I know you're all thinking I'm either munching on beetles or lizards, or you're imagining all the delicious mango or papaya I must be picking straight from the trees...Not quite truth, but avocados are in season right now. And I tasted a mysterious strawberry-tasting peachy fruit a couple days ago. But three out of my last four meals have been homemade hamburgers...mostly because the guys are too lazy to cook anything else or do extra dishes.
Yesterday, Mel and I walked with Eva (she comes to help with laundry and cleaning) to Seven Mile, her village. It was all uphill and took over an hour...it might take Eva less time when she doesn't have to wait for someone to take photos every two minutes. But we passed peanut fields, and hills so green we could have been in Ireland. It was stunning. When I say "village" I mean there are maybe 50 single story houses spread out along one main dirt road and maybe two very small shops. Children playing soccer in the front of their houses stared at us as we passed. They were very shy but curiously followed us for a minute or two. Older women sat inside their open doors and watched us. The houses were very basic but brightly painted--lavender, sea green, bright blue.
It's amazing to think about how much we have compared to other people. Seeing how little Eva's house was, with no screens to cover the windows to protect her kids from mosqruitos. It really gives you perspective. I wanted to do something nice for them, so I gave my two books I brought with me to her oldest daughter today when she came to help her mom with work. She said she liked reading and seemed excited about the books. I gave her a small canvas bag I had brought with me to carry them home in. I know it really wasn't much to give, but I thought maybe it will give her something to do while she's on break from school.
I think I'd like to join the Peace Corp or something similar to come help people in 7 Mile, or some place similar. It'd be so easy to do something small on my part, but the smallest things can go so far and make their lives better.
The family still didn't come back from town today, but we have three new guests. Two of them are brother and sister and originally
from Uganda. They started playing drums together earlier. I could have been in a jungle in Africa if I didn't remember I was in Belize.
Sitting here I just now saw the geckos climbing up the walls eating bugs and it makes me wonder what else I would see if I stayed here longer. But I'm so excited to see the rest of the country, I guess I just have to find another adventure.
But tonight, I'm going to go enjoy my last night with my new friends here.
Buenas noches!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Two more days at Barton Creek
[I've been meaning to get this post up, but since our internet is powered by a propane tank, every time I try to finish it, the generator shuts off...]
[This blog I started on Sunday]
I'm getting used to never completely drying out. It poured all last night, so much that the small beach we had by the creek is gone. The water is murky now and they're worried about getting guests out today. The long dirt driveway is flooded, and the small river that has to be crossed to get here is probably not so small anymore. You would think it'd be easy to fall asleep to rain, but not this rain..
Yesterday I went with two girls from California to see Mountain Pine Ridge, and Big Rock, a huge waterfall. We all crammed into the back of a pickup truck Our guide was practically leaping from rock to rock and we were behind him sliding on our butts. At least he was amused. I fell once down a mini waterfall but stopped myself by hitting a rock...It was , awesome though and I was happy to get outside the treehouse. The current was moving too fast to swim underneath the waterfall, but we did jump off a rock in front of it a few times. One of those things you don't think too much about because you'll talk yourself out of it.
[This blog I started on Sunday]
I'm getting used to never completely drying out. It poured all last night, so much that the small beach we had by the creek is gone. The water is murky now and they're worried about getting guests out today. The long dirt driveway is flooded, and the small river that has to be crossed to get here is probably not so small anymore. You would think it'd be easy to fall asleep to rain, but not this rain..
Yesterday I went with two girls from California to see Mountain Pine Ridge, and Big Rock, a huge waterfall. We all crammed into the back of a pickup truck Our guide was practically leaping from rock to rock and we were behind him sliding on our butts. At least he was amused. I fell once down a mini waterfall but stopped myself by hitting a rock...It was , awesome though and I was happy to get outside the treehouse. The current was moving too fast to swim underneath the waterfall, but we did jump off a rock in front of it a few times. One of those things you don't think too much about because you'll talk yourself out of it.
I haven't seen any panthers, or jaguars, or any big animals besides horses and bulls. We saw a fox-like thing yesterday, which I read might be a 'bush-dog.' I saw an eel last night in the creek poking it's head out by a canoe...Kind of creepy at night. The howler monkeys were out yelling today too, but I haven't seen any. Also, my host, Jim, said he was chased by a huge wild boar when he got out of his truck a few days ago. He showed me the picture though, and I'd swear it was more bear than pig.
I bought a half gallon of rum for $10 to keep here. It's so smooth. The Estonian, Mel, calls it 'washing liquid' to drink while we're doing the dishes after dinner.
Today, the family went to town. The guests all left, so it'll be really quiet with just the two other volunteers, me, and Eva--a local Mayan woman that comes a few times a week to help with laundry and cleaning. It takes her an hour to walk here, each way.
I have two more days here. On Thursday, I'm going to try to leave early and see Xunantunich or Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM), both Mayan ruins. Then I'll take a bus from a nearby city into Belize City, then from there to Rancho Dolores, were my next host will pick me up. The bus is the main transportation here. Colorful school buses that are so overcrowded nobody sits down.
I have so much more to say, but I need to start helping with chores..
Hasta luego!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Guilty Blog. Sorry, Mom :)
When my mom sent an email to the outpost about my whereabouts, I figured I should write up a quick update tonight before the power goes out. I've been guilted into blogging. We only get a few hours of power a day, since it's fueled by a generator...so I'm typing fast.
I've been cooking a lot (we had 20 people eating at once), cleaning up the clubhouse, and today and yesterday morning I played in the dirt until my skin turned brown. You can call it natural organic tanning..that washed off when I jumped in the creek. I cleared out a huge weed patch below the clubhouse for Jacqelyn and hacked down a bamboo tree with a machete. Whew. Bring on the jungle? Justin, the kids' tutor from Canada, and I went on a hike today to clear off the path for guests.
What else...I'm going to Big Rock waterfall tomorrow morning with a couple of the backpackers staying here.
I was attacked by fire ants a couple days ago, and my ankles are swollen with bug bites, but I'm not burnt yet. It downpours every day and feels sooo good. I love everyone here. The family is fun and easy-going. I've held 6-month old Jack longer than I've held any baby ever...but surprisingly he's easy to amuse. He really likes drums, I found out. I guess he gets handed off to volunteers a lot.
There's a lot of people coming and going. I can't wait to see the rest of the country. Mayan ruins and snorkeling is on the top of my list.
Buenas noches!
I've been cooking a lot (we had 20 people eating at once), cleaning up the clubhouse, and today and yesterday morning I played in the dirt until my skin turned brown. You can call it natural organic tanning..that washed off when I jumped in the creek. I cleared out a huge weed patch below the clubhouse for Jacqelyn and hacked down a bamboo tree with a machete. Whew. Bring on the jungle? Justin, the kids' tutor from Canada, and I went on a hike today to clear off the path for guests.
What else...I'm going to Big Rock waterfall tomorrow morning with a couple of the backpackers staying here.
I was attacked by fire ants a couple days ago, and my ankles are swollen with bug bites, but I'm not burnt yet. It downpours every day and feels sooo good. I love everyone here. The family is fun and easy-going. I've held 6-month old Jack longer than I've held any baby ever...but surprisingly he's easy to amuse. He really likes drums, I found out. I guess he gets handed off to volunteers a lot.
There's a lot of people coming and going. I can't wait to see the rest of the country. Mayan ruins and snorkeling is on the top of my list.
Buenas noches!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
First Day in Barton
I got the feeling my driver, Tosh, wouldn't take crap from anyone. I wouldn't have been much safer if I was in an armored truck. She told me she was the only female driver in the country and if I was a boy, she would have dropped me off before we reached the outpost. "You're a lady, so we take you all the way to the front steps," she said. She knew a lot about Belize (being a native) and she told me stories of the craziest people she'd driven around.
It took a good three hours to get from the airport to Barton Creek (where I was going). She picked up a couple people right after we left the airport and dropped them off in San Ignacio. We also made a detour into the capital, Belmopan, to get a small generator which someone was supposed to meet us in San Ignacio to pick up. They didn't come right away, so we left it on the side of the road with the other passengers we dropped off...I guess you can only take things so far.
It downpoured at least three times since I've been here. Once, I was caught in it while clearing out a fallen tree from under the barbed fence. Three horses are usually inside the fence, but they must have gotten out because I haven't seen them yet. The rain felt so good. And since I was soaked all ready I took a shower in the creek :).
There are vines that climb all over the lodge, the creek sounds like a waterfall because of the rain, I heard monkeys earlier, the boys pointed them out. A low growling sound. But they said they never really get too close to us because of the dogs. There are hammocks strewn all over the place and today everybody is just lounging.
It took a good three hours to get from the airport to Barton Creek (where I was going). She picked up a couple people right after we left the airport and dropped them off in San Ignacio. We also made a detour into the capital, Belmopan, to get a small generator which someone was supposed to meet us in San Ignacio to pick up. They didn't come right away, so we left it on the side of the road with the other passengers we dropped off...I guess you can only take things so far.
It downpoured at least three times since I've been here. Once, I was caught in it while clearing out a fallen tree from under the barbed fence. Three horses are usually inside the fence, but they must have gotten out because I haven't seen them yet. The rain felt so good. And since I was soaked all ready I took a shower in the creek :).
There are vines that climb all over the lodge, the creek sounds like a waterfall because of the rain, I heard monkeys earlier, the boys pointed them out. A low growling sound. But they said they never really get too close to us because of the dogs. There are hammocks strewn all over the place and today everybody is just lounging.
Monday, June 25, 2012
The Great Affair is to Move
“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Is it really 3,000 miles to Belize? Well, if you're willing to dish out a good amount of toll road money to see the beautiful Missouri and Arkansas back country, then you might make it in 2,831 miles. But it you prefer a scenic route to break up your drive earlier in the trip, you'll be putting a good 3,000 miles on your car.
Lucky for me (and with generous, if not wary, support from my parents), I won't be driving. Good thing too, after reading one of my host's blogs, Designing on Sunshine, which proves every reason not to drive through Mexico.
1) Like anyone who has ventured outside of his/her own country, I inherited the malignant and insatiable disease for which the only temporary cure is repeating the action that infected you in the first place. Side affects include all forms of culture shock: depression after withdrawal, ill-feelings toward native food, culture, and people, planning imaginary trips in great detail, the skill of clearing a room as soon as you start to mention that time you had four servings on gelato in twenty minutes, or listing off every Pope since the 16th century...
This disease is called the travel-bug.
For me, it's been dormant for two whole years, quietly building pressure like a volcano. But as my senior year of college came and went and friends started graduating, moving away, and getting married, I must have snapped. I booked a round-trip flight to Belize City after volunteering to work on an organic bamboo farm an hour inland.
2) For my senior thesis. My plan is to study the sustainable and organic agriculture methods used in Belize, compare them to Midwest methods, and attempt to apply sustainable methods I see to small-farming in the Midwest. Bamboo is being used as a sustainable resource because of it's incredibly fast growth and strength.
3) To practice journalistic writing, is there a better way than to go somewhere completely new and try to write about it?
Barton Creek Outpost
http://www.bartoncreekoutpost.com/
Spanish Creek Rainforest Reserve
http://www.belizeability.com/
Is it really 3,000 miles to Belize? Well, if you're willing to dish out a good amount of toll road money to see the beautiful Missouri and Arkansas back country, then you might make it in 2,831 miles. But it you prefer a scenic route to break up your drive earlier in the trip, you'll be putting a good 3,000 miles on your car.
Lucky for me (and with generous, if not wary, support from my parents), I won't be driving. Good thing too, after reading one of my host's blogs, Designing on Sunshine, which proves every reason not to drive through Mexico.
Why I am going:
1) Like anyone who has ventured outside of his/her own country, I inherited the malignant and insatiable disease for which the only temporary cure is repeating the action that infected you in the first place. Side affects include all forms of culture shock: depression after withdrawal, ill-feelings toward native food, culture, and people, planning imaginary trips in great detail, the skill of clearing a room as soon as you start to mention that time you had four servings on gelato in twenty minutes, or listing off every Pope since the 16th century...
This disease is called the travel-bug.
For me, it's been dormant for two whole years, quietly building pressure like a volcano. But as my senior year of college came and went and friends started graduating, moving away, and getting married, I must have snapped. I booked a round-trip flight to Belize City after volunteering to work on an organic bamboo farm an hour inland.
2) For my senior thesis. My plan is to study the sustainable and organic agriculture methods used in Belize, compare them to Midwest methods, and attempt to apply sustainable methods I see to small-farming in the Midwest. Bamboo is being used as a sustainable resource because of it's incredibly fast growth and strength.
3) To practice journalistic writing, is there a better way than to go somewhere completely new and try to write about it?
Where I'm volunteering:
Barton Creek Outpost
http://www.bartoncreekoutpost.com/
Spanish Creek Rainforest Reserve
http://www.belizeability.com/
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