Sandy here on Rachel's log in. On the bus ride today one of the social workers on our team told me her story of living on a batey until she was in 4th grade when her parents moved her to the city so that she could continue her education. This is a rare story for the many Haitians who live on the bateys - one who broke out of the cycle. She told me that she had loved living out in the countryside and misses it to this day. She is dedicating her life to giving back to her people.

We're here in the DR at the top of the sugar cane season - when they begin the harvest of this year's crop. Last Sunday was the first day they opened the "safra", which means that the workers started into the cane fields to begin the cutting season. Workers earn very little for cutting an enormous amount of cane in a day. The cut cane is then collected and transported in carts pulled by oxen to the train tracks which wind through the cane fields. Open train cars are packed with cane stalks that carry them to the processing plant where they are ground, heated and eventually turned into sugar. The sugar industry and tourism are the DR's primary sources of income and define the landscape and life on this island nation.

Tonight we were treated to 7 innings of Dominican baseball at La Romana's home field - Los Toros v. Los Escogidos - grand rivalry, an especially lively fan base, a rousing band/percussion section that almost deafened us out of the stadium until we changed seats. What a fiesta of a baseball game - with a stadium full of Toros fanatics and a few of our own, it was great fun.
Up early tomorrow to continue in two teams - those constructing water filters and those working the health clinic on our next batey. Food packages are set to go and meds are prepped. Time for rest.