más agua, por favor

It turns out it's not really avocado season yet. BUT, according to my host mom, it comes right after the mango season, which is basically right now. It's just another thing to look forward to. We're all still adjusting to life here, sitting through orientation lectures about how to take a taxi, fitting as many people as possible into conchos (a kind of taxi that functions more like a bus, even though it's a sedan), and how to deal with Dominican men. We quickly realized what our director meant when we dipped into a public pool to cool off from the 95 degree weather. To quote Zach, another student in our group, "Those stares were HARD. I felt uncomfortable!" Back to the weather. IT'S HAWT. Like, sit in a room and start sweating buckets hot. Taking cold showers every night hot.

Keep in mind, the "feels like" temperature for today was 102. 

Despite the heat, everyone wears long pants or jeans. Why, you ask? We thought it was cray cray too, until we were all eaten alive by mosquitos. Current mosquito bite count: 14. I've been wearing shorts and skirts, but tomorrow, it's time to pull out the skinny jeans. Some of my friends went to Barbados this spring break and invented (?) something called "Freezer Pants". Basically, when the heat becomes unbearable, one places one's pants in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before putting them back on. I tried this before leaving for the D.R. and I have to say, pulling on ice-cold jeans in hot, humid weather is extremely refreshing. I might bring Freezer Pants to the D.R. 

I'm getting very tired now, so the rest of the entry will just be pictures and some short captions. (tired ava = fewer words, no sentences) We had a long day, taking our language placement exam, touring the city, and trying to figure out when/where to go for a run. I still haven't been able to get a run in yet, but I managed to do an Insanity work out this afternoon. I hope the people downstairs didn't mind. 

my room. the fan is clutch. 

Our lovely estudiante de apoyo - Francis - and Evan. 

A monument to commemorate the D.R.'s independence located in the city center

Another delicious meal by my host mom. The yellow stuff is called mangu, which is made from mashed plantains (green, not yellow!), salt, and water, and topped with some red onion. simple and delicious. It's served with a type of salami that tastes kind of like spam, but better. I washed it all down with some cold iced tea. Kind of like sweet tea, but BETTER. 

I think I'm so tired because I'm dehydrated. Time to pass out and go to bed.