Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Aqueduct Funding Link

Hey everyone. Now is the time that I humbly ask everyone for whatever help they can give in order to bring to realization my aqueduct. I need to raise US$5000 from all my friends and family back home. I'm finding another US$20,000 or so from other sources. Please donate whatever you feel comfortable with. Even the smallest amount will help. Also please let other family and friends know

I do not receive any of the money until the complete amount is raised, then the Peace Corps cuts me the check, so it will. I'm still waiting on other funding sources, so I can't start until I have at least a little money to start buying tools and tubes.

This may be the only time in your life that you will directly see results of money you are contributing somewhere. I promise to keep updating my blog with progress and pictures of all the work that is done. Also, the invitation is also open to have visitors if you want to see the project firsthand.

If anyone you know would like to contribute in larger amounts than $5,000, please pass them along my contact information, because once my $5,000 is reached, the project closes and you can no longer donate online.

Thanks in advance for all your help, and I promise to keep updating until the aqueduct is finished.

Here is the funding link:

Donate to Kevin's Project or https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=517-263

And All That Jazz (Insert Jazz Hands Here)

So as usual when staying over in Santiago, you only plan on staying one night, but somehow the Hub is a black hole, and it usually sucks you in for at least one more night that you hadn't planned for. In keeping with this tradition, four of us from the previous night decided to stay an extra night, plus Rob (the guy with the cast on his foot) was coming to stay at the Hub since his friend from the States had a flight home early in the morning, so we'd get to celebrate his birthday then too.

We had planned on making fajitas, but we had to run a few errands. Thanks to the owner of the Hub, he gladly drove us around in his cool jeep. He told us about a jazz concert that they have every Monday night at the Gran Teatro del Cibao, and told us if he wanted to go he would take us. We said yes. Time flew by when we were running errands, and it got pretty late and so we did not have the time to make fajitas. We ordered Dominoes pizza instead and ended up paying RD $250, which I thought was not cool since we had a feast the night before for that price. Dominoes was still good and I made guacamole too, so that made it even better.

After dinner it was off to the jazz concert. The place was really good and it was in the little jazzy lounge. The Hub owner all bought a glass of wine. Much thanks goes out to him for his kindness and hospitality to all Peace Corps Volunteers. The jazz was amazing. I forgot how much I love going to little places and listening to live music. They did a few numbers that weren't really jazzy persay, including some Alicia Keys, Vanessa Carlton, Coldplay, and an awesome cover of a Santana song. They also did a really cool jazz version of My Favorite Things from The Sound of Music. They also had some pretty awesome jam sessions. I'm glad I stayed an extra night at the Hub, otherwise I would have missed out on all this radness.

Only 5 more days until my family and friends come for our week in Punta Cana...Yay gringo vacation!

Peace.

Birthday Party

Last Sunday we celebrated my birthday, along with my friend Maryam's birthday, at the Hub in Santiago, the hostel where I stay at when I come to Santiago. We were also supposed to be celebrating our friend Rob's birthday too, but unfortunately he tore a ligament or something in his ankle and had to stay an extra day in the capital to get it casted.

Even though my birthday isn't until the 15th and Maryam's the 16th, we (well really, I) decided we should celebrate early since I would be in Punta Cana on my birthday with some family and friends, and having our celebrations before that would pass a few of the days until then a better than having to spend them at my site.

On the menu for dinner was chili, made by me. For RD $250 we all got chili, unlimited beer and cake. It was well worth it.

An awesome time was had by all, and we even played flip cup, with the standard, red, college style solo cups. We may have broke our bank accounts to buy the "official" cups, but it was well worth it. My team's name was called "barrigas afuera" which means bellies outside, or something to that effect. In keeping up with the team name, I had my barriga afuera, and the score was kept on my belly. Pictures should be surfacing shortly. The other team name had a pretty lame name, called the Darkies because they had been to the beach and were tan. Halfway through the game they changed their name because they realized how lame it was. Their new name escapes me right now, but I'm pretty sure it was something just as lame. Oh, and my team won the competition.

After that it was more drinking games. It was one of the most fun nights I have ever had at the Hub, which doesn't surprise me because anytime flip cup is played, it's a guaranteed fun night. Thanks to Maryam for coming up with the idea to play.

Fourth of July

For 4th of July there was a group of about 70 volunteers going to this deserted beach in the south of the country. For some reason I just wasn't feeling it, and I decided that I wasn't going to go. I really wish I felt like it, because I knew it was going to be a ton of fun. A few people got very close to convincing me on several occasions, but when it came down to it, I ended up not going. When I think deserted beach, I think peace and relaxation, not 70 peace corps volunteers.

Instead of going there, I hung out with a good friend Kira who I have not hung out with awhile. First I accompanied her in running errands around the province because she is doing a birth certificate campaign and she needed to run around to a few different government offices. We also went grocery shopping so we could buy ingredients for our 4th of July "BBQ". What was on the menu you asked? Hamburgers, corn on the cob, and a pico de gallo salsa. All good 4th of July foodstuffs. While I was making the salsa, Kira prepared and cooked the burgers in a frying pan on the stove because unfortunately we did not have a grill. Everything about the 4th was nice and tranquilo for me and I'm glad I decided to not go to the beach. We even saw a really big shooting star which was like our fireworks. Also, the people who went down to the beach didn't get to camp out because it was turtle mating season. They all had fun anyways, and I know I would have had fun if I had went, but I guess I'll have to wait for next year.