A serious case of the Mondays

Its been a while...but thankfully, I have another lovely adventure to share.  This past weekend I travelled north to visit friends in Yo Creek and Orange Walk.  The idea was that I would stay Saturday night and head back to Belmopan Sunday afternoon.  Well, that was the plan.  Instead, Sunday turned into my marathon recovery session and I decided against a bus ride.  I think it was the right choice as I dont think anyone would have appreciated me on the bus that day.

So, instead I stayed another night and decided that I would accompany my friend, Emily to Chetumal, Mexico on Monday morning.  I mean, I was soooo close and I'd already missed one day of buses...what was a few more hours?!  If only I'd known...

We woke up early and ate a delicious breakfast made by Christen (where we had stayed Sunday) and took a little walking tour of OW on our way to return a bicycle and check out the House of Culture there.

An hour or so behind schedule, we boarded our bus headed for the border.  Mind you, neither one of us had been to Mexico and the directions our friends had given us weren't exactly stuck in our heads.
A perfect example is our arrival.  When crossing the border, you have to get off the bus and go through Belizean immigration. check. Then you get back on the bus and ride a few minutes to the Mexican border.  In between is the free zone where you may purchase alcohol cheaply!  We got off the bus and were about to head into the free zone, when we decided to do so on the way out...that way we wouldn't have to carry our alcohol all over Chetumal.  BUT, in the time it took us to make this decision, our bus was gone.  So we went through the Mexican immigration and hailed a taxi to the mall.

I believe all I could say was a repetition of this feels bizarre.  The mall was like stepping into America.  Air conditioning, nicely tiled floors and storefronts galore.  It had a food court and even those massage chairs that you pay a dollar to sit in for 10min. - Craig, I know you get how amazing that is - We walked around with our jaws to the floor.  Didn't buy a THING...it was just too overwhelming (although we did grab lunch at the food court).  We headed across the street to the Mexican version of Sam's club and I got a few things for my house really cheap.

Looking at the time, I realized that I needed to start the journey back to Belmopan - it was a good 6 hour trip and I was already starting to feel tired.  Being the amazing friend that she is, Emily got me a taxi headed in the right direction with her brilliant Spanish skills.  I hopped in, said my goodbyes,and gave a silent prayer that I would actually arrive at the correct bus terminal. And I did.

The hour and a half bus ride back to OW took a little over 2, but I had just enough time to grab a drink and pick up t-shirts from Christen that she wanted placed in mailboxes back in Belmopan before the bus to Belize City departed.  It was an express bus and I have never been as excited to pay extra for air conditioning.  The bus was sparsely occupied and we reached Belize quickly.  Mind you, I had now spent 6 hours on a bus...shopped in Mexico...and crossed a border twice.  I was tired.Exhausted even.

So, you can all imagine my reaction when about 5 min after arriving at a bus terminal, a NON-STOP to Belmopan arrived.  YES...those are the quickest buses of all!  I climbed on, paid my $4 and put on my music.  Home was an hour and a half a way.  RIGHT....my trips never do seem to end that nicely.

About 40min into the trip, the bus pulls over.  I, of course, am internally irate! WHY?!?!!? is the non-stop bus pulling over. I can feel the anger boiling up over my exaustion to the point that I see smoke.  Oh wait, thats not me...thats the bus.  Immediately, all the windows in the bus are put down as far as they will go.  Doesn't help...in fact, there's more smoke pouring in and people are coughing and choking as they try to grab their things.  We all quickly grab our belongings and file off the bus as its engine catches fire.  PERFECT. We aren't near any village and its completely pitch black.

After about 15 min...the police arrive and ask if the bus is alright. Clearly not...but I love that they were gracious enough to ask. Sweet, really...they even turned on sirens (which is a first since I've been here). We stand around for another 15 min or so....all of us knowing that our options are to hitch or hope for another bus.  Luckily, the bus came first and our bus load piled into a full bus.  I would say that it was unsafe to pile soo many people in one bus, but seeing that the last bus I was riding caught fire...I think its a mute point. 

So, finally I reach Belmopan...safe, tired, and so excited to be walking distance from home.  After all, the worst part of the day is over and I'm finished with the long bus rides...can't wait to unlock my door, shower and crawl into bed.  But I think karma has a way of completely entertaining itself on my behalf....because no sooner had I started walking through the park, when it started to rain...then pour. Having no umbrella, I simply hung my head and took it....squishing my steps all the way home. It was then that I realized I'd forgotten to grab my cheap bottle of alcohol in the free zone...and man, I could really have used a drink.

Ah.  I love Mondays....really.

Trafford

Meet my new puppy!  He's a doll and about 3 months old.  I adopted him from the Belmopan Humane Society about a week and a half ago.  He was rescued from a ditch with his brother, starving and sick.  The brother didn't make it, but Trafford is tough and is very much the picture of health now.

His first couple of nights at the house were interesting.  He was more than a little timid and had almost no appetite. I can now proudly say he's eating everything in sight and his bashfulness is completely gone.  He whines in the morning right outside my door until I give up the notion of sleep and get up to let him out.  He then demands breakfast and of course, a game of fetch.  I'm proud to say that he's house broken - which is probably the most wonderful thing of all.

He fills my endless days with laughter and even when he's driving me nuts, I'm glad he's there.  Here are just a few things that have entertained me the past few days:

• He has an obsession with dead leaves.  You can watch him at any time of day frolicking through the yard attacking a poor defenseless leaf, ripping it to shreds, and then sighing contently.
• Before coming back into the house, he extends his whole body onto the ground, belly dragging and army crawls until he's nearly to the door....then bounces up and runs inside.
• Bath time = terror.  The dog has fleas and STINKS so I decided to give him a bath.  It went much like any other bath I've given a dog...lots of squirming and water being splashed.  But instead of shaking himself dry, he simply bolted inside the house to seek something dry.  Since I was doing wash and have tiled floors...he really just slid into every surface of wall for about 10 min.  I would have dried him sooner, but I couldnt catch him!
• He whines to get what he wants. Doesnt matter what it is, he'll whine until you pay attention...and its the most pathetic sound you've ever heard. All a part of his charm apparently.
• He loves to cuddle...I'll be sitting reading a book and he will wiggle his way up through my arms and burrow into my lap. 
• If you start to pet him, he'll roll over and demand a belly rub. Don't worry....he'll scratch you right back if you get the right spot....the foot just cannot be controlled. Hysterical, really.
• He hates his leash.  We're working in stages, but its quite funny to watch.  I've gotten to the point where he will walk with me, content on the leash around the yard.  Open the gate and attempt a walk, FORGET IT....he goes psycho and pulls on the leash back in the direction of the house. Its been fun locking up my house and getting excited for progress...only to be stopped where we started and have to unlock my house in 5 min. Baby steps....I'm hoping eventually to make it to the other side of the gate, then maybe the end of the street.
  

Today is his first day to be spent mostly outside...he's comfortable with his surroundings and I cannot have a smelly dog in such a small space all day (the bath helped...but only briefly).  Its been a fun couple of days and I can't wait to share more stories with you all about the adventures of Trafford.

holiday season kickoff

So last week was Thanksgiving.  I would love to tell you all that I was miserable being away from family activities and traditions, but thats just not the case.  True, I missed being with my family and it was a bittersweet moment when I was able to have a phone call from home. BUT, I had a fantastic Thanksgiving here in Belize with my Peace Corps family. We celebrated the holiday on Wednesday afternoon after a training session (which was really just an excuse to get together and stuff our faces). Each district - remember, there are 6 in Belize- was responsible for some portion of dinner.  We had a feast!  Turkey, ham, 12! different kinds of stuffing, mashed potatoes, assorted vegetables, breads, salads & desserts. It was wonderful to be surrounded by my group of new friends and I have never felt more thankful to be exactly where I am right now.

On Thanksgiving day itself, a small group of volunteers packed up our things and headed out to the western edge of Cayo District.  We stopped in Benque Viejo for a bit and dropped off our things at our friend Emily's house (which is wonderful!) and then caught a ride in the back of a pick-up to Guatemala.  I now officially have my first stamp in my Peace Corps passport!  It was amazing how crossing a border can change everything...instead of being a mix of languages, Spanish was predominant (and my skills are more than rusty by now), streets were cleaner, and prices were much cheaper!
We spent the afternoon traveling through the market looking for things for our respective new places.  I ate lunch and found a blanket, a notebook, and new flip flops (because mine broke about 10 min. after walking into the country!) all for under $50BZ. 

The rest of the weekend was spent on mini-vacation back in San Ignacio.  I forgot how much fun I have in that city.  We ate, drank, celebrated a birthday and had a blast.  I finally made it to the hammock bridge and swang on the side with my feet dangling above the river.  We got to spend time with old friends and catch up on life.  Also, I was able to enjoy a HOT shower.  There really was no better way to celebrate the kick-off to holiday season.

good morning belize!

yes it was! I have officially spent my first night in my permanent home in Belize (for these next 2 years).  87 days after arriving in country was a long wait and I could not have been more ready to have my own space. While I loved both of my host families (and will be visiting them often), I was certainly ready to set my own daily pace.  Last night my host dad drove me (and all of my accumulated crap) to my new place at 34 Oriole.  He literally dropped the bags in the empty room, gave me a hug with an open invitation to his home anytime I'd like, and then left.
So, there I was, left to occupy myself with all of my free time and whatever I felt like doing.  And I didnt know where to begin. Think of it as that first night in college, when you were so anxious to start that exciting next adventure and get rid of your parents....and then they leave and you dont want to admit that there's this nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach telling you that a little part of yourself wishes they would walk back through the door.  So, naturally, I waited for a phone call from my parents and in the mean time, I put my few belongings away.
Let me refresh for you what all I possess:

• a borrowed air mattress from my lovely neighbor Melissa, and sheets that were sent from home.
• a shower curtain, which does not reach the bottom of the shower and so there's always a little water on the floor once I take one.
• a dresser which I purchased from a PCV that left earlier this month - it only holds a few clothes...the rest are packed into my suitcase still.
• 2 drink containers, and about 12 plastic cups
• 4 plastic bowls and some random plastic silverware (left to me by a former PCV)
• a cutting board & knife set
• 2 sets of white Christmas lights sent by my parents :0)
  

Of course, I have my clothes and a few books and photos that I brought from home, but thats basically it.  And I'd say its a fairly good start.  I was satisfied with my progress and relaxed in my bedroom with the soft lighting sent by my parents - I have yet to find a lamp and florescent lighting is just not conducive to relaxation- enjoying the phone conversation from home.

Thats when that anxious feeling went away and the grin began, ear to ear.  Finally, I had my own space! I fell into a sound sleep, enjoying my freedom.  This lasted until around 5 am this morning, when I was greeted by my neighbor.  He's a lovely, elderly man that has a beautiful garden behind his home, close to my bedroom window.  I remember how much I loved looking at it yesterday, but I have a feeling that it will become a point of contention for my slumber in the future.  You see, sweet as that man is, he apparently LOVES to greet the day with a little ritual of whistling at top volume, right before the crack of dawn.  He then continues this for a good part of the early morning.  Now, this in itself wouldn't be too terrible.  Heck, I can even appreciate the charm of it.  BUT, his whistling sets off an alarm system of angry dogs throughout my normally quiet neighborhood, and we have more dogs than I realized. This continues until he's finished.

Needless to say, I was not allowed to bask in my new tenant glow this morning.  Instead, I have vowed to invest in a fan to drown out the early morning greeting, as soon as I can.  This way my mornings in Belize always start out when they should....after the sun has already taken its spot in the sky. 

Dos Sexy

...because I promised my fellow PCVs that I would indeed not forget and title my next blog entry as such.  Welcome to Friday night in Belmopan.

It all started out innocently enough, a small little house party as a last hurrah for one of our trainers who is leaving for the States on Tuesday.
So, there we were sipping our drinks and completely rocking out to some lovely 80's music waiting for other people to show up. - we were told a friend and an exchange student - but really, it was just two local Belizeans (we figured this out after a round of "where are you from? here?!... I dont get it".)

These Belizeans informed us that there was a much better party and we should go to it...they would even drive us in their H3.  Yes, thats right...my first ride in a Hummer was here in Belize. I get the irony.  Turns out, the house we were going to was home to a prince of Zimbabwe. Because, why wouldn't there be African royalty in Belize?!?!  He's a well respected lawyer and a very generous host.  This is especially true considering when we arrived, we WERE the party.  The house was beautiful and our host made sure that we had plenty to drink.  I was in complete heaven.  Not only was it FREE drinks, but it was good liquor.  I'm not talking the lovely Belikin we often succumb to drinking because it is the only thing my budget can afford.  No, we're talking Cuervo (more than one kind), Absolute, and various other lovelies that we made into beautiful mixes.

Naturally, we all wanted to thank the generous host.  Only problem: we had no idea what his name was.  Quickly, we did introductions and various botchings of differing cultural pronunciations (I will forever be known as Heda to Belizeans).  Our host, it turns out, is named Kaseke.  I remember this because I geniusly saved it into my phone as I knew I would never remember it.  Sure enough, no one else could until we created our own little system.  Kaseke quickly explained the way to say his name.  We all tried our own versions until one of us brilliant Americans replied, "Oh! Like Dos Equis...but with a 'K'!"  Sold.  For the rest of the evening that is what his name was...that is until we headed out to a local bar.  Upon re-entry to the fabulous Hummer, "Dos Equis" morphed beautifully into "Dos Sexy" and there was no turning back. Good thing he had a sense of humor.

I would like to report that this was the extent of our behavioral lapse, but it was not.  Drinking and dancing continued well into the morning hours.  We fully enjoyed and entertained ourselves, giving our friend that last night out in Belize. And the best part?  She's coming back for another training in March!  I'm calling for round 2 in the future....

time management

I'm beginning to understand the importance of time management here: when people go to work, their productivity level, how meals are served/prepared, etc...
...and how it's completely opposite from what I'm used to in the United States. Yes, I was aware that things move at a slower pace than what I'm used to... this is true for everything. For instance, the faster I finish my work...the more time I have to sit and stare at the ceiling. (p.s. the one in the school office is falling in from termite damage). Or, that if I eat to fast...I still have over an hour before work starts up again...Or, that being 'on time' is really a relative term for most things.
 After spending most of yesterday at the computer (updating my blog, of course), I was finally ready to call it a day and walk home to find something to do...perhaps read  more in my current book or nap or who knows what.
 This was not to be...instead, my counterpart decided that after a day of nothingness, the market would be an amazing place to take me. Granted, this appealed to me at first as I'd also spent a majority of the afternoon creating my budget for the month (FYI...still poor) and wanted to check out how much a bed was going to cost me.  So we drove to the market and while my counterpart picked out her vegetables, I asked the prices on beds made by the Mennonites. - I'll be getting one in the future...just not for a while. 
At this point, I've had my fill of the heat and I'm ready to go home...but no, while we were out we also ran other errands.  I believe she could sense my loss of enthusiasm by store 4 and finally offered to drive me home.  When I told her I needed to go to the bank first, she immediately perked up and wanted to shop at more stores in that area. I mustered as much "nice" as I could find and explained that I would only be a minute and then would walk myself home.  Once again, everything takes longer here.
The good news is that I had an activity planned for the evening...YOGA.  I'm new to it, but I'm finding that I love it more each time I attend a class.  For one thing, its an excuse to converse with other PCVs that attend.  Secondly, it helps me release stress and relax for an hour or so.  And last, but certainly not least...it occupies my time two evenings, twice a week!  Beautiful.
Now, this yoga-ing experience may have made me overthink my time management skills for today.  My counterpart agreed that I could leave when I was finished for the day (which at this point usually happens around lunch).  I had every intention of finishing at the school, taking a little break and then heading to the Peace Corps office to research some things in the IRC.
Without fail...my plans never seem to work out.  I arrived at the office only to find the entrance to the IRC locked. No one to answer my knocks.
SNAFU and more time I needed to fill.
Really, this isn't too bad...because now I'm happily sitting in air conditioning, updating my blog and watching Law & Order.  Again, perks to living in Belmopan....but let this serve as a lesson in always being prepared with a back-up plan for occupying an afternoon.  Oh the complexities of time management in the Carribbean.

Swearing in!

It's official- I'm now sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer! The past week has been a whirlwind of activities and I'm just now getting around to updating you all on my life. I know you were all on the edge of your seats waiting for my update, right?!

Last week all the volunteers traveled back to Belmopan to complete our Bridge to Service (BTS) training and then swear in on Thursday. So, while everyone else spent hours traversing the hot buses and navigating their way through the jungle in some cases...I simply packed a bag and walked down the street to the Garden City Hotel. I admit, that was nice. Even better was that when I needed to drop things off or grab something I forgot, I could. Apparently there are some advantages to being a local.

The week was pretty uneventful until Thursday. Swearing in Day! Now, I dont know why I had it in my head that the swearing in at the Governor General's would be inside a nice building complete with air conditioning, but I did. Rule #1 of Peace Corps....save yourself and NEVER assume anything. In fact, our ceremony was held outside, sans fans in the midday heat. Now, I'll allow that at least they had a tent to shield my pale skin from the scorching sun...but the heat did nothing to improve the status of my hangover from the party the night before. Lessoned learned: if you're going to drink excessive amounts of alcohol before spending a day in the heat, at minimal you should also be prepared with tylenol and at least a small hand fan...it will save your life.

The actual ceremony went smoothly, with the typical amount of crying and chatting from the back of where I was seated. I'll admit there are parts that I missed...not because of the hangover, but because locals sitting behind me were in a full conversation at top volume. I'm not sure what is culturally acceptable for ceremonies, but I guess that flys here. After the ceremony (and ridiculous numbers of pictures) we were served rice and beans (what else would you have in Belize?!) and...wait for it....TURKEY! we were spoiled...no chicken for us! The fact that this was exciting to several of us speaks to how much chicken we actually consume.

After the ceremony, I promptly went and took a nap, in AIR CONDITIONING. wonderful. I was woken up a few hours later to attend the annual 1st years vs. 2nd years soccer game. Hilarious. 1st years suffered a terrible loss (1-5) but at least our cheerleaders were amazing. As always, I was left with a bruise documenting my time on the pitch. Luckily for me, thats the only thing to prove I was in attendance...my skills are RUSTY (and thats putting it nicely)! Hopefully I can get some back during these next 2 years.

A quick shower later and we were once again on a bus...this time to the Ambassador's house for a reception/dinner. AMAZING. The embassy housing is beyond belief...it was like stepping out of Belize for a while. No pothole filled roads or dimly lit streets with overgrown grass and trash thrown about. Hardly...the lawns were well kept and streets were clean and nicely cemented. The house itself was beautiful and most of us had a jaw-dropping reaction to the fact that we were allowed to freely explore the 1st floor. Tax dollars are definately at work here! Bonus...we were allowed WINE! and beer for the entire evening and were served dinner (prepared by the Ambassador's wife) on official china. You just don't get that everyday.

The night ended back at the GarDen (as we refer to it) with another party and of course, more alcohol. I believe the keg donated by Belikin was finished before it was all over and I'm fairly certain that my head was hitting the pillow just as the sun was coming up. I was spent...but celebrating the fact that 40! of us made it to swearing in was reason enough to get a little crazy.

CONGRATS PCVS BELIZE 2009-2011!!!