http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Dominican Republic , Santo Domingo en-us Thu, 26 Nov 09 09:17:20 +0000 Thu, 26 Nov 09 09:17:20 +0000 Sat. August 8 2009 Departure from Miami to Santo DomingoEveryone who travels with me knows that I like to sit in an aisle seat on an airplane. Contrarily this time I was happy to get a window seat because I anticipated seeing islands surrounded by breath taking water. I sat next to a Dominican boy approximately eleven years old named Sodocrenise he advised that it was ok to call him Sam w http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-430500.html Well here I am. The lone traveler has landed in her homeland. Excited Yes. Distressed Absolutely. Confused Without a doubt. These feelings are something I knew would be inevitable upon my arrival to my home state. The things I saw and experienced will never be forgotten or disregarded I intend to use what I have learned to expand my horizon through a refreshed state of mind. I know my life wi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-424476.html SO i'm here at the airport in D.R. flying to miami again. the plan was to go from miami to Honduras TODAY but my flight from santo domingo to miami was delayed so i'll be spending another night in miami and then on to Honduras tomorrow. We've officially been approved to go to Honduras by the State Department so pending a civil war it is for sure that I'm going. i'll be doing another homestay fo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-421053.html So things are still going well with el cuerpo de paz Ive started spanish classes which has been a little difficult since Dominican spanish is WAY different than spanish Im used to learning. Its basically like being thrown into the deep end of the pool but Im doing okay. Im a few levels above where I need to be in order to become a Peace Corps Volunteer so as long as I stay on top of everyt http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Pantoja/blog-416276.html Hey everybody so here's the deal. I'm still waiting to hear the official word on Honduras but for right now I'm in the Dominican Republic until the 22nd of July. I'm living in a host family in Santo Domingo for the first three weeks of training which consists of languageculturaltechnical training. After three weeks we're supposed to go to Honduras BUT everything seems to be up in the air right http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Pantoja/blog-415134.html Hey one and allJust thought Id update you all on a few things. Not too much to update actually. All has been well with my classes they are hard to take seriously sometimes but I am trying. So I think that taking classes with Dominicans has been quite the experience I like having the opportunity to talk with the locales and not make such a fool out of myself because I actually have a reason to http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-380606.html DR ROUND 2Well here I am again attempting to continue this not so successful blog but I thought I should let you all know how round two is goingFirst and foremost the city of Santo Domingo the capital of the Dominican Republic. I love it So much more fast and bustling and so much more too see and experience. Also the people are much easier to understand for some reason it is probably http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-374881.html On the bus ride to Santo Domingo Keith and I exchanged many messages as we both seemed to be running later than late. And I was soooooooooo cold. The AC was on full blast as usual and I was sitting there in my wet bikini and tiny beach dress. Amazingly enough I did not become illTwo hours later than expected I turned up at the Condominium Parque Hotel near Zona Colonial same hotel as I stayed http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-349842.html Hola everyoneAs you all know Irsquove been looking and looking for apartments like a crazy person. I have found the location of where I want tot stay. There is a street called Anna Caona and on one side of the street is this giant park. It is beautiful and people are running thru it and there are spots in the park that are WiFi hot spots. It is very safe. On the other side of the street http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-338697.html Its getting late here but I wanted to post some pictures of the new ACS CompIQ team. We are almost done with training and it has been great I haven't posted any blogs this week because everyday after work I go apartment hunting and I don't get back to the hotel until late. I am really close to picking one. I can't wait to move into my new apartment. then I will be able to relax more after http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-337812.html Today was uneventful. I worked most of the day I took a break to work out at the gym for an hour and a half. Then I came back to my room and finished up some more work. Thatrsquos it. I also sorted some laundry. Some of you wanted to see the picture I took of Jesus yesterday when my camera was acting up. So I attached it to this blog. I expect tomorrow to be way more interesting than tod http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-336259.html This morning I had a blast I looked at two apartments and I really liked one of them. I will look at some more on Monday. There is an apartment that has a gym that Irsquom looking forward to seeing. After looking at apartments I went exploring. I went to the boulevard were vendors and shops line the streets. I looked around at everything. Then I went to see the oldest church in all of t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-335831.html Hey everyonehellip. I missed yesterday sorry I was busy with some work stuffhellip. So today was another great day in training. My team is really coming along. Yesterday I was picked up at the office buy a different driver. His name was Julio. Julio wanted to show me the DRs version of the White House. So he drove me past it on the way to my hotel. I have some pictures attached. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-335578.html Today was a GREAT training day We got a lot done. I hope every day from now on is like today I will try to remember to take some pictures of my new team.I was going to take some pictures of the crazy traffic on my way home tonight but my camera went dead. I will put new batteries in and make sure to take some pictures tomorrow. Today would have been the greatest day for pictures It was po http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-334818.html Every morning I pass Christopher Columbusrsquo memorial on the way to work. This memorial is somewhat of a controversy here. Christopher Columbus is a bad man to the Dominicans. He is responsible for killing all the original Indians here in the DR. No one here likes him at all. The memorial was built but no one wants it. It is also part of another controversy between Spain and the DR. Sp http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-334373.html Today felt long to me. I think I may still have a touch of jet lag. Plus working from 9 to 6 is hard to get used to. I met my new team today and I think we are going to do great We all get a long well. They are really a great group of people. Irsquom going to enjoy working with them over the next five weeks. I rained so hard this afternoon. The windows in my work area are boarded up and http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-334137.html I am going to try to post the picture of my view from my room. I took this pic sitting on my bed. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-333609.html Well Irsquom finally here I traveled all day yesterday and was too tired to post a blog last night. I have a great hotel room at the Hilton. Itrsquos small but I have an awesome view of the pool and the ocean. Looks like the Hotel sits right on the water I donrsquot have much to report now I just woke up and I havenrsquot explored yet. Itrsquos pretty funny how everyone here sp http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/blog-333515.html After a long flight and only 1 hours sleep i got up and made my way to the bathroom for a well deserved shower. The 1 hour of sleep was hot humid and buzzing with exitement.I sorted my room and made my way to the reception in the hostal and to get familiar with my new surroundings. Downstairs a lovely patio bar and common area awaited me. The staff was friendly and chatty. I got pointed in the http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-329497.html I have always been so unlucky whenever travelling before but this trip so far has been one lucky break after another I got to Oslo Airport Gardemoen with flat battery on both my Pc and mobile a backpack that weighed toooooooooooooo much for comfort. I checked in and the women at the check in desk weighed my bag looked at me for a moment and i assumed she was trying to find a nice way of t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Dominican-Republic/Santo-Domingo/Ciudad-Colonial/blog-326917.html