It’s Day 24! In some ways it feels like I’ve been here forever since our team bonded so quickly and I’m adjusting to the culture in the DR, but in the same way I know I’m just beginning my journey.
Above is a video about our first week here. Pardon the bad editing. My Final Cut is not working since I updated my OS so I had to use Imovie. It’s simply a little look into our lives adjusting to being World Racers.
With only a week left here, the DR has been a wild ride. Guachipita, the slum I’m working in has been challenging but we all see hope in the midst of the poverty. Check out my blog to read about it.
One of the things that’s been hard to adjust to is the way men treat women like dirt. It’s intensified because we’re Americans and the Domincans see us and think visa. In fact, when we walk down the street they call us visa. We are constantly whistled at, hissed at, and get blown kisses to. Dave joking said we should name our blogs hisses and kisses. That’s one part of this culture I will not miss.
On the upside, I organized a trip to the beach for the five teams living at the green house. We rented a us and asked the driver what beach was the best to go to. We trusted his judgment. When we arrive at Montiquo, it was dirt and a small bay. After paying a little extra to go to a “nicer” beach, we went to Salinas beach. The day included launching people into backflips, playing chicken, floating in the salty water, trying to avoid sea urchins, a 3-hour bus ride, and dinner at the Chicken King! It was a much-needed day to bond as a squad. Here are a few pictures of the day.
The first beach we went to…
The good beach, Punta Salinas…now that’s the DR!
Ashley snuck up on us in the picture…it looks like jaws
Dave doing a backflip
Zack covered in the starfish we found.
