Despite the hole in my ear and the three in my stomach, I believe I'm on a Peace Corps high. Last week was so great. I was constantly reminding myself, "this is Peace Corps, this is why I'm here." Of course every example is a small everyday happening, but I wouldn't want it any other way. When I first got home to Santa Teresa, I was greeted by nine baby turkeys. I guess it is baby bird season here in Belize as we also have ten baby chicks about to hatch and I see the cutust ducklings on my walk to the creek every morning. I also had a K'ekchi lesson the afternoon I came back from Sonia, Yona, and Sylvanna. Their mother was over visiting Miss Louisa and they came in my room to look at all my belongings. They started asking me the K'ekchi words for various items and went on to just point to and say what it was. My favorite part was when Sylvanna would point to something they used the English word for and say to me, "This is a BAG, say it Miss Amy, BAG." How adorable!
Other than observing classes I was able to help Ms. Max (Florentina) prepare and then teach PSE evening classes, and over my favorit subject: math, ratios and proportional parts even. I'm a nerd, I know. And while preparing the lesson, Florentina's cousin was telling us about the lodge where he worked, saying there were no guests for Christmas and how if we would get ourselves to Placencia, he would sponsor our Christmas vacation on a Caye. I'm doubting it will work out that perfectly, one of those too good to be true offers, but maybe someday I'll be able to get a deal from him. Back to teaching, my first opportunity besides subbing that one time. I think I need to work on my explaining skills, but a few of the students did understand, so that's good. Also, later in the week Martha told me they had ratio homework and she got a 100%. I asked if Mr. Ical had explained it better, but she said he just gave the assignment. Maybe I did better than I thought. Woot woot!
Then right after school on Thursday, Florentina asked if I would come over around 5:30 because her father wanted to talk to me. On the short walk home, two neighbor girls asked when I was going running again. To me, there's no time like the present so I put on my shoes and shorts and said, "Let's go now." We mostly walked, but those girls walk fast! They told me about their pet gibnut that was too small when their father captured it while hunting, so they're keeping it until it gets bigger. I told them to tell me before they make it into caldo so I can get a picture. We talked about the tourists that will soon be coming, a man who had recently killed himself. I want to say the older girl actually saw him in the house because she mentioned closing her eyes and still seeing him, maybe I should be more careful when asking who lives where. They also told me some village drama, oh my, and of course gave me a K'ekchi lesson. They asked what I liked to eat and kept talking about having flour (tortillas) and beans for supper. Then Rebecca told me that Celma was trying to ask if I would come eat with them. Sadly, I had to tell them, "next time," as I already had evening plans. When we made it back to their house, they showed me all their pictures and promised to bring me coconuts and ripe bananas to make some cookies. When I got home I changed quick to go over to the Max household. Mr. Mas thought I should eat before I went, but I knew better. Once I got there Florentina and her sister were baking tortillas. She said, "Hilan se ab (Rest in the hammock)." Instead I grabbed a stool and started to help bake. She was surprised I already knew how. We waited for Mr. and Mrs. Max to come home and ate one of my favorite meals- kahun cabbage. It's very delicious. Mrs. Max was just at a wormen's group meeting and I let her know I was interested in being involved and asked if she could let me know when the next meeting took place. Mr. Max was wanting to know from me if I was still interested in renting his house. As much as I like the house, I don't like that it's next to a bar, so my housing is still up in the air. I forgot my flash, so the three youngest walked my home. How sweet. When I got home there were people trying to use the phone. Usually I would just go to my room, but I knew the girls so I thought I would at least sit outside my curtained door, because here, that's not creepy at all. The girls wanted to play Pass the Pigs, which we did, and I absolutely love how their father wanted to join us so he could show us how to win. After a few games we played cards, and once Hillaria made it back from church we played Speed. I taught her how just recently because I have a hard time playing the same game over and over and over and over, which is what happens. She's already beating me. I need to get some more decks so I can teach them Jerry's game and Nertz.
The next day was Friday and durning break Mr. Chub was telling me about his evening plans of going to visit his wife's mother because it was her birthday. How I was talking to him durning break, I'm not sure, because all week during break I've been dragged here and there to play this or that. First baseball, which by the way is played with a huge stick for a bat, a tennis ball, and whatever can be found for bases. Then, duck duck goose. Then, volleyball. And mostly, football (soccer). First of all, it's way too hot to be running around and I get disgustingly sweaty, but it's so much fun, and really how can I say no? Plus, I want to learn to be a skilled football player, but it might be easier not wearing traditional K'ekchi attire. (yeah, I got a new dress made, sadly forgot to take a picture) Anyways, back to Mr. Chub's plans of going out of town for the evening. He surprised me by asking if I wanted to go along! Of course! We left after eatin rice and chicken and lemon cake. Yum! Happy Birthday Gloria! Her mother lived about and hour and a half away and I knew when I agreed to go I would be riding beneath the stars.
This was my first Belizean ride in the back of a truck, but I'm not sure it counts because I had a cushion to sit on, but we did pick up a man on his way to San Lucas. I have to admit this made me nervous at first, but once he mentioned Lilly's name my guard went down and we had a nice conversation. We dropped him at his home and kept driving. I was glad I brought my jacket because little Ronda was chilly. I had another K'ekchi lesson from Nigel and Karen, and Karen was great about spelling out the words after saying them. When we reached the farm I was able to eat an orange and rest in the hammock while listening to the conversations around me. I don't know what I'll do when I'm back in the States and those conversations will be in English, it won't be as okay for me to just sit and listen. About 8:30 (past my bedtime by the way) we decided to head back bringing a chicken with us and some plants. I wasn't sure how a chicken would ride, but it stayed still, just like Karen after she passed out in the most uncomfortably looking position. I couldn't sleep though, I was too happy breathing in the Belizean evening air and admiring the beauty of the dark landscape and overwhelmed by the amount of stars.
