HAPPY FEB...

So, again I have had technology problems, my computer is currently dead and in the states.... so I know this completely doesnt justify my lack of communication, but a little. Anyways, I am in and around a computer now because I am in the capital because I just finished today my 1 week of project planning and training, and tonight we are doing a little celebrating. I just finished my first 3 months in site, so I had to present a diagnostic of my community and an analysis of my artisan association and write about potential projects, and O man I had a lot. The first 3 days I was suppose to bring my "project partner" but I just brought my best friend from the community Gori, who is like miss Diva, she is 23 and wears tight but awesome clothes and is really outgoing, but did awesome with me on my presentation.

So yea... the training was really great though because we got all these tools and information to help us start our work, and I think I'll be doing everything to designing webpages and making brochures to applying to grants and trying to organize this new sustainable tourism project that is starting this month. So right now I'm pretty fired up about actually starting work on my projects (although some people say the first year is slow), but I think I am going to keep myself real busy. I am also going to be writing on the peace corps kind of humor magazine, which should be cool, we just made a fake mad lib in spanglish the other day in the planning meeting. I'll have to send it to you guys later... its pretty hilarious!

In other news... things are pretty good here. Actually in a weird way I think some stuff is really similiar to katies life but in a carribean fashion, due to the fact that food and drink are EXTREMELY important here, and they have holidays like every week where kids dont have school and its just a big party. People here are also incredibly pushy and force feeding me, but once Im in my own house, i will not mind the whole town giving me free food :) Ill be a lambon as they call free loaders, but it always gets a laugh when I call myself that to dominicans, and since I havent been able to really pick up on dominican humor... I'm gonna keep using it!

See what else... Ive been playing a lot of Mafia lately, but I havent survived a game yet! (Mike you should be happy about this, o and that the Steelers won the super bowl) I actually watched it at the Hard Rock because I was helping translate at a hospital in the capital during the day so I just stayed since the next day we started our training here. Its always fun to have a little taste of America!

Tomorrow I'm going back to my site to start getting to work, but I am excited next weekend I'm going down to the South of the country for the first time, and the beaches are supposedly beautiful and untouched by big touristy resorts. I'm going to be visit Justin, and see his house that he just moved into on the beach! And then on valentines day, a bunch of volunteers, we are all getting together at another beach for a kind of student council meeting but it is supposedly really beautiful and that night we will probably have a bonfire and a pot luck!

Okay well im going to run, but others whats up in your lives???? Let us know! And fyi, I dont know if the rumor has flown around, but I'll be coming home soon! April 3-8th, mark it on your calendar!

Se estrano Uds. muchisimo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kelly