Tour de Santiago y la Piscina

Last night my host dad's brother, his wife, parents, and niece came over for some ginger tea and chatting. I mean real ginger tea, like Fifi boils actual ginger from the ground to make it.

This morning four of us toured the city w/ a Dominican student (amauri). We rode in conchos, which are basically taxis that cost 15 pesos, aka less than 50 cents, and take you as far as their route will go, but you can stop wherever you want. There are tons of conchos and routes. Four people "fit" in the back, and two in the front. These are just cars, like smaller than mine, so it gets cozy. We learned how to get to the post office, market, and the two bus stations that people use for longer trips, like to the beach, country, Santo Domingo, and other cities.

Have I mentioned that Dominican bananas are my favorite food? Man I'm never eating a tasteless dining hall banana again! Haha mmm so good. It is all delicious, I promise to return with recipes.

 In the afternoon, we met a bunch of Dominican students, "estudiantes de apoyo" who are basically here to be our first friends. They are toooons fun, super outgoing, caring, and hilarious! We played pictionary in spanish, swam, and danced. They love to dance here, and are super good at it. Of course I'm still super awkward when I dance but they aren't that difficult to learn, I promise to teach you all my skills! Hopefully I'll have some by May!

Tonight is ladies night at like 7 different bars, so a bunch of us.. Americans (and i think my host sisters).. are going out on the town!! I can't wait, we've been chillin inside alone w/ limited internet most nights.

This was the verse of the day on bible gateway; I was surprised because it's one of my favorites! (the one in Spanish on the painting in our apartment) Thought I'd share.

“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:16-17