This year's Thanksgiving was different than any I have experienced thus far in my life. I decided to not go into work because well...I wouldn't in the States so...I don't really have a good reason, I just didn't go in. I called my family and talked to them for briefly, they are still crazy as usual. As they were screaming and all talking at once I got homesick. I miss the chaos of my family on holidays. There is nothing in this world that compares to it.
After that I packed my bag and headed to the capital, which is about an hour away from me. All PCV (Peace Corps Volunteers) were coming to the capital on either Thursday or Friday because the PC staff planned a Thanksgiving dinner for us on Friday afternoon. Each district (there are 6 districts in Belize) had to prepare something different. The Cayo area was responsible for appetizers so I made powder buns, which is basically the only thing I know how to cook. So the rest of my Thursday was hanging out at a volunteer’s house cooking, eating, and laughing with my new friends.
On Friday we had a brief training and then headed back to various houses to finish cooking. At 2pm we all headed to a cultural center where there was enough room for about 70 people to eat. Although it was suppose to start at 2pm, when you factor in Belizean time, it really is suppose to start around 3pm. And that is when we started eating, the food was amazing. It was such a good feeling to be sitting at a table, sharing a meal with people you have grown to know and care about. I still find it quite astounding that 3 months ago I hadn't the slightest clue who these people were and now I regard them as family. How things change. Anyways I would post pictures but I forgot my camera so I will once I thief them from someone. That was my Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and know that I was thinking about you!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Waffles
So when I got home from work I stumbled into the kitchen to find a pot of rice and beans (not beans and rice) for dinner. I feel the need to say that this is the same pot of rice and beans that I have been eating for the past two days. I'm seriously over rice and beans. Now beans and rice is okay but that wasn't on the menu tonight.
What is a girl to do? Be proactive. I made waffles. That is right folks, I made waffles. And not from a box. Nope!!! I took flour, baking powder, an egg, a pinch of salt, and milk, I mixexd it all up and TADA...WAFFLES. I am seriously amazed at how easy it is. Never in my life did I imagine making waffles from scratch. Before I came to Belize making waffles from scratch meant making it from a box. While I was waiting for the waffles to cook (which by the way I forgot to spray the pan so they turned out to be shreaded waffles, but thats not the point) I realized that my life would never be the same. If I went home now I would be a different person compared to when I left. For the rest of my life I will make waffles from scratch. Amazing. More will be revealed...
What is a girl to do? Be proactive. I made waffles. That is right folks, I made waffles. And not from a box. Nope!!! I took flour, baking powder, an egg, a pinch of salt, and milk, I mixexd it all up and TADA...WAFFLES. I am seriously amazed at how easy it is. Never in my life did I imagine making waffles from scratch. Before I came to Belize making waffles from scratch meant making it from a box. While I was waiting for the waffles to cook (which by the way I forgot to spray the pan so they turned out to be shreaded waffles, but thats not the point) I realized that my life would never be the same. If I went home now I would be a different person compared to when I left. For the rest of my life I will make waffles from scratch. Amazing. More will be revealed...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
I'm better now
So this is the blog I was going to post before my computer went to shit. I wanted to let you all now that I am an official volunteer. That's right folks!! I am moving on up. Swearing in was very nice, the ceremony was held at the Governor General's estate. Both my host families, the one from training and my new one, attended the event. Needless to say, I felt very loved. After the official event, PC paid for a banquet dinner for all volunteers, first and second. It was really nice and the food was amazing!! The first years (that would be my group) did superlative awards and well, I won" Most likely to extend a 3rd year". More will be revealed on that one!!
It just occured to me that I never told you guys about my new placement; better late than never. I am placed in a town called San Ignacio, which has about 10,000 people in it. It also has a sister city called Santa Elena which has about the same population. This is considered pretty large for a country that only has 300,000 people. So it turns out I am a urban volunteer. It wasn't really what I was expecting but it’s not that bad once I get over my expectations of living in a thatch roof hut. It is absolutely beautiful, all of Belize is gorgeous. Right now I am living with another host family until at least the first of the year, possibly longer. I was going to post some pictures but this computer won't let me so here is a link to my photobucket account if you want to look at some pictures: http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/TerraAnn25/
I am right next to, and I mean RIGHT NEXT to Cahal Pech, which are Mayan ruins. Its a two minute walk from my house to the ruins. On Sundays there is free admission for Belizeans (which would also include me). I am pretty sure this will be my new chill spot on Sundays.
Alright that's it guys. I promise I will do a better job at keeping this updated.
It just occured to me that I never told you guys about my new placement; better late than never. I am placed in a town called San Ignacio, which has about 10,000 people in it. It also has a sister city called Santa Elena which has about the same population. This is considered pretty large for a country that only has 300,000 people. So it turns out I am a urban volunteer. It wasn't really what I was expecting but it’s not that bad once I get over my expectations of living in a thatch roof hut. It is absolutely beautiful, all of Belize is gorgeous. Right now I am living with another host family until at least the first of the year, possibly longer. I was going to post some pictures but this computer won't let me so here is a link to my photobucket account if you want to look at some pictures: http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/rr139/TerraAnn25/
I am right next to, and I mean RIGHT NEXT to Cahal Pech, which are Mayan ruins. Its a two minute walk from my house to the ruins. On Sundays there is free admission for Belizeans (which would also include me). I am pretty sure this will be my new chill spot on Sundays.
Alright that's it guys. I promise I will do a better job at keeping this updated.
This would be me freaking out
Holy shit. *Sigh* Where do I begin.
Alright so this whole, "lets move to another country" idea is really biting me in the ass. Today was so rough. Well, it actually started last night. My computer is acting up. When I turn it on, it works for a few minutes and then it freezes up. I can't fix it because I know nothing about computers. It is amazing how that one little thing threw me into a depressed state. Today I thought I would try it again and still, the same problems. I have just decided to leave it turned off and eventually I will decide on what I want to do.
Anyways, it threw me off so badly that I was seriously questioning what I am doing here. Now don't get me wrong, I have asked myself that question before and thought about going home, but today I was REALLY considering it. This is some of what was running through my head:
Why the hell did you decide to do this? What is the point of you being here? Did you REALLY want to join the Peace Corps or did you just want to be challenged? If you just want to be challenged you could go back home and get a real job. I have a master's degree, I could get a job and start my life. I could find a place of my own, by actually looking in the phone book or online. Here I have to ask the post man, the shop owner, the guy on the corner if they know anyplace to rent. Seriously. My new conversation beginner is "Hi, my name is Terra and I'm a new PC volunteer. I've been in Cayo for about a month but am looking for a place to rent in January." I am now saying that to everyone and I do mean everyone. I have friends there, other people who I can talk to, other people that understand me. I could make a phone call to one of my friends without having to stare at the skype icon for an hour, waiting for it to connect, only for the connection to be lost the moment the phone starts ringing. But I could call someone whenever I want to. I could take a hot shower!!!!!!! I could take a bath! I could drive a car!!! And not have to carry an umbrella everywhere (its a necessity, you use it when the sun it too hot and when it rains, who knew). And this is the biggest one: Back home I at least thought I knew what I was doing.
So anyways guys thats what I was thinking up until about 2pm. I would go into my room for something and end up laying on my bed staring into space for a half and hour, not even remembering how I ended up in bed. But at 2pm I went to work and they were having a cooking class. The cooking class meets every week and this week they invited me to join in. I learned how to make powder buns and lasagna. It was fun! The women are great, even though I can't understand half of them. In Belize it is very common for people to speak 3 different languages all in one sentence. Its a combination of English, Kriol, and Spanish. For example: Gwail, meka bring mi da bocha (Girl, go bring me the bowl) One of my new goals is to learn Spanish. I have to admit, it is fun to listen to. By the time I was done with class I was feeling 100% better. I'm okay with being here.
This is the only time in my life where I am constantly up and down. My one friend Abbey (she is a 3rd year volunteer) explains it like this. "Right now you are bi-polar. You are going to have amazing highs and then have drastic lows. It might happen 10X a day, or once a week but it will happen. After about 6 months or a year it will level out, not go away, but level out." Right now I am okay with that. I just have to work through those low points and not dwell in them. I have to focus on the positives and keep things simple. If my computer doesn't magically fix itself then I will ship it to the States and get it fixed there. I don't want to do that but if I have to it wont be the end of the world. If I don't have a computer, the world will not stop turning. I WILL BE FINE. So guys I was going to post a blog about happy-go-lucky shit with pretty pictures, and I still will once my computer gets better, but for now you get this. Thanks for reading!! I love you all and miss you.
Alright so this whole, "lets move to another country" idea is really biting me in the ass. Today was so rough. Well, it actually started last night. My computer is acting up. When I turn it on, it works for a few minutes and then it freezes up. I can't fix it because I know nothing about computers. It is amazing how that one little thing threw me into a depressed state. Today I thought I would try it again and still, the same problems. I have just decided to leave it turned off and eventually I will decide on what I want to do.
Anyways, it threw me off so badly that I was seriously questioning what I am doing here. Now don't get me wrong, I have asked myself that question before and thought about going home, but today I was REALLY considering it. This is some of what was running through my head:
Why the hell did you decide to do this? What is the point of you being here? Did you REALLY want to join the Peace Corps or did you just want to be challenged? If you just want to be challenged you could go back home and get a real job. I have a master's degree, I could get a job and start my life. I could find a place of my own, by actually looking in the phone book or online. Here I have to ask the post man, the shop owner, the guy on the corner if they know anyplace to rent. Seriously. My new conversation beginner is "Hi, my name is Terra and I'm a new PC volunteer. I've been in Cayo for about a month but am looking for a place to rent in January." I am now saying that to everyone and I do mean everyone. I have friends there, other people who I can talk to, other people that understand me. I could make a phone call to one of my friends without having to stare at the skype icon for an hour, waiting for it to connect, only for the connection to be lost the moment the phone starts ringing. But I could call someone whenever I want to. I could take a hot shower!!!!!!! I could take a bath! I could drive a car!!! And not have to carry an umbrella everywhere (its a necessity, you use it when the sun it too hot and when it rains, who knew). And this is the biggest one: Back home I at least thought I knew what I was doing.
So anyways guys thats what I was thinking up until about 2pm. I would go into my room for something and end up laying on my bed staring into space for a half and hour, not even remembering how I ended up in bed. But at 2pm I went to work and they were having a cooking class. The cooking class meets every week and this week they invited me to join in. I learned how to make powder buns and lasagna. It was fun! The women are great, even though I can't understand half of them. In Belize it is very common for people to speak 3 different languages all in one sentence. Its a combination of English, Kriol, and Spanish. For example: Gwail, meka bring mi da bocha (Girl, go bring me the bowl) One of my new goals is to learn Spanish. I have to admit, it is fun to listen to. By the time I was done with class I was feeling 100% better. I'm okay with being here.
This is the only time in my life where I am constantly up and down. My one friend Abbey (she is a 3rd year volunteer) explains it like this. "Right now you are bi-polar. You are going to have amazing highs and then have drastic lows. It might happen 10X a day, or once a week but it will happen. After about 6 months or a year it will level out, not go away, but level out." Right now I am okay with that. I just have to work through those low points and not dwell in them. I have to focus on the positives and keep things simple. If my computer doesn't magically fix itself then I will ship it to the States and get it fixed there. I don't want to do that but if I have to it wont be the end of the world. If I don't have a computer, the world will not stop turning. I WILL BE FINE. So guys I was going to post a blog about happy-go-lucky shit with pretty pictures, and I still will once my computer gets better, but for now you get this. Thanks for reading!! I love you all and miss you.
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