Republica Dominicana: Day 1, 2012

Day 1:

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Here are a few things that were interesting enough to remember.

1. Overall today was pretty relaxed since we were waiting on the other groups to fly in and get to the hostal so we didn't explore or go out sharing as much as we will.

2. We had an amazing breakfast at Hostal Bella Epoca consisting of pancakes, eggs, toast and fruit. 

3. Our friend Matt went running and started talking to someone as he was walking which led him to get lost and find a hotel with a computer in which he tweeted Shaly and Caleb asking for forgiveness in getting lost and getting a taxi back to the Hostal. It was the highlight of the morning.

4. We began the task of communicating in Spanish by calling people on the phone who are interested in the English Clubs. I learned I will probably not be able to have a job that entails talking on the phone multiple times because even when they spoke in english I had to give the phone to someone else to try to talk to them.

5. Almost all of the rest of our group arrived at the Hostal. There were only fifteen out of 55 of us that arrived when we were supposed to.

6. We sang together outside the Hostal and it was sooo refreshing to sing with the saints.

7. We explored the University of Santo Domingo and met a guy named Antonio who showed us around. It is just a little larger than Grand View. I proposed the idea that we make a game show called "Name That Smell", but others didn't think that would be such a great idea.

8. It started raining, like torrential downpour, while we were at the University and we had to walk about fifteen minutes...we were soaked. I believe it was one of the best bonding experience so far.

9. We ate at a restaurant called Adrian Tropical. It was deeeelicious. And we were all super tired so we were acting pretty silly. Our conversation consisted of cookie dough and brown sugar, daring Andrea to eat a cinnamon stick, and trying to translate a poem that was on our napkin holder. There was a lot of other stuff but I can't even remember. I just know that we laughed a lot! And the restaurant was right by the ocean which made for a beautiful view. 

10. Our group got together and prayed for a while. Go Liones Valientes!

11. We spent the remainder of the night quoting SNL skits and laughing untl we cried. I love it I love it I love it!

 The view from the plane!

 Chillin in the airport in Miami

 Putting on the first round of sunscreen.

When Shaly and Caleb found out Matt was lost. 

 Shaly paying the taxi to get him back.

 The walk of shame. But we all rejoiced at his return.

 Calling people about the English Clubs. Group 3=worst at speaking spanish.

 Group 2 = pretty darn good at speaking spanish

 Group 1 = The Experts

 Still calling.

 Our table at the restaurant.

 There were a lot of us in a very small space

 Trying to figure out what in the world we were ordering.

 Dominican soup.

 Apparently the 7up in the Dominican is waaaay better than the 7up in the States.

 Our favorite little napkin holder with a very inspirational poem on it that we couldn't understand.

 Our deadly Pepsi. We concluded that the ice was safe because it looked like it was packaged.

 Kari's meal: Pollo Tropical.

 Kassie's meal...my favorite. I literally ate the sauce like soup.

 Elizabeth and Andrea's meal. The magical mushroom goblet...aka Mofongo

My meal: It was basically a chicken gumbo with cilantro in it but it was really good. There was also a sauce that tasted like buffalo sauce with a hint of tabasco so you expected it to get hot and then it never did. My taste buds were confused.

Altogether it was pretty chill but a good day! I'm excited to see what God does in the following days!