Two months almost to the date since my last update. It was a short and hectic summer and since work wasn't keeping me "busy" updating my blog was a little difficult. so here was my summer in a short synopsis. like i tell my students if you have any questions feel free to ask at the end of the lesson.
JUNE:
School ended and i attended graduation and a few grad parties fun times. There was a real sense of accomplishment amongst my students and it felt great to be a part of that and support them.
two weeks of chill time then commenced, preparations for my summer "job" began and i hung out with my soon to be departed roommates.
Said goodbye to bobby on an unexpected early departure from PG, life as a second year was quickly approaching.
JULY:
Departed to pick up my family with departing room mate number two. Sad times had by all indeed. Susannah i miss you!
thankfully the sadness was soon overcome by the arrival of my family (well mom dad and will)!! exactly 342ish days since the last time i saw them.
Had an amazing time with said visitors, seeing mayan ruins eating mayan chocolate, traveling to caves, waterfalls, and introducing them to JV life in Belize. I again realized how blessed i am to have such an amazing, accepting, supportive and most importantly laid back family.
After family departed i returned and hung around Belize city for a few days until departing back home to PG where i planned more intensely for the arrival of our new volunteers in 2 weeks time.
Went to Caye Caulker, a tropical island paradise, with John (a volunteer in belize city) and his sister laura and her friend sarah to run a summer camp for the local kids. We had an amazing time, building sand castles, swimming, making tie dye, and paper mache, it was probably one of the best camp experiences i've ever had. Not to mention i ate lobster three times that week for a measly 12.50 USD!! insanity.
AUGUST:
on August 3rd. we welcomed the 7, yes 7!! new JV's to Belize adorned in clothing graciously donated to the St. Martin de Porres donation box from a very fashionable woman of the 80's. I in my neon colored house dress, kristen in her 80's prom/powersuit ensamble, john in his hippy clothes and pat sporting jort cutoffs and a skater boy shirt arrived in style to the airport to greet our newbies. The were surprised and we had the time of our lives freaking out local belizeans with our crazy wears!
Three weeks of orientation followed with highlights such as Iron Chief Belize, a trip to the zoo (which included two boys getting peed on by a Tapir the national animal of Belize) horseback ridding through the muddy rain forest of Belize, jumping off waterfalls, crossing rickety bridges, pickup rides, dinner in mayan villages and drumming sessions with Garifuna grandmas! not to mention summer camp round 2 and work orientation for me.
Work started this past Monday and my new year is starting out just fine!! They are the same students and i can see this year presenting the same issues, only now i have a slight clue how to handle them. I'm super excited for my new community and am completely in love with all 11 of us here serving in Belize.
needless to say in the land of eternal summer, my "summer" flew by with a wink of the eye.
note: I apologize for the sporadic incoherence of this post but i wanted to get it all down as fast as possible. once the internet starts working at work I'll have some more introspective entries. I hope everyone at home is doing well and had a safe happy and beach filled summer MISS you ALL!!!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Illegal for a few days
Who would think that crossing international boarders could be as easy as hopping in a skiff (small boat) or walking through a cow pasture? But that is exactly what two of my weekends in the past month have consisted of. Villagers here cross boarders nearly everyday, all they need are some good boots and a sturdy horse/donkey for packing all of their belongings on. They cross for a myriad of reasons, cheaper goods such as soap and farming materials. We cross for much less essential needs, Beer. Yes folks there is only one real beer in Belize, Belikin. And while you do have your choice between regular and stout, maybe throwing a Lighthouse or Guinness in to the mix every once in a while, Belikin is really your only option. So to taste some of the finer (sarcasm) Guatemalan delights we traverse boarders to get our hands on some tasty Gallo and Tecate. So beer is our reason (sometimes) for crossing but most of the time the beer is the last thing i remember from the trip. Here is an account of my last two boarder crossings and some reflections on them. enjoy and don't tell the Belizean or Guatemalan gov't, please!
Crossing one:
A volunteer passing through on her way across Central America in her recycled veggie oil truck (yes it was sweet!) Invited us on a trip out to the village to visit one of the many waterfalls that scatter the Toledo District. all four of my house mates and few of our friends took her up on her offer (its not common that we get a truck out the villages on a weekend for fun excursions). We suggested crossing over to Guatemala from Jalacte to chill for a little and get some beers to bring back to the falls. Everyone was game and so all 11 of us + one awesome dog got into veggie oil mobile and headed out. the boarder crossing from Jalacte to Santa Cruz Guatemala brings you through a creek, over a cow pasture, through some fences and finally you arrive in Guatemala. I felt like i was in the sound of music, fleeing the Austrian Nazi's on my way to Switzerland, only it was a tropical cow pasture and a muddy river instead of the Swiss alps and a bubbling brook. But you get the idea. There is no real marking of when one arrives in Guatemala, there is kind of a fence some people passing by started talking Spanish but nothing distinctly saying welcome to a new country. However i did know i was in Spanish/Central America when i got a whiff of that central American soap. Now if you have never traveled to Central America (well you're missing out and should get there asap, but that's another story) you will know the soap i;m talking about. it comes in a dish and is green supposedly smells like lime, but i don't really think so, its soft and mushy and sometimes gritty. Well it had a distinct smell and apparently it is only found in Spanish speaking countries in Central America. This was my tell tale sign i was in Guatemala. We got our beers traveled back to Belize hopped in the truck and went on our merry way. It was smooth and easy and one of those experiences where you say to yourself "really?! am i actually doing this right now?"
Crossing two: So this past weekend my roommate susannah and I went to Barranco with some friends for a weekend away. it was the first weekend of summer for most teachers and so we decided to make it an exciting one. Barranco is about an hour or so away on bus and is the only Garifuna village, all the rest are Mayan. (look up the names for details on the different cultures). one of our friends house sits a pretty sweet pad so we had a free place to stay and all we had to do was provide some food and get out there. We had not planned on a relaxing weekend by a pool, yes a pool, I don't think I've seen a pool in the last year let alone one right outside my bedroom, it was not what we were expecting and we were totally floored when we showed up! We were thinking of just going to the sea and getting a good summer tan maybe visiting some families we know that live there. But our friends Kevin and Rey decided it would be a great idea to go to Sarstoon, a small town on the Sarstoon river which divides Belize and Guatemala. So again i was preparing for a trip to Guatemala. We set out at 930 on a boat with our rasta tour guide to get some, yes again, Guatemalan beers and check out the scenery. Barranco is a fishing village right on the sea and so the trip to the mouth of the Sarstoon river was only about 20 mins. We pull into the river and our guide talks to the Guatemalan army men sitting in their thatch hut up on stilts over the water. In Spanish we explain we're only going to be here for a couple of mins. we name drop and are given the "ok". we pull up to another thatched dock with three men sitting in hammocks waving us over (apparently they knew our guide/friend). we get off the boat and as i walk off the dock to the little store what do i smell? that soap again, i know I'm in Central America once again!! my heart skips a beat and i feel immediately at home. I speak Spanish, watch football on TV, and just relax on the veranda for a little while. Before we head back to Belize, we take a small cruise up the Sarstoon river to this really sweet swimming hole just off the river. It's a break in the mangroves and covered by tall tall trees the water is deep and actually cold. It is the most refreshing water I've felt in Belize (or actually Guatemala). We swam for a while than again hopped in the boat and it was smooth sailing back to Barranco. again another one of those "Really, am i actually doing this right now?" moments.
Most of my College career was spent studying immigration, my thesis was on Mexican immigration i've heard hundreds of stories about illegal boarder crossings and the lengths people we go to to cross international boarders without detection. My recent experiences have made me think a lot about those past stories I've heard. They remind me of my privilege, one i definitely didn't ask for, but one that grants me experiences like these without much risk or fear or legal repercussion. While Belizeans cross these same boarders everyday. Boarder crossings are not as smooth for those going from Guatemala to Mexico and definitely not Mexico to the US. i however was able to cross freely into a different country with out so much as a question why let alone a passport stamp. I am grateful every day for the opportunities i am given in this experience as a JV. But i am also contently reminded of those who make these journeys and have these experiences out of necessity, and who experience much more turmoil and fear along the way.
So while most of these jouneys begin in pursuit of beer, they result in amazing experiences which give me a space to reflect and mostly to thank God for the amazingness of this life.
quote from this past weekend: "We are all COPE: Citizens Of Planet Earth, I am free!"
Crossing one:
A volunteer passing through on her way across Central America in her recycled veggie oil truck (yes it was sweet!) Invited us on a trip out to the village to visit one of the many waterfalls that scatter the Toledo District. all four of my house mates and few of our friends took her up on her offer (its not common that we get a truck out the villages on a weekend for fun excursions). We suggested crossing over to Guatemala from Jalacte to chill for a little and get some beers to bring back to the falls. Everyone was game and so all 11 of us + one awesome dog got into veggie oil mobile and headed out. the boarder crossing from Jalacte to Santa Cruz Guatemala brings you through a creek, over a cow pasture, through some fences and finally you arrive in Guatemala. I felt like i was in the sound of music, fleeing the Austrian Nazi's on my way to Switzerland, only it was a tropical cow pasture and a muddy river instead of the Swiss alps and a bubbling brook. But you get the idea. There is no real marking of when one arrives in Guatemala, there is kind of a fence some people passing by started talking Spanish but nothing distinctly saying welcome to a new country. However i did know i was in Spanish/Central America when i got a whiff of that central American soap. Now if you have never traveled to Central America (well you're missing out and should get there asap, but that's another story) you will know the soap i;m talking about. it comes in a dish and is green supposedly smells like lime, but i don't really think so, its soft and mushy and sometimes gritty. Well it had a distinct smell and apparently it is only found in Spanish speaking countries in Central America. This was my tell tale sign i was in Guatemala. We got our beers traveled back to Belize hopped in the truck and went on our merry way. It was smooth and easy and one of those experiences where you say to yourself "really?! am i actually doing this right now?"
Crossing two: So this past weekend my roommate susannah and I went to Barranco with some friends for a weekend away. it was the first weekend of summer for most teachers and so we decided to make it an exciting one. Barranco is about an hour or so away on bus and is the only Garifuna village, all the rest are Mayan. (look up the names for details on the different cultures). one of our friends house sits a pretty sweet pad so we had a free place to stay and all we had to do was provide some food and get out there. We had not planned on a relaxing weekend by a pool, yes a pool, I don't think I've seen a pool in the last year let alone one right outside my bedroom, it was not what we were expecting and we were totally floored when we showed up! We were thinking of just going to the sea and getting a good summer tan maybe visiting some families we know that live there. But our friends Kevin and Rey decided it would be a great idea to go to Sarstoon, a small town on the Sarstoon river which divides Belize and Guatemala. So again i was preparing for a trip to Guatemala. We set out at 930 on a boat with our rasta tour guide to get some, yes again, Guatemalan beers and check out the scenery. Barranco is a fishing village right on the sea and so the trip to the mouth of the Sarstoon river was only about 20 mins. We pull into the river and our guide talks to the Guatemalan army men sitting in their thatch hut up on stilts over the water. In Spanish we explain we're only going to be here for a couple of mins. we name drop and are given the "ok". we pull up to another thatched dock with three men sitting in hammocks waving us over (apparently they knew our guide/friend). we get off the boat and as i walk off the dock to the little store what do i smell? that soap again, i know I'm in Central America once again!! my heart skips a beat and i feel immediately at home. I speak Spanish, watch football on TV, and just relax on the veranda for a little while. Before we head back to Belize, we take a small cruise up the Sarstoon river to this really sweet swimming hole just off the river. It's a break in the mangroves and covered by tall tall trees the water is deep and actually cold. It is the most refreshing water I've felt in Belize (or actually Guatemala). We swam for a while than again hopped in the boat and it was smooth sailing back to Barranco. again another one of those "Really, am i actually doing this right now?" moments.
Most of my College career was spent studying immigration, my thesis was on Mexican immigration i've heard hundreds of stories about illegal boarder crossings and the lengths people we go to to cross international boarders without detection. My recent experiences have made me think a lot about those past stories I've heard. They remind me of my privilege, one i definitely didn't ask for, but one that grants me experiences like these without much risk or fear or legal repercussion. While Belizeans cross these same boarders everyday. Boarder crossings are not as smooth for those going from Guatemala to Mexico and definitely not Mexico to the US. i however was able to cross freely into a different country with out so much as a question why let alone a passport stamp. I am grateful every day for the opportunities i am given in this experience as a JV. But i am also contently reminded of those who make these journeys and have these experiences out of necessity, and who experience much more turmoil and fear along the way.
So while most of these jouneys begin in pursuit of beer, they result in amazing experiences which give me a space to reflect and mostly to thank God for the amazingness of this life.
quote from this past weekend: "We are all COPE: Citizens Of Planet Earth, I am free!"
Friday, May 22, 2009
Confessions of a small town hater
This is something i wrote for the JVI news letter "In the Field" I thought i'd share it with you!
In high school I used to complain about living in such a small, boring town. I have no idea what the size of my home town is but as one of the 221 kids to graduate in 2004 from Islip High School, it was small enough for me to know every name, face and probably the location of each of my classmates homes. To me it was stifling. My remedy; move to a city of 8 million people and become anonymous. Little did I know New York City would fit me worse than a wool sweater shrunk to Barbie size in the awful college dryer.
Fast forward 4 years and where do I find myself? Belize, a country with about 300,000 people, that would be about 1/26 the size of New York City and not much larger than my hometown (yes I realize now that my home town really wasn’t that small). Not only am I in one of the least populated countries in the world, or at least in the region, but I am in the least populated/ forgotten district of Toledo.
Punta Gorda or PG, as it is more affectionate known, is the booming metropolis of the Toledo District with 5,000 people, 3 main roads (2 paved) 2 grocery stores, about 20 chiney shops (no i haven't become a racist; chiney is what they call anyone of Asian descent who owns a convenience story in the country of Belize), 3 schools, probably 8 bars, 1 high school and one very centrally located JV house. So, here I am back to small town living, only this time it’s for REAL. I’ve realized in the past 6 months why I love small town living; being able to greet every other person on the street because I personally know them, having the post man, market lady, local drunk, and government official know me by name, riding my daily route to work and seeing the same people day in and day out, comfort, ease, connection, familiarity.
The past 6 months have also reminded me why I hate small town living: every move I make is known by everyone and their mother, RUMORS (Belizean's have this skill down to an impressive art) a general lack of much to do, having the post man, town drunk, government official and market lady know my name without me ever having to actually telling them, seeing students in school on Friday day and then seeing them at a local bar on Friday night, GOSSIP.
Yet as I move into my sixth month living in the small town on the sea, my days of pounding the pavement of 5th Ave or riding the D train in solitude for two hours a day are no more than a distant memory, a past life. I’ve realized that I much prefer my morning ride to work, on my bike, even with its taunts from the men of Hollywood about my dreads, to the solitude of the D train. I prefer my running route along the Caribbean Sea with its greeting from the two ladies who walk at the same time everyday, to the crowded gym of my University where not a soul makes eye contact. I much prefer my breakfast date with the sunrise and passing Maya ladies who try to sell me the same basket everyday, to my previous breakfast ritual of micro waved oats with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric. And while EVERYONE may know my business, daily routine and whereabouts I still prefer that to the anonymity and loneliness New York City.
I feel comfortable with my new home, it suits me and I think comforts me. I feel like I fit its rhythm, even though sometimes I’m tempted to walk in my NY pace, or crave anonymity, or think in NY speed, my little corner or the world here in Belize reminds me no women is an island. It is my community which fuels me, the people who show me love, the connection that drives me and the small town world which I crave. My past six months have taught me a lot, most of which I can’t articulate but this much I know, I am now proud to call myself a recovered small town hater.
In high school I used to complain about living in such a small, boring town. I have no idea what the size of my home town is but as one of the 221 kids to graduate in 2004 from Islip High School, it was small enough for me to know every name, face and probably the location of each of my classmates homes. To me it was stifling. My remedy; move to a city of 8 million people and become anonymous. Little did I know New York City would fit me worse than a wool sweater shrunk to Barbie size in the awful college dryer.
Fast forward 4 years and where do I find myself? Belize, a country with about 300,000 people, that would be about 1/26 the size of New York City and not much larger than my hometown (yes I realize now that my home town really wasn’t that small). Not only am I in one of the least populated countries in the world, or at least in the region, but I am in the least populated/ forgotten district of Toledo.
Punta Gorda or PG, as it is more affectionate known, is the booming metropolis of the Toledo District with 5,000 people, 3 main roads (2 paved) 2 grocery stores, about 20 chiney shops (no i haven't become a racist; chiney is what they call anyone of Asian descent who owns a convenience story in the country of Belize), 3 schools, probably 8 bars, 1 high school and one very centrally located JV house. So, here I am back to small town living, only this time it’s for REAL. I’ve realized in the past 6 months why I love small town living; being able to greet every other person on the street because I personally know them, having the post man, market lady, local drunk, and government official know me by name, riding my daily route to work and seeing the same people day in and day out, comfort, ease, connection, familiarity.
The past 6 months have also reminded me why I hate small town living: every move I make is known by everyone and their mother, RUMORS (Belizean's have this skill down to an impressive art) a general lack of much to do, having the post man, town drunk, government official and market lady know my name without me ever having to actually telling them, seeing students in school on Friday day and then seeing them at a local bar on Friday night, GOSSIP.
Yet as I move into my sixth month living in the small town on the sea, my days of pounding the pavement of 5th Ave or riding the D train in solitude for two hours a day are no more than a distant memory, a past life. I’ve realized that I much prefer my morning ride to work, on my bike, even with its taunts from the men of Hollywood about my dreads, to the solitude of the D train. I prefer my running route along the Caribbean Sea with its greeting from the two ladies who walk at the same time everyday, to the crowded gym of my University where not a soul makes eye contact. I much prefer my breakfast date with the sunrise and passing Maya ladies who try to sell me the same basket everyday, to my previous breakfast ritual of micro waved oats with Matt Lauer and Katie Couric. And while EVERYONE may know my business, daily routine and whereabouts I still prefer that to the anonymity and loneliness New York City.
I feel comfortable with my new home, it suits me and I think comforts me. I feel like I fit its rhythm, even though sometimes I’m tempted to walk in my NY pace, or crave anonymity, or think in NY speed, my little corner or the world here in Belize reminds me no women is an island. It is my community which fuels me, the people who show me love, the connection that drives me and the small town world which I crave. My past six months have taught me a lot, most of which I can’t articulate but this much I know, I am now proud to call myself a recovered small town hater.
TCC Graduation
The culmination of High School at TCC works something like this. On one day at the end of May, after all their final exams and most of their Caribbean Examinations, all of the Seniors, or Fourth Formers, anxiously await the posting of "the List." The list includes all the names of those students who will be graduating. I have never experienced soo much anticipation and so much worry regarding a list. Since the beginning of the week students have been questioning and wondering if i know of the list, if i can find out how to see it, if i can look for their name, if i know how many failed, if i know how many passed. Soo many questions, so many worries. And of course i was not allowed to tell them anything at all about the contents of wan said list. (wow the kriole is really coming out on this entry). I heard so many sob stories, so many pleas, at one point i thought a girl was going to cry she wanted to know so badly. This is to topper. This morning as i groggily walked down my front stairs to get some bananas and oranges at the market, mind you this was at 6:45 in the morning, some of my students were passing my house and asked if i knew about the list. WHAT!!! i had literally woken up 10 minuets before, i hadn't even changed out of my pajamas and they were asking about "the list"!!
We'll today at aprox. 11:30 the list went up, and let me tell you it was amazing!! Only 8 out of the 200ish students didn't graduate and so there was a lot to celebrate and a lot of people to celebrate with. Forth Form students were hovering all morning and as the principal came out of his office they all bum rushed the bulletin board to see if their names was on the coveted list. If it was there were screams and tears of joy, if not it was mostly just some tears. After the initial celebratory cheers everyone begins to sign their name upon their fellow graduates, some mark up each others uniform while others come prepared with a white tee shirt. After weeks of worry and anticipation they finally know they have the answers they've been looking for.
So many experiences I've had this year have brought me back to High School. But none as strong as this one. While I'm not too sure how i feel about publicly posting the graduation list for all to see, because those students who do not make it are publicly embarrassed. Seeing the faces of those who did was amazing. The sheer joy, happiness, relief, and in some cases surprise was actually heart warming. It's something i often times wished i had in High School; a culmination of all the work i had done, one defining moment, where i could scream and say YES! the last full day of school wasn't really anything because you still have review, the last class wasn't really the end because you still had exams, even the last final exam was anti climactic because you were usually alone as you left the test. I guess the one thing i could relate it to is the tossing of the hats at graduation, that last fleeting moment as the Class of "whatever" with the people you grew up with.
Well enough with reminiscing. For me i think this also signifies a moment of importance, as students asked me to sign their shirts and told me thanks and gave me hugs i realized that i was a part of their final year at TCC. Students who i hadn't really had that much face time with came up to me with huge smiles and markers asking me to sign their shirts. It was one of the first moment at TCC that i actually felt like i belonged, connected, like i maybe had some impact or affect on their lives. It was a good feeling. one I wasn't expecting. One i can hopefully carry with me to next year.
Congrats to all graduates all over the world!
We'll today at aprox. 11:30 the list went up, and let me tell you it was amazing!! Only 8 out of the 200ish students didn't graduate and so there was a lot to celebrate and a lot of people to celebrate with. Forth Form students were hovering all morning and as the principal came out of his office they all bum rushed the bulletin board to see if their names was on the coveted list. If it was there were screams and tears of joy, if not it was mostly just some tears. After the initial celebratory cheers everyone begins to sign their name upon their fellow graduates, some mark up each others uniform while others come prepared with a white tee shirt. After weeks of worry and anticipation they finally know they have the answers they've been looking for.
So many experiences I've had this year have brought me back to High School. But none as strong as this one. While I'm not too sure how i feel about publicly posting the graduation list for all to see, because those students who do not make it are publicly embarrassed. Seeing the faces of those who did was amazing. The sheer joy, happiness, relief, and in some cases surprise was actually heart warming. It's something i often times wished i had in High School; a culmination of all the work i had done, one defining moment, where i could scream and say YES! the last full day of school wasn't really anything because you still have review, the last class wasn't really the end because you still had exams, even the last final exam was anti climactic because you were usually alone as you left the test. I guess the one thing i could relate it to is the tossing of the hats at graduation, that last fleeting moment as the Class of "whatever" with the people you grew up with.
Well enough with reminiscing. For me i think this also signifies a moment of importance, as students asked me to sign their shirts and told me thanks and gave me hugs i realized that i was a part of their final year at TCC. Students who i hadn't really had that much face time with came up to me with huge smiles and markers asking me to sign their shirts. It was one of the first moment at TCC that i actually felt like i belonged, connected, like i maybe had some impact or affect on their lives. It was a good feeling. one I wasn't expecting. One i can hopefully carry with me to next year.
Congrats to all graduates all over the world!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
just a glimps (more to come soon)
so this morning on my way to work (i was a lee bit late so around 7:40am) i passed a man on his bike with two 3 feet long iguanas hanging over his handle bars. I wish i had a camera to depict this image more clearly, but use your imagination. I couldn't help but stair at this abnormal (for me) and strange sight passed me by seeming completely normal. He proceeded to hail me (call out) "igua, rasta gyal."
Just another morning bike to work...
Just another morning bike to work...
Friday, February 27, 2009
"If it's not raining you are not in PG"
Yes that is a direct quote from a presenter we had in our classes today. And by golly that man could not have been any more correct. At this point in time I have given up on defining any type of seasonal weather here in Punta Gorda. No spring, no fall, no winter, no summer, not even a wet or dry. It just rains. I remember in elementary school, first grade I believe, I watched the movie about a girl who lived in a town where the sun only appeared for about half an hour per day, or something ridiculous like that. The rest of the time it was monsoon season, torrential down pour time. The movie was quite depressing for a group of 7 year olds, but anyone familiar with my first grade teacher Ms. Nielsen won’t be surprised by this selection. The little girl had a dream, she wanted too badly to plant a seed and watch its flower bloom in the sunshine. But unfortunately her evil classmates locked her in their classroom during the one hour of sunshine during which the flower bloomed and they ran happily outside in the sunshine. Now I don’t recall if this was the ending of the story or not, but in my 6 or 7 year old brain this was the memory which stuck. While my experience with the rain isn’t as depressing I do find myself CRAVING the sunshine and soaking up as much of it as I can when it does decide to grace PG with its presence. The rain has not really become something I loath, nor has it become a real hindrance (although biking to work this morning was difficult through the rain, I did not expect because when I left my house it was sunny, it takes me 6 mins to bike to work, did I mention I was wearing a white shirt and khaki?) But the rain has become one of those elements of life I have taken as normal, much like the woodlice, cockroaches, and at one point mice. Here in Punta Gorda it rains that is what it does. Its amazing how often I am reminded that going with the flow of life and accepting things for their positive gifts. The positive aspects of rain; EVERYTHING is green green green, my skin never dries out (nothing ever dries out), I can get a lot, and I mean a lot, of reading done.
During times of great rain I'm learning you don't really need the sun to bring you hope or happiness. Those things can come from any surprising sources.
ps it started raining/torrential down pouring today at 720 and is still going now at 1121 lets see how long it lasts.
During times of great rain I'm learning you don't really need the sun to bring you hope or happiness. Those things can come from any surprising sources.
ps it started raining/torrential down pouring today at 720 and is still going now at 1121 lets see how long it lasts.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Myth Busters
Inspired by a recent blog entry by my room mate Pat i have decided to write a blog entry about common myths or beliefs i had prior to my experience in JVI that have now become completely busted by my life and experiences in Belize.
1. myth: All dread heads are Rastafarian
lesson:you DONT have to be rasta to be dread
2. Myth: i cant live in a small town
Lesson: i can actually enjoy a town smaller than Islip (pg has less han 5,000 inhabitants)
3. Myth: i cant possible ever get cold in a tropical climate
Lesson: a girl from new york (me) who used to keep her windows open all winter can feel cold in 72 degree weather.
4. Myth: you become accustom to your surroundings
Lesson: I can never cease to be amazed by the natural beauty of this country
5. myth: showering everyday is necessary
Lesson: its really only necessary to shower every week
6. myth: shaving your legs is necessary
Lesson: shaving your legs is only necessary about once every 2-3 months if at all
7. Myth: you will loose weight if you move to a developing nation and only have 5$ per day for food
Lesson: any girl in a developing nation where rice beans tortillas and corn are the staples of a diet will most definitely gain weight. (despite pretty regular excercise)
8. Myth: driving six hours is way too far to only stay for a weekend.
Lesson: Traveling 6 hours on a bus is totally worth it even if just for 2 days of time spent with friends.
9. Myth: a person can't live on 60$ per month.
Lesson: a person CAN live on 120 belize per month and actually SAVE!
10. Myth: rats and cockroaches are gross.
lesson: Rats and cockroaches are only part of life and they can actually keep us company (jk)
11. Myth: Itching mosquito bites actually helps (i know this isnt true but i refused to believe i couldnt stratch)
Lesson: Mosquito bites actually GO AWAY if you leave them alone, especiall if gotten at night, and on your face.
12. Myth: your body is your body no matter where you are in the world.
Lesson: Sometimes your body can attack you from the inside out, things take longer to heal, and random bumps rashes and bruises come from myserious places or causes.
13. Myth: not having my cellphone for a few hours was difficult.
lesson: (which i sort of already knew) Not haveing a cell phone is PHENOMINAL and LIBERATING
14. Myth: the rainy season ends in December
Lesson: (never believe anything you hear about the weather) last weekend (in february) it rained for 3 days straight.
15. Myth: 2 years is a long time.
Lesson: two years is a long time, but totally necessary to really fully attempt to understand this job, these people, and my reason for beign here.
Well i hope you liked my 15 busted myths. there are many more lessons i have learned since being here but these were the easiest to articulte. haha enjoy!
happy valentines day everyone!
1. myth: All dread heads are Rastafarian
lesson:you DONT have to be rasta to be dread
2. Myth: i cant live in a small town
Lesson: i can actually enjoy a town smaller than Islip (pg has less han 5,000 inhabitants)
3. Myth: i cant possible ever get cold in a tropical climate
Lesson: a girl from new york (me) who used to keep her windows open all winter can feel cold in 72 degree weather.
4. Myth: you become accustom to your surroundings
Lesson: I can never cease to be amazed by the natural beauty of this country
5. myth: showering everyday is necessary
Lesson: its really only necessary to shower every week
6. myth: shaving your legs is necessary
Lesson: shaving your legs is only necessary about once every 2-3 months if at all
7. Myth: you will loose weight if you move to a developing nation and only have 5$ per day for food
Lesson: any girl in a developing nation where rice beans tortillas and corn are the staples of a diet will most definitely gain weight. (despite pretty regular excercise)
8. Myth: driving six hours is way too far to only stay for a weekend.
Lesson: Traveling 6 hours on a bus is totally worth it even if just for 2 days of time spent with friends.
9. Myth: a person can't live on 60$ per month.
Lesson: a person CAN live on 120 belize per month and actually SAVE!
10. Myth: rats and cockroaches are gross.
lesson: Rats and cockroaches are only part of life and they can actually keep us company (jk)
11. Myth: Itching mosquito bites actually helps (i know this isnt true but i refused to believe i couldnt stratch)
Lesson: Mosquito bites actually GO AWAY if you leave them alone, especiall if gotten at night, and on your face.
12. Myth: your body is your body no matter where you are in the world.
Lesson: Sometimes your body can attack you from the inside out, things take longer to heal, and random bumps rashes and bruises come from myserious places or causes.
13. Myth: not having my cellphone for a few hours was difficult.
lesson: (which i sort of already knew) Not haveing a cell phone is PHENOMINAL and LIBERATING
14. Myth: the rainy season ends in December
Lesson: (never believe anything you hear about the weather) last weekend (in february) it rained for 3 days straight.
15. Myth: 2 years is a long time.
Lesson: two years is a long time, but totally necessary to really fully attempt to understand this job, these people, and my reason for beign here.
Well i hope you liked my 15 busted myths. there are many more lessons i have learned since being here but these were the easiest to articulte. haha enjoy!
happy valentines day everyone!
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