The water here is very, very salty.
But beautiful and warm of course! :) I had my first swim in the Caribbean today, as did many of us!
We woke up this morning with a sunny skies and warmer weather than yesterday. Although we lathered sun screen, we are quickly learning that the sun here is quite strong. After a once again, delicious breakfast full of fruit and a type of homemade donut that people fell in love with. Dean Mauro looks forward to them all year long.
Five people in our group went on a fishing trip for a few hours with the local, Wacho, and learned so much. They traveled almost all of the way down to Panama! Joseph, Mike, Nick, Victoria, and Katie all had a wonderful time this morning, and still put in double the work this afternoon.
Today we continued to work on the bus stop, and the barriers to the beach. All day we painted, and some local workers helped us replace the roof on the bus stop as well. We worked non-stop until lunch, and then continued after that until a bit before sunset. We have finished almost all of the barriers, panted a bridge, and are so close to completing the bus stop!!! We have some great stencils that Victoria and Katie designed to decorate with, and we heard that the locals are looking forward to some fun designs.
I had a great brief chat with the dean today, and we enjoyed some Mango con leche and Mango con l'agua at Maxi's. That is fresh mango smoothies with milk or water!!! It is great that as a faculty member, he is trying to spend a little time with us each individually to grasp how our experience here has been so far, and get to know us a little better!
Victoria, Mike, and Aubrie all were able to get some local kids to help them paint!! They were very interested in helping us. I have some adorable pictures of all of it. Coach Car brought some basketballs for the local kids to play with, and Levar is working on teaching them some moves.
Coco took Joseph on a very long, snorkeling trip far out into the reef. Joseph said it was an unforgettable experience, and they even brought back a little lobster that they caught. They let it go of course, but not before bringing it back to show us all and explain their adventure!! :)
After dinner back at Something Different, we all moseyed on over to the Ice Cream Garden to enjoy each others company, and some fabulous milkshakes and smoothies. The shop owner is still sitting with us (he is originally from France) and another local.
I must say, we are all starting to really grasp the Pura Vida life style. It means, 'The good Life.' You say Hola to the locals, and the respond Pura Vida. Its a lifestyle here, and not only are we doing great work to help the community here, but we are also really getting to know the locals and engaging in every opportunity there is here. Many come up to us, and Thank Us, and say they are so happy we are here to improve the town and its colorful atmosphere. Not only that, but within our own group, we are really making some lasting friendships. There has been no conflict, no laziness. We all do things as a group, and get along so well! Katie put it a good way when she said she doesn't this she has ever laughed as much as she has in the past two days.
Tomorrow will be a fun filled day, along with finishing up the bus stop and perhaps a new project to start. Can't wait to tell you all about it.
Until then, Pura Vida! :)
Photos of Day 2: www.photobucket.com/fducr2012day2
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