Hello All,
Well, it's official - I've survived my two weeks of orientation in Cleveland, Ohio as well as four days in Belize. It's been a long journey full of anxiety but alas I am here in my new homeland! The trip from Cleveland started on Monday at 5am when I jumped into the University's van with three other Belize volunteers and a Tanzanian volunteer to head to the airport. It was when we were two exits from the airport when things started to go down hill. Apparently the van's gas gauge was broken and the meter plummeted from 3/4 of a tank of gas to empty. This resulted in our car breaking down on the side of the highway and our waiting an hour for our help to come - our help ended up being a man by the name of Chuck with long dirty hair and multiple tattoos which read Mom & Dad (in a heart of course), Love Hurts, as well as a naked lady with a sword. After he filled our tank up...our battery died. Needless to say, we missed our first flight from Cleveland to Chicago. We ended up having to wait stand by and take two separate flights to Houston and then to Belize, getting in to Belize City with an hour between both groups.
Since this time we've been doing a lot of hanging out with the second year volunteers and their local friends. We had a big cookout on our second night here where everyone came over to the house to meet us. I was given the task of cutting apart whole chickens for the BBQ while some of the others cleaned the chicken with lime and vinegar. It was really a great time full of food, music, and meeting lots of people from town.
Today we are headed for Banana Bank for our first retreat. Not too sure what it will entail but I'm sure it will be enjoyable. On Monday our two groups split up and the Punta Gorda group will make our way down to our house. I'm really excited to finally get down there and see the town and my house. Apparently our house is experiencing a bit of a rat infestation - unlike the Belize City house which has plenty of lizards and cockroaches...I'm almost immune to the sight of cockroaches - I'm getting there. I don't know if I can say the same for rats however. That is going to be quite the sight - me on top of a table screaming like a seven year old girl. I guess it's just all part of the experience.
Well, I've got to get going. Time to pack for Banana Bank. Hope all is well and miss you all already!
Love, Pat
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This is my Belizean Life. Get used to it.
4 comments:
You should have called AAA for the bus break down and told them you know me haha. That Chuck sounds like a catch, is he single?? I guess things don't run as smoothly as Gina and Pat organized road trips! Glad to hear you have made it safely.
It sounds like you are already experiencing great things. I love chicken, I don't think I would after having to cut apart a whole one.
Good luck with the rats, lizards ("Paaat, you always see the lizaarrrdss") and cockroaches.
miss you tons.
love Gina.
ps get me that address ASAP so I can send your letters (I already wrote about 10!).
Hey Pat!
Just wanted to let you know that we are thinking of you and praying for you! What an amazing ride so far:)
Love,
Mo
well, that sounds like quite the adventure. much more exciting than life back in NB. it sounds like you are having a great time (and like gina said, you DO get to see the lizards!)...hopefully there aren't too many rats! i'm looking forward to reading many more blogs..i didn't want to overwhelm you with too many e-mails b/c gina said you have limited internet time but needless to say, i miss you and love you!
-JK
patricio!! i'm so glad you've made it and the house looks quite unique!! i will be writing you a letter during my down time at work this week so expect lovely stories of people freaking out about their missing paper clips! love you and miss you so much!! wish i was there with you!
love
becky
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