sobrevivi!!!

I survived yet another parasite...please continue to pray for my health especially since this is such a busy time of year! My doctor told my I've "dominicanized" a little too much and should stop eating pica pollo (fried chicken) and burritos from the street vendors...I don't know if I can give up my favorite food, though :).

Check out some pics of our visit to the fire station...the kids LOVED it! Also check out our class blog to see what else we've been up to.

Only 3 weeks left of this year...I have lots of mixed feelings, but am ready for a vacation and for my 1st year of teaching to be done :). I've learned SO much and can't wait to take time in MI to reflect and be with family and friends. I hope you're all doing well!

Cafe y cerveza

Some sacrifices that one makes living in a developing country are: living without consistent electricity, needing to buy drinking water, not having a dryer, always getting parasites or amoebas, living amongst a variety of huge insects, getting sick of eating chicken, rice, and beans, and always being the gringo in town. I can live with all of that, though...one of the biggest sacrifices for me is...that there is no Starbucks and there is no Oberon. For a girl that appreciates the fine tastes of life, it is sometimes hard for her (I mean me), to give up her Starbucks and her Oberon. While Monteverde and Presidente have been decent subsitutes for me, I still have days where I dream about sipping a latte or a good brew.

All until...heaven came to earth and delivered the long-desired gift!!!

Thank you to my good friends Dawn and Justin, and to my parents who sent some Oberon in the mail last Tuesday! There's still one in the fridge waiting for the perfect moment. AND, thank you to my good friend, Amanda, who carried a White Chocolate Mocha on the plane all the way from Miami! While I was enjoying my Starbucks and my Oberon, the world as we know it was at perfect peace. Thank you, Jesus :).

Dia de Trabajo

Yesterday was Labor Day here in the DR, so we headed to the beach on Saturday for a long weekend. It was SO great! Besides listening to music and doing nothing on the beach, eating good food, and sharing good time with different friends, one of the highlights of the trip was eating sushi! I was SO excited...it wasn't quite like our little place on Monroe, BUT, it was sushi and it was good :).



Check out our classroom blog if you haven't yet at www.doulosfirstgrade.blogspot.com, or just go to my link on the side of this page to see weekly updates.

I can't believe it's already May! Things are getting really busy around here...I'm looking for a house or an apartment to move into by the end of this month, I'm starting our Expedition in class learning about our community and the jobs within Jarabacoa, I'm doing tutoring trying to make sure all my students will pass and be ready for 2nd grade, I'm planning my trip to MI and CA for the summer, we're already making plans for changes next year (moving my classroom, adding 4 more kids, etc.) AND I'm trying to enjoy each moment in the process...please pray for me! I want to continue living SLOW. Cuidense todos...hablamos.