We started off with an early breakfast at the hotel. When the Department of Youth Services group showed up, we did introductions by means of slapping one another's hands (playing 'ninja', that is). Everyone was soon laughing and talking like old friends on the two van trips it took to take us all to Chan Chen.
More children came and hung around today - they'd warmed up a little since yesterday's reticence, and by the end of the day were in and out among our group constantly. They watched hungrily as we ate bananas and frutas throughout the day (no one could help but give them some, after which it seemed like one little boy in particular asked everyone at the school for a banana every minute). We attempted to teach them a hand clapping game, for which Maggie's bilingual skills came in very handy, and they showed us how to open big coconut husks - by dropping them from the school's second story and prying them open with a crowbar.
Some older boys who had hung around for several hours decided to help us mix cement after our DYS team departed. This was incredibly appreciated. We would not have finished half the floor today if they hadn't stepped in (literally, with their bare feet) and shoveled, mixed, loaded and dumped cement right alongside us.
Speaking of cement: several of us were groaning after the very long day that we might actually dream about mixing cement. I don't think this was an exaggeration. The team worked so hard today. We were expecting to accomplish even more, and to go about our tasks differently than we did, but flexibility has been the biggest learning element down here. Alberto, our Belizean handyman construction genius, altered our plan several times for everyone's benefit. He and Carlos showed us how not to break our backs while mixing, and the best way to put the floor together.
After our long construction day, everyone was absolutely determined to either jump in the ocean or take a shower. Most of us went straight down to the roundhouse area and splashed around for an hour before dinner. A party was starting, children bounced on bounce-houses and thumping Major Lazer songs blasted from speakers. The sun shimmered across the water, and the aforementioned storm had begun to gather on the horizon. Locals flipped into the water from palm-poles. This much-deserved swim was the loveliest moment yet.
After that, we gathered for dinner at Coroco Blue, a nicer pizza place next to a resort. Like all the food here, it was insanely delicious, especially when we were so ravenously hungry. Later, when we had free time, some of us walked down to the store to buy some sodas, and hung out in our hotel room chatting about our day, laughing, and bonding as it rained.
I have absolutely fallen in love with Belize. Getting used to the humidity and heat took a few days, and culture shock is still reverberating around the edges , but this has been a paradigm-shifting experience for me, and I'm sure for all involved. Being touched by this culture isn't a matter of looking past the trash and the potholes, the lack of traffic regulations and the rusting buildings, the unorganized stores and the bare, dirty feet. Rather, it involves the realization that all of those elements are interwoven into the fabric of daily life down here, and that fabric is beautiful. The vibrant diversity, overall friendliness, relaxed atmosphere, exquisite flora, the family-centeredness all constitute its strands, too.
In the States, i live my life by to-do lists and schedules. This doesn't even bother me like it used to. Busyness and stress? Just everyday elements of a motivated student's life. But Belize is reminding me that life doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to be on the dot punctual. You don't have to plan out every second of your day. Being in this new and wildly different environment reminds travelers like us of the value of easy-going exploration, attentiveness, mindfullness and presence. "
Sammi
Pics from Samantha
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| The view from the pizza place |
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| The view looking SW from the hotel |
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| ... in the back of the school |
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| It's all about customer satisfaction |
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| The boardwalk |
Wonderful!
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