La Primera Semana

Alright, here we go. Before we start though a little disclaimer: though this is with some regret, I didn't take very many pictures of our day to day experiences. Petty theft is a big issue in the DR and, if you couldn't already guess, I didn't exactly blend in. Quite the opposite. So,  didn't want to draw more attention to myself by looking touristy/more wealthy than I already look just by being white. So, hopefully you will still get a taste of our little adventure from the times I did take pictures. 

Alright now: Week One

After taking an over night flight from SLC to Atlanta then ATL to the DR, we arrived at the Las Americanas Airport in Santo Domingo on Thursday May 3rd in the early afternoon.

When we arrived at the airport it became immediately obvious to me how different we really were from the locals. We were basically the only white people in site, and this was the international airport. Anyway, it was so hot and sticky and we were sweating like crazy and exhausted-but we had arrived! 

After waiting probably 30 minutes, our ride arrived. He was the man with whom Sam would be spending most of his time over the next 5 weeks during his internship. We were relieved to see him.

Our 30 minute drive yielded scenes I had only heard of through stories. Trash everywhere. Tiny little shacks that I think people lived in. Insane driving--no regard for traffic laws. Men walked between cars that had only feet between them with their hands packed full of goods-mangoes, cashews, cell phone chargers, etc. They went window to window trying to sell their products-how they lived walking between the cars in that traffic was beyond me. But in contrast beautiful trees and plants and bright blue skies. It was a thrill to finally be there.

We stopped first at the local grocery store to exchange some money (39 Pesos to 1 American dollar), where I promptly had Sam and our new friend barter for some mangoes and other unidentified fruit from a vendor. My goals: eat tons of local fruit and go to the beach. I was on my way. 

We finally arrived "home" to a tower of gated and guarded apartments called Torre Conservatorio. The guard let us pass and we lugged all our luggage (emphasis on "lug") to our new residence on the 4th floor. We would be staying with Elder Cornish from the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy  in the LDS church (the church to which we belong).  We would be staying with him, his wife and their son Reid, we are so grateful to them.

Here was the view from our bedroom:

 As you can see there is the Santo Domingo LDS Temple and it's almost a literal rock's throw away, and a swimming pool. In the distance is the ocean and to the right is a park that used to be a zoo, but now people just go to exercise there.  Pretty nice view, right?

      Violet getting adjusted to her temporary sleeping conditions:

Our bedroom, we all shared one room. I loved the white curtains everywhere in the apartment over the big windows, letting in tons of light:

Sammy preparing some crisp rice in the only dining room we have yet to enjoy as a family (a note on "crisp rice" the rice that burns at the bottom of the pan is considered a delicacy of sort in the DR. It's served in restaurants as something to order from the menu and is highly sought after):

    Violet experimenting her music accompaniment for the Meringue (the national dance):

   Sam and I on the living room balcony at night, the temple behind us:

The view from the 14th floor where we had dinner twice a week with the lawyer Sam was working with. By the time we left, half of those trees had brilliant orange blossoms, it was beautiful. (The net was to keep their 4 year old from climbing over the balcony railing.) :

That Saturday we went to Boca Chica. No one swims in the ocean you can see from the apartment pictures, it's rocky and cliffy and dirty. We have to drive to get to any "swimmable" beaches. This was our first beach. I was excited for Sam to feel warm beach water. The thrill of not having to freeze to death adjusting to the water temperature, but just getting right in and enjoying.

  Violet "enjoying" sand and for the first time. You wouldn't guess it from here but, she wouldn't stop eating it:

                                            Caribbean Packards:

                              Kevin (the lawyer), Anna (his daughter), Violet and me:

Violet loved the beach, but like Sam thought this one was a little boring. It was shallow for probably a couple hundred yards with no waves. I was excited about a warm beach, but the really shallow water that we were sitting in was actually a little too warm, like bath water. But it was a beautiful fun day.

When we got there, a man helped us park and stayed and watched the car and kept it safe for a tip (everyone does odd jobs like that around the country for tips). He was so very kind and showed us his beautiful one year old son. The people are truly beautiful and wonderful, the best part of the country. I should've taken more pictures of them.

Alright, signing off for now. Hope this wasn't unbearably long. Hasta luego!