Day 1

I am clearly a tourist.

But that is okay, because I am realizing the people down here not only appreciate what we are doing here...but they are very welcoming and want to get to know you!

Today was our first day of work, and I think I can say on behalf of all of us, we are proud of what we have done so far and can't wait to do more.

We were downstairs at Something Different at  8am for breakfast. Breakfast was AMAZING. Sorry to everyone reading, but the fruit you just bought at Stop and Shop for an afternoon snack cannot compare to what we were served this morning. Fresh banana, watermelon, mango, papaya, pineapple, cantaloupe, and freshly squeezed juice. I could eat this stuff all day every day. The mango was to DIE FOR. My neighbor Tina in New Hampshire, buys mango every week trying to find the perfect one. Tina: you have to come to CR to get what you are looking for. I cannot explain the tastiness.

We then walked into town, with Pablo and our local helper Coco. Coco is a recent 18 year old high school graduate, and signed on to help us with whatever we need throughout our time here.

Our main task today was to work on the bus stop area, near the entrance to the town. We needed to clean it, and re paint it. There is also cement cylinders lining the beach, so that cars do not drive onto it. Over the past year, the paint on them has worn off and they are sinking into the ground so we need to dig many of them up, re-position them, and also repaint them adding reflective paint so they can be seen in the dark. It is important to this community that people do not drive onto the beach, so we are helping any way we can to improve the sight and look of these barriers.

It was in the 80's today, sunny. Many locals and tourists alike were out on the town and on the beach today. While we worked, many people came up to us to chat. Not only about the work we are doing, but anything in general. It is seriously just a different kind of life here. It is sort of like, time isn't the main factor. Right now is the school vacation months, so many people are taking time off and are out and about. The locals are so relaxed, honest, and happy to say hi and welcome!

Right now I am sitting in a cute little ice cream/coffee shop with Aubrie, and the man that works here is with us chatting away trying to help Aubrie get her IPhone to work. Its not an inconvenience to them, they are actually interested in helping and getting to know us. Most of the others are either back at the house taking a breather, or are snorkeling and on the beach. It is sunset right now, and the view is breathtaking. I am sure that by Tuesday, we will all have different perspectives about life in general...and the concept of priorities.

There is much volunteer work to be done, and tomorrow will be a long hard day of work. Some of the group went to do some painting at the school today (I am hoping to get some pictures of that tomorrow). I will soon attach a link to Flickr- a photo sharing website- with all of the pictures I took today! I'll try to post some to the blog too for everyone.

We will be eating dinner tonight at Maxi's with some former FDU professors who now have a home down here. They spent 18 years taking FDU students down here, to experience what we are right now.

I will try to update as often as possible, for all you worrying parents out there ;) don't worry your children love you but we are just having too much fun to be on our phones 24/7. THAT IS A GOOD THING!! Be proud of them.

Photos of Day 1: www.photobucket.com/fducr2012day1