Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Lovin life!

Alright guys!!! Today was amazing! I was told yesterday that all peace corps volunteers go through stages, the first being the honey moon. I was wondering when I would fully feel that and today was it!
I got my Langley assignment!!! I'm going to Dangriga (for the next 5.5 weeks) and I'm learning Garufuna!!! I didn't realize it until I got it but it is perfect for me!!! I'm seriously so excited! Africa roots, amazing dancing!! I don't know much about it, but from what I have been told none of the youth speak it so we know that our host families will speak English. I know that for at least training we will have electricity. I also been told that the three of us learning this are the first three to learn Garufuna in the Peace Corps! AMAZING!!!!!
Tomorrow I move in with my host family and than we have 4 days off, Easter is a BIG thing here. Than on Tuesday we start language and tech training. I'm ready to learn what I'll be doing and more about Garufuna!

OK guys! send mail! I haven't gotten any! ok.. to be fair it take awhile and I heard that I should be keeping my eye out for some.. but that lack of emails??? Come on!!!! :)

Other than this everything is amazing! I got a phone and if you would like my number send me a email! I have free incoming call and apparently it's not too expensive to text either!

Alright, Happy thought from Monday night: The voices that are not heard. The voices that must be heard.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Cliff jumping what??????

So, as I said Yesterday we went to the river and bathed.. FABULOUS! The river was way more clean than I thought it was going to be! It was HOT out but the water was perfect. There was a bunch of people jumping off the cliff (which was about 30 ft) (aka HIGH) in to the water. I mentioned to someone that it was on my bucket list to jump and after a few minutes I was convinced that I too should jump. So after a crazy climb up these rocks I did it!! I went cliff jumping!!! crossed off number 14! I'm not going to lie, It was straight up amazing!
After we came back from the river we headed over the football field , which is just across the street from the hotel. And we had a kickball game. I was in the mood to relax (its hotttt) so myself and a few other people sat in the shade and watched. It was a good time. We ate at a place right across the street for dinner and we are all finally getting the little things down.

Example
If you ask for a burger you get a bun, lettuce, and tomato
if you ask for a hamburger you get a bun, lettuce, tomato, and ham
If you ask for a beef burger you get.. well what we call a hamburger
A chicken burger is shredded chicken.

Slowly but surly we are getting it.
This morning we had more training. A lot of training! This afternoon we had our introduction to survival Kriole. Oh man.. I suck at learning languages. I think I just need to stop being afraid to sound stupid and embrace it. I'm a white girl talking like I'm from Jamacia. I need to just go with teh flow! I was panicked at first but I think.. no I know it'll be ok. Whatever happens happen. I'll learn it when I learn it. I have 27 months to do so!

I promise pics will come soon!!!!!

love you all!!!!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Ok I promise I would share these with you from my happy thoughts so I'll share them now

In dallas:
In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly who you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with. -Juno

Thuresday night: The opposite of the love is not hate, it's indefference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indefference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indefference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indefferance. -Elie Wiesel

Saturday night: Listen to those seeking change. Listen to those creating change.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Finally here!

Alrighty!!!
I'm in Belize! Actually I have been for 3 days.. which honestly seems like 10 at least! It was kinda rough at first but I'm feeling way better now! The other trainees are amazing and we seem to be all getting along really well.
When we got here on Thursday we were met by a TON of volunteers at the airport and drive into Belmapan with them. After a amazing dinner(ps.. I still don't like beans.. WAH WAH) we moved into our home for the next week, the garden city hotel! It's something alright! So far I have only killed two big ugly bugs! But really we have air and tv so I'm not complaining at all! Friday we had training at the office all day, that was rough. I wasn't feeling too well and it was a longggg day.. but we all made it! :)
Today was way more fun! We went to Kriole village, it was a baboon secuary. AMAZING! I saw three black collar monkeys that were like a foot away from me! Even a baby (I'll try to post pics soon!) It was amazing and the people were even more amazing! We learned how to dance. I shockingly didn't but Katie, it was everything we thought it would be! It was Hot but a great day!

Tomorrow we have the day off and I'm looking forward to some down time. We are going to go swim in the river and play some kickball. Personally I'm looking forward to some reading and some letter writing!

In other news this Wednesday I'll find out what language I'll be learning, there are so many rumors about where we are going to end up it's hard to guess! But, next Thursday I'll be moving to my first home stay somewhere in Belize!

Sooo, all is well and you'll were right, I'm so glad I did this! It has already been an amazing experience I can't wait to see what is next!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Dallas!!!!

Alright! I'm in Dallas.. Staging.. is.. longgggg
Everything is great and I'm way excited! We fly out tomorrow afternoon and I will be in Belize at 3 (5 your time).

Right now I am exhausted and need to find all my stuff back in my bags... I'm not sure when the next time I'll be able able to get to the internet but as soon as I can I'll be sure to write something even better and perhaps entertaining. No good stories so far!


Rememeber I want emails and snail mail!!!!!! :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Alright, I have 19 hours left in Michigan! This just seems crazy! I can't believe it's here already! I still have a lot to finish up but I don't think it is as much as I think. I'm all packed (Thank you Sarah, Jenny and Laurie!!) I'm alittle over the 80 pounds but I'm going with it! At this point there are only a few things left to fit somwhere, but only little things.

So here is the plan,
Tomorrow I fly out of Detroit at 7:30AM. I land in Dallas at 9:30 and have until 12:30 to find my way to the hotel. Staging begins at 12:30 and is non stop fun until 7? 8? I don't remember. Than we fly out to Belize Thuresday afternoon!!!

I'm so excited, but need to go make sure I have everything together!! Perhaps the next time I update I will be in Belize!!!

Until than...

Thursday, March 11, 2010

2 weeks!

so, I'm starting this blog to keep everyone at home updated on my experiences in the Peace corps. In 12 days I'll be moving down to Belize and after a few weeks of training will be sworn in as a Primary Teacher Trainer. As many of you know this has been a.. long process but totally worth it.
Now that I have less than two weeks at home I have started packing, but packing up your life in 2 bags that weight 80lbs is quite the task. All in all I'm getting very excited to leave and ready to find out what is waiting for me!