YOLO!

I have two exams, a presentation, and a secondary med school application to write this week BUT I couldn't skip out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A group of CIEE students and I hopped on a guagua - driven by our favorite chauffer, Rafael - and headed to the mountains of Puerto Plata to see the 27 Charcos (waterfalls). 

On the way to 27 Charcos

Even though it was super touristy (so many white people!), it was totally worth the trip. We hiked for about an hour up a mountain with our two guides and came to the first waterfall. One of them demonstrated how to jump off the rocks into the pool of water below. Even though we were all wearing life vests and helmets, it was a bit scary, and I kept getting water up my nose. We hiked a bit, jumped into a waterfall, swam, hiked some more, and jumped into another waterfall. Every jump was different; some were shallow (tuck your knees in!), others were profundo, and some were surrounded by walls of rock so we had to make sure we jumped carefully. Even though I have a pretty bad fear of heights, I felt fine jumping down into the water...until we got to #8. It was 30 ft tall and was shaped like a deep well. It was basically like jumping off of a 3 story building. Jump too far, hit a rock wall. Jump too close, land on some other rocks.  I stepped out onto the ledge of rocks with a stream of water beneath my feet, looked down, and felt my knees begin to quiver. So I just shut my brain off and yelled "YOOLLOOOOOOOOO" before I could second guess myself.

This one was a baby. Our camera was out of battery for most of the trip :(

                         

some were sit and slide...my butt really hurt after all 27 waterfalls

The scenery was absolutely beautiful. Some of the waterfalls led to streams that made me feel like I was swimming through a mini version of the Grand Canyon. The water was crystal blue, cold, and refreshing after all that sweating on our hike up - not to mention the entire week in the clinic. I have seriously never sweated this much in my entire life.

As if that wasn't enough fun for one weekend, my host mom asked if I wanted to go to the beach with the family and her close friend. ¿POR QUE NO? And so, I headed off to Playa Sosua for a second time - but with real Dominicans. We brought ham and cheese sandwiches with us, to avoid the over-aggressive restaurant owners. It was a perfect day for the beach - sunny and hot. It turns out, most Dominicans (or at least the ones I've met) don't know how to swim. The beaches here are so accommodating that people can just wade out into the nearly wave-free ocean for about 100 m before needing to tread water. You know another thing that would be perfect at this beach? INNER TUBE WATER POLO. Forget Myrtle Beach, guys...we're all coming here and playing ITWP all day every day. Everyone drinks on the beach and in the ocean too, so all you day-drinkers will be happy. Just imagine: play a round of water polo, lounge in the sand, then grab another piña colada just in time for a rematch.

Playa Sosua: going to the beach will never be the same

It's going to a be a busy week (just found out I have another presentation to give!) but with 2 weeks left in this country, I think I'll just enjoy the wonderful people and beautiful (albeit hot and humid) weather.

My host sister and mother. They're the best! 

Before we got roasted in the blazing sun. I'm pretty sure I'm beyond Filipino tan now.