Dominican Republic Midway Update
July 16, 2008
Mango season is ending and avocado season is just
beginning here in the lovely Dominican Republic! Volunteers have been in their
communities for three weeks and are learning to balance work and play.
When not holding campamentos (workshops)
for local children or planning a community based initiative, the
Volunteers are learning to dance bachata,
cook rice and beans, play dominoes, and integrate into the local lifestyle.
Our midterm was held in the beautiful coastal town of
Paraíso, located a few hours southwest of our work area in the Barahona
region. Volunteers gathered in the cities of San Juan and Azua for a few
hours of phone, internet, and shopping before heading to paradise!
Despite our busy schedule of activities, we found a few hours to spend at the
nearby beach of Quemadita, where Volunteers enjoyed the clear water and
beautiful weather.
All the Volunteers are back in community for our remaining
four weeks of work. We have some very exciting community-based
initiatives (CBIs) in the works, including repairing and creating baseball
fields, painting community centers, repairing sections of schools, and
organizing beach cleanups. Our campamentos
are going strong, using themes like teamwork, preserving the environment, and
creative expression. We are all looking forward to seeing what our last
month in the Dominican Republic brings us!
