It's been a while since our last chat....
The first week was pretty slow at work. The temperature has been hiking it's way up and along with that there have been numerous times when the power has gone out. Hot people+no power for fans/AC=not happy campers. I am not too sure on why the power goes out so frequently.
Last weekend, I hopped on a bus with 45+ students and 10 other chaperones for a youth retreat for the Peer Educators. Peer educators are students throughout the country who instruct their fellow classmates or friends to seek medical services (specifically sexual and reproductive health care) and offer referral cards along with taking that person to seek medical attention.
We started off bright and early Saturday morning and headed to Cedar Lodge in Jaguar Paw (inland rainforest area). It was a nice place with tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, nature trails, a swimming pool, a pool table and table tennis. The day was already really hot and I know the kids were dying to go swimming but we had plenty of activities prepared for them. After briefing the students about general housekeeping and rules, Cecil and I took 2 of the 4 groups on the natural trails. It was my first hike in a rainforest setting and it was not what I expected. Granted everything is really green and dense like expected but I did not see ANY flowers, ANY huge creepy crawlys, or ANY animals. What I did see were signs posted by the lodge representing the names of some of the abundant plant-life. Names such as: Hot lips, Anal, Dogs balls....you catch my drift. There were also signs warning us about not touching certain poisonous plants (Thank Heaven for those signs!).
When we arrived back from our hike, we played several activities with the students. It was so funny to see how competitive they were getting and what they knew about S&RH. After the activities we had lunch before heading over to the obstacle course that Arthur created. Walking over to the course I saw my first tarantula!! It wasn't a huge one but big enough, with thick gray legs and a hairy black body. Ehhhhh! The obstacle course was THE funniest activity to watch! The students completing the course were blind folded and had another student directing them on what to do and where to go! I'll have to show you the video of it for you to believe how funny it was!
We left Cedar Lodge around 4:30 to head to Prayer Mountain in Cayo, where we would be spending the night. The sunset on the way was absolutely amazing! One of these days I'll get a really great pic of the sunset that Belize is blessed with. After we arrived at the retreat center at Prayer Mountain, everyone showered and had dinner. The retreat center offered really nice facilities (w/ beautiful landscaping) but the living arrangements weren't so pleasant. It was just one night though and we all suffered together ;-) After dinner, the different schools performed skits/presentations. The skits were interesting because they each performed different scenarios such as finding out you're infected with HIV, dating, etc. (situations students these days face).
Put it this way, the retreat center did not have hot water (which was not wanted anyway). The shower was FREEZING cold but with how hot it was, it didn't even phase me because as soon as you got out, you were already sweating again!! After breakfast, Ana and I set up a scavenger hunt all over the grounds. It consisted of 10 S&RH questions and the only thing that mattered was answering the questions correctly. After reviewing the students' evaluations of the retreat, the scavenger hunt was one of their favorite activities.
Back at work, my supervisor and a couple of the people that I have been working closely with have said to me how much they are going to miss me and how big of a help I have been to them. That reminds me of how well spent my time here has been and I cannot wait to return for a future visit.
I'd say the only benefit to the heat lately is that I never have much of an appetite and I am hoping to maybe sweat off a couple of the pounds that I have probably gained during my stay.
Last Tuesday, Nina brought me with her to KTV Latino (Belize's small version of American Idol). Although I cannot understand the words, it was really fun. I met Nina's mom and aunt, and several of her friends. I also ran into several people that I know. Apparently when this show first started they had a hard time selling seats and now it's sold out almost every week. This was the second to last show for the 13 week season. It was great to see how excited people get for the different performers and I WAS ON TV A LOT!!! :-) It was exciting to be behind the scenes of the show. During the breaks, people from the audience come up to sing and they have several raffles for everyone in the audience. I didn't win though.... :-(
I spent Saturday catching up on laundry and just trying to keep cool. It's tough not having a beach right in the city because I would be there every chance I got!!
On Sunday, Nina and I caught the 8 a.m. water taxi and headed out to Caye Caulker. Her family owns property and her aunt and cousins live on the island. It was soooooo hot already and it was still early morning when we arrived. We stopped by her aunt's house where I met everybody, walked to buy chicken to make for lunch, then headed straight to the beach. It is the same beach where Marielle and I had went back in March. The area is called 'The Split' because it is where the sea wall has split and tumbled into the water (due to Hurricane damage and such). It's a great swimming spot and we pretty much stayed in the water most of the day because of the heat. My only wish is that I had discovered the Cayes earlier in my trip....then I could have spent more time there....
Monday rolled around again but it was the beginning of an exciting week because Chris and Shauna will be visiting. Yesterday (Tuesday) was the finale of KTV Latino and I attended with Nina, her mom and aunt, and several friends. I saw lots of people I know and the crowd was a lot more rowdier than last week. There was so much going on at the show and I appeared on TV several more times (obviously waving to everyone and to embarrass Nina hehe). It was a lot of fun to take part in the excitement of the final show but it was a longgggg show at that (and I didn't win anything AGAIN).
As for today, Chris and Shauna arrived. I was relieved when I finally got a call from them because I was getting nervous at one point, but their planes had run a bit late and such. I hope they enjoy themselves and you will be hearing about our adventures soon enough!
As for me....I cannot believe I only have a few weeks left. Terry and I were talking the other night and we both agreed that it feels like I just got here!! I reassured her that there will be plenty of trips to Belize in the future because I have too many great friends/family here. I can only describe my return home as bittersweet....
Until next time.... <3
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