Happy Easter

He is risen!!

I have been reflecting on my blessings this beautiful Easter morning. Years pass ... the sad farewells to friends, grandparents, my mom and dad and step-dad, and Bob. But because of that mild, soft spoken, golden hearted man that died on that cross this day for us, WE will have everlasting life. We will be reunited with those we love.

I am home in Florida for a visit before heading back to Belize. I have spent some time in Gainesville with Aubrey and her friends from work. I visited for four days in Jupiter and had the gift of meeting with several friends for lunches and dinners...even had a chance to play some tennis and golf. I massaged a few friends on one of the days. Now I am in Vero Beach visiting Ashley.

I am sure it's not terribly interesting hearing all about what I have been up to since I have been here so I will spare you the details. I would just like to share with you a comment that Aubrey made as I was giving her my itinerary before I left her place. "Mom, you have GOT to have the nicest friends in the world. You are so lucky."

I truly am. And so are we ALL!!

Thank you God, for blessing us all...love, tracy

Better in Belize!

Life in the United States is wonderful. We have everything at our fingertips. We can't wish for more. We are instantly gratified with nearly all of our whims. Most work hard and have earned all that they have and most have jobs so they can afford all life's necessities and some luxuries.

But there are some things in Belize that I think are better than 'how we do it back home'. Let me explain: People have no worries about 'mixed-matched' clothing. A plaid skirt looks great with a floral blouse as long and both are clean are pressed.

Girlfriends of all ages enjoy walking hand-in-hand. I LOVE that! We impose so many taboos in the states. (So, Carlene, look out!!)

Breast feeding is natural ANYWHERE. I have to admit that it took a little getting used to as breasts are viewed so differently back home. But it is such a natural and healthy part of life. I can remember breast feeding my children and feeling like I always had to hide. One hears very little crying from the infants and toddlers in Belize. They don't learn to cry for things they want because their food was always there for them any time, any place... buses, shops, walking down the street and just yesterday in Punta Gorda I saw a baby strapped to her young mom riding a bicycle and nursing. In my village, babies are breast fed while their moms are washing clothes at the river or while she's doing the cooking or cleaning. It's just the way it is.

I can hitchhike here like I did back in the States back in the early 70's. I love that feeling of freedom, I feel totally safe, and it saves on bus fares. I've met lots of interesting people with interesting stories...a bit of reliving my teenage years. And if you don't catch a ride, there's always the bus that will come soon—within minutes to a couple hours.

The children are extremely well behaved in the classroom. The climate within the classroom is very conducive to learning. There are very few disciplinary problems. The teacher is given the respect that I feel they rightly deserve. Their assignments are generally complete and on time. And their work appears to be done with painstaking attention to neatness and accuracy. I won't necessarily take a stand in favor of the 'lashings' they receive if the teacher feels their behavior warrants but something is working. Maybe a little fear of the rod isn't such a bad thing?!?

When children brush their teeth, they brush for at LEAST five minutes. They wash their hands often and for the length of time that it takes to sing 'happy birthday' twice. When they have a 'fresh cold', they carry a cloth that serves as a hankerchief in the event they may sneeze or to cover when they cough. They have been taught this by various health care workers and in the schools. They are motivated to stay clean because of the severe health implications if they do not. Cleanliness is healthfulness. And there is no restorative dentistry. If a tooth hurts, it is extracted so they try hard to avoid dental problems. (I'm not saying that the lack of remedial healthcare is a good thing but I believe the emphasis on prevention is excellent.)

Most everyone you meet lives in a humble abode that we would call 'shacks' back home. But they are 'quality' people that live in those shacks--intelligent, clean and immaculate despite the exterior appearance, many speaking 3 or 4 languages fluently, and seemingly to me, possessing the most incredible 'sense' of family. The life is hard and the children are so busy doing their chores that they don't seem to have the time or desire to fight with their siblings. They are just surviving and happy to have a brother or sister (or many) that is/are healthy and alive. And that demonstration of brotherly and sisterly love is seen all over the countryside—from the beaches of Dangriga where the Garifuna have settled, to the northern communities of the Spanish Mestizo, to the streets of Belize City and the Kriol, and to the jungles and mountains of the Maya Mopan and K'ekchi.

Time—a double edged sword. When I first arrived in my village, I was extremely challenged by my American work ethic. And our American employers love that we have that ethic. And that ethic is perhaps why we are such an 'advanced' country. But before I left the States in August, 2009, I felt like a mouse on a treadmill. I was working for Dr. Gandhi doing my marketing/liasion work, working for Dr. Hart doing dental hygiene a couple days a week, and still doing massages after work. And I loved the schedule. And don't get me wrong, I still found time to play tennis with my buddies, go fishing, and play my pub poker and poker tournaments. Then I came to Belize and San Miguel and wondered what I was supposed to be doing??? It took TIME to figure out what to do with my time and eventually, I did and feel like I have accomplished a few good things in my village. Back at home, we make it an art to multi-task—I think Joann has her Ph.D. in multi-tasking. We cram so much into the day. I know that all too well. But I'm off the treadmill now and don't want to get back on ...Peace Corps has allowed me to do this. TIME is now my friend. When I come home from Peace Corps, I would like to take TIME to really get to know each one of my friends better—not glaze over the surface while involved in all kinds of other activity. I don't drink coffee but maybe I should learn how. And I'll plant a rose bush. I want TIME to build better relationships. Isn't that really the only thing that matters when we go to our grave?

I dearly want that time with you.

God bless us all...love, tracy

Gardens

I started my garden mostly out of boredom. When we were between projects, I felt like I wasn't accomplishing anything. So, I started a garden with the seeds that you graciously sent. Little did I know that this would be perhaps the single-most sustainable project imparted to my village of San Miguel.

The hardest part about starting my garden was getting the soil prepared back in October. The garden area I selected near the house was pretty much an lush jungle. So I spent countless hours with the machete trying to uncover something that resembled the ground. After a week of turning the soil over, tilling til manageable (remember, this soil is like clay—the clay the ancient Mayans made their pottery from) I felt like I finally had the soil adequately prepared. I started planting. And now at this writing, I boast a healthy looking garden with tomato, green pepper, jalapeno pepper, habenero pepper, cilantro, carrot, romaine lettuce, cabbage, onion, and sweet corn.

It's been a great way to talk to the men in the village as the gender divide within San Miguel (and apparently all Mayan villages) is pronounced. The men have their work (the farms outside the village) and the women have theirs (washing the laundry and dishes in the river, cooking, and tending to the children). You never see the men and women working on anything together. That's why it has been a bit unusual when I have helped the men dig and build latrines. The men would never come over to my house to visit like the women and children often do. But the men WILL stop by and talk to me in the garden and ask questions about all the vegetables. After all, THEY are the farmers but they grow only corn (for tortillas), rice, beans... zilch, nothing else.

My garden has sparked interest so now with a little help, there are 3 other BEAUTIFUL gardens in the village...all close to my house. They had no idea what most of the vegetables were and how to eat them. The concept of 'salad' is foreign. One neighbor brought over a radish that they had grown to the size of a watermelon and wanted to know what to do with it??!! (Hell if I know!??!) Many chuckles!! We have done mini impromptu cooking classes so the ladies don't overcook the vegetables zapping the majority of nutrients from them. Salad remains foreign as I don't have them quite 'sold' on that idea as yet!

Males and females can now be seen working TOGETHER in their garden... fathers and daughters, mothers and sons, husbands and wives ... very new, very different, and very fun!

A couple days ago, I visited Candelaria's garden and I was commenting on how her garden looked so much better than mine??! (A garden 'pep talk' but I DO think her garden looks better). I was thinking that I might need to add a little nitrogen or potash or such to my garden. But, NO! Her father enlightened me that none of the girls are allowed even to the gate of their garden when they have their periods. And he asked if I go in my garden when I have mine? Well, yeah, so now I know what the problem is... !!! Life is simple here...very few rules but some very important ones, I guess...

Today, a little seven year old boy came by my house and asked if I would come see the garden that he is working on. So off we went. His mom, Margarita, and his sister, Brittany told me that he put up the fence all by himself and started growing papaya and banana plants/trees. (By the way, fences are a MUST as the pigs will eat anything and everything and the chickens LOVE the seed!) He was wondering if I had any cabbage, sweet pepper and cilantro seeds. I do. So we walked back to my house where I gave him the seeds and a seed tray to start the seedlings. He asked questions about how often to water the seeds and how much soil to put in each little compartment. The young boy, Edlin, although seven but doesn't look much over five. But he has started the family garden and has ideas of eating healthy and selling what the family doesn't need.

It's a different culture for sure and there's much we can learn from each other...

God bless us all...love, tracy

More Playground Pictures

An 'Ideal' Celebration!!

Friday, March 4 had me up at the crack of dawn with shovel in hand and four eager helpers doing last minute 'grading', raking and burning leaves and dead wood... general site preparation.

Roger was up before the crack of dawn (4 am) making his way to Pine Lumber in Georgeville to hop the truck with two men and bring the enormous load of lumber the 5 hour trip to San Miguel.

They arrived shortly after noon and were hungry so I took the whole group to the Pops (my old 'host family') where my mom and sister had prepared the traditional rice and beans with chicken lunch for the 8 of us. Delicious!

We walked the short path back to the playground site and started unloading the lumber and some pre-assembled pieces. After the bulk was unloaded for the playground site, we all piled in the truck and made our way up to the top of the hill where the school is situated. Aubrey's friends at the VA hospital in Gainesville had raised money as their Christmas project to fund a swingset in San Miguel by the preschool and infant I and infant II classrooms.

I would be hard-pressed to think of anything that could have been more rewarding and exciting than what happened next... (well, maybe the birth of a grandchild??!!?) As the huge flat bed truck made its way up the hill, the children that are normally so perfectly behaved and disciplined could not help themselves. They ran to the doors waving and cheering seeing all this stuff being delivered for THEM!! The children were yelling, 'Miss Tracy, Miss Tracy!' These kids were beside themselves with excitement.

The toughest part was when the school day was over and they oh, so wanted to start playing but had to wait til completion.

March 5! Up before dawn and over to the park and school to finish up. The kids waited patiently while I had my crew in high gear working to the rhythm of the children's anticipation. Both children and volunteers were ear to ear smiles as the last bolt was fastened. Then Miss Tracy said, “ok, you can play!”

I think you can see for yourselves in the pictures I've included the wonder of it all...and none of this was possible without all my Peace Corps Volunteers back home...YOU! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

The children of San Miguel are waving to you, saying Tojo kre! (Thank you in K'ekchi)

God bless us all...love, tracy

P.S. March 5 happens to be my closest friend on the planet's birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SUE BROWN!!! We celebrated YOUR day in a BIG WAY!! All the children were given one FREE 'ideal' which is a flavored ice pop making it a grand, 'ideal' celebration!!

Playground Underway!!!

Dear Friends,

This will be quick as I have a meeting in a short while. But just HAD to let you know that the playground construction started this past weekend.

Things went as smooth as glass as Roger had done a great job preparing for the weekend. His biggest challenge was keeping ahead of the hard working Mayan men that didn't bat an eyelash when it came to digging holes and pouring concrete. Roger, a contractor and carpenter by trade, let the men know that he had a lot to learn from them and the way they mixed and formed concrete.

The RCP teachers made a massive lunch and the men (all 16 of them) ate heartily. We finished up the day's work in a driving rain but I don't think anyone noticed.

The best part of it for me, other than the first leg of this job being expertly done, was the enthusiasm and good time that was had by all the VOLUNTEERS!!!!

I smell something different in the air in San Miguel...what could it be??

God bless us all...tracy

Major and Minor Success Stories

I took a schedule of the playground/park construction plan over to the Village Chairman's house last night. Because it was raining and I didn't want to muddy his floor, we spoke outside on his porch. He was happy to see the organization of plans/dates and that we have many volunteers already signed up for the various projects related to this construction.

Today, there is a crew over at the park site doing the final clearing of the land. There were several large tree stumps yet to remove and the whole lot had to be chopped (machete) and then cut very short with a weedwacker. (This will encourage grass growth rather than 'jungle' growth). At 2 pm, high school boys as part of their community service will be taking sand and gravel (via wheel barrel) up a 'killer' hill to unload at the school site where Aubrey's hospital friends donated funds for a swing set. Tuesday afternoon, I have 4 men taking 42 buckets (5 gallon) about a quarter mile to the park site. Roger arrives Friday and will mark where the footings will be dug the following morning. That Saturday, we dig the holes and pour the concrete for the footings. Two weeks later, I have men lined up to help unload the truck with the tremendous amount of lumber. The next day, March 5, is the actual construction. I have ladies preparing lunches for the crews on both Saturdays. This is really finally happening and all thanks to you and your kind support of this worthwhile project!!

But I'd like to share a little side story... A year ago, January 21, 2010, we had a meeting to discuss plans for the playground that included the Village Chairman (like a mayor), the Alcalde (like a judge) and other interested villagers. Everyone was in favor of the idea of a playground for the children. But when we discussed the labor involved, the Village Chairman spoke up as the representative of the men in the village and said that the men would not help unless they were paid for their work. You might be feeling right now how I did last year?? I remember thinking, 'my goodness, here is a project being donated by philanthropic people from various parts of the world. It has been designed for them at no cost and all the materials and tools are being paid for by the donors. The very least they could do would be the minimal labor??? To say the least, I was a bit disheartened. There was one lone man, his name is Felix, that stood up and said that he would volunteer to help build. This was for their children and he wanted to be a part. But Felix stood all alone.

I decided to forge ahead with the project anyway and hoped that time would change attitudes. Well, it changed mine. After living in the village for well over 16 months, I have come to understand their reality. These people aren't poor as they have food and a home (that they grow and build). But they have little or no money because there are no paychecks. So back home, we would consider them poor. But every year when school starts, there is a registration fee of $300 per child plus books. Older children (ages 16-25) leave the village and search the country for a job and when they work, they give every penny possible back to the family so other siblings can attend school. It's an ongoing strife. So now, it's easier for me to understand when there is a project that comes to the village, it is often viewed more as an opportunity for income versus the potential good that the project might offer.

I think I have had a shift in my attitude and have become more understanding of their struggles. They, on the other hand, have witnessed in me this concept of volunteerism. If you recall in the blog, 'The Other Side of Peace Corps' I introduced you to a young man in the village, Mauricio. We had worked together on several projects and he was always so willing to help out. Hopefully, adulthood won't ruin that 'sense' for him when he has a family of his own and carries his family's financial burden. But maybe that's the hard core reality of their difficult existence...I'm not sure. What I DO know is that I've gone from house to house this week soliciting help for this playground and the attitudes have amazingly changed from one year ago. Of course, the ones I have gone to are ones that I have established a rapport, perhaps even a friendship. But not only are they willing, they are excited about working to make this playground a reality for their children and not ONE has asked to be paid.

So which is the major success story?? The construction of the playground or a change in their sense of community?

If I have accomplished nothing else, this paradigm shift in attitude gives me a glimmer of hope for a subtle, but very positive, change.

God bless us all...love, tracy