Sunday December 19, 2010
Today was the Village Planning Workshop.
First we discussed the profile of Laguna Village. For example, there are 48 families in Laguna; 257 people in Laguna. 98% is K’ekchi, Mopan 2%, Mestizo 2%, Other… me the PCV!!!
The languages in the village are Kekchi and English. Most couples are married; however, we also have a few common law marriages. There are two religions in the Village: House of Prayer and Pentecostal
Laguna Government was the first government school in Toledo. It was built by a church group about 30 years ago.
Economic Structure is 80% Subsistence Farming. There are some government workers (police and Belize Defense Force). There is logging and hunting, but it is not commercial.
Things we need to develop for Laguna is a boardwalk for the wild life sanctuary in Laguna Village.
Some strengths of Laguna are:
• Good governance: chairman, alcalde, supportive.
• Water and Electricity infrastructure
• Sustainable farming among community; fertile land
• Education
• Healthy productive force; people work and produce
• Religious; stabilize and bring people together
• Tourism; cave, people, culture, aguacalient, wildlife sanctuary
• Guest House Group (potential tourism)
Some weaknesses of Laguna
• Collaboration, low community participation
• Small population holds us back
• Leadership
• Community management (land, trees, garbage, and animals.
• Migration
• Skills
• Marketing products
Opportunities for Laguna
• Tourism!!!
At the end of the meeting we prioritized an education list of needs that are really important to the village:
Education:
1- Scholarships
2- New School building
3- Internet
4- Library
5- Government Preschool
6- Recreation
7- Better Bus
8- Community Board
Economics:
1- Hurricane Shelter
2- Farmers Road
3- Rice trasher
4- Cacao dryer
5- Street lights
6- Recreational facility
7- Tourism
We will meet again to discuss actions taken to reach our goals.
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.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
School Closes for the Holiday Season
Friday December 17, 2010
Today was a day of clean up. Some standard 5 and 6 girls and I cleaned the computer lab immaculately! Miss Melanie and some girls cleaned the feeding program kitchen. Mr. Garcia and the boys cleaned up the community center and the field. They chopped and mowed the grass. Miss Filberta and her class cleaned the bathrooms and sinks.
All teachers and students organized and cleaned their classrooms for the new year!
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.
Today was a day of clean up. Some standard 5 and 6 girls and I cleaned the computer lab immaculately! Miss Melanie and some girls cleaned the feeding program kitchen. Mr. Garcia and the boys cleaned up the community center and the field. They chopped and mowed the grass. Miss Filberta and her class cleaned the bathrooms and sinks.
All teachers and students organized and cleaned their classrooms for the new year!
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 Party
Thursday December 16, 2010
Today the preschool and the primary school had their Christmas Party. The preschool’s food and dessert was donated by the Shol’s and Miss Jackaline. The primary schools food and dessert was donated by the Belize Defense Force (BDF).
Santa came and gave all the children treats and toys!
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.
Today the preschool and the primary school had their Christmas Party. The preschool’s food and dessert was donated by the Shol’s and Miss Jackaline. The primary schools food and dessert was donated by the Belize Defense Force (BDF).
Santa came and gave all the children treats and toys!
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 Entertainment 2010
Wednesday December 15, 2010
Today was Laguna Government Schools Christmas Entertainment at the Community Center. My preschoolers participated, which was a surprise to the parents because they thought the preschools were too young and shy to perform.
My preschoolers did a tooty-tot, hockey pockey, and this is the way we plant the rice in Laguna Village.
The primary students sang songs, danced, and preformed plays. Overall it was a success. I did the welcome this year again… in KEKCHI!!!! YAY… and they said I did it very well!
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.
Today was Laguna Government Schools Christmas Entertainment at the Community Center. My preschoolers participated, which was a surprise to the parents because they thought the preschools were too young and shy to perform.
My preschoolers did a tooty-tot, hockey pockey, and this is the way we plant the rice in Laguna Village.
The primary students sang songs, danced, and preformed plays. Overall it was a success. I did the welcome this year again… in KEKCHI!!!! YAY… and they said I did it very well!
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.
So sad to say bye to Paula
December 13, 2010
Today Paula and Cait went to the airport to go home. I was so sad to say goodbye.
After they left I had a doctor appointment to check on my bronchial asthma. At my appointment I found out that I don’t have bronchial asthma and instead I have a chronic severe form of a sinus infection. The doctor is a specialist and after reviewing my cat scan he said that I have had this for a long while and that I may have been treating the wrong symptoms the whole time. Therefore, he put me on a 15 day antibiotic and in the next 2 weeks I was to visit back for a check-up. If it was not cleared up he would have to put me asleep and drain my nose.
Thank goodness I didn’t scuba dive because you are not supposed to scuba with allergies or a little cold—let alone a chronic sinus infection!!!!
Missing Paula and Caitlyn… I had such a great week with them!!!
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.
Today Paula and Cait went to the airport to go home. I was so sad to say goodbye.
After they left I had a doctor appointment to check on my bronchial asthma. At my appointment I found out that I don’t have bronchial asthma and instead I have a chronic severe form of a sinus infection. The doctor is a specialist and after reviewing my cat scan he said that I have had this for a long while and that I may have been treating the wrong symptoms the whole time. Therefore, he put me on a 15 day antibiotic and in the next 2 weeks I was to visit back for a check-up. If it was not cleared up he would have to put me asleep and drain my nose.
Thank goodness I didn’t scuba dive because you are not supposed to scuba with allergies or a little cold—let alone a chronic sinus infection!!!!
Missing Paula and Caitlyn… I had such a great week with them!!!
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.
Beautiful Caye Cauker and Friends!
December 11-12, 2010
We traveled to Belize City to get on the water taxi to go to Caye Cauker (a beautiful island!)
Caye Cauker is a small gorgeous island. There are no vehicles on the islands; except for golf carts or bikes to get you around. The population of Caye Cauker is about 1300 residents. The residents have traditionally made their living from the sea, specifically from lobsters and snapper that inhabit in warm waters. All the residents know each other and it wasn’t long until they knew Paula, Cait, and me. There are only 3 main streets on the island that run north to south.
The plan was to stay in Caye Cauker for two days and scuba dive. The island is known for its ideal base for diving adventures at the nearby reef. However, since we were all sick we didn’t get the chance. I was so stuffed up that I knew I would not be able to equalize.
Therefore, we signed up for Raggamuffin Tours which was a great snorkeling tour! Raggamuffin took us to three snorkeling stops where we saw sharks, sea turtles, mantel rays, and barrier reef. On the tour you could easily see the easygoing attitude, which is due in part to the thriving Rastafarian culture on the Caye, which pulses to a reggae beat (in which we took the tour guides CD and downloaded to my laptop!)
Paula and Cait said they could definitely have stayed for more than 2 days just to relax in hammocks and on the beach.
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.
We traveled to Belize City to get on the water taxi to go to Caye Cauker (a beautiful island!)
Caye Cauker is a small gorgeous island. There are no vehicles on the islands; except for golf carts or bikes to get you around. The population of Caye Cauker is about 1300 residents. The residents have traditionally made their living from the sea, specifically from lobsters and snapper that inhabit in warm waters. All the residents know each other and it wasn’t long until they knew Paula, Cait, and me. There are only 3 main streets on the island that run north to south.
The plan was to stay in Caye Cauker for two days and scuba dive. The island is known for its ideal base for diving adventures at the nearby reef. However, since we were all sick we didn’t get the chance. I was so stuffed up that I knew I would not be able to equalize.
Therefore, we signed up for Raggamuffin Tours which was a great snorkeling tour! Raggamuffin took us to three snorkeling stops where we saw sharks, sea turtles, mantel rays, and barrier reef. On the tour you could easily see the easygoing attitude, which is due in part to the thriving Rastafarian culture on the Caye, which pulses to a reggae beat (in which we took the tour guides CD and downloaded to my laptop!)
Paula and Cait said they could definitely have stayed for more than 2 days just to relax in hammocks and on the beach.
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.
Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve
December 10, 2010
This day was a crazy day. Cait might have a parasite she was not feeling well at all. Paula also might be sick with the flu. I had sore throat and cough. We got a late start, which I felt bad about because we were meeting Megan, Alyson and Clifton.
We reached Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve in the afternoon. We picked up Megan; however, we did not see Alyson or Clifton—which was very bizarre because they were supposedly there.
Megan, Paula, Cait and I went on a beautiful hike; some of it was strenuous. So I couldn’t even imagine what Victoria Peak would be like because that is the hardest hike in the park. For that hike you have to train for it and be with expert guides.
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is Belize’s most famous sanctuary; it is biggest protected area. We didn’t spot any jaguars sadly. We did see many birds though. We were on a self-guided nature walk. Once we reached up to the top we all saw the gorgeous view of Victoria Peak.
Once we finished our hike we said goodbye to Megan and traveled up to Belmopan! There were lots of Christmas celebrations going on in Belmopan. We went to eat and then showered and went to bed!
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.
This day was a crazy day. Cait might have a parasite she was not feeling well at all. Paula also might be sick with the flu. I had sore throat and cough. We got a late start, which I felt bad about because we were meeting Megan, Alyson and Clifton.
We reached Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve in the afternoon. We picked up Megan; however, we did not see Alyson or Clifton—which was very bizarre because they were supposedly there.
Megan, Paula, Cait and I went on a beautiful hike; some of it was strenuous. So I couldn’t even imagine what Victoria Peak would be like because that is the hardest hike in the park. For that hike you have to train for it and be with expert guides.
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is Belize’s most famous sanctuary; it is biggest protected area. We didn’t spot any jaguars sadly. We did see many birds though. We were on a self-guided nature walk. Once we reached up to the top we all saw the gorgeous view of Victoria Peak.
Once we finished our hike we said goodbye to Megan and traveled up to Belmopan! There were lots of Christmas celebrations going on in Belmopan. We went to eat and then showered and went to bed!
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.
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