New Groups

One of the big reasons I've been MIA lately is a new group of volunteers that was doing training in my site. The group of 17 business volunteers arrived at the beginning of October to spend 5 weeks in the "campo" for Community Based Training (CBT). Some of you may recall my CBT experiences in Moca last year. Anyway, as part of "hosting" this group, Courtney and I helped find housing with local families in 4 communities. Once the group was here, we helped out in several of the training sessions, giving "charlas" (talks), or being available to supplement the material with our experiences, or just answering questions about what it's like to be a real volunteer. Of course... it wasn't ALL work. :o) I tagged along on a field trip to Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve (where we went swimming in a beautiful swimming hole with waterfalls), and had another run at the North Yaque River rapids. It was a great chance to get to know part of this new group of volunteers. This week they are all off visiting their new sites, and next week, right before Thanksgiving, they will swear in and become official Volunteers. Here's to the 2006-08 group! Best of luck!

The infamous jeepon (there were 18 of us in it!)

Rafting the Yaque del Norte