Gringos on Parade

So it's been interesting experiencing life as a minority. When we travel as a group, nineteen gringos (white people) attract a little bit of attention, to say the least. We went to Santo Domingo this past weekend, which is the capital of the Dominican Republic. It was very fun and also educational (I AM learning things, Dad! Just a little :) We explored the city by foot, checking out the first Cathedral of the Americas, the first courthouse of the Americas, the first jail of the Americas...you get the idea. Basically, everything started in the DR!! We also saw the graves of the three founding fathers and one of Columbus's houses. We are talking a lot about the founding of Hispaniola (which is present day Haiti and the DR) in our social justice class, so it was neat to see where everything actually began. There is also a lighthouse in Santo Domingo to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the "discovery" of the Americas, but we didn't go there because rumor has it that it is CURSED! I looked at it from a distance and a bird pooped on my foot later in the day...I am a firm believer! In the evening, we attended a perfomance in an open plaza with very lively Dominican music, and of course spent some time at the beach the next day. All in all, a very fun weekend!!

As for a little bit of ILAC news, we had a helicopter land in our backyard today!! I believe it was doing a transport of medical supplies for Haiti. So that was cool. Also, there is a team of doctors here this week from St. Louis!! yeah!!!

Much more is happening here, but I might not get a chance to write about it just yet. We leave for our first campo immersion on Saturday. I'm excited!! No computer for ten days :) In the meantime, classes and service are keeping me extremely busy. And not to mention Spanish...

Con amor,

Katie

Home Sweet Home

So I finally decided to post some pictures of the ILAC center...better late than never!!

La Comedor (we eat here)
Las Casitas! ("little houses" ...this is where Dad, Grandma, and Aunt Pauline will be staying in February!!)

The track (I run here)

Track again. Muy bonita!

Courtyard (our rooms are directly center here)

La Biblioteca (Library)

ILAC Lobby

Stairs to my room

View from the hallway outside my room

My room

Lessons Learned

Number One: I have discovered the perfect place to keep my flashlight... in the bathroom. Every time the power goes out (which is at least once a day) I seem to be in the shower. Number Two: I now have no less than eighty-six mosquito bites on various parts of my body. Therefore, bug spray has become my new perfume. and Number Three: Don't wear black clothing while playing baseball in 80 degree weather. Children have laughed at my stupidity. What an education I am getting down here :)

I Feel the Earth Move

A bit of excitement here today...we experienced an earthquake! I have never been in a situation quite like this before (not counting the minor earthquake we had in STL at four in the morning, when I thought my dad was jackhammering in the basement...but that's another story). It was about six p.m. our time, and we had just finished spanish class on top of a busy and exhausting day. It was pretty quiet, and my roommates and I were doing some homework. We all thought we were going crazy when we felt the floor beneath us shaking, and looked out the window and realized that the building was swaying! Needless to say, we were freaked out. We ran downstairs, where everyone else was heading, and had to stand in the library doorframe until it passed. The whole episode lasted no longer than a minute, but it was a little scary because light fixtures were shaking and everything! What an eventful day!! We played with cute children at a soup kitchen called Caritas and learned how to dance in Spanish class. Very fun :) I'd love to write more, but we are going to Santiago tonight to celebrate Peter's birthday. Hasta luego!

So It Begins

Well, we've been here for two days, but it feels like much longer! I'm already in love with this place. We arrived late Saturday night (with the exception of two, who were delayed in Chicago and had to fly to Santo Domingo! They arrived around 4:30 the next morning...) and after unpacking and settling in, we explored the ILAC center. It is absolutely gorgeous!! Lots of open space, a chapel, room for eating, and our rooms are right upstairs.

Let's see, some things that are different from the states...well, we don't have snow, that's for sure! :) It is SO humid here...my hair is SUPER curly, even more so than usual. And very frizzy!!!! The food is also different, but good...pineapple at every meal (YUM!), and usually some kind of meat and rice. Also, we sleep with mosquito nets! It has been weird to get used to, but fun. The night time activity is really loud surrounding the center, with music blasting, dogs barking, cars tearing down the roads and people shouting.

We are actually living in Licey (pronounced lee-say) al Medio, which is outside of Santiago, so yesterday we went to the monument in Santiago and explored some of the shops. I made my first purchase with pesos (strawberry frozen yogurt) and was terrified to speak in Spanish...all I could muster was "Fresca, por favor" and "gracias"! That's something I definitely need to work on :)

That's all for now!

Kate