Belize it or not - my time in Belize is up. I have been going in circles trying to get final papers turned in, tutor at a high school, and study for finals next week. This doesn't sound too overwhelming until you add in the fact that my laptop has died for the second time on this trip. That means that I have to use the computers on campus for any paper work and I am used to studying at home at night, in the QUIET. Sometimes there is a class in the computer lab, and only two of the computers in the library will accept a USB. Many times I have just had to wait for a computer to be free.
As for the tutoring - not going so well. The students show up on their own schedule and I can tell they really don't want to be there. Three showed up (Tuesday) for the Tuesday-Thursday sessions and Wednesday I had only one from the Wednesday-Friday sessions. That makes a total of 4 out of 12 total. Today I will see if my Wednesday guy shows up again. He is the only one that seems interested at all.
I will continue posting after I get home and get the laptop fixed. There is plenty more to reflect on. I am ending now because I have a class and need to study for finals. More to come.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Galen Students and Faculty
I feel that I should share some of the characters that I am going to school with. Also a few of the faculty are interesting too. I will just put them on the side as I get their pictures. I have warned a few of them that since I only have a few weeks left I am becoming the tourist with a camera. Only a couple have ducked; most pose for me.
My ESL students
The elementary students I have been working with are in Standard I, 7 and 8 year olds, in a Maya community. There are some Mestizo and Garifinas , but about 90% have at least a little Maya ancestry.
The class has been pulled out of the other two Standard I sections because they are the lower achievers. This can be good for extra attention but also they are seen as the outcasts at school. There is one boy that is 10 in the class because he and his sister have just arrived in the country with no English and no school experience at all. The sister is 12 and in Standard IV.
The boy is sitting next to the teacher in his room, but his sister is sitting in the back of the room and physically separated from the class by the space to walk to the teacher’s desk. Both of them are in the Standard I room for extra help at the end of most days. The boy does appear to be fitting in to his class more than his sister. When I observed, I noticed that he was trying to keep an eye on what was going on. The girl paid attention to the teacher for a while, and then would end up looking out the window. She seemed to get frustrated with trying to figure it out. The Standard I teacher slides back to Spanish often and sometimes continues the lesson in Spanish. This seems natural since Spanish is their first language too. The standard IV teacher rarely uses Spanish and doesn’t explain anything in Spanish. I do not know which way is better. The teacher that uses more Spanish is getting more of the content across but there is a lot of struggling to understand English. The other teacher is leaving the girl in the dust because she is not getting content and not much of English.
I have only used high fives, shaking hands, hugs, and any other fun way to call attention to their achievement. This works really well because they all compete for attention, sometimes a bit aggressively, even when I am working with them in small groups.
They really love word games like BINGO and remember words that have been presented in a physically or phonetically funny way. I pull the older girl from her class to be my helper. She pulls out the new word, opens it and I read it over her shoulder. This way she is in a position of responsibility and she sees and hears the word again without the pressure of having to say it. The game is made up of words that we have worked on in small groups.
It is time for me to move on to a high school for my 35 contact hours there. I will definitely miss this very energetic group. I makes me sad enough that I have started to ponder the idea of coming back next year. I just do not know how to do it yet.
The class has been pulled out of the other two Standard I sections because they are the lower achievers. This can be good for extra attention but also they are seen as the outcasts at school. There is one boy that is 10 in the class because he and his sister have just arrived in the country with no English and no school experience at all. The sister is 12 and in Standard IV.
The boy is sitting next to the teacher in his room, but his sister is sitting in the back of the room and physically separated from the class by the space to walk to the teacher’s desk. Both of them are in the Standard I room for extra help at the end of most days. The boy does appear to be fitting in to his class more than his sister. When I observed, I noticed that he was trying to keep an eye on what was going on. The girl paid attention to the teacher for a while, and then would end up looking out the window. She seemed to get frustrated with trying to figure it out. The Standard I teacher slides back to Spanish often and sometimes continues the lesson in Spanish. This seems natural since Spanish is their first language too. The standard IV teacher rarely uses Spanish and doesn’t explain anything in Spanish. I do not know which way is better. The teacher that uses more Spanish is getting more of the content across but there is a lot of struggling to understand English. The other teacher is leaving the girl in the dust because she is not getting content and not much of English.
I have only used high fives, shaking hands, hugs, and any other fun way to call attention to their achievement. This works really well because they all compete for attention, sometimes a bit aggressively, even when I am working with them in small groups.
They really love word games like BINGO and remember words that have been presented in a physically or phonetically funny way. I pull the older girl from her class to be my helper. She pulls out the new word, opens it and I read it over her shoulder. This way she is in a position of responsibility and she sees and hears the word again without the pressure of having to say it. The game is made up of words that we have worked on in small groups.
It is time for me to move on to a high school for my 35 contact hours there. I will definitely miss this very energetic group. I makes me sad enough that I have started to ponder the idea of coming back next year. I just do not know how to do it yet.
I finally made it Cahal Pech
A couple of weeks ago I went walking with the purpose of go to Cahal Pech, but did not complete the goal. Instead I just walked around town and got some ice cream. I was in one of those “I don’t care if I get anything done” moods. Well, today I got up and got going. Since it is Sunday there are not as many buses and the temperature was 85 at 8 in the morning. I decided to wait for a bus anyway because the last stretch is a steep incline and I didn’t want to be to worn out to make it.
I was worth the time waiting for the bus and the walk uphill. There were only two small groups and me, going solo. I took my time reading the information in the tourist center and looking at the artifacts they have on display. It fascinates me that they are from thousands of years ago. There is one display of a skeleton and the items he/she was buried with. Only people with money were buried with something for an offering to a god. This person must have been important because there was a couple of bowls and other items in the display.
Cahal Pech literally means the place of ticks, but it was the excavators that gave it the name, not the Maya. When they first started work, they were bothered by the ticks, hence the name. It is not as big as other sites, but a few of the rooms are totally intact. It seemed like it has a more complex maze of walkways than the other sites I have seen. Maybe it is just the fact that it was protected better under the dirt and trees. I would have to ask an archeologist to find out the answer.
I like the feeling that I was walking through the same place that the Maya did thousands of years ago. It brings the history to life and I remember things better that way. It is like the phrase “walk a mile in my shoes”. Of course I was not doing what they did on a daily basis, but I can use the information I read to imagine what it was like. I do avoid thinking about the blood sacrifices; I can’t comprehend that kind of thing being necessary. They were not very tall people because the arches were just a few inches above my head. The other thing I have noticed at different sites is how big the steps are. If they were not very big, they would have had to climb the steps instead of just stepping up. Some of them are a stretch for me and I’m almost 5’5”.
Now that I have seen Xunantunich, Tikal, and Cahal Pech, I can see the traits they all have in common. I can find the ball courts, the head chopping blocks, the main temples, and the living quarters of the upper class. Looking at the Maya civilization just proves that there has always been a division of social classes. The ones with money get the better education and living arrangements, and the unlucky lower class gets to live their lives serving the upper class. Sorry, just a personal observation and opinion. I will keep looking for the civilization that is more equitable. That sounds like a good quest.
I would not have wanted to live in that time; life was less complicated but harder. Now that I have been to Xunantunich (2 times) and Tikal, I can compare the sizes and complexity of each city. Tikal is by far the most complex, spread out, and has the tallest temples. Xunantunich comes in second on height, but is a simple layout. Cahal Pech is the lowest built of all of them and the most complex. I think it helps that some of the rooms are completely intact and the layout lets you imagine people carrying on with life.
I was worth the time waiting for the bus and the walk uphill. There were only two small groups and me, going solo. I took my time reading the information in the tourist center and looking at the artifacts they have on display. It fascinates me that they are from thousands of years ago. There is one display of a skeleton and the items he/she was buried with. Only people with money were buried with something for an offering to a god. This person must have been important because there was a couple of bowls and other items in the display.
Cahal Pech literally means the place of ticks, but it was the excavators that gave it the name, not the Maya. When they first started work, they were bothered by the ticks, hence the name. It is not as big as other sites, but a few of the rooms are totally intact. It seemed like it has a more complex maze of walkways than the other sites I have seen. Maybe it is just the fact that it was protected better under the dirt and trees. I would have to ask an archeologist to find out the answer.
I like the feeling that I was walking through the same place that the Maya did thousands of years ago. It brings the history to life and I remember things better that way. It is like the phrase “walk a mile in my shoes”. Of course I was not doing what they did on a daily basis, but I can use the information I read to imagine what it was like. I do avoid thinking about the blood sacrifices; I can’t comprehend that kind of thing being necessary. They were not very tall people because the arches were just a few inches above my head. The other thing I have noticed at different sites is how big the steps are. If they were not very big, they would have had to climb the steps instead of just stepping up. Some of them are a stretch for me and I’m almost 5’5”.
Now that I have seen Xunantunich, Tikal, and Cahal Pech, I can see the traits they all have in common. I can find the ball courts, the head chopping blocks, the main temples, and the living quarters of the upper class. Looking at the Maya civilization just proves that there has always been a division of social classes. The ones with money get the better education and living arrangements, and the unlucky lower class gets to live their lives serving the upper class. Sorry, just a personal observation and opinion. I will keep looking for the civilization that is more equitable. That sounds like a good quest.
I would not have wanted to live in that time; life was less complicated but harder. Now that I have been to Xunantunich (2 times) and Tikal, I can compare the sizes and complexity of each city. Tikal is by far the most complex, spread out, and has the tallest temples. Xunantunich comes in second on height, but is a simple layout. Cahal Pech is the lowest built of all of them and the most complex. I think it helps that some of the rooms are completely intact and the layout lets you imagine people carrying on with life.
Another New Friend
I am still out wandering around when I can. This day, my purpose was to get my haircut since it has been warming up more and I am getting shaggy, but along the way I met a new friend. I had gotten off of the bus since I was over an hour early, and decided to explore a new part of town. As I was walking up a street, an elderly man was sitting in his doorway talking to a man going by. I was just going to walk by when he made the comment that I looked like I was thinking too hard. Of course I had to stop.
He is either Creole or Garifina, I can’t tell the difference. He informed me that life was too short to be so serious, and the philosophy started to flow. He was such a happy-go-lucky type of guy despite being totally grey, wrinkled, and in a wheel chair. I think it is his attitude that has kept him going. He told me that WAY back in his life he had had a chance to go to Brazil with a couple of friends to start a cattle ranch. His decision was to stay in Belize because that is where his family is, he loves the country, and it is where his umbilical cord is buried. He laughed then and explained that where his cord is buried is where he is supposed to die. I have a feeling that it will be quite a while before his time is up here.
I had such fun talking with him that I spent all of my extra time with him. I had to really hurry to get to my appointment. I promised him I would stop by again to visit. Since there is only four weeks left I had better get there this week for my next dose of wisdom. I wish I could record all of his words; they really do pack a punch in the positive attitude arena. If I can get a specific statement or two, I will have to post them. Maybe this time I will meet some of his family. I could hear that someone was in the house last time, but no one came to see who he was talking to.
By the way, I did get my hair cut, dyed, and my eyebrows waxed. I would have gotten a facial but it was the end of their work day. I was just feeling like pampering myself. I even bought a couple pairs of earrings. My total bill was around $60 BZ, which is $30 US, so I figure the prices down here are pretty good. At home a haircut would be $15, dye job about $30, eyebrows about $10, and then add on earrings. The locals say everything is expensive here, but I think it is because the average income is so low. More on that subject another time.
He is either Creole or Garifina, I can’t tell the difference. He informed me that life was too short to be so serious, and the philosophy started to flow. He was such a happy-go-lucky type of guy despite being totally grey, wrinkled, and in a wheel chair. I think it is his attitude that has kept him going. He told me that WAY back in his life he had had a chance to go to Brazil with a couple of friends to start a cattle ranch. His decision was to stay in Belize because that is where his family is, he loves the country, and it is where his umbilical cord is buried. He laughed then and explained that where his cord is buried is where he is supposed to die. I have a feeling that it will be quite a while before his time is up here.
I had such fun talking with him that I spent all of my extra time with him. I had to really hurry to get to my appointment. I promised him I would stop by again to visit. Since there is only four weeks left I had better get there this week for my next dose of wisdom. I wish I could record all of his words; they really do pack a punch in the positive attitude arena. If I can get a specific statement or two, I will have to post them. Maybe this time I will meet some of his family. I could hear that someone was in the house last time, but no one came to see who he was talking to.
By the way, I did get my hair cut, dyed, and my eyebrows waxed. I would have gotten a facial but it was the end of their work day. I was just feeling like pampering myself. I even bought a couple pairs of earrings. My total bill was around $60 BZ, which is $30 US, so I figure the prices down here are pretty good. At home a haircut would be $15, dye job about $30, eyebrows about $10, and then add on earrings. The locals say everything is expensive here, but I think it is because the average income is so low. More on that subject another time.
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Locals!!
I am posting pictures of some of the local people I have gotten to know. They may not be in order, but I will label them with their first names or where they work.
Problem Solved
It took a little time and effort, but the issue with the partying American girls has been solved. I have moved out on my own.
I looked around town for about three weeks and found three different places for rent. One was a house with three bedrooms and way out of my price range. I had finally decided on a little apartment and told the exchange student coordinator at college. She must not have believed that I would be this independent and determined; because she again asked questions like “Don’t you think the girls are calming down?”. My answer was that it was just a lull in the storm. They are only quieter because two of them are sick and one was in an exhibitionist episode in town. I heard through the Belizean students at school that people were taking pictures with their cell phones. I predict that it will end up on U-Tube.
On to the good stuff. The coordinator told me about a place that the college rents for the professors, since some stay anywhere from a term to a couple of years. The upstairs apartment is empty and I would not have to pay any more than I already have on the program. Out of curiosity and politeness I took at look at the place. It is spacious, in a quiet neighborhood, and as a bonus, has wireless internet. There is a little grocery store two blocks away, neighbor kids I can watch from my little balcony, a fenced yard, and a cat begging to be fed everyday. Because of the internet and the quiet area, I took it. It still took a couple of days to get agreement papers and inventory household items, but at last I am independent and happy.
Sure there are a few drawbacks, but nothing I can’t live with. The first is that there is no hot water in the kitchen and bathroom sinks, but no cold in the shower. I wash my hair in the kitchen so I don’t have to stand under the hot water any longer than necessary. The clothes line was a cord and totally rotted, so I bought a new line. The clothes pins were old and moldy too. I threw them out and got plastic ones. There was no bedspread or light blanket so I bought a light throw blanket. The nights only get down to just under sixty degrees. Also the 5 gallon drinking water jug has to be carried up the stairs, but if I buy it at the little grocery store a local guy brings it in and sets it up. The apartment can get hot in the afternoon because heat rises and the curtains do no block much sun. The solution is to open the door on the shady side of the house and there are a couple of table fans.
Another good point is that it has a mini washing machine. Because electricity is so expensive here, I will only use it for heavy items like jeans. The rest I am washing by hand. You may think I am roughing it, but I have it easy compared to the locals who wash by hand, sometimes in the river. So I have no complaints.
A while back I had gotten a wooden alphabet set that was made and decorated by a local talent. I now have them hanging up on a plastic string between two windows in my kitchen. They are so bright and colorful that I have to smile every time I look at them. Overall I am very content here and will probably stay that way unless the internet goes out.
I looked around town for about three weeks and found three different places for rent. One was a house with three bedrooms and way out of my price range. I had finally decided on a little apartment and told the exchange student coordinator at college. She must not have believed that I would be this independent and determined; because she again asked questions like “Don’t you think the girls are calming down?”. My answer was that it was just a lull in the storm. They are only quieter because two of them are sick and one was in an exhibitionist episode in town. I heard through the Belizean students at school that people were taking pictures with their cell phones. I predict that it will end up on U-Tube.
On to the good stuff. The coordinator told me about a place that the college rents for the professors, since some stay anywhere from a term to a couple of years. The upstairs apartment is empty and I would not have to pay any more than I already have on the program. Out of curiosity and politeness I took at look at the place. It is spacious, in a quiet neighborhood, and as a bonus, has wireless internet. There is a little grocery store two blocks away, neighbor kids I can watch from my little balcony, a fenced yard, and a cat begging to be fed everyday. Because of the internet and the quiet area, I took it. It still took a couple of days to get agreement papers and inventory household items, but at last I am independent and happy.
Sure there are a few drawbacks, but nothing I can’t live with. The first is that there is no hot water in the kitchen and bathroom sinks, but no cold in the shower. I wash my hair in the kitchen so I don’t have to stand under the hot water any longer than necessary. The clothes line was a cord and totally rotted, so I bought a new line. The clothes pins were old and moldy too. I threw them out and got plastic ones. There was no bedspread or light blanket so I bought a light throw blanket. The nights only get down to just under sixty degrees. Also the 5 gallon drinking water jug has to be carried up the stairs, but if I buy it at the little grocery store a local guy brings it in and sets it up. The apartment can get hot in the afternoon because heat rises and the curtains do no block much sun. The solution is to open the door on the shady side of the house and there are a couple of table fans.
Another good point is that it has a mini washing machine. Because electricity is so expensive here, I will only use it for heavy items like jeans. The rest I am washing by hand. You may think I am roughing it, but I have it easy compared to the locals who wash by hand, sometimes in the river. So I have no complaints.
A while back I had gotten a wooden alphabet set that was made and decorated by a local talent. I now have them hanging up on a plastic string between two windows in my kitchen. They are so bright and colorful that I have to smile every time I look at them. Overall I am very content here and will probably stay that way unless the internet goes out.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Clarrisa Falls
On the way back from Benque we took a side road to Clarissa Falls. They are not big, but it is worth going to. There is a small restaurant and a couple of cabanas. The owners have some turkeys, chickens, geese, and have a semi-tamed parrot and toucan. It has a very peaceful feeling to it. You can hear the waterfall from the restaurant, but have to follow a path down the riverbank before you can see it.
On the way down to the bank I disturbed the hen with her chicks and a lizard in the brush. The lizards here are up to 6 feet long and very quick moving. By the time I turned because of the noise he was headed up a tree. I could have sat on the bank for quite a while, but the group was tired and wanted to go home. If I had stayed down there, they would have forgot me. Clarissa Falls is about three miles from where I'm staying, but in the tropical heat I don't think I will be walking to it.
While we were in the area, we were shown one of the few swinging bridges of Belize. I stayed on the side to take pictures until most had crossed. I knew they would make the bridge bounce. They had it moving enough that our coordinator turned around and came back. They had made her motion sick. I only went half way, looked at the river a bit, and turned around. The gang had fun making it bounce on their way back.
Their were local village kids waiting in the shade for our group to get off it. From what we were told, it is the short route to their village. Without it they would have to walk 5 - 6 miles from the main road.
One more thing! The lady at Clarissa Falls is an American that has been here for quite a few years. She is retired but very busy. She works with an organization that brings in supplies to poor villages when it is needed. What struck me is how happy she is. Her two sons spent part of their teenage years here and loved the nature side of life.
On the way down to the bank I disturbed the hen with her chicks and a lizard in the brush. The lizards here are up to 6 feet long and very quick moving. By the time I turned because of the noise he was headed up a tree. I could have sat on the bank for quite a while, but the group was tired and wanted to go home. If I had stayed down there, they would have forgot me. Clarissa Falls is about three miles from where I'm staying, but in the tropical heat I don't think I will be walking to it.
While we were in the area, we were shown one of the few swinging bridges of Belize. I stayed on the side to take pictures until most had crossed. I knew they would make the bridge bounce. They had it moving enough that our coordinator turned around and came back. They had made her motion sick. I only went half way, looked at the river a bit, and turned around. The gang had fun making it bounce on their way back.
Their were local village kids waiting in the shade for our group to get off it. From what we were told, it is the short route to their village. Without it they would have to walk 5 - 6 miles from the main road.
One more thing! The lady at Clarissa Falls is an American that has been here for quite a few years. She is retired but very busy. She works with an organization that brings in supplies to poor villages when it is needed. What struck me is how happy she is. Her two sons spent part of their teenage years here and loved the nature side of life.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Group trip to Benque
Yesterday was the last group trip. We went to Benque to visit families and learn how to cook bollas (not sure of the spelling) and tamales the traditional way. We started about 8:30 and it was done about noon. The process starts with ground corn and water which makes a lumpy mixture. For tamales the lumps are strained out, but not for the bollas. Each mixture is cooked in a big bowl with a bit of grease, basically like scrabbled eggs. Seasoned chicken is cut into pieces, cooked in grease, water and chopped vegetable added. The next step is to put these mixtures on palm leaves that have been steamed over an open flame, cut into about 10 inch squares, and washed. The corn mixture is ball then patted down on the leaf and a scoop of the chicken is put it. There is a special way to fold the double layer of leaves because they are then steamed for about 45 minutes before they are done. Along with the bollas and tamales we had hot sauce and rice milk. I like it all except the rice milk was very sweet and didn’t hit my stomach right.
The family had two children but the neighbor kids come over to play all the time and a group of Americans can draw a crowd. The kids were all pretty shy until we started taking their pictures and one of the American girls brought out a coloring book. She told one boy to pick a picture he liked and she ripped it out and gave it to him. He looked at her in shock, so I am gathering that ripping a page is definitely a no-no here. I was looking at some of the flowers in the yard when a couple of girls about 7 years old decided it was safe to talk to me. I found out about who lived in each house, their homemade “tent” house, their ability to jump rope, the dogs name, ect. As long as the conversation was 2 to 1 they were very chatty. When one of the other Americans came close they would be shy and giggle again. Just as we were getting ready to leave they decided to put on a “king of the mountain” type show with the clothes line and a pile of sand and rocks. It was all in fun and no one got hurt.
I found out that a girl from college lives just up the street from this house. I may have to visit her one of these weekends and stop by to visit this family again.
The family had two children but the neighbor kids come over to play all the time and a group of Americans can draw a crowd. The kids were all pretty shy until we started taking their pictures and one of the American girls brought out a coloring book. She told one boy to pick a picture he liked and she ripped it out and gave it to him. He looked at her in shock, so I am gathering that ripping a page is definitely a no-no here. I was looking at some of the flowers in the yard when a couple of girls about 7 years old decided it was safe to talk to me. I found out about who lived in each house, their homemade “tent” house, their ability to jump rope, the dogs name, ect. As long as the conversation was 2 to 1 they were very chatty. When one of the other Americans came close they would be shy and giggle again. Just as we were getting ready to leave they decided to put on a “king of the mountain” type show with the clothes line and a pile of sand and rocks. It was all in fun and no one got hurt.
I found out that a girl from college lives just up the street from this house. I may have to visit her one of these weekends and stop by to visit this family again.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Pictures will be added.
Now I have some entries!! The pictures have to be downloaded onto my jump drive and brought to campus to post. Hopefully I will get that done tomorrow.
Americans!!!! Appreciate the internet convenience you have. Appreciate ALL the conveniences; you would miss them if they disappeared suddenly and reappeared when they wanted to.
Americans!!!! Appreciate the internet convenience you have. Appreciate ALL the conveniences; you would miss them if they disappeared suddenly and reappeared when they wanted to.
Time is flying by me.
Thursday I found out that we have been here for 6 weeks. Wow!!!! It does not feel like it and I have to get serious on my classes. I have nothing done for my online classes back to WSC. I started different papers, but have not finished them. Problems with the internet and the partiers just put me in a frustrated mood and I stopped on my work.
I have talked to the exchange student coordinator about the situation here. She told me it would cost extra to get a private cabana or I could confront the girls about the noise on our deck. I had already thought about those options and also maybe switching with one of the partiers that is rooming with a quiet girl. I was told that the ones on a certain program had to room together, so that ended that solution. Basically I was told it was up to me to solve the problem. Then I talked to the owner of the resort to see if I could pay the extra for a single cabana. She looked at her reservations and there are only a few days that one is open for the rest of our time here. I am not going to confront the group because it is about 10 to 1, my roommate being one of them, and I am already treated as a boring old stick in the mud.
I wonder some days if they consider anyone other than themselves. They have totally alienated themselves from the group in town and the Belizean students. I overheard them at school complaining about the other students not talking to them and not knowing why. One of the guys in our group gave them a hint by jokingly calling them the “gossip girls”, which made them mad. He said, “Well you sit on the porch and talk about everybody.”
I have been using my spare time looking for another option. By talking to Belizean students, I have found out about different places that rent rooms to students. I looked at a cabana that rents for $550 (Belize dollars) a month. It has a TV, AC, and a ceiling fan. It is cute, in a quiet area, and close to a grocery store and the bus route. I looked at another “apartment” that does not have AC or a TV, but it has a microwave and table and chairs. It is located downtown, which means it is close to an internet café, grocery store, restaurants, and the bus stop. It rents for $400 (Belize) a month and the family lives right upstairs. I am leaning towards the apartment because of the access to the internet. The cabana would cost about the same as how much more I would have to pay for a single cabana here, if there was one available. The end of the month is approaching so I have to make up my mind this week. I will blog more about it later.
I have talked to the exchange student coordinator about the situation here. She told me it would cost extra to get a private cabana or I could confront the girls about the noise on our deck. I had already thought about those options and also maybe switching with one of the partiers that is rooming with a quiet girl. I was told that the ones on a certain program had to room together, so that ended that solution. Basically I was told it was up to me to solve the problem. Then I talked to the owner of the resort to see if I could pay the extra for a single cabana. She looked at her reservations and there are only a few days that one is open for the rest of our time here. I am not going to confront the group because it is about 10 to 1, my roommate being one of them, and I am already treated as a boring old stick in the mud.
I wonder some days if they consider anyone other than themselves. They have totally alienated themselves from the group in town and the Belizean students. I overheard them at school complaining about the other students not talking to them and not knowing why. One of the guys in our group gave them a hint by jokingly calling them the “gossip girls”, which made them mad. He said, “Well you sit on the porch and talk about everybody.”
I have been using my spare time looking for another option. By talking to Belizean students, I have found out about different places that rent rooms to students. I looked at a cabana that rents for $550 (Belize dollars) a month. It has a TV, AC, and a ceiling fan. It is cute, in a quiet area, and close to a grocery store and the bus route. I looked at another “apartment” that does not have AC or a TV, but it has a microwave and table and chairs. It is located downtown, which means it is close to an internet café, grocery store, restaurants, and the bus stop. It rents for $400 (Belize) a month and the family lives right upstairs. I am leaning towards the apartment because of the access to the internet. The cabana would cost about the same as how much more I would have to pay for a single cabana here, if there was one available. The end of the month is approaching so I have to make up my mind this week. I will blog more about it later.
Variety of Resort Guests
I have been meeting the short term guest here at the resort. The Americans are very curious about why the other Americans are here. I am just like them; It is great to find out where they are from, where they have been, and what made them decide on Belize.
One family was from New York State. The three of them take a short trip to a different country each year. The teenage daughter is more mature than most American teens and really enjoyed the trips they were taking to the maya ruins. I enjoyed visiting with them, too bad they were only here for a weekend.
One group is four ladies that are related to a rotary scholar who is living in San Ignacio. They are from New Mexico and staying for three weeks. They are fun to talk to, but they are keeping busy getting to know the town and visiting the local sites. The student is going to Galen University so I may have to ask her about how she got a rotary scholarship. Maybe I will apply for one. It depends on the criteria.
I have met some couples from Ireland, England, Australia, and Germany. While they are very nice people, they are more reserved than Americans. Maybe it has more to do with age because a group of college students from Canada were very out going. They could hold a conversation on a wide variety of subjects. Also they were mature than half of the Americans students here. Meeting all of these people from other countries has me pondering the differences in the maturing process in different cultures.
I may not come up with the answers, but my ponderings will keep my mind busy. Why is it that the more I learn, the more questions I have? Anyone have the answer to that one?
One family was from New York State. The three of them take a short trip to a different country each year. The teenage daughter is more mature than most American teens and really enjoyed the trips they were taking to the maya ruins. I enjoyed visiting with them, too bad they were only here for a weekend.
One group is four ladies that are related to a rotary scholar who is living in San Ignacio. They are from New Mexico and staying for three weeks. They are fun to talk to, but they are keeping busy getting to know the town and visiting the local sites. The student is going to Galen University so I may have to ask her about how she got a rotary scholarship. Maybe I will apply for one. It depends on the criteria.
I have met some couples from Ireland, England, Australia, and Germany. While they are very nice people, they are more reserved than Americans. Maybe it has more to do with age because a group of college students from Canada were very out going. They could hold a conversation on a wide variety of subjects. Also they were mature than half of the Americans students here. Meeting all of these people from other countries has me pondering the differences in the maturing process in different cultures.
I may not come up with the answers, but my ponderings will keep my mind busy. Why is it that the more I learn, the more questions I have? Anyone have the answer to that one?
CBS
The Community Baboon Sanctuary was one of the most interesting places I have been to. It is a voluntary community effort and supported totally on donations and sales of homemade items such as cashew wine. It was started by the area farmers leaving a strip of forestation around the edge of their farms for the wildlife. Specifically the Black Howler Monkey, which is an endangered species. Black Howler Monkeys are called Baboon in Creole, hence the name of the area. Volunteers make and repair rope bridges for the monkey to use to cross open areas. If they are on the ground stray dogs will catch them and kill them.
Yes, I did buy a bottle of wine even after I had a bottle cap full of it as a taste test. It is what you would call sipping wine. It is pretty bitter and strong. I do not think anyone could handle more than a glass of it in 24 hours.
The guide showed us a cashew tree and explained the process to get the nuts. First step, after they have been picked, is to roast them for a few hours IN a fire pit. The shells catch fire, so when they are scooped out they continue to burn and have to be put out and cooled. Then each one has to be cracked open individually with a hammer. The process is not over yet! There is an inner shell that has to be roasted in an oven for two more hours and then opened. It sounded like this time the shell came off easier. The nut inside is what we buy at the stores. NOW I know why they are so expensive. The lady selling the cashews and wine told me that it was an all day process to get a bucket full of nuts. She did not specify how big the bucket was, but she also said that she would not do it without at least a week in between sessions.
As we walked through the jungle, the guide pointed out medicinal plants, vines that are braided to make rope, termite hives (edible), and leaves that have various uses like toilet paper or sandpaper. The leaves looked almost identical, but the one felt like fine grain sandpaper and were used to clean fish. I definitely would not want to confuse the two!!
Yes I did say termite hives are edible. Two guys in the group tried it after the guide ate some. They said it tasted like green peppers. I just took their word for it.
One of the guides found a family of monkeys and they did come down to meet us. We had bananas!!! A guide had brought it along in case we could get close to them. I did not get to pet one, but he put his hands on each side of mine while he ate the piece of banana on my palm. One mom wanted nothing to do with us and kept going higher up the tree. I did get their picture, but it may take some work to get it to where you can see the baby.
There is a building which has information on why and how the sanctuary was started, other wildlife in the area, and of course a souvenir store. The tour ended with a meal provided by the village women’s group. We were fed split-pea soup, fresh vegetable salad, seasoned chicken (similar to BBQ), brownies and lime juice. Of course it was all homemade and delicious!!!
On the way out of the area, we stopped to visit two subsistence farmers. The first one showed us how he processes rice for the family. He grows it in a marshy area, harvests it, and then has to beat the branches on the ground to get the rice to fall off. It is collected, cooked (not sure how), and put on corrugated metal in the sun to dry. If it rains they have to move it to shelter and put it back out later. After drying (time varies), the rice is put into a bag and moved to the grinding area. He had a 4 foot tall stump with a bowl carved in the top. Some rice is put in there and pounded with a big pole until the shells come off. If there is no breeze to blow away the shells it is then put into a pan and shook to get them out. The chickens loved this part. The grinding part takes all day to process enough for a weeks worth of rice for the family.
The second farmer was making cooking oil from cohunuts. (I think that is spelled right.) The cohunuts are roasted, shells cracked with a hammer, the nuts ground (like the rice), and then cooked in a big pan of water. The oil from the nuts come to the top and is scooped off and bottled. He showed us a bottle with a days worth of work. A picture of the bottle is on the side.
Yes, I did buy a bottle of wine even after I had a bottle cap full of it as a taste test. It is what you would call sipping wine. It is pretty bitter and strong. I do not think anyone could handle more than a glass of it in 24 hours.
The guide showed us a cashew tree and explained the process to get the nuts. First step, after they have been picked, is to roast them for a few hours IN a fire pit. The shells catch fire, so when they are scooped out they continue to burn and have to be put out and cooled. Then each one has to be cracked open individually with a hammer. The process is not over yet! There is an inner shell that has to be roasted in an oven for two more hours and then opened. It sounded like this time the shell came off easier. The nut inside is what we buy at the stores. NOW I know why they are so expensive. The lady selling the cashews and wine told me that it was an all day process to get a bucket full of nuts. She did not specify how big the bucket was, but she also said that she would not do it without at least a week in between sessions.
As we walked through the jungle, the guide pointed out medicinal plants, vines that are braided to make rope, termite hives (edible), and leaves that have various uses like toilet paper or sandpaper. The leaves looked almost identical, but the one felt like fine grain sandpaper and were used to clean fish. I definitely would not want to confuse the two!!
Yes I did say termite hives are edible. Two guys in the group tried it after the guide ate some. They said it tasted like green peppers. I just took their word for it.
One of the guides found a family of monkeys and they did come down to meet us. We had bananas!!! A guide had brought it along in case we could get close to them. I did not get to pet one, but he put his hands on each side of mine while he ate the piece of banana on my palm. One mom wanted nothing to do with us and kept going higher up the tree. I did get their picture, but it may take some work to get it to where you can see the baby.
There is a building which has information on why and how the sanctuary was started, other wildlife in the area, and of course a souvenir store. The tour ended with a meal provided by the village women’s group. We were fed split-pea soup, fresh vegetable salad, seasoned chicken (similar to BBQ), brownies and lime juice. Of course it was all homemade and delicious!!!
On the way out of the area, we stopped to visit two subsistence farmers. The first one showed us how he processes rice for the family. He grows it in a marshy area, harvests it, and then has to beat the branches on the ground to get the rice to fall off. It is collected, cooked (not sure how), and put on corrugated metal in the sun to dry. If it rains they have to move it to shelter and put it back out later. After drying (time varies), the rice is put into a bag and moved to the grinding area. He had a 4 foot tall stump with a bowl carved in the top. Some rice is put in there and pounded with a big pole until the shells come off. If there is no breeze to blow away the shells it is then put into a pan and shook to get them out. The chickens loved this part. The grinding part takes all day to process enough for a weeks worth of rice for the family.
The second farmer was making cooking oil from cohunuts. (I think that is spelled right.) The cohunuts are roasted, shells cracked with a hammer, the nuts ground (like the rice), and then cooked in a big pan of water. The oil from the nuts come to the top and is scooped off and bottled. He showed us a bottle with a days worth of work. A picture of the bottle is on the side.
Time to catch up!!!
It has been a long time since I have blogged. One of my nieces sent an email pointing out this fact. Thank you for the reminder Squirrel.
It has been a very busy time with college classes, field trips, writing lesson material and teaching ESL. This lack of time has been complicated by the undependable internet and the partying college kids in the group. You will probably notice that quite a few posts have the same date.
It has been a very busy time with college classes, field trips, writing lesson material and teaching ESL. This lack of time has been complicated by the undependable internet and the partying college kids in the group. You will probably notice that quite a few posts have the same date.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
INTERNET PROBLEMS
Sorry!! I will have to post the pictures at another time because the wireless internet is slower than molasses in January. I am the only one on it and it still has been 20 minutes of trying to post one picture. The signal is strong, so that is not the issue. Imagine 20 students, some working on projects at the home campus, and not being able to get anything done. The atmosphere is getting a little touchy here.
South Water Caye
Last Saturday morning, bright and early, the group headed out for a weekend field trip. After a two hour bus ride, we arrived at Dangriga and climbed aboard a boat for another half hour ride on the ocean. The boat ride was the first of several firsts for me. I had seen an ocean before, but had never been on it and out of sight of land. Actually if you looked hard enough, there was a faint image. It gave this non-swimmer a bit of an uneasy feeling. Hitting the waves and catching some air was a bit bumpy, but no one got seasick. The two man crew showed no signs of anything being out of the ordinary, which was comforting. We went past a couple of islands and the unusual sight of trees growing in the middle of the ocean. I found out later about mangroves, since South Water Caye has them.
We were greeted at the dock by the lady that owns the resort. She gave us a little history of how she came to the island and how the school (college marine science) was started on the island. She had taken a summer job while teaching high school science. She liked the job so well that she did it for three years, met the man building the school, married him, and stayed. The island is one of the few that are privately owned. South Water Caye was first discovered by pirates and used for R&R when needed. I am guessing that they were British, since Belize history says that the French could not keep British pirates and squatters out of the area. I won’t go into the whole history, but it is interesting to see how British Honduras came to be.
There was snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, volleyball, fishing, sunbathing, relaxing, and a five minute ride in a little boat to the nearby island. This tiny island is Carrie Bow Island, a Smithsonian science research lab. We got a tour of the island and its history from the volunteer “overseer”. Originally the island was approximately two acres, but now it has eroded to .6 acre. That is another subject I can not expound on here. If you are curious, you’ll have to look it up.
In this trip my firsts, along with the boat ride, included:
1. being able to see the ocean in all directions
2. eating rice cooked in coconut milk and fish – and liking them!
3. petting a Pelican – he had to be caught and moved away from where a guy was cleaning fish for supper because he was trying to steal it.
4. actually being in the ocean – just piddling around; I can’t swim.
It was a once in a lifetime trip for me, but I was ready to get back to solid land by Sunday noon. If you need a break from a life of rushing, I would suggest this little island. It is so peaceful and interesting. I have put some of my pictures on the side.
We were greeted at the dock by the lady that owns the resort. She gave us a little history of how she came to the island and how the school (college marine science) was started on the island. She had taken a summer job while teaching high school science. She liked the job so well that she did it for three years, met the man building the school, married him, and stayed. The island is one of the few that are privately owned. South Water Caye was first discovered by pirates and used for R&R when needed. I am guessing that they were British, since Belize history says that the French could not keep British pirates and squatters out of the area. I won’t go into the whole history, but it is interesting to see how British Honduras came to be.
There was snorkeling, kayaking, swimming, volleyball, fishing, sunbathing, relaxing, and a five minute ride in a little boat to the nearby island. This tiny island is Carrie Bow Island, a Smithsonian science research lab. We got a tour of the island and its history from the volunteer “overseer”. Originally the island was approximately two acres, but now it has eroded to .6 acre. That is another subject I can not expound on here. If you are curious, you’ll have to look it up.
In this trip my firsts, along with the boat ride, included:
1. being able to see the ocean in all directions
2. eating rice cooked in coconut milk and fish – and liking them!
3. petting a Pelican – he had to be caught and moved away from where a guy was cleaning fish for supper because he was trying to steal it.
4. actually being in the ocean – just piddling around; I can’t swim.
It was a once in a lifetime trip for me, but I was ready to get back to solid land by Sunday noon. If you need a break from a life of rushing, I would suggest this little island. It is so peaceful and interesting. I have put some of my pictures on the side.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Feeding My Curiosity
Being in a new culture has my curiosity going a hundred miles an hour. That means I am asking questions of the staff at college, the owners of this resort, and talking to others on the campus bus. So far I have found an interesting preschool on the bus route which happens to be run by the resort owner’s aunt. I am now volunteering there one afternoon a week helping the ones that are just learning English. They need it in order to advance in the English speaking school system. Miss Juanita, the owner, is setting up activities for me, and two other exchange students, to do with the children. The two students heard me talking about what I was doing and asked if they could help too. Miss Juanita was glad to hear and said she could use anyone that wants to work in the afternoon.
I knew that the Peace Corps had workers in Belize. By talking to an American girl on the bus I have now made contact with a lady who is working here at the Department of Education. My plan was just to get a first hand account of what it was like to be in the Peace Corps. Maybe the fact that she is in Education is a sign. We have only emailed each other, but have set a date to meet at a local café to talk. She sounds like she is really looking forward to meeting with me.
Next I will work on feeding my curiosity about the school system here. I have heard that there is no teachers’ college here. I only have that from one source so I am not taking that as fact yet. The elementary and high school is set up on the British system. Makes sense, doesn’t it! The British have only been out of Belize since the 1980’s. When I get into the schools doing my ESL Practicum, I will learn much more. Also I am joining a group trip to visit a Mennonite school. The purpose is to see how different cultures affect the schools.
Who knows what other subjects will stir up questions. If you have any thoughts that could be interesting, leave a comment. I just may grab on to it and do some digging.
I knew that the Peace Corps had workers in Belize. By talking to an American girl on the bus I have now made contact with a lady who is working here at the Department of Education. My plan was just to get a first hand account of what it was like to be in the Peace Corps. Maybe the fact that she is in Education is a sign. We have only emailed each other, but have set a date to meet at a local café to talk. She sounds like she is really looking forward to meeting with me.
Next I will work on feeding my curiosity about the school system here. I have heard that there is no teachers’ college here. I only have that from one source so I am not taking that as fact yet. The elementary and high school is set up on the British system. Makes sense, doesn’t it! The British have only been out of Belize since the 1980’s. When I get into the schools doing my ESL Practicum, I will learn much more. Also I am joining a group trip to visit a Mennonite school. The purpose is to see how different cultures affect the schools.
Who knows what other subjects will stir up questions. If you have any thoughts that could be interesting, leave a comment. I just may grab on to it and do some digging.
The People I’ve Met
I had been told by a lady at the college that the people of Belize are quiet and reserved, but friendly. They said we would have to start the conversations. As I am walking around San Ignacio, getting to know where everything is located, I am finding out that the description needs a little adjustment. I have been approached by at least 3 people each time I go out. I have not been the one to initiate the conversation. I won’t write about each one, but here are some of the interesting ones.
I have been approached by two different people who spoke high speed Spanish. It would not have mattered if they slowed down; I only speak English so far. One was a little guy that saw I had a cigarette and wanted to bum one. When I let him know I no habla espanol, he said some words in English and went right back to Spanish. I gathered it was a good story from all the smiling, waving of his hands, and moving around. I was polite and smiled and nodded – and ended up giving him a cigarette. The other one was a skinny older lady carrying a toddler. She didn’t understand when I tried to explain that I didn’t speak Spanish. She walked along with me for a while; talking the whole time. The only thing I understood was comida (food). I just said sorry and shook my head. I have since learned the name of the organization to refer them to if food is the issue.
The local taxi drivers are always asking if you need a ride, but one just wanted to talk while I was waiting at the bus stop. He is a pretty nice little guy and I will probably chat with him more since he is parked in that area. I may be able to find out quite a bit about the area.
One lady in her forties approached me to talk about my see-through book bag. As she walked up to me she laughed and said she liked my scandal bag. I hadn’t known that they were called that. She said she was an artist from Canada and had done an exhibition using the scandal bags filled with things that people would not want others to see them carrying. We didn’t talk long enough for me to find out if she had a “studio” in this area.
I have even been approached by a guy in his mid-twenties (with dread locks). I think he was just bored because he just asked about how I was doing and how I used my leisure time. I talked to him for a while and asked him questions. He answered questions easily; not that I believe everything he said.
This is just a sample, but it shows that people are not as reserved as I was led to believe. I will agree that they are friendly and are quiet in the respect that they do not speak loudly or yell.
I have been approached by two different people who spoke high speed Spanish. It would not have mattered if they slowed down; I only speak English so far. One was a little guy that saw I had a cigarette and wanted to bum one. When I let him know I no habla espanol, he said some words in English and went right back to Spanish. I gathered it was a good story from all the smiling, waving of his hands, and moving around. I was polite and smiled and nodded – and ended up giving him a cigarette. The other one was a skinny older lady carrying a toddler. She didn’t understand when I tried to explain that I didn’t speak Spanish. She walked along with me for a while; talking the whole time. The only thing I understood was comida (food). I just said sorry and shook my head. I have since learned the name of the organization to refer them to if food is the issue.
The local taxi drivers are always asking if you need a ride, but one just wanted to talk while I was waiting at the bus stop. He is a pretty nice little guy and I will probably chat with him more since he is parked in that area. I may be able to find out quite a bit about the area.
One lady in her forties approached me to talk about my see-through book bag. As she walked up to me she laughed and said she liked my scandal bag. I hadn’t known that they were called that. She said she was an artist from Canada and had done an exhibition using the scandal bags filled with things that people would not want others to see them carrying. We didn’t talk long enough for me to find out if she had a “studio” in this area.
I have even been approached by a guy in his mid-twenties (with dread locks). I think he was just bored because he just asked about how I was doing and how I used my leisure time. I talked to him for a while and asked him questions. He answered questions easily; not that I believe everything he said.
This is just a sample, but it shows that people are not as reserved as I was led to believe. I will agree that they are friendly and are quiet in the respect that they do not speak loudly or yell.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
First Days in Country
It has now been 10 days since landing in Belize City. My brain is still reeling from all of the uniqueness and information. Of course that includes starting school on Monday. I hope they give a little allowance for the brain overload. I am having a hard time getting into any kind of routine.
Friday and Saturday were full of orientation activities. Friday we went to campus and they introduced us to the professors and some Belizean students that are to be the mentors. Our laptops were configured to connect with the campus and last minute changes were done to some of the class schedules. One instructor recruited for the yearly Ruta Maya, which is a four day canoe race down the river. I decided to join, not as a paddler, but as ground crew. We are responsible for food, minor medical issues, and entertainment at the end of each day. After the meeting I met with the instructor that will be coordinating my ESL Practicum here in Belize. Dr. Penados wanted to meet with me to get an idea of what I was expecting and form ideas on where and how I will be integrated into different schools. He mentioned his class, Education and Society, which meets on Saturdays. I picked up that class since it sounded interesting and is full of current and future Belizean teachers. The credits will not transfer back to WSC, but it is not an additional cost and it will be a great source of first hand knowledge for my Junior Honors paper.
Saturday we were taken downtown to the weekend market and then to the Xunantunich ruins. Of course it was a hot, humid day which we Northerners were not used to. But there was very little complaining; we remembered the cold and snow we had left in the states. The site is very peaceful and beautiful. From the top of the king’s building you have a view of Guatemala and if you are lucky you will see monkeys in the trees around the site. The guide said the monkeys move back farther from the site if there are too many people. A few of the girls did see a couple monkeys. I will go back when I can look and move around at a more leisurely pace. We have been told not to go alone because of the border squabble with Guatemala. I guess rebels cause trouble once in a while, but there are some Belize troops of some kind at the site. To top off the day we ate at a local restaurant that could actually hold all of us and got a lesson in how the bus system works.
Sunday was cleared for relaxing by the pool, putting our clothes away, walking into town to explore and a lunch with some Belizean students. I walked into town early and found some boys playing basketball. I sat and watched them for a little while before one of them came over to talk. They were very curious about the strange white lady. It was a great conversation about basketball, school, girls, languages, families, friendship, etc. I told them I was an American teacher and might visit their school. Also I wanted to know if I started a school in the park, would they come. They all said yes, but I don’t believe them. I asked if I could take their picture since they were my first Belizean friends. They were more than willing and had a good laugh at their pictures. The oldest one is 14 and out of school; no money for high school. The youngest one I would guess is 10, but I have found that they are older than they look. They are shown on the side.
Friday and Saturday were full of orientation activities. Friday we went to campus and they introduced us to the professors and some Belizean students that are to be the mentors. Our laptops were configured to connect with the campus and last minute changes were done to some of the class schedules. One instructor recruited for the yearly Ruta Maya, which is a four day canoe race down the river. I decided to join, not as a paddler, but as ground crew. We are responsible for food, minor medical issues, and entertainment at the end of each day. After the meeting I met with the instructor that will be coordinating my ESL Practicum here in Belize. Dr. Penados wanted to meet with me to get an idea of what I was expecting and form ideas on where and how I will be integrated into different schools. He mentioned his class, Education and Society, which meets on Saturdays. I picked up that class since it sounded interesting and is full of current and future Belizean teachers. The credits will not transfer back to WSC, but it is not an additional cost and it will be a great source of first hand knowledge for my Junior Honors paper.
Saturday we were taken downtown to the weekend market and then to the Xunantunich ruins. Of course it was a hot, humid day which we Northerners were not used to. But there was very little complaining; we remembered the cold and snow we had left in the states. The site is very peaceful and beautiful. From the top of the king’s building you have a view of Guatemala and if you are lucky you will see monkeys in the trees around the site. The guide said the monkeys move back farther from the site if there are too many people. A few of the girls did see a couple monkeys. I will go back when I can look and move around at a more leisurely pace. We have been told not to go alone because of the border squabble with Guatemala. I guess rebels cause trouble once in a while, but there are some Belize troops of some kind at the site. To top off the day we ate at a local restaurant that could actually hold all of us and got a lesson in how the bus system works.
Sunday was cleared for relaxing by the pool, putting our clothes away, walking into town to explore and a lunch with some Belizean students. I walked into town early and found some boys playing basketball. I sat and watched them for a little while before one of them came over to talk. They were very curious about the strange white lady. It was a great conversation about basketball, school, girls, languages, families, friendship, etc. I told them I was an American teacher and might visit their school. Also I wanted to know if I started a school in the park, would they come. They all said yes, but I don’t believe them. I asked if I could take their picture since they were my first Belizean friends. They were more than willing and had a good laugh at their pictures. The oldest one is 14 and out of school; no money for high school. The youngest one I would guess is 10, but I have found that they are older than they look. They are shown on the side.
Friday, January 16, 2009
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I was told ahead of time that the airport was small, but I honestly did not expect it to be as small as it was. Of course they do not have the traffic that U.S. airports have and it doesn't need to be massive. I did not see the one story, long building until we disembarked from both front and back doors. The humidity hit me as we came down the steps into the open air. There were four lines to go through security, which didn't take long even with answering questions like why are you in Belize and where are you staying. After getting our luggage from the only luggage belt, we went through customs, which was also fast. I like the small airports because the whole process takes less than ten minutes. You can't say that about Omaha or Chicago.
The college had sent a van with a small uhaul type trailer to pick us up. I was on the first flight in and we did wait until about 3 for other students. During that time I did whip out my sunglasses, get a bottle of water, and put my light jacket in the luggage trailer. Thank goodness I switched from my heavy jacket to the light one in Omaha and asked Brenda to keep it till I come back. I am not complaining about the heat and humidity. Not after freezing in Nebraska. It was like walking into instant summer and I am loving it.
The ride from Belize City to San Ignacio took two hours. The van did have an airconditioner up by the driver (where I was) but it was only enough to keep the temperature bearable in a completely full van. There were close to twenty of us. The major road is paved, two lane, and highly traveled by everything from pedestrians to semi's. That includes the horse and buggy of the Mennonites. After watching all of this action, I understand why they say you should not drive unless you are used to the local driving habits. Walking is the best option for short distances and safest to face the traffic.
The view after Belize City alternated between small villages full of pedestrians, dogs lounging, and clothes on the line to orchards or tropical trees and plants with occasional hills in the distance. My first thought was one of living simply. I have since been told that many people see only poverty. This is insulting to the people here because they do not feel poor if they can pay for their children to go to school and offer food to any and all visitors. The value system is different here.
For this exchange program the students are lodged in a log cabin resort. As we pulled in I was impressed because of the tropical colors and the natural setting. We can still hear the traffic on the highway, but do not see it. The rooms are all simple, but include a shower, apartment refridgerator, wood floors, and yellow walls with a local style painting. I personally dislike yellow, but it fits in the tropical scheme of things so I will handle it. The owners are the third generation in their family to run Log Cab Inns and are fluent in English, Spanish, and maybe other languages. They are very nice people and help with any questions about the local area.
Galen University, where I am attending classes, is very small by U.S. standards and things are quite a bit different than what I am used to. There are only three buildings with a total of five classrooms, a computer lab, a library, and a little cafe. They do have courses from 8:30am to 8:30 pm and the student body is active in the community. There is no way to miss class without the instructor noticing; most have 8 to 15 students. Of course the place is surrounded by an orchard and plenty of folage. In a short time everyone will be acquainted.
There are restaurants and stores in town, but no sign of any kind of chain store. The owners or workers often lounge just inside the doorways till a customer comes in. I wonder if they will be able to keep the giants out as they grow as a country. It would be a shame to ruin this way of life by bringing in outside standards.
Overall, I would say this is the perfect place to slow down life and be introspective.
The college had sent a van with a small uhaul type trailer to pick us up. I was on the first flight in and we did wait until about 3 for other students. During that time I did whip out my sunglasses, get a bottle of water, and put my light jacket in the luggage trailer. Thank goodness I switched from my heavy jacket to the light one in Omaha and asked Brenda to keep it till I come back. I am not complaining about the heat and humidity. Not after freezing in Nebraska. It was like walking into instant summer and I am loving it.
The ride from Belize City to San Ignacio took two hours. The van did have an airconditioner up by the driver (where I was) but it was only enough to keep the temperature bearable in a completely full van. There were close to twenty of us. The major road is paved, two lane, and highly traveled by everything from pedestrians to semi's. That includes the horse and buggy of the Mennonites. After watching all of this action, I understand why they say you should not drive unless you are used to the local driving habits. Walking is the best option for short distances and safest to face the traffic.
The view after Belize City alternated between small villages full of pedestrians, dogs lounging, and clothes on the line to orchards or tropical trees and plants with occasional hills in the distance. My first thought was one of living simply. I have since been told that many people see only poverty. This is insulting to the people here because they do not feel poor if they can pay for their children to go to school and offer food to any and all visitors. The value system is different here.
For this exchange program the students are lodged in a log cabin resort. As we pulled in I was impressed because of the tropical colors and the natural setting. We can still hear the traffic on the highway, but do not see it. The rooms are all simple, but include a shower, apartment refridgerator, wood floors, and yellow walls with a local style painting. I personally dislike yellow, but it fits in the tropical scheme of things so I will handle it. The owners are the third generation in their family to run Log Cab Inns and are fluent in English, Spanish, and maybe other languages. They are very nice people and help with any questions about the local area.
Galen University, where I am attending classes, is very small by U.S. standards and things are quite a bit different than what I am used to. There are only three buildings with a total of five classrooms, a computer lab, a library, and a little cafe. They do have courses from 8:30am to 8:30 pm and the student body is active in the community. There is no way to miss class without the instructor noticing; most have 8 to 15 students. Of course the place is surrounded by an orchard and plenty of folage. In a short time everyone will be acquainted.
There are restaurants and stores in town, but no sign of any kind of chain store. The owners or workers often lounge just inside the doorways till a customer comes in. I wonder if they will be able to keep the giants out as they grow as a country. It would be a shame to ruin this way of life by bringing in outside standards.
Overall, I would say this is the perfect place to slow down life and be introspective.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Struggle To Get Here
This adventure started by reading the Go Abroad newsletter on the internet which sparked a tiny flame of interest that turned into a forest fire. I have always thought about traveling and learning Spanish; Belize filled the bill. It took a whole semester to check out the program and figure out how to afford it financially. Luckily I found out about the Gilman Scholarship and applied for it. I didn't have much hope since the competition was fierce, but I went for it and----GOT IT!!!!! Without the scholarship I would not be here.
During the long process of paperwork for Gilman, Galen University, my home college (WSC), insurance, etc, and figuring out how to manage things at home, I went on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It would look like all was going smoothly, then suddenly a problem would send me down a slope in panic. The closer it got to being a reality, the worse the ride got. A few times it almost made me sick. It finally became a reality as I boarded the plane. Before that I knew something could go wrong and my dream would disappear. But it didn't, and here I am in Belize!!!
This blog will be my journal. I hope you enjoy it and maybe it will spark a little fire of wanderlust in a few of you. Some days I will be long winded and others days I may only write a little. It depends on the school work and my wandering around the country.
During the long process of paperwork for Gilman, Galen University, my home college (WSC), insurance, etc, and figuring out how to manage things at home, I went on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It would look like all was going smoothly, then suddenly a problem would send me down a slope in panic. The closer it got to being a reality, the worse the ride got. A few times it almost made me sick. It finally became a reality as I boarded the plane. Before that I knew something could go wrong and my dream would disappear. But it didn't, and here I am in Belize!!!
This blog will be my journal. I hope you enjoy it and maybe it will spark a little fire of wanderlust in a few of you. Some days I will be long winded and others days I may only write a little. It depends on the school work and my wandering around the country.
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