Following a friends advice

A good friend recently told me I seldom write posts and when I do they are way too long to even read in one sitting. I agree. In my attempt to be a better blogger, I will forget about "updating" and just get right to it...

The DR is growing on me. It's been a bit more than a year since I first moved here (June 12 2009). The first few months were a disaster. I missed DC terribly. I went from having a lovely studio apartment in Dupont Circle, a bike, a rooftop BBQ, and a CVS in every corner to living in my parent's vacation home (a huge house with many rooms in Casa de Campo DR - or as I call it, the Fancy Prison), driving a golf cart, and having to pay a ridiculous amount of money in taxis to even leave the Fancy Prison and see other people. What was previously a walk to CVS now became a phone call, a $400 peso ($11.50US) cab ride and a quarrel with the entrance security guard cause I had forgotten my "Villa Owner" Id.

The DR is now my friend. Having Lilly (my tiny mutt, who is not so tiny anymore and certainly not well behaved), counting on so many great local friends, hosting family and friends that visit and getting to know the country has made my stay anything but boring.

Let's see what happens...October is coming around and that's when my volunteer contract with this project is up. If I get a good offer from my company (I'm definitely done being a volunteer!), I might have to stay and see what else this country has to offer.