I don’t get mad, I don’t get sad, I just get more happy!

A Sunday Funday was spent at San Pedro an island off of Belize.  To get to this place we drove an hour and fifteen minutes South to Belize City, then we would board a water taxi that took us to the island.  We woke up at six o’clock and our new found friend, Javon, drove us to Belize City.  They city itself is very busy and full of canals that go straight through the city.  We then boarded the water taxi, which was a covered boat that took us to San Pedro.  An hour later we arrived and were greeted by our captain who was going to take us snorkeling.  He took us to get some breakfast and snorkel gear.   

The ride from Belmopan to Belize City

Chrissy and Cheryna on the water taxi

Paige, Melissa and Emma on the water taxi

The blog is called Eat.Teach.Belieze, so we stopped at a taco shop for breakfast! Why not.  

Melissa, Cheryna and D'Elise waiting for breakfast

Super cheap and super good breakfast

Chrissy in San Pedro

Crystal blue water

Ready for snorkeling

We’re swimming with him?

Melissa and Paige on the boat ready to go

We took a ten-minute boat ride to a reef where we snorkeled for about an hour where we saw coral reefs, sharks, and every fish under the sea.  The water was so clear and clean.  

Cuddles on the boat

San Pedro after snorkeling 

Downtown San Pedro

Time for a drink!

Our group hanging out 

Our bartender, James !

Time to head home on the water taxi

Sunset cruise home after a long and fun day out on the water

It's Off to Work We Go

To build morale within the school and to incorporate the community there was a work day to help improve the school.  Parents, students, friends, and staff were all invited to come and help.  There were opportunities to paint tables and bookshelves, lay gravel walkways, continue finishing the fence around the school, and use machetes to chop down weeds (yes, actual machetes).  Chrissy was running a fever this day and her and Paige were not able to participate.  You would think with all the shots, vaccines, and medications we were taking we could stay healthy here.  The improvements made to the school were a small portion to what Mrs. Westby (the principal) has planned.  The students now have walkways to their classroom, the second stage to the fence that surrounds the school, and freshly painted bookshelves.  It was a lot of work, but completely worth it.

C&M

D’Lise painting a table

Melissa and D’Lise with their machetes

Students who came out and helped

Melissa and her teacher pounding down the gravel to stay in place

The beginning stage of the new fence

Leaving work day 

It's Friday, Friday

Corker’s again, because of the beautiful atmosphere and wonderful food.  We had some good laughs and fun times.

C&M

Paige and Melissa before dinner

Emma, Lisa, Chrissy, and D’Lise before dinner

Thai green curry with shrimp and rice

Belize beer

Children's Day a.k.a. Sports Day

Children’s day was like a field day in the States.  The students have spent all week reviewing and they were able to have a play day before exams start.  Each standard or grade wore a different color shirt.  The whole school came together and competed in games ranging from potato sack races, balloon toss, lime and spoon races, and bicycle races.  It was a fun and exhausting day for both the students and teachers. 

C&M

Melissa and Chrissy in their designated team colors

The field right next to the school where the event took place

Wheel barrel races – they paired boys against boys and girls against girls

Melissa being shaded by one of her students

Melissa and her students

Chrissy and her students

Lime and spoon

The students had to carry the lime to the finish line without dropping it.  If it drops then they had to run back to the starting point.

Chrissy’s students decided to create their own game and see who swung the farthest on the branches

Thanksgiving In Belize

 Bull Frog Inn Thanksgiving Special

The ladies at the hotel informed us of the Thanksgiving dinner they were preparing for dinner.  Although we were not with our families for the holiday, we were thankful to eat turkey with all the holiday sides.  It was a nice evening were we all shared our family holiday traditions, told stories, and voiced the things we were thankful for.  This experience has opened all our eyes to how lucky we are and to be grateful for all the things we have.  

C&M

 

Happy ThanksLIVING!

 Thanksgiving dinner with out the cooking and the cleaning up

We even got served leftover turkey the next morning for breakfast!

Goodbye Dr. John

All of us with Dr. John before he headed back home

Before school picture 

Ready for more review games and practice tests.  Some of the interns helped by making copies of the exams for their teachers and others actually helped create and proof read some of the exams.  

C&M

Melissa with one of her students 

Chrissy with one of her students

The $5 special from Roxanna

Plate of plantains never tasted so good

Fresh grown vegetables

Paige and Chrissy at lunch

Melissa and Emma at lunch

This is a water ball with rocks in the bottom.  During one of the review games the students shook theses water bottles once they knew the answer to a question to earn points for their team.