First I want to tell everyone sorry for the delay in this report and the time it will take to complete this as I will have to do it in installments.Oh and did I mention I was very longwinded. I started following DR1 around Sept 2002.It was thru this message boards help and Kens help that my plans to come to the DR to get some dental work done became a reality.(work that I will say up front was very successful and saved me a very great deal of money doing it here and not in the US)After delaying my trip 3 times and a great deal of e-mails between Ken and I(and conversation between Ken and his and now my dentist Dra Wendy Juma)I was set to arrive at POP on April 8th.I had made resv.at Rockys and when I got there Marco and his ex girlfriend met me with the sign with my name on it at the airport.After going to Rockys and relaxing for a while Marco told me he would have to let me stay at his overflow hotel. I am pretty sure it was Romanofs,Rocky got me in without having to pay thier normal room rate because of an arrangment with his overflow clients.After getting setteled in I headed back over to Rockys where of course I meet Sonya,Ted,Esmerelda,Stella and a man staying at Rockys (had a different name I cant recall it now) but after traveling from Chantilly VA to Rockys here is this guy staying at Rockys that lives around 6 to 7 miles from me here in Oakton VA.Small world isnt it. To all of those who I will affend by not breaking up this in enough paragraphs(if any)sorry in advance I have been reading the board and know this is a pet peeve to some. The 1st thing I want to do is thank Ken for his unselfishness in assisting me.He had me an appt with DRA Wendy Juma the day after I got there.He sat with me for over an hour talking to me at Rockys(4/9/04) before we went over to the Dentists where he sat there for 2 1/2 to 3 hours helping me translate with Wendy about my treatment plan and then afterwards took me to western union to show me where it was at and to change some money and also advised they have a very fair rate of exchange most of the time.He spent almost 5 hours with me that day,did it all just to help me out and then we discussed about getting together for lunch or dinner sometime but I only saw him 1 other time the whole time I was there(except seeing him in the distance about twice going to or coming from the gym I suspect)and that was when I went to the DR1 party on April 19th at Rockys and met his very nice wife Barb.I think Ken is maybe a little dissapointed this has taken so long to get posted (he never said that) but I go into so much detail(oh and did I say I was a bit wordy)that I thought I would get this done in a rough form and then type it all out at once but I can see that day isnt coming anytime soon so I will try to type it out a little at a time that way I may in time get it all out.Just a few DR1's I meet during my trip was of course Rocky, Eddy (condosdominicana)Johnny Honda (may he RIP) Talked to Robert at the 4/19 party meet mainer(spanish teacher in Virginia at the time living about 20 miles from my house in Loudon County Leesburg I think)sat near Hillbilly(but was never introduced(hey I can be shy)I think Escott(or Scott or Loud fat american whatever you want to call him was ther but didnt meet him and I think this is the reason that the rest of the trip I would see him quite often looking at him thinking I know this guy I think but who is he)Now I have got the face and the name together if I see him next time I will introduce myself as the guy who would be looking at him with a puzzeled look on his face when I was there on my last trip.I meet the mainers and I saw both Mr mainer and Eddy (sport bar also)coming out of my dentists office at different times during my treatment.They must like Wendy also as does Ken whos original post on getting work there started me on my oddessy to the D.R.Oh and also Hillbilly post about how lucky Sosua was to have her in Sosua as she was very qualified as he used to be her Professor at 1 time and he he said to go only to (I forgot the initials)xyg or xxu as they were the university that put out the most qualified dentists. A belatted thank you to Hillbilly(who is from West Va my neighbor state)Please excuse me for this post going all over the place but I want to go into as much details as I can and after not being there since Oct 1(1st trip 4/8-7/3 and second trip 8/15 to 10/1) things are starting to be forgotten and my mind is going in all directions putting things down as I remember them)I promise next time I will try to keep a journal.Bottom line very happy with my dental work had a fantastic trip meet so many decent and nice people that I couldnt count them all and as you could imagine learned quite a lot about the the country and the people.Dental work if done in USA about 23k to 26k.Done in the DR with a very lovely and sweet person who was so concerned about weather I was in pain or not this question she asked me ALL THE TIME.To many times but I sure was happy she was looking out for me in that respect)I have a lot to share about my trip and if people want me to I will try to get out much more of this trip report if it is desired.You guys and gals know being down there for 41/2 months in the DR there are plenty of stories to tell.By the way I am 44yo male(duh)R.E.Agent back here in VA just to let you know a little about where i am coming from.I called Ken this before and now I will repeat it again,Ken you are truly a gentelman and a scholar.I will not forget your generosity.And I almost forgot to thank all of the contributors to DR1.I can not provide the words to thank all of you enough and for you Robert for having this fantastic and very informative post.If you want to pick this post apart(hey I have been reading the boards and it seems like sometimes people just have nothing better to do)Please just do me a favor let the people who will enjoy it enjoy it and keep the flaming to yourself.Oh wait a minute I forgot this is DR1.Let the games begin LOL.Bye for now all you good people Jon