It's uncharacteristically cold for Belize. I slept in a sweatshirt, pants and socks and under two blankets last night. It has rained a lot these last few days as the temperatures plummeted. I'd say a forty degree drop is substantial especially since these last four months have been so incredibly HOT... It must be VERY cold back home.
With Christmas only three days away, I am imagining what you all have been going through...the preparation, the shopping, the traffic, the crowded stores and malls and the PRESSURE we feel to buy more than what we should. I know...I did it every year since Ashley was born over 29 years ago...And once Bob was gone, I tried to double up and make up for the fact that there was no dad...
As you might imagine, this year is very different...few lights, no Christmas trees, no shopping, and little music. But the gifts I've received have been so heartfelt and meaningful...
Since coming to Belize, I've reconnected (via email) with a friend from junior high school. David was afflicted with polio (born a few months before the vaccine was discovered in 1953). David and I were great friends--I remember visiting him many afternoons after school while he was recovering from back surgery and in a full body cast lying in a horizontal supine position for months on end. When he graduated with us from Bowie High School in 1971, there was a standing ovation and not a dry eye in the auditorium. David wasn't expected to live to see graduation. Many years have passed and I assumed he was gone and was glad that we all lost touch so I didn't have to hear about it. But David is alive and making a difference in other handicapped peoples' lives. He had a stroke 10 years ago and has been in a nursing facility but still has that HUGE heart to try to help others. He even remembers me talking about the Peace Corps WAY back in high school! What a gift for me to find David again!
Another gift has been that YOU have been actively participating in my Peace Corps adventure. Your caring about me has kept me going when times were trying or when I was feeling alone. As I told Cynthia, you are all Peace Corps volunteers. Thank you so much.
I have been blessed by hearing from my wonderful nieces...beautiful notes, encouraging words, and touching sentiments. I'm grateful for this opportunity to discover their depth and beauty.
I received an incredible package from Ashley, Bobby, Nicole, and Aubrey. They replaced the camera that had been broken and added a myriad of other niceties and necessities. But the best part was Ashley's phone call where she could hardly contain her excitement about being able (after 22 years of school) to buy presents. It was crystal clear that she was experiencing the true joy of giving.
My children are all going to try to get here at least once over the 27 month period. Last night as I slept in my sweatshirt and blankets, I also cuddled around my darling, Aubrey and we shivered together and laughed. WHAT A GIFT!!!
These are my moments of Christmas, 2009. This Peace Corps life is beautifully simple. No glitz, no parties, no presents. The only gift I have for you is this simple advice...seek out what is important in life and the treasure it.
For me, it is the knowledge that many years ago, a little baby boy was born in a manger. Allelujah!!!! And having you as my family and friends!
God DOES bless us all...tracy
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Perspectives-K'ekchi Style!
Everyone in the family knows when someone's birthday is coming. But when Yadira turned two on Nov 21, there were no songs, no cake, no presents, not even a 'Happy Birthday, Yadira' wish (except from me) We just knew that on that day, she was two!
Christmas is right around the corner. Sometimes I hear a radio playing a Christmas song, usually reggae. Again, there will be no presents! What there is however, is the singing in the two local churches that can be heard from anywhere in the village. (One Catholic and a House of Prayer) Services have picked up from three times a week to every night in anticipation of the birth of Christ! Last night, they were still going strong until 2:30 am! (The regular service lasts for over 2 1/2 hours!)
Feet
I wear rubber soled shoes everywhere but my feet always seem dirty. I feel the sharp rocks on the road poke through the soles of my shoes. My host mom, Juvena, walks these roads in excess of 3 miles to our farm BAREFOOT like a speed walker! The soles of her feet always look clean and I KNOW they're tough!
Projects--Plan ahead!
Make sure you have everything you need BEFORE starting a project. If you forgot something, it's an hour bus ride into town at only certain times of the day. But I'm lucky in San Miguel! My PC friends, Sam and Stephen only have bus service two times a WEEK and it leaves their village at 3 am and takes over two hours!
DOGS
Dogs are tools. You know how we might bang a wrench on a workbench when it's stuck? Dogs are kicked when they don't do exactly what the owner wants. They never see a vet, all look underfed (probably have parasites), never are allowed inside, females are in a constant state of pregnancy, and generally, look either sad or vicious! They are utilized as watchdogs and hunting dogs. The two dogs at my host family's house--Bones and Bingo--look better than most. But, yes, even the 2 yr. old kicks them. So when I started doling out affection to these dogs, they lapped it up (and the family called me "crazy Tracy"!) Every time I would come home, they would run and jump on me to greet me. (Totally unacceptable behavior here though, warranting a lashing or kicking!) I went over to my host family's house this past Tuesday and the dogs were SOOO happy to see me! The family told me that when I moved out of the nest, that Bones and Bingo did not eat a morsel for over two days. I've decided that dogs, in general, are truly moral. They ALWAYS want to please and do the right thing and NEVER mean any harm...even the dogs in Belize despite their cruel treatment.
Hard Days Work
I used to consider a full work week was 40 or so hours. The men in San Miguel leave on their bikes for their farm or their construction job at 4:30 or 5 am. Sebastian (host dad) returns at night around 10 pm. I'll do the math--17hrs/day 6 days/wk--102+ hours a week! Occasionally they work on Sundays, too!
Integrity
Speaking of morals, I think dogs have way more integrity than K'ekchi children. I won't condone it but I do understand it!
Recently, while teaching dental health in the roman catholic primary school, I was passing out balloons for each correct answer on the review. After the review, I asked for a show of hands from the ones that didn't get a balloon so I could give them all one. Half of the balloon winners said they didn't get one. Even when challenged by me and their peers, these kids looked me in the eyes and lied! These children are great children and are taught honesty and integrity everyday in their church lessons. Why lie? Maybe it goes back to the first paragraph of this blog being the havenots. It's too much temptation when you want THINGS especially when you have NO THING (s)??? Still, no excuse!
Privacy
It is common practice to keep doors open during the day in the village. In fact, it would be considered rude to close them other than when you're not home. So children wander in and out and like to pick up and handle everything I have--books, journals, pens, water bottles--it's just what they do. Even at my host family's home, my host sisters would come in my room and pick up my journal or my cell phone and read my notes or my messages.
Recycling
The K'ekchi are innovative when it comes to re-using items. Plastic bags are "gold" here and come in handy for a myriad of uses. When I forgot to buy teflon tape for the seal of my PVC faucet, my neighbor just tore off a piece of plastic and voile!--it sealed the threads! String and rope are useful items too...and used over and over. When I came home from Punta Gorda with 2 gallons of paint (to seal my dusty concrete floor) seven village women individually asked me if they could have the gallon bucket when I was done. I could only oblige two! I would be the most popular lady in the village if I painted the whole house using LOTS of buckets! Apparently, they make good containers for carrying 'masa' from the corn mills. So when you're using string, plastic bags, rope, or containers--think about how lucky these people think you are!!!
Just some insights into the K'ekchi...
God bless the people of San Miguel and us all...tracy
Friday, November 27, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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
Hope you enjoy. God bless us all, tracy
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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
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
Monday, October 26, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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
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
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