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
Thursday, 25 March 2010
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!
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