Hello all!

These past few weeks have been packed with work (and a little bit of leisure!).

So what am I up to? Firstly, it rained everyday in May so basically I couldn’t do anything from 2pm-10pm due to wind and rain. But, in the mornings I have been busy constructing stoves – we have finished 57 and are on our third round of ordering materials (we will construct 15-20 more). I have been doing much of the construction myself with the masons and my hands have the blisters to prove it!

Also, I have been busy having community meetings about filters. I am about to order 40 filters more. Rafelito has also become trained in the filter project and will be doing his own project of about 40 filters. All the beneficiaries must be educated in order to receive a filter – so lots of talks about sanitation, diarrhea and water purification.

Also, I have my nutrition class in Jobo once a week, and my women’s club meeting once a week. In my nutrition class we are cooking weekly (with a lecture) and in my women’s club we are generating funds through selling Vick’s Vapor Rub. Unfortunately, the costs of the materials to make the Vapor Rub have skyrocketed and no one wants to buy our product . We have 60 jars left to sell—75 cents each.. anyone want to buy?

The promised $2,000 dollars for my aqueduct from the community challenge fund has NOT come in. While I have received the money you all donated to my fund through Peace Corps, this other $2000 is lacking and we cannot start the aqueduct without it!! So basically I have been harassing the Peace Corps grant manager to see what the deal is. Very frustrating. The aqueduct construction will definitely be starting late.

Also, I am waiting for my 60 pounds of international books for the school to come. Will they ever arrive? Unknown.

Personally, as many of you know, I recently got engaged to Rafelito! So on top of all my work I have been busy with lots of visa forms, bachelorette party, marriage stuff. That has been the fun part. My health friends threw me a bachelorette party last weekend on the beach in Puerto Plata. Lots of dancing, sunburns and laughs. It was fantastic!

I recently sold my goat! I made a $70 profit. While it was very sad to sell him (I did cry a bit) it was worth the money.

Lots of random tidbits, but my life here is pretty random! I will be in the states in just 5 weeks for a visit! I can’t wait!!

a funny story about yesterday:

so, its been raining nonstop in my village and yesterday my 50 women health promoter workshop (which we spent 1,000$ usd) was terminated early due to gain force winds and rain. (but dont worry-- the workshop itself was flawless!) my boss ran out of the gazebo/outdoor conference terrace with a tablecloth over his head, jumped into his jeep and headed for the nearest city. he left us 50 women to fend for ourselves for the next hour as we huddled in a small closet with old chairs. then, we had to take an open-air truck to get back home, further soaking ourselves and our $60 health manuals. and then we couldnt ford the river to go back to the community because it was too high. so we piled out and waited at this random woman's house. then i went to use the letrine of this random woman and got attacked by wasps in the bathroom (she knew there was a nest there, just failed to tell me). i ended up running with my pants down out of the bathroom, escaping with a mere three bites. i couldnt get home for 2 hours and was soaked to the bone. of course, the electricity was out and the flying ants were all inside my house.

top two photos: valentines celebration in the community (with a gift exchange!).
middle photo: youth health promoters giving a lecture to other youth
bottom photos: rafelito building a stove

pictures of vacation with mom, dad and rafelito at casa colonial in puerto, plata dominican republic. absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks to all of those who donated to the aqueduct! I've already received half the funds here in my account in country, and am told the rest of the money will be deposited this week! We will be up and working in June!

Also planned for this summer is the termination of the stove project (probably we will build another 40 before July), continuation of the filter project (hopefully 100+ filters!), and a book project at the local school. I've ordered 60 pounds of childrens books internationally; lets hope they make it here soon! Finally I've promised kids 8-12 in the community that we will start a kids club (basically arts and crafts and games 2x/week) which we will start over the summer.

Top this all off with applying to grad schools (I'm looking at dual programs for masters in public health/masters of social work) and looking for jobs!

Moral of the story: I'll be plenty busy this summer (but will still fit in a 10 day vacation to the states and a week long visit here with some vandy friends!)

a trip to the river with my sex-ed group!


a beautiful beach I visited in april in samana.


we dressed up as lucha libre fighters to hitchhike around the country.




me with my new chick, goldie hawn!

We finished fundraising for the aqueduct! Woohooo!

We are currently constructing 20 more stoves and are in the midst of ordering more water filters. On may 27th we have a health promoters workshop with 50 local women. Should be a lot of work, but a lot of fun!