First Week of School

Link to my Makarios blog posting

Critter Room

I guess this is what I get for choosing Ashley's old room aka the Critter Room. I remember telling her I might move into Robin's old room because Ashley's always had some new creature living in it. Ew, ew, ew. Thankfully Cara came in my room and saw this nasty thing before it could get closer to me. Of course we immediately yelled for Jefferson to kill it :)....and it's dead.

Feliz Cumpleanos Part Dos

Every week I try and go to Pancho Mateo to play basketball at least once. It is one of my favorite things to do besides going to Chichigua. The Lord has provided ways of being in community like playing basketball in Pancho or playing dominoes with my neighbors without having to speak a whole lot of Spanish. It is cool to see the way He works through that. Anyways, I went to Pancho today to play basketball with the boys (I mentioned them in my last birthday blog), and the usual came to the court, Jose, Kico, Cakito, Johan, and so on. Cakito, the ring leader who has become a very sweet friend of mine, had told me they had a birthday present for me. When I was grabbing my bag to leave, I noticed a present inside. Cakito looked at me and told me not to open it yet so I waited until I got home. I went in my room wondering what it could possibly be that all these boys together would want to give me. As I opened it, there was a note on top:
"From us: Kico, Johan, Johvanny, Jose, and Cakito. You belong to our team. Thank you for coming to play. We love you..."
Underneath it was their Club Pancho Mateo jersey they all have and wear. They gave one to me...tear. It is one of the sweetest gifts I have ever gotten. I am so thankful for those boys and that they are my hermanitos.

Feliz Cumpleanos a Mi :)

What a birthday...I do not think I could've asked for a better one in the DR. It all started Wednesday (even though my actual bday was on Thursday). I went to Chichigua after work and hung out with Dido and some of the other Chichiguans. We played Dominoes for an hour, and after, when I was leaving, Dido gave me a flower from her garden for my birthday present. Super sweet.The clock struck 12. I was at Johan's casa, listening to music and making fun of Merlin, when I noticed the clock it was 12, and my birthday had begun. I immediately started running to my apartment. Let me explain why. In the DR, it is tradition to pour water on the birthday girl/boy. Get my drift? I ran as fast as I could, Merlin behind me while Johan was yelling at him to catch me. I was doing fine until I got to my house and the doorknob was stuck. Crap. Drenched.
Thursday. Feliz Cumpleanos a Mi!!! I went to work until four. Went to the beach down the road with my beach buddies Merlin and Ada for an hour. Y despues, we threw a party at our apartment. Gringos, Dominicanos, Haitianos, you name it. Favorite things about mi fiesta:
1) Maria, Johan's mom, made my favorite juice, Pina. Ok so maybe Weston and Johan helped her a little.2) We had an amazing soundsystem going thanks to Johan and to Weston for his DJ skills.3) Treats, treats, and more treats. Popcorn, brookies (brownie cookies), guac and chips, and a chocolate birthday cake. Mmm.
4) Johan and Weston lip synced to Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing." Awesome.5) I got to salsa dance. I have realized from living in this country that I lovvvve to salsa.
6) (The best part) I invited the boys from Pancho Mateo that I play basketball with to the party. At one point, we decided to play the song "Teach Me how to Jerk." Two brothers, Joel and Johvanny, danced in the middle of the living room for everyone. You can't get a more legit birthday party than that.7) Last but not least, I ended the night by playing dominoes. My friend Wandy and I beat the socks off of Johan and another friend Kakashi. Felt realllly good :)
Oh to be 25.

La Musica de RD

Here is one of the recent popular songs played in this country daily, hourly, you get my point...

Click Here

let me know if you make it through the whole thing :)