May 29, 2011
Good morning all.
So, here’s the belated big update.
As you all probably know by now, I have received my final assignment and I am going to be working at the District Education Office in Punta Gorda Town (PG) in the Toledo district. I am super excited. I just found this out this past Tuesday.
Punta Gorda is a town of about 5,000 people and it’s right on the Caribbean Sea at the very southern part of Belize. You can see both Guatemala and Honduras from here (for real – not like how Sarah Palin says she can see Russia from her house). People here are very friendly, but there are a fair amount of tourists, so I have to set myself apart and make sure people know I’m a PCV and not just a tourist. I will also have to be flexible when finding housing, as housing is very expensive here and I may get overcharged because the landlord may assume I have money because they think I’m a tourist or because I am white. This is not meant to be racist, this is just the truth. It doesn’t matter what ethnicity you are, if you have an American accent, you’re rich. A Belizian will definitely be house hunting with me.
Also, my mailing address WILL be changing, so that will be announces soon. I can still get mail at the current address, but will have a new one soon as Belmopan is a 5 hour trip away and I will only be there every few months.
On Wednesday we had a few programs at the office and I had to pack my things to be sent to PG. Then on Thursday I got up super early and took the 5 hour trek to PG to meet my counterparts. They are wonderful and I’m really lucky to have such great counterparts.
On Friday I spent some more time with my counterparts and met my new host family. My new house is different from my last, but the family is very loving and kind.
Yesterday I spent the day with one of my counterparts seeing the town, the market on market day and some schools. We also went out to a Garifuna town called Baranco and saw a small museum there. Today I will be visiting some other places TBA with my main counterpart. I’ve got some time until that happens, as schedules change and I must remain flexible. Monday and Tuesday are unknown and I head back to Belmopan for my final 10 days on Wednesday morning.
That’s all I’ve got for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Keep writing me (I still like letters). Love you all. Until next time…
Peace Out.
Band of the Week – The Cranberries
Currently Reading – Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
Books and Movies List
As I mentioned a few times before, I am posting my books read and movies watched list. I am not listing anything I've read more than once, more than once, same goes for movies. I will update again in a few months.
I hope you all enjoy it. Also, please don't judge the movies. Sometimes you just watch what you've got.
Books I’ve Read:
1) The Sex Lives of Cannibals by Maarten Troost
2) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
3) Wicked by Gregory Maguire
4) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Movies I’ve watched:
1) Megamind
2) Jackass 3D
3) Baby’s Day Out
4) Some lifetime movie about a psycho lady in love with her teacher.
5) Black Swan
6) What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
7) Ann Rule’s Too Late to Say Goodbye
8) Good Hair
9) Showtime
10) Code Monkeys Season 1
11) House Season 1
12) Failure to Launch
13) He’s Just Not That Into You
14) Wanted
15) The Social Network
16) Up (Jesse I wear my Ellie Badge every time I watch this movie and sometime when I’m not watching)
17) My Sisters Keeper
18) The Ugly Truth
I hope you all enjoy it. Also, please don't judge the movies. Sometimes you just watch what you've got.
Books I’ve Read:
1) The Sex Lives of Cannibals by Maarten Troost
2) Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
3) Wicked by Gregory Maguire
4) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Movies I’ve watched:
1) Megamind
2) Jackass 3D
3) Baby’s Day Out
4) Some lifetime movie about a psycho lady in love with her teacher.
5) Black Swan
6) What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
7) Ann Rule’s Too Late to Say Goodbye
8) Good Hair
9) Showtime
10) Code Monkeys Season 1
11) House Season 1
12) Failure to Launch
13) He’s Just Not That Into You
14) Wanted
15) The Social Network
16) Up (Jesse I wear my Ellie Badge every time I watch this movie and sometime when I’m not watching)
17) My Sisters Keeper
18) The Ugly Truth
My awesome week (thus far)
May 19, 2011
I’m happy to announce I’ve had a wonderful week since Sunday. Hopefully this update doesn’t jinx it.
Sunday the family had a really awesome BBQ at the house and the food was delicious. I ate a ton, but consider my severe lack of appetite lately due to the wonderful (not sarcastic) heat, a good splurge was needed.
Monday was back to class. The morning was Kriol lessons, the afternoon I had to do a presentation for an 8th grade class with a fellow volunteer Steve. We taught the HFLE (Health and Family Life Education) class regarding the topic of managing difficult situations. Typically the class isn’t very participatory or even responsive. I’m not sure if it was because they didn’t have class that morning because their teacher showed up, or because we held class outside, or maybe if it was just us, but they were wonderful. They participated, asked questions, and really seemed to listen. One class member asked us about the Peace Corps as a whole when we were done and we explained to the class what we’ve been doing at their school and in their community the past 6 weeks. We even got 2 sincere students who said “Thank You”. That right there made up for all the lows I’ve been having and gave me hope that once I get to my final site in a few weeks and start my job, I’ll be having many more of those moments.
Tuesday wasn’t that special, but it was a good day.
Wednesday I had a lot of fun with my Kriol presentation. I had to do an entire presentation in Kriol, it was supposed to be 10 minutes, but it went a little longer. We played Jeopardy and I came up with some fun questions. The rest of the group seemed to have fun too. That afternoon I went to Belmopan to check out some places at the market. I mailed my first package to the U.S., so hopefully in about a month it will get to its destination without any trouble. I also bought a ton of post cards. I have a batch going out on Friday to several friends that I promised mail to, who haven’t gotten any yet. I also have the rest of the letters, postcards and cards addressed and stamped, but not written yet, so batch #3 will go out next week. While in Belmopan, my Kriol was complimented by the man in the post office helping me mail my package as well as the Chairman of my village who I ran into about 20 minutes later. This made me feel really good, because I have been working on it and I do feel really comfortable speaking it, so it was a moment of pride for me and made me feel like all my work is actually worth something.
As a whole, I feel like something just clicked lately and I’m feeling much more at home here in Belize. I still don’t think it’ll truly feel real until I’m in my final placement and am settled in my own place, but Belizian norms aren’t stressing me out like they were and the culture shock is fading mildly and new norms are forming. I’m starting to do something that wasn’t even in my vocabulary back in the U.S. and that would be the word “relax”. I kind of like it too.
Today (Thursday) has been a pretty chill day. It’s crazy hot, so I haven’t gotten much accomplished outside of doing my laundry and getting a pedicure. Hopefully when the sun goes down I’ll be able to knock out a bunch of work that I need to do on one of my final projects.
Tomorrow I’ll get up super early to head to Belmopan for the market. I have to get some ingredients for the side dish I’m making for Saturday’s host family appreciation dinner. Also, I’m going cave tubing on Monday, so hopefully I’ll find some secondhand capris or something. I’ve got tops to wear over my suit, just need some bottoms. Worst comes to worst I’ll wear some really long capris I’ve got. Or maybe some of the packages Christina sent with the rest of my clothes will finally get here, so let’s hope. I’m still afraid they were stolen due to the fact she sent them over a month ago and everyone else’s packages are getting here between 2-3 weeks. I really hope not though.
Some more super good news though, I’m getting my first visitor!!!! He’s not coming until November, but one my awesome friends already booked a flight and is visiting me! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Also, on this upcoming Tuesday, I’ll find out where my final placement is and where I’ll be working the next 2 years. Hopefully, it’s somewhere awesome, and by awesome, I mean a really good fit for me, my personality and skills.
On one last completely random side note; for those of my friends who love to read as much as I do, please, read The Alchemist if you haven’t already. It’s really wonderful and inspirational.
Also, I’ve decided this week deserves a band of the week posting: and it goes to Audioslave.
I’ll post some info on Tuesday once I learn where my site is and where I’ll be working. Kathy and Mom, I’ll just call you.
And one last thing, a big shout out to my sister Peggy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!
I think I’m done now.
Until next time…
Peace Out.
I’m happy to announce I’ve had a wonderful week since Sunday. Hopefully this update doesn’t jinx it.
Sunday the family had a really awesome BBQ at the house and the food was delicious. I ate a ton, but consider my severe lack of appetite lately due to the wonderful (not sarcastic) heat, a good splurge was needed.
Monday was back to class. The morning was Kriol lessons, the afternoon I had to do a presentation for an 8th grade class with a fellow volunteer Steve. We taught the HFLE (Health and Family Life Education) class regarding the topic of managing difficult situations. Typically the class isn’t very participatory or even responsive. I’m not sure if it was because they didn’t have class that morning because their teacher showed up, or because we held class outside, or maybe if it was just us, but they were wonderful. They participated, asked questions, and really seemed to listen. One class member asked us about the Peace Corps as a whole when we were done and we explained to the class what we’ve been doing at their school and in their community the past 6 weeks. We even got 2 sincere students who said “Thank You”. That right there made up for all the lows I’ve been having and gave me hope that once I get to my final site in a few weeks and start my job, I’ll be having many more of those moments.
Tuesday wasn’t that special, but it was a good day.
Wednesday I had a lot of fun with my Kriol presentation. I had to do an entire presentation in Kriol, it was supposed to be 10 minutes, but it went a little longer. We played Jeopardy and I came up with some fun questions. The rest of the group seemed to have fun too. That afternoon I went to Belmopan to check out some places at the market. I mailed my first package to the U.S., so hopefully in about a month it will get to its destination without any trouble. I also bought a ton of post cards. I have a batch going out on Friday to several friends that I promised mail to, who haven’t gotten any yet. I also have the rest of the letters, postcards and cards addressed and stamped, but not written yet, so batch #3 will go out next week. While in Belmopan, my Kriol was complimented by the man in the post office helping me mail my package as well as the Chairman of my village who I ran into about 20 minutes later. This made me feel really good, because I have been working on it and I do feel really comfortable speaking it, so it was a moment of pride for me and made me feel like all my work is actually worth something.
As a whole, I feel like something just clicked lately and I’m feeling much more at home here in Belize. I still don’t think it’ll truly feel real until I’m in my final placement and am settled in my own place, but Belizian norms aren’t stressing me out like they were and the culture shock is fading mildly and new norms are forming. I’m starting to do something that wasn’t even in my vocabulary back in the U.S. and that would be the word “relax”. I kind of like it too.
Today (Thursday) has been a pretty chill day. It’s crazy hot, so I haven’t gotten much accomplished outside of doing my laundry and getting a pedicure. Hopefully when the sun goes down I’ll be able to knock out a bunch of work that I need to do on one of my final projects.
Tomorrow I’ll get up super early to head to Belmopan for the market. I have to get some ingredients for the side dish I’m making for Saturday’s host family appreciation dinner. Also, I’m going cave tubing on Monday, so hopefully I’ll find some secondhand capris or something. I’ve got tops to wear over my suit, just need some bottoms. Worst comes to worst I’ll wear some really long capris I’ve got. Or maybe some of the packages Christina sent with the rest of my clothes will finally get here, so let’s hope. I’m still afraid they were stolen due to the fact she sent them over a month ago and everyone else’s packages are getting here between 2-3 weeks. I really hope not though.
Some more super good news though, I’m getting my first visitor!!!! He’s not coming until November, but one my awesome friends already booked a flight and is visiting me! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Also, on this upcoming Tuesday, I’ll find out where my final placement is and where I’ll be working the next 2 years. Hopefully, it’s somewhere awesome, and by awesome, I mean a really good fit for me, my personality and skills.
On one last completely random side note; for those of my friends who love to read as much as I do, please, read The Alchemist if you haven’t already. It’s really wonderful and inspirational.
Also, I’ve decided this week deserves a band of the week posting: and it goes to Audioslave.
I’ll post some info on Tuesday once I learn where my site is and where I’ll be working. Kathy and Mom, I’ll just call you.
And one last thing, a big shout out to my sister Peggy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!
I think I’m done now.
Until next time…
Peace Out.
To keep this blog or not to keep this blog
Unless I can figure out the privacy preferences, I may have to shut down this blog.
More updates on this later.
More updates on this later.
Sand Flies are pure evil
May 12, 2011
Hello friends and family!
I’ve got a nice long update for you all.
So lots of things have been going on, as usual both positive and negative. I’ll try to do this somewhat chronologically, but we’ll touch on a few main events.
Last I updated we were about to have midway evaluation sessions and getting our volunteer visit assignments. Well, I was able to do both.
The midway training evaluation was fine. Overall I did just fine, it was just stressful because in certain areas I have struggled and it was pointed out strongly again, even though I’ve improved vastly. I just would have liked them to say at least one positive thing instead of only commenting on the negative, because there are far more things I’m doing right than wrong, and that’s not just my opinion, it was reflected in the evaluation. It’s just stressful because I feel like I’m being judged way too harshly sometimes. Different things work for different people and as long as I’m trying my best to get along in this new society, there should be more focus on the positive instead of just negative.
On a positive note, I GOT A GUITAR!!!! Yes, really. I have my very own, almost paid off, used, parlor sized acoustic guitar. I don’t have a tuner, but I’m going to try to find a computer program for that online, that way I can start playing again, which will make me exponentially happy. I am going to post pictures. For those who don’t know, I actually name my guitars, but I’m not sure what to name this one, so I’m taking suggestions. Please post them in the comments section and I’ll pick the one I like best.
On the topic of music, I also found a nice man that works at the market with his wife that has very similar taste in music that I do. He enjoys a lot of classic rock and roll like I do (and I’m hooking him up with some Beatles music), knows who King Crimson and Adrian Belew are and likes the jazz rock (like BRMC and The Black Keys) that I like. I have a feeling I will be stopping by to chat about music with him and his wife every time I go to the market now, and there will be swapping of burned CD’s.
Also, it was confirmed that my Mom got the flowers I sent her for Mother’s Day and loved them, along with the note I sent. That made my week better to know that I made someone smile.
Our classroom in Camalote where we train was broken into a third time in 3 weeks, after we even put new locks on the door. They used a crow bar and stole more things than they have so far, so now we can’t keep nice things there. I also realized tonight that one of those things was my PC issued Kriol dictionary. Hopefully the PC will issue me a new one.
So two Fridays ago we were told where we are going to visit.
So this past weekend I got to go visit a nice fellow PCV in a small rural Q’etchi village down in Toledo called Medina Bank. It was a village of 250 residents with no modern amenities. It was kind of like camping, except with way more sand flies (which are evil by the way). It was a lot different than what I have had lately living with my host family in Camalote, but I enjoyed the fact that it was something new. I learned how to do my laundry in a river, I actually got to go IN a river for the first time (not in a boat), and l learned a little about vegetarian cooking (no meat if you don’t have a fridge). I just wish I could have learned a little more about the PCV experience as a whole, instead of just specific to village life, but I think that will come from talking to all types of volunteers as everyone has a completely unique experience. I definitely had fun and learned a few things. One major thing though, I hope everyone knows that sand flies are PURE evil. Even if you have bug spray on, they will eat you alive. I currently have a whopping 92 bites on my body, most of which are below my knees, but there are many random ones too and they all itch, really badly. I’m going to talk to Nurse Jackie today about further management of my lovely bites and if there’s anything outside Benadryl and Hydrocortisone that I can do.
As soon as I got back from there it was time to get into hyper drive for the Health Fair we’ve been planning in our village, which was taking place the day after it returned. Of course things come up, one of our fellow group members got sick (but he’s better now) so we were a man down, but we held it together and raised almost $50 for the school. We had booths and raffles and I got to face paint the kids. Then the next day I took the bus out to meet the other health group in Succutz and help them at their health fair, but offering face painting as well. I really liked seeing their health fair too as we can always learn from others. Of course, it was a blast. Kids really enjoy face paint and now I know that any health fair I organize in the future must have a face paint booth.
Now I’m down to 12 days left with my host family (that I’ve bonded with a lot over the past 2 weeks) before I move out and learn what my final site assignment is. I’ve got 3 big projects to complete in these last 12 days, another crop of mail to send to those who I haven’t sent to yet, a dinner for my host family and learning some last minute things from my host mom (mainly involving the amazing flour tortillas she makes) and teaching her my Dad’s wonderful pasta sauce recipe, which I brought with me. Stressful? Yes. Worth it? Totally.
Everything else is going well. Training is good and I feel increasingly more comfortable in Kriol. I only speak English half the time I’m here and speak Kriol the rest. I picked it up pretty fast and I find myself wanting to use it more because of how comfortable I am with it. I even decided my favorite word – Macoabi – it actually has 2 meanings. Alone, the word Macoabi means to be lovesick or lovesickness. The phrase Macoabi seed means pumpkin seed. Since I enjoy both of these definitions and think the word sounds cool, I’ve decided, thus far it is my favorite word.
Anyway, I know this was another long update, so hopefully I didn’t put you all to sleep too badly. Thank you for reading. I miss you all dearly.
Until next time…
Peace Out.
Hello friends and family!
I’ve got a nice long update for you all.
So lots of things have been going on, as usual both positive and negative. I’ll try to do this somewhat chronologically, but we’ll touch on a few main events.
Last I updated we were about to have midway evaluation sessions and getting our volunteer visit assignments. Well, I was able to do both.
The midway training evaluation was fine. Overall I did just fine, it was just stressful because in certain areas I have struggled and it was pointed out strongly again, even though I’ve improved vastly. I just would have liked them to say at least one positive thing instead of only commenting on the negative, because there are far more things I’m doing right than wrong, and that’s not just my opinion, it was reflected in the evaluation. It’s just stressful because I feel like I’m being judged way too harshly sometimes. Different things work for different people and as long as I’m trying my best to get along in this new society, there should be more focus on the positive instead of just negative.
On a positive note, I GOT A GUITAR!!!! Yes, really. I have my very own, almost paid off, used, parlor sized acoustic guitar. I don’t have a tuner, but I’m going to try to find a computer program for that online, that way I can start playing again, which will make me exponentially happy. I am going to post pictures. For those who don’t know, I actually name my guitars, but I’m not sure what to name this one, so I’m taking suggestions. Please post them in the comments section and I’ll pick the one I like best.
On the topic of music, I also found a nice man that works at the market with his wife that has very similar taste in music that I do. He enjoys a lot of classic rock and roll like I do (and I’m hooking him up with some Beatles music), knows who King Crimson and Adrian Belew are and likes the jazz rock (like BRMC and The Black Keys) that I like. I have a feeling I will be stopping by to chat about music with him and his wife every time I go to the market now, and there will be swapping of burned CD’s.
Also, it was confirmed that my Mom got the flowers I sent her for Mother’s Day and loved them, along with the note I sent. That made my week better to know that I made someone smile.
Our classroom in Camalote where we train was broken into a third time in 3 weeks, after we even put new locks on the door. They used a crow bar and stole more things than they have so far, so now we can’t keep nice things there. I also realized tonight that one of those things was my PC issued Kriol dictionary. Hopefully the PC will issue me a new one.
So two Fridays ago we were told where we are going to visit.
So this past weekend I got to go visit a nice fellow PCV in a small rural Q’etchi village down in Toledo called Medina Bank. It was a village of 250 residents with no modern amenities. It was kind of like camping, except with way more sand flies (which are evil by the way). It was a lot different than what I have had lately living with my host family in Camalote, but I enjoyed the fact that it was something new. I learned how to do my laundry in a river, I actually got to go IN a river for the first time (not in a boat), and l learned a little about vegetarian cooking (no meat if you don’t have a fridge). I just wish I could have learned a little more about the PCV experience as a whole, instead of just specific to village life, but I think that will come from talking to all types of volunteers as everyone has a completely unique experience. I definitely had fun and learned a few things. One major thing though, I hope everyone knows that sand flies are PURE evil. Even if you have bug spray on, they will eat you alive. I currently have a whopping 92 bites on my body, most of which are below my knees, but there are many random ones too and they all itch, really badly. I’m going to talk to Nurse Jackie today about further management of my lovely bites and if there’s anything outside Benadryl and Hydrocortisone that I can do.
As soon as I got back from there it was time to get into hyper drive for the Health Fair we’ve been planning in our village, which was taking place the day after it returned. Of course things come up, one of our fellow group members got sick (but he’s better now) so we were a man down, but we held it together and raised almost $50 for the school. We had booths and raffles and I got to face paint the kids. Then the next day I took the bus out to meet the other health group in Succutz and help them at their health fair, but offering face painting as well. I really liked seeing their health fair too as we can always learn from others. Of course, it was a blast. Kids really enjoy face paint and now I know that any health fair I organize in the future must have a face paint booth.
Now I’m down to 12 days left with my host family (that I’ve bonded with a lot over the past 2 weeks) before I move out and learn what my final site assignment is. I’ve got 3 big projects to complete in these last 12 days, another crop of mail to send to those who I haven’t sent to yet, a dinner for my host family and learning some last minute things from my host mom (mainly involving the amazing flour tortillas she makes) and teaching her my Dad’s wonderful pasta sauce recipe, which I brought with me. Stressful? Yes. Worth it? Totally.
Everything else is going well. Training is good and I feel increasingly more comfortable in Kriol. I only speak English half the time I’m here and speak Kriol the rest. I picked it up pretty fast and I find myself wanting to use it more because of how comfortable I am with it. I even decided my favorite word – Macoabi – it actually has 2 meanings. Alone, the word Macoabi means to be lovesick or lovesickness. The phrase Macoabi seed means pumpkin seed. Since I enjoy both of these definitions and think the word sounds cool, I’ve decided, thus far it is my favorite word.
Anyway, I know this was another long update, so hopefully I didn’t put you all to sleep too badly. Thank you for reading. I miss you all dearly.
Until next time…
Peace Out.
About Me
- S. Wanderlust
- I'm Stephanie, a 26 year old Social Worker who got bitten by the travel bug at a young age. My innate need to see the world and philanthropic ways have led me to become a Peace Corps volunteer leaving for Belize in March 2011 as a Youth HIV/AIDS Facilitator.
S. Wanderlust
Posts
All Comments