Friday, December 10, 2010

It's been awhile...

So it was pointed out that I haven’t updated this is three weeks. Sorry about that. I haven’t been online much and when I do have free time I’ve been spending it in my hammock with a good book, or 5.
Everything is still going really well, I love this village a little more every day. Well Let’s start with the 19th of November.

November 19th is a national holiday, Its Garifuna settlement day. Since Hopkins is one of only a few Garifuna communities it’s a BIG deal here. It is celebrating the Garifuna people coming to Belize, after being exiled off of St. Vincent. On the 18th we had a rally at school, we sent some boys out in dories (canoes) to reenact the arrival. After we paraded back to school while singing and dancing and drumming. We than watched some Punta (traditional Garifuna dancing) and had some guest speakers. After we paraded around the village. We got a truck with huge speakers and danced through the streets it was a blast. After we came back to school and all the classes got to have some traditional Garifuna food (there a few different dishes most made out of ripe plantain or banana.) That night I had a few other volunteers come in to celebrate it. While it’s a national holiday there are really event in the Garifuna communities. Unfortunately it poured all night so the village was pretty dead, everyone deciding to stay in or head to Dangriga, where it was raining but had artist still playing.
Friday morning we woke up early and although it was still raining went to watch the real reenactment. It was cool. There were 2 boats with like 20 people and they came in and were turned away by a English guy just like when they came originally. They tried again and finally were allowed to stay. There was drumming and singing which lead us right into church. We than had a church service. It was all in Garifuna and about 2 hours. However I loved it. The Garifuna hymn and amazing and beautiful. I’m even learning a few!
After church we headed home and made some lunch! Yum! In the afternoon Molly and Jenna had to head out but 2 other volunteers showed up out of nowhere! Awesome! We saw Molly and Jenna off and than hung out for a bit. Later in the evening I got a call from Hilton (a teacher at my school) and he informed me that they were parading and where was I?? so we hurried up and caught up with the parade. I pretty much ditched my volunteer friends and danced with some of my students than joined some of the teachers. This parade conveniently stopped right off on the beach. They started drumming and dancing started. At first I was just standing with my friend Miles and Alison and Hilton and Wayne. But soon they were convincing me to dance. And so I did. I talked to lots of people and lots of kids laughed at me. By far I felt the most intergraded I had since I got to Belize.
The rest of that weekend was uneventful, mainly because the village was recovering from Friday night. The next week was thanksgiving and while my first big holiday away was hard I was fortunate enough to spend it with a lot of my new peace corps family. Monday we had a district dinner in Dangriga. The staff at the peace corps office donated a turkey for us and it was wonderful. Later on Thursday I headed up north to have another amazing dinner on Friday. There were about 30 of there included three staff member who made the drive up to celebrate with us. It was nice and I think really needed for all of us. There was a small group of us who spend the night and stayed up chatting. The rest of the weekend I spent in the north just hanging out. Monday it was off to Belmopan. We had a two day workshop for all the education volunteers. It was cool to get some good idea from each other.
Wednesday I headed home to Hopkins and haven’t left since. I love it. I love really being able to spend time here and not feeling guilty for missing school again for another meeting.
Unfortunately we got some bad news this week. One of the teacher’s mom, passed on last weekend. I went to the wake on Tuesday and the Funeral on Wednesday. It’s been a long, hard week. Although, I’m really glad I got to be here. This week really made me realize how important the guys I teach with have become to me. They are thoughtful, caring, strong family men and I feel always so honored when I get to walk around with them. They are now part of my family; they watch out for me and laugh not only with me but at me. They include me into this community and make me feel like I belong here just as much as they do. It’s amazing feeling that I wish I could communicate better. But I supposed that like the quote “the best feelings have no words”
I meant to bring some pictures to post but forgot so I guess that means you get another entry next week :)

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Garifunia refresher, Dengue, and my 1st hurricane!

Ok… so clearly I’m writing this so everything is fine.. meaning I didn’t die from dengue! But lets catch everyone one…
First, Last week Laura and I had our Language in-service training. It was going to be a refresher course on language, which we both really needed. Laura came a few days early and we hung out in Hopkins… even though I had threaten a man with the police and ran out of gas to cook we had a blast. Once again my neighbor pulled through for both and tried to help get my lawn chopped (I paid a man and he did a really bad job and didn’t finish but wouldn’t. I had to threaten the police but a guy who’s family owns the house ended up stopping by and doing it for me! She also was nice enough to let us finish cooking our chicken on her stove! Seriously what would I do without my neighbors???)
Anyway, we had a great weekend and made it to Dangriga on Sunday ready for three non stop days of speaking Garifuna. Well Monday morning I woke up and wasn’t feeling so hot. By noon I could hardly walk. By 1PM Laura was sure I had dengue and I was in full denial (I’ll be fine!!) For those of you who don’t know dengue is a tropical desiese spread by misquotes. Its commonly called broken bone deiseise because it literally feels like your bones are broke. It was by far the most painful thing I’ve every experienced, and this time I’m not exstuating. I could hardly move. There is also nothing they can do for it. I got some Tylenol for the fever and to “help” with the pain but it didn’t really do much beyond the fever… for about 5 days I was sure I was going to die, but by day 6 it was ok. Today I’m feeling much better, at least I feel like myself again. I’m still tired and sore and not 100% but I no longer feel like I have 232 broke bones  So Friday as I was lying in bed dying peace corps called, they informed me they were picking me up and we needed to talk. Well once I got to the peace corps office I found out that surprise a hurricane was coming! (who watches the weather channel when they are sick? Isn’t that was E! is for?) so Basically I needed to get on a bus come back make sure my house was packed up and hurricane proof than turn around in the morning and get back to Belmopan. I talked with some staff and decided the only thing in my house was my computer and it was up high away from windows so I wasn’t moving.
On Sunday morning about 20 other volunteers arrived at the hotel (other volunteers were in hotel in other parts of the country) We got briefed by Peace Corps (who informed us it was now a category 2 hurricane and headed straight at us… ) and were locked in the hotel. It started at about 6pm. It was heavy rain and by 9 the wind was so strong it was scary. We would stand on the balcony and get blown down it. (Don’t worry mom we were safe the whole time!) two men from the hotel walked around all night and made sure we were safe and the building was ok. at some point in the night the ceiling of the rooms on the third floor starting collapsing so we were all moved to the second floor. The second floor is like a motel the hall ways are open, it was interesting trying to move with candles and pitch blankness in 90 mile an hour winds! But no worries we woke up safe in the morning! Through the night I keep in contact with not only other volunteers but also my counterpart down in Hopkins and my host family who were at my host brother’s house in Belmopan right down the street. It was nice to know everyone was safe yet scary not knowing what how my house was or if others were ok. Lucky Hopkins wasn’t damaged much other than a few down trees and everyone is ok. Belize City wasn’t so lucky and had a lot of damage. I watched the news for a bit with my neighbor and it was so sad to watch.
First thing Tuesday morning we were all cleared from the hotel and allowed to leave. The buses were back and up and running and I returned home. There was no damage too my house at all and actually came back to a fixed up yard! Lucky me!
I spend the afternoon with me neighbor (he fixed my bike! Seriously what would I do?) and my oldest Host sister stopped by and hung for while. It’s so nice to be back. Today I’m back to work! Its about time. This weekend is Halloween (my favorite… note the sarcasm) Friday we are having a parade and other than that not much happens. The big news is that its almost November which is a very eventful month in a Garifunia community, we have all sorts of events and celebration, but that sounds like a perfect next blog so I’ll catch you up on that soon!

Friday, October 15, 2010

Pics!!!


The view from my school! Yes that is the sea!


Me in front of the school
I'll post somemore later when there are kids!


The boys drumming at the drumming center. Awesome!


This is one of the walls in my kitchen/living area! The world map is one of the best things I've gotten in a care package! Thanks A!


My new bedroom! It's blue blue blue!

colleen is amazing and painted my kitchen!!


Gayla putting the finshing touches on my room!


This is one of my students, Ryan, he helped so much! and he's so cute!


My neighbor Derrick, I'm sure he painted more of my house than I did. I'm not actually sure how he got roped into helping in the first place :)

There are many more so I'm going to try to put them on a online photo album, soon! :)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

paint, drumming and behavior changing

Last week I traveled down south to the town of Punta Gorda with my counterpart to take part in a Peace Corps workshop. It was called “design for behavior change”. It was amazing. We came up with behavior we wanted to change and than made plans of just how we are going to try to change them in the next 2 years. Wayne and I came up with three different behaviors we are going to work on in the next three years.
1) Half of our teacher live in Hopkins and half live in Dangrgia and we want to unite the staff and get all the teachers working together. We are going to work on this by having a retreat and doing weekly staff meetings where I’ll do some team building! Camp pays off again!! So excited for this!
2) We are going to try in the next two year to get 80% of out students reading at grade level. Right now we are at about 60%ish. We are going to do this by pull out reading groups and afterschool programs. This week I’m starting to stay after Tuesdays and thuresday with the two standard 4 teachers to work with about 5 kids from each class on their reading. I’m also starting some sort of reading program that I’m not exactly sure what will look like yet.
3) We are going to try to educate the community on the importanace of education. According to many members of the community that I have spoken with education has never been viewed as very important in the village and we want to change this. We want parents on our side. My counterpart and I are going to work on this as well as another man in the village that I meet this weekend. I’m not entirely sure exactly what we are going to do yet for this but I’m starting to meet with people this week!
So at the end fo the day I think those are the main projects for the next 2 years. There are a few side things I’m also working on, such as on Fridays there is a teacher in the village that home schools 10 kids and we meet and are going to fix up the library and catalog it and hopfully get it running on its own again. Currently there is no one there to work so it sits closed all day. hopefully we can change this soon!
Other than loving coming up with what are going to do for the next 2 years I also enjoyed having a chance to get to know my counterpart better. He is a great guy and possiably the busiest human I have ever met. He is always on the go but has a great heart and you can tell he loves those kids and wants what is best for them. I really enjoy working with him and I’m excited to see how I can help!
I was at the workshop Mon to wed and than spend thuresday and Friday back at school. I love going to school! I’m getting alone with a few of the teachers really well and its nice to have people to joke around with and talk about real things. I’m finding myself staying at school until 5:30 or 6:00 chatting and just hanging out. It’s nice!!
On the non-school front… my roommate is gone!!! She moved back the states last week! I finally have a house to myself and let me tell you its amazing!!! I didn’t realize just how uncomfortable I felt in my own house!! This past weekend two volunteers from up north came down and helped me paint and fix up my house! Actually we had a painting party! My neighbor Derrick somehow got roped into helping than one of my student Ryan stopped by and wanted to help. He is 8ish? And was a great help! He painted my closet and helped me with my selves! Such a sweet kid! It was fun and now my house looks so good! It’s now very much me and I couldn’t ask for more!
Saturday night, after all the hard work was done we headed down to the drumming center. Drumming is huge part of the Garifunia culture and right down the street is the drumming center. I can usually hear the drumming from my veranda at night. Well we headed down and watched them drum and did a little dancing. It was great and I think this weekend I finally realized just how many people I know and know me! I might have already said this but it amazes me more and more everyday how many people I already know and how welcoming me into the community they are!

*pictures of the painting will follow hopfully tomorrow!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

A few people have been complaining about my lack of blogs.. again.. so I thought I would give you a little something!
Everything down here is still going good. We passed our 6 month mark in country and our 4 months as volunteers. It’s weird to think about how long its been and the fact we are almost ¼ of the way through!! Time is flying!
School is going really well! Peace Corps always makes sure to tell us that community can be anything we think, it isn’t nessiarlaly your village or city, it might be the area you live in or where you work. I guess I heard that but never really thought about it. All along I have been considering Hopkins my community and feeling kinda like I wasn’t doing a great job getting to into it. Today I came to a different conclusion. My community is my school. The 18 teachers I work with everyday are my community. Today was the first day that I truly felt that I was part of it. At lunch we were getting together to eat and hang out and celebrate the birthdays for Sept. This was Mr. Coleman and myself. Yesterday I note went around to everyone reminding them that we were getting together for Mr. Coleman’s birthday. I wasn’t surprised or hurt or anything. After all I’m not a teacher. Well today at the lunch Mr. Coleman himself made a point to correct everyone and make sure everyone knew that It was also my birthday this past month. We sat and ate and laughed than it was time for cake. Mr. Coleman and I had to cut the cake and we decided to dance while doing so. Well actually after I bought up the point that it was probably best if I didn’t dance with a knife in my head, they agreed (they have seen me fall or trip a number or times ) just goes to show you how well they already know me! After we ate this amazing cake we heading out for afternoon classes.
Next week I have to go to a in-service training with my counterpart Wayne. Today we had to go through some things to get ready for it. We spend the entire afternoon having very frank honest conversations in the office. It was amzing, we talked about the village, the teachers, social issues, social divides, eduation, and what we need to do or can do. It was amazing. It was the first time I really felt that someone from Hopkins really trusted me, like I was “in”. AMAZING!
Only to get better after school I headed to the standard 6 room. Hilton’s room. He is one teacher that I have spent some time with and really enjoy talking to. Plus he has the cutest shyest 5 year old I’ve ever met and I’m slowly convincing her that we are going to be friends! There are have been a few days that I have went and hung out and helped him in his room and then we will walk home together. When this happens it’s the highlight of my day. Today was one of those days. I helped him hang some posters and then we walked home (he lives right down the street) together. On the way home he confused that his teaching was too “boring” and that he needed some creative ideas and could I help? Umm of course!!!! I would love too!!! This whole Peace Corps thing wouldn’t work if I walked into school and starting throwing ideas around, but once someone trusts you enough to ask for help or invite you into their classroom!! That’s what I’m waiting for!!
It’s days like today that remind me why I’m here, why I left all my family and friends and everything I knew behind. Sometimes I need that reminder and I’m always so thankful when I get them!
As for this weekend? I’m planning on heading to town in the morning to pick up a few things for the house and some money! Then I plan on sleeping, reading, and relaxing the rest! Should be good!
Also! My roommate moved out!!!! AHHHHH!!!! So excited!! Zach is coming down next weekend to help me paint and then Laura is coming to the next to help..do whatever is left? Haha so in a few short weeks I should have new pictures of my house once it’s been kimed! I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!

Monday, September 20, 2010

oh boy!!!

So there isn’t too much new to report. Work hard and a lot at school. We have another holiday this week. Tuesday is indepenace day (29 years I believe) not sure what I’ll be doing for it. Perhaps just relaxing.
Something big does happen this week. Friday will in the 6th month mark of me leaving and Saturday will be 6 months in country. That just seems crazy! I can’t believe its been 6 months already!! Time is flying!
Something.. small that happens at 6th months is we start to have to pay duty on packages…so here are some tip if your going to be sending me something! 
-No tags… take off all prices and tags
-Call EVERYTHING used or old or something.
-The cheaper you say things are the less likely it is that some guy in the post office will look in it and the less likely they are to charge me $$$$$
Ok I think that’s all I have…  Thank you Thank you Thank you to EVERYONE who has sent me letters or packages, you have no idea how much they mean to me or how much they make my day! I’m really going to try to start writing more letter… but I wouldn’t hold your breath 
Now last but not least I’m way behind on my Happy thoughts of the day so here you go!!
~We choose our joys and our sorrows long before we experience them.
-Kahlil Gibran
~Knowledge plus character- that is the goal of true education.
-MLK Jr.
~The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.
-JP Morgan
~Listen and make the connections. Between you and them- make the connections
-ASB “Voices”
~Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
-MLK Jr.
~Kathleen Kelly: Why did you stop by again?
Joe Fox: I wanted to be your friend.
-You’ve got mail
~Connect one community with another and build some real power
-ASB “voices”
~Many fine things can be done in a day if you don’t always make that day tomorrow
~Lovers embrace that which is between them rather than each other.
-Kahlil Gibran

Saturday, September 4, 2010

School, School, and more School!!!

Well school officially started Wed but we held school on Tuesday to get kids into their classrooms to meet their teachers. Tuesday went really well. We all met in the morning as a school and Mr. Cass had me introduce myself to the school once again with all the other staff. This year we have 7 new teachers, 17 total. 19 “staff” if you include the principle and myself. That is a pretty big school in Belize. I’m really happy being at a bigger school because I have the advantage of having a non-teaching principle. I think any school with under 200(?) students the principle is also a teacher. In Hopkins this is not the case. This is nice for me since I can pretty much bug my principle whenever!
School is from 8:30am (I usually roll in at 8-8:15, that way I can say hi to the teachers and visit for a few minutes) at 10:15 we have a school wide break, the kids run around like crazy and the teachers can have a moment to relax, think of it as recess. We break for lunch at 11:30 and everyone heads home. The afternoon session starts at 1:00pm but I try to be there a few minutes early once again. For the infant I and II classes (kindergarden and 1st grade) school ends at 2:30. At this time the whole school takes another 15 min break, than the rest of the school has class again until 3:30. Right now I’m working full days Mon-Friday. This may not be the case all year. Right now I have plenty to do and I have a feeling it won’t change much. But Once I’m in charge of the library I may only work at school in the morning. We will see how things work out. Most volunteers take off Friday to do research, right now I’m not but I might start. Once again.. we’ll see!
Well after we all met on Tuesday I was working around room to room saying hi and seeing how things were going. I stuck my head into stardard 5 (like 6th grade?). These were the kids that I spent the most time with back in the spring and they asked me to come in and help. I than spent the afternoon helping them and their teacher put up posters and clean up the room. On my way out the standard 6 (7th and 8th grade?) teacher stopped, he is new to our school but I worked with him over the summer for summer school. He informed me that a few of his students were having some trouble reading and wondering if I could help. Of course! That’s my job! I suggest that I test the class and see their reading levels. He agreed and suggested we start Thuresday! Game on! My first real job!! I agreed and Today (I’m writing on Thuresday night) I started to test some of his kids.
Yesterday (Wednesday) I started the day out by sorting out all the new text books and delivering them to the class rooms. There were A LOT of books and the school is two different building and two level and it was about 1094 degrees out.. needless to say it was a LONG morning! But I was so excited to have work I didn’t even care!! After I was done with that I walked around and poked my head in some classrooms. We have some amazing teachers this year! I’m really excited to continue to work with them. Two of our teachers are doing their internship and in Dec they will be a certified teacher. This is a big deal in Belize. Right now out of 16 teachers two are certified or have bachelors in primary ed…actually bachelors period. Anyway they are both amazing teachers and seem egger to work with me! Which is awesome because I’m excited to work with them!!
I spent my afternoon observing standard 3 and checking out the preschool. I didn’t do a ton of “work” after the books, but I am starting to build relationships with some of the teachers and to me that’s really exciting! To be honest... I’m not actually sure what I did for the rest of the day but I promise I was busy and working!
Today was a little more laid back. I started off by teaching standard II for the first part of the morning. Their teacher is still on maternity leave and won’t be back until Monday. So the principle is teaching it right now and he needed to sort some stuff in infant I out. Normally I’m really against subbing but they were in a jam so I offered. He knows it’s not something that will be happening all the time so I’m ok with it! After break I started testing standard 6 on their reading level. Most of the students are doing pretty well. However there is a student who doesn’t even know his letters, it breaks my heart. He can’t read at all. He’ll be done with school this year, he’s been passed along because of “social reasons” meaning his old enough. But oh man.. I guess his siblings were all the same way but nothing has ever been done to help him. His teacher and I chatted and we both know we aren’t going to be able to get him to read enough to get to high school but we can help him with some life skills. Hopefully when he finishes school he’ll at least know his ABC’s. We will see, I am excited about how much his teacher seems to care and want to help. That’s always nice!
Tomorrow I’m doing a read aloud with the preschool students and than hopefully finishing the testing for standard 6. My to do lists are getting really long already, but I’m so excited to be working finally that I don’t even care!
Update Saturday morning:
Preschoolers are amazing! They are so much fun! I have finished testing standard 6 and Monday I start standard II. What fun!! Also this man Ben came and found me yesterday. He is a special eduation teacher form texas who came down here and fell in love and never left. He told me about this family with 3 special needs children who are being “home schooled” by a women with no training. He asked for any help, so on top of the library and school I think I will be spending wed mornings helping this teacher as well. I’m very excited about it and it might be nice to have a small break from school on wed mornings. I have a lot of work a head of me but I’m ready! As for today? I have no work and plan on enjoying the rest of the day in my hammock and perhaps bathing in the sea 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

This is why you must live within 100FT of someone else...

What can I say I’ve gone blog crazy!!! But I have another great (ok it entertains me) story to tell! This one is about my freaking out and ends with a funeral…
Don’t worry I didn’t have to go to the Gambu Sandu (cemetery, and my favortie Garifunia word!) Now before anyone gets too upset let me inform you this funeral was for a mouse… a mouse that has been in my house for weeks…
So I walked into my kitchen to get a nice ice cold glass of ice water when I hear something in the trash can. It’s the mouse! As it was trying to jump out of the trash can I trapped it in with the lid… than freaked out! I managed to get my trashcan outside but.. What was I supposed to do now?!?! I know! Call Jenna! Well Jenna informed me what I already knew.. I needed to kill it or it would just find a way back in. So, as I’m on the phone freaking out I finally decided that I need to go get my neighbor. My neighbor is amazing, and she has a 23 year old son who is also amazing. I convince Jenna that this is good integration, relying on your neighbor! So as about to hang out and run next door that dang mouse gets out of the trash and runs off the porch!!
After a few I hang up the phone and calm down.. Knowing that the mouse is just going to find its way back in. Sure enough as I go to sit in my hammock that dang mouse runs across the porch and tried to get in my door (which was open and is a medal burglar bar door) out of panic. And by golly I got it! I swooshed its head in the door jam. But now what? I have a half dead mouse hanging from my door, and you know I’m not about to touch it! Derrick!!! Time to integrate!!!!
I run next door and into their house! Derrick looks a little shocked but I’m pretty sure they have been watching me the whole time and as soon as I explain that I have a mouse situation he starts walking to my house. Well he just grabbed it and pulled it out of the door. He decided its dead and starts walking to his back yard. You probably guessed it I’m still freaking out…I’m not sure how he made sure it was dead but he did. I then walked over and we dug and hole and threw it in. We then just kinda squatted and stared at it for awhile. I’m not really sure why, but I wasn’t really sure what to do. After a moment he made a joke about taking a pic and I realized I totally should have! We than buried it, I informed him that he was my hero and I owed him big, and we went on with our evening. It was an adventure, oh the things I’m learning!!! 
He doesn’t know it yet but he’s going to hate living next to me for 2 years.. I should keep track of everything I have him kill or remove from my house… I bet it’ll be a long list!
What would you do without amazing neighbors? Just another day in paradise!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

not africa so much.....

As many of you may know, my dream was not only to join the Peace Corps, but to do so and go to Africa. Was I slightly disappointed when I got Belize? Yea you might say so. I quickly got over that when I realized that Belize is amazing. Now I won’t lie and say that since I arrived in country I never was disappointed that this isn’t Africa. I had long dreamed of living in a thatch with no water or electricity, hours away from other Americans. I now live in a really nice 2 bedroom cement house on the Caribbean sea in a extremely tourist village which is home to a number of other gringos. Not exactly what I expected but if there is one thing I’ve learned it’s you can’t have any expectations of life. Just go with the flow, and in doing so I have feel in love with this country. I’m so glad that I’m serving here and not anywhere else. What can I say today was an amazing day start to finish… let me run you through my day…
Today I needed to go to Belmopan for the day to take care of some bank issues and to pick up a backpack that I left there a few weeks ago. My day started by having water!!! Yes I have water and electricity but almost everyday (I’d say 9 out of 10) we lose water for the better part of the day, which makes indoor plumbing a issue! But this morning we had it, so I got to start my day off with a nice cool shower and a flush of the toilet! After all that good stuff I got on our bus and my host mom was in it! I’m always so happy when I get on the bus and know people, especially her. Once I got to Dangrigia (the town about an hour away where I catch a bus up to Belmopan) I had an hour to wait and decided to walk across the street to the small store to get some juice. On my way there I ran in to Kent. Kent was Laura’s host brother in Dangriga through training. And since I spent more waking hours with Laura than at my own host family I saw him often. He came over and gave me a hug and at first I thought he might have been confused and thought I was Laura (everyone here thinks we are sisters, if not twins). But confuse us he did not! He asked all about Hopkins and how things were going. It’s so cool that you don’t even realize the connections you’ve made until later! Next I got on the bus and ran in to another volunteer. We chatted our way to Belmopan and it made the ride so much faster. Once I got to Belmopan I had a few errors to run and went to the opposite side of town than the office. It was HOTTTT today. I’m not sure how HOT but one of the hottest days we’ve had in awhile. On my way walking to the office (which was about 30-40 mins, if not more) I was going to call a taxi and decided to walk it instead. About 10 min in to my walk my favorite taxi driver Jack pulls over (most of the volunteers use him in Belmopan and he has always been just a great day, peace corps gave us his number as a dependable taxi) over the past few months I have gotten to know Jack, so when he offered me a ride I jumped right in. I pulled out my wallet to get my money ready and he insisted that this one was on him, he appreciates everything we are here doing for this country and one taxi ride was the least he could do. This alone made my day. As we drove he was drinking a orange juice and commented that there was nothing better than a nice cold OJ on a hot day. When we pulled over at the store on the way to the office and he said he would just be a second I didn’t think twice about it. When he came out to the car I didn’t think twice about it. It wasn’t until he handed me the oj that I realized he stoped to buy me a orange juice! What a nice guy!
Once I got to the office I had some good chats with a lot of the staff and one of the other volunteers who lives in town and was hiding out at the office with AC for the day. That alone would have been enough to make my day.. but no it kept coming. On the way to the bus station I stopped at the bank and figured all that out. Once at the bus station I was standing infront of the gate which our bus to dangriga leaves from was waiting “inline” or rather the mass group that pushes to get on the bus and this women was next to me behind a counter selling drinks and food and such. She was singing and yelling and having a great time. Then I hear “Hello! Hello lady! Hello!” Now Belizeans don’t say hello to one another they great each other with the time of the day so when I hear Hello I usually look around cause they are 9/10 times talking to me. Sure enough I was right “are you Belizean??!” Some guy in front of my answers “NO! She’s Cuban!” I respond that no I’m not but I live here. “AHH I thought so you fit in, you don’t look like you’re from the states, you look like you belong here” Now I’m not entirely sure what I was doing or how I was acting to make her think that but it’s one of the biggest compliments I’ve ever gotten.
Next up was Grigia. I had an hour “lay over” so I ran around getting a few things done, first was the post office were they knew me and I got to pick up a letter from Sarah (thanks Sarah!!) than I stopped in to say hi to Ms. Donna. Ms. Donna owns and runs Val’s hostel, this is where Jenna, Cass, Laura and I spend 90% of our time that we weren’t sleeping or at class. She became sort of a second host mom to us all. I stopped in just to say hi and see how she was doing. I thought it was no big deal but you could tell it meant the world to her. Next on my list was the movie place, there is this guy who owns a movie/bike shop. He was one of the first people Laura and I meet in Dangrigia. He is also who I bought my bike from. Anyway I walked over to see if he could get me a movie (Eat, Pray, Love) and chatted with him. I was walking with my friend (another PCV) and he needed to head to the market. Once there even though I didn’t buy anything I chatted up my market guy and suddenly I realized how many people I knew and had relationships with in this country. As I walked back to eh bus station I had a seat than decided that I needed water ASAP, not in a hour at home so I was walking across the street when I guy (who lives in Hopkins) stopped to tell me that my bus was going to be there soon, so hurry up! Seriously this day was amazing. As I got off the bus I got three “Hello Ms. Kim!”’s and as I was walking along that Caribbean sea I saw tons of people I knew and stop to chat with a few of my favorite kids. As I sat down on my front veranda still smiling to enjoy and splurge in a big bowl (or 2) of lucky charms my amazing neighbor walks over with some hot, fresh of the fire, jonny cakes (kinda like denser bread about that size of a English muffin) which just happen to be my favorite. She also agreed to teach me how to make them next time she does!
Man I love this country!
So am I living in a hut in the middle of nowhere? No.. but I’m come to learn that, that is not what it’s all about. I’m learning about another culture (or two) and forming relationships that will be with me for the rest of my life. Is this what I expected? No.. it’s so much better.

Ps. Only a few will understand this but I for sure wrote packback the first time.
Pps. I’m sorry if this is long winded or boring! I can’t stop smiling and needed to tell someone about my day so I decided why not everyone!
Ppps. I think I ate too many jonny cakes
Pppps. Lost another 5 pounds 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

I could tell you....

As some of you know I spent 3 days last week in a village named Bronco. It is the southernmost village in Belize and where my friend Laura is living. It is a small Garifunia community that is considered the spiritual capital of the Garifunia people. I went there so see a ceremony called a Chugu. It is a spiritual ceremony to lift a curse off of a family. It is a 3 day event that pretty much the entire village and people from all over the country come in to participate in it.

Now I could try to describe dancing around in this temple, 100 bodies swaying together to the beat of the drums. I could try to explain the beauty of the people and the drumming and the singing/praying. I could try to tell you how sitting in this temple was the first time that I felt like I really did join the Peace Corps. I could try to tell you my shock and my American skepticism when I witnessed the first person catch a sprit. I could try to make you understand that by the second I was a full believer. I could try to describe going to get smoked out so that the sprits wouldn’t follow us home. I could try to tell you the fear in my heart when someone caught a bad sprit, not for myself but for that person. And I could try to tell you the sense of overall calm and safety I felt as entire temple full of amazing people prayed for that individual. I could try to tell you how calm I felt once they bad spirt had left. I could try, but it would truly never be enough.

No one except for Laura and Sam, who experienced this with me will ever truly believe or understand this experience. I have really debated writing about this at all. At first the American in me wanted to laugh at what I was seeing, but after participating in it I have no doubt. I was fearful that writers would as well. This culture and the people in this culture have already become such a special thing to be it was hard to think about write about it and having people at home laugh or think lightly of it. I find it amazing that I get to part of a culture, even if it is only for two years that has such strong beliefs and sacred rituals. The sense of community and willingness to help one another is unlike anything I have ever found in the states. If there was some kind of Peace Corps lottery I won it hands down. There is no where I would rather serve and no one else I would rather live with than the amazing people I have met in the Garifunia community.

Other than my two days in the south everything else is still going well. I start “work” on Monday. School starts on the first of Sept but I’ll be doing workshops with teachers for a few weeks first. I have gotten a few questions about this so I guess it’s time for me to tell ya’ll what exactly I’ll be doing this year. A few people seem to think that I’ll be teaching. False. I’m a teacher trainer I’ll be training the teachers and helping them with their classroom management and lesson plans. Also, starting a reading program will be a big part of my job. I’m not sure exactly what this is going to look like yet. I do know that I want to make good use of the library and have teachers bring their students over to use the resources we have. I think that one of the keys if not THE key to being the literacy rate up is getting kids to ENJOY reading. READ READ READ!!! Most kids aren’t exposed to many books other than the texts they use in class. I want to them learn that reading is fun and exciting and can be an escape or something that you can use to learn from. There is so much more to reading than their science texts. I will also being doing a few pull out reading groups with some of the younger kids. Also, I hope to start a GLOW club. This is a Peace Corps initiative started a few years ago. It will be an afterschool club for kids in upper standards (like middle school ages). We will work on self esteem and peer pressure but also fun things like gardening and cooking! I’m really excited for this project and hope it works out! There are other small projects that I’ll be working on but I’m honestly not sure what exactly my year is going to look like. I’m so excite to get started and get working!!! Also there are a few committees that I’m on/hopefully will be on. First is the VAC committee. This is the “volunteer advisory committee” basically we having meetings without distract every 3 months and they take volunteers concerns or suggestions back to the Peace Corps staff. The second committee I’m currently on it the Peer support planning committee. We (the pcv’s in this country) want to start some type of peer support system in country so everyone also has the support they need. Well I’m on the planning committee to plan how we want this to look. I’m really excited about it. It (the planning committee) is brand new and we haven’t met yet but I’m excited to see how this works out and be on the actually peer support committee one day  I’m also applying for the WID/GAD committee that works with gender issues here in country. The GLOW club I want to start is something this committee started. Also they hold Camp GLOW every summer for girls. We will see!
Of course everyday here is a challenging, even the days that I spend sitting in my hammock reading all day. It’s a challenge to spend so much time with yourself. You are really forced to look deep down and think all the thoughts you have been avoiding for years. However, I am loving every second of it and learning more and more about myself every day. I love waking up and having NO idea what my day is going to bring and who I’m going to meet.

I think for today I’m going to head to my host families house and hang out for awhile, perhaps hut down my counterpart and see if I’m supposed to do anything this week!

Its been awhile (sorry I forgot!) but here are some more happy thoughts!!

~We choose our joys and our sorrows long before we experience them. -Kahlil Gibran
~Kathleen Kelly: Why did you stop by again?
Joe Fox: I wanted to be your friend. –You’ve got mail
~Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. –MLK
~Knowledge plus character-that is the goal of true education. –MLK
~The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are. –JP Morgan
~Listen and Make the connections. Between you and them-Make the connections. –ASB Voices

Monday, July 26, 2010

I bit late....





This is My hopkins mom and I and myself with the fam. It was Heather (the one in brown and gold) primary school graduation.
ps.. they usually smile a lot more... :)

Work, No work, Food for the soul, and "the crazy farm"

It’s been awhile! Sorry about that! Even so I don’t have too much to update on…
Let’s see first.. Work?
Well its summer…so I don’t actually have a job…. BUT! I have been working a little bit! Last week I went up north to a town, Orange Walk town. I have a few friends (other PCVs) but m main reason for going was to help my friend Zach. I was helping his plan a curriculum for a youth group with a business focus. He knows all about business I know about youth and teaching. It worked great! Plus I got to see everyone else up there and let me tell you I love that town. It may just be my favorite place in Belize. It was food for the soul. The PCVs up there are so positive and inviting. (Not that I don’t love my fellow PCVs everywhere else, I DO!) But Orange Walk Town has a little something extra; I will for sure be making more trips up there in the next two years! While I was up there I also got to help Kevin (another PCV) in his village with a chess camp! That was really fun too, I might not have a lot of work to do in Hopkins but at least I worked somewhere! That was a great week but sadly I had to come home last Saturday. That was because on Sunday I had an event in Hopkins! We had a step Africa group come and do a small workshop. The week before I left I ran around Hopkins like a chicken with my head cut off and tried to tell as many people as I could that they were coming! Basically I got a call from the Embassy saying please find a spot and get people there! Wow I’m so important  well Sunday I went and met up with them and it was awesome. A guy from Hopkins came and shared a short history of the Garifunia people with the group and it was really cool to hear because he knew WAY more than I had heard before. Then they asked me to stand up and introduce myself. This was unexpected; they then picked my brain for a good 30 mins about what I’ve learned while I have been here and all about the Peace Corps. It was in the end, very fun. It was also really cool watching them teach some of our kids how to step, slightly different than Punta! I tried to get my counterpart to try it with me but sadly… he refused... Next time!
This past week we had summer school. There were a lot more kids than I expected! They have high school students volunteering as teachers and they are good. I was extremely impressed! I was helping out with the Infant one class, who were the 4 year olds that just graduated preschool, they were learning addition!!! So smart! Next week I’ll be helping for a day or two but I have BIG plans!!! Adrienne (we worked at Ohiyesa together for a few years) is coming down to visit her boyfriend. Well that’s what she is telling people but I know it’s really to see me! Anyway… we are going cave tubing next week so that should be, you know, AWESOME!
Other than that there isn’t a whole lot going on, unless you want to hear about me sitting in my hammock for hours each day listening to the carib sea and relaxing... No? Weird….
Next weekend is Hopkins days. Apparently a crazy big party for three days so I should have much more to tell you than!
Ps... I have Skype K4duchen… add me!

*so I wrote this blog this morning... It’s Sunday night the 25th. And I didn’t think I would have anything to add but after today I do...so here you go*
I think that thing that I love the most about Belize and Peace Corps in general is that every time I have the slightest feeling of I’m not integrating, or I’m not meeting people or why am I here… I’m shown why. Last night I was a little frustrated feel like I’m not integrating fast enough or as much as others. (Peace Corps is always telling us not to compare ourselves with each other but it’s really hard not to!) Well today was just what I needed. My host dad’s best friend is Quentin. He is a British guy who has lived in Hopkins for 25 years. He and his partner Dasha live on a farm about 4 miles from the village. I have meet and hung out with them both many times. Well today I bunch of ladies who are friends with them and my host mom was going to the farm to “have a party”. I tagged along. It was great! I’m so glad I did. It has been explained to me that these women and my host mom pretty much control the village. They are wonderful, amazing women and they always make me feel welcome. One I hadn’t met yet and my host mom introduced me as her daughter, and later on when I met my host dad’s brother I was told “welcome to our family” it’s so nice to know that when I can’t be near my family I have this one! I wouldn’t be able to stay here if I didn’t! Anyway, we just spent the day laughing and chatting. I learned all about organic farming and black Maya chickens! Seriously the meat is black! And the bones! So cool and it didn’t taste half bad either! OH! I ate jaguar! I didn’t know it while I was eating it but I did! And it was good. Apparently it’s not ok to hunt them but if one is trying to eat say your ducks; you are allowed to shoot it. And apparently there was one trying to eat his ducks and it had already been shot so there is dinner. It was nice and relaxing and pushed aside all of my doubts! I have come to realize at the end of the day it is days like today that make this so worth it! Well my cheeks hurt from smiling so much so I’m heading to bed!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Fake hurricanes and tropical storms

First off I wanted to let everyone in the states know that I'm fine! I survived my very first tropical storm! Actually it wasn't bad at all but I'll get to that...
For the past few weeks that has been this rumor going around that there was going to be a fake hurricane, or a hurricane drill. Actually not to brag... but I may have been the one who put all the clues together and figured this out...
Anyway, last week I was busy at school for the first time, we were getting ready for graduation (graduation from primary school is kind of a big deal here. Early is the week we started getting texts from Peace Corps saying there was a hurricane (called Zeus) 900 miles off shore. Throughout the week it got closer and closer. First we were put on alert, than stand fast. In stand fast we aren't allowed to leave our sites and PC must know where we are at all times. Finally on Wed we got the call to head in to Belmopan to consolidate. When there is a big storm or something other safety concern we are moved into a hostel in Belmopan (which is inland) to make sure everyone is together and safe. Thursday morning we had a short meeting and talked about how this would work in a real storm. Friday I headed to Placentia with a bunch of other volunteers for a mini vacation. However this was short lived as we got a call that Tropical story Alex was on his way and we need to leave ASAP. They sent me to dangrigia to stay with another volunteer (Dangrigia is also on the coast but unlike Hopkins they have buses out all the time. Tropical storm Alex was no big deal where we were. There was a little flooding but there have been much worse storms since I have been here. Sunday morning we were given the all clear and headed home. So now I know exactly what to do in a hurricane and lived through my first tropical storm. All in all a pretty busy week. :)
This week school is out and I'm doing a whole lot of relaxing. I'm still living with my host family. My host mom just left for Mexico for a few days and two of my sisters are in Belmopan with their brother. Heather is home with me for a few days for summer school. I was supposed to move to my new house tomorrow but now it is Thursday so Heather isn't by herself. I'm going to miss my host family, I couldn't have asked for a better one. Luckily I'm going to live in the same village as them for 23 more months and can and will visit often. This summer I have a few things happening, I'm doing a reading camp in July with my counterpart and perhaps and a chess camp after that. Really the next 2 months are all about getting to know Hopkins and the people of Hopkins, and perhaps a new hobby....
All is well down here; still sweating more than I ever thought was possible... Life is good!
I'll write more later I just wanted everyone to know that I'm all good!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

first 2 weeks = working about 8 hours..


These are the views from picking oragnes with Alex! AMAZING!




Alex and his neighbor walking to the oranges!


My Future bedroom!


Daine painted the floor. How cool is this??


My future Kitchen/Dinning room!


My view, its hard to see but you can for sure see the sea back there!


My little sister Zahan hanging out in our back yard!


This is seriously my back yard!


The house I'm currently living in! We live upstairs and the down stairs in currently empty. So great!


My amazing host mom hanging in our backyard getting ready to bathe in the sea!


An amazing sunset from our back porch


My host sister were really excited to see that I had a camera and took A LOT of pictures!


My beautiful host sisters. We were making oatmeal muffins, which if you were wondering were AMAZING!


So, all most of you know of my first two weeks of being a official PCV is that I still haven’t learned to walk right (one would think I would by 23!!). Well I’ll fill you in a little more.
First an update on my knee. Ok, I might have down played how bad these cuts on my knee really were. They are crazy deep. The day after I fell it starting hurting much worse and I called up the nurse at PC. I traveled in to see her in Belmopan the next day. (I’m not sure why but I can picture a lot of you asking what is evolved in getting there? Well thanks for asking! I have to first take a bus into Dangrigia, it may only be 15 miles but it takes a whole hour... how? Also a great question! From there I take another bus in to Belmopan that takes anywhere from 1.5 hours to over 2. I swear it’s different all the time!) So I got to Belmopan and first she explains that it’s infected pretty badly, also she thinks that my knee cap is actually broke! I went and got x-rays, and she starts me on meds. Alright, it’s not broke but she wants to see it again the next day so surprise! I get to spend the night in the lovely Garden City Hotel. (The hotel we always stay at while in Belmopan... and it’s... something! Let just say my standards have changed A LOT!) So I spent the night and then saw her again the next day. Finally Friday I get back to Hopkins at about 6pm. Ok, in case you were wondering so far I have worked a total at 3.5 hours as a volunteer. I rock!
Saturday morning I spent sitting on the beach (aka our yard) and chatting with my host mom and youngest sister. Sometimes during this I thought to myself “I hope I never forget this”. It was just so simple yet relaxing and amazing! Later on Silk grass (a small village about 5 miles from Hopkins) was having a school fair. I tagged along with my host mom and sisters. The fair was... quite? Ha-ha basically there was nothing going on. But good news! My fellow PCV and friend Alexander lives there and I was able to hang out with him! As we were sitting there bored his neighbor came up and asked if we wanted to go to his farm and pick oranges with him. Uhhh YES! We hopped in his car and headed about 20 mins off the main highway on a rough dirt road. It was possible one of the most amazing views I have ever seen! So we park and go and gather some oranges for us, we tried to find mangos but they weren’t ready yet. (Random fact did you know there are like 15 different kinds of mangos!?!?!) On the way back to the car we stopped and Alex’s neighbor got us a few coconuts done and cut them up with his Machete we drank them right there. It was amazing. It was a total moment of “this is what is about”. Good company and amazing adventures! After the farm Alexander got back on the bus with my family and me and headed back to Hopkins. We crashed on Diane's place (the other PCV in Hopkins and my future roomie...) It was a great relaxing night. I can’t imagine what I would do without the other PCVs. Sunday we spend the say swimming and walking around meeting people. It was so nice and just what I think we both (Alexander and I) needed. Monday it was back to Belmopan for 2 days so Jackie could see my knee again. Good news: It’s no long infected just gross and painful. But I have faith that it will get better soon! Hey and what a good story, "Oh yea I got that scar when I was in the Peace Corps in Belize". I love it! Yesterday it was back to work! (It’s about time!!!) It was good to be back but short lived as today I’m back in Belmopan to get my knee checked again, hopefully for the last time! Tomorrow however I will not being going to work. Instead I’m going to Caves Branch (a resort near Belmopan) to learn how to play chess. Hopefully I’ll have a chess camp if not this summer than next!
So many of you might be thinking roomie?? That means you found a house! Well yes I did! There is a PCV, Diane that has been in Hopkins for a year and a half now. She is wonderful and has been such a big held since I got here. She is also leaving in Sept or Oct. There for I’m moving in with her so I can have her house when she leaves! Its an amazing house and luckily I have a few pics for you. More to come soon I promise! It’s a great house and not far from the ocean at all. In fact not only can you hear it as you fall asleep but I will also have a limited view of it during the day. It’s a 2 bedroom so I have plenty of room for any visitors!!!! For real it’s amazing I’m luck to get it! I never pictured this being my pc experience but I’m deffanitly not complaining! I seriously can’t wait for everyone to come visit so I can show you just how amazing this country and this village are! There are not words to describe

Alright sorry this is so long and I don't have too many fun stories but I hope you enjoy the pictures! I'll update soon and hopfully with a better story!!!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

First work day as a offical PCV!!

Warning: this post is in no way trying to make anyone feel bad for me or give me any sympathy! (not that you would) also, I am ok!

So my first official day as a volunteer!
this morning I went to school and watched a few teachers, it was great. Right before lunch I was talking to the principle and realized I didn't know Hopkins and had seen hardly any of it! We realized I would have to fix this! I took the afternoon off (I'm mainly working with reading and they do all the language arts in the AM). I was going to go explore! Now in Hopkins there is really only one street. It goes along the beach and I heard is 12 miles.. but I'm thinking.. 5? my host family lives down on the south side. Almost to the end of town. so I walked down to the end of town and met some really nice people! It was great! than I turned around and headed to the main part of town (meaning the police station and bus stop). On the way right in front of my school I saw the internet Cafe! Yes! I found internet in Hopkins! Oh wait! before I got there I may or may not (ok I did) have fallen HARD! My stupid ankles gave out and I bite it! but the road here are so bad.. I knew as soon as I fell it was bad. my ankle is sore but will be fine in a few days. my knee however isn't there is a one inch cube chunk out of my knee and some REALLY deep cuts. (once again.. laugh! don't feel bad) I have this history of falling everywhere but normally I have other volunteers to take pics and laugh and walk me home.. this time I was on my own! I walked back to my host families crying and blood oozing out.. it was gross. Here's the good news I got to see the health clinic! It's nice too! haha my host mom took one look and said we were going! a short mile walk down the beach and we were there! The nurse fixed me up! No stitches, cause its my knee. But I have to go back everyday to get the dressing changed! haha.. My first official day on the job! Winner!!!! As I was sitting in the health clinic crying as they dug out rocks, I was reminded by a nurse that I just needed to laugh. (I have never met her but she remembered me laughing last week)and after I remembered that I laughed for a good hour. Only me! The good news is I now know where to go when (not if) I fall again!!!

Now does anyone know how to get blood out of my shoes??? :)

Friday, May 28, 2010

wish list!!!

Ok sorry! My wish list is now posted! It's been crazy trying to get on the computers this week and the lack of emails..coughcough... haven't keep me near them! :)
But my wish list is up, however don't feel that you need to send me anything just knowing you gyus are chearing me on at home is enough for me!!!

ps.. I am offically a Peace Corps Volunteer!!!!!!!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Without further adieu!

Alright gang here it is! The update that you have been waiting for and asking for! I haven’t found the internet in Hopkins yet but I’m assured it is there! First off, Hopkins is amazing. It’s paradise. Seriously, its where even the Belizeans go on vacation, it’s that nice! It’s not far from Dangrigia where I did my traning, in fact only about 15 miles down the cost. But here in Belize that means about an hour bus ride! Go figure! But it is truly amazing. I keep hearing that there are about 1,000 to 2,000 but I was informed by PC today that its more like 5,000. It is almost all Garfunia and everyone in the village speaks grifunia as their first language. Speaking of language, I keep getting that question. And there in the answer: Its going. I’m not great, in fact it’s a extremely difficult language that even Belizeans have trouble with, but I can have a short conversation with people and greet people and that counts more than you would think. Just seeing that I’m trying is what counts. I think now that I’m in a community that speaks more of it I will be learning more.
Now my host family. One word? AMAZING! I live with Ms. Caroline. Her husband works out on a caye but I meet him last week. She is so great. I also have 3 host sisters living with me, Eleanor (ele) is 16 and in high school, Heather is 13 and in standard 6 (goes to the school I work at), and Zanah is 8 and in stand 1 (also goes to the school I work at). I should I suppose tell you that standard 6 is like 8th grade and 1st is like 2nd or 3rd grade. (I have found that standards and grades don’t match up quite right) I also have a 1.5 year old host neafu. His mom lives is in the Us Navy but I have been told that he is going home to the states soon, we’ll see. It’s a great laid back house and beautiful. It is also once again right on the beach. And only a short walk to school.
Speaking of school! I work at Holy Family RC (Roman Catholic) primary school. It’s a great school. My counterpart is a great guy and I’m excited to work with him. I also have some great teachers that I’m excited to work with. There are 16 teachers and a non-teaching principle. (most principles teach) We have just under 400 kids and than 90 in the preschool. It is the only primary school in Hopkins although some kids do go to school in Dangriga. Also there is no high school in Hopkins so those kids also have to travel to Dangriga. I’m not sure the exact amount of students that continue on to high school but I don’t think that it is a very high number.
I also have been working the library. A Former volunteer started it and its great! I never expected to have so many resources as a peace corps volunteer. We have lots of books and crafts and puzzles. I hear during the tourist season many bring books (the resorts in Hopkins gives out our information) or ship it down once they have been there.
You may now be thinking “RESORTS!” and yes there are a few big resorts in Hopkins and lots of little inns and such. It is a pretty touristy spot, which wouldn’t be my first choice but the beauty more than makes up for it!
There is a current volunteer living in Hopkins, she is a second year and leaving in Sept. It has been great having her there, she has shown me around and is clueing me in on everything like who I should know and who I should avoid. At this point I think I’m moving in with her at the end of June, until she leaves and than taking her house! She has fixed it all up and it is amazing! I’ll try to takes pics when I get back and post them soon, actually I’ll try to take pics of Hopkins and such and post them soon.
This week we (all the trainees) are in Belmopan for the final week of training before swearing in. Friday morning I get sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I seriously can’t believe this is happening! This all seems too good to be true! Saturday I will be returning to Hopkins as a official PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer) and my two years will start! I’m so happy that I am here. Of course like everyone everywhere I have my good days and bad days but I couldn’t have dreamed of something better. Also thank you for all of your support I couldn’t do this with out you! And the letters, and emails and cards. They make my day!
I think this is all I have for now but after training ends and I have more time (and track down internet in Hopkins) I should be able… no I will update more and tell hopefully some good stories! This place is amazing and I can’t wait for everyone to come visit, just be warned you may not want to return home!

Also on a different note, on the side bar you may notice a change. I have been getting asked be a few people what they can send me or what I am dying for. So I have compiled a wish list of sorts. In no way does this me I expect anything but if you in mood I would love any of it! Also I have a new address. Don’t worry if you have sent something to Belmopan address, they will forward it to me in Hopkins and I can receive mail there for the rest of my service it’ll just be quicker and more convenient in Hopkins!

Also! Big news! I have stopped wearing a watch, no more time (also perhaps a few of you will realize the bigger significance of this! (love you!) I’m adjusting to belize corps time well.

Now last but NOT least my happy thoughts from what the last month???
~Don’t compare your life to other’s lives. You have no idea what their journey is all about. (My personal fav quote of all time and the key to not going crazy in PC)

~Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. –Ambrose Redmoan

~ Turtles can tell more about the roads than hares. –Kahlil Gibran

~Clarity of mind means clarity of passion too: this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what he loves. – Gotthold Ephraim Lessing

~The years teach much which the days never knew. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

~My favorite thing is saying something true, she said, but I’m a lot older than you and don’t have to worry so much about my reputation. –Story People

~We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. –Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

~Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

~ Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement. –Alfred Adler

~People come, People go- They’ll drift in and out of your life, almost like characters in a favorite book. When you finally close the cover, the characters have told their story and you start up again with another book, complete with new characters and adventures. Than you fine yourself focusing on the new ones, not the ones from the past –The Rescue (for the record I like this butttttt.. I like to view my life as a serious (the babysitters club if you will) where there are a few character that stick around and show up and are main characters in every new book I open  )

~…but what really broke a heart was taking away it’s dream- whatever that dream may be. –Pearl S. Buck

~Many an opportunity is lost because a man is looking for four-leaf clovers.

~Because, often, they’re (clichés) dead on. But the aptness of the clichés saying is overshadowed by the nature of the saying as a cliché. –The Kite Runner

~One loses so many laughs by not laughing at oneself.

~If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse: however if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that. –Johann Wolfgang von Gorthe

~Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding. –Albert Einstein

~A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. –Oliver Wendall Holmes

~If we cannot live so as to be happy, let us at least live so as to deserve it. –Immanual Hermass Van Fichte

~You’re my exception –He’s just not that into you

~I have long distrusted anything that smacked of prize, and I still distrust them. Of course, in the end, prizes, awards, scholarships, contests, elections, appointments, best ofs and worst ofs, most hideous sex scene, most overvalued stock, best American city, Highest-ranking university, most values player, best ass, best rack, best book, are subjective measures of one person’s or a group’s taste against that of another’s. Enough of this can breed a culture, and culture, by definition is inevitable corrupt. –Alice Sebold

~It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped on link at a time. –Sir Winston Churchill

~If I were you I would not find fault with the sea at low tide. It is a good ship and our captain is able: it is only your stomach that is in dosorder. –Kahlil Gibran

~No theory of life seemed to him to be of any importance compared with life itself. He felt keenly conscious of how barren all intellectual speculation is when separated from action and experiment. –Oscar Wild

~That is the best- to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny. –Gloria Vanderbilt

Until next time!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Site assignment!!!!!!!!

Alright guys! After 6 LONGGGGG weeks I got my site assignment!!!!! I will be spending the two years in... drum role please..... HOPKINS!!!!!
I'll be working in Holy Family RC (romian Catholic) Primary school! I'm sooo Excited! My counterpart is the Princpale Mr. Wayne! And my next host family is a couple with kids and grand kids!! And at least for the first month I'll be once again living on the beach!!! Look up Hopkins because it is straight up amazing! And trust me as soon as you look it up you are all going to want to come visit me!
I'll write more about this maybe tomorrow or Sunday but Holy crap I'm excited!!! I couldn't ask for anything better!!!!

A happy thought for the day (not from Sarah, cause I don't have those with me!)
~He who laughs, lasts!

Monday, May 3, 2010

xunantunich!



Thats right I climbed my first Mayan ruin this weekend! Saturday was our "fun day" and our amazing tech trainer Ginny took us to xunantunich. It was more amazing that I could have ever imagined! I'm not going to lie I don't know much about it becuase I broke away from the tour as soon as possable to explore on my own. From the top you could see guatemala from the top! I spend a few minutes on the top sitting on the edge and than climbed down. The way down was much more scary than the climb up and I'm much more gradful for the safety equipment on the zipline at camp now! We were SO far up!!! After we got our fill we headed to san ignacio for lunch, what a cool town! after alittle exploring we heading back home but made a quick detour to spanish lookout for some meninate ice cream! Soft serve at that! It was amazing!! I'm not going to lie I eat more ice cream now than I ever did in the states! It's just so good!!! Belize is just so beaatiful I can't get over it!
Everything else here is going really well! This is our first week at our first host family and its so weird to think about! I feel like we just got here! Friday we find out where I am going to spend the next 2 years of my life. Than on Tuesday I'll meet my counter part and move to my new village!!! Any where I go I'll be fine with! My choices aren't too shabby! Training is going well I think I have learned a bunch!
Oh ok cool story. So while we were at the ruins we meet a man from dangriga (miss cass my teacher knew him) he was garfunia. I talked to him alittle bit (in garfunia) but he couldn't really understand me. I felt like an idiot. However I talked with Miss. Cass about it this morning and it turns out he couldn't understand me because I knew more than him!!! How cool is that!

Well this computer is about to die so I need to stop, I also don't have my happy toughts with me so next time!I will definatly post once I find out where I'm heading Friday! Enjoy your week!!!!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Oh Belize!!

So just when I thought I had the buses I was wrong!!!!
Now let me start at the begging, this weekend all us trainees were sent to visit current peace corps volunteers at their site to get a better idea of whats in store for us. I'm down with a current volunteer Emily! Its been great and it's nice to get away for the weekend! But as you all know this bus system is my kryptonite, I was the only one (openly) freaking out about the buses. Kaitlyn and I both had to get off in villages right before PG. Which meant we couldn't go on the express bus with volunteers going to PG. There was slight confusion and we ended up on a Dangria bus, which does not go all the way to PG... Wah Wah. But there was a current volunteer on our bus and once we got near Dangria we were going to stop the bus going to Pg and Kaitlyn and I would jump on. This part of the plan worked perfectly! We were on our way!!! 2 1/2 hours later when we were nearing our villages (she was getting off the bus about 20 min before me) it started storming pretty bad and was pitch black. The conductor on the bus got Kaitlyn there I was all alone. The conductor came and asked me about 5 times where I was stopping (we had explained we had never been there and didn't know where to get off) and I had a feeling he didn't know where i was going. At last he stopped and I got off the bus, in the dark, in the middle of I have no idea where, and Emily wasn't there.... I called her (thank goodness she got cell service the week before!!) and I definitely wasn't in front of the school I was supposed to be. I'm not going to lie I had a moment of panic.. but All was well, I was simple 5 Mins down the street and she walked and met me!
Long story short.. my worst nightmare came true and I'm all good! What an adventure, the way home should be much more simple since I know where I'm going, but I'm sure this won't be the last time I get off on the wrong stop..

I have no happy thoughts to leave you with today. Altough I have two quotes courtesy of my mom and my Aunt Pam:

~Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain

~BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

What a perfect night!

Ok, I don't have much to update you on, but here it is.
My week did have a semi exciting start to it. My wrist was acting up so our medical officer called me in to Belmopan to get X-rays on it. So I had language class in the morning and caught the 11:30 bus up to Belmopan. I almost got on the wrong bus but Managed to find the one I needed. As I got on and sat down I realized there were a few current volunteers on the bus. I didn't talk to them much but I felt better knowing that if I did anything too stupid I'm sure they would have called me out/helped me. Once I was in Belmopan PC took me to the Docs and good news! My wrist isn't Broke!! The bus home was a little more stressful only because I wasn't paying attention the first time I took a bus to dangriga, and was pretty sure but not completely sure that I was supposed to take the PG bus that stopped in dangriga. I asked like 14 people and finally got on the right bus. Now that I have rode the bus by myself I realize that it's totally not a big deal and I'm ready to go!!

Yesterday we had a first day at the school that we are at for training, Holy Ghost. We met with the Principal and learned all about the school. We than got assigned to a teacher that we will be working with over the next few weeks. I'm assigned to a infant I class which is like our Kindergarten! AWESOME! and oh man if my kids back in Livonia are anywhere near where this kids are this far in the year (which Mrs. Ryan I'm sure they are at least if not beyond!!!) I'm amazed at how much a 5 year old can learn in one year! This morning we went back and I sat back and observed and it was so great to be back near kids and in a school! I have missed it! Next week I'll start helping her more and getting more involved.

Over all I have had a pretty relaxing week and I'm loving Belize more and more each day!

That being said I leave you with some “Happy Thoughts”

~ We are all prisoners but some of us are in cells with windows and some with out. - Kahlil Gibran
~ Propriety is the least of all laws, and the most observed -Francis de la Rochefoucauld
-Propriety definition (provided by Sarah): the state or quality of conforming to conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals.


Ok also, even tough I'm really bad at responding to emails I LOVE reading them.. so keep 'em coming and I promise to respond sooner or later!!!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Training, training, training!!!!

Well, I dont have too much to say. Training is still going well. Living on the beach is just as amazing as you would think, and Training is much more busy than you would think. I can hold a small conversation and I'm think I'm starting to understand how to say things. However, I'm not going to lie, my classmates, Laura and Taylor get a good laugh when I talk, but we have fun and laugh all day.
We have started a tradation of picking up a freash pineapple for $1.50 ($.75US) and durring the day we cut it apart and chow all day. AMAZING!!!!
Everything is good here and my host "family" situation is improving so thats awesome!! :)

Sorry I'm slow with emails, and letter writing! I'm trying really hard this week to get better at it! I did get my first two cards this week!! How exciting!!!

Ok, My "Happy thoughts" from this week:

-Faith is an oasis in the heart which will never be reached by the caravan of thinking. Kahlil Gibran

-Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

-I submit to you that if a man hasn't discovered somthing he will die for, he isn't fit to live. MLK Jr. (My favorite so far)

-Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Harold Whitman (Also one of my favs!!)

-Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.

-The deep and the high go to the depth or to the height in a straight line; only the spacious can move in circles. Kahlil Gibran

Well I think that all for now!! I'm looking forward to emails!! (wink wink!)

Monday, April 5, 2010

They say the first two weeks are the hardest...



Yes that is my window facing the ocean!


This is what a birthday cake looks like when you live in central america in a hotel!



A monkey, a little late but there you go!




Alright, where to begin. Now that I know so many of you are hooked on this I feel pressured to make it funny. I'll try? :)
Well I guess in a way a lot has happened since I posted last, and in a way, nothing has.
Lets start with Thursday, we had training in Belmopan in the PC office just like every other day except this time after lunch we loaded in to the PC land rovers and we were off. Dangergia was the first group to roll out, and I know it had only been a week but it was still kinda hard/weird leaving everyone! However I was so excited to meet my host family and see Dangergia. So we were off. The drive down here was AMAZING!!! The jungle and the mountains, they almost seem.. magical? Very cool. Once we got to Dangergia we dropped off people stuff one by one but everyone stayed with us so they could show us a bit of town. We pulled up to this house that is seriously 100ft from the sea, there was some confusion in the car about whose house it was. I thought it was mine and asked Miss Cass than informed me the “No, You are much closer to the Sea!!” At first I didn't think it was possible but yes, I am just a bit closer to the sea than Laura. My back yard is the sea. After everyone saw their house we all got dropped off and we were on our own. I am living with Ms. Grace for the next 5.5 weeks. She is a bit old but speaks Garifunia, which most do not. Thursday night we just hung out a bit. Friday was Good Friday and as ms. Grace puts it “all we do is eat and relax”. Now that is my kind of Friday! This might sound crazy but relaxing here was actually one of my biggest adjustments. It gives you too much time to think. So since Friday I have been keeping “busy”. We pretty much walk around and check things out. We haven't ventured too far yet, just trying to become familiar with what is right around us. There in a market about 5 mins away right across the river, its been closed most of the weekend but part was open on Saturday and it seem pretty awesome. We also have managed to find the chine (like small store) with the cheapest coke in a glass bottle! Score! Saturday night Cassidy's host family took us on a drive out to Hopkins, it is a smaller village just down the coast from us. It was really nice! On the way there we stopped at their orange farm and picked fresh oranges! So cool! Laura and I also had the privilege of getting to ride in the back of the pick up truck, something I would NEVER have done in the states! But it was a lot of fun! Today we also had a busy busy day! Ha. This morning Cassidy and Heather dragged me out of bed and we went on a power walk all over down. Than.. Dinner (which is like lunch time but as big as dinner) to day be had hadat? I don't know how to spell it. But its mushed up plantains. That was fabulous, however you eat it with fish.. guess who ate their first fish head today?? oh right me!! To be honest I didn't eat it all. I ate a lot of it but after getting closer to the eyes I just couldn't take it anymore. After a nice filling meal we (shocking!) went on a walk. I than proceed to eat 4 scoops of ice cream!!!! It's just so good here!!! After filling out again, we went down to a resort to swim. OK I might be living on the sea, but this water isn't what I thought it would be. Its.. well dirty. From my understanding its because its been so rough that it is all turned up. But we went down to a nicer beach and it was AMAZING!!
Tomorrow we start language training and man am I excited! I'm pumped to be actually doing something again!

Also, I was doing really good at wearing sunscreen, Dad, be proud! But today I wore it, but I guess not enough and I have my first central American sunburn.. wah wah..

Ok one more thing about mail.... Right now if you ship me something and its through the post office I don't pay taxes on it here! Only for the first 6 months!

So there you go, I'll try to post some more pictures tomorrow, I'm too beat tonight!!!
Miss you all!!!