A Whole New World


The last 48 hours have been so insane. None of it feels real...yet. 

First off, it was a really long day of traveling. I had a flight from SLC to the New York during the night, then one from New York to Puerto Plata the next morning. Luckily for me I had a middle seat both flights (sarcasm because it actually wasn't lucky), so I wasn't able to sleep at all during either of the flights. On my flight to Puerto Plata I did try to sleep a little, but the man sitting next to me when extremely chatty! He offered to buy me some alcohol because he claimed that flying after you've had a few drinks was sooo much better. Don't worry I declined his offer.

When we finally reached the airport in the Dominican Republic we were all exhausted, but so excited at the same time. We had to get our visa, go through customs, and get our luggage. I'm happy to say that all my luggage arrived safely. We had two vans pick us up then we headed to our new home. Let me just say that I am happy I do not have to drive while I am here. The streets are CRAZY. People don't really slow down for each other, they just honk and hope they move out of the way quick enough. With all that being said, the drive here was so cool. All the houses are colorful and there's little kids and dogs running around on every corner. While we were driving we passed to fairly young kids riding on a motorcycle and neither of them were wearing shoes. The poverty here is heartbreaking. The people here don't have anything. They sometimes go days without eating. It makes me so beyond grateful for the life I have back home.

Once we arrived to our new home we all chose rooms and started settling in. I share a room with four other girls on the first floor (there's three stories). The house looks like a castle compared to the other homes here, but it is definitely nothing extravagant. A little about the house... We can't flush TP down the toilet. We have blackouts through out the day. We dry our clothes on clothes lines. A lot of the windows don't have glass, just bars and blinds. And there are a lot of bugs. BUT it has the prettiest view. 

I've been to the beach twice now. It's about a thirty minute walk from our house and it is so pretty there. All of the water is so clear and warm. I will be at the beach as much as I possibly can! Other than that we have just been having meeting about everything we can and can't do. We are going to tour the school later today, and then we start teaching on Monday. 

It's so crazy living in a whole new country with thirty other girls you don't know. It's going to be scary and weird and insane, but I am excited for it all:)





View from the top of our house

View again...

The kids are always at our gate. SO CUTE

The beach by our house

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