29 October 2010

But, -- and there it is, --

" we want to live and move, though we have no reason to, because it happens that it is the nature of life to live and move, to want to live and move. If it were not for this, life would be dead. It is because of this life that is in you that you dream of your immortality. The life that is in you is alive and wants to go on being alive forever. Bah! " 
– Wolf Larsen

27 October 2010

Live and Direct from the Campo


the coffee beans growing in our backyard are almost ready for the pickin

teacher Julie leaves on Monday :(

met two new Irish friends backpacking though, 
learned a new card game and had lots of laughs. 
Safe travels Rob and Jenni!

hung up shelves, (re)painted the bathroom, 
scrubbed the mold off the WC door, 
rehung bathing area

freshly machete cut lawn

exchange of sugar cane and tamales with neighborhood boys 
bringing us yet another step closer to being integrated into community

bird watching: 
blue, orange, and yellow birds 
also some woodpeckers 
and funny haired birds are migrating through. 
(official species names NOT to follow)

finally whipped up my famous guac
 and bought a case of Pilsener off the beer truck. 
Somehow buying it at wholesale made it taste better. 

sent off some postcards and letters 

skyping and chatting with many friends this past week as the internet is back up

frog attack! 
that story will have to wait 
until I get the picture of the perp on my computer

watched a beautiful sunset 
on the back of a pickup truck 
on the way back from a visit to host family's place. 
a belly full of bean and cheese pupusas, 
light rain and a smile on my face. 

a cup of sweet coffee with abuela in her artisan store. 
She only goes by "abuela" in the entire pueblo. 
no first name. 
no last name. 
just. abuela.

the last day of high school let out 
and all the kids were swarming the street 
with permanent markers and white t's 
signing memories onto the blank canvas




Current Status: listening to some sweet bird calls, 
not gallo b.s. more planet earth bird of paradise stylie 

The Shut Up Chest

arcane |ärˈkān|adjectiveunderstood by few; mysterious or secret 

ORIGIN mid 16th cent.: from Latin arcanus, from arcere ‘to shut up,’  from arca ‘chest.’

25 October 2010

Detour: Belmopan

from the top:
on day 7 of our trip I get a call from PC Belize informing me that Hurricane Matthew was on its way towards Belize and I needed to get to the mainland first thing the next morning. 
I quickly went into denial then bargaining
"NO way is this really happening. Can't we just wait and see what tomorrow brings... talk more when we know more... no need to make any hasty decisions right?"


only one thing to do in a situation like this. 
Gather up your friends, 
head to the nearest watering hole, 
and get completely sloshed.




Deona our first friend on the Island
Gracias for the
stiff drinks,
sharing your stories,
and good luck with your girls youth group


denial and anger after a couple mojitos


Adios Blue Tang


at the resignation stage now


rainy morning leaving San Pedro


Bus from Belize City to Belmopan


Peace Corps Belize Office 


desolate road back to the hotel


chinese hotel/restaurant combo...




hardest bed on the 3rd floor


beautiful Belmopan




mom went stir crazy
and named the dog outside our window Sasha
and proceeded to check on her all three days.




woo hoo hurricane matthew did not end up hitting us with anything more than a lil rain.
We were out of the chinese hotel and back to El Salvador for moi





also a big shout out and thank you to all the rad PC volunteers in Belize who made my mother and I feel o so welcome. 

23 October 2010

march, zip, drop, putt, mangé le Jerk







morning pool time. workin on z tan mon


Jerk Shrimp lunch 



full independence was granted on September 21, 1981
We were lucky enough to be here when they celebrated with a 
parade, festivities in the square and dance 




independence parade




It started to rain on the Parade


The rain doesn't scare Belizeans
nor stop their parade.

March on Sistas


ready to Zip through the Jungle


rocking the latest fashion in zip wear


vicious jungle wild life


getting the hang of it
and happy to be alive


our super sweet guides. 





golf cart adventures
I had to practice before mom agreed to get in the cart




Off to discover more of the Island



I asked "how is my driving"
She said "good, but its more like Putting"





Smoothie Break


walk to dinner along the water front


dinner?
what they call fancy food


After Dinner Entertainment


The Chicken Drop

1. Get your tickets
2. Drop the Chicken
3. See where it shits
Your may have the shitty number! (this is a good thing)



chicken on the loose








Belize continued Mon

Green Caribbean beneath our feet 


I'm in Belize! super Rad woo hooo


Ceviche at Hurricane. super tasty


zen.


gift from grams. keepin it real in threads from the heartland.
Also thanks to everyone who sent me goodies, letters and d$nero
knowing all the love and support I have behind me keeps me
motivated, grounded and grateful
mother being her beautiful self
and enjoying a
fruity I'mInBelizeSoWhyNot cocktail
Sunset Grill provided two important things


1. caucasians
2. hand feeding Tarpons 
 The tarpons are amazing. 
There are so many of them that hang around the doc due to the daily feeding of sardines.


The first pound of sardines are free.