HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOBBY!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful son! I love you and miss you so much! I hope you had a wonderful day today. You are the most wonderful son any mom could hope for!

Well, Thanksgiving has come and gone. Thanksgiving isn't celebrated by Belizeans but all the Peace Corps volunteers gathered together on the Wednesday before. It was a wonderful dinner but have to admit that I had some trouble on that day missing Ashley, Bobby, and Aubrey and of course the nieces that usually get together for Thanksgiving. It just wasn't the same. I miss you.

I will be going back to San Miguel tomorrow and move into my 'cursed' house. So, if you don't hear from me for awhile you might want to call the Peace Corps office to make sure I'm still alive. Of course, we joke but if you could get the 'FEEL' of the Mayan K'ekchi people this is no joke. This past week was spent trying to get things ready. I had to dig a hole for the latrine so Aubrey will have a place to 'go' when she gets here. Then I put in two walls for a shower and ran pvc piping inside so I can have an inside shower It's actually one of the nicest homes in the village but no one would live there...except me!

With the house near readiness, I will be able to dive head first in a number of projects within San Miguel. I had anticipated that my Peace Corps experience would be projects involving hard labor (which I'm always up for). Instead, there are three major goals of Peace Corps. The first is to go to countries that want us there with help in training, technology, health issues,etc. The second and third goal involve the exchange of cultures--both directions. Now I'm supposed to assess what it is that my village wants...NOT what I want to do FOR them. So obviously, there are still questions in my mind where to begin. One thing that I notice is that there is no recreation in the village. The K'ekchi are such hard working and disciplined people with little or no time for anything else. They are staunch in maintaining their culture that they fear is slipping away. Of course there is the disappearance of the ancient Mayan civilization so they are desperately clutching to retain their heritage. I have heard that there are only 7000 K'ekchi people on the planet...most in Belize and some that are still in Guatemala. So you can imagine their trepidation about their youth becoming more 'worldly' aware. They fear the youth will marry outside their ethnicity and the inevitable disappearance of the their ancestry. Personally, I think this is happening right now. It's sad. They are such proud people. So...I wandered completely away from my train of thought (me????) but my point is I wish they had some form of recreation in San Miguel...a playground, a basketball court, a swing, a park bench---ANYTHING that doesn't involve work or school. Perhaps my first project...???

I miss you all. And, God bless us all...love, tracy

Roger visits San Miguel

I have several blog ideas but none have totally materialized to put in print. One of my fellow PCV visited my host family in San Miguel this last weekend and he published his blog on commonsense.typepad.com Roger is a wonderful writer hence paints a vivid picture of some of what I'm doing at present so I happily refer you to his most recent blog--'San Miguel'.

Hope you enjoy. God bless us all, tracy

Jupiter aligns with Mars!

Many nights I have laid in my thatched hut wondering exactly what my purpose here is supposed to be. I received a little taste. Let me tell you a story:

Monday morning, I get a text from my friend (PCV) Erica that there is a medical/dental team in Punta Gorda. They( group known as 'Healing the Children') were discouraged because they had flown here from the U.S. with pretty much a complete operating room setup to do cleft palate surgery but the liaison here had dropped the ball and they had no patients. I get the text from Erica as I am walking the 5 mile trek (hilly, gravel road) to my village of San Miguel. Finally ONE truck comes by and I flag him down for a lift. Turns out he has a son with a cleft palate. Anthony has the surgery the next day. I email all the other volunteers to see if anyone knows of others and that this group is willing to drive to pick them up or pay for their transportation. A volunteer near Belmopan knows of a 14 year old and he rides the bus down on Wednesday with Emily and has the surgery that afternoon. (Turns out the boy was 19--he wasn't sure)

In the meantime, I get to Punta Gorda Tuesday to meet the cosmetic surgeon, oral surgeon, and staff and convince them to come again and I will see that they have patients. One of the nurses was downstairs treating a child with an acute infection--simple antibiotics and tylenol. She asked me to do the translation to the mother as far as the medication goes and I was able. Amazing! The nurse also mentioned that this wasn't really within her auspice but she could see the 'need' (as I did) and I assured her that rules lose their grip when you cross borders. I have already seen children die from innocuous maladies. The child may have been lost had the nurse NOT intervened. It's enough to break ALL your hearts.

So there are a group of dentists coming to a nearby village in February and I volunteered to do the 'screenings' to give them a (very) rough idea of what will be needed.

So it's a start in the right direction...it's good to follow the signs sometimes!

God bless us all, tracy

New address, thank you's, updates, and Marcelino's scholarship fund!

Thank you for all the packages, cards, and emails rec'd around my birthday--I sure am a lucky person! Some of you wanted to know if YOURS arrived so to break it down: 4 from Joann, and others from Iris, Sue Beale, Janet, Susan Dent, Jean, Cynthia, Aubrey, and my brother, Skip. All loaded with goodies for my new Belizean friends and me! Two super cards from the gals at Dr. Nicholson's office (still can't bring myself to think of it as Dr. Lein's) and the greatest (well, at least the one with the biggest hearts!) Garden's tennis team rounded out my wonderful day. Thank you, thank you.

Several of you have asked how to contribute to Marcelino's scholarship fund. I have an account back home with Bank of America that is currently inactive (obviously!) So if the spirit moves you, go to any B of A and deposit your contribution into acc't #001443299545 (Tracy Hodson). Then drop an email to my wonderful daughter (and tax attorney!) Ashley @ Ash1140@aol.com and let her know your name and the amount. She will let me know where we are at toward our goal. If there is any leftover, I know you will trust me to find another needy candidate (there are so many) I feel all I ever do is thank you--for moral support mostly. My faith in our world has increased ten-fold! Thanks

I heard one of the volunteers comparing the bond we have formed surviving training to that of our young men and women enduring boot camp. It was intense, probably more for me than most, because of my 'special needs' status! (Eyes, ears, pee brain) But now the service begins and I'm excited at the possibilities. Today I came into town (Punta Gorda) and spoke with the Public Works minister and was able to move up plans for the speed bump from April to this December. I know that doesn't sound like much but it was #1 on the village council chairman's agenda. Brick by brick... San Miguel will be happy when we get that bump so school children will be much safer! Most of this month will be trying to get the 'house' that I will be living in, ready. First and foremost is that I need to build a latrine! Just getting the lumber to San Miguel will be a feat! Speaking of latrines (and yes, I still get excited when I see a toilet), I have come to see some advantages over toilets...your hand NEVER gets wet while wiping and you never notice an odor after you're done bc it always smells the same! Gotta look at the bright side!?!

Now the 40 of us are scattered about the country. Those that are in the business/organization, education, or youth development sectors are scattered primarily in the urban areas (with some exceptions). Our 'healthy communities' sector are pretty much planted in the rainforest very rural portion of Belize in individual villages. You may recall that I wasn't too pleased with my village assignment. Well, I like it very much now and I think I have my host family to thank! I move out from them into my 'own' place on Nov. 23 (Happy BD J and J!) One more housing adjustment and then maybe I'll be settled...???

My new address is: Tracy Hodson PCV, General Delivery, Punta Gorda, Belize. In the bottom left corner write: San Miguel. If any of you have mailed something to Belmopan, they will forward it or someone from the Peace Corps Office will bring it down once a month. If sent here to Punta Gorda, I just have to come into town periodically to check or sometimes when they see someone from our village that they recognize from San Miguel they will ask him to bring it back to the village. (A LITTLE different than back home, huh?)

Thanks again for all the support. I love you all so much!

God bless us all...tracy

I am so grateful for my friends!

I have got to be the luckiest person on the planet to have the greatest and most compassionate friends! Tomorrow is my birthday and I have the greatest gift of all having you as my friends. Tomorrow gives me great cause to reflect as we do on most holidays/milestones...

Reflect on what is important and that is why I'm here. Reflect on Ashley, Bobby, and Aubrey that gave their blessing and allowed me to be here to do something that I've felt compelled to do since I was 7. Reflect on the wonderful friends I have that makes me cry at this internet cafe writing to you now. When I came into the Peace Corps office on Friday, there were 12 packages waiting for me. A lot of the volunteers get a package or two from their mom or dad back home. But I received 12!!! I am so proud to have friends that take time out of their busy days to purchase items and send them on their merry way to be merrily received! Thank you all for the outpouring of love and kindness. I have also heard from those that want to help with Marcelino's education. I will try to figure out the best way for you to contribute. I'll have to hand deliver as there are no roads, addresses, etc. let alone a post office. I'll keep you posted.

Thursday is a big day for all the volunteers. Having completed our training which has been intense, we will officially be sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers at the Embassy. It is a semi-formal affair that takes up pretty much the entire day. I'm excited at the possibilities because finally the service that I have wanted to do all my life will become a reality. I hope and pray that I will do a good job. The only thing I know for sure is that my heart is into it 100%.

It's hard to be away from you. It's hard to leave the comforts of home. It's really hard to miss my children. And yet I feel more committed than ever. I can truly say that whenever I have had a weak or desperate moment, I would hear from one of you and then I felt peace. You have been a huge help. You are all PC volunteers helping me forge ahead. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Goodnight and God bless us all...tracy

Back to Belmopan for Swearing-In!

Other than athlete's foot, a minor cold, diaarhea (I guess it's just how I'm going to 'go') and a snake in my room this morning, life is good in San Miguel. We're in the mountains in the rainforest so it's picturesque and muddy! I was getting tired of the rats keeping me awake in Armenia.

My host family is amazing. You would never sense that I live with six children. Everyone quietly goes about their chores and homework without a word from mom and dad. They wash the clothes and the dishes in the river (about a 200yd. walk), wash the pigs, catch and then clean the chicken for dinner, split the firewood for the firehut, hull the corn, and sweep the house (to name a few). They are always caring of the younger siblings and I've yet to hear a cross word in 12 days! The Maya culture is rich in tradition (AND superstition!) More on that at a later blog...

Saturday, we awoke at 4:30am to eat breakfast and then walk for an hour on a hilly gravel road up to their farm. After going through the 'bush', we came to a clearing with their corn field. We all took a section and pulled corn off the stalk and then threw it to a clearing 10-30 yds. away. Sure could have used Jeff's arm for this task. By mid-day we had finished and bagged all the corn. Fortunately, Sebastion has an uncle with a truck and he came to pick up the corn. We all walked wearily home (now it took us at least an hour and a half!!) I ached all over that night!

It's only been 12 days but I foresee some interesting projects where I might be able to help. Some of what I will be doing is formally requesting grant money for these projects through various organizations. (Wish I had Sue Brown's or Carol Pahl's writing skills!!)

I officially become a Peace Corps Volunteer on Oct 22 when we will be sworn in at the Embassy. For me, it's a relief as training has been arduous. Aubrey has received special permission from the Country Director to visit over Christmas (We're not supposed to have visitors until after the 22nd of January).

I have received 5 packages from Sue Brown, Kim C., Betty, Bobby, and Katrin. I can't thank you enough for your generosity. The people here are rich in spirit but poor in possessions. Seventy nine percent of the Toledo District falls below the UNDP (United Nations) poverty guidelines. There are tremendous opportunities to help--I believe I'm in the right place at the right time. Just miss all of YOU!

I'll be in the Peace Corps office on Monday and I'm sure from what I've heard that there will be more goodies from you! Thanking you in advance...

God bless us all...tracy

Life in San Miguel!

Arrived in the village of San Miguel (Toledo District) Belize on Monday evening after a day with our counterparts at a workshop in Punta Gorda. It is a beautiful village of 560 people with 182 students attending the village Roman Catholic Primary School. My host family is absolutely amazing--my host dad is Sebastian (40), my host mom is Juvena (36), host sisters are Renita (18), Luisa (16), Brenda (14), Ellena (11), Felicita (8) and Yadira (almost 2-Nov. 21). I have one adorable host brother and that is Phileon (5). I feel like Maria in the Sound of Music! (Especially with my 'sister' Luisa who is like Lisel who tries desperately to skip out to see her beau!) They are the kindest people helping me with my K'ekchi (especially Felicita who will not let me mispronounce anything!) She's a tough teacher but will help me in a huge way! Sebastian leaves home at 6am each morning and doesn't return until 9 or 10 pm. He told me he does this so all the children will have the opportunity of an education. The oldest sister, Renita, is a nursing student at the University of Belize in Belmopan! They are all so proud of her. I haven't met her yet but I'm sure that will happen sometime in the next two years!

I met with the Village Chairman (like a mayor) and the Alcalde (magistrate) the night I arrived. They feel the biggest concerns of the village is getting a 'speed bump' on the dirt road that runs through the village so the children and the pigs won't get hit. Also, they would like to see that any family without a latrine could build one. The principal is interested in me tutoring during and after school on occasion. Also, there are some special need students that really need extra help so I will be networking with another volunteer who is a special education teacher for advice. Now here is the funny one for those that know me--last night the president of the PTA came over after we were all asleep and wanted my help on an internet lab the community had set up two years ago and then dismantled when they had 'financial issues'. Imagine me helping with an internet lab when I barely can email!?! I just know that my kids are laughing reading this one!! Well, the nearest Peace Corps Volunteer is about 5 miles away in Silver Creek so one of the members of the PTA drove me in his truck to pick up Greg so that he could perform! My mom served him a magnificent lunch afterwards. Three hours later, we were up and running but the computer lab won't officially open for another two weeks or more. I'm taking this opportunity to use it now and write YOU! We officially toasted our success with two cokes and a sprite!

I forgot to tell you that we have 5 pigs (cuihe), 24 chicken (chilan), 2 dogs (tzee), 1 cat (mis), 3 ducks (until last night when we had one for dinner!)--pats, and one rooster(tzou).

Until I write again, God bless us all, especially my new host family! tracy