http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/ATLManiac/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from ATLManiac en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 12:23:00 +0000 Sat, 25 May 2013 12:23:00 +0000 I must preface this by saying that there are many things I like about this country however there are several things that I dont like and even detest about this country. As I have already mentioned before the cuisine here is very very average. Basically my biggest problem with this country is that they eat things here before they mature. And honestly it just boggles my mind I just say in my h http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-744894.html 61412 Santiago the capital of the north This is my 2nd night in the 2nd biggest city of the DR and as I had heard from many other Dominicans the city is supposed to be much much better. And well I completely agree with all of those opinions the city is decently clean located in the mountains and much safer at least from my vantage point. In addition there are around 1 million people http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santiago/blog-728447.html Before starting with this post I must clear something up for my handful of readers thanks to 10 people but yes I look at my stats The stats say more but if I aim low I can always exceed my expectations. First person I thought was Sarah Palin but you know that every day when McCain wakes up he just hells at himself in the mirror and says I could have screwed up the economy even worse than http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-721910.html 52812An interesting observation that I have seen is that the people that I usually understand best happen to be really religious. In this context I mean that they are Evangelical. Basically this is the new religion that is growing pretty rapidly in Latin America. The biggest difference between Evangelical and Catholicism is that Evangelicals dont drink or dance and that their faith is 1 http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-720727.html I must tell this story that happened today actually just happened only 15 minutes ago. While Im typing this entry I am listening to bachata music because I make it part of my learning of Spanish and because I just love it Bachata is especially popular in the campo because I believe that is where it first came from. Okay onto the story. I am in my neighbors house talking to the family an http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-719091.html I might as well explain how I bathe every day. So at first I was bathing in an unfinished latrine but once that finished and well I started shitting in the now completed latrine. I made an executive decision dont bathe where you shit. Hence I went with bathing in the river every day.I must warn readers I am NOT a pedophile.For about half the time I go to with several boys who take me to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-719090.html 51512So the significance of this day was that I had personally called a meeting with the Directiva these are only the elected people. Last Sunday the Water Committee had agreed to an item that I could not understand since when 40 people speak in a group rapidly its impossible to follow when I am trying to learn the language at the same time. After the meeting ended I went up to Rudy the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-717201.html 50212Community Entry Day as the Peace Corps calls it is on this specific day. I wake up crackass early before 6 so that I had enough time to eat breakfast and pack the rest of my belongings. After realizing that I would profusely sweat if I tried to haul all of my suitcases to Ben Wargos house trying to be economical by splitting a cab fare I just asked my Dona to call a taxi for me a http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-717196.html Sometimes I think back throughout this past year and contemplate how I arrived in this country.ltspangtltspangtltspangtActually scratch out that first part. Sometimes I think back from the last 5 or 6 years of my life and I juxtapose those years to my current situation and well I wonder ponder is fine here right cause I have a dictionary with me but only a Spanish to English and v http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-711353.html I believe that I have a day that encapsulates my life El dia perfectoAlarm beeping 720am. I grudgingly swivel my head around to turn off my alarm. While rubbing my eyes I get out of bed and willing step through my door to sit down at the table for breakfast. Literally 2 minutes later my Dona Dona Chede its her nickname very common here to use puts in front of me a breakfast of avena so http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/blog-708992.html Sorry for the long delay between posts but I had something written down before leaving for my volunteer visit but the power went out and my work just wasnt saved. And of course I was lazy in trying to write it again cause it was late and well I was tired. Okay so back onto my story to grandmas house. So we pick up the story where the dashing protagonist has left his quiet safe and l http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-696925.html So I got my phone today My number is 8097232761. All calls and text messages that anyone makes to me is completely free so you can always do that Of course I will be getting a calling card soon to talk to you guys out of the DR Also I know that there are ways to call abroad for very little or free Talk to Maria she is super jewy Got to go now http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-695385.html Okay I want to start off by saying that in 2 days I will be getting a cell phone so you guys and girls will be able to call and text meSo far it feels like I have been shackled because we are not allowed to leave the city or even go downtown. All of us are in the surrounding neighboorhoods outside the city but tomorrow we start to learn more about public transportation by taking different publ http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-694842.html Okay so lets write another entry Sorry but I would have written another one but everytime I have been online to write one Maria has been on gmail and well she has taken all of my time online I will not even try to explain everything that has happened since I packed all of my belongings and moved to the DR. I will just tell you of some highlights of the past couple of whirlwind days. After basi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-693494.html So I will make this retardly quick since it is like 3am and of course packing up so late should not come as a surprise. However these people want too much from me. How about I just show up and say its me I have no motivation to write any think grandiose but I would like to share how do you know this is Tal Wagshal39s items1. Soccer gear most obvious cleats shin guards socks and of co http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Georgia/Roswell/blog-691731.html