Okay, so FINALLY here is an update. April-May was pretty slow (as stated in previous blogs), but June is flying by! Thus, I haven’t had much time to write or post!

So what have I been doing?
• Graduated two 11-week nutrition classes, with a total of about 28 women, men, and youth graduating!
• Graduated 14 youth from the 12-week sex-ed class, “I choose my life” (Escojo Mi Vida).
• Hosted and attended multiple sex-ed class exchanges with other communities (and other volunteers)
• Finally got the water system engineer to come back to our community with the measurements, plans and budget
• Celebrated my birthday with my visiting friend from the United States and went to the beach!
• Went to an all-inclusive resort in nearby Puerto Plata for a sex-ed youth conference (beach + American food+ other volunteers!). Paid for by Peace Corps!
• Watched the Celtics vs. the Lakers in my community (yes, some people here live in 3 room houses but still have a dish)

What will I be doing in the near future (in the coming 3 weeks)?
• Starting up a youth sex-ed class in another community
• Starting a new 12-week class “healthy homes”. It ranges in theme from diarrhea to waste management to reproductive health.
• Starting to fundraise for the aqueduct!
• Attend a Peace Corps health promoter conference
• Celebrate patronales (annual community party) in the town next door (think dancing for 9 days straight)!
• Begin to work with the women in my community to make Lysol and Vick’s Vapor Rub to sell locally (economic development)

Other updates:
• My cat and dog have become fast friends. They spend their time scaring away the locally raised chickens and playing together. My cat has even started to catch mice! Woohoo!
• Summer weather has arrived here with a vengeance. 9am and already 82 degrees and rising.
• My family has started to build my little house! Finally they have purchased all the materials and have already started digging. I expect it to be done within 5 weeks time! I’m debating about color choices- mango, yellow or brick red? White trim is definite. Let me know your opinion!