Blogs from Toledo District, Belize, Central America Caribbean - page 3

This afternoon school was canceled on account of either possible river flooding, or in case a storm hit us, I have heard conflicting reasons. Either way, no school until further notice and therefore : blogging time! I have had a pretty interesting adventure here so far - arranging a placement after surprising the school with my arrival, meeting a great class with very diverse needs and strengths, having my apartment flood twice in hurricane strength storms, visiting a lovely beach town, enjoying Belizean Rotary (more on this later), having my pretty purple bike stolen, and learning how to teach way more creatively! One thing I really am enjoying is getting to know a new town! Now that I am walking everywhere, I decided to take advantage of my slowed down pace (sort of slow, I walk ... read more

I didn’t have to be at school until Friday this week, so I took advantage of my guaranteed time off to go to Placencia from Tuesday to Thursday! Placencia is a little ways north of PG, via bus then water taxi. It was great trip! I took the express bus from PG at 6am, and I was lucky! It was a greyhound style bus, not the little school bus, so it had A/C! It continues to blow my mind how inexpensive public transport is south of the States – just BZ $11 (about CAD$ 5.50) for an hour an a half bus trip, it was $2 more because it was the express. I splurged so I could just go straight there rather than stopping all the time. Once you arrive in Independence, the water taxi is ... read more

August 15, 2011 I’ve only been here for 5 days now but I am definitely starting to feel a bit more settled which is good. Like I said in the last blog, we did find a place to stay! The hotel owner was very helpful in pointing me in a good direction and we ended up renting a two bedroom apartment from a very nice couple, Ludwig and Curlotte. Ludwig, is a vet/artist/gallery owner/chem teacher at the university campus in town. Very interesting fellow to say the least. Curlotte seems to manage the property and run the background stuff for the gallery. She was really helpful too. The apartment is close to both mine and Tom's schools (really, the whole town is close to everything...) so we're set! It's also been kind of nice that the ... read more

Today we got up without the alarm but still woke up early. I always wake up with the sun. Once it hits our windows I can't sleep anymore. I went out to get some coffee & snacks & fully slipped in the mud flat onto my knee. Ouch. I was standing at the counter waiting for my coffee & let out a big sigh. The man next to me said, why the big sigh? I showed him my bloody knee & said, because I just fell down. Phew, glad I didn't get caught sighing for no good reason. He told me to go wash it off in the ocean & I'd be ok. So, that's what I did & so far he was right. ;) We packed up & waited for our water taxi to Belize ... read more

Wow, another week has already gone by somehow, and I don’t know where all the time went. I have now been living in Belmopan for three weeks and every day I get more and more comfortable in it. From waking up extra early on market days to catch the best deals, to running in my neighbourhood, and officially being a regular at ‘ice point’, my favorite little snack shop just up the street, I defiantly feel at home here. Don’t worry mom, I still know where my real home is, but getting to experience living in an entirely new culture is so exciting. Nearly everything is different and backwards from the ways at home from the amazing staple rice and beans, to the slow and haywire bus system, to the dozens of friendly waves you get ... read more