Week #4

October 15 - 21

I can’t believe we’ve already been here for a month! In some ways it does feel like we’ve been here for a while but the weeks are definitely starting to go by faster. This week was probably one of the best weeks so far and even though I am tired from doing so many things it was very worth it!

x

Last Monday Kira and I went to Las Galeras with a bunch of clients and Paul. Las Galeras is supposed to have some of the best diving on the Samaná peninsula here, but it is only for more advanced divers so I went snorkeling while others were diving. I was still happy that I got to go as some other volunteers weren’t able to because we didn’t have enough room. The drive to Las Galeras wouldn’t be that long if you could drive straight there because it is almost exactly due east, but instead you have to drive southeast 40 minutes to Samaná and then back up north to Las Galeras about another 30 minutes. 
When we got to Las Galeras, we were met by two men in a small boat on a beautiful white sand beach with shimmering bright turquoise water. We all helped load the boat with all the diving equipment and then took the boat out onto the water. 







We took the boat out past the point of land near the beach and around to the other side where the diving sites were and where the water is calmer. This point is called Cabo Cabrón, which literally translates to something like Bastard’s Cape, because of the roughness of the water there. It’s true we did get soaking wet in the boat and pushed up and down with the waves but it was exciting! The water was a beautiful blue and the point is made of these large rock faces with caves here and there and big arch rock formations that looked almost like a magical world. Unfortunately we didn’t have our phones out to take that many pictures because it was wet!
At the dive site everyone else went diving into deep water and I stayed on the surface snorkeling. Overall there was more coral than Samaná but less fish. I saw awesome fan and brain corals and I did see some colorful fish and a bunch of jellyfish. When I came back up on the boat, I saw dolphins jumping in the distance which was pretty awesome! 
Those who went diving also were hunting for lion fish, and they caught over 10 fish! Josh, who lives where we are staying, cooked us lion fish for dinner that night and they were really good!

On Wednesday, we put our kits together and tried to go diving here in Las Terrenas at a beach near the dive shop called Playa Eden. We did do a short dive, but just barely, as the visibility was really bad so we worked on some skills and then got out. Technically this was my first dive in the ocean though, so that was exciting!

In the afternoon, we didn’t have to work again, so we left to go home. When we got home though, one of our friends who works at the surf shop texted us and said the waves were really good, and perfect for learning. We were tired but we thought, why not? So, we put our bathing suits back on and left for Playa Bonita. Kira already knows how to surf, but I got lessons from our friend and I’m so glad we decided to go! Surfing is definitely pretty hard but it was super fun and I am excited to go again.

On Thursday we had the day off, and we went with a couple other volunteers from the dive shop to Salto El Limon, a waterfall near Las Terrenas. To get there, we took a guagua, which are these trucks with extra seating in the back that will take you all over the area for cheap. We took the guagua to Limon, which is a city to the southeast about halfway between here and Samaná. We then hiked up the highway for only a few minutes and then it took us about 45 minutes to hike through the beautiful woods and jungle to get to the waterfall. We chose to hike, but you can also take horses to go a longer route with a guide. It felt so nice to be in nature and in the fresh air, and so refreshing to jump in the cold water once we got there. We spent all afternoon here, exploring smaller waterfalls near the main one, and swimming under and behind the waterfalls in cool caves with crabs and interesting moss. On the way back saw a beautiful sunset from the back of a pick up truck before getting poured on (but we didn’t mind it felt good)! Once back in Las Terrenas, Kira went to Spanish class and I went home, exhausted but content.

We also ended up having Friday off as our second day off this week. We slept in, went to Playa Bonita for a quick swim, went to the grocery store, and then came home to make dinner.
On Saturday, Kira and the other divers working to get their advanced certification went to Samaná to dive, while the rest of us stayed in the shop all day. On Sunday, Kira and the other volunteers went diving again near Las Terrenas. Those of us not certified yet were supposed to go out in the afternoon, but unfortunately the visibility was worse than expected, and many divers got very seasick on the first dive and Paul didn't want to take more people out.
This week we explored more and had a great time. It felt awesome to be in nature at the waterfall and I'm looking forward to going on more day trips on our days off. 

Week #3

October 8 - 14

This week we actually ended up having three days off, which we made great use of by going to the beach all three days! On our fist day off, we went to the main surfing beach, Playa Coson, which is further away from our house than Playa Bonita, but is beautiful and more secluded. However, the Turkish version of the reality TV show Survivor is filmed here in Las Terrenas, and Coson is the location of one of their big wooden obstacle course set ups. It looks pretty out of place but also would be fun to try (although definitely not allowed haha)! While we were there it started pouring, so we covered up our bags and continued swimming of course!

We did also go back to Playa Bonita one day, and then just today we went to Playa Punta Poppy which is in the other direction from our house past town. This beach has a large sand area with palm trees everywhere, kids playing volleyball, and many locals swim here. Like the name says, this beach is on a point, and we ended up staying with some of the friends we've made until sunset which was absolutely beautiful.

This week I finally went for my first dive, even though it was in a pool. We did end up seeing a crab in the pool, but I'm looking forward to seeing everything there is to see in the ocean!
Also, one day at the beach in front of the dive shop, during our lunch break a guy camera over to us with a cardboard box. All of a sudden he was pulling four baby bunnies out of the box, and placing them in my lap! They were very cute, but we weren’t sure if we should touch them or if he would want us to pay.

Saturday night, we went out with the host family of one of the other volunteers. They took us out to eat at the pizza restaurant owned by her host mom's boyfriend, and then we all went and danced bachata at the bar he owns.

Every week we learn more about the town, meet new people, and get bit by mosquitoes of course. Overall I am very happy to be here and grateful that I have such awesome people in my life supporting me. Until next week!

Week #2

October 1 - 7

Hello everybody! We’ve now been here for two weeks, and are settling in a bit more to life and work here. On our days off we've gone to the beach near our house, Playa Bonita, and Kira and some other volunteers have done some surfing! I hope to learn when the waves aren't so rough.

On Tuesday, we woke up at 5 am, and left to go snorkeling and diving at 6:30 from the dive shop here in Las Terrenas. Along with the other volunteers, Paul and Audrey (who run the dive shop), and four clients, we drove about 45 minutes south to Samaná bay where there is a small wreck and an island with an all-inclusive resort. In January-March this area is known for seeing whales and dolphins, but unfortunately we obviously won’t be here then. We went out on a wooden boat from the dock there, and went to two different sites for diving and snorkeling. Kira and most of the others went diving, but I went swimming and snorkeling along with three others. Hopefully soon I will be diving too! Those who went diving saw a nurse shark and a bunch of other fish and coral, but of course I saw pretty fish and coral as well! The visibility, however, was not very good but it should be better next time. On Friday, Kira and I both took our NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) written open water SCUBA certification exam - and both passed! Generally it has been rainy and stormy here, so the weather is hard to go diving in, but it should clear up at some point this week.

It has been hard to adjust to life here, in a few different ways, but one of the biggest things is the way men treat women. Every time we step out onto the street, we are stared at, yelled at, harassed and cat called no matter the time of day, where we are, or what we are wearing. It is old grandfathers to twelve year olds, men who are walking, riding their motos, or in the trucks, and police and security guards as well. It is extremely frustrating to feel so exposed and like an object no matter where we are. Kira and I mostly stay together though, and have each other for support which is helpful. Being honest, we have also felt this sexism and patriarchal control at work from Paul, who doesn’t exactly understand systems of power and makes plenty of “non politically correct” offensive jokes. When we got here, he was not giving everyone their days off, but Kira and I, along with a couple other volunteers, are holding him accountable now for his actions. He has already improved in giving us our days off and letting us leave sometimes if there is nothing to do. 

I love that we are able to walk to the beach near our house on our days off and swim in the ocean whenever we like. The owner of where we are staying, Edit, has returned with her 18 year old son Joshua. They are Dutch but have lived here for many years, since before Joshua was born. There are also other guests staying here this week, so there is more noise and laughter from the houses next to us. 

One of the main goals I have for my gap year is that I want to keep learning, but take a break from the classroom. I am confident that Kira and I will learn a lot from this experience, about diving and marine life, but also about another culture, our own lives, and how to interact and work with people you may not always agree with. 

I hope everyone is doing well and I'll be back next week!