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Greetings!!! I write to my friends today with a new vision for the future. I mean that quite literally! I now have 20/20 vision after getting Lasik surgery in Chicago last week. It was some of the best money I believe I’ve ever spent. (and I’ve spent a little bit of money!) That said I’ve taken the opportunity to expose myself to important milestones in recent weeks.

Last chapter of summer… I’ll unfold my life in chronological order to offer a vivid recount of what’s going on. Immediately upon my return from the east coast, I experienced the inopportune loss of a LeadAmerica friend and superior who my coworkers and I admired greatly. I really came to deepen my understanding towards the value of life and the value of death. Of the amazing people I came to know over my summer, Jack impressed me most. Years before joining the University of Chicago and LeadAmerica staff, Jack taught as a professor in Egypt at the age 13. He was simply a great man with many amazing qualities. His impact at LeadAmerica was profound, and he truly poured his heart into his life. An academic beyond any I’ve met, Jack inspired me to do just that with my own life: Pour myself into it and absorb as much as possible while possible.

Book worm… Following Jack’s funeral, I continued nonstop on a paper needed to complete my degrees. For four days, I drowned myself in research at the library on “The Redressing of Power Relationships in South Africa and the United States in Regards to Civil Rights Movements with a Socio-cultural Emphasis”. I completed the research and sent my paper to Africa for review. Needless to say, I now have my diploma.

Family and friends… In the week to follow, I spent time visiting my grandma and my friend in Missouri. While with my grandma, aside from visiting, I did what I do best, organize and clean. My 91 year old grandma need not worry about anything else when I visit, as no surface will be left dirty. Along with my grandma I was able to visit my Serbian friend Milos down in Missouri. We spent time together on his campus and even made a trip to some Kansas City caves to compete in a laser tag tournament. We won the games.

La Republica Dominicana… Because I had the energy, desire and money, I met a friend in the Caribbean’s Dominican Republic for a 16 day adventure. Equipped with backpacks, cameras, a guidebook and journals, Diego and I crammed a lot in a short period of time learning extensively about Dominican/Haitian culture. Like all Caribbean tourists, we visited and relaxed on the impressive beaches but, for the most part, were not typical tourists on the “All inclusive vacation”. In our guide book, there was mention of an international highway that paralleled to the Dominican/Haitian border. The book specified the road was for the most “seasoned traveler” and served as a “right of passage” if completed due to its conditions. In a rented 4x4 we drove down the rocky, muddy, mountainous roads of the international highway on an all day adventure. On the road, we encountered narrow paths, rocks, streams and maybe three other vehicles throughout the day’s entirety. The Haitian children, some of the poorest in the world, would scream and run at our passing SUV in hopes of receiving much needed food or money. With no cloths, no meat on their bones, and probably little hope for a prosperous future, the sites of Haitian children were some of the saddest I’ve seen to date. The mountains were covered sporadically with small stick, rock, and mud huts to house the impoverished people. The day was beautiful on its own terms because of the remote sweeping mountain terrain and the opportunity to see a country far different from Western conditions.

Haiti… Few may understand our logic for a trip across the Haitian border. Dominicans were confused by our plan but offered security warnings before entering Haiti. Haiti, one of the world’s poorest countries, is relatively hostile due to the lack of established functional government. This knowledge furthered our desire to taste local Haitian culture. After leaving our possessions with the Dominican military, we crossed the border on foot and entered a completely different world and country. To cross, we paid bribes to border officials and hopped on the back of motorcycles to go to the nearest village. Being the only white people within miles, the black Haitians were soon to notice the pale Americans coming into the village and stared at us out of curiosity. We paid $4.50 to stay in the hotel with cellar-like conditions, lacking electricity and running water. In a country where little Spanish is spoken, we were lucky to encounter and befriend a man who did. It turned out we would spend hours conversing with a village witch doctor. An educated man of local status, Jordanka, was pleased to share with us, his culture and answer the many questions we had, talking hours into dusk. He spoke of his 6 wives and girlfriend and shared with us a tour of one of his huts where he conducts voodoo ceremonies. There were African potions and a wall paintings around us as the witch doctor explained to us the practice of voodoo. I didn’t fully believe in the concept but found it interesting. Later, as guests of the witch doctor, Diego and I attended a death ceremony of one of the villagers. We were given chairs upon entering a small hut filled with older people. The oldest witch doctor, cigar in mouth, casually conducted a ceremony by candlelight using a twig and potions over a crucifix while the villagers sang loud and clear. Because Haitians speak Kreol, a dialect of French, I did not understand the context. A bottle was passed around filled with leaves, twigs and a clear liquid all the elders were drinking. I too, took a sip of the strong local liquor extracted from sugar cane and to myself, affirmed it was not my drink of choice. However, I would later make it my drink of choice after a separate bottle was brought to us when we joined celebrations outside. At the same time, other locals brought a bench out for us to use. There were African drums, horns, and men striking machetes together creating song and dance. It was the most amazing spectacle, and it was hard to believe where I was. I talked to a man of 30 who also knew Spanish. He was a very proud man and was also enlightening on Haitian culture. At the end of the night, he made sure we made it to our hotel without problems. The next day in Haiti was a day of feast and the witch doctor had invited us to his house for dinner. We ate before saying goodbye and were welcomed back into the Dominican Republic by more border officials.

Hiking mountains… To my great excitement, Diego and I were able to climb the Caribbean mountains. To do so, it was necessary to hire a mule and guide to get to the highest point in the Caribbean, a point called Pico Duarte. We took a bus to the mountain town of Jarobacoa where we spent the night. The next morning on the back of motorcycles, we took twisted mountain roads to highest mountain town. The hike itself was full of tropical landscape, waterfalls, and views of all landscape sorts. We drank and bathed in cool freshwater springs and camped on the floors of mountain cabins I’d call barns. The only noise around was the soft sound of wind that would blow in the trees. My mind was clear and one might say I was on cloud nine because of the excitement I felt. We reached the tallest peak and following my guides lead, I posed for a picture in my underwear atop the 3,087 meter mountain peak. We would spend another 30 minutes on the peak before beginning the 16 mile descent down the mountain. That same night, our guide invited us to his home for dinner and dancing. I seldom dance and found it difficult to dance Meringue with his wife but nevertheless I consented to dancing one song. The trip in the mountains was beautiful and only makes me want more and more of nature’s experience. Our ride back to Jarabacoa in a pickup box full of yucca and about 10 other men was far from comfortable but did offer a very good rural taste of domestic transportation.

Meanwhile back in Iowa… Now it’s time to catch up on life back home. Several disappointing events occurred while I was gone the last three weeks and I dealt with them once home. Yesterday, my mom and I made a trip to spend the day with my grandma in the hospital and come to accept a new stage in my grandma’s life. As I said earlier, she is now 91. The next couple days I just hope to read, run, and relax. Thursday, a small group of friends and I are staying at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago for a few nights out on the town. I cannot wait to spend time with these people again and also enjoy Chicago’s beautiful aura.

Coming up next… The next week, I am going to meet up with my brother Travis in Germany. He has a couple weeks R & R from Iraq and so we’re going to travel a little in Europe and maybe visit a couple of friends there if all works out.

The wrap-up… So, my friends, I guess I have once again, made short stories long and made an e-mail an essay. At least by doing so, I hope you know the latest and don’t feel I’ve completely ignored all of the e-mails you’ve sent in past weeks. God bless and stay in touch!

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