Jarabacoa and Projects

Saludos (de nuevo) de los Guazareros!

We have just returned to Las Guázaras from a weekend excursion to the mountainous region of Jarabacoa. We stayed at a an eco-resort run by a man named Angel; an ex-Navy seal of Puerto Rican descent who lived in the States from age 3 until recently when he built this property. It was an absolute paradise. About 45 minutes north of the capital city, Santo Domingo, there is a distinct shift from dry, oceanside beauty to lush, mountainous terrain. It was absolutely amazing to see. In Jarabacoa we enjoyed great food, relaxing times by the pool, a white water rafting trip on the Yaque River, and gorgeous, cool nights filled with good conversation and star gazing.

We have now returned to Las Guázaras where our projects are really beginning to take shape. Each time we return to our little town from another wonderful excursion, we feel more and more like we are returning home. In the last week we have accomplished the following; finished work on a huge garden and planted the first crops (lettuce) at the primary school; begun laying cement floors for local families who previously lived on dirt foundation; made great progress on a mural of the first stanza of the Dominican National Anthem and its flag, painted across the back of cement bleachers near the basketball court; constructed soccer goals out of pipes; conducted interviews exploring gender roles with both women and men in the village; and started to gather materials to construct public trash cans to strategically place around town. Needless to say, we are busy and our students are pulled in many directions!

For the week ahead we plan to put the finishing touches on our projects and to continue to build friendships and a strong foundation between Putney and this community. That´s all for now...

Cuídense!

Daniel y Scarlett