I've been back for a few weeks now, and while in some ways I felt like I'd never been away and settled back into letting my lovely Dad make me cups of tea in the morning, some things are hard to get used to again and I miss being over there!
Having flitted around the country a bit to see some very good friends, and cooked enchilladas for some other very good friends, I went to a fantastic debriefing weekend from the EEP experience in Birmingham, where I remet some old friends and made some new ones. It was interesting how different our experiences had all been in different places and doing different things, and yet how many things we wanted to discuss in common!
I've now come to Reading to study for a MSc in Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate, and am really rather excited. I'm trying to personalise my room as much as permitted, have met some people from my course and some other people, been out for the first time in a long time, got soup at the Chaplaincy, stocked my fridge, and generally am enjoying myself. Hopefully this enjoyment level won't fall too much when lectures start!
So, just a brief list of strange or exciting things about the UK:
1) Radio 4 English accents
2) English journalism, which is significantly different (dare I say better?) than both US and Belizean journalism, which are themselves worlds apart
3) having cold toes
4) not having cold toes; going out expecting to be cold on the assumption that England is cold and actually enjoying the glorious September sunshine
5) conkers being everywhere without my being subconsciously prepared for them by the changing seasons
6) trying to buy jeans in Birmingham, where the shops cover several square acres (not that I know how big an acre is) and each takes a good five minutes to cover, unlike shopping in Belize City, where the majority of shops are on one street and you can pretty much see all the shop's contents from the entrance. This Birmingham shopping experience was stressful.
7) automatic doors and escalators
8) cars travelling quickly because there are no potholes
9) cars travelling on the other side of the road and then there being one way systems when I'm running for a train so even after thinking carefully about which way the traffic comes from I still nearly get run over
10) trains
11) people wearing seatbelts
12) the cheese counter in any supermarket, YEY
13) rain which doesn't get you wet
14) PUBS!
15) recycling being common and easy. Hooray!
I may extend this list when things come to me.
In conclusion, thanks to everyone who's supported me in any way, whether through prayer or thought or email or monetary donation or facebook chat or sending letters or ANYTIN ATAAL. it's been fab!
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Remember September
Or, let's party! To Belizeans, September, as well as being the doom and gloom of back to school that it is for everyone everywhere (although technically many high schools and college/university students went back mid August), is celebration month. On the 10th, they celebrate fighting off the dastardly Spaniards (quote from a play we saw about it) at the Battle of St George's Caye, and on the 21st (after I leave) they'll be celebrating gaining their independence from we Brits. For today however, the Brits are the ones who helped fight off the dastardly Spaniards, so we're OK.Did I mention not to rely on me for a history lesson? Not without warning me first, anyway.
So, I missed the official launch of celebrations on August 29th due to being daaan saaath in wan lee place too small for festivities, but worry not! There was lots of marching around the church to patriotic music on Sunday morning (and an extralong service consequently, hooray). Then on Monday evening there was an Evening of Patriotic Song, in which I sang patriotically (for Belize, although good old Queenie got a mention, alongside the obviously far more important Queen of the Bay). The patriotic songs themselves, as we sung them, were disappointingly lacking in Caribbean Rhythm but there was plenty of that from the Steel Band, and then we got the Imperial Band (who did a Kriol Folksong Medley, and then threw in a whiff of Rule Brittania and God Save the Queen to their patriotic medley). There was much dancing and marching and waving of red white and blue, the Belizean national colours (if I ever went in for Last Night of the Proms, I could just reuse my colourful tat, but alas I do not.)
So; everywhere is red, white and blue. And everyone, too. Yesterday Ebenezer Primary were patriotically dressed, and Maggie went to a meeting with Red White and Blue Food. Today being the 10th there was a citizen's parade. With lots of people, in cars and on floats, all in red white and blue. (The man at the top was on one of the floats. I have also seen him twice in town, totally randomly, dressed like this, in my time here. I'm not sure of the cultural significance.)
This one is the Rev C David Goff (son of Rev Charles Goff who my parents met in Jamaica...small world...) who was the Grand Marshall of the parade and got to sit on this car waving. There are not many cars like this in Belize- I might have seen 4 cars that are neither in some way falling apart nor SUVs in my time here- so not sure where this one came from. It's not Rev's! (Some of the SUVs are very swish, mind. But the roads aren't good enough to merit a car like this one!)
Other things that have happened this week:
A Fire Engine Parade. This was exactly what it says on the tin; all the fire engines, and ambulances, paraded around the city from 7pm until well after 8pm, sirens wailing and lights flashing, and by all accounts lots of people went and watched. We did too, since it came right by our house. All in all it was very loud, but I waved at lots of firemen and worried that all the boys on bicycles in the dark in front of the trucks were going to fall off and get hurt, and laughed because I thought the whole thing was rather random.
The Queen of the Bay nominees got very upset about curtseys. As part of trying to win Queen of the Bay, they have to curtsey, but the curtseys are nothing like I've ever seen; as far as I can tell its just a leg strength exercise; they go as far down as possible, and then they have to try to raise up again without buckling or toppling sideways. And they have their arms outstretched. Really, considering the dresses, it strikes me more as the kind of thing drunk rowers would do after a ball to demonstrate their awesome power than something elegant you'd see in a royal court. but there you go. Only the rowers would be able to do it without looking constipated-with-fake-smile-stuck-on. Anyway, two of them Flunked it and cried and it was on the National News. No, really. (Some of them were really quite good at it, I should add; see the photo below; and they are very pretty, and other things too because it isn't-just-a-beauty-pageant.)
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Holiday pt3: Punta Gorda town and adventures in Stann Creek District
this is the last holiday installment, honestly!
Sunday 22nd-Weds 24th
After church on Sunday (8am, remember) I headed home and finished packing before catching the bus at around midday. After about 7 hours of wind-whipped bus travel, through dry flatlands and beautiful mountains, orange and banana plantations, two stops in towns and innumerable stops to pick people up in various villages, I arrived in Punta Gorda. PG is the district town of Toledo district in the South, an area of very different ethnic make up to the city- lots of Maya still live down south- and made my way to the home of the JVIs there, which sits on the seafront. The next few days were spent swimming, lazing on a sofa swatting mosquitoes and devouring 2 1/2 novels (I may have mentioned before that I sometimes risk treating the JVIs as a personal library), enjoying good conversation, admiring the views of Honduran and Guatemalan hills across the bay, having drumming lessons (!) and watching nightly lightening displays (big storms hit PG pretty much every night, but the days were still and clear.) All in all, a wonderful two days!
On Wednesday I took my leave and headed north as far as Hopkins, a small town on the coast in Stann Creek district (next up from Toledo) and found myself surrounded by American expats for the afternoon. I then met up with Shelly, an American volunteer at Sitte River Methodist School who I'd been emailing lots to arrange a meeting with, and went out for a fabulous dinner.
Thurs 25th-Friday 26th
Headed to Cockscomb basin national park and 'jaguar sanctuary'. Getting there was a minor adventure but once I did I enjoyed lots of butterflies, sightings of an armadillo, a tarantula and a hummingbird, two waterfalls and lots of climbing up hills in ridiculous heat! The views were well worth the exertion and the realisation that I have become very unfit. The second waterfall was visited in a torrential downpour however, which seems to have done for my camera screen. Which is bad. When I emerged from the national park I met Shelly again who took me on a tour of a shrimp farm and a VERY good evening meal before a good night's sleeo.
Sat 27th
Went out on a very nice boat (courtesy of Shelly's connections, again). I have never seen the sea so still, the way it merged into the sky, and the patches of colour, were truly breathtaking. Inside the reef, that was; outside the reef it was rocky enough to make some feel the worse for wear but I managed to stave it off and enjoyed a beautiful day clambering around the boat, swimming in the clear blue Caribbean, not getting burnt (!), eating smoked fish, watching people catch barracuda, and generally enjoying life. A pod of dolphins accompanied us back, too- what could be better? (except seeing a seaturtle, which others did while I was looking the wrong way. Doh.)
In the evening we hung out at a friend's house, listened to music, played games, and swam in the sea (a hazardous occupation seeing as I always end up with cuts and bruises when I swim in the sea in the dark- this was no exception).
Sunday 28th
Lazed before helping Shelly paint a mural at the school- she is a very talented artist and I can just about manage painting blocks of colour when instructed, and we made good progress. In the evening we headed into Hopkins to watch 'Duets', the Belizean xfactor type thing, on TV in a chinese.
Monday 29th
After another adventurous journey to get into Dangriga, the district town of Stann Creek, caught a very hot and sticky bus home to Belize (Belize City that is), where I swear it is hotter than down south!!!
Sunday 22nd-Weds 24th
After church on Sunday (8am, remember) I headed home and finished packing before catching the bus at around midday. After about 7 hours of wind-whipped bus travel, through dry flatlands and beautiful mountains, orange and banana plantations, two stops in towns and innumerable stops to pick people up in various villages, I arrived in Punta Gorda. PG is the district town of Toledo district in the South, an area of very different ethnic make up to the city- lots of Maya still live down south- and made my way to the home of the JVIs there, which sits on the seafront. The next few days were spent swimming, lazing on a sofa swatting mosquitoes and devouring 2 1/2 novels (I may have mentioned before that I sometimes risk treating the JVIs as a personal library), enjoying good conversation, admiring the views of Honduran and Guatemalan hills across the bay, having drumming lessons (!) and watching nightly lightening displays (big storms hit PG pretty much every night, but the days were still and clear.) All in all, a wonderful two days!
On Wednesday I took my leave and headed north as far as Hopkins, a small town on the coast in Stann Creek district (next up from Toledo) and found myself surrounded by American expats for the afternoon. I then met up with Shelly, an American volunteer at Sitte River Methodist School who I'd been emailing lots to arrange a meeting with, and went out for a fabulous dinner.
Thurs 25th-Friday 26th
Headed to Cockscomb basin national park and 'jaguar sanctuary'. Getting there was a minor adventure but once I did I enjoyed lots of butterflies, sightings of an armadillo, a tarantula and a hummingbird, two waterfalls and lots of climbing up hills in ridiculous heat! The views were well worth the exertion and the realisation that I have become very unfit. The second waterfall was visited in a torrential downpour however, which seems to have done for my camera screen. Which is bad. When I emerged from the national park I met Shelly again who took me on a tour of a shrimp farm and a VERY good evening meal before a good night's sleeo.
Sat 27th
Went out on a very nice boat (courtesy of Shelly's connections, again). I have never seen the sea so still, the way it merged into the sky, and the patches of colour, were truly breathtaking. Inside the reef, that was; outside the reef it was rocky enough to make some feel the worse for wear but I managed to stave it off and enjoyed a beautiful day clambering around the boat, swimming in the clear blue Caribbean, not getting burnt (!), eating smoked fish, watching people catch barracuda, and generally enjoying life. A pod of dolphins accompanied us back, too- what could be better? (except seeing a seaturtle, which others did while I was looking the wrong way. Doh.)
In the evening we hung out at a friend's house, listened to music, played games, and swam in the sea (a hazardous occupation seeing as I always end up with cuts and bruises when I swim in the sea in the dark- this was no exception).
Sunday 28th
Lazed before helping Shelly paint a mural at the school- she is a very talented artist and I can just about manage painting blocks of colour when instructed, and we made good progress. In the evening we headed into Hopkins to watch 'Duets', the Belizean xfactor type thing, on TV in a chinese.
Monday 29th
After another adventurous journey to get into Dangriga, the district town of Stann Creek, caught a very hot and sticky bus home to Belize (Belize City that is), where I swear it is hotter than down south!!!
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Holiday pt 2: Tikal and flores, Guatemala
Wednesday 18th
Maggie and I took a bus, which we were told was airconditioned but wasn't and which left about an hour later than we expected, to Flores, a couple of hours west of the Belize-Guatemala border. On the bus I met again a Canadian volunteer who's been in Honduras, who I'd met on Caye Caulker and who was also heading to Flores.
Border control passed without event, and not much was immediately different on the far side except having to speak in Spanish and pay in Quetzales. As we drove along I did think that the countryside was very different to what I am used to in Belize; there were many humpbacked cattle grazing by ponds and streams, and green hills. However, in retrospect, there is a fair amount of this in the west of Belize, it's just that I normally fall asleep in the passenger seat and don't notice it!!!
We arrived in Flores, an island jutting onto Lago de Peten Itza and joined to the mainland by a causeway, early afternoon, and spent the afternoon soaking up the uberly European traveller vibe, sorting out accomodations and our tour for the following day, and admiring lights reflected on the lake.
Thursday 19th
Rose early and admired sunrise over the lake. Our tour to Tikal, a large Mayan site in northern Guatemala, left at 8, and the journey there took just under an hour, plus an extended stop to shop! Walking around Tikal proved quite exhausting in the heat, not to mention climbing up three pyramids, the tallest of them 77m high I believe. However, we were rewarded with excellent views across the forest canopy, and sightings of tarantula, toucan, spider monkey, ocellated turkey, and a squirrel/monkey like creature I've forgotten the name of which pinched someone's much-needed biscuits and spent a long tim enjoying them, just out of reach (and out of sight of cameras, too). By 2pm when the tour ended we were quite ready for a lunch of meat, rice (but not a belizean portion, it was tiny!) and the torrential downpour which accompanied it. We also admired at length some rather spectacular black and yellow caterpillars, nearly a handspan in length, which were massed in a tree near our table.
Friday 20th
As well as making our way to the market in Santa Elena on a tuk-tuk (three wheeled cab thing), lots of looking for souvenirs and nibbling on fruit and less healthy snacks, we took a boattrip on the lake for about an hour, including a stop off to climb to a vantage point over Flores. We were brought back in the face of dark brooding clouds which waited to release their load until we were safely on dry land, although we had been silly enough to climb the short distance to the church and so got rather wet on the way back. (Flores is tiny, however). Also managed to hear a little bit of beautiful marimba music.
Saturday 21st
Headed back to Belize on another not-so-comfortable bus. Spent my evening first at a young adults social at Wesley and then at the JVIs' (Jesuit Volunteers International)'s BBQ, which was a nice party with fairy lights and EVERYTHING. Once again I tried to dance and once again I made a lot of Belizeans laugh. And Americans, for that matter.
Maggie and I took a bus, which we were told was airconditioned but wasn't and which left about an hour later than we expected, to Flores, a couple of hours west of the Belize-Guatemala border. On the bus I met again a Canadian volunteer who's been in Honduras, who I'd met on Caye Caulker and who was also heading to Flores.
Border control passed without event, and not much was immediately different on the far side except having to speak in Spanish and pay in Quetzales. As we drove along I did think that the countryside was very different to what I am used to in Belize; there were many humpbacked cattle grazing by ponds and streams, and green hills. However, in retrospect, there is a fair amount of this in the west of Belize, it's just that I normally fall asleep in the passenger seat and don't notice it!!!
We arrived in Flores, an island jutting onto Lago de Peten Itza and joined to the mainland by a causeway, early afternoon, and spent the afternoon soaking up the uberly European traveller vibe, sorting out accomodations and our tour for the following day, and admiring lights reflected on the lake.
Thursday 19th
Rose early and admired sunrise over the lake. Our tour to Tikal, a large Mayan site in northern Guatemala, left at 8, and the journey there took just under an hour, plus an extended stop to shop! Walking around Tikal proved quite exhausting in the heat, not to mention climbing up three pyramids, the tallest of them 77m high I believe. However, we were rewarded with excellent views across the forest canopy, and sightings of tarantula, toucan, spider monkey, ocellated turkey, and a squirrel/monkey like creature I've forgotten the name of which pinched someone's much-needed biscuits and spent a long tim enjoying them, just out of reach (and out of sight of cameras, too). By 2pm when the tour ended we were quite ready for a lunch of meat, rice (but not a belizean portion, it was tiny!) and the torrential downpour which accompanied it. We also admired at length some rather spectacular black and yellow caterpillars, nearly a handspan in length, which were massed in a tree near our table.
Friday 20th
As well as making our way to the market in Santa Elena on a tuk-tuk (three wheeled cab thing), lots of looking for souvenirs and nibbling on fruit and less healthy snacks, we took a boattrip on the lake for about an hour, including a stop off to climb to a vantage point over Flores. We were brought back in the face of dark brooding clouds which waited to release their load until we were safely on dry land, although we had been silly enough to climb the short distance to the church and so got rather wet on the way back. (Flores is tiny, however). Also managed to hear a little bit of beautiful marimba music.
Saturday 21st
Headed back to Belize on another not-so-comfortable bus. Spent my evening first at a young adults social at Wesley and then at the JVIs' (Jesuit Volunteers International)'s BBQ, which was a nice party with fairy lights and EVERYTHING. Once again I tried to dance and once again I made a lot of Belizeans laugh. And Americans, for that matter.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
holiday time
Hi! I now have two weeks holiday and I thought you might like to hear about it so I'm gonna do brief journal type entries
Mon 16th
Headed to caye caulker on the early water taxi, taking about 40minutes. Checked into a neat little hostel and spent some time chatting to other people staying there, having some breakfast and reminding myself how nice the place is by taking a stroll. Not fancying snorkelling again I was wondering about trying out a watersport- windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking or sailing- and had lessons for sailing recommended, so popped to talk to the guy recommended. after rain delays and too-little-wind delays, we got rigged up in a little 'splash' for my lessons. Two and a half hours eventful hours later (including five capsisions, several near heart attacks (for my instructor) and near concussions (for me), a lost and recovered hat, one near miss with a wharf, a scraped arm, and me accidentally going off south and away from civilisation-and my floating instructor- at great speed after one of the capsisions before I managed to turn around again) I decided
1) I need to go to the gym so that when I capsise boats I can easily right them again
2) To revere Ben Ainslie far more than I have done previously, which was already quite a lot
3) that I was wise to try the sport out first in the Caribbean, not in chilly England.
After that rather tiring session (I was assured I wasn't too atrocious for a first time sailer and told to come back tomorrow so I could practice more) I resorted to more relaxed activities of sunset watching, walking, eating, drinking, chatting, dancing, stargazing, and shooting star 'ooo'ing until 3am.
Tues 17th
After going to bed with the prayer and the fervent resolution 'i will get up for sunrise', but no alarm clock set, woke at 4:52, and got outside to see darkness except one thin slither of lit up cloud. For the next hour I watched: the sky lighten and pinken and reveal a magnificent cloudscape, with towering, menacing cumulonimbus set beside light, peaceful cirrus set in the palest blue, all above darkened strings of cumulus on the horizon. Then came the golden tinging of clouds as the sun itself graced the morning with its presence, in a hurry strangely at odds with the laid back atmosphere of the cayes. Rays of light in what I like to call an 'Ascension Sunshine' beamed down once the sun had risen, and I wandered back to my bed, the myriad of reflected colours now gone from the waves and replaced with welldefined patches of azure, deep blue and sky blue.
Back in bed by six, I couldn't however sleep, so the day then passed in reading, conversing, lying on a mattress outside in blissful laziness, eating, and a swim across the split (which didn't try to kill me with evil currents this time.) I was too sleepy either to sail again or to go on a bird-watching crocodile-seeking kayak north.
Mon 16th
Headed to caye caulker on the early water taxi, taking about 40minutes. Checked into a neat little hostel and spent some time chatting to other people staying there, having some breakfast and reminding myself how nice the place is by taking a stroll. Not fancying snorkelling again I was wondering about trying out a watersport- windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking or sailing- and had lessons for sailing recommended, so popped to talk to the guy recommended. after rain delays and too-little-wind delays, we got rigged up in a little 'splash' for my lessons. Two and a half hours eventful hours later (including five capsisions, several near heart attacks (for my instructor) and near concussions (for me), a lost and recovered hat, one near miss with a wharf, a scraped arm, and me accidentally going off south and away from civilisation-and my floating instructor- at great speed after one of the capsisions before I managed to turn around again) I decided
1) I need to go to the gym so that when I capsise boats I can easily right them again
2) To revere Ben Ainslie far more than I have done previously, which was already quite a lot
3) that I was wise to try the sport out first in the Caribbean, not in chilly England.
After that rather tiring session (I was assured I wasn't too atrocious for a first time sailer and told to come back tomorrow so I could practice more) I resorted to more relaxed activities of sunset watching, walking, eating, drinking, chatting, dancing, stargazing, and shooting star 'ooo'ing until 3am.
Tues 17th
After going to bed with the prayer and the fervent resolution 'i will get up for sunrise', but no alarm clock set, woke at 4:52, and got outside to see darkness except one thin slither of lit up cloud. For the next hour I watched: the sky lighten and pinken and reveal a magnificent cloudscape, with towering, menacing cumulonimbus set beside light, peaceful cirrus set in the palest blue, all above darkened strings of cumulus on the horizon. Then came the golden tinging of clouds as the sun itself graced the morning with its presence, in a hurry strangely at odds with the laid back atmosphere of the cayes. Rays of light in what I like to call an 'Ascension Sunshine' beamed down once the sun had risen, and I wandered back to my bed, the myriad of reflected colours now gone from the waves and replaced with welldefined patches of azure, deep blue and sky blue.
Back in bed by six, I couldn't however sleep, so the day then passed in reading, conversing, lying on a mattress outside in blissful laziness, eating, and a swim across the split (which didn't try to kill me with evil currents this time.) I was too sleepy either to sail again or to go on a bird-watching crocodile-seeking kayak north.
Monday, 16 August 2010
FYAHHHH and prayer requests
Just a quick one;
First, the delegates from the youth encuentro youth conference in Trinidad and Tobago just got back and are bringing the Encuentro FYAH, the Jesus FYAH with them. Went to a fab service this morning- the first of many I believe- at which they gave their testimonies on the week AND got us singing and dancing! which is sometimes harder than you'd think given stereotypes of Caribbean congregations as jumping dancing waving. But we got there. Really inspiring, a reminder that we need to recommit every day.
Second, on a much sadder note but still connected to the subject of this need for commitment, the congregations here have had many blows recently in news of the sudden and untimely deaths of many known to us, and the illness of others. Yesterday we had a funeral for a 22yr old girl dead from meningitis. Without naming any individuals, I hope your prayers will be with her family and all those who have to face our mortality in such painful ways. Violence also continues to claim lives here in Belize City, and I heard just today of the first such death of someone I knew. We pray for sense in the senseless!
All reminders to love and cherish and value each day and each person in our path. Which is easy to say and hard to do. but, on a lighter, related note, I am off on holiday to enjoy the life and the creation we've all been given for a few weeks (not that I don't do this when I'm not on holiday, too, but this is different!)
(Home in a month :-) )
First, the delegates from the youth encuentro youth conference in Trinidad and Tobago just got back and are bringing the Encuentro FYAH, the Jesus FYAH with them. Went to a fab service this morning- the first of many I believe- at which they gave their testimonies on the week AND got us singing and dancing! which is sometimes harder than you'd think given stereotypes of Caribbean congregations as jumping dancing waving. But we got there. Really inspiring, a reminder that we need to recommit every day.
Second, on a much sadder note but still connected to the subject of this need for commitment, the congregations here have had many blows recently in news of the sudden and untimely deaths of many known to us, and the illness of others. Yesterday we had a funeral for a 22yr old girl dead from meningitis. Without naming any individuals, I hope your prayers will be with her family and all those who have to face our mortality in such painful ways. Violence also continues to claim lives here in Belize City, and I heard just today of the first such death of someone I knew. We pray for sense in the senseless!
All reminders to love and cherish and value each day and each person in our path. Which is easy to say and hard to do. but, on a lighter, related note, I am off on holiday to enjoy the life and the creation we've all been given for a few weeks (not that I don't do this when I'm not on holiday, too, but this is different!)
(Home in a month :-) )
Sunday, 1 August 2010
July
Hi all! Well, July has just drawn to a close, and with it my planned work, although I'm still going to be doing some bits and bobs, just not exactly sure what at present. Mostly I spent July helping with Vacation Bible Schools (VBS); one was at Ebenezer Methodist Church and School and run by the church, and two were at Wesley Lower School, run by teams with help from teachers and church members here at Wesley. My role for the first two seemed to be jumping around a lot teaching songs and actions; the first theme was 'Galactic Blast' and the Second was 'Camp E.D.G.E' (Experience and Discover God Everywhere). The fact that I have had a cold for most of the time probably meant that said jumping around and shouting/singing was not the wisest thing in the world, but I haven't collapsed yet so all is well. For the third VBS I got to move through various activities with a bunch of kids instead (we had over 100 all told by the last day) so got some relief, but there was still singing involved, and I spent the afternoon painting Wesley Lower School so I'm sure the paint fumes didn't help much either. I woke this morning with neither my left ear nor my right eye fully functional but things seem better now. The VBSs were generally a lot of good fun, the kids get to make some really neat crafts, learn songs, hear/experience Bible stories (I say experience because they are interactive and one made use of a water pistol), play games...and eat some snacks. Always a good thing!
On paint removal
As mentioned above I did a spot of painting when the final team was in (from Baytown, Texas). Now, having never used a roller before it was perhaps inevitable that not all the paint ended up on the wall...and despite one of the team volunteering to be 'rag lady' and run around cleaning up the mess we made, the large yellow splodge that ended up on my trousers when I trod in a tray was pretty much irretrievable...
UNTIL...
I used the magic of google to discover that a toothbrush and 70% alcohol can go a long way towards saving Alison's trousers. Not all the way, alas, but now they just look like an old pair of trousers and not the victims of an explosion in a paint factory. They even got out most of the oil based ceiling primer that somehow ended up all over my right knee...
On Americanisation
I find it ironic that as well as learning about Belizean culture I've learnt a lot about the US; a combined effect of the teams that I've spent time with and made friends with, the Jesuit Volunteers whose house I crash occasionally (and vice versa), and the general popularity of American TV, music and film. (Though the only American 'franchise' in Belize is Subway, in other ways American culture is quite pervasive). In the last fortnight I have watched The Simpsons movie (yey), and Footloose (WOWEE), and since I've been here I've watched more American shows, including the news, than ever before (though still not a huge amount.) Not to mention now knowing a little about basketball (a very little.) Anyway, there's a really nice little art gallery and coffee shop down my road which I try and avoid going into because it's the height of temptation and the lovely lady who works there is very good at trying to persuade me I need a plateful of calorific ambrosia (not the rice pudding, just the Food of the Goods, in this case containing gooey centred chocolate cake and icecream). It's Belizean so it doesn't belong in this bit, except that they have a talent evening once a month, and we went the other night, and it felt very much like an artsy studenty thing back home (aforementioned chocolatey goodness and acoustic guitars rather than soursop icecream and garifuna drumming. There was lots of Belizean poetry too. It was very good.).
On BOATS
Don't worry, not rowing boats! I went on a boat trip to the Mayan ruins at Lamanai yesterday, ruins which apparently have evidence that the Mayan civilisation arose from Mongols (I don't give full credit to any theory I hear about the Mayan, I am happy to find them fascinating and be done.) Anyway, though the ruins were impressive, I was far more excited by the (motorised) boat trip, on which we saw various birds, BIG grasshoppers and the blue morph butterfly (alas neither my camera nor I is up to far off photography of moving objects) and which took us swerving at some speed down a wide and windy tropical river. Alas we didn't see crocodiles, manatees or sea otters (unsurprisingly) but I did enjoy myself exceptionally.
Anyway, in summary have had a wonderful month, with all new friends both Belizean and American, only hope August is as fabulous! Sorry for lack of photos, I'll try and filter some to post shortly.
On paint removal
As mentioned above I did a spot of painting when the final team was in (from Baytown, Texas). Now, having never used a roller before it was perhaps inevitable that not all the paint ended up on the wall...and despite one of the team volunteering to be 'rag lady' and run around cleaning up the mess we made, the large yellow splodge that ended up on my trousers when I trod in a tray was pretty much irretrievable...
UNTIL...
I used the magic of google to discover that a toothbrush and 70% alcohol can go a long way towards saving Alison's trousers. Not all the way, alas, but now they just look like an old pair of trousers and not the victims of an explosion in a paint factory. They even got out most of the oil based ceiling primer that somehow ended up all over my right knee...
On Americanisation
I find it ironic that as well as learning about Belizean culture I've learnt a lot about the US; a combined effect of the teams that I've spent time with and made friends with, the Jesuit Volunteers whose house I crash occasionally (and vice versa), and the general popularity of American TV, music and film. (Though the only American 'franchise' in Belize is Subway, in other ways American culture is quite pervasive). In the last fortnight I have watched The Simpsons movie (yey), and Footloose (WOWEE), and since I've been here I've watched more American shows, including the news, than ever before (though still not a huge amount.) Not to mention now knowing a little about basketball (a very little.) Anyway, there's a really nice little art gallery and coffee shop down my road which I try and avoid going into because it's the height of temptation and the lovely lady who works there is very good at trying to persuade me I need a plateful of calorific ambrosia (not the rice pudding, just the Food of the Goods, in this case containing gooey centred chocolate cake and icecream). It's Belizean so it doesn't belong in this bit, except that they have a talent evening once a month, and we went the other night, and it felt very much like an artsy studenty thing back home (aforementioned chocolatey goodness and acoustic guitars rather than soursop icecream and garifuna drumming. There was lots of Belizean poetry too. It was very good.).
On BOATS
Don't worry, not rowing boats! I went on a boat trip to the Mayan ruins at Lamanai yesterday, ruins which apparently have evidence that the Mayan civilisation arose from Mongols (I don't give full credit to any theory I hear about the Mayan, I am happy to find them fascinating and be done.) Anyway, though the ruins were impressive, I was far more excited by the (motorised) boat trip, on which we saw various birds, BIG grasshoppers and the blue morph butterfly (alas neither my camera nor I is up to far off photography of moving objects) and which took us swerving at some speed down a wide and windy tropical river. Alas we didn't see crocodiles, manatees or sea otters (unsurprisingly) but I did enjoy myself exceptionally.
Anyway, in summary have had a wonderful month, with all new friends both Belizean and American, only hope August is as fabulous! Sorry for lack of photos, I'll try and filter some to post shortly.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Tropical Storms and CAMP
You'll recall that in my last post I was looking forward to a week of camp. However, last Saturday, the 26th, the first tropical storm of the season, named Alex, was projected to hit the coast around about the Belize-Mexico border, near our destination for camp. Since it was quite conceivable that this would flood out our destination, which is at sea level across the road from the sea, we postponed for two days to give us just five nights at camp. As it happened, the storm, named Alex, hit just north of Belize City, and with less ferocity than predicted; we sheltered in our house, hosting a family from church who we know well. There wasn't too much flooding either, but we hope it is our only brush with tropical storms for the season, although it is predicted to be a busy one!
So, camp...
We travelled up on a bus (an old American school bus, bright yellow and very warm indeed) on Wednesday afternoon and settled into dorms, a.k.a classrooms. I was with the little girls (the 7-10 year olds), and had a good time in it, despite being on a floor, far too hot, and eaten by hungry mosquitoes. Oh, and waking up around 5:30 every morning with the light. Official get up time was 6:15, followed by a prayer, and then by exercises by the Caribbean sea, showers and duties.
We had just under 60 campers in all, split into 6 groups named after 'watery' Bible characters (Noah, Moses etc; I was with Peter, included because he was a fisherman). Each day each group had a duty, whether cleaning the yard, the bathrooms, or helping with a meal. Unsurprisingly this was many people's least favourite bit of camp!
We talked about Jonah ('obeying God'), and Jesus calming the storm (trusting God) and stuff we did included themed arts and crafts, themed games, themed new songs (courtesy of me), lots of praise choruses, bible 'study', and a quiz. Then there was a banquet (turkey dinner, standard celebration food, followed by corn flavoured icecream and served with fizzy drinks; a rare treat for many. We all dressed up, even the counsellors, although we had to serve the dinner so we had to be sensible!)
And, since water is not a problem in Belize, we did lots of watery stuff; we couldn't swim in the sea, even though it was right across the road, coz it was choppy, but we went to a small water park (with a slide), made our own water slide with plastic, water and fairy liquid (only it isn't fairy liquid), and played races where you had to transfer water between buckets.
On top of all that we had a movie night, did some skipping, played ball games, got to know each other, and found time to eat and sleep (although not very much). And of course, the Sunday morning service.
Now we're back, and I've just about recovered, our house is left full of camp stuff that needs sorting...woop di do.
In other news, I have fresh milk for the first time since February (Maggie wasn't feeling well and needed a pick me up) it is amazing the difference it makes to a cup of tea. Small blessings!
Prayer requests;
1) for flu, dengue fever and malaria to stay away!
2) for continuation of the friendships started and seeds planted at camp
3) for the teams coming in to do building work, medical and general missions over the summer
4) for safety for all in any future storms
5) for all the children who might come to vacation bible schools over the next month
love to all in the 'heatwave' back home
xx
So, camp...
We travelled up on a bus (an old American school bus, bright yellow and very warm indeed) on Wednesday afternoon and settled into dorms, a.k.a classrooms. I was with the little girls (the 7-10 year olds), and had a good time in it, despite being on a floor, far too hot, and eaten by hungry mosquitoes. Oh, and waking up around 5:30 every morning with the light. Official get up time was 6:15, followed by a prayer, and then by exercises by the Caribbean sea, showers and duties.
We had just under 60 campers in all, split into 6 groups named after 'watery' Bible characters (Noah, Moses etc; I was with Peter, included because he was a fisherman). Each day each group had a duty, whether cleaning the yard, the bathrooms, or helping with a meal. Unsurprisingly this was many people's least favourite bit of camp!
We talked about Jonah ('obeying God'), and Jesus calming the storm (trusting God) and stuff we did included themed arts and crafts, themed games, themed new songs (courtesy of me), lots of praise choruses, bible 'study', and a quiz. Then there was a banquet (turkey dinner, standard celebration food, followed by corn flavoured icecream and served with fizzy drinks; a rare treat for many. We all dressed up, even the counsellors, although we had to serve the dinner so we had to be sensible!)
And, since water is not a problem in Belize, we did lots of watery stuff; we couldn't swim in the sea, even though it was right across the road, coz it was choppy, but we went to a small water park (with a slide), made our own water slide with plastic, water and fairy liquid (only it isn't fairy liquid), and played races where you had to transfer water between buckets.
On top of all that we had a movie night, did some skipping, played ball games, got to know each other, and found time to eat and sleep (although not very much). And of course, the Sunday morning service.
Now we're back, and I've just about recovered, our house is left full of camp stuff that needs sorting...woop di do.
In other news, I have fresh milk for the first time since February (Maggie wasn't feeling well and needed a pick me up) it is amazing the difference it makes to a cup of tea. Small blessings!
Prayer requests;
1) for flu, dengue fever and malaria to stay away!
2) for continuation of the friendships started and seeds planted at camp
3) for the teams coming in to do building work, medical and general missions over the summer
4) for safety for all in any future storms
5) for all the children who might come to vacation bible schools over the next month
love to all in the 'heatwave' back home
xx
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
June in brief...
June in brief...
What June in England signifies (or at least, has done in my privileged life up to now, especially the last three summers):-
Long days and short nights. The arrival of sunshine, if you are lucky. The chance to wear a dress without freezing. The chance to take a dip in the sea, also without freezing. The thwack of willow on leather, the sight of rain at Wimbledon, the news of an England tail order collapse. Occasional football hysteria. Strawberries and cream. Pimms. Garden parties, picnics, walks. Fruit picking. The end of exams, and consequently, laziness. Boats. Tourists. Sitting outside in a beer garden, drinking lemonade (definitely not cider :P). BBQs.
My June in Belize:-
Roughly the same amount of daylight as every other day. Rain (actually not that much, though). More heat and humidity than normal. The necessity of wearing a dress, otherwise I might boil over. Obsessive checking of the hurricane outlook (OK, maybe I'm more obsessive than most because I'm trying to be a budding meteorologist...). Watching my first ever basketball match (well I only watched the last quarter-and-a-half; technically three eighths, yes) on TV, so I now vaguely understand references to Cody Bryant. Mangoes, delicious, and yet so plentiful its hard to stop them rotting in the fruit bowl without making yourself sick. The departure of many people on holiday. The arrival of many more Americans etc than normal, mostly here on volunteering or mission trips. A church anniversary and associated activities. The end of term and the beginning of a month of busy-ness with vacation activities (summer camp and vacation bible schools.) Graduations to come out of your ears, for all primary and secondary schools (I've just been to two, I think...important people in churches/schools go to many more). Roughly the same amount of BBQs as normal.
Please pray for the Methodist Camp; we go next Monday and return the following Monday. Not actually under canvas- we sleep (on the floor, yes) in Methodist schools. I'm going to the one for juniors, age 7-13; I anticipate being exhausted. Lots still to do, which is a bit scary, and lots of resources still to chase. Pray that all will be organised and go smoothly and that children will have an AWESOME time and grow closer to God. Seniors (13+) are looking at different types of 'love' and how love is absent in society, so again, prayers they will really learn stuff and that we'll be able to have some positive and lasting influence in contrast to negative influences (same here as everywhere, but in many cases accentuated!!!)
Love to all in England (and anywhere else you may be).
PS- non-Belizean news- I'm going to be in Reading from the beginning of October, i.e. about three weeks after I return, studying Meteorology. hence comments above.
What June in England signifies (or at least, has done in my privileged life up to now, especially the last three summers):-
Long days and short nights. The arrival of sunshine, if you are lucky. The chance to wear a dress without freezing. The chance to take a dip in the sea, also without freezing. The thwack of willow on leather, the sight of rain at Wimbledon, the news of an England tail order collapse. Occasional football hysteria. Strawberries and cream. Pimms. Garden parties, picnics, walks. Fruit picking. The end of exams, and consequently, laziness. Boats. Tourists. Sitting outside in a beer garden, drinking lemonade (definitely not cider :P). BBQs.
My June in Belize:-
Roughly the same amount of daylight as every other day. Rain (actually not that much, though). More heat and humidity than normal. The necessity of wearing a dress, otherwise I might boil over. Obsessive checking of the hurricane outlook (OK, maybe I'm more obsessive than most because I'm trying to be a budding meteorologist...). Watching my first ever basketball match (well I only watched the last quarter-and-a-half; technically three eighths, yes) on TV, so I now vaguely understand references to Cody Bryant. Mangoes, delicious, and yet so plentiful its hard to stop them rotting in the fruit bowl without making yourself sick. The departure of many people on holiday. The arrival of many more Americans etc than normal, mostly here on volunteering or mission trips. A church anniversary and associated activities. The end of term and the beginning of a month of busy-ness with vacation activities (summer camp and vacation bible schools.) Graduations to come out of your ears, for all primary and secondary schools (I've just been to two, I think...important people in churches/schools go to many more). Roughly the same amount of BBQs as normal.
Please pray for the Methodist Camp; we go next Monday and return the following Monday. Not actually under canvas- we sleep (on the floor, yes) in Methodist schools. I'm going to the one for juniors, age 7-13; I anticipate being exhausted. Lots still to do, which is a bit scary, and lots of resources still to chase. Pray that all will be organised and go smoothly and that children will have an AWESOME time and grow closer to God. Seniors (13+) are looking at different types of 'love' and how love is absent in society, so again, prayers they will really learn stuff and that we'll be able to have some positive and lasting influence in contrast to negative influences (same here as everywhere, but in many cases accentuated!!!)
Love to all in England (and anywhere else you may be).
PS- non-Belizean news- I'm going to be in Reading from the beginning of October, i.e. about three weeks after I return, studying Meteorology. hence comments above.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
Hot , sticky, buggy and beautiful
...Just about sums this country up at the moment. Well, the beautiful only describes bits of it perhaps, but anyway.
Last weekend we enjoyed a long weekend in the hills of Cayo district. The weather obviously recognising us as Brits on holiday (or more likely as a consequence of its being rainy season) it rained, quite a lot. So one day of the 'holiday' was spent climbing Mayan ruins with nervous eyes on the skies. A second was spent by Maggie, relaxing, and by me, walking through tropical forests and three rivers in the POURING rain and then into caves which, although obviously protected from precipitation, are generally about waistdeep in water anyway. Needless to say I had a wonderful time! On my return I watched the rain and swam in a pool, again in the pouring rain. On the third day we intended to go up into the mountains but were put off by the weather...so made the decision not to go, at which point the weather cleared up. But we made the best of it and went to the zoo!
I did then get back to work. Teaching English, and my time in Wesley College, are both pretty much done so the focus is shifting to summer activities, when teams come in from the states to help run vacation bible schools and do various work, while the Methodist Church here runs two camps; one for 7-12s and one for 13+. I'm spending lots of my time making schedules, manuals and other necessary plans for the younger age group. It runs for a week and starts at the end of June, so it is close now!
This week we are having a fundraiser to raise money for two chaperones going, along with around 20 young people, to Youth Encuentro, a conference held for all the Methodist Churches in The Caribbean and Central America every four years. This year it is in Trinidad at the end of July. The fundraiser is selling party bags again...1500 this time, with sweets and cupcakes and chips (crisps) and things. So yesterday, once again, we made 100 cupcakes in our little flat. I note that the ability to bake mass quantities of cupcakes was NOT one of the main things I expected to learn in Belize. But it's not altogether a bad skill to learn.
Talking of the unexpected, I had an interesting Friday night. I had received a text message midweek asking if I could sing (as part of my choir, obviously!) the national anthem at an event at the Biltmore plaza (a posh hotel, basically!)
I always feel a bit awkward singing the Belizean national anthem (which I now know as well as if not better than the British one) since I can't help thinking that the lines about driving back tyrants, invaders and despots could be interpreted as referring to the English, although actually I don't think this is the case (unless applied to Lord Ashcroft!!!) Anyway, the event was the inauguration of a Belizean woman into the International Softball Hall of Fame, which was still more awkward because I knew nothing about softball and even comparing it to baseball didn't enlighten me much. Anyway, we got free two course dinner, and a glass of something sparkly, and listened to lots of speeches by important softball people and government ministers. And there were pretty flowers. And, I was COLD because of the air conditioning. I felt very, very jammy.
Last weekend we enjoyed a long weekend in the hills of Cayo district. The weather obviously recognising us as Brits on holiday (or more likely as a consequence of its being rainy season) it rained, quite a lot. So one day of the 'holiday' was spent climbing Mayan ruins with nervous eyes on the skies. A second was spent by Maggie, relaxing, and by me, walking through tropical forests and three rivers in the POURING rain and then into caves which, although obviously protected from precipitation, are generally about waistdeep in water anyway. Needless to say I had a wonderful time! On my return I watched the rain and swam in a pool, again in the pouring rain. On the third day we intended to go up into the mountains but were put off by the weather...so made the decision not to go, at which point the weather cleared up. But we made the best of it and went to the zoo!
I did then get back to work. Teaching English, and my time in Wesley College, are both pretty much done so the focus is shifting to summer activities, when teams come in from the states to help run vacation bible schools and do various work, while the Methodist Church here runs two camps; one for 7-12s and one for 13+. I'm spending lots of my time making schedules, manuals and other necessary plans for the younger age group. It runs for a week and starts at the end of June, so it is close now!
This week we are having a fundraiser to raise money for two chaperones going, along with around 20 young people, to Youth Encuentro, a conference held for all the Methodist Churches in The Caribbean and Central America every four years. This year it is in Trinidad at the end of July. The fundraiser is selling party bags again...1500 this time, with sweets and cupcakes and chips (crisps) and things. So yesterday, once again, we made 100 cupcakes in our little flat. I note that the ability to bake mass quantities of cupcakes was NOT one of the main things I expected to learn in Belize. But it's not altogether a bad skill to learn.
Talking of the unexpected, I had an interesting Friday night. I had received a text message midweek asking if I could sing (as part of my choir, obviously!) the national anthem at an event at the Biltmore plaza (a posh hotel, basically!)
I always feel a bit awkward singing the Belizean national anthem (which I now know as well as if not better than the British one) since I can't help thinking that the lines about driving back tyrants, invaders and despots could be interpreted as referring to the English, although actually I don't think this is the case (unless applied to Lord Ashcroft!!!) Anyway, the event was the inauguration of a Belizean woman into the International Softball Hall of Fame, which was still more awkward because I knew nothing about softball and even comparing it to baseball didn't enlighten me much. Anyway, we got free two course dinner, and a glass of something sparkly, and listened to lots of speeches by important softball people and government ministers. And there were pretty flowers. And, I was COLD because of the air conditioning. I felt very, very jammy.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Aldersgate
"What?" I hear you ask.
And unless you are a Methodist, this is quite a reasonable response. Even if you are a Methodist, in fact, it is a reasonable response, but probably shouldn't be!
So; Aldersgate celebrates the occasion, on 24th May 1738, when John Wesley felt his heart 'strangely warmed' (this should explain the Cambridge Methsoc hoodies bearing the legend, 'John Wesley, strangely warmed. Cambridge Methsoc, warmly strange'.) He was, prior to this time, lacking full conviction in his faith, and so it celebrated at his conversion.
In England you're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at things) if this gets mentioned at all, but in the MCCA (Methodist Church of the Caribbean and Americas) it is a BIG DEAL. But next week the district president is away at a connexional conference celebrating 250 years of Methodism in the Caribbean, and plus, there is a national holiday. So we celebrated a week early. Which means that I was in church for five hours this morning, with singspiration, followed by a drama (in which I took a small role as John Wesley) and quiz on Methodism in the Caribbean, and then a communion service. And then lunch, but I didn't factor that into my five hours! It was a combined service for two circuits- eight congregations- so there were lots there.
My latest estimate is that I sang 19 Charles Wesley hymns (3 as choir items, 5 as hymns during worship, 8 during communion I think but not totally sure they were all Wesley, and at least 3 in 'singspiration' at the beginning of proceedings).
One of the more obscure ones had the first line 'None is like Jeshurun's God', and anyone who can tell me who Jeshurun is (and convince me they didn't just look it up in a concordance) can have their choice of Marie Sharpe's hot pepper sauce, OneBarrel rum, or Mango Jam, on my return. But since no-one will successfully convince me that they didn't look it up in a concordance, this is an empty promise!
Hope all is well with all in England
Caroline
And unless you are a Methodist, this is quite a reasonable response. Even if you are a Methodist, in fact, it is a reasonable response, but probably shouldn't be!
So; Aldersgate celebrates the occasion, on 24th May 1738, when John Wesley felt his heart 'strangely warmed' (this should explain the Cambridge Methsoc hoodies bearing the legend, 'John Wesley, strangely warmed. Cambridge Methsoc, warmly strange'.) He was, prior to this time, lacking full conviction in his faith, and so it celebrated at his conversion.
In England you're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at things) if this gets mentioned at all, but in the MCCA (Methodist Church of the Caribbean and Americas) it is a BIG DEAL. But next week the district president is away at a connexional conference celebrating 250 years of Methodism in the Caribbean, and plus, there is a national holiday. So we celebrated a week early. Which means that I was in church for five hours this morning, with singspiration, followed by a drama (in which I took a small role as John Wesley) and quiz on Methodism in the Caribbean, and then a communion service. And then lunch, but I didn't factor that into my five hours! It was a combined service for two circuits- eight congregations- so there were lots there.
My latest estimate is that I sang 19 Charles Wesley hymns (3 as choir items, 5 as hymns during worship, 8 during communion I think but not totally sure they were all Wesley, and at least 3 in 'singspiration' at the beginning of proceedings).
One of the more obscure ones had the first line 'None is like Jeshurun's God', and anyone who can tell me who Jeshurun is (and convince me they didn't just look it up in a concordance) can have their choice of Marie Sharpe's hot pepper sauce, OneBarrel rum, or Mango Jam, on my return. But since no-one will successfully convince me that they didn't look it up in a concordance, this is an empty promise!
Hope all is well with all in England
Caroline
Monday, 10 May 2010
long time no blog
HI
actually the title is a lie, I've been doing lots of frivolous blogging next door in my squawking land, but I did promise I'd keep this one going too.
So, from Easter through to last weekend (so that's about a month) things settled into a bit of a routine. I've properly taken over the English teaching, so am trying to think what I'm actually trying to achieve rather than doing it on a lesson by lesson basis! The range of abilities continues to be the greatest challenge.
When I've finished teaching there I generally go into Wesley College, either observing maths lessons or helping with assessments. The class sizes are really big and the classrooms are pretty bare and small- it must be quite a challenge teaching. I've seen quite a lot of the Methodist primary schools, too, and the difference between those in the city and those in the country is marked; to make a sweeping generalisation, the city ones have resources but no space at all, and the country ones have space but no resources. Lots of mission teams come down from the States, so I guess it's just ongoing prayers that are needed that resources and skills get to the right places (although it does tend to happen quite well, since there are people on the ground- notably, Maggie- making sure it does!)
We've had a few particular activities; youth week, with a sports day, bible quiz, youth forum and talent night, kept us very busy back in mid April, as did a service for the young people up in Corozal.
I've now been to sessions planning children and youth work in two of the five circuits, which has given me a chance to see the country a bit; and then I've been writing up what was said!
And, I got a small holiday; a few days on Caye Caulker, a BEAUTIFUL island, and a night down in Hopkins, a small village in Stann Creek district.
actually the title is a lie, I've been doing lots of frivolous blogging next door in my squawking land, but I did promise I'd keep this one going too.
So, from Easter through to last weekend (so that's about a month) things settled into a bit of a routine. I've properly taken over the English teaching, so am trying to think what I'm actually trying to achieve rather than doing it on a lesson by lesson basis! The range of abilities continues to be the greatest challenge.
When I've finished teaching there I generally go into Wesley College, either observing maths lessons or helping with assessments. The class sizes are really big and the classrooms are pretty bare and small- it must be quite a challenge teaching. I've seen quite a lot of the Methodist primary schools, too, and the difference between those in the city and those in the country is marked; to make a sweeping generalisation, the city ones have resources but no space at all, and the country ones have space but no resources. Lots of mission teams come down from the States, so I guess it's just ongoing prayers that are needed that resources and skills get to the right places (although it does tend to happen quite well, since there are people on the ground- notably, Maggie- making sure it does!)
We've had a few particular activities; youth week, with a sports day, bible quiz, youth forum and talent night, kept us very busy back in mid April, as did a service for the young people up in Corozal.
I've now been to sessions planning children and youth work in two of the five circuits, which has given me a chance to see the country a bit; and then I've been writing up what was said!
And, I got a small holiday; a few days on Caye Caulker, a BEAUTIFUL island, and a night down in Hopkins, a small village in Stann Creek district.
Monday, 19 April 2010
Other blog
For those who don't know, I have another blog at caroline-squawks.blogspot.com. The first post on there explains why it exists, but basically, when I started this blog I realised I wanted one that could a) outlive my being in Belize and b) be a bit more random, whereas this was supposed to be summarised updates. However, the distinction is rather blurred, and it contains posts with such thrilling titles as 'my nice house and creepy crawly things' and 'storms'.
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Easter with the Methodist Church in Belize
An unimaginative but accurate title...
I guess preparations really started last Saturday afternoon, which I spent making palm crosses for the Ebenezer circuit service. I realised fairly early on that I knew very little about the anatomy of palm tree, and I still know quite little, but happily spent a good while stripping layers and layers off a 3m long 'bit' of palm and folding them into crosses, to the dulcit tones of two younger members of the congregation 'do do do'ing Easter (and occasionally Christmas) hymns at a high pitch. I saw my first cockroach in Belize, which in a weird way is worthy of note. [On the topic of wildlife, we have a resident iguana who basks by our front door, runs away from people but not cars, and who I hope no-one decides and manages to cook! We have some trees and plants graced by hummingbirds, too]. Following this, and after brushing significant amounts of dirt off my skirt, I went to Wesley for a choir rehearsal.
On Palm Sunday we arrived at church a bit early to make ready for a procession around the streets, joined by the police and their band, who were to worship with us. About a minute into the procession I had to backtrack a few rows in the procession to retrive a flipflop, and hope no-one important had noticed...
At about 8:15 we started singing 'Children of Jerusalem', and what could easily have been fifteen minutes later we stopped repeating it and entered the church! I was quite warm in my robes when the service finished around 10AM. We then had choir rehearsals, and a impromptu choir photoshoot!
In holy week there is a service every day at 7pm, and I made every one except the Monday one, playing the organ on Wednesday (making my way through the five hymns and three out of the 'Gloria', 'Alleluia', 'Hear Our Prayer', threefold Amen, and Doxology, since I'm still not quite sure where in the service to play them all and where I thought I should, somebody got on and did someone else!). On Thursday I took some time to bake some hot cross buns, English style (I was given a Belizean 'hot cross bun' but it didn't have a cross, so I'm a little confused). I also read at the 7pm service!
On Friday I went to the 8am and an ecumenical service at 7pm. Again, the Methodist church is very traditional (or rather, 'high', tending towards Anglo-Catholic in this case); at the 8am we concluded with the 'Stripping of the Altar', when all regalia, flags, flowers, cushions etc are removed from the sanctuary area. Also, everyone it seemed except me was wearing purple and/or black. Ooh, and Maggie cooked some DELICIOUS fish for a late lunch. Saturday was service-less, so I had a good clean, baked a cake that wasn't quite disastrous, caught up with some stuff and listened excitedly to the boat race.
Today I went to the sunrise service at 5:30AM, and only just stayed awake, before having some quick breakfast at the house of a church member (whose father my parents knew as a Methodist minister in Jamaica...small world) before the 8am at Wesley, which was a fantastic service, and just over two hours long.
Ebenezer Methodist Church.
Making palm crosses.
Hot Cross Buns!
The choir at Wesley.
The choir ar Wesley on Easter Sunday.
I guess preparations really started last Saturday afternoon, which I spent making palm crosses for the Ebenezer circuit service. I realised fairly early on that I knew very little about the anatomy of palm tree, and I still know quite little, but happily spent a good while stripping layers and layers off a 3m long 'bit' of palm and folding them into crosses, to the dulcit tones of two younger members of the congregation 'do do do'ing Easter (and occasionally Christmas) hymns at a high pitch. I saw my first cockroach in Belize, which in a weird way is worthy of note. [On the topic of wildlife, we have a resident iguana who basks by our front door, runs away from people but not cars, and who I hope no-one decides and manages to cook! We have some trees and plants graced by hummingbirds, too]. Following this, and after brushing significant amounts of dirt off my skirt, I went to Wesley for a choir rehearsal.
On Palm Sunday we arrived at church a bit early to make ready for a procession around the streets, joined by the police and their band, who were to worship with us. About a minute into the procession I had to backtrack a few rows in the procession to retrive a flipflop, and hope no-one important had noticed...
At about 8:15 we started singing 'Children of Jerusalem', and what could easily have been fifteen minutes later we stopped repeating it and entered the church! I was quite warm in my robes when the service finished around 10AM. We then had choir rehearsals, and a impromptu choir photoshoot!
In holy week there is a service every day at 7pm, and I made every one except the Monday one, playing the organ on Wednesday (making my way through the five hymns and three out of the 'Gloria', 'Alleluia', 'Hear Our Prayer', threefold Amen, and Doxology, since I'm still not quite sure where in the service to play them all and where I thought I should, somebody got on and did someone else!). On Thursday I took some time to bake some hot cross buns, English style (I was given a Belizean 'hot cross bun' but it didn't have a cross, so I'm a little confused). I also read at the 7pm service!
On Friday I went to the 8am and an ecumenical service at 7pm. Again, the Methodist church is very traditional (or rather, 'high', tending towards Anglo-Catholic in this case); at the 8am we concluded with the 'Stripping of the Altar', when all regalia, flags, flowers, cushions etc are removed from the sanctuary area. Also, everyone it seemed except me was wearing purple and/or black. Ooh, and Maggie cooked some DELICIOUS fish for a late lunch. Saturday was service-less, so I had a good clean, baked a cake that wasn't quite disastrous, caught up with some stuff and listened excitedly to the boat race.
Today I went to the sunrise service at 5:30AM, and only just stayed awake, before having some quick breakfast at the house of a church member (whose father my parents knew as a Methodist minister in Jamaica...small world) before the 8am at Wesley, which was a fantastic service, and just over two hours long.
Ebenezer Methodist Church.
Making palm crosses.
Hot Cross Buns!
The choir at Wesley.
The choir ar Wesley on Easter Sunday.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Last of the Cold Fronts
I'm sitting in the cool spot in the house; where the breeze blows from the (open) front door to the (open) back door. I imagine it's still going to get a lot hotter but it's sitting around 30C at the moment!
Quick explanation of the education system:
Their Primary Schools have classes 'infant' 1&2, and 'standard' 1-6, roughly corresponding to English 'years' 1-8. About 85% of primary schools aged children are in education. Then High School, with 'forms' 1-4. And then Junior College for two years.
I've somehow managed to get invited on a couple of school trips with the primary schools (one with infant 2, and one with standard 3; so years 2 and 5 in the English system.) One took me to the airport, the Weather Bureau (!) and Altun Ha; the other is tomorrow and we're going to a nature reserve among other things. On a slightly less frivolous level, I've met several of the primary principals, as well as having spoken to the Principal and Head of Maths at Wesley College, the High School, where I hope to be helping out with small group projects in Mathematics after the Easter Holidays.
I've also started helping Maggie with English lessons for Haitians who live in Belize City (most of them have been here for quite a while, but it became apparent after the 'quake how many of them were living here). Maggie started the lessons shortly before I came, and we try to do it three times a week. It is a bit of a challenge as all we have is a blackboard and chalk, and I've never done anything like it. I am assured they understand what I'm teaching, and I quite enjoy it, but I'm having to practice not saying any more words than I need to; as you'll all know, this does not come naturally!
I've still been taking opportunities to see a lot of what is going on- so I've been out to YES (Youth Enhancement Services) which provides vocational and transferrable skills and education for girls and young women- some of these have dropped out of edcuation, some were/are teenage mothers, et cetera. There is quite a lot of building work going on there, and since Maggie works in part with YES, we went to have a look at how it's going.
In the Methodist Church, I've been to some meetings planning events for children, young people and young adults; more on that when the events take place!
As well as Sunday services, all the churches have Wednesday evening services during Lent, and I've been doing a bit of a tour of the methodist churches in the city (there are 4), since I'm singing with the Methodist Praise Singers, who are based at Wesley but are often invited to sing in other services. I'm having to hone my singing-by-ear skills, and also my kriol pronunciation; if everybody is singing 't', me singing 'th' might perhaps sound odd. Some linguistic highlights from what we were singing 'Wen Jesus around da wi Devil ha fi Cool'; I think I had to ask for a translation for that! Also 'the Devil think him strong: him a ediot'. Awesome! We sing at Wesley on a Sunday morning as the choir, so we have to wear robes, which are sweltering in the heat. I'll have to find the lightest, thinest thing I own to wear underneath.
Many of you will have been wondering about all the cupcake activity on my birthday. Much as I love cupcakes, these were not for my own benefit; the Children and Youth Commission hold an Easter Bag sale each year to raise money for the summer camp. All items for the bags are donated; chocolates, crisps (called 'chips'), biscuits, sweets, easter candy, and...cupcakes. They aim to make 1200 bags, and Maggie and I ended up baking 240 cupcakes. We then spent the evening packing the bags! I could have spent my birthday in far worse ways, since I got sung two versions of happy birthday, was in good company, AND was given a huge chocolate cake by Maggie to share around (but there was still lots left. It is now in our kitchen slowly decreasing in size).
Happy birthday version 2:
A Happy Birthday to you, a happy birthday to you,
May you feel Jesus near, every day of the year.
Happy birthday to you a happy birthday to you,
and the best year that you've ever had!
Oh, one other thing- went for a run in the pouring rain on Sunday afternoon (there was a power cut, and it was too gloomy to read, even before we shut the shutters to keep out the rain, so what else was I to do? Plus, it was cool enough to run, for once!) It was glorious, but Belizeans don't go out in the rain, so I got lots of strange looks from cars, doors and bus stops.
Easter looks like being busy, here as everywhere; blessings to all in Holy Week and over the Easter period, and I pray that you all somehow get the rest that you need over the Easter season!
Caroline
Quick explanation of the education system:
Their Primary Schools have classes 'infant' 1&2, and 'standard' 1-6, roughly corresponding to English 'years' 1-8. About 85% of primary schools aged children are in education. Then High School, with 'forms' 1-4. And then Junior College for two years.
I've somehow managed to get invited on a couple of school trips with the primary schools (one with infant 2, and one with standard 3; so years 2 and 5 in the English system.) One took me to the airport, the Weather Bureau (!) and Altun Ha; the other is tomorrow and we're going to a nature reserve among other things. On a slightly less frivolous level, I've met several of the primary principals, as well as having spoken to the Principal and Head of Maths at Wesley College, the High School, where I hope to be helping out with small group projects in Mathematics after the Easter Holidays.
I've also started helping Maggie with English lessons for Haitians who live in Belize City (most of them have been here for quite a while, but it became apparent after the 'quake how many of them were living here). Maggie started the lessons shortly before I came, and we try to do it three times a week. It is a bit of a challenge as all we have is a blackboard and chalk, and I've never done anything like it. I am assured they understand what I'm teaching, and I quite enjoy it, but I'm having to practice not saying any more words than I need to; as you'll all know, this does not come naturally!
I've still been taking opportunities to see a lot of what is going on- so I've been out to YES (Youth Enhancement Services) which provides vocational and transferrable skills and education for girls and young women- some of these have dropped out of edcuation, some were/are teenage mothers, et cetera. There is quite a lot of building work going on there, and since Maggie works in part with YES, we went to have a look at how it's going.
In the Methodist Church, I've been to some meetings planning events for children, young people and young adults; more on that when the events take place!
As well as Sunday services, all the churches have Wednesday evening services during Lent, and I've been doing a bit of a tour of the methodist churches in the city (there are 4), since I'm singing with the Methodist Praise Singers, who are based at Wesley but are often invited to sing in other services. I'm having to hone my singing-by-ear skills, and also my kriol pronunciation; if everybody is singing 't', me singing 'th' might perhaps sound odd. Some linguistic highlights from what we were singing 'Wen Jesus around da wi Devil ha fi Cool'; I think I had to ask for a translation for that! Also 'the Devil think him strong: him a ediot'. Awesome! We sing at Wesley on a Sunday morning as the choir, so we have to wear robes, which are sweltering in the heat. I'll have to find the lightest, thinest thing I own to wear underneath.
Many of you will have been wondering about all the cupcake activity on my birthday. Much as I love cupcakes, these were not for my own benefit; the Children and Youth Commission hold an Easter Bag sale each year to raise money for the summer camp. All items for the bags are donated; chocolates, crisps (called 'chips'), biscuits, sweets, easter candy, and...cupcakes. They aim to make 1200 bags, and Maggie and I ended up baking 240 cupcakes. We then spent the evening packing the bags! I could have spent my birthday in far worse ways, since I got sung two versions of happy birthday, was in good company, AND was given a huge chocolate cake by Maggie to share around (but there was still lots left. It is now in our kitchen slowly decreasing in size).
Happy birthday version 2:
A Happy Birthday to you, a happy birthday to you,
May you feel Jesus near, every day of the year.
Happy birthday to you a happy birthday to you,
and the best year that you've ever had!
Oh, one other thing- went for a run in the pouring rain on Sunday afternoon (there was a power cut, and it was too gloomy to read, even before we shut the shutters to keep out the rain, so what else was I to do? Plus, it was cool enough to run, for once!) It was glorious, but Belizeans don't go out in the rain, so I got lots of strange looks from cars, doors and bus stops.
Easter looks like being busy, here as everywhere; blessings to all in Holy Week and over the Easter period, and I pray that you all somehow get the rest that you need over the Easter season!
Caroline
Monday, 8 March 2010
Because it's a holiday weekend...BOATS
It's 'national heroes and benefactors day' in Belize today (which until last year was simply 'Baron Bliss Day' in memory of their most famous benefactor), which means one thing- a HOLIDAY.
Every year this weekend has a big canoeing event called La Ruta Maya. Over four days, 90-odd teams of 3-man canoes race down the river, racing a distance of 170 miles in total. Yesterday they finished their stage in Burrell Boom, a village upstream, but we bypassed the festivities and instead went further north to the Community Baboon Sanctuary- a protected area where not baboons, but Guatemalan Howler Monkeys, are to be found- and to climb and your shoulders and feed! This was a fantastic experience- Belize is known for its ecotourism and this was one example.
Today however, with the final stage of racing finishing walking distance from my front door, I was all in it for the boats! I felt at home in a throng of people on a bridge standing for hours to cheer on a few boats- the heat was slightly less familiar, and my shoulders got a bit pink due to insufficient suntan lotion.
self-explanatory!
Spectators thronging the bank, with umbrellas for shade and the smoke from a very tasty, very good value BBQ!
It's small, I'm afraid, but look! the two boats are practically touching! and this is less than a minute from the end of a 20-odd hour race! wow...
Every year this weekend has a big canoeing event called La Ruta Maya. Over four days, 90-odd teams of 3-man canoes race down the river, racing a distance of 170 miles in total. Yesterday they finished their stage in Burrell Boom, a village upstream, but we bypassed the festivities and instead went further north to the Community Baboon Sanctuary- a protected area where not baboons, but Guatemalan Howler Monkeys, are to be found- and to climb and your shoulders and feed! This was a fantastic experience- Belize is known for its ecotourism and this was one example.
Today however, with the final stage of racing finishing walking distance from my front door, I was all in it for the boats! I felt at home in a throng of people on a bridge standing for hours to cheer on a few boats- the heat was slightly less familiar, and my shoulders got a bit pink due to insufficient suntan lotion.
self-explanatory!
Spectators thronging the bank, with umbrellas for shade and the smoke from a very tasty, very good value BBQ!
It's small, I'm afraid, but look! the two boats are practically touching! and this is less than a minute from the end of a 20-odd hour race! wow...
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Activities thus far
As for what I've done thus far; I'm not really stuck into work yet, or even sure what I'll be doing, since Maggie (the lady I live with and the Methodist Mission Partner serving here from the church in the UK) was on holiday this week and since a lot of my work will be in what she does (developing children and youth work), I was observing in the Methodist primary schools. I particularly enjoyed 'Devotions' each morning; as well as prayers and a quick lesson, there were lots of songs, lots of dancing, lots of rhythm (and some particularly impressive drumming on a desk from one seven year old boy; the rhythm being a 1, 2+3, 4+1... that crops up a lot in music here!)
Everywhere I've been given a warm welcome (and checked up on with phonecalls this week since I was home alone!) The Methodist church is very formal, but I felt at home. Last night I went to the Ecumenical Service at the Presbyterian Church for the Women's World Day of Prayer, which had both formal aspects and less formal ones (some AWESOME drumming being a key part, from my point of view!) Throughout the world the world day of prayer service follows the same structure, chosen by one country's/group of countries' world day of prayer committee; this year it was from Cameroon. There were then aspects added from Belize. The service 'started' at 7, started at 7:15 and finished about 9:15! There was fantastic attendance though and a good atmosphere as we processed out singing 'I have decided to follow Jesus', a new song for me!
Also, have been out to Zion Park Methodist school, a school out along the Northern Highway (a fine road if you can drive in the middle and there's nothing coming the other way. A slightly less fine road if you meet something coming the other way since there's only enough tarmac for one car. And the big one wins. This is particularly exciting if you are feeding mush to a 10 month old as you go off road.) Only 68 students, from age 5 up to 13, and only three classes; evidently very different needs to the inner city schools!
En route home, paid a visit to Altun Ha, one of the Mayan ruins, and clambered up it.
There was a US mission team visiting who had come with us to the school and led the trip to the ruins.
This evening I went to Wesley College Fair (wesley college is the Methodist High School in Belize City. High school is ages 13-17, I think!) Other than very loud music blasting from speakers, there was a dunker (if you throw a ball to hit a target, an 'unfortunate' student gets dunked in water. But in the warmth, I don't imagine it's too bad), games, lots of food, and 'tea' (the meal). Tea? at a methodist insitution? Cast from your minds images of cups of tea, bowls of sugar, green crockery, quiche and sausage rolls. This was chicken; potato salad; a sandwich; bread; and cake. And a mug of tea, but I opted for fruit punch (non-alc obviously) since the tea wasn't quite as I like it! There was even very attentive waitress service and a head waiter (or even more a butler? he had a savino-type role, Pembrokians!)
I will hereby make a resolution to curtail my posts in future! But I keep getting pestered for news!
Other things; I've found the Barclays premiership on TV. I live in a quietish area (no loud music) but lots of dogs howling, one of them sounding strangely like a wood pidgeon. I can make a 'real' cup of coffee, sometimes even using Belizean grounds. Belize City has mostly one way streets. Church is at 8am!
All the best to all,
CAROLINE
PS- I'm six hours behind GMT.
My living room!
Zion Park school, depicting the national symbols of Belize; the Mahogany tree, the Black Orchid, the Tapir, and the Toucan.
Me (if you have amazing eyesight) atop a ruin at Altun Ha (which I am always tempted to say 'Altun HA' and do a kung fu kick. But I resist the temptation.)
Everywhere I've been given a warm welcome (and checked up on with phonecalls this week since I was home alone!) The Methodist church is very formal, but I felt at home. Last night I went to the Ecumenical Service at the Presbyterian Church for the Women's World Day of Prayer, which had both formal aspects and less formal ones (some AWESOME drumming being a key part, from my point of view!) Throughout the world the world day of prayer service follows the same structure, chosen by one country's/group of countries' world day of prayer committee; this year it was from Cameroon. There were then aspects added from Belize. The service 'started' at 7, started at 7:15 and finished about 9:15! There was fantastic attendance though and a good atmosphere as we processed out singing 'I have decided to follow Jesus', a new song for me!
Also, have been out to Zion Park Methodist school, a school out along the Northern Highway (a fine road if you can drive in the middle and there's nothing coming the other way. A slightly less fine road if you meet something coming the other way since there's only enough tarmac for one car. And the big one wins. This is particularly exciting if you are feeding mush to a 10 month old as you go off road.) Only 68 students, from age 5 up to 13, and only three classes; evidently very different needs to the inner city schools!
En route home, paid a visit to Altun Ha, one of the Mayan ruins, and clambered up it.
There was a US mission team visiting who had come with us to the school and led the trip to the ruins.
This evening I went to Wesley College Fair (wesley college is the Methodist High School in Belize City. High school is ages 13-17, I think!) Other than very loud music blasting from speakers, there was a dunker (if you throw a ball to hit a target, an 'unfortunate' student gets dunked in water. But in the warmth, I don't imagine it's too bad), games, lots of food, and 'tea' (the meal). Tea? at a methodist insitution? Cast from your minds images of cups of tea, bowls of sugar, green crockery, quiche and sausage rolls. This was chicken; potato salad; a sandwich; bread; and cake. And a mug of tea, but I opted for fruit punch (non-alc obviously) since the tea wasn't quite as I like it! There was even very attentive waitress service and a head waiter (or even more a butler? he had a savino-type role, Pembrokians!)
I will hereby make a resolution to curtail my posts in future! But I keep getting pestered for news!
Other things; I've found the Barclays premiership on TV. I live in a quietish area (no loud music) but lots of dogs howling, one of them sounding strangely like a wood pidgeon. I can make a 'real' cup of coffee, sometimes even using Belizean grounds. Belize City has mostly one way streets. Church is at 8am!
All the best to all,
CAROLINE
PS- I'm six hours behind GMT.
My living room!
Zion Park school, depicting the national symbols of Belize; the Mahogany tree, the Black Orchid, the Tapir, and the Toucan.
Me (if you have amazing eyesight) atop a ruin at Altun Ha (which I am always tempted to say 'Altun HA' and do a kung fu kick. But I resist the temptation.)
An interview with...
Me.
Follows: A typical start to a conversation, paraphrased, so both participants sound really posh, but accurate in sense; to those who've never programmed in C, /* */ signifies a comment outside the script as it were. Geeky, but stuck in my system. So:-
new-person-i've-just-met: Hello! How are you finding Belize?
Me; Good, it's good! /*imaginative I know*/
new-person-I've-just-met; You're enjoying the heat?
Me; Yeah, it's gorgeous! It's like the middle of my summer at home; everyone would jump in a pool on a day like today. But I know I'll probably be hot soon.
npIjm /*abbr*/; Yeah, you'll be sweating! It is cold now.
(both laugh)
npIjm; and you've tried the food?
Me; Yip! rice and beans and fried chicken! It's good, and really filling. I need to learn to cook some of it. I'm enjoying drinking lots of fresh squeezed orange juice too! /*ridiculous quantities, in fact. MMMMMMM*/
npIjm; And how's the Kriol? /*kriol is the belizian spelling for the creole that they use*/
Me; (worried face) I think lots of people are making the effort to talk in English when I'm around, but either if they talk too quickly, or several people talk at once, or they slip into kriol, I'm lost.
npIjm; Ah well, you'll be talking along with us by the time you leave.
Me; I hope so! /*though this is v optimistic- you can't really sit down and learn it*/
etc.
Conversation at this pointmight get a little less predictable- or I might be introduced to someone else! there's generally also mention of where I come from, and of the rather angry insect bites that have appeared on both my inner ankles; whether due to a flaw in my DEET application or whether due to particularly tasty flesh there, I cannot say. Either way, I'm 'fresh meat' for the insects.
Another post to follow...
Follows: A typical start to a conversation, paraphrased, so both participants sound really posh, but accurate in sense; to those who've never programmed in C, /* */ signifies a comment outside the script as it were. Geeky, but stuck in my system. So:-
new-person-i've-just-met: Hello! How are you finding Belize?
Me; Good, it's good! /*imaginative I know*/
new-person-I've-just-met; You're enjoying the heat?
Me; Yeah, it's gorgeous! It's like the middle of my summer at home; everyone would jump in a pool on a day like today. But I know I'll probably be hot soon.
npIjm /*abbr*/; Yeah, you'll be sweating! It is cold now.
(both laugh)
npIjm; and you've tried the food?
Me; Yip! rice and beans and fried chicken! It's good, and really filling. I need to learn to cook some of it. I'm enjoying drinking lots of fresh squeezed orange juice too! /*ridiculous quantities, in fact. MMMMMMM*/
npIjm; And how's the Kriol? /*kriol is the belizian spelling for the creole that they use*/
Me; (worried face) I think lots of people are making the effort to talk in English when I'm around, but either if they talk too quickly, or several people talk at once, or they slip into kriol, I'm lost.
npIjm; Ah well, you'll be talking along with us by the time you leave.
Me; I hope so! /*though this is v optimistic- you can't really sit down and learn it*/
etc.
Conversation at this pointmight get a little less predictable- or I might be introduced to someone else! there's generally also mention of where I come from, and of the rather angry insect bites that have appeared on both my inner ankles; whether due to a flaw in my DEET application or whether due to particularly tasty flesh there, I cannot say. Either way, I'm 'fresh meat' for the insects.
Another post to follow...
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Flights and arrivals!
Right...I'm here! Flights were all fine (I flew Birmingham-New York Newark-Houston-Belize City) and am feeling kind of OK and not too jet lagged. By which I mean, I'm not too jet lagged YET, although I have slightly lost the ability to speak sense.
Spent the night in Houston, Texas, and managed to follow the mantra 'everywhere you go, always take the weather with you' that far, and in it break some records for earlist snow or latest snow or something in Houston. Unsurprisingly, that's as far as I could get the cold (it was nice cold, no bitter winds like in England, so it made me think it's not too bad) so I'm now in Belize City, in the house I'll be living in for at least part of the next six months, feeling rather warm- 89 (I'll let you all practice your conversions! I have finally remembered the rule and am getting a bit of a feel for them.)
Have already had my first 'rice and beans'.
Other firsts- first cross atlantic flight, first time in the States (fairly unrusprising given the previous statement) and first ever listen to Dark Side of the Moon. Yes, it is as worthy of comment as the other 'firsts'.
Thanks for all the support, (especially to certain family members who helped with the stress of packing)
Caroline
Spent the night in Houston, Texas, and managed to follow the mantra 'everywhere you go, always take the weather with you' that far, and in it break some records for earlist snow or latest snow or something in Houston. Unsurprisingly, that's as far as I could get the cold (it was nice cold, no bitter winds like in England, so it made me think it's not too bad) so I'm now in Belize City, in the house I'll be living in for at least part of the next six months, feeling rather warm- 89 (I'll let you all practice your conversions! I have finally remembered the rule and am getting a bit of a feel for them.)
Have already had my first 'rice and beans'.
Other firsts- first cross atlantic flight, first time in the States (fairly unrusprising given the previous statement) and first ever listen to Dark Side of the Moon. Yes, it is as worthy of comment as the other 'firsts'.
Thanks for all the support, (especially to certain family members who helped with the stress of packing)
Caroline
Saturday, 6 February 2010
fundraising news
Fundraising has come along fantastically, and I can't say how grateful I am to all those who've contributed, and how blessed and humbled I feel by the response of many people.
I did a sponsored silence on Saturday 23rd January at a OneSound weekend in Dorridge and raised just over £100 from the good folks of OneSound, who were delighted, if bemused, at my silence. (Since I was there for choir rehearsals, I obviously had to sing when directed to. The combination of lots of singing and no talking in between seemed to do my throat some damage, and I was in considerable pain for a few days until I realised it was a lovely cold, which I'm still fighting off.)
Most of my support has come from members of the local Methodist churches, some of whom I know quite well but some of whom are totally unconcerned that although they know me, I have not always remembered their names (this is not my laziness, it's a natural consequence of being a minister's daughter.) We put on a 'Games Night' and a couple at one of the churches put on a quiz, the latter especially being a huge success.
All this, and a few sizeable grants, contrive to make my total reach over £3000; with my total expenses likely to be around £3500, this is a real blessing!
I did a sponsored silence on Saturday 23rd January at a OneSound weekend in Dorridge and raised just over £100 from the good folks of OneSound, who were delighted, if bemused, at my silence. (Since I was there for choir rehearsals, I obviously had to sing when directed to. The combination of lots of singing and no talking in between seemed to do my throat some damage, and I was in considerable pain for a few days until I realised it was a lovely cold, which I'm still fighting off.)
Most of my support has come from members of the local Methodist churches, some of whom I know quite well but some of whom are totally unconcerned that although they know me, I have not always remembered their names (this is not my laziness, it's a natural consequence of being a minister's daughter.) We put on a 'Games Night' and a couple at one of the churches put on a quiz, the latter especially being a huge success.
All this, and a few sizeable grants, contrive to make my total reach over £3000; with my total expenses likely to be around £3500, this is a real blessing!
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
dates
About ten days ago I finally booked flights, after numerous trawls through the wonder that is the World Wide Web trying to find reasonable flights. After faffing for so long that the outward flight I'd just about decided on had gone, I had a mini tizz, stopped faffing and booked, leaving Birmingham at 9am on Feb 23rd, and getting back on the 15th of September. The thought of over 30hours in transit fills me with mild horror, but I get to sleep overnight in Houston (arriving and flying out of 'George Bush Intercontinental Airport'; draw your own conclusions on how confidence inspiring this might be.)
I'm now trying to do as much as possible and see as many people as possible before I go, as well as making sure I'm actually ready.
Hooray!
I'm now trying to do as much as possible and see as many people as possible before I go, as well as making sure I'm actually ready.
Hooray!
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Welcome!
As some of you know (but many of you don't), I was recently accepted onto a programme called EEP (the Experience Exchange Programme) which is run jointly by the Methodist Church and USPG (Anglicans in World Mission). The programme gives people of all ages the opportunity to spend between six months and a year living and 'working' (it's voluntary) with the church in another country and culture; so in the last week of February, I'm flying out to Belize City in Belize, Central America, and won't be back for six months...
I expect to be dividing my time between teaching Maths in a Methodist Primary School, and assisting with children and young people's strategy development work which is supported jointly by the Methodist Church in Britain and Action for Children. I say 'expecting' because if something else needs doing that I can do, I might end up doing it!
I'm going to use this as a chief means of communication to let you all know how I'm doing and what I'm doing and to hone my amazing writing skills (haha); I realise the title is misleading since I'm not actually in Belize yet, but it seemed practical and informative.
Love to all,
Caroline
I expect to be dividing my time between teaching Maths in a Methodist Primary School, and assisting with children and young people's strategy development work which is supported jointly by the Methodist Church in Britain and Action for Children. I say 'expecting' because if something else needs doing that I can do, I might end up doing it!
I'm going to use this as a chief means of communication to let you all know how I'm doing and what I'm doing and to hone my amazing writing skills (haha); I realise the title is misleading since I'm not actually in Belize yet, but it seemed practical and informative.
Love to all,
Caroline
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