Days #19-24

LONG WEEKEND! And it was fantastic. Where to start? I guess I will start with Thursday...
After class, Sarah and I caught a 3p.m. guagua to Las Terrenas. We got lucky because we had a big guagua, with air conditioning (it was cold though) and only about 15 people total. So everyone was spaced out and plenty of room for luggage. The guagua driver and his assistant (for help w/luggage, money, gas, etc.) were really nice. They know everyone in the streets on the way to Las Terrenas (they honk, wave, and yell at them). The total trip was about 3 1/2 hours. We stopped half-way to get gas, food, drink, and restrooms. When we reached Sanchez (about 45 minutes away), the bus stopped to talk to people, and a man got on. At first, I had no idea what was going on. I thought we were stopping to pick up a delivery (along the way the bus stops several times to pick up things that people want delivered to Las Terrenas). Then, they gave this man all the money, and I noticed he had a gun in his belt. I thought it was hilarious. He took over the driving for the rest of the way. Had I not known Spanish, it would have been a potentially very confusing encounter (man with gun gets all the money and takes over the wheel...haha). The new driver was AWESOME. He knew this crazy lady behind me really well. So, each time he would put a song on, he would yell to her, "Maria...This one is for you." Both drivers played good music, and they would play it loud. Everyone on the bus sings and laughs together. I love the guagua so much:) When we arrived to town, Doug was at the Paseo (strip mall where there is a guagua drop off). It had just started to rain. We jumped in the truck and went up to there house (which is outside of town a few miles, built into the side of a hill/mountain overlooking the ocean). Helen made us chili and baked potatoes. We just sat around talking and had a few beers before bed. We talked about English history, futbol (soccer), and how to properly speak English. By the way, for anyone who doesn't know, Doug and Helen are a 40ish year old married couple from England that I met last summer when I lived in Las Terrenas. They have a gorgeous home (with large sliding glass doors that make it hard to distiguish inside from out) and one child, a german shepard named, Vance.
On Friday, we left the house in the morning to go to town. Sarah and I went to Kelly (Canadian friend)'s restaurant and caught up on life with her. Afterwards, we walked the town. For lunch, we met up with an old friend, Miguel, and his girlfriend (can't attempt to spell or really even remember her name). She is from Holland, and she is really nice. We also saw our guagua driver at the Dominican retaurant, and he remembered us. It started to rain after lunch and didn't stop for the rest of the day (on and off). For dinner, we picked up chicken and vegetable rice. Sarah and I sat in the back of the truck, which was fine because is wasn't raining. Then, within 30 seconds of me saying how I love riding in the back of the truck and I was happy because it stopped raining, POURING RAIN. It wasn't bad when we were going fast, but when we had to slow down and get up the hill, we got soaked. After showering and putting dry clothes on, we had dinner. Sarah, Doug, Helen, and I played trivial pursuit afterwards (UK edition). Helen went to bed during the middle of the game (because she had to work early), followed by Sarah. Doug and I played for another 2 hours. Doug won (very close game though).
Saturday started out sunny (on and off rain/rain clouds). We didn't go whale watching because of the weather. I am glad we didn't because I heard there weren't many whales, and the cab was expensive. An excuse to go back:) We got to lay out for a bit. We also watched English futbol most of the day. After Helen got home, we started dinner (chicken, vegetable soup). We ended up eating and swimming that night. Also, I stepped on a piece of broken glass, which sucks, but it was just a little cut.
Sunday...well, Sunday was a gorgeous day. We planned to go to the beach until we noticed the truck had a flat tire (well it couldn't be filled, it was just dead and no spare). So we spent the day by the pool. We also got haircuts. For dinner, we threw whatever food we had left in the house together. It ended up being a cottage pie (like a shepard's pie, with ground beef). After dinner, we watched the Lord of the Rings because they all had a fit that I hadn't seen it before.
Yesterday was a holiday here. It was Dia de Juan Pablo Duarte. People were out in the streets everywhere. They were also going crazy because Licey had won the championship in baseball. We had breakfast at Kelly's restaurant before leaving town. We caught the 12:30 guagua, which was a smaller van loaded with at least 15 people. Once again, we had great company and great music (played really loud, of course). It is great to be in a smaller guagua because you really get to talk and mingle with the locals. Everyone shares snacks and stories. Great cultural experiences (aside from the fact that I nearly peed my pants). When I got home, I had to go work on a group project for our CIEE class at Stacey's house. Her mom ordered us pizza hut and made cake, because it was Stacey's birthday. It was funny because some of the girls went to Las Terrenas for the weekend, but we didn't see them because we did not have cell phone service at Doug and Helen's house. They were telling us that they caught a 6am guagua back to Santiago because they thought that was the only one. I am glad we made friends with the driver!!
Well, that was my great, relaxing weekend. Today, I had class at 8, but my Spanish class was cancelled. I am now nicknamed, 'bronceada' by my program advisors and peers. That means bronzed. Right now I am at home, trying to work on my Communication school application essay. You know, the one that I asked for topic input and NONE of you losers replied. I also have a description of either a person, place, or animal for Spanish class (easy). Then, I have a reading and short report about it for History of the Caribbean. My teacher for that class is hilarious. He draws maps of the world on the board, and he must be precise about it. If it isn't accurate, he will erase it and redo it (when usually the little detail makes no difference). I also have class from 6-8 tonight, followed by working on a group presentation for TESL (teaching english as a second language).

Random things, things I can't remember if mentioned, and other useful facts of the RD that I haven't mentioned yet:
We are part of a pilot program (with 9 others), which is our CIEE class (the program I came here through). This is a pilot program to have a class to teach people how to live and learn about the culture where they are submerged. We are automatically entered into a drawing to win a free roundtrip ticket back to the Dominican Republic. Lynne said the chances of winning are pretty high, since there are only a few programs that participate in the program.
Also, Mom and Hannah are coming to visit in a month! So exciting. So I need to send my swim suits to them, and if anyone knows where ShufShuf (my iPod shuffle) is, please let me know. Reward: a pat on the back for finding it. Hannah/Elle if you can find it in that big blue box or the console in my car I will get you something really cool from here:)
For my Political Process class, I was chosen to do a presentation on the Zona Franca (free trade zone, where Cruz works as the assistant the the president). They have Levi's, American Eagle, and other factories here. I am hoping Cruz will take me to work one day, so I can learn first hand.
If anyone likes cigars (Cubans or Dominican-one in the same) let me know. I can get you some! Also, the country is known for its larimer and amber. So I will take requests.
The plumbing system in this country is really bad. You are not allowed to flush toilet paper in the toilet.
The classrooms on campus are motel style (all outdoors and big windows in each classroom that are open to the outside). There is one building where I have class with air conditioning (but most of my classrooms are in the building named, Classrooms III). For my classes (I don't know about others) there are no books, only photocopies. You have to go get them photocopied (not even older, saved copies). Very interesting and wasteful.
I love my walk to school. I see the same people every morning and we are getting to know each other. My favorite is this little old man who works at the daycare down the road. He always has the biggest smile when I walk by, and says "Hola, como estas mi amor?"
I told my dona that I am going to write down all her recipes before I leave. That way, I can make you all delicious Dominican food!!
During our spring break, I am considering going to Cuba. I think that would be so much fun.
I found out that I will be teaching TESL to students who don't know a word of English. I observe 4 classes, and then teach them on my own. SO EXCITING!! I was also thinking today, now that I will have a TESL certificate honored around the globe, I could travel the world and make money by teaching English after I graduate. I could spend a few months in South America, Central Amer., Asia, and Europe (wherever they want to learn English) while supporting myself. I just want to put all my belongings in a backpack and go. Anyone want to come? I was thinking of doing this maybe before the Peace Corp. Then I would have more knowledge of the world, furthermore better suited to make a decision for my placement country.

OK, thats it for the day...I think. I will post pictures of the house and the weekend (I don't have many). I am excited to only have a 3 day week!!