I’m not going to lie I was homesick that I would miss the holidays back home in the states, but I was extremely excited to spend the holidays here in Belize and see how the people and communities celebrate.
For thanksgiving, all the Peace Corps volunteers who were around celebrated on the Saturday after thanksgiving because most of us still had to work since we don’t get the holiday off. That day I was out at Santa Martha government school on my usual wed and thur outings there. Little did I know that the staff at our offices had surprised Barbara (the other pcv in the office working with literacy) and me with a turkey dinner at lunchtime at the office. Since we weren’t there and out at the village school our driver drove it out to us! J It was so great and touching that the people we work with are so caring and thoughtful in thinking about us for that holiday tradition of ours. It made us really feel that we are a part of a family in that office.
Our Peace Corps thanksgiving was awesome! We had all the trimmings. Turkey, ham, mash potatoes, rolls, yams, salad and I attempted to make auntie becki’s broccoli rice casserole and Grandma Bea’s green bean salad and they both turned out great! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food and the company. We also invited some of our Belizean friends to share in our tradition of giving thanks and what we all were thankful for this season.
Also going on during the end of November and the beginning of December was world AIDS day activities, which my counterpart and I were a part of as many activities as possible. Throughout the 2 week of activities we had numerous health fairs at schools, at parks and all over town; giving out HIV testing, glucose testing, Hb, BMI, flu shot, free contraceptives and considerable amount of information on hand. I also went out to a high school and gave a couple lessons on the myths and facts about HIV in Belize, as well as, a lesson on different types of contraceptives available.
All our Thanksgiving Food!!
Health Fairs
Teaching students to use condoms.
The first week of December our pc training group had our IST (in service training or reconnect) with our counterparts. It was great seeing everyone and to see how everyone was doing in their villages and towns. Following that week into the weekend I decided to continue a little farther west back to succotz to visit my host family for the weekend. It was absolutely wonderful to see them again. They are always so welcoming with open arms, great hospitality and great food. It was my host sister bday so we celebrated with homemade tres leche cake! I love going back to that village because it is such a stark difference from my town lifestyle up in orange walk. It’s the only time I feel like when I’m doing absolutely nothing, it is certainly fine and okay.
My host family's land.
The following week was the last week for all the schools in Belize, so as you can imagine a bunch of Christmas parties ensued and the kids could not wait to get out of there and go on their Christmas vacation. On one of those days, some of the staff and I went out to a village school, Fireburn School to deliver the students some little toys and cake and juice. This village and school are so cute and small. It took about an hour for us to get there, through town we went then heading west through many other villages then through the big Mennonite community of shipyard then there is fireburn. A village of about 100 and a school with only 32 students!
And then Friday December 16 hit! I was planning a trip to go down to placensia with some friends and go scuba diving, but how quickly plans change! J I came down with the worst case of food poisoning that weekend or at least I thought…fast forward 2 weeks. I got the same symptoms down in Punta gorda over New Year’s Eve. I knew something wasn’t right! The following week I was in Belmopan for our quarterly WID/GAD meeting (a pc committee) and was able to see our MO. She took down everything I was telling her and eventually had to give her a stool sample (totally normal being a pcv, we do it more often than you think). So, hopefully all will be good!! :)
Sorry for that interjection, so now back to Christmas week! Our offices were still open during the break, but extremely slow because no school was in session, so as you can imagine it was a lot of catching up time for me and hanging out with friends. One of the evenings that week, some of the PCV went over to Barbara’s host family home for a wonderful dinner and great company and conversation. Later that week, some of us went to Belize City to visit a fellow PCV who broke her ankle (tibia and fibula) and was resting at another PCV house before getting med-vac to the states for surgery. Surgery went well and she is recovering wonderfully and we hope she can get back to Belize soon! The following day I had made dinner for the PCV who were still here for Christmas. I was in the mood to cook good holiday food! So I made a homemade ham, twice baked potatoes and we also had salad and homemade bread. A great meal and even better leftover ham sandwiches.
Now, for Christmas Eve and day! On Christmas Eve I went over to my host family’s home that afternoon and early evening. We had such great food! There was pibil (it can be compared to carnitas) and relleno or black dinner (stuffed chicken in a black soup). After a ton of food and drink, molly, another PCV in town invited us over for a quick pasta dinner then we all went to mass at the Catholic Church. It was quick, short and exactly one hour! Pretty impressive for a Christmas mass, I was definitely surprised. On Christmas day, slept in a little bit and opened a couple boxes I had sent to me! Thanks mom and dad, Uncle Steve, and mike! I saved them from the post office and chose to open them that morning. Very fun! That morning, molly again invited us over for a breakfast brunch and some mimosas. After watching the movie, Love Actually, I headed home for a quick clean-up and shower. Then I headed over to my friend, Dorian’s family friends house and watched the Laker game! Boo, they lost! Had some more good food: turkey, ham, cranberries, cheese dip, ceviche, and potato salad. Then, we went to another family friend’s house for a quick hello. Then, off to the club on Christmas day night! LOL. It was fun just with good friends and good laughs. The following day, was Boxing Day. So after sleeping in again! I went out to the village, San Esteven with my friend again for some more food and drink. It was another long night but, that’s what Christmas in Belize is all about. Visit family and friends from house to house and to drink and be merry! Overall, Christmas was a blast here in Belize. Different than being home with family and loved ones and the cold weather, but I’m glad I got to experience that while living here.
My little Christmas tree.
For new years I decided to go down to Punta gorda (pg) and see some other PCV keeping it mellow for the holiday. My friend, Darrell, a PCV came up Thursday to check out orange walk because he is from the deep south in the Toledo district, with no electricity, etc. in his village. So I showed him around orange walk that day, then we both headed to pg the next day on the long 8 hour bus journey. PG is such a nice relaxing, sleepy town. We all stayed at our friend Melissa’s house while she was out of town in the states. Then, as I said earlier the unbelievable happened I got the bad stomach issues and my new year’s eve consisted of being in bed in fetal position counting down to the new year. Luckily the next day I was feeling much better and able to keep some food down and feel somewhat normal for the long ride back Monday morning.
Computer Lab @ Santa Martha Gov't School
Children's Day-Sports Day
Some other quick news is that I finally started the first couple lessons for the computer class at Santa Martha government school. I can tell the kids are really excited to get going when they return to school this week. And with that being said, school starts and back to the daily schedule of work in the mornings, football practice at the high school and wed/thur in Santa Martha, and I’m still playing on the women’s volleyball team in the evenings! Haha. Also, Garifuna Settlement Day was November 19, so I celebrated with my host family over at a party! It was a great party with authentic African music, food, and dance!
Garifuna Settlement Day Celebrations
Gaia :)
