Week One... First Post

Well do to the slow internet at Entrena, my training site, and the lack of reliable internet in my barrio this is my first update from the DR.  I am currently in Pantoja, a barrio just outside of Santo Domingo, and I have been kept extremely busy by the packed training schedule.  Everyday we have at least 2 hours of Spanish training to go along with culture training and simply surviving daily lifew here in the DR.  Despite speaking only rudimentary Spanish I have so far managed to get by and am improving my language every day.  I have made a few trips into Santo Domingo, public transportation here is very chaotic, and our group will be going in again on Sunday to tour La Zona Colonial.  The other big news of the week is that we will all be going to visit volunteers next Thursday and staying with them through Sunday.  I am very excited about my trip as I will be visiting Santiago, the DRs second city.  It is in the heart of el Valle Ciabao and is supposed to be very relaxed and beautiful.  For now, however, I must say adios because I am on public internet and it costs.  Hopefully before I leave for Santiago I will have the opportunity to put up a few pictures and show everyone around Santo Domingo a little bit.  Until then, adios y vaya con dios.