tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90712439649071773192024-03-14T03:34:38.278-07:00Jeremy in BelizeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-78881597458344781842012-06-03T07:41:00.000-07:002012-06-03T07:42:25.558-07:00The Last Blog of Jeremy (from Belize at least)<div style="text-align: center;">
The time has come, Jeremy said, to speak of different things.</div>
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This is it, the last blog from Belize. On Friday I had my last day of school. The library is now all packed up, ready for the summer. I turned my key in, so there's no going back now. Unless I went and got the key I suppose.<br />
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I thought about doing a picture recap of my experience here. That would take 8 years to upload, so I won't.<br />
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This experience has been incredible and I will hold onto it for the rest of my life. However, I'm ready to go home. I look forward to seeing all my friends and family I have missed and eating copious amount of ice cream. Autumn and winter will be nice too.<br />
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I'll miss the beautiful sunrises of PG. Excited children at school, books, and tasty meals prepared with love. A great JV community and a ramshackle house. I'll miss many things I'll only realize once I'm gone. <br />
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I could ramble on for hours about Belize, but that's what I've been doing for two years with this blog. <br />
Thanks for reading, by the way. This week we should reach 14,000 views. Quite an accomplishment. I hope you've learned something or at least enjoyed the pictures. <br />
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And so, we end. <br />
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I can't wait to see you soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-91037083846375818052012-05-23T06:23:00.001-07:002012-05-23T06:31:16.393-07:00We near the end<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hundreds of Happy Hellos from Punta Gorda.
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As I write this, I only have about six days of work left. Things are winding down and will soon come to an end here for me in Belize. It's an odd feeling, bittersweet as some say. However, I still have one more blog after this one to post, so enough sentimentality. </div>
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Last year I came in first place in the JVC photo contest. This year, the new contest involves taking between three and ten pictures over one week to show what life is like. Thus, this blog is: </div>
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A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF JEREMY</div>
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We begin as I always do, at school. Rain has been a constant lately, keeping my laundry damp and my windows shut. It is even raining during the day, which only happened a handful of times last year. One day it rained during lunch break, so about a quarter of the school never came back in the afternoon. We manage though.</div>
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One day, in an attempt to get some good candid pictures of the students, I loaned out my camera at break time. Many poor pictures were taken, though this one was pretty decent. Bravo Clifton.</div>
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Between 2:30 and 3:30 I've been running an art club for the younger students who are waiting for their older siblings. Usually we just color and draw and they try to cause as much trouble as they can. I really like this picture, namely because of the contrast between the foreground and background. </div>
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Also this week was a huge headache for me. The school had to submit a banner for a competition, and due to my artistic endeavors this year, I was put in charge. Sadly, we didn't get the material for the banner until the day before it was due, so mayhem ensued. I enlisted a number of students to come help paint, but I still was up at 3:30am the next day trying to finish. It turned out well, but the results have not been heard. </div>
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Two weeks ago the JVs in Belize had our Re-Orientation/Dis-Orientation retreat. The bosses from DC come down and ran this retreat as a chance to reflect on the past year and look ahead to what is coming. It was great, though the average temperature in the shade was about 90. One of the JVC staff members was Pat Cassidy, who lived in PG the two years before I arrived. It was great having him around and we forced him to help us make fried plantains. </div>
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Those fried plantains were used for Al's Birthday! It was a most glorious day and we had a bunch of choir ladies for dinner to surprise her. Kathleen made nice cake and there were candles. Hooray!</div>
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When I wasn't organizing the school banner, I completed probably my last library painting. It's on the ceiling in the middle of the library. Here it be.</div>
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Last Friday was Teacher's Day. Last year we went on an overnight trip, but this year it was only a day trip. We got to hang out at Belcampo Lodge, which costs $400US a night to stay there. We got a crazy discount to use their facilities, like the kayaks, the pool, and mountain bikes. Mostly we just hung out and enjoyed nice drinks and food.</div>
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This weekend was Cacao Fest. Since Belize, and this district in particular, produces a great deal of chocolate, what better way to trump up interest (as if more interest in chocolate was needed) than a three day festival. On the last day there was a big concert/performance at Lubaantun, the closest Mayan temple to me. Sadly it rained, very, very hard. Also, riding in the back of a pickup in the rain is the worst. </div>
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At Lubaantun, after the rain cleared, I ate a whole lot of food. Then we got to watch the traditional Mayan Deer Dance. It was very cool. Here's some of the guys. </div>
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Part of the deer dance includes audience participation. Since the monkey is always playing tricks on people, this is a chance for payback. </div>
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Mayan children playing a ballgame at a temple. Classic. </div>
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Literally.</div>
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That's all for today. Check in sometime next week for:</div>
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THE FINAL BLOG FROM BELIZE</div>
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Bye now. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-39638091809235746502012-04-28T13:34:00.000-07:002012-04-28T13:34:39.484-07:00Easter Storm SharksToday is the 28th of April and I find myself sitting down to write one of my last blogs from Belize. In a month and a half or so, I will be departing Punta Gorda and return to the great town of Sandwich. It is slightly daunting thinking about America, so I sha’int right now. Instead, Belize!<br />
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I like this leaf.
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Since last time, we had a two week holiday fromschool for Easter. It was incredibly relaxing. On Easter Sunday, there was a huge celebration in front of my house, complete with a volleyball tournament (my team got destroyed), eating contests, a greasy poll, and live music. Hundreds of people were out, so it was very cool to be in the center of all of it.<br />
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Shortly after Easter there were a few water spouts in the ocean. They were fairly far away, which was good news for my wooden house.
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After the holiday, school began once again. It seems teachers just realized the library is there, so I have been super busy with research and painting. It’s good.<br />
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My birthday happened, which was neat. Thanks for the lovely wishes to those of you who sent them.<br />
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The main event of the past few months occurred on April 21-22. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8508097/Scientist-awarded-for-helping-to-make-people-love-sharks.html">Rachel Graham</a>, who is a director with the Wildlife Conservation Society, and is known as the “Jane Goodall of Sharks”, happens to live in Punta Gorda. Her organization is trying to get students in Belize to see the sharks that live off the coast, in an effort to improve Belizeans knowledge of them. She organized for twenty students from my school to take an overnight trip to the Belize Zoo and then to go snorkeling off the reef. Of course, a trip with that many students needs a few chaperones, and of course, I volunteered immediately. It was incredible.
Rachel rode up on the bus with us and answered questions from the students and gave them things to think about.<br />
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Rachel et al. <br />
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On the first day, we drove four hours or so to where we were staying, which was right by the zoo. Before we went to the zoo we had some downtime, so I took the boys on a hike around the area. For most of the students, this was their first trip away from their parents, so they were all excited. We took a twenty minute walk around the jungle and I didn’t realize these kids never get out into nature. Everything was new and exciting for them. The plants, the animals, small ponds. It was very cool to see their excitement.<br />
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"Devils Gut Cactus"<br />
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Pine trees! Ok, probably not exciting for you, but they don't exist in Punta Gorda.<br />
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After walking around, we went to the zoo. Rachel knows the founder of the zoo, so she gave us a private tour, mostly focusing on the apex predators, or the animals on the top of the food chain.<br />
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Jeremy vs. Boa Constrictor<br />
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Friendly Jaguar<br />
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Puma
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The following day we left early for the reef, though the boys chose to wake up at 5am for some reason I’m not sure of. When we reached Belize City, it turned out the sea was very rough where we were planning to go, so we ended up heading out to Caye Caulker’s Shark and Ray Alley. This was good, as half of the students can’t swim. Rough seas may have been a bad idea. The boat ride was about one hour, during which the excitement (and queasiness for some) grew.<br />
On the Boat!<br />
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Getting some final instructions<br />
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Finally we got to the reef and started seeing dark shapes in the water.<br />
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What are those dark spots?<br />
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Everyone crowds to see what's going on.<br />
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Nurse Sharks!!!<br />
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Nurse sharks and Rays!<br />
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More sharks and rays, with the reef the dark strip of water in the distance.<br />
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We jumped in the water, snorkel and fins firmly attached, and swam around for about an hour and a half. It might have been longer, I don’t know. I was having too much fun.
Afterwards, we ate lunch on Caye Caulker and got sweet shark t-shirts.
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A long bus ride later, we were back in PG, ready for school to start the next morning.<br />
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I like the lighting in this picture a whole lot.<br />
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This week was long, after having twelve straight days of student obligations, but thankfully the weekend has arrived. My sanity is slowly returning.<br />
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Next week, the Belize JVs will be visited by our bosses from the office in DC. Site visits and an end of the year retreat are on tap. It should be fun, so until next time, thanks for visiting.
Neat flower<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfnpoOeFi0rpZEBnBU-5jW212uBYhJS1mIQE_pmGQiq3oKr4nWAvHRpSYl5SDjpS8OUpyXemml6X9jZexLhQ7uc0ZLIcmlPZnIF5G8IEbUkmUSGiqvDGT_2hpYxyA4PM-WEMYj0q8ngFh/s1600/DSC04425.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfnpoOeFi0rpZEBnBU-5jW212uBYhJS1mIQE_pmGQiq3oKr4nWAvHRpSYl5SDjpS8OUpyXemml6X9jZexLhQ7uc0ZLIcmlPZnIF5G8IEbUkmUSGiqvDGT_2hpYxyA4PM-WEMYj0q8ngFh/s320/DSC04425.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-56877847969182309092012-04-04T06:45:00.003-07:002012-04-05T06:51:35.397-07:00And so April came to be<span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I bid you a fond hello on this Wednesday of Holy Week.</span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Before we go anywhere else, check out my shop on Etsy: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SeaGlassBelize" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://www.etsy.com/shop/SeaGlassBelize</a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I've been making my own sea glass jewelry over the past few weeks, and after seeing how many loans I need to pay when I return to America, I figured the time was right for selling. If you see anything you like, let me know. Perhaps we can work out a blog discount. Send it along to your friends and family. The summer is a great time for sea glass jewelry. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">That's my sale's pitch, so onward!</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I distinctly remember last year titling a blog post <a href="http://jeremybelize.blogspot.com/2011/04/april-come-she-will.html">April Come She Will</a>, after the Simon and Garfunkel song. I almost did it again. Looking back, it's funny how little has changed. In that post, I lamented at the heat (it was about 95 yesterday), pondered the Easter break (what shall I do with the rest of my day?), and recapped a successful Sports Day (on Friday the Hummingbird house barely beat out Blue Jays for the championship). </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">However, things have changed. It is now April, which is before May, which comes prior to June. Bravo, Jeremy, you say. You've learned your months. Yes, I have. But June is when I depart from lovely Belize and return to America. I often tell myself it's too early to think about that, but when is it ok? The problem with dwelling too much on the future is you lose the present. It's the case with any person, anywhere. Be where you are, when you are, and you'll be happier. Unless you're being pried for information by an intelligence agency. Then it might be better to think of better times. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">It will be a challenge for me to continuously stay present to Belize and Punta Gorda. It's a great place, but I'll be leaving soon. I have loans to pay. This summer I'll be working at my old stomping ground, Camp Lyndon. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family. They're not things I can forget about or dismiss. However, I just need to accept those feelings and remember where I am. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Yesterday I went for a walk down to the water. It's a short stroll, perhaps ten minutes if I'm meandering as I do. On the way, I passed a number of homes of my students, who would shout, "Mr. Shea!" at me. It's nice to feel loved, or at least recognized. It was hot, but a nice breeze was blowing. The water felt nice as I walked in it along the coast. I didn't have any plans or commitments. It's vacation! An hour later I returned and showered and sat on the veranda, my laundry flapping in the windy sunlight. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">All in all, life is good here right now. Yes, there are some stresses and worries, but such is life. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">I hope you have a lovely Easter holiday, buy lots of sea glass jewelry, and enjoy work and play and friends and family.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; ">Until next time. </div><div><span >Adieu<span style="font-size: 100%;">. </span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-17314608546618781802012-03-18T08:16:00.007-07:002012-03-18T09:21:03.114-07:00A little delayed...It's been a while, I know. It has been a struggle lately for me to get up the enthusiasm to sit down and write a blog, but on this day after St. Patrick's Day (no, they don't celebrate it here), I shall make a valiant effort.<br />It has almost been two months since I last posted. In that one, I was leading the cribbage series. Currently, I am down three games. However, I pulled off one of the rarest and most devastating wins possible, the Double Skunking. For those of you who don't know cribbage, you have to get 121 points through various hands to win the game. If the opponent doesn't get 91 points, you have skunked them, thus earning two wins. If they don't reach 61 points, it's a double skunking, worth three wins. Greg still hasn't recovered.<br />In February, things happened. There was school. Very good. I had a visitor, in the form of Katherine Driscoll, which was most awesome. It's always good to see where you live through the eyes of an outsider. It certainly helps me appreciate where I am a bit more. It was great having her here. Last month I also started an art club for the little ones after school, as many of them wait for their older siblings to go home. We've been drawing and coloring like professionals.<br />Greg and I went to the dump one day. It is scary. Here's some pictures.<br />Scary dump.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiDWZioQON4Yc9eeBh8i4G79zfUafQVEnte1ox-OWcPKjJoyD7MTqCx1ciarCWoNXa6dagLRxDZ_Qpv3lt4OjYH-qRWH2riAWKRHYSF0NlXmtl-S1XYSMVl-TbN9aeQGRjBsKqfoYmXBR/s1600/DSC03670.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiDWZioQON4Yc9eeBh8i4G79zfUafQVEnte1ox-OWcPKjJoyD7MTqCx1ciarCWoNXa6dagLRxDZ_Qpv3lt4OjYH-qRWH2riAWKRHYSF0NlXmtl-S1XYSMVl-TbN9aeQGRjBsKqfoYmXBR/s320/DSC03670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721264073499528130" border="0" /></a><br />Road into the dump.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVg4Dx_sDIJEeJGxd1sx4wOOu1wmE5nZaHqH2HIrFW6awH9hdI4wXUPgVzyjyeKui0DV3cUvOs0L5ghou-BtQ_wTsoniN5_kUSC8ulySZbTKykX8rk69ZrWpxJxxddLoJLmnDLmlBBTcZ/s1600/DSC03660.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVg4Dx_sDIJEeJGxd1sx4wOOu1wmE5nZaHqH2HIrFW6awH9hdI4wXUPgVzyjyeKui0DV3cUvOs0L5ghou-BtQ_wTsoniN5_kUSC8ulySZbTKykX8rk69ZrWpxJxxddLoJLmnDLmlBBTcZ/s320/DSC03660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721264066567060994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the last weekend of February, the Belize JVs went on retreat in San Antonio. We stayed at the rectory in the village, which is made out of looted stones from a Mayan temple. It's haunted. The retreat was great and it was nice to get out of PG and relax and catch up with the Belize City folk.<br />I slept outside on the veranda so I got a good look at the sunrise over the jungle.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagocimHCKT8AmgqdmmI08m00X2bSI_OIT2umOW3a0wtcdCf2nELWoE7vGtroUk2os6wPu1S3NUlk4BuAkMT48p2C2ydXX2dRKqgVC-VY6P86UA7VVwqywZXOJUXeFbfRaT2lFYj9D8bo2/s1600/DSC03712.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagocimHCKT8AmgqdmmI08m00X2bSI_OIT2umOW3a0wtcdCf2nELWoE7vGtroUk2os6wPu1S3NUlk4BuAkMT48p2C2ydXX2dRKqgVC-VY6P86UA7VVwqywZXOJUXeFbfRaT2lFYj9D8bo2/s320/DSC03712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721264082461263874" border="0" /></a><br />There were also CRAZY storm clouds looking quite ominous over the church.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUdr8Mp2hNvvXEBhcpsgOvFTGr84HHfwRooRmXTGCrGB-XxqJsRUZ22sTYUIBc4jsdNXv9QtCjP-Uj2BR_E5rj5vDA8qfiG2RFlL5SNA6LDr8rQ3YlawbKtSHe4BRrKAS3OFTGLWsTWvR/s1600/DSC03722.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUdr8Mp2hNvvXEBhcpsgOvFTGr84HHfwRooRmXTGCrGB-XxqJsRUZ22sTYUIBc4jsdNXv9QtCjP-Uj2BR_E5rj5vDA8qfiG2RFlL5SNA6LDr8rQ3YlawbKtSHe4BRrKAS3OFTGLWsTWvR/s320/DSC03722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721267469875834802" border="0" /></a><br /><br />March arrived, as you know, after February. The big event in Belize was the election. On March 7, the country voted for all the positions of government. There are two main parties in Belize, the United Democratic Party (UDP) and the People's United Party (PUP). Essentially they're the same thing. Politics here are a bit questionable, so no matter what, companies end up having the final say. That said, both parties held a number of rallies, busing in people from the villages, as well as putting up signs and flags all over the district. I was a bit worried about election day, assuming it would be wild, but it was very quiet. There were no alcohol sales that day, so it certainly helped things. People were lined up to vote at 6:30.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXuYUyPWPwisfnVlA46LyLZn57TRcfbLl6ZiShRgfW8oq66VP825Et8IXQ3GsasYcWVAeBq-Jx48Hl1sih0FrNzY_m4eixG6UGSeja3Eti1M1WrwKJxRjt97yRTeii5WtFe0udjDiQLAz/s1600/DSC03814.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXuYUyPWPwisfnVlA46LyLZn57TRcfbLl6ZiShRgfW8oq66VP825Et8IXQ3GsasYcWVAeBq-Jx48Hl1sih0FrNzY_m4eixG6UGSeja3Eti1M1WrwKJxRjt97yRTeii5WtFe0udjDiQLAz/s320/DSC03814.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721267472503867650" border="0" /></a><br />In the end, the UDP, the incumbent party, retained their majority, but the PUP won a number of seats to at least gain some voice. We shall see what difference it makes.<br /><br />Greg and I found a crab climbing the downstairs door.<br />Greg says he looks scary in this picture. "There has to be a better picture." Sorry, Greg, the others were worse. At least the crab looks good.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKS6utFyDudO2d3h9p2A5VAOfUe8T9nTCqVBYW_mWizt8_pov6NGV9L8D91fAOjsvGrdULNeMPhtUmAUro1XoMP7YyLHKzI58-qrZQOY3mdPpErxlQ3zC46_inOIUcDmveuaeMVPJK9zE/s1600/DSC03816.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKS6utFyDudO2d3h9p2A5VAOfUe8T9nTCqVBYW_mWizt8_pov6NGV9L8D91fAOjsvGrdULNeMPhtUmAUro1XoMP7YyLHKzI58-qrZQOY3mdPpErxlQ3zC46_inOIUcDmveuaeMVPJK9zE/s320/DSC03816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721267477669295794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Last week, the glorious Fairfield University came to Belize. Unlike last year, they spent all their time working in Belize City with Hand in Hand Ministries, building a house for a lovely lady named Miss Rosa. I met them at the airport then spent the next four days with them. My skills as a master carpenter for theater Fairfield came in handy. It was a whole lot of fun hanging out with some great people, getting my hands dirty, and playing some good card games. Reconnecting with a place I love was well worth the many hours on a bus.<br /><br />Heading into the worksite.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzz8g-qOE4sLKopIWGpJsdxsAZJrK8_GjkaLPMEPJb7f_TefLxkHc3UnOhuQgbe_DevZLzedzHnCfe8ysxIb6_o_q9-0Z5TvY0yz5ZdZ0ozY8MewXYLfpSkKbLouoiIkneT8AwQGzkzmZ/s1600/DSC03840.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzz8g-qOE4sLKopIWGpJsdxsAZJrK8_GjkaLPMEPJb7f_TefLxkHc3UnOhuQgbe_DevZLzedzHnCfe8ysxIb6_o_q9-0Z5TvY0yz5ZdZ0ozY8MewXYLfpSkKbLouoiIkneT8AwQGzkzmZ/s320/DSC03840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721267487457290322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Moving the platform into place.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6JjjPjh_xuh-7KXeHK1hyxuAJulKu-4opJJeOrsJCHZqpLoFyIuV8MpZdrlaP-8y00_J3mfCGDAv87_hyphenhyphenb5_hTdZm_hY4IXNAmOZA358eLMMoKHedNdwKn82yh96KU4CzCV5qdjkvJSg/s1600/DSC03881.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6JjjPjh_xuh-7KXeHK1hyxuAJulKu-4opJJeOrsJCHZqpLoFyIuV8MpZdrlaP-8y00_J3mfCGDAv87_hyphenhyphenb5_hTdZm_hY4IXNAmOZA358eLMMoKHedNdwKn82yh96KU4CzCV5qdjkvJSg/s320/DSC03881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721270236456506834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Taking a lunch break.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnYuVpTLvZPhrXIu1crikhbxjBB-DGSiYVApCsLUtRHPwFWvH8jKZbwHF_nZGOTHhUf1xMXZQGFrBIN3j422OZ1yexCDhd1vdoDlDgEOCNHEXuE_Rdhggeo1m6GBVxVm3yacC53MYi8aS/s1600/DSC03853.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnYuVpTLvZPhrXIu1crikhbxjBB-DGSiYVApCsLUtRHPwFWvH8jKZbwHF_nZGOTHhUf1xMXZQGFrBIN3j422OZ1yexCDhd1vdoDlDgEOCNHEXuE_Rdhggeo1m6GBVxVm3yacC53MYi8aS/s320/DSC03853.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721270227375842546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Looking good on the second day.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-4fcBg_Yhby2YnQpEqMKt8A0GK0rLIUj74JZehL4gblM9cedQ5ta1WVdifBSEfLnCHpXaqj6-mQ69tWT5oW25UyIEBIwD8IoKAM8nxNeRsV3Pg9nS-ijc97KkKsMk4_4PZTWUTMGdSaF/s1600/DSC03923.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-4fcBg_Yhby2YnQpEqMKt8A0GK0rLIUj74JZehL4gblM9cedQ5ta1WVdifBSEfLnCHpXaqj6-mQ69tWT5oW25UyIEBIwD8IoKAM8nxNeRsV3Pg9nS-ijc97KkKsMk4_4PZTWUTMGdSaF/s320/DSC03923.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721270246649659410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since returning from Belize City, we have been entertaining Kevin O'Brien, the president of JVC. The two of us rode down together on the bus and we've cooked for him and showed him around PG and our work sites. He left this morning, so we wish him bon voyage.<br /><br />April is fast approaching. We have the first two weeks off from school for the Easter holiday, so hopefully I'll have some time to write a new blog. Or I'll just be sitting on the veranda, enjoying the view that I won't have in a matter of months. <br /><br />People have also requested more pictures of the library. Here they are! Adu!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI761CTEwFBSDMBGQmbsrl_4Oa1Y-GVhWNVbp6jJ3YhXZH0WjLA93zjHB3YFkoMA_OEx1KABLGlH4mo3i6EKAc0V0wKCJWaagpOC3bOPcfBQfN-7TBTEj4RJkDTV-LuYqzYIh2QEC3TJOS/s1600/DSC03636.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI761CTEwFBSDMBGQmbsrl_4Oa1Y-GVhWNVbp6jJ3YhXZH0WjLA93zjHB3YFkoMA_OEx1KABLGlH4mo3i6EKAc0V0wKCJWaagpOC3bOPcfBQfN-7TBTEj4RJkDTV-LuYqzYIh2QEC3TJOS/s320/DSC03636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721259577971198706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjZ7Oq1jmIJ7PXRIEaEgYigt6DaRRiJ5dc5Oqp5PaAbL_9gKbmN3S764duxvWwLai0TBsTWVTByL9NloqUCLCfUFzxfif1KENdSd8stN2mIy-ssT1a9DCXqy61pA3GDGfVNXNA1P8aMdE/s1600/DSC03635.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjZ7Oq1jmIJ7PXRIEaEgYigt6DaRRiJ5dc5Oqp5PaAbL_9gKbmN3S764duxvWwLai0TBsTWVTByL9NloqUCLCfUFzxfif1KENdSd8stN2mIy-ssT1a9DCXqy61pA3GDGfVNXNA1P8aMdE/s320/DSC03635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721259572212090498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApOeeXU27onGQSfZefS9j5RbvXJS4saeGuyyN8v4vFlJSjguSpIGYAgDel1RWWNeYnq9mKwZFBMIlOrR-udRARlEr1gdMWwpu15s2j0UprTAm50Q7fAQVpJjf3ESnXklycTPTvonz0pPr/s1600/DSC03637.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApOeeXU27onGQSfZefS9j5RbvXJS4saeGuyyN8v4vFlJSjguSpIGYAgDel1RWWNeYnq9mKwZFBMIlOrR-udRARlEr1gdMWwpu15s2j0UprTAm50Q7fAQVpJjf3ESnXklycTPTvonz0pPr/s320/DSC03637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721259588020406114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX11bxwDnLCfRJkZWyyXIYDYJL9YvLkqtp7uWFttrz0YVIME8mFDIodvf35Bc4GxJ1mUrvaqUpqY9dYvnRmPlKlgoGGzIbQlM93IlyxIk05BhTnZLpT5jj4CzhWKGp_b2JwhLfDzEN-9Oj/s1600/DSC03638.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX11bxwDnLCfRJkZWyyXIYDYJL9YvLkqtp7uWFttrz0YVIME8mFDIodvf35Bc4GxJ1mUrvaqUpqY9dYvnRmPlKlgoGGzIbQlM93IlyxIk05BhTnZLpT5jj4CzhWKGp_b2JwhLfDzEN-9Oj/s320/DSC03638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721264062106258290" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-78853608671918717452011-12-27T12:28:00.000-08:002011-12-27T13:46:23.212-08:00Christmas Mustaches, Brothers Shea, Thorny TreesHappy Christmas!<br />The jolliest of greetings to you from Belize good friends. I hope all is well this holiday season and the fatted calf has been consumed and now you are putting on a good imitation. Here in PG, we have a surplus of cookies, cake, and candy, and not much else. Greg and I just split a bag of goldfish and a thing of double stuff Oreos for lunch. Mmmmm.<br /><br />Much has happened since the last blog of mine. Including....<br /><br />Jeremy starring as Santa in the Punta Gorda Christmas Parade, as well as at the St. Peter Claver School Pageant. Now, I'm sure some of you recall my previous roles as Santa. Those were fine. A big suit and beard go well together in the winter. Not so in Belize. After the pageant, which lasted for many hours, I lost perhaps five pounds in sweat. The suit took days to dry. It was horrible. Never do that again, Jeremy. Never. Also, since I was without paint for the beard, I used flour. A kid touched it and asked if it was my magic dust. I said yes.<br /><br />HoHoHoHoHo!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGf5kdmsQI87WtmJO-_jXFUhjwujnzDEF4_d2v6lCvT9kbhl2W64HXwrN4EzwuHC9b17_dxwhPtl8xtacchsZW2pcd5HmNmo2vr0j5iiLGqD7TQoaDccG0RI_edvB3tBy3YN3e_M6UonU/s1600/DSC03279.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGf5kdmsQI87WtmJO-_jXFUhjwujnzDEF4_d2v6lCvT9kbhl2W64HXwrN4EzwuHC9b17_dxwhPtl8xtacchsZW2pcd5HmNmo2vr0j5iiLGqD7TQoaDccG0RI_edvB3tBy3YN3e_M6UonU/s320/DSC03279.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690916686729617570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Matthew Shea, the brother of Jeremy Shea (me) came to visit! It was quite glorious. His flight was cancelled (darn American airlines) coming down, but we were still left with a solid five days. Activities included sitting on buses for many hours, cooking lobster, eating, exploring caves, learning about the crystal skull, and hanging out.<br /><br />Brother Matt at some Mayan ruins.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqTSHmCl4R4y2Kep4k43O4aYwLQ3Y8BbDbjnDbrMVMYaF19DePhkbmIoOJot3CRDS8PW0VHpGnafsDeHtAvj8TE2LGz8k7d7c7qVV0VEUm0Lthf9vtAKzYJfffEM5Ff8oYTvj5qQqmCw2/s1600/DSC03296.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqTSHmCl4R4y2Kep4k43O4aYwLQ3Y8BbDbjnDbrMVMYaF19DePhkbmIoOJot3CRDS8PW0VHpGnafsDeHtAvj8TE2LGz8k7d7c7qVV0VEUm0Lthf9vtAKzYJfffEM5Ff8oYTvj5qQqmCw2/s320/DSC03296.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690922463178475090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also included in the visitor excitement was (and still remains) the family of Al. The Schommer clan has been camping out (not literally, too many mosquitoes) in PG for about a week. It has been swell and we enjoy having them around. We had a big Christmas Eve dinner, then a glorious brunch on Christmas day. Many pounds have been added this past week.<br /><br />Greg cutting up the pork dinner.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfj7JHm2ocwlZgDJzzfRi39yNembM438aBxOlRqUG8IVIZiptASBHqi4annWVfFWrD0ZzJVnW6aZ4iZYb9HzQgGnT8nsyoBSSHUuX0-8bnSDtm9z1qXUmgGFGbV3S72nLaT7fOmktj-Gz/s1600/DSC03311.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfj7JHm2ocwlZgDJzzfRi39yNembM438aBxOlRqUG8IVIZiptASBHqi4annWVfFWrD0ZzJVnW6aZ4iZYb9HzQgGnT8nsyoBSSHUuX0-8bnSDtm9z1qXUmgGFGbV3S72nLaT7fOmktj-Gz/s320/DSC03311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690922474281909058" border="0" /></a><br /><br />John making some gravy for the Christmas meal.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TD-OCiuhzdlu-HSeAldH2JQhdQGTtfcBQ7PiJpFmcs64hYFd8xoDezCShdXF-FHFF3fIZGthkBb0fORz8rny9Xv3HQh-4sAUtUhBzEwwu8mdlWMin19NcobCOLgyfQle5okBjwhKUhPZ/s1600/DSC03312.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4TD-OCiuhzdlu-HSeAldH2JQhdQGTtfcBQ7PiJpFmcs64hYFd8xoDezCShdXF-FHFF3fIZGthkBb0fORz8rny9Xv3HQh-4sAUtUhBzEwwu8mdlWMin19NcobCOLgyfQle5okBjwhKUhPZ/s320/DSC03312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690922473081975138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I had a mustache! It was the greatest thing I've ever done.<br /><br />The Greatest Mustache Ever<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigaIzjQWunRTNl5x4JX8af4VL-l9L0f4GmcYyND0mVmD2MzxlhjpTBH1rjQvymG8tz9OpGIZEPlWNR0TXUCxkiZE-GFw94cEfd3CPbc71K7tJnYFQpa3CluKAlITpHpOHhaWM_T9PHl28/s1600/DSC03289.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigaIzjQWunRTNl5x4JX8af4VL-l9L0f4GmcYyND0mVmD2MzxlhjpTBH1rjQvymG8tz9OpGIZEPlWNR0TXUCxkiZE-GFw94cEfd3CPbc71K7tJnYFQpa3CluKAlITpHpOHhaWM_T9PHl28/s320/DSC03289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690922461032020402" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Christmas Happened!!!<br /><br />Yes, that is an angel, Joseph, Mary, and supporting nativity cast at Christmas Eve Mass.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7gS93ZPX1lF8FNX88VsrGdhomz0fodBi1ATcOdzQIBLgQ5jJboFX-K2dVPiWPMlse-MlqiWsyF-RopEL83dDNf07chTwF9L7tY5A2DMdHQ2ZGuihRj55-DIGjP8SY4uOV9zN8g6TPokI/s1600/DSC03326.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-7gS93ZPX1lF8FNX88VsrGdhomz0fodBi1ATcOdzQIBLgQ5jJboFX-K2dVPiWPMlse-MlqiWsyF-RopEL83dDNf07chTwF9L7tY5A2DMdHQ2ZGuihRj55-DIGjP8SY4uOV9zN8g6TPokI/s320/DSC03326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690926335734654994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Thorny Christmas Tree.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1fxU2s3ddVr7g3UsMoLO9TTal0EtL8IUMYRQqzl92RDEB7PJp8g_DF0jzwXjY0w1E5bPtwkj-wsyEUhMvBcUf0HsZPZp829L8_CT_M3fgrZGq1FqDAfX4ljFVWYNNjn8MhOh0krgA5XC/s1600/DSC03342.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1fxU2s3ddVr7g3UsMoLO9TTal0EtL8IUMYRQqzl92RDEB7PJp8g_DF0jzwXjY0w1E5bPtwkj-wsyEUhMvBcUf0HsZPZp829L8_CT_M3fgrZGq1FqDAfX4ljFVWYNNjn8MhOh0krgA5XC/s320/DSC03342.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690926345909952482" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Christmas Morning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmOX5Lzf4TqIe75d1K-wl51WnsKNPRACUmXXS7uCKez_oCtyVheOmfeeLdq5iJ5_YDKslEreT1vGgjQvWDlfaiZkVzPtfDWjcsrI2uAB5ub7JpxLUX5bqgQPoXC0GXxVSYZmtK8R5eWXw/s1600/DSC03344.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXmOX5Lzf4TqIe75d1K-wl51WnsKNPRACUmXXS7uCKez_oCtyVheOmfeeLdq5iJ5_YDKslEreT1vGgjQvWDlfaiZkVzPtfDWjcsrI2uAB5ub7JpxLUX5bqgQPoXC0GXxVSYZmtK8R5eWXw/s320/DSC03344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690926356907489010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />We ate iguana! This is the meat, the eggs, and rice and beans. Tasty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikASWlFbHDxxEZMchN34UWuIfTHViwTV6abjcKTiavCX3EWXb-oZC3c6Bp2_sCoYKQlFAx9qLBw2U29stx9frzOVRir1JRkJioY-WoD4RiweVm6seqnyUp2dJATevmZN_kErihy4iUGmY/s1600/DSC03259.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhikASWlFbHDxxEZMchN34UWuIfTHViwTV6abjcKTiavCX3EWXb-oZC3c6Bp2_sCoYKQlFAx9qLBw2U29stx9frzOVRir1JRkJioY-WoD4RiweVm6seqnyUp2dJATevmZN_kErihy4iUGmY/s320/DSC03259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690916684806884386" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Guatemala across the street.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4UlKt38SXtqwLtK3vk0n6TkgZh2CvNQ-8WbmBpsKCfnDNQDHyoBmfXKhaGJJZD915bo_7QYlJvOklkMtmriF8KSA6nU8fv7Rx5HvnUfxaR264h4Zp3GMNNqx-UOnhSGmfHZ_SnnMBWoC/s1600/DSC03247.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF4UlKt38SXtqwLtK3vk0n6TkgZh2CvNQ-8WbmBpsKCfnDNQDHyoBmfXKhaGJJZD915bo_7QYlJvOklkMtmriF8KSA6nU8fv7Rx5HvnUfxaR264h4Zp3GMNNqx-UOnhSGmfHZ_SnnMBWoC/s320/DSC03247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690916677701594434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Freshly shaved face of me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZYJWWCxyOWnAf3Ck608iSlBksM_W0uHcE5z3TI0I8Nxn1sUTdFp8OOQHLVSvI9f77cRNkxkADM8Bx2KiLmcRs3uHDelFKXoupkyTtwChMu6qoByxmViFyMW6Z8Taw5qkMUZwJi7dhALz/s1600/DSC03340.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZYJWWCxyOWnAf3Ck608iSlBksM_W0uHcE5z3TI0I8Nxn1sUTdFp8OOQHLVSvI9f77cRNkxkADM8Bx2KiLmcRs3uHDelFKXoupkyTtwChMu6qoByxmViFyMW6Z8Taw5qkMUZwJi7dhALz/s320/DSC03340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690926339709581330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That's all folks. I might get sued by Warner Bros. for writing that. Ah well.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-64439759814333650122011-12-06T12:55:00.000-08:002011-12-06T13:30:57.632-08:00December?It has been too long since I've communicated via the blog, so I shall reward your visit with lots of pictures.<br /><br />Mmmm, breakfast. Orange, tea, homemade tortilla with bananas and peanut butter, and Dubliners, by James Joyce.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh8Kra3u6pCvoYKuZFIRcPNtvMkveCU5Rq_7c_1N-elzzsMn2-DkvFnqO8EwhuISu7VwZq3f0GEuBBZOJRb2esTXpIH9EQrZF5EkASh1Evi8LSv-F_FIWhPk10TS3s1Gt1eoaImdCWZKc/s1600/DSC03042.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibh8Kra3u6pCvoYKuZFIRcPNtvMkveCU5Rq_7c_1N-elzzsMn2-DkvFnqO8EwhuISu7VwZq3f0GEuBBZOJRb2esTXpIH9EQrZF5EkASh1Evi8LSv-F_FIWhPk10TS3s1Gt1eoaImdCWZKc/s320/DSC03042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126596273201762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Somehow we have made it to December. Now, last year December came quickly, but this year it has used super stealth mode. We have been listening to many Christmas songs in the house and last night we made glorious Christmas cookies. I ate many. They also made for a nice breakfast. And lunch.<br /><br />Evening from my abode<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5pS4sQenjYSgsydzODCDieLBKsfKa6Oh_NfZKWQO9wlsfS8H2W5fgTh3pLE47sKtjRH24YjqVTLNIypSHW6EZ_-o-Hepd1egHBuDN8rYMIwP4ORybDaKqhuywOcWdSu_DiwjoMYO-lfz/s1600/DSC03155.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5pS4sQenjYSgsydzODCDieLBKsfKa6Oh_NfZKWQO9wlsfS8H2W5fgTh3pLE47sKtjRH24YjqVTLNIypSHW6EZ_-o-Hepd1egHBuDN8rYMIwP4ORybDaKqhuywOcWdSu_DiwjoMYO-lfz/s320/DSC03155.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683124945683834434" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Since last time I wrote, there have been many happenings in PG.<br />There was culture day at school, so all the kids were dressed up in their cultural attire.<br /><br />Mr. Kevin Zuniga teaching the students how to make hats from palm fronds.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuTigYGBowtaf_AsQslBy9r1w7Qn4geud0E_YuHyN-muQXqdFN6ljNIR3jp4W8lRxMk9xaoc7opqYFnOHobUQbG0QKJ-dfch99A8dIxOiqTIEFnrD9b8VSi56r4CAr65nTXKtfOV_zO0S/s1600/DSC03068.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuTigYGBowtaf_AsQslBy9r1w7Qn4geud0E_YuHyN-muQXqdFN6ljNIR3jp4W8lRxMk9xaoc7opqYFnOHobUQbG0QKJ-dfch99A8dIxOiqTIEFnrD9b8VSi56r4CAr65nTXKtfOV_zO0S/s320/DSC03068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126082711696866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some cultural dancing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJeDKqOl7F9IIh3wy4SAPE3lSlwaZ0GuBIJCLkMj-0z9ihQiuOdHIFRKj9olZYnBGysye6lTAZQRyNvhwdrOYY_e81EZY7ihE9oGTueze3mPlgNApWgqaAT5kf_J_p1-TRKeXvNIt_9Xz/s1600/DSC03093.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJeDKqOl7F9IIh3wy4SAPE3lSlwaZ0GuBIJCLkMj-0z9ihQiuOdHIFRKj9olZYnBGysye6lTAZQRyNvhwdrOYY_e81EZY7ihE9oGTueze3mPlgNApWgqaAT5kf_J_p1-TRKeXvNIt_9Xz/s320/DSC03093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126076026663362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The Belize National Anthem in Creole. Read it, I dare you.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyMXd6geoh0lqj78azHmXCYP1hkwlWleyvlPMgQKvlKSF70dUAMmcoQ17x9lnBkaRpdrMiLrmwhcDeWXDLrDqw9lG9EAjOrbxWJm-kmnIP22Q3BwZpEak6RhNuPQbwTNrIXtAQucrcSbJ/s1600/DSC03097.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyMXd6geoh0lqj78azHmXCYP1hkwlWleyvlPMgQKvlKSF70dUAMmcoQ17x9lnBkaRpdrMiLrmwhcDeWXDLrDqw9lG9EAjOrbxWJm-kmnIP22Q3BwZpEak6RhNuPQbwTNrIXtAQucrcSbJ/s320/DSC03097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126055836368786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, the colors for the Garifuna people are black and yellow. This also happens to make them the best Bruins fans around. The B's also seem to be killing it right now, so the Garifuna people chose wisely.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYlnLDH3YzZMQXYRScNdpweIfwltAsdLq8VgzBEX8qQ_gFjP328tDzogvAp64qNilem-Gy2oP3YKhvciabB6SyMkFL6klbbKzRo4DxdNJhJfiJEL_m361f4IF0ZHhsJkpsVV5YlBQHypN/s1600/DSC03105.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYlnLDH3YzZMQXYRScNdpweIfwltAsdLq8VgzBEX8qQ_gFjP328tDzogvAp64qNilem-Gy2oP3YKhvciabB6SyMkFL6klbbKzRo4DxdNJhJfiJEL_m361f4IF0ZHhsJkpsVV5YlBQHypN/s320/DSC03105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126033991464962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Parading back from the landing.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0C56PrizUS-B5gXC8xhXy06I6mDIhl-0VSlmmpdXaClc26WoW52f_iAlxjstm4KODPE-KrZ63nmkOx70FIkSeRH6TBeOok0tMw7NMse9YpEoOu5rxE7cMp-FDwxZTy1bVWw33C3Qq1ci/s1600/DSC03113.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0C56PrizUS-B5gXC8xhXy06I6mDIhl-0VSlmmpdXaClc26WoW52f_iAlxjstm4KODPE-KrZ63nmkOx70FIkSeRH6TBeOok0tMw7NMse9YpEoOu5rxE7cMp-FDwxZTy1bVWw33C3Qq1ci/s320/DSC03113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126025550697378" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That weekend was also Garifuna Settlement day, so everyone was up early on Saturday (or simply stayed away all night) to watch the reenactment of the first Garifuna settlers arriving in boats. My favorite part was the token white guy dressed in colonial attire playing the British governor who supposedly turned them away two times. Everyone booed him, including me. Darn Brits.<br /><br />Garifuna Settlement Day<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAGwcAojbsjnIiyaHvwbvcHORqifs3ngpwd7tpmBH_O-pF_uN8zzAy3VlFQ2ytR-5kcyh38NqUunaPG1UvfBM0FxvLzcKnckvITUDJC8gwAAQCo_LDwKXT7gjMgY8xdnO-i539wABP7_2/s1600/DSC03140.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAGwcAojbsjnIiyaHvwbvcHORqifs3ngpwd7tpmBH_O-pF_uN8zzAy3VlFQ2ytR-5kcyh38NqUunaPG1UvfBM0FxvLzcKnckvITUDJC8gwAAQCo_LDwKXT7gjMgY8xdnO-i539wABP7_2/s320/DSC03140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683124960152365426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The week after that it was Thanksgiving! I rolled up to Belize City where some nuns had us over for tasty food. The next day all the Belize JVs headed out to Cayo for a retreat. It was freezing (65 degreesish), so we were all bundled up. It was nice to get away from PG and see the very pretty district up north.<br /><br />Hanging (literally) in Cayo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF1SmH6BHRjgzECqFZLFCf8Y7OZFxBzN_NArUqnAlNGRq81zo8VuDtcBhK7PQV5B4L3LxbJnXfAvbmP5p47M_5WTkfkEUQEsBDUxFZ04i46F8SLD7s-RwgNFv37yIeOlbI2DmsnCrDyVl/s1600/DSC03183.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF1SmH6BHRjgzECqFZLFCf8Y7OZFxBzN_NArUqnAlNGRq81zo8VuDtcBhK7PQV5B4L3LxbJnXfAvbmP5p47M_5WTkfkEUQEsBDUxFZ04i46F8SLD7s-RwgNFv37yIeOlbI2DmsnCrDyVl/s320/DSC03183.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683124938407038226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Early morning run with Jon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEOqgioUkWfJaGK_Vuu99VGiFhYVTkcWtWDxSVM3pjjpglsbmzJsyOTghqdmEvktxjFrcc0_ayiXegCP4QEMmZXUPOtIlqSwdZ9icOHea-K0UkCW-Fvj6zMKFseVgiYLYLEYlDrS8Ypuy/s1600/DSC03194.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifEOqgioUkWfJaGK_Vuu99VGiFhYVTkcWtWDxSVM3pjjpglsbmzJsyOTghqdmEvktxjFrcc0_ayiXegCP4QEMmZXUPOtIlqSwdZ9icOHea-K0UkCW-Fvj6zMKFseVgiYLYLEYlDrS8Ypuy/s320/DSC03194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683124934817232546" border="0" /></a><br />Ah, sun rise over, wait, an oil well. Scenic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXo5aN4XDawBTjr7SPIzbt1aFAOPuFH43FYyAuNsfpjXQVJrUjlA04SnFD4T1ySCpB-a6Xinx4xcRZzSfbeJ0D645Mm6vcSJAU0k2Zrz5gg48Hmso8jD90GE_nFTbc3lGeYjlxPLx1sv1W/s1600/DSC03211.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXo5aN4XDawBTjr7SPIzbt1aFAOPuFH43FYyAuNsfpjXQVJrUjlA04SnFD4T1ySCpB-a6Xinx4xcRZzSfbeJ0D645Mm6vcSJAU0k2Zrz5gg48Hmso8jD90GE_nFTbc3lGeYjlxPLx1sv1W/s320/DSC03211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683130080517753922" border="0" /></a><br />Winded at the top of the hill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL1nZSnF1KZZ2F2urbe5-NI1S_o8PhMS7Pm0UpM_zdofO5srDHOORUgThXqouZX3UKndw_jmoFnGO-pnm_1WNN2YDxukp7QAyM1RgtJWWEIdN3MfpRdyFeGfQ2OKCQX0C2RnCvQbvfkXU/s1600/DSC03203.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL1nZSnF1KZZ2F2urbe5-NI1S_o8PhMS7Pm0UpM_zdofO5srDHOORUgThXqouZX3UKndw_jmoFnGO-pnm_1WNN2YDxukp7QAyM1RgtJWWEIdN3MfpRdyFeGfQ2OKCQX0C2RnCvQbvfkXU/s320/DSC03203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683130071827247042" border="0" /></a><br />Running through Cayo. Hopefully Runner's World enjoys this one and makes me famous.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8459qHGSpzJEysWjOQoWEoC1EzKkXg504ITyxsrK5tuGSDLxQwm0bh7cTlMfmDwZUY7dkfzGIPg_3wirx6uEcl82FxdyqXgP-0GUdDKB8Li2uTuBee263ZWRxNyYmew-z1S9yduAiso4d/s1600/DSC03198.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8459qHGSpzJEysWjOQoWEoC1EzKkXg504ITyxsrK5tuGSDLxQwm0bh7cTlMfmDwZUY7dkfzGIPg_3wirx6uEcl82FxdyqXgP-0GUdDKB8Li2uTuBee263ZWRxNyYmew-z1S9yduAiso4d/s320/DSC03198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683130066214214866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Creepy crawler.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WtL790rcqxCTySWhTrcBywak6ZJ6zfAG6wYc64T1hnSDVrji_4q7bySV49FVnIcoi7t-sGkkMdxMYHDHqeRDpRW5eH8KuMgQ2fjuvdg535A5l42G4S_tZRlAvNMIfPMYW7HhsUR2fEMA/s1600/DSC03222.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WtL790rcqxCTySWhTrcBywak6ZJ6zfAG6wYc64T1hnSDVrji_4q7bySV49FVnIcoi7t-sGkkMdxMYHDHqeRDpRW5eH8KuMgQ2fjuvdg535A5l42G4S_tZRlAvNMIfPMYW7HhsUR2fEMA/s320/DSC03222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683123432967287490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I liked these leaves.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-9-9mvTQC6ceSBkN3JMGeA_le8eSYZD0wLfM-lZjgCZuXYw3tieAYm5Qz1Sy5NrC5UF7gFHag_qISSeVK9eMAd3lfQ3mGSbGriGb-GAT4r3KbAWT2ny4Yxoc4tgiF4Y-2S0pZBtSqARH/s1600/DSC03217.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-9-9mvTQC6ceSBkN3JMGeA_le8eSYZD0wLfM-lZjgCZuXYw3tieAYm5Qz1Sy5NrC5UF7gFHag_qISSeVK9eMAd3lfQ3mGSbGriGb-GAT4r3KbAWT2ny4Yxoc4tgiF4Y-2S0pZBtSqARH/s320/DSC03217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683123426509912770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Apart from that, not a whole lot is going on down here. I've been here for something like 16 months, which is a long time.<br />Matt, the brother of mine, will be arriving in a week and a half, so I am very excited about that.<br /><br />New painting I finished in the library.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwO72KuS8DjpECDK52MBMb24zMlmv-5GdxBEJR1wo_PFMZHSFTUnN213bjBn1jzOkvA8tecCN8901BmbyCZw-_ttxpNeeUxhBWAMF8DLJig583BQvlEtoZ_FqNEIy5RiHJQI7HfbEHGl1/s1600/DSC02976.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwO72KuS8DjpECDK52MBMb24zMlmv-5GdxBEJR1wo_PFMZHSFTUnN213bjBn1jzOkvA8tecCN8901BmbyCZw-_ttxpNeeUxhBWAMF8DLJig583BQvlEtoZ_FqNEIy5RiHJQI7HfbEHGl1/s320/DSC02976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683126600940644946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If anyone has a library stamp, one of those stamps where you can change the date, lying around, dying to be used, please send it my way. One was stolen from the library last year and another just broke, so I'm down to one, and the year on it is stuck at 2007. The kids have to return all their books three years ago.<br /><br />School gets out next Friday, followed by a nice long break of three weeks. Thus, there might be time for another blog prior to Christmas, but if not, I hope you have a wonderful holiday and there's plenty of snow and cookies to appease the huge appetite of Santa.<br /><br />The crab that lives in the downstairs bathroom. He's super excited Christmas is coming. His arms are raised in celebration.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DWl8isBzTBE8XouUP81O7Ls1-WjAcUDmdrFsvAWQ83so0AwFfnhFPNRFitTaABXJ1RNPhJGUM1c7BDpW-q0YtWQQKJ5iPiQ3TnIyoiWwhwY6_vMSK0hSHLGJInHBCfG-HUE8ceiP20c4/s1600/DSC03152.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DWl8isBzTBE8XouUP81O7Ls1-WjAcUDmdrFsvAWQ83so0AwFfnhFPNRFitTaABXJ1RNPhJGUM1c7BDpW-q0YtWQQKJ5iPiQ3TnIyoiWwhwY6_vMSK0hSHLGJInHBCfG-HUE8ceiP20c4/s320/DSC03152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683124958259565970" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-75037071386646807592011-11-18T14:27:00.000-08:002011-11-18T16:12:02.983-08:00A Day in the Life(Writer's note: there will be no commentary other than the time each photo was taken. I tried to take one each hour, give or take five minutes.)<br /><br />This photo blog took place between 5:01am 10:15pm on Monday, November 14<br /><br />5:01am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPOrauWpOeR_abU3s14lyiVHB-SB5pT6BzINp1bTpOd1Y02sWwDsgF0kkuD6zaz9VILDbQcoDmoQppliCV4X0GPFhYFWSgeO8ZVP7IJcYCnankTJoSXfk3IR6Nc8hAj8HXlk_ngKtx-dG/s1600/DSC02990.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkPOrauWpOeR_abU3s14lyiVHB-SB5pT6BzINp1bTpOd1Y02sWwDsgF0kkuD6zaz9VILDbQcoDmoQppliCV4X0GPFhYFWSgeO8ZVP7IJcYCnankTJoSXfk3IR6Nc8hAj8HXlk_ngKtx-dG/s320/DSC02990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676473396868616658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5:58am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-PhyphenhyphenwUeMhKKEcd3cPR4SukZNPFQ4QU2QJVJh0sHFm3XxIwGTRR_B0kRTWQJVEMtbe1r-BNq3MreOsTx68YcVna6IxAOjsyqeNASwdC3q2X_4UnZThD1zGYLMkps0LEoLhl8FjL4HWlgk/s1600/DSC02993.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-PhyphenhyphenwUeMhKKEcd3cPR4SukZNPFQ4QU2QJVJh0sHFm3XxIwGTRR_B0kRTWQJVEMtbe1r-BNq3MreOsTx68YcVna6IxAOjsyqeNASwdC3q2X_4UnZThD1zGYLMkps0LEoLhl8FjL4HWlgk/s320/DSC02993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676474501870232642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />7:00am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SVoUACDIZBPoZFBpjz_tF6fJUJa1YCOmErNDLyKJjW-j5e282HrNhsUi0aOLYV2j5G5qkYg2UjR0oV-jL4Ss8twl3_ufBk1Os_i98ZjNsVnfWkSWDQJSz9cGxHJi9mrvQEfZjY8NUJOL/s1600/DSC02996.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SVoUACDIZBPoZFBpjz_tF6fJUJa1YCOmErNDLyKJjW-j5e282HrNhsUi0aOLYV2j5G5qkYg2UjR0oV-jL4Ss8twl3_ufBk1Os_i98ZjNsVnfWkSWDQJSz9cGxHJi9mrvQEfZjY8NUJOL/s320/DSC02996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676475543319126338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />8:03am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc8TtQ-bvPJfBMW0qyZdZv-QYeY_rn2iMsrwyKicKZh1HcRVtHtbGwimWEoRHyennqInID13Wl03c1koTl-BI_3iE0dK6J-vrQABaaBSKS_z_5mGuGGI8msSZr7caYEy41l5i3SUjZlXh/s1600/DSC02998.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrc8TtQ-bvPJfBMW0qyZdZv-QYeY_rn2iMsrwyKicKZh1HcRVtHtbGwimWEoRHyennqInID13Wl03c1koTl-BI_3iE0dK6J-vrQABaaBSKS_z_5mGuGGI8msSZr7caYEy41l5i3SUjZlXh/s320/DSC02998.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676477672896983234" border="0" /></a><br /><br />9:04am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_DnyTv0iAk0kKKmNirPuNrzyaLKOh3VMs9u0t3gpf5Wcw9jvyAZtC-IN-wOjZH3knE4U5RMwJ8SEdqB94cIxjoMh8eZfOZCUh8xS4cLIbDxDWAcM5G4b6faBOd8K5qkNDiRVvu6NksSK/s1600/DSC02999.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_DnyTv0iAk0kKKmNirPuNrzyaLKOh3VMs9u0t3gpf5Wcw9jvyAZtC-IN-wOjZH3knE4U5RMwJ8SEdqB94cIxjoMh8eZfOZCUh8xS4cLIbDxDWAcM5G4b6faBOd8K5qkNDiRVvu6NksSK/s320/DSC02999.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676477680319690322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />9:59am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_AvhaBf15BmdQI6xGlNTPlBxmPMK4PMlSdQZ4uycMBtRJWZDOP9qSu2S-l5fDd8nSi2eNGozF9GEKFSVDEr8aU4LsbfeOTo6AEkq-HsdNBFp0S1Dga9P8LtK1rcBVJReUtGPAMvvyqWF/s1600/DSC03001.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_AvhaBf15BmdQI6xGlNTPlBxmPMK4PMlSdQZ4uycMBtRJWZDOP9qSu2S-l5fDd8nSi2eNGozF9GEKFSVDEr8aU4LsbfeOTo6AEkq-HsdNBFp0S1Dga9P8LtK1rcBVJReUtGPAMvvyqWF/s320/DSC03001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676480399235322546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />11:02am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiYQIFiwZLTiomOJMbnJILq1DiWQdWrbNJgRlHJqAwG7_wQCwQh3HzkAubSOXhXDrdLwWmRilFeNH7T3yWhgOnKMQiGIc71eSvs2Mu5pVmk5RjdYG7MNcvmDjrQguhtUlflHr7Q0suXDt/s1600/DSC03007.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiYQIFiwZLTiomOJMbnJILq1DiWQdWrbNJgRlHJqAwG7_wQCwQh3HzkAubSOXhXDrdLwWmRilFeNH7T3yWhgOnKMQiGIc71eSvs2Mu5pVmk5RjdYG7MNcvmDjrQguhtUlflHr7Q0suXDt/s320/DSC03007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676480406064741282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />11:53am<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDoSPuWa-x3mWTet7D-NPD4Li3Vz9Z84YPwsOLgXS9xwWlSh_ZBfgCtctl3AW625c73w9rm7-4tDT4yahnBu5xY7Q4UlYi_EBItWTN-ZRmr-X_wO0LjkfuNfEdhBPntg5S-KTzxJ-Ka7p/s1600/DSC03011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDoSPuWa-x3mWTet7D-NPD4Li3Vz9Z84YPwsOLgXS9xwWlSh_ZBfgCtctl3AW625c73w9rm7-4tDT4yahnBu5xY7Q4UlYi_EBItWTN-ZRmr-X_wO0LjkfuNfEdhBPntg5S-KTzxJ-Ka7p/s320/DSC03011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676483093267809778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />1:00pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8kw7a7XpLSxoIdvWctTAqMrGnlLOdhmFzuiUNymu3N8xxB4ML0chB3sbbqyMq0ERWDkY0AEprldMSLlCipoVTDp9JJrlKSFvCKSFq7toZ6WdsG3NZ1MTmvntqPViNQSILNlkEt5NV2pE/s1600/DSC03013.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8kw7a7XpLSxoIdvWctTAqMrGnlLOdhmFzuiUNymu3N8xxB4ML0chB3sbbqyMq0ERWDkY0AEprldMSLlCipoVTDp9JJrlKSFvCKSFq7toZ6WdsG3NZ1MTmvntqPViNQSILNlkEt5NV2pE/s320/DSC03013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676483096527689218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2:11pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAQRhKtqkiJEVoO6XH0_BhVC_0QFbzu_1Pg7mr4UttTOhzc6ua8MroqH5CpF2KJH4S0RH6KFSSryPznYVUzskXkj_hEySR2Xpl7pgMgfaLuyaXOfMd6-448EUr7K6CTR7OfKTuT2dLw6a/s1600/DSC03016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAQRhKtqkiJEVoO6XH0_BhVC_0QFbzu_1Pg7mr4UttTOhzc6ua8MroqH5CpF2KJH4S0RH6KFSSryPznYVUzskXkj_hEySR2Xpl7pgMgfaLuyaXOfMd6-448EUr7K6CTR7OfKTuT2dLw6a/s320/DSC03016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676483111357395330" border="0" /></a><br />3:07pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsIsBZ5efhHmZJJnX8OdtvIgtokkIR2cjvVK1Fd1avHAtMRz-PXuBGXZBYGwAuyuL1lwDFw-JRcaDN8J41UXadCHa0cGl4r98Y7pFZvfkzfoxCCdUHUSGZdGNh1zz3sLykMMeLdvvpjHa/s1600/DSC03018.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsIsBZ5efhHmZJJnX8OdtvIgtokkIR2cjvVK1Fd1avHAtMRz-PXuBGXZBYGwAuyuL1lwDFw-JRcaDN8J41UXadCHa0cGl4r98Y7pFZvfkzfoxCCdUHUSGZdGNh1zz3sLykMMeLdvvpjHa/s320/DSC03018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676485783222540594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4:02pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIVDgSXt7xMvqW_8oYEp-XaldLvbBt1LDUXBIHkGxdl3izWCScPJcJPCmpaRG9mBHgBcxZ41MRrm6CA8x6a30Jr-5AITBWJSeR16zm7Fc5jyWXTL_Mk05oUaUufyQ8dHi2ILK5sJwBFW_/s1600/DSC03019.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIVDgSXt7xMvqW_8oYEp-XaldLvbBt1LDUXBIHkGxdl3izWCScPJcJPCmpaRG9mBHgBcxZ41MRrm6CA8x6a30Jr-5AITBWJSeR16zm7Fc5jyWXTL_Mk05oUaUufyQ8dHi2ILK5sJwBFW_/s320/DSC03019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676485793206995698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5:04pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB69bwLEJr3gtVQNPeUJTx7tdrGk7YkFB14Q5bVW4cR5XUEltU4U4cg83BX04g8Wgv_Z3CH-SNhxuOMaE0Y-6d8hXDeNPRvVMAz_-sQM7z5z5JcYQU0iHDD2GISL6IEc9zV_vbwjzmAbul/s1600/DSC03027.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB69bwLEJr3gtVQNPeUJTx7tdrGk7YkFB14Q5bVW4cR5XUEltU4U4cg83BX04g8Wgv_Z3CH-SNhxuOMaE0Y-6d8hXDeNPRvVMAz_-sQM7z5z5JcYQU0iHDD2GISL6IEc9zV_vbwjzmAbul/s320/DSC03027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676485801172674194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />6:14pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpXdFbmnSgMv79aabbVxSpS7YVb0UP76Ii4DheP5oXSur5eIDUMXSb_qJ3H3AiccQq4kXbTwH3Bj2P7RmNGnGX2JPMGNMYKPRbBd9yB2PfbSQ115KJ1WLvFUkeT5dbCycVeh-gyz7huKD/s1600/DSC03034.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpXdFbmnSgMv79aabbVxSpS7YVb0UP76Ii4DheP5oXSur5eIDUMXSb_qJ3H3AiccQq4kXbTwH3Bj2P7RmNGnGX2JPMGNMYKPRbBd9yB2PfbSQ115KJ1WLvFUkeT5dbCycVeh-gyz7huKD/s320/DSC03034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676490417858704562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />7:00pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEith18y-XfV4k1ZC5qmRVLJGbrA9gSAe48RdkpPsyMvBfhOoS_N-AcDHYFgQ16Muba51CdvNoHBx1vXr9QPFyXVs7On8YM5Yp769r2Gx0PkINl-I3u2nzZjd01RtVPPfaWPczhuttyO2hJj/s1600/DSC03036.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEith18y-XfV4k1ZC5qmRVLJGbrA9gSAe48RdkpPsyMvBfhOoS_N-AcDHYFgQ16Muba51CdvNoHBx1vXr9QPFyXVs7On8YM5Yp769r2Gx0PkINl-I3u2nzZjd01RtVPPfaWPczhuttyO2hJj/s320/DSC03036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676490420297435826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />8:13pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZbAxbkxiaUNjcPJC85FPBo4-hqdL1khoTnNPeFakjk0PKnK8YUwKiepLm-ynZnDx5tjgzFvub6nDJV8uqkEFdyZK95uyuAlqbdU3GzVk7TmYzO7uPky17K11XsfINUtTMubh96-SGe6U/s1600/DSC03039.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZbAxbkxiaUNjcPJC85FPBo4-hqdL1khoTnNPeFakjk0PKnK8YUwKiepLm-ynZnDx5tjgzFvub6nDJV8uqkEFdyZK95uyuAlqbdU3GzVk7TmYzO7uPky17K11XsfINUtTMubh96-SGe6U/s320/DSC03039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676490439259370834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />10:15pm<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYU2bP95jPzQJM8flVMWRIA16yZjZKygcn2WLOxwFMsv5DFeTA9VTP2EAH5DXWXkAboiVnybFu91Lb-9zMkGaH85Y36jJpGSPb5JfXeLlHtjCMzj3WPvmQkoTaW-SMFegTJNF6u-LSgsd/s1600/DSC03040.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYU2bP95jPzQJM8flVMWRIA16yZjZKygcn2WLOxwFMsv5DFeTA9VTP2EAH5DXWXkAboiVnybFu91Lb-9zMkGaH85Y36jJpGSPb5JfXeLlHtjCMzj3WPvmQkoTaW-SMFegTJNF6u-LSgsd/s320/DSC03040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676490448302637890" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-38481852091623269842011-11-12T14:09:00.000-08:002011-11-12T14:19:53.721-08:00Morning RunFor the past three weeks, I’ve been rising when the green numbers of my clock flick to 5:10am. The air is still cool when I step out of the house, dressed only in shorts, a tshirt, and sneakers. Above, the sky is still dark, often speckled with stars. Orion’s Belt glimmers down at me, bringing some calm to my heart. My so-called lucky star juts from the Belt and I would often stare at it as a child, head pressed against the car window on drives home from dinner or relatives, the heavens and coolness of the glass relaxing me before slumber. <br /> Instead of sleep, the sight of the star begins my run. If the breeze is right, the calls of howler monkeys can be heard as I step onto the street. Their cries mingle with the sounding off of roosters. It is a common misconception that roosters only crow at sunrise. In fact, they crow to their hearts content, at any time of the day or night.<br /> I started running early as a way to get out of the funk I’ve been in. Working from 7:45 to 5:00 everyday, plus the added strain of working 45 seconds from home, was taking its toll. The morning run forced me to wake up early, get some exercise, clear my head, and go beyond the block of work and home. It has been glorious.<br /> As I began today, I resolved to go further than my normal 4mile route. Saturdays are always good long run days, so I woke up earlier to get a jump start and make sure I wasn’t out when the sun was up. At 4:50 I kicked off and headed down through the quiet streets of PG. As I approached the central park, I was startled to hear a commotion. To my surprise, I found a number of children playing on the swing set. An hour before sunrise is a quite peculiar time for fun and games, but if your parents are in town to sell produce in the market, and the bus leaves the village at 2am, you have a lot of free time on your hands.<br /> Apart from the small group of players, town is normally quite still at this time. Not entirely, though. There’s a small group of early morners who are out and about, mostly exercising in some capacity. Initially they must have been confused to see a heavily bearded white guy out that early, but we’ve developed a nice bond. We see each other every morning, a nod or “mahning” as hello.<br /> The first two miles of the route pass by the sea. It is often as still as the town, only a few ripples betraying the dark mirror of its surface. A few pelicans or a solitary fisherman are the only intruders this early in the day that scarcely has begun.<br /> Today I was going further than the normal route. As I passed my turnoff point, I saw a man standing up ahead of me, waiting for the 5am bus. He started chanting “uno, duos, uno, duos,” as I ran toward him, then shouted “good morning” as I got near. He was carrying a large rifle over his shoulder and looked like he was going out to the jungle to do some early morning hunting. Only in Belize can men with rifles on the side of the road not elicit consternation. <br /> The run continued up the road, with my mind straying far beyond the trees bordering the strip of asphalt. After about five miles, there’s a turn off back to town, a road known as the dirt highway. It cuts through the jungle, over rivers, past lush hills, by homes of a number of people. <br /> Even this early, the sounds of stirring could be heard. People were filling buckets with water, stoking fires, and even the sewing machine purred away in one home.<br /> By the time I returned to the house of ours, I had traveled almost ten miles. My knees were a bit creaky and ankles sore, but it was worth it. The sun was still low in the sky. I chased it up and already had made my run around the planet I’ve grown familiar with here.<br /> And thus the run ended, with me stretching, looking out on the Caribbean, welcoming the day of promise and infinite possibility. And hopefully a nap. I was up darn early.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-25665731311760522442011-10-21T07:48:00.000-07:002011-10-22T14:21:01.272-07:00Video Blog!It took many days to finally get these videos uploaded. I hope you enjoy them.<br /><br />Part Uno:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWZLvmaCgY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvWZLvmaCgY</a><br /><br />Second Section:<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFy5-4HyLA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PFy5-4HyLA</a><br /><br />The Final Clip!<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQyvPvmICbo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQyvPvmICbo</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-28741330739069052652011-10-09T07:49:00.000-07:002015-08-17T10:33:06.405-07:00October!? Woah!Hello my lovely friends. It is a beautiful Sunday morning and my clothes are hanging out to dry. There was just Garifuna mass, full of lots of good drumming and singing. <br />
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Dragon!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d1qRndQsazqIZQ2DeP0UTLzmlP0xZVXOw8HHvvLVaUXzQBTXKBmTqEfn6wIjOk4mRHgPGRYo7mL32EMuPfzASjaBDmeYtr1fWlIiy8NDyfRpwBa4NOIdvlDSZ_ondHpK31vk7S5an5lY/s1600/DSC02814.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661506398001170194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2d1qRndQsazqIZQ2DeP0UTLzmlP0xZVXOw8HHvvLVaUXzQBTXKBmTqEfn6wIjOk4mRHgPGRYo7mL32EMuPfzASjaBDmeYtr1fWlIiy8NDyfRpwBa4NOIdvlDSZ_ondHpK31vk7S5an5lY/s320/DSC02814.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
I painted this in the library a few weeks ago.<br />
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In other news, we had our first full week of school this past week. It was terrible. Such a grind. Luckily, this Monday is Pan-American day, then there's a teacher's retreat the following week, then a teacher's workshop the week after. In all, there will be one full week of school in September and October.<br />
Shockingly, it was just reported that the children in our school are under-preforming. In a recent exam, it was shown that only 4% of the children in Standard 2 (1st grade) were able to pass math. 4%! Then, only 64%, in the same grade, passed reading.<br />
Debates continue to figure out how to better educate our children. Perhaps the lack of time in the classroom has something to do with it.<br />
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We went fishing yesterday. It was a very productive outing indeed. He's some fish we caught. I was responsible for six of them. Not too shabby.<br />
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Fish we caught.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe4JhTpeAoOsq9qkt2hhfCdeo7AqPkje2lcjnwcWlcbxchxEztru2ZZbYO9xbMoQwp5UBgFzCao4-_ifUhdlR9vIiq3eThmwwycW0ZysNBssYd0QFSTgWM_1sBr-abJJxPcIVE42azGYZ/s1600/DSC02903.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661511695107989730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEe4JhTpeAoOsq9qkt2hhfCdeo7AqPkje2lcjnwcWlcbxchxEztru2ZZbYO9xbMoQwp5UBgFzCao4-_ifUhdlR9vIiq3eThmwwycW0ZysNBssYd0QFSTgWM_1sBr-abJJxPcIVE42azGYZ/s320/DSC02903.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Frankie caught two at once. It was awesome. Notice his sinker, hanging next to the bottom fish. Yes, it is a spark plug.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m86deSv81Sk6aKRVJecYjCpyrM3Chp_ShyphenhyphenwWnUt4s8bUzrxKvnhGGTel8m8SIZeiItz5030A6WCZtAZ2d2YT4bZatheR1tYdogoiT3n4lfYMzAUo3rGL6vTnr2BUJc8a9ZgDDISVkTr6/s1600/DSC02923.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661511708668931042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2m86deSv81Sk6aKRVJecYjCpyrM3Chp_ShyphenhyphenwWnUt4s8bUzrxKvnhGGTel8m8SIZeiItz5030A6WCZtAZ2d2YT4bZatheR1tYdogoiT3n4lfYMzAUo3rGL6vTnr2BUJc8a9ZgDDISVkTr6/s320/DSC02923.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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Starfish waiting to attack.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8ZtSx2vcg_7m7EV6S-ZiMF3sGg0_XDDovuYQn57Ro-N7nMmgszJcRZIMSOHsZsL26003oMSyyJMzioXw5pbHL9jFxQ5OX8L-UwbBbPV_HblPdcTLSZnaP4-RHfhRNgeX7NuF0IbFBKGR/s1600/DSC02911.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661511703615480482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8ZtSx2vcg_7m7EV6S-ZiMF3sGg0_XDDovuYQn57Ro-N7nMmgszJcRZIMSOHsZsL26003oMSyyJMzioXw5pbHL9jFxQ5OX8L-UwbBbPV_HblPdcTLSZnaP4-RHfhRNgeX7NuF0IbFBKGR/s320/DSC02911.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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Most of you right now are feeling the beginnings of my favorite time of the year: autumn. Last year I was very sad not to have a real fall, though this year it has been compounded. It's good. I've realized that seasons are essential to me. I need change, even forced change via the weather. I've been doing a lot of writing lately, and I find I'm writing in many cases about the fall or winter. There's not much else I can do, so all of you who can feel the cool air and see lovely foliage, enjoy. <br />
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Well, you, good luck. I hope to talk to you soon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-65617674370249263062011-09-20T07:43:00.000-07:002011-09-20T08:02:39.716-07:00I know, it's been a whileAlright, I feel badly about this. It has been far too long since the last blog. It has been a busy past month, so it isn't like we've been lazing around, twiddling our collective thumbs. No, we've been busy.<br /><br />School started two weeks ago. I love the first day of school more than any other day of the year (other than the last day of school). Everyone is so excited to be back together. Even though the air isn't chilly like that in good ol' New England, there is still something fresh about the whole day.<br /><br />Yay school!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2niLIF94bI4atUursw7On9NelCapazoE1WdosWD-JcLvGRUlIYy1CJtIMbdNG4AXsN6GlPr_iqXsPbOm_qwJMf4ZQuVSEJsVDFfqSXFmJn1-P5cPoDPUCDQagH9Ri8BF6JQ3JL3Mu_Zf/s1600/DSC02722.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2niLIF94bI4atUursw7On9NelCapazoE1WdosWD-JcLvGRUlIYy1CJtIMbdNG4AXsN6GlPr_iqXsPbOm_qwJMf4ZQuVSEJsVDFfqSXFmJn1-P5cPoDPUCDQagH9Ri8BF6JQ3JL3Mu_Zf/s320/DSC02722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654454129569988722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The library has been the place to be these past few weeks. Of the 700 or so students who have library cards, about 350 of them have borrowed books. I've been working long days to keep the books in order, from usually 7:45 to 6, so that's been a bit draining. It's wonderful to see so many teachers encouraging their students to read, so I'm not complaining about the long hours.<br /><br />In other news from PG:<br />We had a minor earthquake last week. The ground shook for maybe eight seconds. It was neat.<br />There was a parade for the students. It was incredibly hot and I drank many galleons of water afterward. <br /><br />Parading.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbSkwxwLVVPmjYDkNe2ds6atAQ__swjsESKG3vpurrWwi04ZqdnKxJrz_eA0xRdpAT9YTq4WYQG5J8jNECGNYj4yJxx8MwKHYafVceXWTbkvspNgHa-hNIyXFsWFgC2nz6q4ODMR8KT1l/s1600/DSC02696.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbSkwxwLVVPmjYDkNe2ds6atAQ__swjsESKG3vpurrWwi04ZqdnKxJrz_eA0xRdpAT9YTq4WYQG5J8jNECGNYj4yJxx8MwKHYafVceXWTbkvspNgHa-hNIyXFsWFgC2nz6q4ODMR8KT1l/s320/DSC02696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654454125734043314" border="0" /></a><br /><br />John, Greg, and I have been playing a whole lot of pool. Mostly Frankie, the greatest man alive and who works at the parish, plays with us. He might be a champion pool player, but he's a great coach as well. <br /> <br />Hanging out at MJ's<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0DWBBZPOSatNgrOsE72PCxKnu6vqgEflIn1xI9rtvqppv3ICoeCEPCqVijS57mQg7kKOdLDIykqqRM4Hs6zvJgsi0rPB2RDbYPpIVqFl-dEtwuQt4Ux5ayQ7QUS38xeUcmbai8VPRosi/s1600/DSC02763.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0DWBBZPOSatNgrOsE72PCxKnu6vqgEflIn1xI9rtvqppv3ICoeCEPCqVijS57mQg7kKOdLDIykqqRM4Hs6zvJgsi0rPB2RDbYPpIVqFl-dEtwuQt4Ux5ayQ7QUS38xeUcmbai8VPRosi/s320/DSC02763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654454495232096866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've been reading Hemingway's complete short stories. They're really good. My stories can't compare, though I'm about 40 pages into a new book, so keep a close watch of the bestseller lists in the coming months. <br /> <br />Hello. Yes, I have a large beard right now. It's awesome. Girls apparently hate it. Children think I look like Joseph. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMMPqNUsshNKM7zTMOgCor-lzbhZuVzJpqCCIE7CTUrIUxlpqyFeQcJXROQzyPRJp-cZ4JK40a_8vyzc27yVMmwgRiMzioyEIsaV5AFxbgw0WsaSjCNG-lmfJYfzpa7pay4XOh48QGksX/s1600/DSC02667.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMMPqNUsshNKM7zTMOgCor-lzbhZuVzJpqCCIE7CTUrIUxlpqyFeQcJXROQzyPRJp-cZ4JK40a_8vyzc27yVMmwgRiMzioyEIsaV5AFxbgw0WsaSjCNG-lmfJYfzpa7pay4XOh48QGksX/s320/DSC02667.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654454120999622770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We missed half a day of school last week because the teachers went on strike. Why? Well, there's currently no propane in the country because the government has been taxing the companies so much that they're losing money. Thus, schools can't cook for children and they're very hungry. I think a deal was met, but we're conserving our propane just to be sure. <br /><br />On this past Sunday, there was a charity fishing tournament and ocean volleyball game. Both were entertaining, as were the people selling tasty food in front of our house. <br /><br />Sea volleyball tournament.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TnTMU5ek0YOyERGUocwDwtzlan9IyUqw7KvGuJgDpFR-m4LvYzG-RL2qhMTaqcEK4QASceFppcslAcHH9wyoDu6lhKUNZcIaM86g2xF2EiXs43Pedy7WvsVANaEl5k6M_CA6OLtCaflO/s1600/DSC02747.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TnTMU5ek0YOyERGUocwDwtzlan9IyUqw7KvGuJgDpFR-m4LvYzG-RL2qhMTaqcEK4QASceFppcslAcHH9wyoDu6lhKUNZcIaM86g2xF2EiXs43Pedy7WvsVANaEl5k6M_CA6OLtCaflO/s320/DSC02747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654454138527493026" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Fishing competition. That's a 16 pound barracuda. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVJxhd5mu0dUB9UXvoT0pdq-5_U7axUbRhUmIA5fndalAqik4Zs3qbcdsT60dll7OLabPZSFQMiCCnV8aoc12BLELEfTPGMF8ORIWI_Ka0-ifJnWcRjZV8EqkeP78e4-CrWpaaC5AHki7/s1600/DSC02744.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVVJxhd5mu0dUB9UXvoT0pdq-5_U7axUbRhUmIA5fndalAqik4Zs3qbcdsT60dll7OLabPZSFQMiCCnV8aoc12BLELEfTPGMF8ORIWI_Ka0-ifJnWcRjZV8EqkeP78e4-CrWpaaC5AHki7/s320/DSC02744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654454133646104994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There will be another post soon, I swear. If there isn't, send angry emails. <br />Thanks for reading, come back sooooooooooooooon.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-60475326578280977652011-08-27T15:00:00.000-07:002013-07-19T08:59:30.623-07:00August, die she must.Helloooooo from where there are no hurricanes (for now).
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In one week, the month of September shall roll around, unless you’re on the eastern coast of the US, then the hurricane might have sent you into another time zone. If so, good luck.
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Here in PG we just missed being hit by Tropical Storm Harvey. It struck forty miles north of us, causing only a little damage and minor flooding. We were on high alert for a day or two, but nothing came of it.
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The mountains of Honduras across from our house.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3xkeoHwdWPa3OCBBhyphenhyphenYzPwtO8MESt-sKtgY1MGD1Iyfk2PEQ55F_7Qc8lJFBmpaljGyclNCNBsY0HF1RadvvOIE6jUFvDRB_MA1JWIj-oJn5FysJpAqBSNpSLB9h_haHERNGwJqx4biz/s1600/DSC02574.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645673140184152786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy3xkeoHwdWPa3OCBBhyphenhyphenYzPwtO8MESt-sKtgY1MGD1Iyfk2PEQ55F_7Qc8lJFBmpaljGyclNCNBsY0HF1RadvvOIE6jUFvDRB_MA1JWIj-oJn5FysJpAqBSNpSLB9h_haHERNGwJqx4biz/s320/DSC02574.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Prior to the storm warning, we, the Punta Gorda JVs, welcomed down the JVs of Belize City, as the last part of our Phase Two Orientation (In Country Orientation if you work for JVC and are trying to Phase Out Phase Two). There were twelve people staying in the house for a week, which, if you’ve seen it or watched the video tour I fabulously directed, filmed, and acted in, is really not a big house. We managed, with some couch sleepers and floor mattress rockers. Highlights of the week included a scavenger hunt around PG, swimming off the pier, jumping off waterfalls, and giving Greg and John a bit of orientation around the Toledo district, as they will be working out in the Mayan villages the next two years.
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Hanging out at the waterfalls.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmhpVJjgzJmLSZwKrq2gay9PT0PltckcoGtrmdVwg7IgSXXcpDzfmSbAlwkacwe0MuIl54gKeb71LkZqBBv41zrzcVAhgwcKy3n4AXoH-43lV3_1Mr52we3dv7WGc0pCwhjZhtwlH3NVV/s1600/DSC02402.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645664320379484210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmhpVJjgzJmLSZwKrq2gay9PT0PltckcoGtrmdVwg7IgSXXcpDzfmSbAlwkacwe0MuIl54gKeb71LkZqBBv41zrzcVAhgwcKy3n4AXoH-43lV3_1Mr52we3dv7WGc0pCwhjZhtwlH3NVV/s320/DSC02402.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a>
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Jon's toe got infected by an ingrown nail, so he couldn't swim. Instead he wore my hat. His toe is better now.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T35nY1EZB-n4uqxtrRZLkw-oto3rqDWb4-2ldIgFl1DIIfdz5teG5qd4uIBywC3R_CnId3mLjhMAtci1pWdSbhMAIFqUyVzgvnc8ebfvuZMY7gnAD4Lohct5GteH8oMP3wzJ4RDMZsmz/s1600/DSC02382.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645664317579403138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8T35nY1EZB-n4uqxtrRZLkw-oto3rqDWb4-2ldIgFl1DIIfdz5teG5qd4uIBywC3R_CnId3mLjhMAtci1pWdSbhMAIFqUyVzgvnc8ebfvuZMY7gnAD4Lohct5GteH8oMP3wzJ4RDMZsmz/s320/DSC02382.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Rain on water.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdwstimLQoW1G1mSpkC9fGKkkv0cdcNWVZDnWUD-iU8T7T_zJISwRg0bvkr0evDbLREKy9oZDvtC9fWJobOP9XglfQytx21Xe3z0M2YZlTU4QUZk5YMvWooeCTI0a_Ds9ujvxUj6RAtiZ/s1600/DSC02440.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645664326431197794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdwstimLQoW1G1mSpkC9fGKkkv0cdcNWVZDnWUD-iU8T7T_zJISwRg0bvkr0evDbLREKy9oZDvtC9fWJobOP9XglfQytx21Xe3z0M2YZlTU4QUZk5YMvWooeCTI0a_Ds9ujvxUj6RAtiZ/s320/DSC02440.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a>
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On one of the days, Jon (Landolfe), John (Rogers), Greg, and myself took a church truck, did some truck driving education, then drove out to the Guatemalan border. It’s an approximately two and a half hour drive through very beautiful land. At the border town, Jalacte, we parked, then crossed a river and hiked into Santa Cruz, the Guatemalan town over the border. Apart from purchasing a few Gallo beers, it was fascinating that a place like this can exist, where the border between two countries means absolutely nothing. People from both sides cross freely. We loaded up on some beers, then trekked back over the border and headed home. On the drive back, Greg noted that this was, “The greatest beer run ever.”
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Thank you OPEC and Kuwait for building a highway to Guatemala. Further information on this will come later. A research paper is in the works.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9Z4EV1X5z5w0TiWHrg4BPupxaNT6Rlwj9bScfLiP3VgGGnFivRBnGKFb5eOlyM_im4Iwdyq8mhqC53A5pFSTJneDspBi-77gwDTiLjddTMWnIbN5f0tzWQev2DWmimtGCmU_pzw2bBhs/s1600/DSC02532.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645664333721263410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9Z4EV1X5z5w0TiWHrg4BPupxaNT6Rlwj9bScfLiP3VgGGnFivRBnGKFb5eOlyM_im4Iwdyq8mhqC53A5pFSTJneDspBi-77gwDTiLjddTMWnIbN5f0tzWQev2DWmimtGCmU_pzw2bBhs/s320/DSC02532.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Crossing the river into Guatemala.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtI7tcmC4mE9WiXP8jBeSXRyLbedEd-npVaPsM357i7WmYlF4bso6GgGLk-1Udus8lg2G7hYdQTGyZg5Xp-EOCUn49leafbDvVe4PvQnlN7C6sOfo547s9qOzH1KV6-Fcv09p51qXGRuW/s1600/DSC02545.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645664335134365762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtI7tcmC4mE9WiXP8jBeSXRyLbedEd-npVaPsM357i7WmYlF4bso6GgGLk-1Udus8lg2G7hYdQTGyZg5Xp-EOCUn49leafbDvVe4PvQnlN7C6sOfo547s9qOzH1KV6-Fcv09p51qXGRuW/s320/DSC02545.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Walking into town.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAwHBBgO0pewxFBCUsYT9TpMFNsJUrtTGlKWSWqRQWjsp7Qd6IkMi1K-bUROiksck4tr7z-zCk3vaLIpcyfUtM_iBmY06zXotpHd2eY6Hx4juIl3Y6NRU1gOeK6O6MCQHzsWcMr61ysTa/s1600/DSC02551.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645668398848199058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBAwHBBgO0pewxFBCUsYT9TpMFNsJUrtTGlKWSWqRQWjsp7Qd6IkMi1K-bUROiksck4tr7z-zCk3vaLIpcyfUtM_iBmY06zXotpHd2eY6Hx4juIl3Y6NRU1gOeK6O6MCQHzsWcMr61ysTa/s320/DSC02551.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a>
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Trying some tasty tostados. These may have resulted in a few days of indigestion.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75W_j-pA7B0KqhyQwdPR-GH9YlUuh4S8vLJv7xQmLwjpESQGeGpyglmWbCjDtCGGLkriwQNUp2_b4sY4KQrvC9OfBAYlSGXhLmawEHYZ_xaYgTRQvMg5SuV-VgceunIbgEZd1Rb2yAsHV/s1600/DSC02556.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645668405529402658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75W_j-pA7B0KqhyQwdPR-GH9YlUuh4S8vLJv7xQmLwjpESQGeGpyglmWbCjDtCGGLkriwQNUp2_b4sY4KQrvC9OfBAYlSGXhLmawEHYZ_xaYgTRQvMg5SuV-VgceunIbgEZd1Rb2yAsHV/s320/DSC02556.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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It was wonderful to have all the Belize City people down, but it was also nice when they left and we were able to get our house back into a reasonable state. Since our orientation is officially over, all of us have started getting back into work. I’ve been sitting in the library, fixing old books, putting envelopes and cards into new books, and making 1000 or so library cards. It is mostly tedious work, but quite enjoyable. I’m still waiting on paint for the mural to arrive, though I guess UNICEF is pretty slow in getting money through. Here’s what it looks like now:
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Fresh looking library.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3k-Ziib0s7CDfeZs9r-wuNeCiicdJLWdiL7K3PYvUWar5EG7Dp0PMZIoNQWtF65As4LwDNN59pQNq-vWpE_FJQ_n5CzpCD_9bj22ruDJyJv-UUhmCZY76E6KSvgr4di9oW8IeScePlIX/s1600/DSC02632.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645673148400134706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3k-Ziib0s7CDfeZs9r-wuNeCiicdJLWdiL7K3PYvUWar5EG7Dp0PMZIoNQWtF65As4LwDNN59pQNq-vWpE_FJQ_n5CzpCD_9bj22ruDJyJv-UUhmCZY76E6KSvgr4di9oW8IeScePlIX/s320/DSC02632.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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Apart from that, not much else is new.
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I got an awesome donation in the library:
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Greatest. Donation. Ever.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta3zibgl1vHHBRw-NdSdIGlznw8Aot3eN01taASkbuYw7m7YqHiUKswF2ACuQ2hGIu0Ja52zDXfzlpqUTd_0aOxJsZ-62JqI452gWbS-IMMcb24-rN-MRbVG9BSYbuArjF5hLQsQP1L0i/s1600/DSC02572.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645673132778053906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjta3zibgl1vHHBRw-NdSdIGlznw8Aot3eN01taASkbuYw7m7YqHiUKswF2ACuQ2hGIu0Ja52zDXfzlpqUTd_0aOxJsZ-62JqI452gWbS-IMMcb24-rN-MRbVG9BSYbuArjF5hLQsQP1L0i/s320/DSC02572.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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We watched Midnight in Paris last week. It is incredible. I highly suggest it, especially if you enjoy Hemingway.
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There have been some great thunderstorms and sunrises of late.
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Dawn.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUISwaasaH3HJc4Oben84tJ73kWJTgOblj91kiAkn6OvDUJYTTLm2NQDBfiOEkWEaT2Or7NCF8rtssJIvf2HWdwWm-G0zv_rsOcUKIhyphenhyphen9-SIwc9nR7BgWKWmafmE9qezmO1V8iqJMAGCS/s1600/DSC02599.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645673144332096834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUISwaasaH3HJc4Oben84tJ73kWJTgOblj91kiAkn6OvDUJYTTLm2NQDBfiOEkWEaT2Or7NCF8rtssJIvf2HWdwWm-G0zv_rsOcUKIhyphenhyphen9-SIwc9nR7BgWKWmafmE9qezmO1V8iqJMAGCS/s320/DSC02599.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a>
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And thus I leave you. School begins on September 5, so I shall let you know how life in the work place fairs in the next edition of the blog of Jeremy. Thanks for reading.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-63277320907527350352011-08-09T17:18:00.001-07:002011-08-10T07:27:02.139-07:00EPIC BLOG! Parents, Tikal, New JVS!!!!Tis' a splendid morning here in Punta Gorda, so I bring to you a long awaited blog entry. Since it has been a long time coming, I'll make it good. Extra good.
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<br />When we last were here, my parents were on the verge of arriving. Arrive they did. I met them at the airport with lots of hugs, then we drove into Belize City. After picking up Jon and Christin, the five of us cruised on down to PG. It is a unique experience getting to see your parents after a year without, and a very cool one at that (notice how there isn't an "an" in front of "unique"). We had a lot of fun down in PG and out in the villages.
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<br />After PG, my parents and myself ventured out to Tobacco Caye. It is approximately 30 feet from the reef and maybe the size of two football fields. Maybe. We spent a night there then headed back up north.
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<br />Conch and the sunrise on Tobacco Caye.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-ASglDZAJp8TkBEIqXySecNgOuTsHWEfbeyEqO9i4Pt61_svKfVvVP6XGZ2dX3-Mn2bm8l7X3AxKUqgU9fVq5y4D0zc_VYnIYZh_ybiOeABJ9kS0aW-84iQuEtL-JFAHk0GI5Jm2kPK4/s1600/DSC01802.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-ASglDZAJp8TkBEIqXySecNgOuTsHWEfbeyEqO9i4Pt61_svKfVvVP6XGZ2dX3-Mn2bm8l7X3AxKUqgU9fVq5y4D0zc_VYnIYZh_ybiOeABJ9kS0aW-84iQuEtL-JFAHk0GI5Jm2kPK4/s320/DSC01802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639019814458984610" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Tobacco Caye accommodations.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuvbBu7UrQZH1OFoEycUytEEWqEsVhtWo83rkXQQmgvp3nHatpQV1MHvRUDHe9IiQ0NSxB49RqsMkBfRDJwwzLdo3eujbJrr1bZ4rN7UtgRjT5JPjjHx1bksC8yRgMPQN7o6ufc6yrMT9/s1600/DSC01763.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuvbBu7UrQZH1OFoEycUytEEWqEsVhtWo83rkXQQmgvp3nHatpQV1MHvRUDHe9IiQ0NSxB49RqsMkBfRDJwwzLdo3eujbJrr1bZ4rN7UtgRjT5JPjjHx1bksC8yRgMPQN7o6ufc6yrMT9/s320/DSC01763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639019808577419714" border="0" /></a>
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<br />The next leg of our journey found us in Cayo, from where we crossed into Guatemala and visited Tikal. For those of you not up on your Mayan ruins of the world, Tikal is wicked awesome. It is one of the largest sites in the world and took over a thousand years to build all the structures. We spent a while wandering around, with a guide of course, and were completely blown away by the size and splendor of the site.
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<br />Tikal and dad.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf2RgGpyado0yN_hJa1C61naHTdd6oV56j06iS15jb-gvIEu7xibTZmWu583lkGN_ldUBwjVbLBLwlDPIpwT4RxbxGlAxk4Fsq5kQ3x7-exl5KKqdPfR4uufbgh4X_tqSOTTQKzO1Rxlr/s1600/DSC01863.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf2RgGpyado0yN_hJa1C61naHTdd6oV56j06iS15jb-gvIEu7xibTZmWu583lkGN_ldUBwjVbLBLwlDPIpwT4RxbxGlAxk4Fsq5kQ3x7-exl5KKqdPfR4uufbgh4X_tqSOTTQKzO1Rxlr/s320/DSC01863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639019811458565378" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Cool carving.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQGnEgVHW3xIfHVeejob-jDmoSWxV28w4vWMzehacrrrEHGs3ucVGL1344r3jt6BaHyNsBUimMJpo8oSRJQAqj3p_tOaZH3OTKIpcptebmnwmW99ZasiVbyaDKykSaYoRQOUvhKJb5LJ8/s1600/DSC01895.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQGnEgVHW3xIfHVeejob-jDmoSWxV28w4vWMzehacrrrEHGs3ucVGL1344r3jt6BaHyNsBUimMJpo8oSRJQAqj3p_tOaZH3OTKIpcptebmnwmW99ZasiVbyaDKykSaYoRQOUvhKJb5LJ8/s320/DSC01895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639054617198434914" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Parents checking out Temple I.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznL9mtRjWSA4uo_VT-t_VVcwvAhfkNFiv7seYCNEqixz-V-X_0rJbtnujWue6xr087U8mKxZOYfDfeGzJR4VsOwqBT3l8VcIYTXIPybwj6iHao3zFh6gR9yxtjQkviOsfzUpLFpGTpOoJ/s1600/DSC01920.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznL9mtRjWSA4uo_VT-t_VVcwvAhfkNFiv7seYCNEqixz-V-X_0rJbtnujWue6xr087U8mKxZOYfDfeGzJR4VsOwqBT3l8VcIYTXIPybwj6iHao3zFh6gR9yxtjQkviOsfzUpLFpGTpOoJ/s320/DSC01920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639054621981446450" border="0" /></a>
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<br />More Tikal.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA0bP73loRu1X89HFncV5GoPF_o7hQ90Xa-AQzwKDusBshNHf-Wnj5b-cP6NFKeG69Ifj4eQyT4Pha1D0GLOLPLD4kBw2pav2lwWeksxdhPsBQlJokfwSpUPlBcabUg58sbKCtwOuNcgx/s1600/DSC01876.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA0bP73loRu1X89HFncV5GoPF_o7hQ90Xa-AQzwKDusBshNHf-Wnj5b-cP6NFKeG69Ifj4eQyT4Pha1D0GLOLPLD4kBw2pav2lwWeksxdhPsBQlJokfwSpUPlBcabUg58sbKCtwOuNcgx/s320/DSC01876.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639019818023345442" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Tikal from Temple IV
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iuy2T5KbXnf_nhuvdKW3JI32lxbMvoIJpT6GMBiloPv2xt48t1_fKRyx51pz_FsEYfC1uS_xrFe01s-M-AWriE2siMChMJq_T_KhNEjHclKk2O2a6o9mbKPw1n_EyBrhOZ7do5MyOt2E/s1600/DSC01958.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iuy2T5KbXnf_nhuvdKW3JI32lxbMvoIJpT6GMBiloPv2xt48t1_fKRyx51pz_FsEYfC1uS_xrFe01s-M-AWriE2siMChMJq_T_KhNEjHclKk2O2a6o9mbKPw1n_EyBrhOZ7do5MyOt2E/s320/DSC01958.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639054626072354978" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Yes, a Star Wars scene was shot from atop Temple IV. Awesome.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3XObfDmho3XIIIfK50tjVpJH92anYGJJbLlDiY6RJE5DigGTFOo10Dcx4922g1PRr7OLeULS-RAg9o_NQiVbV37n3C9LmQACT4fpBZuZhA11zQbCal-O690KUGl4Wi6HMnIWX8TzdRAh/s1600/Tikal_screenshot1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3XObfDmho3XIIIfK50tjVpJH92anYGJJbLlDiY6RJE5DigGTFOo10Dcx4922g1PRr7OLeULS-RAg9o_NQiVbV37n3C9LmQACT4fpBZuZhA11zQbCal-O690KUGl4Wi6HMnIWX8TzdRAh/s320/Tikal_screenshot1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639229661321038866" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Our last adventure took us into some caves near Belize City, known as Jaguar Paw. We went tubing down a river that flows through these caves. It was a very cool experience, even though dad's tube blew up in an unfortunate accident.
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<br />Awesome cave tubing adventure.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUOZnpdnDc5zqryI9wwU-T9m1DIopIwet8lUlKwD0apk9lQhZ-2P_hOc0CRq6S1jHhWJHDrSkdjvyh0wCZ2PxzlowfBaXIdeYY_xcRkuFqILz1ZDmd_4S2HDpZGgK9k_E44VaEb1fmIvP/s1600/DSC02036.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUOZnpdnDc5zqryI9wwU-T9m1DIopIwet8lUlKwD0apk9lQhZ-2P_hOc0CRq6S1jHhWJHDrSkdjvyh0wCZ2PxzlowfBaXIdeYY_xcRkuFqILz1ZDmd_4S2HDpZGgK9k_E44VaEb1fmIvP/s320/DSC02036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639054637532539026" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Cave tubing.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwzdiAY2VUmlyHBT7b2SkhfkdfZUBd4Ga_3iDtWA6aYFSEbJ6UVjECkP5K7dZkcZxEIbCOfmGwnfy9usEtCkAMT9wlxGXqNIZ_gki908gHJVIS69T_WgU9uXpfHyeMOkWlv2j4zZgYG0v/s1600/DSC01993.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwzdiAY2VUmlyHBT7b2SkhfkdfZUBd4Ga_3iDtWA6aYFSEbJ6UVjECkP5K7dZkcZxEIbCOfmGwnfy9usEtCkAMT9wlxGXqNIZ_gki908gHJVIS69T_WgU9uXpfHyeMOkWlv2j4zZgYG0v/s320/DSC01993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639054631495937090" border="0" /></a>
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<br />After a wonderful ten days in Belize, I said goodbye to my parents and settled into life in Belize City. The new volunteers were due to arrive in a few days, so I decided not to go back to PG. In the time waiting for them, I baked lots of bread, cleaned, and read many books.
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<br />Then the day arrived. Father Matt, our new In Country Coordinator, drove us to the airport, with Lenox, the Belize City JV's neighbor, who had a truck to throw all their luggage into. The tradition for arrival day is for the second years to dress up in strange costumes so the new JVs will recognize us. They too are in good outfits that we sent for them to wear, just so we pick up the right people. It was very exciting. Lots of yelling and hugging and finally back to the Belize City house.
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<br />Looking mad cool while waiting.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6CZ8iEsfiJhlqXWc7eiDFI4Fj2oiDDk4mWyZMiLuH1jbJ4Iq8-rc6MRNPlEVQOkYVJ8OIvT8aDjm00PiFCurW7f6t-fdRJ4TRW6P_5WWZkETU_g9UCYnDKQwqA3j7Fo50xaE8xP3UsJ2/s1600/DSC02066.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6CZ8iEsfiJhlqXWc7eiDFI4Fj2oiDDk4mWyZMiLuH1jbJ4Iq8-rc6MRNPlEVQOkYVJ8OIvT8aDjm00PiFCurW7f6t-fdRJ4TRW6P_5WWZkETU_g9UCYnDKQwqA3j7Fo50xaE8xP3UsJ2/s320/DSC02066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639220345520775698" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Kathleen befriended a nun.
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiRXymTlizC8p4Xs0ZEq7UVGsb_RpHHAqhCYTEJZGUD_6Unb9UOIHPPuVJbJzOZXONFDQ22DcFr0yWvTB_6e1lj23iJ_1e-GjTk2f8eqkbvDcYDH8SucZy7Juvwwogw-tZpyEsiqNIFvz/s1600/DSC02064.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiRXymTlizC8p4Xs0ZEq7UVGsb_RpHHAqhCYTEJZGUD_6Unb9UOIHPPuVJbJzOZXONFDQ22DcFr0yWvTB_6e1lj23iJ_1e-GjTk2f8eqkbvDcYDH8SucZy7Juvwwogw-tZpyEsiqNIFvz/s320/DSC02064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639220340485811266" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Greg and John arriving!!!! And Jaret!
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7A47frl7wKkxVQgKO6Oi3YIgKAn-5WV5nUYDT1eUUKhjV7ToAju1U9AN5Fjk5c4TsWLsGkW7L4BNPxglvFMQgmKf3CKBxvSEPpQ1sGZGgQ5wI_0jyJsjTIUpyeT3yL51rU01PxARRZM1/s1600/DSC02074.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7A47frl7wKkxVQgKO6Oi3YIgKAn-5WV5nUYDT1eUUKhjV7ToAju1U9AN5Fjk5c4TsWLsGkW7L4BNPxglvFMQgmKf3CKBxvSEPpQ1sGZGgQ5wI_0jyJsjTIUpyeT3yL51rU01PxARRZM1/s320/DSC02074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639220351763526242" border="0" /></a>
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<br />John coming out of the tunnel!!! And Monique!!! And Lenox, Father Matt, Kathleen, Christin, and Allison!!!
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<br />All of us in Belize!!!!!
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<br />One of the best parts of orientation in Belize City is Iron Chef. We split into four teams, each with a designated portion of the meal. Supplies are bought, then a secret ingredient is revealed. Furious cooking and fierce competition ensues. The end result is a feast of glorious proportions. Team Desert, John, Monique, and myself, made fruit smoothies and chocolate, pineapple, coconut cupcakes from scratch. We somehow only came in second.
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<br />John and I shredding coconuts.
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<br />John getting really into the hummus he made.
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<br />Matt displaying freshly sliced pumpkin.
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<br />Getting ready for consuming tasty eats.
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<br />After a few days in the city, we headed out to Cayo for a three day retreat. During said retreat, we got to visit Xunantunich, a very neat Mayan site previously highlighted in this blog.
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<br />Swimming in a jungle river.
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<br />John checking out the sites from atop the main temple.
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<br />The view from atop the temple.
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<br />Finally, after a long wait, the two communities split up and the PG crew made it down to our lovely home, not after 6 hours of bus rides though.
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<br />Life goes well down here. We're getting John and Greg oriented to PG the best we can. It has been a lot of fun being a second year, something I think I shall enjoy immensely.
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<br />So my friends, keep on coming and I'll keep on posting. Onward into Year Two!
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<br />Ah PG sunrise.
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-91636235427771195772011-07-10T08:55:00.000-07:002011-07-11T16:43:33.984-07:00Thoughts and Chapter 1Blog. What are we?<br /><br />As I write this on a Saturday night, the wind has begun to pick up. Lighting has been threatening in the distance, but the thunder and rain have been held at bay.<br /><br />For once I don’t know what to write. I’m sorry. I wish I had a profound story or glorious portrait of life in Belize, but I don’t. We continue. It’s the summer. Look back on your childhood summers. The wonder of them. I often wish we could relive that part of our lives. If you want to, read Dandelion Wine, by Ray Bradbury. It is an incredible novel from the viewpoint of a ten year old boy, experiencing the summer. You might think Bradbury is all science fiction or Fahrenheit 451, but this book is beautiful. Read it.<br /><br />I’m writing this to post tomorrow. I’m tired.<br /><br />Mass is at 7:30 tomorrow morning on Sunday. I shall go. Honestly, church in Belize is no fun. The music is pretty dreadful, though Allison has at least added some nice piano. The Jesuits here are wonderful, but man, they just aren’t as good at those ones at Fairfield. One of the pillars of JVC is spirituality. It can manifest itself in any form. We’ve had a diverse range of spirituality nights as a community and they’ve been great. But, as a program, we are here to support the Jesuit mission, thus are expected to attend mass. We do, but I don’t know, it doesn’t do it for me. Perhaps that’s the point. In the old days, people didn’t even know what the priests were saying, unless they spoke Latin. (By the way, no one speaks Latin) It was more of a time to reflect for them. So, I look forward to the hour or so of mass on Sundays here as a time to reflect on the week.<br /><br />I just finished a book that I wrote.<br />I need feedback.<br /><br />I’m going to put up the first chapter here. If you want more, please email me. jeremyshea1632@gmail.com<br /><br />There’s another 87 pages or so, if you feel like reading them.<br /><br />The basic premise: Eric, a twelve year old boy, lives with his uncle Rupert in New Hampshire. Their house was an old ship captain’s house. In the last few voyages of his career, Captain Connely ended up making a number of journeys to Africa to transport slave. The ship is cursed on its last voyage, though the captain builds his house out of it’s timbers. Now it is up to Eric and Rupert to solve the mystery that has surrounded not only the previous inhabitant, but the house itself.<br /><br />It’s alright. Read this first chapter. If you like it, I can send along the rest. Edit it to death, please. I’m a fierce critic of my writing, so don’t feel bad tearing it apart. It’s what I need.<br /><br />This will be the last blog for a while. My wonderful parents arrive July 16, and will be here for ten days. On August 1, the new volunteers, including our PG folk, Jon and Greg, arrive in Belize City. We’ll be having our In Country Orientation for a few weeks after that, but when the next blog arrives, I promise good photos.<br /><br />Huzzah!<br /><br /><br />Chapter 1<br /><br />He let out a sigh as the first chill breeze of autumn air crept through the trees. The greens of summer felt it too, almost instantly losing their brightness, softening for the arrival of school.<br />Eric sat on the steps of his porch and wondered how he had once again let summer scamper away. “It happens every year,” he pondered. “Unless you live in the Caribbean, then it’s always summer. But then I get no snow.”<br />He considered this dilemma as he strained for memories of summer. It wasn’t too hard, as it had been one of the best. Fishing by the pond, games of manhunt around town, cookouts, and popsicles. Most of it included Carlos, his best friend who lived a few streets down. They spent endless days together, tramping through forgotten woods, forever searching for nothing in particular, and finding the true joys of summer. It dawned on Eric, sitting there on the steps, that what he would miss most was his walk home after a long day of enjoying the season. The sun had ceased its incessant pounding, leaving the warm air with a dull glow, the light gently falling into shadows. He would meander down the street as fireflies blinked into being and crickets announced their song to the world. School would put an end to all of that. How strange that school could even affect the natural world.<br />It wasn’t that he hated school, in fact, he quite enjoyed it. His friends would be there, new friends were to be made, and of course, new stuff to be learned. The first day of school brims with excitement.<br />But the freedom of summer! That’s what I’ll miss, Eric thought. It is always so much easier to wake up for a warm summer day, full of promise, than for school. There’s no possibility for surprise or adventure when the school schedule starts. Breakfast, bus stop, class, lunch, recess, class, bus ride home, homework, sleep. Sure, you have weekends, but that is pretty much Saturday, with Sunday ruined by the thought of school looming. And homework.<br />Eric shivered at the prospect of early mornings at the bus stop, or perhaps autumn was arriving sooner than he thought. He looked up to see dark rain clouds gliding over the tall trees of their neighbor’s yard; the branches started to creak and sway in the new wind. He stood up and made his way across the porch and inside the house, the wind slamming the screen door behind him.<br />Inside the house, Eric made his way through the piles of paper that his uncle Rupert called his, “organized disaster,” though there was nothing Eric could find organized about it. Books lay atop chairs, which were cushioned by stacks of documents that carpeted the floor.<br />These papers were an odd collection of drawings, maps, graphs, and writings, each one plastered with sticky notes covered in uncle’s equally messy scribbles. Rupert was a historian, and historians tend to have an uncanny ability to discover all the old pieces and scraps of paper in the world, long lost, forgotten by all, even the ones who wrote them.<br />Rupert taught at the university nearby, and constantly moved from home to work, murmuring some new discovery to himself while pushing his way through the ever-growing stacks of, well, Eric wasn’t even sure what all the piles held. He would occasionally pick up a paper or two and try to puzzle over the meaning. Rupert’s expertise was in early American history, from the arrival of the Europeans through the end of the Revolutionary War. From the looks of some of the papers, Eric had no idea why Rupert kept them around. Once he found a recipe for stewed cow tongue. He awaited each meal suspiciously for a week. <br />However, while a little off center at times, well, most of the time, Rupert dearly loved his nephew. Even though it seemed his life was dominated with his research, he always found time for his only nephew. He made sure meals were on the table, took Eric to museums and ballgames, and even on the occasional hiking trip. He helped with homework and went to parent teacher conferences. When Eric ever felt down, Rupert always had a knack of cheering him up, often with some of his bizarre sense of humor. Eric would find himself keeled over, laughing at some ridiculous joke involving crunchy peanut butter, Matthais the Warrior, and John Adams. They didn’t even make sense looking back on them, but somehow they made Eric feel better. Eric had a few good friends in town that could provide all the other companionship that he needed. Usually there was a gang of four: Eric, Carlos, Dave, and Aaron. While Carlos and Eric were left to roam around town for two months, Dave and Aaron were shipped off to sleep away camp in the mountains, fighting bears and building cabins, if their postcards could be believed. <br />Rupert was the brother of Eric’s father, Max, and had agreed to look after Eric after his parents disappeared while on safari in Kenya. This all happened eight years ago, so Eric had spent a majority of his life with his uncle. In fact, Eric could hardly the time before moving in with his uncle, being only four at the time. Only a few memories of his old life remained: throwing parachute army men off a balcony, walking through the woods to the mailbox, playing with the neighbor’s golden retriever, and the faded faces of his parents. His mother had a thin face with bright blue eyes, bordered with light brown hair. Eric couldn’t picture her with her hair down, making the wedding photos Rupert had look foreign to him. His father was short but built. A quickly receding hairline of dirty blonde hair sat atop a face often covered by a prickly scruff that always rubbed Eric’s face. He missed those faces and the hugs and hearts below them.<br />Uncle Rupert would occasionally tell Eric stories of his parents. Tales of how his father had once knocked over the family’s grandfather clock while they were racing through the house, with the clock landing on the tail of Charity, their beloved cat. Eric always laughed at the image of this tailless cat that day hence, jumping at the sound of a clock tolling. (Eventually, Eric’s grandfather, Edward, silenced all the clocks in the home to spare Charity further anguish). Uncle described how the two of them had made their high school soccer team, Rupert being a senior and the coach felt bad cutting him, and Max as a sophomore prodigy. Eric never grew tired of hearing how his father led the team to the semifinals of the regional tournament, only to fall in a shootout. Eric’s father had been a real star in high school, and, while Rupert was no slouch when it came to sports, he preferred reading a good book on the American Revolution in the library rather than spending hours practicing his dribbling skills.<br />Eric’s mother was described with similarly fond stories. His mother, Rebecca, had been born to Austrian immigrants in New York. Survivors of the Holocaust, his grandparents moved to the United States in 1955, eking out a living in their family bookstore, Claybears. As a girl, his mother would spend all day in the bookstore, sitting among the stacks of book, immersed in stories of knights, explorers, and inventors, meeting customers wandering through the towers of literature, suggesting the books she loved. This love of books was passed onto her only child.<br />Eric’s parents met in college, both deciding to attend Cornell University. Anthropology majors, Eric’s mother was two years his father’s senior, but both found themselves research partners for the head of the department. They began dating after traveling to Botswana to work on a paper on the San tribe of the Kalahari Desert. Three years after his father graduated, they married and moved to Boston to start their life. Eric suspected that everyone in his family was destined to be teachers. Both his parents ended up teaching in Boston colleges, while Rupert taught in New Hampshire, and another uncle, Charlie, who he had met twice, taught computer science in Chicago.<br />Caught up in his thoughts, Eric discovered himself in his room, gazing out his window, barely recognizing the rain pattering on the pane. He shook away these (storied) memories and wondered when he could expect his uncle home that day. It was Friday, though days meant nothing to Eric or any other child in the summer. Tomorrow though, was supposed to be their trip into Boston. Eric and Rupert were to take the Down-easter train from Durham in the morning, spend the day walking to sites along the Freedom Trail, then head to Fenway Park to watch their beloved Red Sox.<br />All this was of course dependent on Rupert, who often lost himself in his research. Eric had been sending subtle reminders all week. He left a newspaper article on the newly discovered British graves near Bunker Hill next to his plate and hung his Dustin Pedroia t-shirt next to the mirror in the upstairs bathroom. Rupert didn’t seem to notice any of the reminders though. No once had he mentioned their trip in the past two weeks. They had to go, Eric thought determinedly. It would be his last hurrah of the summer.<br />Eric laid down on his bed and smiled at the thought of the smell of the ballpark as the tapping rain sent him into one of the last summer naps.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-46373401496728414472011-06-29T18:24:00.000-07:002011-06-30T06:05:15.107-07:00In the summer time...Boo Creepy Foot Doctors, Hooray Blog!<br /><br />Greetings, greetings, lovely friends.<br /><br />I come to you live from Punta Gorda on a sunny and bloody hot Wednesday. Luckily I’ve been doing as much physical labor as I could today to keep cool.<br /><br />Happenings:<br />1. School’s out for summer!!!!<br />Last week we had three and a half days of classes, which were mostly a waste of everyone’s time. No final exams, since they had all finished, so not much motivation to show up. Teachers sent students to the library with boxes of their books. The library is apparently the spot to store books for the summer. Kind of lame, as now all my tables have been commandeered by boxes, but I’ll survive.<br /><br />Is that a Lawyer Milloy jersey I see? Yes it is.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mYh29GRz_MNir2cTOYU9gfPbYQoPqSsmeX0drtCz7FSnevFQ7x7A2TueURbQiLkjKi96dBNfxRQPMqf6zi1qYdsja75LHZCIOWCeiWEFKqokiNrIjx8JSboG_qpX67lxsEhpgso_oEL6/s1600/DSC01511.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3mYh29GRz_MNir2cTOYU9gfPbYQoPqSsmeX0drtCz7FSnevFQ7x7A2TueURbQiLkjKi96dBNfxRQPMqf6zi1qYdsja75LHZCIOWCeiWEFKqokiNrIjx8JSboG_qpX67lxsEhpgso_oEL6/s320/DSC01511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623821287404624658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On Thursday afternoon we had our Standard six (8th grade) graduation. It was very nice and the students were quite well behaved. For the first time, I watched the valedictorian speech delivered via video. Why, you may ask? Well, the girl who won is now living in the US with the rest of her family after they moved a few weeks ago. No fun to miss your own graduation.<br /><br />Valedictorian<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyB-Qzn3XH4CgVB77q6YBRFbujPWLzMeyFcRGQdMgvBUml_bjh9iH56ElUJC62GPANymKDVd3XCivNkm-vfczyrLOcR73sS8Acls7Fq3H8k1eXhcl0mkhyN5So1goyvCDMje0_Ehaw1BI/s1600/DSC01534.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyB-Qzn3XH4CgVB77q6YBRFbujPWLzMeyFcRGQdMgvBUml_bjh9iH56ElUJC62GPANymKDVd3XCivNkm-vfczyrLOcR73sS8Acls7Fq3H8k1eXhcl0mkhyN5So1goyvCDMje0_Ehaw1BI/s320/DSC01534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623823317244088114" border="0" /></a><br />Walking up two by two to the stage.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM4SZXcYDAR_ayiS8BYwWZy6TUEE4kWurwwGjmdz-rVhCBcRokf3D3NANC0XXnyPf1Ur7QB0wNvCCCwQ_nxrw0ASUE-nIuHdJAG_wupPFs2tIADYcW351sKU6ZEvtojNnb7sDe-fb5IIu/s1600/DSC01523.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwM4SZXcYDAR_ayiS8BYwWZy6TUEE4kWurwwGjmdz-rVhCBcRokf3D3NANC0XXnyPf1Ur7QB0wNvCCCwQ_nxrw0ASUE-nIuHdJAG_wupPFs2tIADYcW351sKU6ZEvtojNnb7sDe-fb5IIu/s320/DSC01523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623821298255071650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2. On Saturday, one of the teachers at my school had a party out in one of the villages. While the ride was quite long, the destination was worth it. Lots of tasty Mayan food, games of pool with small children, and nice Guatemalan drinks (the border is only about 8 miles from the village).<br /><br />Pool<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-VDzMqGrH2KjFUqyiRBDdxBYQzZ0WUw8UuBHBUIq2Pme4cU_8bMSPZ4is6MooteGSIZKO9MLl7JZ4SWWfHuQsC45RLIdfpXGkSAB0W9-oAWe93KTWEwRTaSKectDFcDVVyXWG_VWkXwF/s1600/DSC01634.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-VDzMqGrH2KjFUqyiRBDdxBYQzZ0WUw8UuBHBUIq2Pme4cU_8bMSPZ4is6MooteGSIZKO9MLl7JZ4SWWfHuQsC45RLIdfpXGkSAB0W9-oAWe93KTWEwRTaSKectDFcDVVyXWG_VWkXwF/s320/DSC01634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623823321480728674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Village church.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQU5bCdlppGn49jRli9XQVY246OJaTd4SwlTwu0zP8CncYNWGJaqcye7Pxu92WIOlwx93nMxCJEeZqcZh8cYU2VOZemuGFwZaSlf0d5Zf23zpSO3554E0Y96QSGMuPI-mu1ZBQ_aAvK-o/s1600/DSC01651.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQU5bCdlppGn49jRli9XQVY246OJaTd4SwlTwu0zP8CncYNWGJaqcye7Pxu92WIOlwx93nMxCJEeZqcZh8cYU2VOZemuGFwZaSlf0d5Zf23zpSO3554E0Y96QSGMuPI-mu1ZBQ_aAvK-o/s320/DSC01651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623995013061116946" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Cooking up some rice.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZtxTvuHD-pt49hNXiBJOe68iB5EfinUNO_xb8Rn7NbfeIxQY3ki7NrDxRRZH9JbzWDY3O3SNIKY4HrDrkSrO68o9sH_hzS0O9akeLyklQcTqCUY-bwbmMQaBo5PhoKQprK5rUhs6gFSQ/s1600/DSC01645.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqZtxTvuHD-pt49hNXiBJOe68iB5EfinUNO_xb8Rn7NbfeIxQY3ki7NrDxRRZH9JbzWDY3O3SNIKY4HrDrkSrO68o9sH_hzS0O9akeLyklQcTqCUY-bwbmMQaBo5PhoKQprK5rUhs6gFSQ/s320/DSC01645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623995005795799714" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3. I moved my bedroom. Exciting, I know. Now it looks like this:<br /><br />New bedroom!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYijdShOrZ3enZqlqvka91dnJJ_m7OoUanSxaGA_YFnZKU18OCtkNuWrnz1D9hGFxm-CT-RO6TA7MXIiHMaz3HI29Yui4j2bTDBhvp6P_DUP6Vbqg9YCJJNhH1ck0tNz1kyxqv0GbgXbz/s1600/DSC01652.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwYijdShOrZ3enZqlqvka91dnJJ_m7OoUanSxaGA_YFnZKU18OCtkNuWrnz1D9hGFxm-CT-RO6TA7MXIiHMaz3HI29Yui4j2bTDBhvp6P_DUP6Vbqg9YCJJNhH1ck0tNz1kyxqv0GbgXbz/s320/DSC01652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623997263617714066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4. More painting was done by Lee and I:<br /><br />The work of Lee.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD1u38jdQwmy0sh6mXCmaklLjGDxv7A-rBFEAExY1B3WrpEn3NqRuqDihR4shbZNZJ7TyQNeNt7KicSMenAluNfirl38fnYCkXaqFj7A-H_iBcojtdvSAm0pmWhVcwlxo2LfNRPeuF54H/s1600/DSC01656.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD1u38jdQwmy0sh6mXCmaklLjGDxv7A-rBFEAExY1B3WrpEn3NqRuqDihR4shbZNZJ7TyQNeNt7KicSMenAluNfirl38fnYCkXaqFj7A-H_iBcojtdvSAm0pmWhVcwlxo2LfNRPeuF54H/s320/DSC01656.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623997276761091250" border="0" /></a><br />The work of me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZgO7couDpzzllRTtinfbVnVlnh2yiI-YJUbmIm8opdVlK-XzwHA0aiTRA1SZ02FYFKfuupwNOSFycV_RhmehXbX3GmvX_77wyPQcRMPTnoWkN0vQgoae2UZ2SIvDwGtDEeZxqjKeo8c/s1600/DSC01655.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MZgO7couDpzzllRTtinfbVnVlnh2yiI-YJUbmIm8opdVlK-XzwHA0aiTRA1SZ02FYFKfuupwNOSFycV_RhmehXbX3GmvX_77wyPQcRMPTnoWkN0vQgoae2UZ2SIvDwGtDEeZxqjKeo8c/s320/DSC01655.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623997272328791170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5. The word of the day on Tuesday was “catawampus”: askew or awry.<br />6. I finally finished the book I have been writing. It’s about 200 pages, mostly of subpar writing and plot, but we’ll see how it looks after editing.<br /><br />That’s about it, but I’ll leave you with a short story.<br /><br />Friday. The first day of summer vacation. I woke up with great plans and aspirations of all I could do now that school was out. In the morning there was a boring teacher’s meeting, but it had wonderful food at the close, so that was fine, it’s vacation. At home I kicked back and opened a book, allowing the sea breeze to cool the sweat upon my brow. Early afternoon rolled around and I’d accomplished a few dozen pages and a nap. Good work. The time had now come for some popcorn. Right as I filled up a bowl of that wonderfully light and immensely enjoyable food, the children arrived.<br />With very little to do in this town at most times of the year, the summer is particularly boring for children. To keep themselves occupied, kids often show up without notice at our house, expecting some form of entertainment. This can include playing darts, coloring, finding random things in the closet you’ve never seen before, or sitting and staring at you while you’re talking on the phone. Most of the time, these are fine. But, today was the first day of summer! I’m out of school! I can’t be spending time with the children I just became free of!<br />I watched them walk in with suspicious eyes and moved my popcorn to between me and the couch. Then I proceeded to look very focused on my book and largely ignore any questions posed to me. This worked until I found a finger nudging gently against my head. “What do you want?!” I exclaim, knocking the approaching annoyance away from my skull. “Nothing,” came the reply. “Nothing huh, well, lucky for you, I saw an awesome pile of nothing right outside.” A quizzical look followed, then the three tramped outside to find this nothing. A quest had begun. I was left with my popcorn and the summer.<br />From outside I could hear them start to shout. Soon I picked out the words, “see the crab there!” “Look, a blue back!” “Two crabs!” Then the sound of bare feet running over the wood began again and I looked up to find eyes pleading for a bucket. Yes! Of course! A bucket is right here. Catch crabs and be merry.<br />Sitting back down, with a now cool bowl of popcorn, the book had ceased to work. Words and letters jumbled and danced and eluded being read. I picked up the bowl and ventured outside to check on the crab catching, just to make sure it was up standards, you know. Standing on the veranda I found the mission was going poorly. No crabs had been captured. For a moment I fought it. Comfy couch and book, or a fruitless search for nothing. I picked the latter.<br />For the next hour, (or was it three?) I crept around our yard, bucket in hand, children in tow, hoping to come across an unsuspecting crustacean. We looked under bridges, poked dead crabs in the drain, and laughed at Baxter being a dog. Yes, we did catch one crab, but that wasn’t the point. It was summer. Sure, summer means relaxation. It means catching up on long forgotten projects and seeing old friends. But it also means that search for nothing that has for so long captured our imagination. Tramping through the woods looking for something weird. Fishing at a pond. Sitting around a fire. What do we accomplish in these endeavors? What do we have to show? A fish. Maybe. What the summer means to me is not what we have produced, but the memories we keep with us long after the trees turn and greens fade away. So go out and find that nothing, and if you don’t find it, I’m sure you’ll discover something on the way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-85865364680858190692011-06-14T05:53:00.000-07:002011-06-14T05:54:28.557-07:00Rainy bloggyA BLOG!<br />Huzzah!<br />I’m sitting here in my house, listening to mix tapes from the 90s I found in the old JV house. For those of you who were not aware, there used to be two houses for JVs in PG. One, our current house, had male JVs upstairs, while the downstairs was home to Belizean JVs, a short lived experiment whose aim was to get Belizeans volunteering. The other house, two buildings over from my library, was the land of female JVs. Today it is a guest house and home to forgotten cassette tapes. We were without a functioning tape player for a number of months, depriving me from their scratchy tunes, but, courtesy of Fr. Jeff, a player has arrived at our humble abode. <br /><br />“Juuuuune, come too soon.” Paul Simon was the writer of said words, though he clearly was not a teacher. School has thankfully reached its climax this week with final exams and Standard Six (Eighth Grade) graduation. By the way, Summer Lovin just came on the tape player. Ah Grease. Sorry. Yes, school will end next Thursday, thus bringing about the glory of summer. For the first time since high school, I will not be working at the YMCA Camp Lyndon. Very sad, but I hope they will make it spectacularly without me. With Sirs Thom Busby and Christopher Wiklund now leading ranks there, I think it should do well. Next summer, friends. <br /><br />Since the end of school means the library will be closed for a few months, I have begun to collect books. Now, if you ever find yourself in Belize and are in need of ideas of how to bribe children, pencils would be my suggestion. Today, I put up a sign outside the library: “Return a book this week, get 5 pencils.” Approximately thirty children jumped on the opportunity in the first hour, including some who had not stepped in the library since September when they borrowed the book. I have around 1300 pencils at my disposal, so that should cover the checked out books. That is, unless a child comes in with 25 books they stole earlier this year. Not quite sure what I’ll do if that happens. <br /><br />Now, what are you going to do for two months Jeremy? This is what you have been thinking, I know it. Well, JVs must find some summer placement to keep them busy and out of trouble. Matt, my glorious housemate, departed on Monday. It was most sad and the house feels very strange without him. He also left the job of coordinating service groups, so I have valiantly taken it up. I will be doing that, along with working with the Food For the Poor program which operates in the villages. Besides that, mom and dad are coming (yeah!!!!), and I hope to get a big mural painted on the library. A group is coming to tear off the gross looking plaster then is going to paint it white. My hope is to paint a big mural, with lots of help from the PG children. If you have a few dollars lying around and feel like donating to help cover paint costs, I would be much indebted to you. I’d probably send an original watercolor or hand drawn postcard to you. Just saying. <br />Jeremy Shea<br />JVC<br />SPC Rectory<br />PO Box 25<br />Punta Gorda, Belize<br /><br />All other mail is welcome. Nothing is better than getting something to read here. CDs of awesome music are also welcome, as are cassette tapes. <br /><br />I don’t have any pictures this week. Sorry about that. To compensate, I leave you with a poem of my own creation. Thanks for reading, once again. Please please comment, unless you’re Barbara, and Zarko has disabled commenting capabilities and you have to resort to other forms of communication. <br /><br />Untitled 34<br /><br />Drops of rain run rampant <br />From skies of grey,<br />Escaping the booming of thunder<br />Rippling through the air.<br />Warm sheets cover the inert form,<br />Clenched tight in the morning;<br />A reluctant surrender. <br />Light flashes through memories<br />Of garages, of cars parked at <br />Beaches, watching the storms.<br />Of African rooftops, comrades<br />Doubting the protection from bolts,<br />Choosing instead to imitate the fear.<br />Tea steams beside the window<br />Tapping the sound of rain.<br />Late are the screams of school,<br />Of the early arrivals, pushed <br />Exasperatedly from the door by <br />Parents, looking forward to nothing<br />Less than a school break. <br />Final sigh before work. <br />Stormy Monday. See the Allmans.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-81552875554899677782011-06-06T00:17:00.001-07:002011-06-06T04:20:41.077-07:00Comeback Blog!Well, well, we meet again. Looking back, I realize it has been more than a month since the last blog post. For that I am sorry, both for myself and for you. I have been feeling like I have been in a funk for a while now. I didn’t know if it was finally culture shock or just something else. I didn’t know what to do. I fasted for a few days. Ran a lot. Stopped running. Laid awake for hours. Slept for hours more. Nothing seemed to work. Then I thought of the blog. I hadn’t really thought of it in a while. I think I saw it as a growing forum for my writing. It was more a place to display my skills (or lack there of) than a place for me to share my life. It had been a place for me to process my weeks in Belize, even more so than a way to share myself with you. It became something healthy for me, even if no one even read these entries. I have found my camera lying forgotten, my eyes closed to the beauty of Belize around me. I need to open up my eyes again and start writing my life. This is a thank you blog. Thank you for those who read. Thank you for those who comment. For those who ask for more. For those who encourage me and make me feel like my time here isn’t a waste. Thank you for thinking the blog of a 23 year old is somehow worth your time in reading.<br /><br />Storm cloud a' raging<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHlMlexkL9vn32M32dub-dUmBdhi4w5Ues6eI0c5AuOqibewndtVSn947vKUO6ExATg4dUAO0ZDLGss1MQi3GxN5-8i_vaWQBpgeVENsUj8IEJGFYGFXqHbzU5GtFstu6FbiI4Orwsi7w/s1600/DSC01443.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHlMlexkL9vn32M32dub-dUmBdhi4w5Ues6eI0c5AuOqibewndtVSn947vKUO6ExATg4dUAO0ZDLGss1MQi3GxN5-8i_vaWQBpgeVENsUj8IEJGFYGFXqHbzU5GtFstu6FbiI4Orwsi7w/s320/DSC01443.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615026333285310690" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What has been going on these past weeks, you wonder? Well, that is a fine question.<br /><br />Immediately after coming back from Nicaragua, I found myself in Hopkins. Hopkins is a mostly Garifuna village about halfway between Punta Gorda and Belize City, right on the water.<br /><br />Hopkins.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolpvDNvUkiil4RcuKSIvoCEGlh1hiEqqpNcM0OpXwY8XAgECnxuoC8rSqRTRtKE8Ip9hfajbhHVyp1IeOnYZi5sbv10m3-Yhz07SqxrOmUg3k3F5xfFhnezIim5QAoA6KHm_lh0l57YcJ/s1600/DSC01220.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolpvDNvUkiil4RcuKSIvoCEGlh1hiEqqpNcM0OpXwY8XAgECnxuoC8rSqRTRtKE8Ip9hfajbhHVyp1IeOnYZi5sbv10m3-Yhz07SqxrOmUg3k3F5xfFhnezIim5QAoA6KHm_lh0l57YcJ/s320/DSC01220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615006487300161346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkwq0xSykIk5ljvm0_Ooi5X0WYw1UA6ADiigP6xg4aHiVFSxUtqzl1cMuz4oodi3pxpBeOhX1v0IgWNK3E3i1WOzEQ7ToetwfJIpBIvpkSNOTwutMB56IYDZNLGKmnoMBwwFeDiivSBOW/s1600/DSC01232.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkwq0xSykIk5ljvm0_Ooi5X0WYw1UA6ADiigP6xg4aHiVFSxUtqzl1cMuz4oodi3pxpBeOhX1v0IgWNK3E3i1WOzEQ7ToetwfJIpBIvpkSNOTwutMB56IYDZNLGKmnoMBwwFeDiivSBOW/s320/DSC01232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615006498871746130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />There are wonderful sandy beaches in Hopkins, something I often wish Punta Gorda had. I suppose that would draw more tourists, so I guess our lack of beaches is good in that sense. We were in Hopkins for a week for Reo-Orientation/Dis-Orientation (Re-O/Dis-O). For this retreat, our wonderful staff from DC, Daniel and Margaret, came down. It was a great week of reflecting on the past year here, as well as getting to spend some quality time with the second years who are soon departing. I also spent a long time lying on glorious hammocks by the sea. We also found our prior to the retreat that Father Jeff, our in-country coordinator, Jesuit Provincial, and most excellent friend, will be leaving Belize in a few weeks to be reassigned in Denver. It was great to spend some time with him before we say farewell (which was on Friday for me).<br /><br />Starting school after two weeks of Easter vacation then a week long retreat was a bit odd, especially since I had a site visit by the ol’ bosses the first day back. While I was a tad stressed out at having boss people visit me, I didn’t have much to worry about. It turns out my worksite is a whole lot less stressful than the other PG volunteers, so my visit was a breeze. It was great being back at school and seeing all the kids, some of whom were concerned that I had left for good. Never fear, small children, there is a good twelve months before that happens.<br /><br />This coming week will be the fourth straight week during which I will have had a service group from the US in the library. While the company is nice, I haven’t been able to work with my reading groups, which isn’t ideal. They had been going fairly poorly, as the kids have really stopped caring about what they were doing, but it was good having them in the library and hanging out, no matter the headaches they cause. I’ve spent time indexing my National Geographics, memorizing the world map, reading Max Weber, and going some serious thumb twiddling. I’m getting really good.<br /><br />I suffered a bizarre injury the other week. While removing my shirt on a particularly hot Sunday night, my hand came down upon a pair of sunglasses, shattering them. A large shard lodged itself into my hand, causing immense pain. I quickly wrapped up my hand in a Fairfield shirt (the one that had conveniently just been removed) and quickly walked over to our nurse friends’ house. They drove me to their clinic, opened it up, and gave me five stitches. My first stitches ever! The wound healed nicely, until Friday night, when I tripped over Baxter walking down the stairs, which caused me to tumble head first down a number of steps. Apart from some cuts and bruises on my arms, legs, kneecaps, and side, I tore open the cut again. Once again, my hand is wrapped up, hopefully to help it heal sometime in the near future.<br /><br />Ouch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuiCUGO5fFXpcGT1c_HnO2Hynl46-npvNGHYaPJpZcTypgPiMYYLYat8h7O814A4eibOqNTmAXx4kPMSDbQSHR6tWnSTQWW2OPBRLKcJGQH7_P3sAx_-S3_uZK9g23m6yKCkRJpdXjihh/s1600/DSC01371.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuiCUGO5fFXpcGT1c_HnO2Hynl46-npvNGHYaPJpZcTypgPiMYYLYat8h7O814A4eibOqNTmAXx4kPMSDbQSHR6tWnSTQWW2OPBRLKcJGQH7_P3sAx_-S3_uZK9g23m6yKCkRJpdXjihh/s320/DSC01371.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615020432814097554" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Other events include a teachers’ weekend, where I got to go on a trip to San Ignatio and Guatemala with my staff. During said trip, I won $150 in blackjack at a casino. Solid. Barbara and Zarko (aunt and uncle of moi) visited briefly but twas a great visit.<br /><br />On a sad note, Matthew Wooters, glorious community mate of Jeremy, leaves tomorrow morning after two years of service in Belize. We had a party for him this weekend, which was a whole lot of fun. He will be dearly missed and the room next to mine will be empty for a few months. However, we have two guys coming on August 1 to start their two years, so the arrival of John and Greg is being looked forward to already.<br /><br />Matt's Party Goers<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b6s7TEDUwbntbXN99ljfYbZpifaw5YOPSo57Pa87WK2xsgQ8DpFfnEBeRN44hdJ3Rff2E51WwgZHtELQjEh5Q5z0pV6tdmSr37Gb9zcitZwrIAdWgoyN_67LYVTOcdq6DsN8tdNV6ZZ4/s1600/DSC01455.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2b6s7TEDUwbntbXN99ljfYbZpifaw5YOPSo57Pa87WK2xsgQ8DpFfnEBeRN44hdJ3Rff2E51WwgZHtELQjEh5Q5z0pV6tdmSr37Gb9zcitZwrIAdWgoyN_67LYVTOcdq6DsN8tdNV6ZZ4/s320/DSC01455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615026348169247362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More party.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypj-Iu5nC5d0C7Rqp3zrsrvBQBOTfou3aBD0jljBzNXrRxJWVbGPdqPlmubsR-dSxv6agAiSwyj0_heZLKtfkLrIBV9bexl_5oVa6teTOjfU492xdb6F9nvLJn0K0zv2b9P20tCJklT4s/s1600/DSC01462.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypj-Iu5nC5d0C7Rqp3zrsrvBQBOTfou3aBD0jljBzNXrRxJWVbGPdqPlmubsR-dSxv6agAiSwyj0_heZLKtfkLrIBV9bexl_5oVa6teTOjfU492xdb6F9nvLJn0K0zv2b9P20tCJklT4s/s320/DSC01462.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615026355571834066" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I shall miss you Matt.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOWtPgSty88Ipd93k0zujUqz-ntLD48AYndnHrmO4xeTUgCb6omsvU52z0zy5orNpT-Wz9hg1jznkRmSq5abrGWvDAj3VkFK6Wey57BcymgNaYv6CvLPKdQ9ETkXyVxBY7CyXjPfUJac1/s1600/DSC01219.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOWtPgSty88Ipd93k0zujUqz-ntLD48AYndnHrmO4xeTUgCb6omsvU52z0zy5orNpT-Wz9hg1jznkRmSq5abrGWvDAj3VkFK6Wey57BcymgNaYv6CvLPKdQ9ETkXyVxBY7CyXjPfUJac1/s320/DSC01219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615006480846422434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Well, this felt great. Hopefully the next blog will be in the next week, perhaps two. If it isn’t, I expect someone, perhaps you, to call me out. Please! It’s for my own good. Thanks for reading.<br /><br />checking out the sea.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vTEeEBk-7espWsIs3SldUEWcgixGQox_F6Ffchrqmsaz7KZpBYLYH_oeYolRI8mizV8LvVtWouu-wL6owtb_MmvQX9LXKZ_NDkt3yPT5rTSlu-w-JFIvIwiHnE0_RV28XIg39VcB3j3y/s1600/DSC01410.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_vTEeEBk-7espWsIs3SldUEWcgixGQox_F6Ffchrqmsaz7KZpBYLYH_oeYolRI8mizV8LvVtWouu-wL6owtb_MmvQX9LXKZ_NDkt3yPT5rTSlu-w-JFIvIwiHnE0_RV28XIg39VcB3j3y/s320/DSC01410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615020444332084914" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-89083817558795444702011-04-28T18:01:00.000-07:002011-04-29T07:20:13.540-07:00Honduran and Nicaraguan Travel Journal<span style="font-weight: bold;">Writer's Note:</span><br />This (very long) blog post was all written between April 16-28 while traveling to Honduras and Guatemala. Accompanying pictures were also taken on said trip. It's really long. Enjoy though.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ktduT-cNTqrxQcfDshmfXKFw68KVILBiU7azKOzvdS9EwxadUuTMb6pyI8xkVzfkW52YMEdKw8NwRUf9LlQrhUxFOpKbx-so-TW9zEW211MKNYfqBUiQaqWw3n25owTtTjFKD1fjjr0z/s1600/DSC01019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ktduT-cNTqrxQcfDshmfXKFw68KVILBiU7azKOzvdS9EwxadUuTMb6pyI8xkVzfkW52YMEdKw8NwRUf9LlQrhUxFOpKbx-so-TW9zEW211MKNYfqBUiQaqWw3n25owTtTjFKD1fjjr0z/s320/DSC01019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600994096271436274" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">H2O</span><br />We drink it, shower in it, wash dishes with it, waste it, conserve it, pollute it, clean it, curse it, and worship it. Water has brought the great civilizations to power and left others in Atlantian ruin. A sprinkle, drizzle, shower, downpour, squall, storm, hurricane, monsoon. Everywhere we see it and it is the topic of every conversation. Sure is hot, isn’t it? Hasn’t rained in a while. Those clouds look menacing. We haven’t seen the sun in six days!<br /><br />So yes, we acknowledge water and its important existence everyday. We, the privileged few who sit and can casually read a blog with free time at an expensive computer connected to an unfathomable web of information. Do we appreciate as much as some people? I don’t imagine you have to walk six miles a day to fill up a bucket at a possibly contaminated well in order for your family to drink. No, I don’t either. But when can you can totally forget about all the uses of water, the headaches and hastles, and simply consider it, as it. As water.<br /><br />To get from Punta Gorda to Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, or other points south, two options present themselves. One is to travel up to Belmopan, west to Guatemala, then to other locals. Option two is to hop on a water taxi and take an hour and a half ride across the Gulf of Honduras to Puerto Barrior, Guatemala. Once the boat departs PG, recognizable land forms quickly disappear into haze. It was then I realized, for the first time, how completely insane the ocean is. I’m floating on trillions of galleons of water and not just that, I’m floating on top of the home of millions of beings. On land, we’re kings of the castle. We’ve tamed animals, carved cities into rock, and harvested the bounty of the plants. What do we have on the ocean? Sure, fishermen pull creatures up for us to enjoy battered and fried, but how many times do we hear of them coming back with small catches? Not coming back at all? When we enter the world of the sea, it is no longer the planet we are familiar with. No longer do I feel in control. My mortality is far more at risk in the water than on land. We can calculate how far away stars are that appear as tiny pinpoints of light, but no one knows how many sharks are in the ocean? How many species of fish? The locations of shipwrecks? Bouncing over these waves, far from any comforting plant, or even sand dune, all this hit home. The sea is big. Really big. Unfathomably unfathomable. And guess what? It’s only a bit of water. We have water figured out, right?<br />Maybe not.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Making sense of senses</span><br /> “Hey, there’s the place the hostel told us to eat,” Al said, pointing across the street.<br /> We looked over there, then Christin motioned to our left.<br /> “Let’s check out the mall. We can just walk in and see what’s going on. I haven’t seen a mall in a while.”<br /> Sounds good to me, that fast food place doesn’t look all that special.<br /> “I’m down with the mall,” I agree, “but I haven’t really eaten anything for the past twelve hours, so let’s find something fast.”<br /> Al and Christin murmured in agreement to this hunger sentiment as we walked toward the very large building.<br /> “Is that an Applebees?”<br /> No way. “Holy crap, it is!” This is weird. I haven’t seen an American chain since leaving Boston August 1. Applebees. I forgot they even existed. McDonalds and Burger Kind, sure. But Applebees.<br /> We pushed through the big doors and found ourselves in a different world. I haven’t felt underdressed in Central America, but for some reason, my faded Jimmy Hendrix t-shirt from high school and khaki pants aren’t cutting it. Polos, graphic tees, chains, skinny jeans. Fashion. Weird. I didn’t expect this in Honduras.<br /> “An escalator! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m down for riding this all night.”<br /> Luckily the girls shared my enthusiasm for the incredible moving stairs and we rode up in style. At the top, grinning at the magnitude of the accomplishment, I looked around and discovered where we were: the food court. My God. Applebees was only the beginning. There were more people here than the entirety of Punta Gorda. McDonalds. Pizza Hut. KFC. Quiznos. Dunkin Donuts. Dunkin Donuts!!! What is this place?! A TV, 20ft high, 30ft wide, playing a MLS soccer game. Blackberries and Iphones.<br /> Woah.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6PhoVog8Ie3kWSlXG3yn4DfaFsxsNpi0tYZeWPSh9h74VdDVZcv7BV9TeJP12UEK9cIRCre4CSviYWdP2qkijOE9LWiwxHIdk_bamzorrmLP1gd3d9j8UwoenM4YOMWMSx_PMp7zXbSF/s1600/DSC00801.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6PhoVog8Ie3kWSlXG3yn4DfaFsxsNpi0tYZeWPSh9h74VdDVZcv7BV9TeJP12UEK9cIRCre4CSviYWdP2qkijOE9LWiwxHIdk_bamzorrmLP1gd3d9j8UwoenM4YOMWMSx_PMp7zXbSF/s320/DSC00801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600813810668205522" border="0" /></a><br />mmmmmm, Quiznos<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr6vwKZZmzIy0YY3c_8lC4TmNRq2VtWfBWFKmBqMBob4d5ldR0rtO6S71NUr_Vg52HGkXg7P3f6IokJM-oBG3kiBRWhbFu_rx29nychaqjugDavGx1SA3zMrMqP44wwnDrRc_OOH-Wkpl/s1600/DSC00798.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicr6vwKZZmzIy0YY3c_8lC4TmNRq2VtWfBWFKmBqMBob4d5ldR0rtO6S71NUr_Vg52HGkXg7P3f6IokJM-oBG3kiBRWhbFu_rx29nychaqjugDavGx1SA3zMrMqP44wwnDrRc_OOH-Wkpl/s320/DSC00798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600812138680199170" border="0" /></a><br />Mallification<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBgtfuviYGiAonJyzqXy0dtOQ-PdGozRStllGo3ePWHC9ETqy75PFRwgR4Yh60MNycv26bTc-4UCiWXf4BEiMWn6nYmmDfOG7zRDSnqyor3qfS5oCoTTWouZuN5FCCjMQpwBpK_Ahg3s_/s1600/DSC00794.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBgtfuviYGiAonJyzqXy0dtOQ-PdGozRStllGo3ePWHC9ETqy75PFRwgR4Yh60MNycv26bTc-4UCiWXf4BEiMWn6nYmmDfOG7zRDSnqyor3qfS5oCoTTWouZuN5FCCjMQpwBpK_Ahg3s_/s320/DSC00794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600810833108731026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> After twenty minutes of open mouthed wandering, we settled on Quiznos. A glorious birthday dinner. Pepsi from a soda fountain to wash the sandwich down. The girls treated me to dessert at Dunks/Baskins Robins. Nothing like donuts and ice cream.<br /> It was an overload. I was not prepared for this environment. Fashionable youth. Air conditioning. Fast food joints lit up by neon glory with ladies giving out Asian style chicken. This was America in my mind, not Honduras. Systems overload.<br /><br />Dunks!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT2uF7GLCQJWvF7baDm-RigHaXGvHVCmBZUVZnML3Q7HxdHZO7XOCFeKFT3RJ4puH5MxoMuTLq_cYToLsNnnpGZ_WPYdlUzKawGhXpUpTpGPyXKXFKhEW-7v_G1mA48qwpXqK0syKs0bO/s1600/DSC00802.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT2uF7GLCQJWvF7baDm-RigHaXGvHVCmBZUVZnML3Q7HxdHZO7XOCFeKFT3RJ4puH5MxoMuTLq_cYToLsNnnpGZ_WPYdlUzKawGhXpUpTpGPyXKXFKhEW-7v_G1mA48qwpXqK0syKs0bO/s320/DSC00802.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600815150839991170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Contrast this with Esquias. From Sand Pedro Sula, the host of said mall, it was a three hour bus ride down the highway, then another three hours in a school bus winding through dusty roads cut through pine forests and mountain valleys.<br /> Quiet. That’s what I found here. It is strange to be away from the ocean sounds and local birds and snippets of Creole. It’s refreshing. Esquias is an affluent town, surrounded by the wealth of coffee that grows abundantly on the cool slopes of this hilly country.<br /><br />Winding roads<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTB58r14iiUVD-pHJSnzU-CA8vou0PwCMoM0mvwdf8WBMY4YAhqhMGnjonp8P8rBgPkzSd_eF6kyCou0IOJYyItB_yoCwxbLHY71lZLr0srBWv_54sVtDBVBtnDdKfzvVAgXkzan5syHF/s1600/DSC00828.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTB58r14iiUVD-pHJSnzU-CA8vou0PwCMoM0mvwdf8WBMY4YAhqhMGnjonp8P8rBgPkzSd_eF6kyCou0IOJYyItB_yoCwxbLHY71lZLr0srBWv_54sVtDBVBtnDdKfzvVAgXkzan5syHF/s320/DSC00828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600817843807400098" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> From miles away, the imposing white façade of the 1700s era church can be seen, dominating the town. Around the place of worship, small cobblestone and cement streets cut through the trees and yards. It is a peaceful town with a tired stream that cuts through a tired ravine.<br /><br />Esquias Church<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDHSYZYWiXT4KzzUbvcKlqOfNikQEySEo01pJRthXPBUTHTLwFU56XVz0SsGZlecCT7fsEeKjK4P0Bd8TDgpc8HjuUhBpr4PmtneZ3uoj_4m1k4KrSeDTs7b7sHEiTzWRlse04r2cUZ60/s1600/DSC00838.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDHSYZYWiXT4KzzUbvcKlqOfNikQEySEo01pJRthXPBUTHTLwFU56XVz0SsGZlecCT7fsEeKjK4P0Bd8TDgpc8HjuUhBpr4PmtneZ3uoj_4m1k4KrSeDTs7b7sHEiTzWRlse04r2cUZ60/s320/DSC00838.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600824552949031410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> Song birds chirp through the trees while in the smoky light of evening, cooking can be smelled in the streets.<br /> Here too, one is confronted with a wide range of new stimuli. While not flashing lights and fashion, it too takes some getting used to.<br /><br />Scenic road.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoYnfFv_2e3nf29DnQeDw0NNRZZ-0DmWXgt1MQIOlLLrELeUiFzSe4QGBJVdudNJ24nsWfzwTPJJqZzYF1YIpN9QlFx03_ExGRDrsziuI_IQnlxPv_XcybuX3eKUxYo8CMy6HD3zFXqUH/s1600/DSC01021.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoYnfFv_2e3nf29DnQeDw0NNRZZ-0DmWXgt1MQIOlLLrELeUiFzSe4QGBJVdudNJ24nsWfzwTPJJqZzYF1YIpN9QlFx03_ExGRDrsziuI_IQnlxPv_XcybuX3eKUxYo8CMy6HD3zFXqUH/s320/DSC01021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600997787212256706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Morning Fire</span><br /> “Jeremy, Jeremy, look over there.” Now, I hadn’t been doing any looking in the past twenty minutes. I got up an hour earlier at 3:40am so we could catch the bus to Tegus. I was tired. While the loud music and bumpy roads worked against me, I was determined to catch some more sleep in the early darkness.<br /> What is there to see, I wondered as I opened the lids to oblige Christin’s voice.<br /> Fire. The woods were aflame. Not a raging tempest, but a forest fire none the less. Red and orange tongues grew from underbrush and clung to trees, flicking light and shadow through the dark.<br /> Almost as soon as we were next to it, the bus shot on through the forest, leaving only a haunting memory of these morning flames dancing in my memory.<br /><br />Fire<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmFi4IoHNmbtQA6XOZ1qLY4olpZOI56gS2DTu7kKLhuyB9nGOw-LcK89LWR4IUVajNK4_WxOzAyyVoG86AdrN3UNkBEDBhzkedXgNokQl4IUknrbWqCt3m4qIQZpnew4x2KtIAQz6-oxF/s1600/DSC01051.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmFi4IoHNmbtQA6XOZ1qLY4olpZOI56gS2DTu7kKLhuyB9nGOw-LcK89LWR4IUVajNK4_WxOzAyyVoG86AdrN3UNkBEDBhzkedXgNokQl4IUknrbWqCt3m4qIQZpnew4x2KtIAQz6-oxF/s320/DSC01051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600997804015717362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Difference a Border Makes</span><br /><br /> Borders. Ever since the Treat of Westphalia, which established the criteria for an independent state, the world has been obsessed with borders, these boundaries which designate one piece of land from another. These imaginary lines which for all intensive purposes exist only on maps, cause violence, hatred, and separation between and amongst neighbors. Kashmir. The DMZ. Mexico/US. Israel and Palestine.<br /> When you come to a border, especially via a major road, the first thing you often notice is all the trucks. They are lined up, waiting to bring goods from one country to another. Then there’s the soldiers with tall, black leather boots, money exchangers with stacks of bills and calculators hung from their necks, small shacks selling food, then, of course, customs/immigration. Pass through all of this with a stamp of approval in your little book and you’re in a new country.<br /><br />Crossing into Nica<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ufkX85OtW7rmdTevb2kWpC9_51aZnKxXb61FfczgWwu-uI8W7uRar9bFzk4O-cwPDzV_Qx75QEqaT6nqLgYTViCfMAHUVGooJHtDQ767_pm-hOKQ8OJNlk1tu8jk_FdmB8elI23DRCGp/s1600/DSC01061.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ufkX85OtW7rmdTevb2kWpC9_51aZnKxXb61FfczgWwu-uI8W7uRar9bFzk4O-cwPDzV_Qx75QEqaT6nqLgYTViCfMAHUVGooJHtDQ767_pm-hOKQ8OJNlk1tu8jk_FdmB8elI23DRCGp/s320/DSC01061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601003840073290866" border="0" /></a><br />Honduras<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtw5BxHwmCS07yGTUHOJNoI37Y_0i992GePpenXfV5Iu0RrlOLkKW78v28KOhdgbqVHhwB5RPwIds-GP5ZCZdqIYxpqAa4ImeyBg_yvLdSl7HiroFYYmhfdrsFusvbBw90OQI5emDlrqY/s1600/DSC01055.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtw5BxHwmCS07yGTUHOJNoI37Y_0i992GePpenXfV5Iu0RrlOLkKW78v28KOhdgbqVHhwB5RPwIds-GP5ZCZdqIYxpqAa4ImeyBg_yvLdSl7HiroFYYmhfdrsFusvbBw90OQI5emDlrqY/s320/DSC01055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601003832494221538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> But how new is it? Especially between most Central American countries, like Honduras and Nicaragua, the border I just crossed, you don’t have a language change. The land doesn’t care much what country it’s in, same trees, same rocks, oddly enough the same sky above.<br /> So why does it feel different, to pass into a new country? I’m sitting on this crowded bus trying to figure that out. Maybe it’s the man preaching about Jesus Christo and Agua Viva, but that can’t be it: I still can’t understand his language. Maybe it’s because I know people in this country and our imminent arrival lightens the travel stress a bit. Maybe Nicaragua, with the really nice street signs, the narrow hilly paths, the currency named after conquistadors, the large population, or the powerful revolution really has a different vibe, one more comforting than that of Honduras. Or maybe I haven’t had enough water to drink today and just feel the effects of dehydration. I don’t know, nor do I expect I ever will. Whatever it was, I appreciate Nicaragua and this change of borders.<br /><br />Viva La Revolucion<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM6kXa9TUmtH8eyBNF-j-PDCgv3gJ1JKFiz30lo0BTPxkEsse2J2DKgOlgs79ArClNapyV3vOKnLwmbGdcjT_ip5RUDhdpI7f3W18oLw3nGIxFAY4JDEvHMIfxZjJboGs02HcIt61i6oh/s1600/DSC01074.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM6kXa9TUmtH8eyBNF-j-PDCgv3gJ1JKFiz30lo0BTPxkEsse2J2DKgOlgs79ArClNapyV3vOKnLwmbGdcjT_ip5RUDhdpI7f3W18oLw3nGIxFAY4JDEvHMIfxZjJboGs02HcIt61i6oh/s320/DSC01074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601003849657598290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nicaragua: Land of Dinosaurs</span><br /><br /> Why come visit Nicaragua? This question was posed to me a number of times and is one the Nicaraguan Chamber of Commerce strives to answer. Our answers are similar: the culture, the natural beauty, interesting history, the fine cigars, rum, festivals, and sharks. Sure all of these are great, though the “famous” freshwater sharks of Lake Nicaragua often disappoint. The only time worthwhile to come and see them is around election time, when they leave their wet homes and go to the polls. Ever wonder why the literacy test was abolished in 1873 in Nicaragua? Well, that’s because sharks tended to bite the heads off officials denying their right to vote. Around election time, scuba divers enter the lake to campaign for various candidates and win the support of the sharks. There was the famous incident in 1998 when a campaigner claimed she had the opposing candidates name bitten into her shoulder by a particularly cranky shark, but the claims were dropped after it was revealed they had been in a particularly nasty relationship and the bite marks looked nothing like those of the shark in question.<br /> So, the sharks aren’t much of a reason to visit, unless you enjoy slow conversations in dark depths with hosts of questionable hunger restraint.<br />No, I came to see the dinosaurs, particularly the Rock Pterodactyls and the Mountain Triceratops. These were first discovered in the 15th century by Spanish Conquistador Julio Maximillion in his famous trek through Central America.<br /><br />From his diaries:<br />“We found strange beasts in the mountains, mostly used to help with agriculture. They are stupid and godless and our priests encouraged a quick extermination to get rid of them. However, their leader petitioned us, though a native interpreter, to spare their species. They promised the gold that inlaid their horns, and gold in great quantities. I am inclined to make an agreement with them, but on our own terms.”<br /><br /> Thus the great dino-Spanish gold trade began, along with the long standing problems in the dino population. Family structures were broken with youngsters leaving home to seek wealth in the mines. Abuse and suppression continued for centuries until the infamous crackdown on the native dino groups by the Somoza regime. Remaining groups fled into the remote Santa Escal mountains where they lived for years with little government harassment. However, during the late 1970s, Sandinista rebels made contact with the recluse dinosaurs and made a number of pacts, particularly with the triceratops and pterodactyls. They were instrumental in the fighting against government troops, with soldiers reporting bullets bouncing off armored triceratops and pterodactyls raining napalm with no warning. After the war, many dinosaurs became peace activists, greatly affected by the violence they saw and were open critics of the United States support of the Contras. In recent years, most have settled in largely dinosaur communities, though some can be found lumbering through the halls of universities or lecturing at various peace conferences throughout the region.<br /> Hearing one of these talks is alone worth the trip, so here I am in Nicaragua, hoping for some enlightenment from the dinosaurs.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Reflections by the Water</span><br />Lago de Apoyo<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoyHM5NuqSUbg_0cDziZj-_oK7YhmvsSWi8UbGbRxUZE-ULD0mg5MNzpwHSs-7luwPQY82SqdB33h9tSxJpvoey-Myxk80PLgZalZkiJq0T50LlX8gQm2k_kG20LFL2GmGccH_Hj143rS/s1600/DSC01097.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoyHM5NuqSUbg_0cDziZj-_oK7YhmvsSWi8UbGbRxUZE-ULD0mg5MNzpwHSs-7luwPQY82SqdB33h9tSxJpvoey-Myxk80PLgZalZkiJq0T50LlX8gQm2k_kG20LFL2GmGccH_Hj143rS/s320/DSC01097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601007043881104226" border="0" /></a><br />We are in Nicaragua. We are in a nation of millions of people, millions of fields, millions of homes, millions of lives. We are in the middle of this at Lago de Apoyo, staying on the shores if this lake in the midst of a crater that erupted, eroded, became vegetated, and filled with water. We are on the dock by the water, legs swinging in the afternoon sun above people splashing through their reflections. We join them in the watery depths. We laugh, swap stories, discover hot springs, dive down below those reflections. We hear tales from those we met for only two weeks or some not until today. WE hear about this country, and not just about stats and figures and main attractions and violent histories. We sit by the water and let our reflections mingle while we listen to relationships, to meetings, classrooms, workers in the compo, to struggles, concerns, joys, Espanol, strong women, Machismo men. We hear about faith, justice, community, simplicity. We eat, drink, turn our voices to song, music. We stare into fires and speak of grand philosophies, systems of oppression, the future of our world, our family, friends. We watch as flames reflect in our eyes and hearts, drifting smoke over our heads into the starry heaven above. We sit below the stars, beside the fire, in a place called Nicaragua, among friends, reflecting by the water.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Accompaniment</span><br />If you are in JVC, I will cut off my left arm if you haven’t heard this word. Simple definition: the act of going or being with another. One of the big things for this program is simply being with the people we live and work with. Sure we have jobs, but sometimes it is more powerful and meaningful to be there for people rather than accomplishing some task or mission. It is something we Americans have a hard time dealing with, as our culture stresses having results to show from our endeavors. It is a little hard to produce some finished product after sitting with a child who has an abusive mother, listening to complaints, or hearing the story of a rural teacher.<br /><br />My main motivation to visit Nicaragua was to see the JVs, both the ones I had met at orientation and those who I had just heard stories about. While it was incredibly wonderful to talk to them and see their homes and cities, I also very much wanted to see was their workplaces. Though time was limited, I was able to accomplish this goal and really understand the definition of accompaniment.<br /><br />Nica and Belize JVs after Easter Vigil Mass<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcwkSq64eFCkzz6YKFksEhYpn7EsGN03gfh_jYpsdADKmoFj_G5TX-D4EGVTdPE8eKllJ0DobnH-0onwTGyX13ekzbB3EzrjVIN1kKgSTG9snh0211WDv_n876HvBQkZZ26xdltN46WIx/s1600/DSC01147.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcwkSq64eFCkzz6YKFksEhYpn7EsGN03gfh_jYpsdADKmoFj_G5TX-D4EGVTdPE8eKllJ0DobnH-0onwTGyX13ekzbB3EzrjVIN1kKgSTG9snh0211WDv_n876HvBQkZZ26xdltN46WIx/s320/DSC01147.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601007047449847762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On Monday I first visited Contera, Trucha’s worksite, with Al. This is essentially a community center for the jovenies, the youth. It was started after the Nicaraguan government started taking young people from the schools so they could fight against the contras. Many simply left school so they wouldn’t be forced to join, but ended up roaming around the streets, forming gangs. Contera provides a place for youth to meet, with theater groups, karate, dance troupes, and artistic venues. We dropped in, walked around, then quickly left so Christin and I could bus it into Managua. There we met up with Thomas and Heather, who also runs a library (whoot!). Thomas works at a women’s bank, where loans are given to women to start various enterprises. Loans range from $150US to $400. Women hold each other accountable, so if one fails to make a payment, the others cover them. Every week, the women meet, discuss how they are doing, reflect, listen to Bible readings, and discuss social issues.<br /><br />I sat in on two such meetings. Knowing no Spanish, there wasn’t much I could do but sit and watch. Christin chatted with some of the old ladies and I observed the women lining up to make payments. Afterwards, Thomas thanked me for coming. Thanks? But I didn’t do anything. I literally didn’t even know what was even going on. Then I started thinking about accompaniment. Very rarely do other people get to see our jobs, what we spend the majority of our days doing and thinking about. It is a powerful thing to have someone want to come see this part of your life, and a powerful thing to see another’s. Accompanying fellow JVs left me with a great feeling after leaving Nicaragua. Sure I might not fully understand their realities, but now I have a better idea than I did before. I am blown away how impressive it is that they work and live in a country where I can’t even say thank you, and they can have meaningful conversations with women who are eighty years old and sell used clothes on the street. Accompanying isn’t hard, but you have to be mindful to do it. Try it out. It could make a world of difference.<br /><br /><br />***While not mentioned in any writings, while in Esquias, we met up with Christin's high school service group, thus the reason we went there. They were working on a project to bring water to 140 people. We helped out one day, digging ditches where pipe would be laid.<br />Here are those pictures and other assorted ones of interest.<br /><br />Me doing some labor<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KJXm2JqQ_WGgyldSrbOJLQPU6uExBhTISiJKhFCFZn8Rvn7o90GoA9t7_Q0ifEQH3y2X3DpQM3jRwRjjYuKR-QHMjrhlm1tvh8cybwbGTsir-nIWVvVwhUlh05vdTbiGWw4KeQuIBfab/s1600/DSC00972.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KJXm2JqQ_WGgyldSrbOJLQPU6uExBhTISiJKhFCFZn8Rvn7o90GoA9t7_Q0ifEQH3y2X3DpQM3jRwRjjYuKR-QHMjrhlm1tvh8cybwbGTsir-nIWVvVwhUlh05vdTbiGWw4KeQuIBfab/s320/DSC00972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600991266243348834" border="0" /></a><br />Mountain Road<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zUtji7sW4pB8oOeZCowCHN1r6fbDeMG05KZSIlPf3QiCF0719Iz6PeeriO7Hj7u8hyphenhyphenVGiW9IjblpdXHghhjiqMt6adhqinrAg3M6bjg6zyrcSA3ddsr9NOaFNQmVQneC3wrhZElo_-dA/s1600/DSC00858.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zUtji7sW4pB8oOeZCowCHN1r6fbDeMG05KZSIlPf3QiCF0719Iz6PeeriO7Hj7u8hyphenhyphenVGiW9IjblpdXHghhjiqMt6adhqinrAg3M6bjg6zyrcSA3ddsr9NOaFNQmVQneC3wrhZElo_-dA/s320/DSC00858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600824562024516578" border="0" /></a><br />Digging some ditches<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX2f-fZPwxcPG3XNNmS8Sl5nZQisa-zrTKYTRvLOAetBFWqK7ljJ5c1MqbkFS7MMTzEb737fA96Hg4csDahUb1K_971EFVDpTDLqnsB8mF8sm9pNuihZ3kWEq7WlLGgj5RU3zpyZbjVHL/s1600/DSC00852.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX2f-fZPwxcPG3XNNmS8Sl5nZQisa-zrTKYTRvLOAetBFWqK7ljJ5c1MqbkFS7MMTzEb737fA96Hg4csDahUb1K_971EFVDpTDLqnsB8mF8sm9pNuihZ3kWEq7WlLGgj5RU3zpyZbjVHL/s320/DSC00852.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600824556738736594" border="0" /></a><br />In Esquias!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0Hpwg7qMPHuKas-H11Q4JnYfGclGfmg9LPHljbKHSttl0Z7VXLlKJHoBWYFJCMrRw-TFv7Kiy9nm0GviOb0v0TIzYj1OlBlAJIRmMM2ySbi1oSFlHR88cITje1HrxussL8N5ucPtNyoy/s1600/DSC01044.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0Hpwg7qMPHuKas-H11Q4JnYfGclGfmg9LPHljbKHSttl0Z7VXLlKJHoBWYFJCMrRw-TFv7Kiy9nm0GviOb0v0TIzYj1OlBlAJIRmMM2ySbi1oSFlHR88cITje1HrxussL8N5ucPtNyoy/s320/DSC01044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600997793918043362" border="0" /></a><br />Boy in the street<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNuT0DlWlwU8t5aQH0N8d_sRGXzWWmyacXfB-Rjlk1s1PtD9pFo_YhuZIawCF4OB_SMawl_oA9-Ig5fgOcTdcnEANsqWyfbe2MEMPU4Ixnq2ONj1VQ2Ap6VadJwJOBRo9xgFtKKEDDLBc/s1600/DSC01007.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJNuT0DlWlwU8t5aQH0N8d_sRGXzWWmyacXfB-Rjlk1s1PtD9pFo_YhuZIawCF4OB_SMawl_oA9-Ig5fgOcTdcnEANsqWyfbe2MEMPU4Ixnq2ONj1VQ2Ap6VadJwJOBRo9xgFtKKEDDLBc/s320/DSC01007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600992536575261362" border="0" /></a><br />5am Palm Sunday Procession<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQdSSKMAf4ho5rsUfg_b6Yo2D3-FZbcdIRlHSByQGjBa8uAj0gBOMa27giJenqPiHuP0FGi2c-W1JeyGCxWX8fQ9KCyWOkPqgfpX3xEENCFfSg3u2UDFUfLpaIfHI3reK_8F88RpQ5UrQ/s1600/DSC00815.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQdSSKMAf4ho5rsUfg_b6Yo2D3-FZbcdIRlHSByQGjBa8uAj0gBOMa27giJenqPiHuP0FGi2c-W1JeyGCxWX8fQ9KCyWOkPqgfpX3xEENCFfSg3u2UDFUfLpaIfHI3reK_8F88RpQ5UrQ/s320/DSC00815.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600817837171496594" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-35487742436724952402011-04-05T16:32:00.000-07:002011-04-06T05:39:53.341-07:00April Come She WillYou find yourself reading my blog once again, and I find myself staring at Easter fast approaching on the calendar. April has arrived, and with it, heat to make my fingernails sweat. Apparently the next two months or so will be the hottest in Belize, and it definitely seems that way right now. Rumor has it the heat index (a combination of temperature and humidity) is somewhere in the 108 range, which is high. The library has been particularly dreadful. I've had to resort to making children hold their breath when looking for books to stop them from adding more heat to the building. For some reason no one is complying.<br /><br />Baxter checking out the sunrise<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb-IlUNXgbPpAnVoLTRo9TQ8XcBVHL1X32l7ookPV26md50jgooSoC6C6WdJnGf-VWJdoYP5c3fSroK0tHFx-Pr8Z0UpwHr50GmDpGy30thfC2TArAMcbNGtxJ-SgequacAeuN46QsEG6/s1600/DSC00705.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb-IlUNXgbPpAnVoLTRo9TQ8XcBVHL1X32l7ookPV26md50jgooSoC6C6WdJnGf-VWJdoYP5c3fSroK0tHFx-Pr8Z0UpwHr50GmDpGy30thfC2TArAMcbNGtxJ-SgequacAeuN46QsEG6/s320/DSC00705.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592271936187960770" /></a><br /><br />Well, since last time I promised I'd put up pictures of the football tournament I coached, here they are. I actually ended up being a line judge for every game that day and let me tell you, children haven't really grasped the concept of offsides in this country yet. Someday they will learn.<br /><br />Football by the sea.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8K1X9POJrwHJjkpqfvklNcOcyhtdzpoIEZTZkkQtm0Txix99Cnecwy2T6imGG0QyJjY_SaLD7xuDRXLJWy9oW2842vf4hOX6GTfHtihVNCm3j6BfBZJFBfK5H-fMZnr865IwHDFiCX9L/s1600/DSC00655.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8K1X9POJrwHJjkpqfvklNcOcyhtdzpoIEZTZkkQtm0Txix99Cnecwy2T6imGG0QyJjY_SaLD7xuDRXLJWy9oW2842vf4hOX6GTfHtihVNCm3j6BfBZJFBfK5H-fMZnr865IwHDFiCX9L/s320/DSC00655.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592254591173743090" /></a><br /><br />I did some major shifting around of shelves and books in the library this past week (really bad timing with the heat), and it looks quite nice if I say so myself. I may be working on a grant to get computers, AC, and new books into the library, but that will remain to be seen. In the meantime, children still roll on in and make my job worthwhile.<br /><br />Library looking clean.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVtbi2eXgJRoaqKO3okX7Nke1bRIAUd4e2KDLmqhyphenhyphenDkr7lZFR0GpsXRzeP6byWOBUiITry3OTJqey1yaPwnb24MRutFMv0MqyPRIR3c9d6TMbA8NXFqLzgZJ_xHI5PwqAGRTTsGUaQZ5J/s1600/DSC00688.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVtbi2eXgJRoaqKO3okX7Nke1bRIAUd4e2KDLmqhyphenhyphenDkr7lZFR0GpsXRzeP6byWOBUiITry3OTJqey1yaPwnb24MRutFMv0MqyPRIR3c9d6TMbA8NXFqLzgZJ_xHI5PwqAGRTTsGUaQZ5J/s320/DSC00688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592254604768852434" /></a><br /><br />Living it up in Belize. Thanks to Father Kevin Dyer for the picture taking on this one.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWVy5cAk_CxKm8p2EZe_551dHRiHT2gvQR9zj8TjkP3H_MSRxjQMbg57_GfEnM_bam_9nB_QnnEGvspyU459G9eWaX52juNw59cSm3WAguQ7PwzHc-amR6Uml5WWXJW3QbgzjiW78M_e/s1600/DSC00671.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWVy5cAk_CxKm8p2EZe_551dHRiHT2gvQR9zj8TjkP3H_MSRxjQMbg57_GfEnM_bam_9nB_QnnEGvspyU459G9eWaX52juNw59cSm3WAguQ7PwzHc-amR6Uml5WWXJW3QbgzjiW78M_e/s320/DSC00671.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592254602944509858" /></a><br /><br />Last week we held Sports Afternoon. Events includes the three legged race, slow bicycle race, and the mattress relays. What is the slow bicycle race, you ask? Well, it is essentially six children on bikes, and the one who comes in last without touching the ground with their feet wins. It is very, very slow, though the first one was entertaining (the last five, not as much). For anyone who has participated in a mattress relay (I know those grads of the HT Wing School have), it was a glorious event that mostly resulted in mayhem with children running full tilt into one another.<br /><br />Three Legged Race<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLipaRJkqxWU1-GIPZBXMogP6Vs0wgMrDIj7RkJwtK_N6gUK-nKxL4keSctpvnqTQdzHTGTn1RaicQPWypNtrnBiXH0SqWDHOlr8muYsXhRsZY7gRa8sYwarUeY7nfCFQc61vjB7OEmWUt/s1600/DSC00692.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLipaRJkqxWU1-GIPZBXMogP6Vs0wgMrDIj7RkJwtK_N6gUK-nKxL4keSctpvnqTQdzHTGTn1RaicQPWypNtrnBiXH0SqWDHOlr8muYsXhRsZY7gRa8sYwarUeY7nfCFQc61vjB7OEmWUt/s320/DSC00692.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592254609742818690" /></a><br /><br />Slow Bicycle Race<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7ADysyvrZcD4W3Xfcp4z-wYS4OvfKjL_ixbbss64VJDGHwfSz22aSi4xIShWpQ4vnb5OozCS-uWv4noXp4x9K3SgSXfmsxIRJJVeglCD1p8pz6aWiOA_EkDy0qD153FoCAroqcYAbJx3/s1600/DSC00701.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7ADysyvrZcD4W3Xfcp4z-wYS4OvfKjL_ixbbss64VJDGHwfSz22aSi4xIShWpQ4vnb5OozCS-uWv4noXp4x9K3SgSXfmsxIRJJVeglCD1p8pz6aWiOA_EkDy0qD153FoCAroqcYAbJx3/s320/DSC00701.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592271933940115426" /></a><br /><br />Sorry the blogs have been scarcer lately. It is difficult for me to sometimes come up with interesting things to write about. While the first couple months were all new and exciting, now things kind of have settled down. Normalcy has arrived. This is great for me, but not as great for you, who would like to know things about my life. However, I will be travelling to Honduras and Nicaragua on April 15 for a week and a half to be there for Semana Santa (Holy Week). Many good stories and pictures will come from that trip, so make sure to check back in for that. I'll probably do something similar to the Guatemala post, and people seemed to enjoy that one.<br /><br />Well, I hope everyone is enjoying their day and that the Red Sox aren't losing. Huzzah Huzzah!<br /><br /><br />Neat clouds.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw7o13ErfnR-Afbn6on-7Yclivwn87d3VfGjsIpUdmi6EjBK7S6YuHiS34o6MQzXrQSlpzdo-IQB9xWxv_BopYpLgU05JiEtieURfy2UBD-VZSJ3jQ274ffvxhlzgbA8-J7mLQy0xqM4B/s1600/DSC00658.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAw7o13ErfnR-Afbn6on-7Yclivwn87d3VfGjsIpUdmi6EjBK7S6YuHiS34o6MQzXrQSlpzdo-IQB9xWxv_BopYpLgU05JiEtieURfy2UBD-VZSJ3jQ274ffvxhlzgbA8-J7mLQy0xqM4B/s320/DSC00658.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592254599624430962" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-91776724495701693922011-03-15T12:10:00.001-07:002013-07-19T09:05:06.199-07:00Yes, very lateRiots around the world are spreading. The earth is quaking. The NFL is striking.<br />
All because I haven't posted a blog in a while. Sorry dear friends. My bad.<br />
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In the time I haven't been sitting at the computer posting pictures and thoughts, much has been going on. So much, that I don't quite know where to start. I last left you with an image of the killer bees. Now, they are all dead, and the students have been saved from the terror they brought upon the school.<br />
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Other news, events, happenings:<br />
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The library is hopping. After a renewed effort to get students reading by the teachers, I've been quite busy getting new library cards out, reading to classes, and putting new books on the shelves. I'm also in the midst of purging the library of undesirable books. As much as I love having 40 high school art books, no child has ever touched them. To the boxes they go.<br />
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This month is childrens month in Belize, with the catchy title of: Child Stimulation Month. Yeah. I know. There's been a lot of parades of cute preschoolers going through town, so that is always a nice distraction from work.<br />
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Tots of Jesus. Best banner ever.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xawryZ2QZ530hSHm1Zv503I5RyV6b2HRWFjL_SGtLR-hNefas8fUDpiBY8hwmklBW_UhsGTEIjT1DBiEU3crGSNVG62fkSe7gC19I3Gh51AQePVSBvk8kmrW3NTI_2ayT5Mjth-3xVSv/s1600/DSC00566.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584389308062075362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-xawryZ2QZ530hSHm1Zv503I5RyV6b2HRWFjL_SGtLR-hNefas8fUDpiBY8hwmklBW_UhsGTEIjT1DBiEU3crGSNVG62fkSe7gC19I3Gh51AQePVSBvk8kmrW3NTI_2ayT5Mjth-3xVSv/s320/DSC00566.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Educate your children parade.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1nuB_-8orwrDnheCnAtdq6yAsN0sU8WX00jrUtqmi5UlCNgeS9JUyalA0NFapAa0l4hwBwG7ut43i6DxraR_R_3AEpNVhN48io43YGxFMgTTKf8qMhXNC4Yu9Mh91H_Zx5pQ2rk-JCzP/s1600/DSC00559.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584388989339316674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1nuB_-8orwrDnheCnAtdq6yAsN0sU8WX00jrUtqmi5UlCNgeS9JUyalA0NFapAa0l4hwBwG7ut43i6DxraR_R_3AEpNVhN48io43YGxFMgTTKf8qMhXNC4Yu9Mh91H_Zx5pQ2rk-JCzP/s320/DSC00559.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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We had running races with the kids a few weeks ago and I decided I would run. There were four races, and I can say I won all the ones I ran in (3). The races were each about three quarters of a mile, but the kids, every time, would sprint the first hundred yards. I have thus decided to try and start a track club.<br />
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Last week I was gone from PG (more excuses as to why no blog). I went up to Belize City for the weekend to hang out with the volunteers up there and enjoy the city. It was strange being around so many people again and hearing the noises of busy streets and crowded neighborhoods.<br />
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Chilling out at the JV Belize City house.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNbbTerZOFaSHlYp6TvlUfbpExOW7YMgnvVWuk3Gbey_XnP0tbEqtdMmEHAR8giLLXb7zpZTpHjsdc_C3G9KS8TVX8YhX8DAOTTtG_uZl2fcDuSfj-rDahpFSF3VJnSEj3R9hGT8Cif3q/s1600/DSC00640.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585062945118724034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcNbbTerZOFaSHlYp6TvlUfbpExOW7YMgnvVWuk3Gbey_XnP0tbEqtdMmEHAR8giLLXb7zpZTpHjsdc_C3G9KS8TVX8YhX8DAOTTtG_uZl2fcDuSfj-rDahpFSF3VJnSEj3R9hGT8Cif3q/s320/DSC00640.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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That Monday, a holiday, the La Ruta Maya finished right down the street from the JV house. For those who don't know what this is, La Ruta Maya is a three day canoe race down a river. The canoes have three people in them and it is a grueling event. Here's some pics from the finish line.<br />
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Look! Over there!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfdlGriKdbQMacMWOPzEmhKsZRbpD5IPdGYh0NwFx9uLd_MgDQdbeJQg0hYLI19AlqJzU8Cw-_PaBHXz8skNO3GEc4tr_estSfWEm53yVhUXVQNzTlRdSgXYHrgZR5EIIrNmILWFOp7wT/s1600/DSC00602.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585061491340769826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfdlGriKdbQMacMWOPzEmhKsZRbpD5IPdGYh0NwFx9uLd_MgDQdbeJQg0hYLI19AlqJzU8Cw-_PaBHXz8skNO3GEc4tr_estSfWEm53yVhUXVQNzTlRdSgXYHrgZR5EIIrNmILWFOp7wT/s320/DSC00602.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Epic finish. After three days, the team won by only a few yards.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWssK9__iWOEGKLubmyA3qUGfKnUOQtfuOZJIz3AnfEQP295NSlBjhOo6eOZXqn8nVygSdWKZoucU-G5TRKIGs64WNByjDcqB8x4QZ1R6_UomUEotYXLTBtosLZgJmndDB_1LkTjzLrUD/s1600/DSC00594.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585060921185019314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuWssK9__iWOEGKLubmyA3qUGfKnUOQtfuOZJIz3AnfEQP295NSlBjhOo6eOZXqn8nVygSdWKZoucU-G5TRKIGs64WNByjDcqB8x4QZ1R6_UomUEotYXLTBtosLZgJmndDB_1LkTjzLrUD/s320/DSC00594.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Lots of people waiting for the canoes to start coming in. There were 80 teams altogether and they were from all over the world.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypZEFkGmBTGi-51i2DuI4gfDOGst8dOSuxbCTwV4ckBushoZBdJfs2ZvY05NTXPoDDJes5N21pNZQ7KXveAtQGiAH-m676Ckc-4bRzMc4Frpp9X9GcXmn4MakqJ2J2tYvIqOZy_Su51Hc/s1600/DSC00581.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585060632747262114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypZEFkGmBTGi-51i2DuI4gfDOGst8dOSuxbCTwV4ckBushoZBdJfs2ZvY05NTXPoDDJes5N21pNZQ7KXveAtQGiAH-m676Ckc-4bRzMc4Frpp9X9GcXmn4MakqJ2J2tYvIqOZy_Su51Hc/s320/DSC00581.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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After spending five days in the city, the rest of the PG community came up and we had a retreat on Caye Caulker. This is a really cool spot in Belize and very different from the rest of the country. The streets are all sand and no vehicles are allowed, only golf carts. There were a bunch of tourists and spring breakers rolling around, but it was nice to just sit on the beach, read, and reflect. I came back to PG with a renewed enthusiasm, ready to conquer all before Easter comes upon us. <br />
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Ice cream and Mustaches!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP6S89TNTNsRr3LuZOmD8Ucv8THGt38-vIgzb_YRIXYfp0h8cPBa-z2Y_VOTEe_Bfji7t7ynO3EFzh4uJWqwrNLYkgM7y_svcItC8kUadoJZRNrQui6qvZRyVCvtkW-CYHe_ClG-Vp7pa/s1600/DSC00634.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585062674664720162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWP6S89TNTNsRr3LuZOmD8Ucv8THGt38-vIgzb_YRIXYfp0h8cPBa-z2Y_VOTEe_Bfji7t7ynO3EFzh4uJWqwrNLYkgM7y_svcItC8kUadoJZRNrQui6qvZRyVCvtkW-CYHe_ClG-Vp7pa/s320/DSC00634.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 240px; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Sandy streets and pirate bar<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-NCNpZTO_H6SOeJViwU1EaNYonaiMp5nNwRGK7tFhpl72WRzxR20yxicsB3Kg4lTVqfA3K0DNvB0LgUTAp-vV0sTPGtq5NXo-2wcXzGeRjrhm-ZoR8fjmQh7D2kPYJxT0DJo0Zgc9Iwd/s1600/DSC00619.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585062077161593538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-NCNpZTO_H6SOeJViwU1EaNYonaiMp5nNwRGK7tFhpl72WRzxR20yxicsB3Kg4lTVqfA3K0DNvB0LgUTAp-vV0sTPGtq5NXo-2wcXzGeRjrhm-ZoR8fjmQh7D2kPYJxT0DJo0Zgc9Iwd/s320/DSC00619.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
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Well, my time in the computer lab is limited before students decend upon us. I'm coaching a football (soccer) team on Friday for a tournament, so I'll be sure to post up pictures from that. <br />
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Fare thee well and happy St. Paddy's Day!!! Also, happy birthday Grandma!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-90258969485141116502011-02-22T11:26:00.000-08:002011-02-22T11:45:42.704-08:00DelayedSorry for the lack of posts in the past while. I've been distracted with life down here and much of it isn't particularly interesting, even for me. I'm just going to post up some pictures this week, with the hopes of more words coming next.<br /><br /><br />Spelling Bee last week. This was the elimination round for the school, from which two students went on to this week, for the District Finals. I was a judge last week and will again be one tomorrow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwNa8pb-tKcFDcApTrn1Mtdks3STMI2AiMX68w_T8OKwqyTN3emRQkqYHbG4QDgLEjasmVFQQ5lxi4QdFsknoCF9bde3Np5jYAQo5SjeFEY57wk7oC453WBfVwcC760aR9EqW3lDKzyDN/s1600/DSC00518.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrwNa8pb-tKcFDcApTrn1Mtdks3STMI2AiMX68w_T8OKwqyTN3emRQkqYHbG4QDgLEjasmVFQQ5lxi4QdFsknoCF9bde3Np5jYAQo5SjeFEY57wk7oC453WBfVwcC760aR9EqW3lDKzyDN/s320/DSC00518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576599168990630018" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Good graffiti.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBixbl86YMxRKgS6brvqi96HUZ1ECjTr-9LMwJEnd09YRxRNkYn3jrr41fYV6KKGt7FCnOaTUlRtUa9jsMpacbWb3Ncn3YOwlJkjb5rkN6d3I3U3yjpRBBQ_amg_997nRvRlhXe5FtO5N/s1600/DSC00514.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBixbl86YMxRKgS6brvqi96HUZ1ECjTr-9LMwJEnd09YRxRNkYn3jrr41fYV6KKGt7FCnOaTUlRtUa9jsMpacbWb3Ncn3YOwlJkjb5rkN6d3I3U3yjpRBBQ_amg_997nRvRlhXe5FtO5N/s320/DSC00514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576599165671215138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Even better graffiti on my library door.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ12eMxbDU05qk6Nj8-ytFHm2pJl210-iezIWJCy5ZaNGGrPumepI6UeUuALf61WUBNKb4hDbEyOTSq-rCeCKRg12cfVF_h1AUB_eOyMRe6r6LETHu9K8znrxBCE0VtJtG373ZWPbjW4t/s1600/DSC00513.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ12eMxbDU05qk6Nj8-ytFHm2pJl210-iezIWJCy5ZaNGGrPumepI6UeUuALf61WUBNKb4hDbEyOTSq-rCeCKRg12cfVF_h1AUB_eOyMRe6r6LETHu9K8znrxBCE0VtJtG373ZWPbjW4t/s320/DSC00513.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576599160978069074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Dawn. I've been getting up at 5am every day to do some writing (obviously not blog writing, sorry), and get to see the quiet of the morning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsGR3rfrXPd2YIQa5N8usmX8epU9FJddPRBP4M_lgekebyXJcqENlJPR7lMSxMXSW5jO0XDkn1_vTY1gijoUvuTJuJ5g868lo3orY1tNbBxkrXe91kQPoVE8sN8yXau7-bGc2NIjiY4zi/s1600/DSC00479.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsGR3rfrXPd2YIQa5N8usmX8epU9FJddPRBP4M_lgekebyXJcqENlJPR7lMSxMXSW5jO0XDkn1_vTY1gijoUvuTJuJ5g868lo3orY1tNbBxkrXe91kQPoVE8sN8yXau7-bGc2NIjiY4zi/s320/DSC00479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576599159740774242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />More morning light.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEGfO_9uoXmnfmP22RrrkrNCqyjCXhOny4mj4oy0pVPWGn70kfF1NUavZQglfJDAQR7FgaEX-OrH2bLFO98cowg5dxuZ8H_upmwHiM-663ndXa5UM-PnFp4PfswbFk2I4mF1KvUCb00b2/s1600/DSC00471.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEGfO_9uoXmnfmP22RrrkrNCqyjCXhOny4mj4oy0pVPWGn70kfF1NUavZQglfJDAQR7FgaEX-OrH2bLFO98cowg5dxuZ8H_upmwHiM-663ndXa5UM-PnFp4PfswbFk2I4mF1KvUCb00b2/s320/DSC00471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576599154573116562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today was the 100th day of school, so the younger students made posters in which the days were represented by pictures, stamps, bottle caps, candy. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXWUslOv1R7XjsbTKAOcmYAtkKd30xLqO-dOu_epKx6n901ziqiFhYW7uHtsMCU1p8WjfBhtvatV6v6pUjBysJskObrVC_nMf_-9u0OnGFja6PcfV0z7pQlaGGDvWOHjQ593aJ-Tjr2pe/s1600/DSC00531.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXWUslOv1R7XjsbTKAOcmYAtkKd30xLqO-dOu_epKx6n901ziqiFhYW7uHtsMCU1p8WjfBhtvatV6v6pUjBysJskObrVC_nMf_-9u0OnGFja6PcfV0z7pQlaGGDvWOHjQ593aJ-Tjr2pe/s320/DSC00531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576601487578725650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Some of the kids hanging out. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg716FacX48Dx9lsNAHKAnoyVcNDo1shSyo3AwcNc8248nKMzwHsMdNHCdNq7ff9wpglXasqJ3qrCm5NDMgGSREpnPq_h6LNlbuohP039p81bJler1Vo5qImauzCPJhmbGU_qF_QPaOrb6J/s1600/DSC00533.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg716FacX48Dx9lsNAHKAnoyVcNDo1shSyo3AwcNc8248nKMzwHsMdNHCdNq7ff9wpglXasqJ3qrCm5NDMgGSREpnPq_h6LNlbuohP039p81bJler1Vo5qImauzCPJhmbGU_qF_QPaOrb6J/s320/DSC00533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576601478013944914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lee, the Brit, and I did some more painting in our basement. Here's my recent addition. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyC5_Ivc24KkbY4sLQ4FrJerc5mVsaiSh2L304KX9UnbwOKwvm_ALiV2j0ZVuRB3GjK5EUtekLDCf-6wWDh2bLYfIBcl5_RDYAuxOB6YmY5uWkn9YztVT_2StAPbQu2RqfNXqQA1zFGvvm/s1600/DSC00530.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyC5_Ivc24KkbY4sLQ4FrJerc5mVsaiSh2L304KX9UnbwOKwvm_ALiV2j0ZVuRB3GjK5EUtekLDCf-6wWDh2bLYfIBcl5_RDYAuxOB6YmY5uWkn9YztVT_2StAPbQu2RqfNXqQA1zFGvvm/s320/DSC00530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576601475456947010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And Lee's.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5GmLNq0NXw8s3ntkJP-kpd-D_CFjQilSSoQJRGkYkYSBIFAX1wSyIg3m1IJ_dn0E-yB_gcUCHijgRqm-B2Zgw5aoVLKRQQMHW36muVGsd2jszjAe82vfq0fE6AVEcaRpx4Q2u0-yQf3p/s1600/DSC00527.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu5GmLNq0NXw8s3ntkJP-kpd-D_CFjQilSSoQJRGkYkYSBIFAX1wSyIg3m1IJ_dn0E-yB_gcUCHijgRqm-B2Zgw5aoVLKRQQMHW36muVGsd2jszjAe82vfq0fE6AVEcaRpx4Q2u0-yQf3p/s320/DSC00527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576601470240930594" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is by far the strangest reason I've had to close the library: Killer Bees. These were uncovered last week, so I had to close the library for two days because kids were getting stung. Apparently an elderly lady got killed by bees a few years ago on the school grounds, so the school is taking it seriously. And yes, they are legitimately Africanized Killer Bees. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58ca2FEQvyAkCccfcDwE14I1VobZ3Kd8J4hPldivVJbdPHhFFiqUC18SfS-rMS4U7l0Oxte6jgKTRtc5CNUV67n36BCxXiAqMapSBRKsPO5rpXW5_okvgMXC_ToCa4vHKjh43p_9zBoGj/s1600/DSC00538.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58ca2FEQvyAkCccfcDwE14I1VobZ3Kd8J4hPldivVJbdPHhFFiqUC18SfS-rMS4U7l0Oxte6jgKTRtc5CNUV67n36BCxXiAqMapSBRKsPO5rpXW5_okvgMXC_ToCa4vHKjh43p_9zBoGj/s320/DSC00538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576601490669914882" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-18334823011478651012011-02-07T11:50:00.000-08:002011-02-11T04:28:02.210-08:00Video Blog!!!Ok, this is pretty self explanatory. Just open up the YouTube link and press play.<br />Enjoy!<br />Also, if you can count how many times I say, "yeah", then you win a prize.<br />***This has quite literally taken me four days to upload. I started on Monday, it is now Thursday.<br /><br />Part One<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjnp-eLA2d4">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjnp-eLA2d4</a><br />Part 2<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVfCMHx8tDU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVfCMHx8tDU</a><br />Part III<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVIbTFR5swo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVIbTFR5swo</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-87744574401565993012011-02-02T14:50:00.000-08:002011-02-02T15:19:26.775-08:00Greetings! Ok, so, here's the deal. On Sunday I received a glorious new camera sent from my mom. Thanks mom! Sadly, I have not managed to upload the pictures yet. My bad. Next week will be glorious.<br /><br />But. We went on retreat this weekend to Blue Creek. It was a most excellent experience, and while there I wrote up an entry, similar to the Guatemala post. After this, I'm putting up pictures from Fairfield's trip to Belize. I stole them off of Facebook, via Katyln Griffin's album. I lay no claim to taking these pictures.<br /><br />Ok. Enjoy.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Rainy Saturdays<span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><br />Such a drag. Ruining plans. Stupid weather! On my day off! Rain, rain, go away, come again another day.<br />I am certain I, and perhaps you, have said these things when the dark clouds roll in and the wet stuff starts coming down.<br />Heading out to Blue Creek, a village that served as the location of our retreat this weekend, I was, if not cursing the weather, certainly lamenting it. We, the Punta Gorda JV community, have been planning this retreat for a month. The location was perfect. It was out in the jungle, right by a cave from which flows an emerald river. Trails snake through the thick forest. It would be great.<br />Instead, on Friday, the skies were dark and rain imminent. My thoughts were wasted worrying over activities and considering how we could find any fun with this weather.<br />Perhaps it was the relaxed spirit of retreat, or maybe it was just what was unconsciously desired, but the rain was not a detriment to our plans, but served to enhance them. Lucy found the wardrobe and a world unknown, not on a day of sun, but of rain. Sitting on the dry porch of a cabin, clutching a hot, steaming cup of tea, listening to reflecting jokes, stories, hopes casually shared by friends may be as freeing as exploring the depths of a majestic tropical paradise. This was a forced excursion into a realm of conversation, with a symphony of tree winds, rooftop drumming, and winged whistling in the background. Naps are encouraged, sometimes mandated today, allowing us to drift off for a while, immitating the mist that arrives without a sound.<br />Put on those socks, pull on a sweatshirt, grab a hot drink, find a book or an interesting person, and enjoy your rainy Saturday<br /><br />Kekoa and I checking out our flowers<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs9eohzbGYBW4I64pFiAEhp4FrCrMeECQ7fOYqOGeeOQtuCoEYqARVyw3nUj3qI2LVXEEIAZMl6b1D7vBv8llCThzGN-y2VRi4kTBfDa7Gi5K0aUQYykABHjt4Y3-9_vun1bT920MgjW-/s1600/167898_1613997152957_1327140105_31584627_1390660_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfs9eohzbGYBW4I64pFiAEhp4FrCrMeECQ7fOYqOGeeOQtuCoEYqARVyw3nUj3qI2LVXEEIAZMl6b1D7vBv8llCThzGN-y2VRi4kTBfDa7Gi5K0aUQYykABHjt4Y3-9_vun1bT920MgjW-/s320/167898_1613997152957_1327140105_31584627_1390660_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569235203219239538" border="0" /></a><br />The church being built in Delores. Before Fairfield got there, this was pretty much just a foundation and some short, chest level walls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmkSekOZ29qvdyo-9jfnkauyRLvWlJXOCI87LtFYWo9O0IA7z2Yt_hrUEGXPScGTWhk5Qem55KHJJnneruakfnVM9hoqcmPJpRu1ip8NFLuOwwFjnqHzs_jkE33dG_64tpPqhciGAAQ5K/s1600/168016_1613975192408_1327140105_31584474_3313348_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmkSekOZ29qvdyo-9jfnkauyRLvWlJXOCI87LtFYWo9O0IA7z2Yt_hrUEGXPScGTWhk5Qem55KHJJnneruakfnVM9hoqcmPJpRu1ip8NFLuOwwFjnqHzs_jkE33dG_64tpPqhciGAAQ5K/s320/168016_1613975192408_1327140105_31584474_3313348_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569235202787620146" border="0" /></a><br />Bending steel!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYeH3u2KV7a2n0yorjjtzazyIsG19wN2DQGp3nPIrNHByhESUXMCfBj_D8P_ih_xXCwHPgVvWeu62DWhG9KlxmnJF5HQHE960GJkFJenkzPDjHbTnFtflzEM0F1af8-7Xzn1JD41dqYyL/s1600/167259_1613980192533_1327140105_31584505_7580492_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYeH3u2KV7a2n0yorjjtzazyIsG19wN2DQGp3nPIrNHByhESUXMCfBj_D8P_ih_xXCwHPgVvWeu62DWhG9KlxmnJF5HQHE960GJkFJenkzPDjHbTnFtflzEM0F1af8-7Xzn1JD41dqYyL/s320/167259_1613980192533_1327140105_31584505_7580492_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569235196061972450" border="0" /></a><br />I shouldn't really be in this picture, as I didn't even do that much work, but ah well, I'll take it. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9zL5yn76FJ8tMfuQIXGRP72e6EXZVIViY71gYxZbs0WwopTpop7q6Ik6uD1CnuBjK-AFMZ6nH0nq94KgUQQOZbcrcoEQP7MYDcYkXFol-jhwoX_xRRuKnoCekOtSXX6yhij5trla0NM4/s1600/163868_1613984952652_1327140105_31584549_7415181_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9zL5yn76FJ8tMfuQIXGRP72e6EXZVIViY71gYxZbs0WwopTpop7q6Ik6uD1CnuBjK-AFMZ6nH0nq94KgUQQOZbcrcoEQP7MYDcYkXFol-jhwoX_xRRuKnoCekOtSXX6yhij5trla0NM4/s320/163868_1613984952652_1327140105_31584549_7415181_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569235190335989938" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9071243964907177319.post-57279337009795362172011-01-19T11:19:00.000-08:002011-01-19T11:35:39.812-08:00Attack of the Fairfielders!!!It is a hot, sunny Wednesday in PG. I imagine it is a cold, dreary day up north, so that makes me feel better.<br />This post is once again pictureless, but hopefully by next Friday, a new picture taking device will find its way into my hands, and then into your eyes. Well, not literally. That would hurt.<br />Anyways....<br />Last week!<br />So, as I mentioned, the Fairfield service group was in town for a solid seven days. For most of the week they were working out in Delores, one of the furthest villages in Toledo. On Friday I took the day off from school and went out with them. It was a wild two hour ride, but totally worth it. We spent some time working on the church the group was building, ate some tasty foods, then played futbol (soccer) with the children at the school. Afterward, the teachers challenged the lot of us to a volleyball match that they barely won. <br />It was quite awesome to have people I knew in town. While they got to see a bit of my reality, they also got to have an experience all of their own and one that will hopefully stay with them for a long time. So my friends, thanks for coming. I will miss you.<br />In other news, I started my reading program back up. I got a few new kids, but the rest are all the same from last semester. It was really nice to start getting into a schedule again and seeing the kids that make me love to go to work. I'm also doing a bit more special education this semester, so I have two kids to work with, hopefully to integrate them more into the classroom. It is so hard when there is no special teachers in the school who can work with children with disabilities. There is one blind child in the school and I can't imagine trying to learn when there are 30 other children in the classroom and the teacher really doesn't have the specialized training to help them. <br />Hmmm, apart from that, it has been a fine week. January is halfway over and the spring will soon come. <br />Good luck this week. Go on an adventure. Discover something neat.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0