It has been way too long since my last blog. Sorry, life has been pretty busy!

Since mid- June, I have experienced many life-changing events, most importantly, getting married! On June 18th, I got married to my Dominican boyfriend (Rafelito) here in Santiago Rodriguez, Dominican Republic. We had a small community party at my house following the event. Lots of family, neighbors and peace corps friends were present. It was delightful.

Secondly, the aqueduct money finally arrived! Last week I trekked to the capital with the Water Committee’s treasurer to purchase the PVC tubes we need for the aqueduct. We purchased 300 tubes and I was able to get a 40% discounted price because of Peace Corps. Through this one purchased, we saved about $2,500 USD. Yeah! The rest of the aqueduct money (we have about $2,000 USD more to spend) will be in the purchase of cement, special connector tubes and some galvanized tubes to stretch through the hardest part of the ravine (where the aqueduct lies). We already had a community meeting with about 85% community attendance. Everyone at the meeting was enthusiastic and pledged their support to the project. This coming week we are expecting the tubes to arrive to the community and then next week we will start work on the aqueduct! We will be working about 2 days/week (with 20-30 men working each day). The phases of the aqueduct include connecting and transporting the tubes to the ravine, digging the trenches where we will bury the tubes and slowly dismantling the old aqueduct.

Meanwhile we are still working on the last 15 stoves….its been quite a journey and I have been working each day with the constructors to help get the stoves done faster. Hopefully we will be done in the next 3 weeks with the project, FOREVER! Woohoo! We will have built 80 stoves (each taking a good 6 hours to build. Do the math!). Whew.

Rafelito, having been inspired by my work in the community, has also become a community servant (not like he wasn’t before). In May he attended a Rotary International filter workshop and is also doing a community filter project in the nearby town of La Pastilla/Piedra Blanca. So together, in August, we are receiving 80 more filters to install in our communities. The work never stops!

Finally, I am still waiting for my 60 pounds of children’s books to arrive from two different organizations (International Book Project and Bookaid). Luckily, I have received confirmation that these books have already been shipped and I hope to pick them up from the capital in August! Just in time for the beginning of the school year!

Lastly, for the past year and a half, I have been trying to help the local school build a fence. They have many beautiful computers inside but no real security system. They have had the building materials in their possession for more than two years, but lack the cement necessary to actually build the fence. We have gone to city hall multiple times to receive help (because shouldn’t the government be helping this public school?) but have received nothing. So, after talking with the director, and my pledging support of ½ the cement necessary, in the next two weeks we should start construction on the school.
On top of all of this, Rafelito and I have started the visa process. We have already collected all the necessary documents and have had our first interview at the consulate. Within a month I should receive the round two forms, and possibly, by September, Rafelito will have his visa to come to the US with me (although he wouldn’t actually arrive until Christmas so he can finish another term at school).

Many exciting projects are finally happening, and to think, I only have 3.5 months left!

Ill be in the USA visiting friends, family and grad schools from July 26th-August 10th, so be sure to contact me (I’ll be in Baltimore, Washington, North Carolina, New York and Boston!).