This week, we started our “new schedule” including school,
homework, and team Bible studies. We
moved in with our families last Saturday and spent the first two days only with
them (no “team” time). For Edith (my roommate) and I, it was a great first weekend.
We didn’t really do a lot, but it was nice to just get to know our family and
the area we are living in. We are very fortunate with our house; we have our
own room and a bathroom that is only used by us. These rooms are separate from
the house (about it like a second floor) and are only accessible by an outdoor
staircase.
Sunday we went to church at 3pm. It was quite a different
experience than church is usually primarily because I didn’t understand any of
the message. The pastor spoke very fast and had a Puerto Rican accent which is
different than what I’m used to, but by following the screen and looking up the
verses in my Spanish-English Bible I got the jist of it, and I really enjoyed
the music.
Monday we started Spanish classes, and they are difficult.
We have about two to three hours of homework every night. So we spend our
mornings doing our homework while everyone is at work or school. Then we have
lunch with our family, take a quick “siesta” (and I will say this is great!),
then head to the Student’s International Base for a little bit of internet/team
time before class starts at three. We get done with class around six then head
home if it’s a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or go to Josh and Vickie (our team
leaders) house for Bible study. One change I’m trying to get used to is eating
dinner around eight or nine rather than at six; it’s difficult!
On Saturdays we go on excursions with our team. Today was
our first; we went to the river to go “creeking” (hiking in the creek). Our
short trip of walking down river to a stop where a woman was going to prepare
lunch for us, eating lunch, and walking back was slightly longer. We got to the
spot at Los Higos and floated in the river and jumped off rocks (I only did
this once because I was totally freaked out! lol). Then we just chilled in the
sand until 12pm when we were supposed to eat. But the woman never showed up. We
called her and were told to meet her at the bridge. The problem was we didn’t
know where the bridge was. So we continued to walk in the river for another
hour until we came to some Dominicans. We found out from them that the bridge we
were going to was in the opposite direction that we were going. We realized we
would have to go all the way back to the spot we had started from in the
morning (probably two hours) to get to her. We decided instead to just go back
to Los Higos and have someone pick us up and drive us to go get lunch. But when
we got into the town of Los Higos we found the woman who had cooked our food so
we ate that food!
This week has been great and I can’t wait to see what other
adventures I will encounter this semester!
-Brittini
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