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RPCV/PCV Web Pages, Blogs, Projects..... Minimize

If you have lots of time for reading, and particularly if you have been invited to Peace Corps in the DR, here is an index to blogs on the DR primarily by Volunteers:  http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com:80/dr.html

The current Volunteers in the DR are building their own web site which provides current information on projects and background of the country.   http://dominican.peacecorps.gov/

Lynne Moquete teaches school and then uses summer to take Americans to the DR to work on projects through her organization "Building Homes building Hope".  http://www.homesandhope.org/

The Sister Island Project works with PCVs and uses RPCVs as consultants for projects in the Yabacao region of the DR, where Co-Director Victoria Santos was born..  http://www.sisterislandproject.org/index.html

Andrea Yajko was inspired by her service in the DR to create amazing art.  Her web site is great, but see the works in a gallery to fully appreciate the textures and colors!  http://www.dredogdraw.com/www/gallerydr.html

Carlos Encalada is floating through life and doing a blog of his service with PC DR.  Service there is different, and the same, as in the 1960s.  Check him out here:  http://ecualombian.blogspot.com/

Jan Steckel (PCV DR 1985-87) is an award-winning published writer and a former pediatrician who took care of Spanish-speaking patients at a county hospital and at a large HMO in California. You can read some of her work (including four stories about the D. R., one of which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize) at www.jansteckel.com.  Author of THE UNDERWATER HOSPITAL (Zeitgeist Press, 2006)  Reviewed in The Pedestal Magazine, Street Spirit, Galatea Resurrects, Quiddities, Woman-Stirred, Poesy Magazine, & the Bay Area Poets Seasonal Review

My name is Dave Kaufman, and I was in DR 2 assigned to Puerto Plata (1962-4).  My wife, Anita and I have been in Costa Rica for the past 35 years where we own and operate Conversa, a language school dedicated to the teaching of Spanish and English as foreign languages.  If you get a chance, please visit our website at www.conversa.net  It's always a special pleasure for us when we hear from former DR Volunteers.

John Terence Turner was a volunteer in the DR in 1968 when he made the first sale of a print of one of his photographs under rather unusual circumstances.  Those of you that stayed at Hotel Colon will remember that a great variety of people stayed there.  The inspiration of that sale led to professional photography.  John is also a good writer, and here is the story.  www.stockasylum.com/text-pages/column/jtt21-092007-first.htm
And another fun story: http://www.stockasylum.com/text-pages/column/jtt21-122007-peace.htm
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Dominican News
HOY NEWSPAPER - Hoy newspaper in the DR 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ONE - One of the most helpful news and information web site for visitors to the DR, in English

HURRICANES IN THE DR - Historic and updated information on hurricanes with many links to hurricane weather sites

LISTIN DIARIO - Popular daily national newspaper [en Español]

El Diario Libre - Another local newspaper  [en Español]

Clave Dgital - Yet another DR daily  [en Español]

Livio - An unbelievably large collection of links, with music. 

Travel Information
DEBBIE'S DR TRAVEL PAGE - Debbie has one of the more useful travel information page about the DR. Recommended.

DRPURE.COM - Dominican Adventures.  Comprehensive guide to extreme sports and off-the-beaten-track travel in the adventure capital of the Caribbean - the Dominican Republic

HISPANIOLA.COM - Travel guide & easy to use, fun Spanish talking phrases; best selection of maps

LONELY PLANET DESTINATION DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Interesting information for travelers to the DR; includes nice sections on 'off the beaten path'

PANORAMA VIRTUAL TOUR OF DR - 24 beautiful photos around the DR  

Dominican Government
DOMINICAN EMBASSY - In Washington, D.C. 

DOMINICAN SECRETARY OF TOURISM - Interesting web site in Spanish with regional maps and information, photos, music, cyber post cards, events calendar, video clip

PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - The official web site of the democratically elected leader of the Dominican Government and people

Culture, History, Environment
BIRDING IN THE DR - Photos of endemic birds found on Hispaniola; by onithologists Steve and Sandra Brauning

SABOR DOMINICANO - Click and hear different Dominican artists playing bachata, merengue, salsa and more [en Español]

SOCIEDAD ORNITOLOGICA DE LA HISPANIOLA - Hispaniola's Ornithology Society web site with links to their Yahoo group site.

TODY TOURS - Birds, birds, birds -- Birders from the world over use this tour to see many species endemic only to the DR; run by RPCV Kate Wallace

WHY THE COCKS FIGHT: - Dominicans, Haitians and the Struggle for Hispaniola - the acclaimed book by Michele Wucker is well worth reading to understand the historical cultural clash between the nations

Ways You Can Help the DR
ORPHANAGE OUTREACH - A US based educational assistance program [non Peace Corps] operating in Monte Cristi, Esperanza and Nagua, DR; opportunities to help

PEDALS FOR PROGRESS - International used bicycle donation program, created and run by several RPCVs, including a Rotary run program in Monti Cristi and 2 other new sites in the DR; opportunity for local community bike collections.

THE DREAM PROJECT - A NGO non-profit corporation that helps to improve the education of poor children in the Dominican Republic, particularly around Cabarete, by donating supplies, building new facilities, and placing volunteers in classrooms and libraries around the country. 

MAHATMA GANDHI FOUNDATION - A former PC DC staff person living in Las Terrenas experienced the extreme disparity of income and education and started a little project which has grown into an ambitious small community organization working in reading, music & art, library, professional workshops, health, and more.
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Fundacion Melassa - Melassa is a non-profit organization dedicated to the transnational organization of Latin@s in the Americas and those interested in promoting cultural exchange among the Americas.   Melassa is dedicated to the development of collaboration projects between academic institutions and popular culture, transcending borders, not only national, but also borders defined by class, gender, and race.
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