I can't believe we are getting ready to leave to go to Belize again! It seems like we just got back. We have 18 undergrads and 6 graduate students going this year. Dennis and I have another faculty member joining us as a trip leader--Brianne Reck. She will come down around April 9 with the grad students. Their mission will be to offer professional development to the teachers in San Pedro. We are also anticipating visitors from UNCW's Office of International Programs and Wilmington's Sister-City group. It should be a busy time.
I finally got the ABC's of Belize book published that our students wrote last year. Check it out on http://www.lulu.com/.
When the semester starts again (January) we will begin our monthly meetings to prepare for our work in San Pedro. This year we hope to use a new elementary school for our students. The Roman Catholic School is a public school and we will place at least half the elementary interns there.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
So Far Behind
I am so far behind in my blog postings. I am going to post three in a row to try and capture the last three weeks.
After Easter we headed inland to Belize City on Monday morning, April 7. We all caught the 7 a.m. ferry out of San Pedro, arriving in Belize City around 9 a.m. We had a seat on the top deck and several of us were in the direct sun--burns for later!
We caught a bus to Belmopan in Belize City. What a difference between Belize City and San Pedro. San Pedro is a picture postcard of palm trees and brilliant blue ocean. Belize City is very urbanized. We were all surprised by the the difference. We had a crazy taxi ride to the bus station from the ferry terminal. We talked to the bus driver to make sure we could get off at the Belize Zoo. The bus was not air conditioned and it was not an express. We stopped often and people got on and off with various amounts of carry bags. We also had all of our clothing for the next week in one backpack.
The Belize Zoo is very interesting. We spent a few hours there and saw all the animals native to Belize. It is a sanctuary for animals that were either hurt or in danger of being killed. For example, there is a jaguar (leopard)-Buddy Junior that was caught and brought to the zoo because it was killing domestic animals near a village. We saw tapir, jaguars, storks-one got really angry at Keri and flew at the cage, causing her to scream. We also saw a toucan and macaws. We passed the macaw cage just as one laid two eggs. The male was standing guard and the female began digging a hole to drop the eggs. When we passed by later, she was sitting on the nest.
Back on the bus to San Ignacio. We arrived that afternoon and we stayed in a very nice resort. It was a nice break from the hostel. We left for Tikal, Guatemala the next morning very early. We toured the Mayan ruins there--it was incredible. We climbed to the top of a very tall ruin and the view was incredible. We also saw the royal palace where many of the kings and their wives were buried. All the artifacts have been removed to the museum in Guatemala City. On our way out of Tikal several of us stopped to zip line. It was the first time for the students, the second time for me. I reassured them it would be fine until we climbed up on the first tree. I looked around and realized there were no guardrails and we were connected to a very tall tree, standing on a platform, with only a small D ring snapped on a cable. I told them when we finished that the safety level made me pause. They said they were glad I did not share that until after the experience. Several rode "superman style"-facing forward, flying through the trees. Ummm..don't want to think about how safe that was. Finally, our guides got a kick out of bouncing the last zip line up and down so as we zipped on it we flew up in the air--my back was not amused. We were all exhilarated by the experience and I was glad all turned out okay.
The next day we went on the ATM Cave tour--amazing. Artifacts from the Mayans everywhere. It was physically challenging to climb the cave walls and swim through the streams. We saw human remains. The guides talked about the cultural practices of the Mayans--human scarifices, cutting to use their blood in rituals, holes in the pots to allow the bad spirits to escape. They don't know what happened to the people whose remains are in the cave. Their bones have calcified onto the cave floor. We did see evidence of the practice of flattening the head-both forehead and back of the skull, on the remains. That night, we were all exhausted. The resort was great and we all enjoyed the pool.
Thursday, Dennis and I visited with Galen University representatives about expanding our work together. Some of the representatives were on their way to Wilmington the next week.
Friday we left San Ignacio for Cave's Branch. Our accomodations changed drastically and we were camping in the jungle. Bugs everywhere. Great food, however. Everyone signed up for different tours. I went on a cave tubing trip. After ATM I was not up for the Waterfall Tour-climbing cave walls and jumping off of waterfalls or the Black Hole-a sink hole that you repell into. The cave tubing was great-leisurely float on the river, then exploring the cave. More Mayan artifacts that we got to hold this time. We ate lunch in the cave and then floated back to where we left the bus. We all jumped off a cliff into the river. It was scary but fun.
We went back to San Pedro on Sunday morning. We took a van to Belmopan, a bus to Belize City, and a ferry to San Pedro. We have been on all the transportation options. Back to schools the next day.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
April 3, 2010
The Easter activities at the library came to an end with an easter egg hunt on Wednesday afternoon. The children really enjoyed it and our students were able to use the hours toward their service project.
On Wednesday, Dr. Paul, our consultate from Wilmington to Belize, invited us to his home north on the island. He has a condo here and spends holidays and summers here. We ate cheeseburgers, french fries, and ice cream sundaes. All were a welcome treat after several weeks of Belizian food-many plates of stewed chicken, beans and rice. Although that is good, it was nice to eat something different. Everyone had a good time at his house, dancing and singing. We took a water taxi to and from the dock in San Pedro.
I went to Caye Calker on Thursday. Caye Calker is a small town on another island and looks like San Pedro did many years ago. There are no paved streets and few golf carts. The pace is slow and the water is beautiful. There were many street vendors with beautiful jewelry to sell.
This week came to an end with a water shortage. A new housing development on the island is dredging and causing the water filters to need replacing sooner than expected. This weekend is the busiest tourist time of the year. It is very crowded in downtown San Pedro this weekend. Most businesses were closed yesterday for Good Friday and will be closed for Easter Monday as well. Many of us plan to attend the Easter service at the Catholic Church downtown tomorrow morning. It is on the beach.
On Wednesday, Dr. Paul, our consultate from Wilmington to Belize, invited us to his home north on the island. He has a condo here and spends holidays and summers here. We ate cheeseburgers, french fries, and ice cream sundaes. All were a welcome treat after several weeks of Belizian food-many plates of stewed chicken, beans and rice. Although that is good, it was nice to eat something different. Everyone had a good time at his house, dancing and singing. We took a water taxi to and from the dock in San Pedro.
I went to Caye Calker on Thursday. Caye Calker is a small town on another island and looks like San Pedro did many years ago. There are no paved streets and few golf carts. The pace is slow and the water is beautiful. There were many street vendors with beautiful jewelry to sell.
This week came to an end with a water shortage. A new housing development on the island is dredging and causing the water filters to need replacing sooner than expected. This weekend is the busiest tourist time of the year. It is very crowded in downtown San Pedro this weekend. Most businesses were closed yesterday for Good Friday and will be closed for Easter Monday as well. Many of us plan to attend the Easter service at the Catholic Church downtown tomorrow morning. It is on the beach.
Monday, March 29, 2010
March 29, 2010
We are starting our second, full week in Belize. Friday was a half-day for the elementary teachers so our students got a break. After a morning down pour that ruined the end-of-the-term parent/teacher conferences and display of work, the students from Isla Bonita relaxed while the students from Ambergris Caye had a long lunch on the way back to the hotel. Everyone met for our twice-weekly seminars at 4:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming service projects and video documentaries.
Three of the elementary students are going to develop a video documentary about Derrick, a 16-year-old, guitar/bass phenomenon. Derrick is self-taught and reminds everyone of Carlos Santana. He is amazing and has been playing with a local band since he was 12 years old. The drummer of the band, formerly from the group Berlin, is spearheading a fundraising effort to send Derrick to Berkley School of Music in Boston this summer for a summer camp program.
Saturday was amazing. We biked to a yoga retreat north of town, Actbol (??spelling), where we ate and snorkeled. We saw a lion fish and jumped out of the wanter when a barracuda swam by. The setting was beautiful. That night the town observed Earth Hour with a parade through downtown.
Sunday we went to Krazy Kanucks Beach Bar and spent the afternoon listening to Derrick and the band play. We got to meet Derrick's brother and the other members of the high school band. They played during a break . The girls featuring Derrick in their video got to talk to him about the project and they got a lot of tape. I think he is excited about the project although he is painfully shy and doesn't say much.
This week and next week will be spring break for the schools. Ambergris Caye has two work days this week but the other two schools are off. We will head into Belize City next Monday. Students will be working on service projects this week. Students worked at the public library today helping with Easter activities. They will be there from 10-12 and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday to work with the children.
Three of the elementary students are going to develop a video documentary about Derrick, a 16-year-old, guitar/bass phenomenon. Derrick is self-taught and reminds everyone of Carlos Santana. He is amazing and has been playing with a local band since he was 12 years old. The drummer of the band, formerly from the group Berlin, is spearheading a fundraising effort to send Derrick to Berkley School of Music in Boston this summer for a summer camp program.
Saturday was amazing. We biked to a yoga retreat north of town, Actbol (??spelling), where we ate and snorkeled. We saw a lion fish and jumped out of the wanter when a barracuda swam by. The setting was beautiful. That night the town observed Earth Hour with a parade through downtown.
Sunday we went to Krazy Kanucks Beach Bar and spent the afternoon listening to Derrick and the band play. We got to meet Derrick's brother and the other members of the high school band. They played during a break . The girls featuring Derrick in their video got to talk to him about the project and they got a lot of tape. I think he is excited about the project although he is painfully shy and doesn't say much.
This week and next week will be spring break for the schools. Ambergris Caye has two work days this week but the other two schools are off. We will head into Belize City next Monday. Students will be working on service projects this week. Students worked at the public library today helping with Easter activities. They will be there from 10-12 and 2:30-4:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday to work with the children.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
This has been such a busy week. Something going on every day and every night. Last night we went to a 2-year-old's birthday party. He is the son of one of the teachers at the high school. We had great bar-be-qued pork with a rub made with sour oranges. It was great. Of course, beans and rice (served with every meal), and music with a DJ. Everyone was tired and headed home early because of our adventures the night before. Thirty+ officers from the British Army stayed here. They were up all night partying, fighting, and creating mischief of one kind or another. Thankfully, they left after just one night.
Two of our students are going to a resort with their classes. They will be snorkeling and swimming. One of the other classes had show-and-tell today. I saw someone come in with a box of chicks. This is an easy week before a two-week spring break for the schools. Everyone is doing special events today and have a half-day tomorrow.
I visited a preschool yesterday and got to sit in on circle time. The teacher was really good and she kept the children reading, discussing, and singing for 45 minutes. She told me that the government runs the preschools so they are part of the school system. Children only go from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. They are suppose to begin preschool when they are 2 years and 9 months old but many start much earlier, barely 2. They finish preschool at 4 and move right away into first grade. There is no kindergarten. The teacher said there is a gap in what the children know from preschool to first grade-they are suppose to be play-based in preschool with no writing or reading. However, without kindergarten, first grade teachers expect them to come in writing their names and reading some things. Preschool has to do more teaching so the children are ready.
I also visited the San Pedro Town library yesterday. I got a membership for $1.50 US. They have a lot of books that have been donated to them. The librarian is having Easter activities for the kids next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. They will have arts and crafts in the morning from 10-12 noon and storytime in the afternoon from 2:30-4:30 p.m. I asked if she needed help and she is eager to include our students in the planning and carrying out of the activities.
Yesterday, Becca shared the friendship bracelets that her 4th graders in the US made for her 4th graders here. They were thrilled. They also got a letter from the child in Wilmington. The kids here are going to write back to the ones in Wilmington and make them a bracelet. I am going to help Stephanie teach a first grade class this afternoon. Her class used watercolors for the first time yesterday.
Tonight six of the elementary students are helping at the Arts Festival in town. They will be serving food for their school. The others will be working on craft ideas for the librarian.
Two of our students are going to a resort with their classes. They will be snorkeling and swimming. One of the other classes had show-and-tell today. I saw someone come in with a box of chicks. This is an easy week before a two-week spring break for the schools. Everyone is doing special events today and have a half-day tomorrow.
I visited a preschool yesterday and got to sit in on circle time. The teacher was really good and she kept the children reading, discussing, and singing for 45 minutes. She told me that the government runs the preschools so they are part of the school system. Children only go from 8:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. They are suppose to begin preschool when they are 2 years and 9 months old but many start much earlier, barely 2. They finish preschool at 4 and move right away into first grade. There is no kindergarten. The teacher said there is a gap in what the children know from preschool to first grade-they are suppose to be play-based in preschool with no writing or reading. However, without kindergarten, first grade teachers expect them to come in writing their names and reading some things. Preschool has to do more teaching so the children are ready.
I also visited the San Pedro Town library yesterday. I got a membership for $1.50 US. They have a lot of books that have been donated to them. The librarian is having Easter activities for the kids next week on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. They will have arts and crafts in the morning from 10-12 noon and storytime in the afternoon from 2:30-4:30 p.m. I asked if she needed help and she is eager to include our students in the planning and carrying out of the activities.
Yesterday, Becca shared the friendship bracelets that her 4th graders in the US made for her 4th graders here. They were thrilled. They also got a letter from the child in Wilmington. The kids here are going to write back to the ones in Wilmington and make them a bracelet. I am going to help Stephanie teach a first grade class this afternoon. Her class used watercolors for the first time yesterday.
Tonight six of the elementary students are helping at the Arts Festival in town. They will be serving food for their school. The others will be working on craft ideas for the librarian.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Last day to relax
Today will be the last day before the students report to their schools in the morning. I went snorkeling with a group this morning. It was amazing. Right off the beach is a man-made reef with cement blocks and wood. There were thousands of fish-yellow, purple, blue, pink, striped, even one that looked like stained glass. I even saw two Royal Blue Tangs-looking for Nemo possibly.
I got my nails done at a local shop yesterday and learned about local life from the shop owner, Vanessa. She owns and operates her shop with the help of a woman who has her kids on the mainland. Everyother week she goes to Belize City to see her 4 and 6 year old. This seems to be very common. They live with her mother. Last night we were invited to eat at Michelle's house, one of the teachers from San Pedro HS. She lives near the high school in a two-bedroom apartment she shares with her 17-year-old daugher, one-year-old son, another teacher from the high school, and her husband. Two other teachers from the high school were there and they cooked chicken curry for us. It was great. They put pig tails, split peas, and dumplings in the sauce and added chicken and rice when it was served. To eat the pig tail you suck the meat from the bone and throw away the rest. Not something I tried but some of the students did give it a try. The five students placed at the high school were there, along with Dennis. We all had a great time and it was interesting to see how the local professionals live. Michelle's apartment is small but really nice. It does not appear that there are any true child care centers here. Children are either in half-day preschool or cared for by a babysitter. Michelle hired a 16-year-old to come to her house to babysit her son. She said the girl graduated from high school but her parents could not afford to send her to college so she went to work as a babysitter.
The students are starting to find cheap places to eat. This morning we ate at a small stand in town and had a full breakfast with freshly squeezed lime juice for $5.50 US.
I got my nails done at a local shop yesterday and learned about local life from the shop owner, Vanessa. She owns and operates her shop with the help of a woman who has her kids on the mainland. Everyother week she goes to Belize City to see her 4 and 6 year old. This seems to be very common. They live with her mother. Last night we were invited to eat at Michelle's house, one of the teachers from San Pedro HS. She lives near the high school in a two-bedroom apartment she shares with her 17-year-old daugher, one-year-old son, another teacher from the high school, and her husband. Two other teachers from the high school were there and they cooked chicken curry for us. It was great. They put pig tails, split peas, and dumplings in the sauce and added chicken and rice when it was served. To eat the pig tail you suck the meat from the bone and throw away the rest. Not something I tried but some of the students did give it a try. The five students placed at the high school were there, along with Dennis. We all had a great time and it was interesting to see how the local professionals live. Michelle's apartment is small but really nice. It does not appear that there are any true child care centers here. Children are either in half-day preschool or cared for by a babysitter. Michelle hired a 16-year-old to come to her house to babysit her son. She said the girl graduated from high school but her parents could not afford to send her to college so she went to work as a babysitter.
The students are starting to find cheap places to eat. This morning we ate at a small stand in town and had a full breakfast with freshly squeezed lime juice for $5.50 US.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
March 19, 2010
Yesterday was our first full day in San Pedro. We visited all three schools where students will be working. Ambergris Caye Elementary is a private school with 53 students in 8 grades. We met Dr. Renee Saarsland in the morning. She is from the US, Minnesota and she is a medical doctor who came to the island with her, now, ex-husband to establish a medical school in Belize. He left and she stayed. Now she is the director/principal of ACES. She told us that her teachers only have to have a high school diploma to teach. This is true for all K-12 schools in Belize. She requires them to earn their associate's degree if they are working at ACES. That program is 120 credits so it is similar to our teacher education program, however, they usually earn their degree in 3 years. Dr. Saarsgard also told us the children usually "graduate" from preschool at age 4 and enter first grade. They expect preschool to take the place of kindergarten. She said they struggle with the children being developmentally ready to learn the material in first grade when they are as young as 4. Some children move to high school, 9th grade, as young as 11.
We also visited San Pedro High School. There are about 400 children in school there-no air conditioning! The children from the local K-8 schools will go to the high school on Monday to take their admission exams.
Finally, we stopped by Isla Bonita Elementary. The elementary principals were in a meeting so we could not meet the principal there. We went back this afternoon and met her, along with the teachers. They have about 80 students in K-8 classes. No air conditioning again and it is very hot! Our students will be teaching first thing Monday morning. One student will have a class of all boys. Everyone is excited.
I visited two preschool programs today. We saw one on the beach having a "field day" as March is fitness month for the children. They were having races. I introduced myself to the head teacher and asked if we could visit. She invited me to come on Monday. Without thinking, I agreed. Later I went to the preschool and let her know I could not come until Wednesday-our students begin their work at the K-12 schools on Monday. Preschool is only from 8:30-11:30. There is one preschool in town with an afternoon session-San Pedro Preschool. I have not found that one. Finally, I stopped by ABC Preschool at 12 noon but they were gone. I will stop there next week and try to set up a visit.
Tomorrow there is a Bar-B-Que at the Lion's Den (like the Lion's Club in the States). It is a fund raiser for the teachers from San Pedro HS to attend a conference in Orlando. We will all go to support the teachers. The tickets are $5 US.
The hardest thing for me is to see all the stray dogs and cats. They are running everywhere. It is hard not to pet them but they immediately start following you if you pay them any attention. Someone told us not to touch the dogs because they get stoned by the local people and can be mean. Most of them have collars and tags from the Human Society that we think might mean they are spayed/neutered and then set free. A lot of them live on the beach.
We also visited San Pedro High School. There are about 400 children in school there-no air conditioning! The children from the local K-8 schools will go to the high school on Monday to take their admission exams.
Finally, we stopped by Isla Bonita Elementary. The elementary principals were in a meeting so we could not meet the principal there. We went back this afternoon and met her, along with the teachers. They have about 80 students in K-8 classes. No air conditioning again and it is very hot! Our students will be teaching first thing Monday morning. One student will have a class of all boys. Everyone is excited.
I visited two preschool programs today. We saw one on the beach having a "field day" as March is fitness month for the children. They were having races. I introduced myself to the head teacher and asked if we could visit. She invited me to come on Monday. Without thinking, I agreed. Later I went to the preschool and let her know I could not come until Wednesday-our students begin their work at the K-12 schools on Monday. Preschool is only from 8:30-11:30. There is one preschool in town with an afternoon session-San Pedro Preschool. I have not found that one. Finally, I stopped by ABC Preschool at 12 noon but they were gone. I will stop there next week and try to set up a visit.
Tomorrow there is a Bar-B-Que at the Lion's Den (like the Lion's Club in the States). It is a fund raiser for the teachers from San Pedro HS to attend a conference in Orlando. We will all go to support the teachers. The tickets are $5 US.
The hardest thing for me is to see all the stray dogs and cats. They are running everywhere. It is hard not to pet them but they immediately start following you if you pay them any attention. Someone told us not to touch the dogs because they get stoned by the local people and can be mean. Most of them have collars and tags from the Human Society that we think might mean they are spayed/neutered and then set free. A lot of them live on the beach.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Arrival
March 18, 2010. We arrived in Belize City yesterday in two groups. The first group came in at 11 a.m. (1 p.m. Wilmington time). The other group arrived at 1:25 p.m. Dennis took the first group on to San Pedro at 12:30 p.m. I waited for the other group and we took off for San Pedro at 2:30 p.m. Jeanne Hennessey co-piloted our small (very small) plane. We made one stop on an airstrip that is shorter than the road in front of WSE. As we made our way to San Pedro we saw several islands no larger than an acre or so with houses and boat slips lining a beautiful lagoon. I kept wondering what they do in a storm? Tess said the houses had to be on stilts.
Everyone was tired and went to bed early. However, a few students went to the Wednesday night chicken drop on the beach. You buy a number, 1-100, for $1. Then somebody grabs a live chicken, turns him around and around, upsided, blows air in his butt, sets him free to run around on a mat with numbers 1-100, where it poops, wins. They were too late to buy tickets but we all want to go back next week.
We will start our tour of San Padro soon. More later.
Everyone was tired and went to bed early. However, a few students went to the Wednesday night chicken drop on the beach. You buy a number, 1-100, for $1. Then somebody grabs a live chicken, turns him around and around, upsided, blows air in his butt, sets him free to run around on a mat with numbers 1-100, where it poops, wins. They were too late to buy tickets but we all want to go back next week.
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