Punta Gorda ... where I travel for internet, fruit, veggies, and cheap movies

Monday December 28, 2009

Off to PG (Punta Gorda) again. I love traveling to town to use the internet. It is a little over a half hour bus ride... but, it is definitely worth it. Today I plan to email, blog, and post pictures. I also want to buy myself some movies for my Christmas gift. Movies are sooo cheap here because they are just burned DVDs. The movies are 5 dollars or less. I plan to buy 5… but, I really feel like I am splurging and I should be watching my budget, especially for the New Year. I can’t believe that 2009 is almost over. Time goes so fast!

Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Swimming in Laguna’s Lagoon

Jungle Boys... jumping in the Lagoon

My Host Dad with Buddy

Burton chopping the boardwalk with a machete

My host siblings and me... not including Joseph and Marvin

Swimming and posing in Laguna's lagoon

My new workout

Too fun!

My host sister is addicted to her cell phone... I even left my phone at home

Lagoon

The boardwalk is so dangerous... broken in many places

The poor dog whose owner cut his ears off because he was a lazy hunting dog (so sad)

Sunday December 27, 2009

I am extremely happy with my day. I did a lot of working out. So that I burn off all those calories I ate on Christmas and Boxing Day. Today I ran around Laguna’s Circle four times and up the main road. It was a very hot, but nice run.

Then my whole host family went to the lagoon to go fishing. However, the lagoon was too high to catch any fish; therefore, we just swam in the lagoon the whole time. It was a lot of fun.

It felt so good to get a lot of workouts in today. I plan to swim more in the lagoon. Originally I thought it would be dirty and muddy. Yet, it was really clean and beautiful.



Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Boxing Day

Saturday December 26, 2009

Today is Boxing Day in Belize. It is a national holiday. (So no busses were running).

I went to the Shol’s for their Christmas party. They had stew pork, tortilla, and soft drink… more good cooking.

I plan to get things accomplished today. I finished my scarlet macaw book… I really like it… I would recommend it…. The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw.

Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

CHRISTMAS!!!

Friday December 25, 2009

This Christmas is my first one away from home, family, and friends. I thought it would be said. However, it was not. I had so much to do. I got invited to so many Laguna families houses that I was so busy and sooooo FULL!

First, I woke up and had breakfast with the Che family. We had more tamales (I’m getting a little sick of them… I had too many this week.)

Next I texted all my family and friends back home. I also texted all my new Peace Corps friends for Christmas. I talked to my mom, dad, sister, and aunt donna. It is so nice to talk to people from back home.

I visited the Mohs house first. We ate ham, chicken, potatoes salad, cranberry, and rice and beans. It was so good. Everyone in Laguna is an excellent cook.

Then I went to the Acks house. They had BBQ pork , stew beans, and flour tortilla, as well as cake. I was too full from the other house to eat anything. I felt so rude. (I got it all wrapped up). At the Acks house I took tons of pictures… the one little girl there was the happiest little baby I have ever seen.

Next, I went to Miss Gloria. They had so much food too! Miss Gloria who is a very educated person… she studied abroad… and has a lot of experience in many areas, she invited me to take a tour of Laguna. I said YES! She took me around Laguna with the tourist Bill who was staying in Laguna for Christmas. He is traveling the world for 2 years now that he retired. He started his journey on Sept 1, 2009. I learned so much from the tour… as well as a lot from Mr. Bill. He gave me a lot of different suggestions of resources and books to read.

Next I visited the Shols house. I remembered that it was the little girl’s birthday. I asked her if she had cake today. She said no. I said oh you have to come home with me and get a piece. I had to pieces wrapped up that I did not eat from today. I gave one to her. Then I stayed at their house and took an hour worth of pictures. They all loved posing for the camera.

After that the last house I visited was the Pop’s. They had fire crackers and sparklers. I held a sparkler and it kept burning me… I kept screaming.

When I was walking home I saw something in the red burning in the middle of the stone road. I looked around and saw a kid. I said what is that? Is it going to explode? After I finished that question I took a step forward and the fire cracker blew up. I screamed bloody murder. Everyone came running to my rescue. The shop keeper came running outside and my host dad heard me all the way from the house. He came running too. It was pretty funny. (Again they think I am crazy!)

I had an excellent Christmas! I am very that I really enjoyed myself in Belize!

Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Christmas Eve: Baking ALL Day and Attending a 4 hour K’ekchi Mass

The Corn Mill

Baking Tortillas

My Shan... in English Granny

The Fire Heart... where all cooking takes place

Making bread

My Host Mom... teaching me how to make bread, cake, and tamales

Thursday December 24, 2009

On Christmas Eve I baked all day. I learned how to make bread, cake, and tamales. It was a long tiring day.

At 7 I went and visited Mr. Moh. I had some coconut bread and coffee (even though I don’t drink coffee). They put so much sugar in their coffee.

After that I went to K’ekchi mass with Carmelita. They sung and preached in K’ekchi. We did have a break to give our gifts. We did a KK (we call it secret santa or Pollyanna). KK stands for Kris Kringle. I had Rosa and she had me. I gave her an activity book, pencil, pencil case, sharpener, and a bingo game. She gave me a koshtal (mayan purse), and two pretty bracelets.

The ladies asked me stay until midnight (I was so exhausted, but I did stay because they invited me). I stayed and then had tamales and donuts at midnight (I never eat that late…)

Then I reached home at 1 am and went straight to bed… to wait for Santa… hehhe


Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Missing Home… it is my Gram’s birthday that I am missing today

Wednesday December 23, 2009

I went to town. Today is my Grams 78 birthday in the states. I am sad that I am not home for it!

Anyway, I called a lot of fam and friends today… however, I was not able to get a hold of Cecy.


Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

The Farm

Tuesday December 22, 2009

When I awoke I did not think I was going to the farm because it was raining all night. However, when I got up it stopped raining. So I got to go to the farm for the first time! It was such an experience.

We hiked up the mountain (2 hours) to get to the farm. When we got there we all went right to work pulling cilantro. Mr. Che said I was really good at pulling the best cilantro! YAY.

When I returned home I was sooo muddy, red, and tired. I felt like a real Maya farmer!

P.S. I called Cecy… I learned that if you put a plus sign before her number I can talk to her. It was sooo great to talk to her. The only negative thing was that I only talked for 7 minutes, which cost 10.00 dollars.


Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Visiting Villagers

Sunday December 20, 2009

Today I went around Laguna and visited the villagers. I want to get to know all the Laguna people. It is important to integrate fully in the community.

I visited Ms. Jacqueline. She is a Spanish (Guatemalan) speaking Belizean. I went over to discuss some Spanish vocabulary practice. However, we mainly talked about fundraising ideas for Laguna’s Computer Internet Lab. (It was really beneficial to visit her … I learned many new ideas).

I also visited the alcade, Mr. Coy, and tutored his daughter for the spelling bee.

I visited the Pops as well and they invited me to their Christmas party (they were having that night). It was lots of fun. I saw many villagers and practiced my K’ekchi with them.



Monday December 21, 2009

There is a cold front in Belize. It is SOOO chilly. I am very surprised… I didn’t think that Belize got that cold. I froze last night. I kept getting up and adding more blankets, sweatshirts, and sweatpants. I even added put a towel around my head because I my thatch house lets all the air come in the roof and wooden walls.

Today was a lazy Christmas break day. I read my book, The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw. It is an excellent book about Belize. I could relate and understand so much of it… especially since I live in Belize!

My host family and I borrowed the movie 2012 from the Pop family. We watched it… I really liked it. I learned even more about the Mayans from that movie.




Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Last Day of School and Christmas Shopping:

Friday December 18, 2009
Last day of school (I was SICK and did not attend).



Saturday December 19, 2009

Today I went to town, Punta Gorda, and did all my Christmas shopping. I bought my principal, Mr. Garcia, a gift, as well as my host siblings and grandmother.

The public/government teachers had a big Christmas party on Friday. However, since I was sick I did not attend. Yet, Mr. Garcia said that they still gave me a meal… and I had to pay the twenty dollars still… that stinks! (It was a yummy meal though).

Disclaimer
This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.