffee, we were ready to start our journey.  That´s when they said,"Nikki, you get on the mule."  I politely declined not wanted to look weak, but quickly accepted after they insisted.  The awesome farmer hoisted me ontop of this mule and off we went. 

I made passion fruit juice, my favorite, from the fruit I brought home.  I ended up giving away most of my mangos.  After you tell someone you went to Los Gajos, they ask you what you brought them.  They are all about sharing here, so I had to hand over mango after mango. 

There is another trip in the works.  Hopefully I´ll get to ride the mule back up the mountain again.  I still need to ride a burro (Mary K, they´re the same kind you have) and a horse (which happen to actually be large mules).

Busy settling in.

I arrived at my site on Thursday. I will be living with my project partners aunt. Her house is only a year old. It was built for her by Sur Futuro. There are 2 bedrooms, a bathroom(my toilet has a seat!), a kitchen and living/dining room. She has a son that lives in Santo Domingo so it is just the two of us. She sells chicken and cheese empanadas. We just made a fresh batch today. This could be dangerous for my already expanding waisteline. Besides empanadas, she doesn't cook. Therefore I will be eating with my project partner and his family. They live a short walk away in a house they just finished constructing. They have 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls all under 13.

On Friday I attended a seminar Sur Futuro was holding for coffee growers. Today I went on a tour of community and went to cut down some green bananas from the plot of a neighbor. This included a journey over the mountain, me stepping ankle deep in mud the first 10 minutes, and a million mosquito bites. It was a great hike though. So pretty.

Tomorrow I plan on making passion fruit juice, climbing a mountain to look for mangos,and attending a birthday party.

The weather up here on my mountain is wonderful. It is warm during the day but cools off at night. My host mom and I sit around the left over coals from cooking for warmth. I have to sleep with a blanket! They laugh when I say it's cold and tell me to wait until December. Who would've though I'd be shopping for a winter coat on my tropical island?

I'm moving the mountains

Yesterday I went to visit a community that solicited for a volunteer to work with Sur Futuro's literacy program.  The town is located in the Azua providence.  It was a 2.5 hour drive from the capital.  We drove up an unmaintained dirt road for 25 minutes to reach the community of Monte Bonito.  There are around 300-350 homes, a high school, a rural clinic and a ton of avocado trees.  Their main source of income is agriculture. My project partner will be a high school math teacher who served as president of their community orgaization. 

I've been in the capital for almost two weeks now.  I'm excited and anxious to move to my new place.  My parents are sending me a netbook this week, so I will soon have a computer and hopefully an internet connection. 

Things are looking up

I was at my site for about a month, and I have been in Santo Domingo for a week now. I am getting a site change after my community was found to be an unsafe environment for me to live. I am a little disappointed to have to start the integration process over, but I know I need to do what is best for my safety.

On Monday I will visit a community that solicited for a volunteer to work in adult literacy. I was told it was beautiful mountainous agricultural community (sounds great, I know!). My main project will be working with 80 illiterate adults but I hope to help them with their reforestation project as well.

This week I shoped at the mall, went to happy hour, ate chocolate cake and watched TV in English and lounged by the pool.  I feel so spoiled! I am going to enjoy the rest of my weekend here in the capital.  I will let you guys know how Monday goes.  It is possible I will be moving to my new home next week!

"If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that
every experience develops some latent force within you, you
will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your
circumstances may seem to be."
-- John R. Miller

Wow.

I don't even know where to begin.  Quite a lot has happened since I wrote last.  I am currently staying in Santo Domingo.  Various incidents occured in my site and at my host family's house and will most likely result in a site change.  I no longer have a computer or my camera, but I am in good health and still in pretty good spirits. 

I will update you when I know more and I'm sure Mom and Dad can tell you guys in depth about whats going on.