Today was Working Like A Local Day. We woke up earlier than the birds, which we were all so obviously ecstatic about (just kidding it was 6am). Then we had the delicious breakfast Licalot made; pancakes, eggs and watermelon. It was the first traditionally American food we had in a while, a taste of home.

We then took a bus to Bejuco Aplastado where we planted 90 cacao trees with some of the local’s Agapito Marte, Berto, Rosairis, Junior, and Marcelo. The journey to the forest was a very long hike. There were very steep hills we had to climb up and down. It was very tiring however, fun. There was even a river included in which we had to cross (some of us jumped). Then we had to walk back up and down the hills in which we gave big love to the community. We gave big love and mentioned how we appreciated their work and admire that they climb the hills everyday and do it with a lot of love no matter how dangerous it might be.

After the experience we had planting, we enjoyed some down time at the hostel, ate lunch, prepared for our tutoring lessons and then enjoyed rice con leche for dinner.

FAST FACTS:

Weather: VERY RAINY!!! For the first time on the trip we saw a lot of rain!

Best Meal: Locrio de salchicha for lunch, which was delicious rice and sausage with vegetables on the side

Best Moment: Planting the cacao trees and seeing how willing everyone was to help one another through the hills.

Biggest Takeaway: The fact that the locals do this every day and it’s one of, if not the only, major source of money.

Note from your GGL:  Sorry for the delay on this posting! It rained a lot last night and we lost electricity for a bit so we were not able to post.  We have learned this is common in the DR.  Luckily we are up and running again this morning!