After helping for the first week with the group, we returned to Consuelo because my two friends were leaving the next day to sadly go back to Canada. We spent the afternoon in my friend's batey again with some students who were being placed with families there. They were so scared, I mean, no electricity, water and toilets! But they rocked and had a great time, especially with the kids there.
Afterwards, we went to our beach in Juan Dolio and talked about our plans for the centre/house that we are building for our amigo and us and volunteer doctors and nurses to stay with our program. I am so excited for it and if anyone is around the San Pedro area and would like to help us build, just let me know!!!
In the noche, of the last night for my friends, we had a fiesta in the place where I was staying. Let's just say that we drank a lot of brugal... played some games.... listened to some bachata and salsa and just had a blast!!
The next day, sadly we drove the girls to the airport and it was so sad, but at least I had 2 more weeks left, hee, heee!!!
Well, the next 2 weeks are kinda a blur, so I'll do my best!! I did a lot of just chillin' with the boys where I was staying in Consuelo. We went out for bon, played some billards, did some chiquito bar dancing, delivered some Agua Franco with mi amigo to poor barrios for really cheap prices, did a lot of hanging out under the trees in the front and the bench on corner (the hang out spots), drank some more brugal
, visited una amiga in Villa Mella, and then took off to the Capital again!!
While I was in the Capital, I got to go visit the campo and my batey Arroyo Indio again! Woohooo!!! Anyways, I just sat and talked to the families and my friends and played with the kids and it was just the most wonderful experience ever. Before I knew it, the motoconcho was there to pick me up and I had to leave already. It was so sad because next time I return my friends and family may not be there anymore.......
On the Friday of the long weekend, I headed off to the North Coast to visit Santiago, since I have never seen that area before. It is a very beautiful area, especially with all of the mountains, but it is no east for me. I visited a lot of communities where a friend of mine has done some work in. I visited one community, where a lot of the families with children are moving out of. The case is that a couple older men in the community have been inviting children to their house to get some "plantains" for their mom and they end up raping the children and telling them to "promise not to tell anyone". It was so, so sad to see and instead of getting these men arrested and put away in jail, they are afraid and just moving away. It was so sad to see, but the community right now has started to get organized to try to fight the problem which is better, than running away from it.
That weekend I got really, really sick. I had only been eating one meal a day of bread and cheese, because I had no money and no stove and in Santiago I ate a lot of food one day and I got really sick, so I was unfortunately out of commission for one day
While I was in the area, I also got to visit Moca, another nice area. I sadly, didn't get to visit Hillbilly, no time and no funds!!