The Beginning

June 4, 2012

Today was my day of firsts. My first day working in PG and my first Belizean drinks. It was absolutely amazing! I took my first trip walking into town on my own. It is a short 15 minute walk and interesting to see the houses and shops. At the bunkhouse, Olivia took me to the PG polyclinic to start work. As in many developing countries, I hit a few bumps in the road. The woman who originally set up my internship no longer works there, and Kayla who took her place was unaware of my internship. This worked out better for me, as I got to spend the day mapping out the community locations and compiling what information I will need. Olivia and I spent the afternoon biking around PG to talk to NGOs and find current information they might have. Many of the NGO’s staff weren’t in, so I will be revisiting them tomorrow. I did have quite the Public Health overload when I met with several of the clinic staff. There were two public health nurses, one rural health nurse, and a man whose title I don’t remember. They were not very willing to give the information up until I (or Olivia) explained what I needed it for. Even then, they weren’t able to give the statistics we needed. But it turned into a GREAT lesson on communication within public health. It became a brainstorming session for information they felt they needed as well. They also reiterated many times that they wanted the information we collected. Many times when outside organizations come in, they talk about the data they need, but they don’t share the information they have found. Olivia said it would be best for me to go into the communities myself, as many NGO’s are unwilling to share the information they have found. The women seemed to be stating similar opinions. The women were also upset that a later group was to be providing health education in their assigned communities and they were not told about it. I can easily see how this would be frustrating. After the meeting, Olvia and I met with one more NGO, SHI, and finished out bike ride back to the office.

Walking back to the house was a little more challenging since I walked down more than one wrong street. BUT I made it J The dinner Ms. Consuela made was amazing!!! Fish (yes I am not a seafood person and I liked it), salad, rice, beans, and a spicy dish. This dish consisted of onions, vinegar, cyan peppers, and salt. It was definitely spicy but amazing when poured over the rice or fish. I am hoping she will make it again sometime. After dinner, Bartender Frank bought me a Lighthouse, Belizean light beer and made me a rum and coconut water. The bear was good, the rum not so much. But Frank said it was really watered down when I gave the rest for him to finished and laughed at me. We watched another movie, Medea’s class reunion. (I don’t know if there is an actual movie but this one was the play version.) It has been another great day here in PG! The storm is rolling in so that’s my cue to go to sleep. 

June 3,

Blogging is definitely more difficult that I thought. Today’s experiences were incredible and there is no way I can explain the awesomeness of it or get anyone to understand how empowering it is to be here. But, I want to keep anyone up to date on what I am doing, so I will start there. Today was orientation. The PG staffers are amazing!! We got to know one another for a bit and then took a walking tour of the town (always an important part of the emersion process). The beach front is awesome! Today was quiet in town, kind of reminds me Samish Island, except foreign and hotter. The town looks really cool so I am excited to learn my way around. (Sam they have these trees called Tropical Almond trees, that are mostly used for shade. Nicole told me locals believe spirits hang around them. HOW COOL?) After that we went to Juan and Abileen’s house were they make Mayan chocolate. We had orientation and lunch there. We tried spicy chocolate, one kind with cocoa pieces in it, and my favorite dark chocolate with coconut. Best chocolate I have ever had by far!! Then we ventured over to the Mayan Ruins. We went to Lubaantan, where it is believed the crystal skull was found. This is what I was looking forward to the most, and it was really interesting. Some of the stones were the original and it is amazing to me to be so close to such strong history. Thinking of the people who lived there and what they did was a truly great experience.

June 2 2012

I have made it to Belize. It has been a long and exhausting day so I will keep it brief. My flight from St. Louis left quickly without a hitch. I was hopeful the rest of the day would continue this way as well. I was definitely wrong! My flight in Dallas was delayed over 2 hours. The plane we were supposed to leave in was having engine trouble. They attempted to fix it but decided to get us a new plane instead. The waiting is always the worst part. Finally, we left Dallas at 12:30 and I arrived in Belize around 2. Two other girls, Niki and Hailey, were waiting for me to ride the bus to Punta Gorda. I felt bad my flight delay only made their day longer. We had the option of the 3:00 or the 3:45 express. We were anxious to get to PG so we opted for the 3:00. We had heard the bus rides from Belize city to PG were long but I think long is an understatement. It was a very uncomfortable 6 hour bus ride. However, I did meet some nice people. The ProWolrld office is awesome though! The porch has 6 hammocks. The staff is extremely friendly and make me feel much more comfortable. Niki and Hailey are staying in the villages so they are crashing at the bunkhouse tonight. Olivia took me to my homestay family, Ms. Consuela Black. I met her son Frank and grandson Louis as well. There home is beautiful (another hammock on the porch J ) The walls are about as close to In Vision Blue as you can get in Belize so it makes me feel a little more at home. I joined them in watching a movie when I got here. I don’t know what it’s called but its about Sadam Hussein’s son and how he makes someone be his twin. Very interesting to see what they watch! It is storming out right now. You know the kind of storm you see far off in the ocean when you are sitting on a beach? Where you can almost see the boom it’s so intense? Well that’s what it’s doing now, except its right on top of us. It sounds very relaxing, and with that I am going to bed. Excited for tomorrow!