I stayed with a family in Saman? for three weeks during January, and since then, I have been obsessed with la Republica Dominicana which is why I am pleased to say that I am again returning to this amazing country (and to the town of Saman?) May 24th. While I cannot say that I missed the abnormally sized cockroaches, there is just so much about the DR that I love...the people, the culture, the music, and the beauty of the country. I think what intrigues me the most about the DR is the paradox of such extreme poverty in perhaps one of the most beautiful places I have ever had the privilege to see. I must say that this time I will be traveling alone (when I went in January, it was with other students from my college) and am not quite at the point where I can claim to be bilingual. What saddens me is that I will only have two weeks instead of three to spend there. Until then, I count the days.