Thanks

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far to my project. Even a little bit goes a long way. I'm getting closer and closer to securing more funds so that I will be able to finally start the aqueduct. Once work has started I will be sure to update and have picture on how all the work is going. Without a computer updates might be more infrequent, but I will try my best.

All These Hurricanes

So right now we're coming into what is the most active part of hurricane season, and man is it really showing. We already had Fay and Gustav pass by us. Where I live it wasn't that bad, just some rain and wind. As I mentioned in the last post, Hanna is throwing some rain and wind our way right now, and I'm stuck in the capital for it. She's supposed to be moving out of our way pretty soon, but man is she huge, her outer bands stretch out super far. If you look at the satellite photos she's like twice the size of Gustav.

After that Ike and Josephine may be coming my way. Wish me luck!

A Lot Has Happened

So a lot has happened in the past month that I have not blogged.

And the reason I have not blogged is....duh duh duh...I was robbed and my computer was stolen.

So now I am not able to pre-write my blog posts and post them when I'm online, and I feel like anytime I'm online I'm really rushed and I never have time to actually sit and write anything. So if you thought my grammar was bad before, just wait for what's ahead, because I'm writing all this on the fly.

I basically hit a low point after the robbery. I'm fine, I didn't get beat up or hurt in any way, but my computer was stolen. I also lost a cell phone a few pesos in the ordeal, but I have realized that my life is more important than the computer.

Ok...so I have to leave. This post will be continued...

Everything is fine now though and life is sweet, so don't be worried about me in the meantime.

So I'm back. I've gotten "standfasted" in the capital because of all the storms that are here and coming this way. It's kind of ironic because I'm never in the capital, but I was asked to come to give a presentation to the new training group who came in, and now I'm stuck here for a few days. Standfasted basically means I can't travel. So, this means I have to stay in the capital until Peace Corps says we can leave, even though I only brought enough clothes for one day. I really dislike the capital, but I guess I have to make myself enjoy it.

Anyways, back to the robbery. Basically I got in a car to go to the city, and after I was in it for a few seconds they started grabbing at my bags telling me it was to make me more comfortable. I demanded that they let me out, so they stopped the car on the highway where no one was at, and grabbed my computer bag from around my neck and I tried to get it back, but they threatened me with a gun so I let them just take it. I didn't actually see a gun and I really don't think they had one, otherwise they would have gotten everything else on me, but when I had to make that split second decision it wasn't worth risking it. So in the few minutes I was in the car they managed to get my glasses (which were in the front pouch of my backpack), my cell phone, 250 pesos (which is only like $7), and worst of all, my computer. Luckily they didn't manage to steal my other backpack which had my wallet with credit cards and stuff, $100 US cash, and my USB drive will all my stuff backed up, like my design for the aqueduct and everything. So all in all it was good that I didn't get hurt or anything, and now my load is just a little lighter when I travel around.

So yeah, I'm all safe now, but if anyone one wants to donate an old laptop to me I probably wouldn't refuse.

Nothing New

So I feel like I'm starting every blog entry with a sorry for not having blogged in so long. This one is no different. My days are just all pretty much the same and there's nothing really that exciting to blog about. So, sorry. I'm still looking for funding for the aqueduct (come on you guys...I'm counting on you!)

I actually do have one thing to blog about, and I'm not sure why exactly I haven't until now. I guess in the post-visitor depression I just didn't feel that motivated to write anything. The post-visitor depression wasn't too bad though because I'm coming back to the states pretty soon for a visit, so I knew that I would be seeing them all again fairly soon. 51 days from now to be exact. So now to the story about our nice, week-long gringo vacation.

My mom, dad, my sister Lisa and her boyfriend, my brother, my cousin cheryl, my friend Julie and family friends Cathy and Ed all came to the Dominican Republic to visit me for my 24th birthday. We decided it would be best to stay at an all-inclusive resort since there were so many people coming.

First and foremost, I had to decide whether I would go straight to the hotel where we would be staying or to the airport. I decided on the airport, because that way I would be able to spend an extra hour or so with everyone. I didn't know exactly how I was going to get to the airport (or to Punta Cana for that matter) and my family was a little worried. I told them not to be as I often go to places that I don't know how to get to, yet on the majority of occasions I end up where I need to be, and on time as well. My luck didn't run out that day either, and I arrived there an hour early, and sat like a bum with all my bags waiting for them to arrive. I looked like a bum because the grand majority of the people flying into the Punta Cana airport are all-inclusive travelers, who immediately after landing go right to the air-conditioned bus and get swept away to the hotel. After many emotional hugs and greetings, we went to our bus and were on our way to the hotel.

On the way to the hotel I shared some mandarin oranges (freshly picked the day before) with my family and the tour guide lady. She told us it was the first time that she had ever eaten on a bus bringing people from the airport.

We arrived at the hotel, began check-in, ate lunch, and at 3 pm our rooms were finally ready. I had shared a mandarin orange with our check-in lady, and I'm pretty sure she took that into account when assigning our rooms. It turned out that my brother and I were given a suite with a living room and everything, and my sister and her boyfriend even got a suite with a hot tub and ocean view. Unfortunately, before going to our rooms we did not know anything about the suites, and David and I gave our room to Cheryl and Julie so they could be closer to Lisa and Pat. So now, Cheryl and Julie had the suite and Dave and I were stuck in a regular room. Oh well...'tis life. I'm sure Julie and Cheryl enjoyed the room more than Dave and I would have. The suite also only had 1 king size bed, and I've shared a bed with my brother before, and I would really rather not do that again. Ok...enough of that. Oh yeah...my parents and their friends got stuck in some rooms super far away from us on the top floor. The rooms were more recently constructed though so they were a little nicer.

Now on to some funny things that happened during the week. I probably only can remember a few now since they're the ones that stick out the most, but if you guys remember anything else, please let me know and I'll post it here, or you can post it in the comments yourself.

1. My sister getting pooped on by a bird. We were sitting out in the wide open, not even under any trees or anything. Had that bird decided to poop a few milliseconds later, instead of the poop landing on her chest, it would have landed on her face or head...now that would have been funny.

2. My brother and cousin getting pooped on by a peacock. We were sitting at lunch, and little did we know that there was a peacock up above us in the rafters. All of a sudden we heard a big splash, and the poop splashed up and landed on my brother and cousin. Haha.

3. Bowel issues. I won't mention any names, but I'm pretty sure that our of the 10 people there, only 2 or 3 did not have any loose stools. This made for some funny moments throughout the week, including but not limited to sharts and frantic runs to the bathroom. For one of us, the sharts were the souvenir that kept on giving and followed them back to the states.

4. Again, not mentioning any names, but one of us negotiated a Dominican hooker for a French tourist. It doesn't sound funny right now, but if you knew the whole story you'd definitely be laughing.

5. Zip-lining, and Julie getting stuck in the middle on the first one. Also, the Dominican guide who said, "Don't open your legs or you'll be on our face." Sadly, the entire group started laughing and the Dominican did not understand why. I have unfortunately been on the receiving end of those laughs way to many times as a result of not knowing the language intricacies.

6. Getting beach chairs in *&%^#-City. You can imagine what word is blurred out if you just know that a lot of the tourists at the resort are European, and what the sunbathing and swimming habits are of those Europeans.

I know there were a lot more funny things as we spent the whole week laughing, but I just can't think of them right now. I'll update if I think of more.

Also, many thanks to my friends and family who went out of their way to come visit me for my birthday, and also to those who spent all their money on supporting the poor Peace Corps Volunteer for the week. Thanks, you know who you are!!!

That's it for now...see you all in 50 days.

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.