I can't believe it's already Saturday and we are going home! I am so sad ): It has been such an amazing week and we have accomplished a lot. Between working at the hospital to help build the fourth floor and working to build latrines in two bateys, we have done a lot of hard work! I am sitting here in Trigo de Oro with Sarah, getting ready to order my last chocolate croissant before we head to the Santo Domingo airport, and I can't stop thinking about all of the wonderful experiences we have had this week. (Kayla)

The blog post from Monday, "Square Shovel > Circle Shovel" went through our first day working at the Good Samaritan Hospital. It feels it was so long ago now that we were first learning how to use the pulley systems to hoist sand, cement, and cinder blocks to the fourth floor of the Hospital. We have all had our fair share of soreness after that first day of physical labor, but now we are able to see how much was accomplished through our hard work. We also learned a lot about construction that first day, things like the proper technique to sift sand using a Square Shovel and/or a Circle Shovel, how to look good in a hard hat, and the easiest way to lift 94lbs of cement to the top floor of a building :) After a quick nap at lunch we resumed working, knowing that there was a nice cold pool just waiting for us to jump in once we got back to the Hotel.

Tuesday was another very successful day. We were all much more comfortable with our jobs and started to figure out more efficient ways to get the work done. We also were more comfortable with the workers and the translators; communicating with them in English and in Spanish made working much more enjoyable! We worked until 3:00 and then stopped to get a tour of the hospital. Sarah and I came last year so it was great to see the progress the hospital has made and continues to make each day. We are both so proud to be a part of it. After the tour, we went to the orphanage and got to spend time playing with the kids. Many of us made connections with some of them and are hoping to stay in touch by email or facebook. After we left the orphanage we headed back to the hotel and got dressed for basketball! I (Kayla) got completely decked out in my bball gear and was so excited to play! It got pretty intense and unfortunately I hit Sr. Wilson in the face by accident as I went up for a layup...and he now has a little bit of a black eye... and I feel really bad. It was a great time nonetheless. (:

Wednesday we only worked until noon because we got to go to the beach in the afternoon! It's a good thing too because we were starting to get a little lazy, building chairs out of the cinder blocks to sit on while we were hoisting sand :) The beach was one of my (Sarah) favorite parts of the trip last year because it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. This year it was even better! Although we were at a different beach without volleyball or soccer like last year, the water was even more clear blue and warmer than I remember. The group also got to bond a little while we were at the beach, trying to think of fun things to do :) I can hardly believe that was only three days ago, this week has gone by so quickly!

Thursday and Friday we went to the bateys, and I am so glad that we were able to go because I think it was extremely important for the group to see the harsh reality that many of these people are living in. On Thursday, it was difficult to find a job that we could help with because we were working in a small space and we didn't want to get in the workers way, but we tried to help with whatever we could. On Friday, we got to paint the roof the latrine and then distribute bags of shampoo, soap, and toothbrushes to each household in the bateys. My (Kayla) favorite part of the day was when I met an 11 year old girl named Ingra who loved my hair and wanted to braid it. She gave me the nicest braids I have ever seen and we were able to converse in Spanish a little bit, which was great practice! Jenny and Sarah also got their hair done, and we all agree that we are coming back to get our hair done before prom (:

Overall we think this trip was a great experience for everyone :) Although sometimes there were struggles, everyone always got back to the hotel with smiles on their faces and great stories about things they had done or people they had met that day. Seeing the progress made at the hospital was great, but seeing the smiles on the faces of the children in the bateys was even better :) We have met so many special, sincere people who have the biggest hearts and we appreciate all the time they have spent with us. We will never forget the life-changing experiences we have had this week and we will carry them in our hearts forever.

Until next time...
-Kayla and Sarah

Queso Party!

Hola! Today we had breakfast at the hotel before heading out for our second day at the bateys. The weather looked promising and after being told that it "never rains two days in a row," we all opted to leave any rain gear back at the hotel. Lesson learned.

The same crew (Amos, Sarah, Jenny, Kayla and Senor) stayed at batey 106 to finish the latrine. They painted the roof, mixed cement and....sifted sand! After finishing that work, everyone was able to play with the kids who live in the batey. The girls got their hair braided (Amos and Senor declined) while Amos and Senor got to know the rest of the crew and the pigs. Back at the other batey, the dream team (p-unit (Andrew, Mack, Jake, Holly, Audrey, Liz, Jay and Brooke)) moved the cinder blocks that will serve as the wall for the latrine there. After finishing that job, we were asked to clear the area around latrine; this translated into moving a large pile of rocks. While the job itself was not especially exciting (unless you have a love for throwing rocks at other rocks), it was a highlight for many of us when different kids from the batey continued to join us in our task until we had a fairly sizable crew (pictures to follow). Rain ended the morning slightly early for both groups and we met up in the church for lunch.

After lunch, each group finished up small jobs at their respective bateys, but most of the afternoon was dedicated to giving out donations. We went to each home to hand out bags with toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap etc.; everyone was very appreciative. We spent the remainder of the afternoon playing with the kids and taking pictures together. At the end of the day, we all met up in the church again. Senor thanked the members of the crew on behalf of our group for their support throughout the week and we gave a small present to each one.

After that, we headed back to the hotel and had our last dinner together by the pool. Everyone's going to meet back down here at 8:00 for a dance party. Kayla, Mack and Sarah are looking forward to watching us all attempt to learn some new dance moves. After that will be the much anticipated "Queso Party (convivial celebration of cheese) and the boys plan to end the evening and start the next morning by watching The Patriot (Mel Gibson owning people), from 11:30:00 till 2ish.

Merry Cheesemas and a Happy Queso to all!

Amos and Brooke

The Day at the Bateys

Hola!
Everyone started the morning off on an exciting note, with another trip to Trigo, where we all ordered the favorite chocolate croissant.With a fully packed mini-bus, we began our bumpy journey along the unfinished roads towards Bateys 105 and 106. Soon after leaving La Romana, we began to see large fields, full of sugar canes, surrounded by Bateys. Upon arriving, we were given our assignment for the day; to assist in the building of latrines for the Bateys. We then split into two groups with Kayla, Jenny, Sarah, Amos, and Senor Wilson, staying at Batey 106, while Holly, Liz, Audrey, Jake, Andrew, and Mack, Jay, and Brooke headed to Batey 105. Those who stayed at Batey 106 helped the construction crew in beginning the final steps in the two-stall latrine that was being built. They helped to remove nails from several boards, mix cement, fill wheelbarrows, lift some cinder-blocks. At Batey 105, the crew rakes, axes, and shovels to level the ground, shoveled sand and gravel, and mixed cement to prepare the building of the latrine. Amos really enjoyed, meeting all of the animals that were at the Bateys, including multiple pigs, roosters, and the donkeys. Liz, Audrey, and Holly also had a brief dance session on the bus during one of the rain storms. Overall, it was a great day, except for Holly's run-in with a giant, man-eating spider (literally the size of a tarantula)!

Meeting, playing, and getting to know both the adults and the children of the Bateys was an extremely rewarding experience for all. Previously, we had prepared two bags full of toys and hats that had been donated by the Moses Brown community. Today, we were finally able to give donations personally. The most rewarding part was seeing the looks on the children's faces upon receiving their new toys. The kids seemed to really enjoy the bubbles, something that majority, if not all, had never seen before. All of the kids would line up, wanting a chance to blow through the bubble wand, while the younger ones chased after them. We also discovered that many of the children enjoyed playing with balls, whether it was during our game of Wiffle Ball or simply playing catch. In the end, we found out that several of those in the Batey were able to hit the ball in Wiffle Ball much better than any of us! In addition, there was much excitement, that surrounded the Batey when hats were distributed. For both of us, (Liz and Jenny) our visit to the Batey was the most rewarding experience of the trip thus far, and we can't wait to go back tomorrow,

Even though our experiences today were unforgettable, most of us would like to forget getting caught in the torrential down pours. At Trigo, we began to notice a few showers, and that, continued throughout our bus ride, while at the Batey's we experienced a few torrential down pours, which resulted in a wet and muddy fully packed mini-bus ride home!

After everyone took much needed showers and dressed up, we went to Altos de Chavon,which is an old Mediterranean Villa, with breath taking views of La Romana. We also had the chance visit a Museum located at Altos de Chavon, where we were able to learn a brief history of the Dominican Republic, starting from the Prehistoric era to modern day.

We finished off a great day with a wonderful Italian dinner of pizza and pasta, where everyone shared their rose, bud, and thorn of the day, (almost everyone's bud, or what they were looking forward to, is spending another great day at the Bateys).

Hasta Manana,
Jenny, Liz, and Bladimir ;)

WE AT DA BEACH

Today was a good day.  We woke up bright and early and ate some eggs, cheese substitute (very orange), and some toast with Nutella and peanut butter.  We then headed out to the hospital and commenced with our daily tasks of brute, physical labor.  These consisted of sifting sand, hoisting cinder blocks, concrete, and sand, and throwing miscellaneous detritus off of the roof (it sounds, but in reality is extremely difficult). Terminamos (we finished) at noon, and ate some extremely tender and juicy brisket while jamming out to some funky beats. Today was very especial (special) because we only had a half day of work, and after eating lunch at the hospital, we returned to the hotel and got ready for a fun filled afternoon at the beach. When we got the beach and stepped off of the bus, we were all taken aback at the breathtaking vistas offered by the ocean and landscape. The beach was scattered with soaring palm trees and mini, thatched roof umbrellas, which offered a brief respite from the scalding sun. The water was the clearest that anyone had ever seen, and offered a fun and relaxing locale where everyone was able to cool down. We decided that a toy was needed for entertainment (we had previously been throwing clumps of sand at each other), and Jake volunteered his pesos in order to purchase one. Obviously a very experienced salesman with tourists, the purveyor of the gift shop attempted to sell a simple plastic ball to Jake for 500 pesos (approximately $12.5). Luckily, Jake knows his currency conversions, and called out the shopkeeper on his blatant price gouging. Jake (with some help from Senor Wilson) was able to bargain the price down to $2.5. We then played a thrilling game of monkey in the middle in the ocean. After exiting the water, we proceeded to tan and relax on the beach (completing our day with some pictures featuring the stunning backdrop). After we came back, we were treated to a dinner of salty lasagna and unsalty fries (still good though). Then, we all took turns showering and gathered by the pool for cards, reflection on the day's events, and planning for the next day at the Batey. We are now writing this blog. Hope you enjoyed it!

Sincerely,
Jay and Andrew

Descriptions of photos

Descriptions of pictures in previous entry:

Photo 1- Trip from airport to La Romana

Photo 2- Jay with Moises (The director of the Good Samaritan Hospital)

Photo 3- Holly laying block with Agustin

Photo 4- All of us admiring Amos' jump shot

Photo 5- The roof where we spend most of our time working

Photo 6- Brooke and Kayla doing the most popular job- sand sifting

Photo 7- Trigo de Oro (French style restaurant with amazing croissants)

Proof of hard work in La Romana

Hey Y'all,
Today was an action packed and eventful day. We started off by going out for breakfast at Trigo in the city of La Romana. We sat outside in this garden and had chocolate croissants and cinnamon buns, which were both delicious. Amos was upset because he didn't get his cinnamon bun and I (Holly) left my mark on the floor of the restaurant with yet another epic nosebleed (I had one yesterday and was taken to the emergency section of the hospital...). After we stuffed our faces with delicious croissants we headed to the hospital to work. With completely full stomachs, Audrey, Liz, Amos, and Jenny worked the pulleys again and helped bring cinder blocks from the bottom floor to the roof. Sarah and Holly helped build a wall on the fourth floor by filling in cracks in between cinder blocks with cement. The rest of the group helped to unload cinder blocks and gravel from the pulleys. We took a break for lunch out on the patio in front of the hospital with these amazing Dominican sodas as well as peanut butter and jelly and empanadas. Amos took a nap on the bus by himself and we all relaxed and talked. Back to work after lunch doing more of the same jobs. Audrey and Liz went to work on the fourth floor to help build the wall with a local named Augustine who was the man. He taught them the correct technique despite only speaking Spanish, and they both became pros. At 3 o'clock we got a full tour of the hospital and learned some of the history and future plans of the project. After finishing at the hospital we boarded the bus and then went to visit kids at a local orphanage with a huge bag of donations. We played volleyball and took pictures with them and had so much fun. They were extremely competitive; they were trash talking Amos by calling him 'flaco' (skinny) and would constantly scream afuera (out) when we missed the ball (which was most of the time). After leaving our new friends at the orphanage and a short stop back at the hotel we traveled to a near by basketball court to play 5v5. Bladimir (a translator from the hospital) joined us to play along with some of his friends. Senor Wilson didn't make it out of the fierce game without an injury. He now has a cut on his face but it adds to his character. After basketball we came back to the hotel to take quick showers, and then got back on the bus to a sandwich stand called Johnny's nearby. We struggled to communicate our orders since everyone wanted slightly different variations of the same sandwich. Finally we were able to sort it out and enjoyed the meal. We also ordered exotic plum smoothies (they were brown) but surprisingly good in a strange kind of way. We're almost ready for bed, but tomorrow we're off to the hospital in the morning and then to the beach in the afternoon.

Buenos Noches,
Audrey & Holly

Square Shovel > Circle Shovel

Today we woke up and ate breakfast. Jake had the idea to make a sandwich with the meat (it sorta looked like pepperoni) and eggs. Then we went to the hospital. We were tasked with moving cinder blocks, cement mix and buckets of sand to the roof (4th floor) with a pulley system. The day started out a little slow but sped up as we were given more jobs to do, such as sifting sand, laying cement, throwing trash out of the window into a truck and tearing down wallpaper. Sifting sand was absurdly strenuous and monotonous and by far the most difficult job. Amos was the designated puller for the pulley system, and thus the most respectable. At about 10:16:42 am, we took a quick snack break, unbeknownst to Jay. We were immediately mocked by the local workers, who said "Trabajamos muy duro y necesitamos un descanso" (We work very hard, we need a break (In a sarcastic tone)). After that we worked until lunch about 12:01:10 pm (just barely). We had sandwiches and soda and "pink stuff" (that's a soda, don't worry). Entonces (next) we went back to work, switching jobs until 4. Then we went back to the hotel and went for a relaxing swim, Amos decided to play catch with a rock due to the overdose on sun, and got hit in the head.....yeah, that happened. We had dinner and then went to JUMBO!!! (a Dominican version of Wal-Mart). We bought stuff, like a beach ball. Senor Wilson discovered the iPad and is emotionally attached to it. We are currently writing a blog...the end.

- Mack and Jake

We made it to El Hotel Luxor!!! Some of us more sleep deprived than others... We have our first job at the hospital tomorrow--- hoisting bricks and sand to the third floor of the hospital.

For the time being, we are sitting near the pool chatting and playing cards. However, I'm sure it won't be long before we all fall asleep.

Stay tuned for updates tomorrow.....