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Dominican Republic. Day 8: Domingo de Domino’s

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Milli Stephania in Friends + Family, Travels

My face is still a mess, and since I can’t really go out much, spending the day in with family is always great.

Domingo de Domino’s = Sunday of Dominoes

My camera has been collecting dust these last couple of days while I heal, even though I promised myself I would take pictures everyday, no matter what it was. So of course I grabbed a few shots of my family in their natural habitat, lol.

Laughing it up, playing, blasting music and drinking.

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Aaaaaaaaah, isn’t family great!?The little cutie in red is Edward, he loves oranges as you can tell. That’s my cousin Yoca’s son. And the mean mugger in the trike is Frandy, my cousin Franklin’s son. Both full of different personality.

I can sit in this rocking chair and watch them play all day, they are hilarious and so damn smart!
This right here is my ”Adam and Eve.”

My grandparent Lilia and Ernesto are the two most sweetest souls I have ever met. They look so beautiful and in love. Tomorrow I most definitely have to go pay a visit to my abuelo’s grave. I never really had the chance to say goodbye when he passed.

He always had a good game of dominoes in the backyard with his fellow mates, and a beer in hand, ready with witty remarks.

I think he would be proud of my grandmother. She’s the glue to it all. Mostly everyone in this house has grown and moved, had kids and have lives to live. But they all manage to be here everyday, spouses, kids, dogs and all.

Our family has gotten bigger and better in time.

♥

Dominican Republic. Day 6, 7 &8: Horrid Pain

Posted on January 19, 2014January 19, 2014 by Milli Stephania in Milli Stephania

Four molars removed at the same time. I sat in that chair with no idea of what I was about to go through.Dr.V said I had stubborn molars. She used so much anestesia on me. I tried not to flinch but I was getting tired.She asked if I wanted to stop and split the process into two. I insisted on her removing all 4 at the same time Might as well get it over with all the same time.

Plus, if you give me time to think about it, I might not come back. She mentioned with all my tattoos this would be a piece of cake.

It wasn´t.

About an hour later I was a mouthful minus 4 with a numb mouth. A lot of ice for the swelling and a a lot of prescribed drugs. Antibiotics and inflamatory pills.

On the way home, finally I broke into chills, which is weird because hello, I’m in D.R. it’s freaking hot over here. I begged for a quilt and my Tia (aunt) Olga ended up giving me more pills. I was running a fever.

I knocked out and the next day, my face looked like it was pregnant one side.

Since the doc removed 4, 3 of my molars were already out and grown, the other however, was still somewhere in my gums, chilling. But with all the drilling she did to get it out, the right side of my face is growing bigger by the minute.

It’s not even pain, it’s the discomfort it’s unbearable.

I feel ugly.

It doesnt help that my hair looks like shit either. Ever since we went to the beach I havent really even bothered to do it. And my natural poof isnt so pretty anymore. I used to have long beautiful curls. Now it’s all damaged from hair dyes and chemicals, not that it’s gonna stop me from changing my hair all the time.

This post went from pain to hair.

ay.

Dominican Republic. Day 5: Señora de Altagracia

Posted on January 16, 2014January 19, 2014 by Milli Stephania in Friends + Family, Milli Stephania, Travels

Today was a mini road trip. 3 hours each way. My cousin Edward drove with a beer in hand, while we made our way to Higuey and La Romana.

We were gonna go see one of the most famous churches in Dominican Republic.

Basílica Catedral Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia.
(local children out of school and walking on the side of broken streets in the heat)

I know I came here when I was 10, but of course I don’t remember much about it’s history.

I know it’s a Roman Catholic church and mu cousin Yenny tells me people from all over the world come to make promises and ask for blessings. Many come crawling on their knees all the way from the main gate to enter the church, others come dressed in all white.

My abuela (grandmother) says, people come ready to came out and sleep on the floor to get a shot at first in line.(Los Montes = The mountains) (sugar cane workers)

On the 21st of January

”Este es el primer santuario de América y en él se aglutina el 21 de enero de todos los años millares de dominicanos para rendirle culto a la Virgen de la Altagracia.”

This is the first sanctuary of America and on the 21st of January many gather and unite , especially thousands of Dominican to surrender worship to the Virgin of Altagracia.

I loved all the candles. Especially when I caught them flickering.

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My cousin Yenny and I, right in front of the infamous church.

Aren’t touristy shots cheesy?

hahahaha
My cousin Franklin getting down and dirty, making sure his picture taking is perfect!Let me tell you, these cheeses ( the round white balls in the bag) are absolutely delicious!

I remember when my abuela used to come to visit in NY and I always made sure I was the first one to have these Quesos de Hoja en Blanco ( cheeses of white sheets) they have like this bitter taste that is super addicting. Of course while driving we had to stop and buy a few for the road. We got some crackers to match and some Presidente beersAfter visiting the church we decided to stop at a local beach by the name of Bayahibe. It was mostly empty on the side we decided to settle down in. There were mostly tourists, I’m sure there was a hotel around somewhere.

What I found interesting was that there was a cemetery right behind us. Do you see the tombstones behind me?

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Look how beautiful this sunset is, I could’nt resist on taking this shot.

Today was fun, I was exhausted once I got back in the car, I ended up falling asleep. Until next time guys :)

Dominican Republic. Day 4: Dentist

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Milli Stephania in Milli Stephania

There’s not much to say about today. I decided to attempt to fix my mouth. I´m ashamed to say I haven’t gotten to a dentist in forever. I’m always in pain and sometimes I feel like my teeth are shifting. Whenver I would mention it to Q he would just look at me a little weird.

So now that I’m here, my godmother recommended a dentist who has done almost everyones mouth in my family.( that sounded pervy) and she was cheaper than any other dentist in the US. I had no choice but to get my ass to that dentist chair for a consultation.

Apparently, I’m not crazy, my teeth have been shifting. I have molars that are still trying to grow out, yet have no space since I already have a mouth full of teeth. So my teeth shift trying to make more space and they’re just pushed on top of one of other. Yuck.

So I have to get 4 molars removed (Ouch) have to get 2 cavities filled in (ew) and have a root canal that needs to be re done.

So I have a lot of work to do, and as painful as I know that’s gonna be, I know it needs to get done and it will all be worth while. Dr. V isisted on working right away so I can heal before I take my flight back home, and if I don’t do anything about it now, all my teeth will be on top of each other. And though its not mandatory yet, braces are recomended.

I already picture Q teasing me, calling me names.

Brace Face.

Train Tracks

Metal mouth.

I ended going to get my xray done, which took me longer in the waiting room than the actual consultation (grrrrr…) I was pretty upset, because the lady doctor insisted I remove the piercings from my face. So I’m thinking maybe it would mess up the machine somehow, metal and stuff. So when I complained about my nose ring not being able to be removed since it was adjusted with pliers, I had already taken off my septum ring, and she decides to tell me, don’t worry about ti, its not that serious. Its just so it wont come out in the pic.

-_- Really?

I was pretty upset bc while attempting to put my septum back in, one of the little balls at the end decided to fall and now I’m stuck with a ball less ring. Coño.

Anyway, check out my teeth. You can already see the metal in my mouth from 2 previous cavaties and a root canal. I don’t even know how my teeth are so messed up bc I’,m not a sweets person. Oh, and peep my nose ring making an appearance!