Hurricane in the House...Storms and 'Jump Ups'

Happy 3 years!

Who gets two more nights with AC and TV??? WE DO!!!

Tropical Storm Matthew (an anniversary present?):

We started our 3 year wedding anniversary a day early with our village's Independence Day parade, performances, and 'jump up' or dance. The next morning we packed up, texted the duty officer that we were heading out and began the trek to Placencia. When we arrived we received a call, from our zone warden, letting us know about TS Matthew and to be prepared to go on 'Alert.' Being in the bush we had no idea there was even a storm out there. We called and made sure it was okay if we at least stayed the night and then had a great evening of good food, and swimming under dark skies in the surprisingly warm carib sea. We paid 10 extra dollars for a TV and AC and had ourselves a great little vacation. Early the next morning we went from 'Standfast' to 'Consolidation' where we were told to go town because our official hurricane shelter at the capital was blocked by a flooded bridge.

Tropical storm flag in Placencia

We asked what if no buses pass due to the bridge, official answer...hitch. We made it to the hotel where we all milled around, gathered around for Peace Corps conference calls on speaker phone and watched the weather channel. Ofelia kept me posted on what was going on in the village and we were ready for the worst of it to hit Saturday with projected winds of 45 miles per hour. I was so nervous about ours and everyones houses in the village! Luckily the hour of impact came and went with only rain and some gusts of wind...the storm had died down and sped up so it just breezed past us! We cut hair, painted pictures, and watched Made marathons and did some catching up. Us villagers haven't had quality time together in a while and it was really really nice. When we got back there was only a little flooding and no damage to any ones' homes.

On a related note here are some students responses to a reading test question:

'What does the word 'flooded' mean?

-all rain around
-deep river
-the rain drop and the water come
-water start to pour
-splash
-puddles
-water is coming up
-when bottles come by
-water everywhere

Malaria Mondays:
Monday is malaria pill day. Possible side effects: hair loss, sensitivity to sun, upset stomach, blindness, and vivid dreams. Today we will delve into a few case studies of the latter side effect.

Case 1:
Kaylyssa and I are shopping in a huge warehouse (like what I imagine the Wal-mart outlet store would look like, poorly lit with Sam’s club height shelves). The first thing she wants is a green poka dotted change purse with a broken clip and some cheap school supplies inside. I look at the price tag…8,000 yen or 386 Belize. Frustrated I leave her to try to find a round claw hair clip that everyone uses here and pumice stone. I search up and down the aisles of bathroom throw rugs (laughing at the mental image of my turquoise shag throw rug in front of my cement latrine seat). I eventually give up and decide I need cool American clothes. Everything’s hideous; red riding pants with brown socks, boots with toes that curl up and around like elf shoes. I settle…a coat. I grab one quickly, a man is watching so I don’t want to linger. I shove my arms through and turn around with my arms sticking out to look at my poorly lit reflection on the 20 foot tall rough cut mirror hung from the rafters. It is a red coat with a big collar and 6 arm sleeves. I think to myself that I look like a spider, and besides, the other 4 arms are too small to get an arm in… –wake-

Steve getting his first 'trim'

Greg's tech station...fixing villagers computers

Case 2:
Greg and I are staying in Belmopan at the Wrights (the family I used to nanny for, who do not live in Belize). I want to drive home (I got excited in my dream that I could drive) but I have to go to the local Internet, restaurant, and outdoor washing center first. I walk through the restaurant/ Internet lounge to the back patio with spigots and washing rocks of varying heights. It is packed with cool kids, like the scene kids from the communist bar in Wilmington. It is lit with paper lanterns and feels like a party out of True Blood. I feel like I did at Pravda, an old lady in mom jeans and a sweater while everyone (male and female) wears tiny vests, skinny jeans, and asymmetrical haircuts. I find a small rock and start to wash my clothes. It is loud and people are joking and, I notice, not taking their washing seriously. I am almost finished and take my top off like at the creek but in horror I realize I don’t have my bathing suit on. No one notices so I pick up my wet clothes and throw on a moo moo shirt/dress to try to move to another rock in the back where no one will watch me. People start harassing me about where I learned to wash and I run out…leaving my wet clothes and run into Tink. I give a quick hug but I am stressed out so I keep pushing my way past Internet users and diners only to discover I’ve offended an older couple in the new group of PCV because I haven’t recognized them. And –wake-

The old host family and the newest member...Albert!

Case 3:
It is night time and we hear a rat. We flick on the flashlight and find the source of the noise…the manure pile that takes up a third of our house is moving at the bottom(we apparently think nothing of the pile of horse poo…I remember the feeling that this was a part of everyone’s house). Thinking it is a rat I throw a slipper at it. Much to our horror… not a rat but an Anna, our good friend Steve’s friend, shyly crawls out. She shamefully explains that since it has been so cold she was forced to sleep there for it was the only warmth in the world. /change scene/ I am with Jen and Blair and we are flitting between hotel rooms on a mission to find names. They are here in Belize with me and have not realized it as of yet. I somehow know for a fact both of them, at this very moment, are also back in the states and I have to make them realize this before something bad happens. Jen has a clip board and is jumping from bed to bed as I chase her around saying, “But you’re in Belize, I am Kevina.” Blair just lies there, indifferent or perhaps pondering the space time continuum she’s broken. –wake-

“Kim tao li xajonel xkeveen.” ‘Come, let’s go dance kevina.’-Grislmina Independence in the Village:
Monday, the day before the 21st the party started…in my yard. Since the chairman is my host brother were killing and cooking the 3 pigs right in my backyard. I squeezed past preschoolers, changed and came back out to my beans and chi Chiron with tortillas. Then I helped to pat tortillas…it is starting to become known that I can do this well and there were only a few comments about how ‘chabil’ and neat my tortillas were. Swollen heads are easy to catch here, as you’ve probably noticed. Anyway after the baking was finished but before the poch making could begin a few ladies came inside my house to visit. Quickly more came in, I offered all the stools and hammocks I had and then the rest just stood, they walked around the house saying things like:
“So this is where you sleep”
“So this is your bike”
“so this is where you bake”
I broke out my two photo albums (the 4 framed pictures on our tiny refrigerator were drawing a ridiculous crowd). Everyone gathered around, I got handed one of the newest infants and I proceeded to explain each picture. They stared at each picture looking at the details in the background, they were shocked no one bathes or washes at the pond in my in-laws neighborhood. As Angelica is teasing me about how I have to stay since it looks like I found a baby, much to the delight and giggles of the women AMY WALKS IN!!!!! I jump up, baby in arms and run to her making awkward movements to hug her but obviously the infant is in the way. The women kind of stare at my odd behavior, they are an always calm and patient group unlike what I just exhibited for them. Amy caught a ride with my other host brother who teaches at her school!!


The school queen in the pick up truck ready to parade.

Amy tried her hand and making poch, Andres made fun of her and said it was because she didn't have a man that her poch was no good. I worked on the queens scepters and sashes with Angelica and Christy's mom. We were asked to watch the liquid lard (used to fry the pig skin) in our house because too many kids were in the yard and their house...so a pot that I could bathe in, filled with boiling hot lard was carefully nestled in the corner of our house. The men turned over the roasting pork on the 15 foot long impromptu grill. The village council was throwing this Independence day party to thank the villagers for all their help and support on the September 10th party and village queen selection. The thank you consisted of 3 slaughtered pigs (and the subsequent roast pork caldo, my favorite), free juice and goody bag (chips, gum and sweets) for every child in the village, and a case of rum for free rum punch for all the men. They also bought 10 cases of beer and sold it at a loss at just 2.50 per pint.

We began early so Amy and I went to wash and bathe at the creek (since our shower was taken over for washing dishes and surrounded by people minding the caldo. We were supposed to start at 9:00 but really we just started the decorating of the trucks. Finally everything was blue, white, and reded out (they say it in that order instead of red, white, and blue...fyi) and the ceremonies began. There were a few more dances and presentations by the village queens then all three contestants from the village and the one school queen were escorted onto stage by four little boys in their confirmation suits. They bowed and gently locked elbows to assist the girls up the steps of the stage. This was followed by a parade with all the children in their uniforms and parents and villagers marching with blasting music behind a truck caring the queens on chairs in the back. Down to the field and back across to the water tower. It was a little hectic over the bridge but I managed to keep myself and the preschoolers from falling through it this time.

We came back and Amy and I passed out snacks, Greg was put to work at the bar and was dancing around with the other two guys handing out free rum punch to eager hands. After everyone headed right over to my house to get their free roast pork caldo and poch/tortillas.
We snuck in the house and chatted and took a little nap with the village surrounding us on all 4 walls. Greg got a break and came over to eat...they gave away all the rum punch in only a few hours. Around 2:30 we finally made it over to dance (with much convincing from Amy). Everyone was peeping from the outside at the 4 or 5 people dancing inside.

Predance peeping

We saw Arcinio the young shopkeeper and called him over to dance with Amy and the 4 of us danced in a corner to punta as the village watched on. After a few dances we went outside and rejoined the ranks of peeping. Ofelia leaned over and said she "like to see the way you dance keveen." It was really fun, laughing with the ladies as the men let loose flying around the timid queens and they kept tempo with their hips to the ridiculously fast beat of punta. We took a break to get ideals and talked at the shop for a while and found Mrs. Cecilia had wanted to dance but no one would. So Amy, Greg and I headed over with the ladies and after a quick request for Qumbia (spanish?) music we went in to dance. Mrs. Cecilia and I danced 'together' twirling our skirts from side to side (the exact dance for the ketchi harp music) staring blankly at each other. Greg flitted around enjoying himself dancing next to my teacher Luis as Amy flew around the dance floor polka-ing with Morpheus. We also got asked to dance by one of the quiet preschool moms when the traditional harp music came on. The three of us danced swinging our skirts (pants) from side to side staring at each other. Amy and I would throw in a little twirl cross over every once in a while. Everyone was hooting and seemed to like our little performance with Grisilmina.

We had such a fun day at 4:30 (when the party died right as I predicted) my bet was foiled because a van fall of people (and the queen) from the neighboring village piled out and immediately brought the party puntaing with avengance. Finally by 7:00 all lights were out, all villagers asleep...an all day bash finished.

Mike and Anthony: Visitor Surveys

Mike and Anthony's Surveys

Name: Michael Broughton

1. Dates of Visit: July 6^th, 2010 through July 13^th, 2010

2. Itinerary: Seeing the sights and meeting the people along the highway from Cayo to Toledo.

3. Weather: 90’s with high humidity, thunderstorms most mornings and evenings.

4. Money spent: ~200.00 US

5. Souvenirs taken back: Marie Sharps Habanero Sauce and Mango Jam

6. Something that surprised you: The warmth and hospitality of the residents of Silver Creek.

7. Something you learned: Fear fire ants, always powder up before heading out for the day, and never forget that no matter what our cultural differences may be, we share more things in common than you might realize.

8. Something you wish was in America: Shilling bags, Marie Sharps, my own personal tortilla maker.

9. Favorite part: Three way tie between Xunantunich, Placencia, and snorkeling the Cayes off of PG.

10. Hardest part: Has anyone answered this any way other than “leaving”?

11. Funny story: Anthony awkwardly trying to find a seat in the back of an already crowded pickup truck in the darkness only to sit squarely on a small chicken. Apparently it happens all the time; nobody seemed remotely concerned

other than Anthony.

12. Celebrity spotting: MAYAN SEAN PENN! *Mr. Chub the Alcalde of the village*

13. Other Peace Corps Volunteers you met: Most of them I think…and they were all awesome. *8 out of 102*

14. Illnesses or injuries: Other than a swollen foot from ant bites, I came out relatively unscathed.

15. Thoughts on your visit: I can’t wait to go back next year.

16. Advice to the next visitor: Pack light, keep an open mind, bring baby powder.

Visitor Survey

Name: Anthony Casaletto

. 1. Dates of Visit: July 6^th – July 13th

2. Itinerary: July 6^th - Belikin Brewery Tour and Belize Zoo

July 7^th – Xunantunich and San Ignacio

July 8^th - Silver Creek

July 9^th - Placencia

July 10^th - Fishing around the Barrier Reef

July 11^th - Silver Creek and visited with families in the village

July 12^th – Punta Gorda – Fishing and Snorkeling

July 13^th – Airport and then home

3. Weather: Some days were pretty hot and humid, but others weren't that bad. Once the sun would set, the temperature would cool off and a nice breeze would normally roll in.

4. Money spent: About $250.00

5. Souvenirs taken back: A little basket that was woven by one of the villagers in Silver Creek.

6. Something that surprised you: How tasty barracuda is. I've never had it before and the women in Silver Creek cooked the fish I caught one night and it was delicious!

7. Something you learned: How to cut an orange in half with a machete while it is being thrown at me.

8. Something you wish was in America: The friendliness of everyone.

9. Favorite part: Spending time with friends and family. Also fishing and Xunantunich.

10. Hardest part: Saying bye to everyone.

11. Funny Story: The night we arrived at Silver Creek, we started walking down the road to Greg and Kevina's. Greg and Kevina's friends pulled up in a truck and offered us a ride. We all jumped in to the back and sat down. Kevina introduced us while we drove down the road. At one point I looked down and asked what was making that noise. Kevina said that it was probably a chicken. “No, really?” I replied. I lifted my foot and a little boy reached down and picked up a tiny chicken that was apparently under my foot. The little boy looked at me like I was an idiot and I just smiled at him and looked away in embarrassment.

12. Celebrity spotting: Didn't see any.

13. Other Peace Corps Volunteers you met: Alicia, Ryan, Nate, Michelle, Dick, Laura, Mike, Erica

14. Illnesses or injuries: Just bug bites

15. Thoughts on your visit: I absolutely loved it. Everyone was very kind and welcoming. We always received smiles from all of the villagers in Silver Creek when we would walk by. The kids knew me by my first name, or fat jolum, and would always say hi to us. Fishing was awesome, and one time kind of scary. I wasn't sure if I was going to make it back alive. Also, the scenery was amazing, I loved walking around and just looking at everything.

16. Advice to the next visitor: Let Kevina Casaletto plan your itinerary. Also, let down your guard and have a wonderful time.

Bra Li, Steve and Mike Come to Belize

DAY ONE: We welcomed the boys from the viewing deck at the runway with my mummy. We took some pictures and then said our farewells to mummy. Off to the Belikin Brewery. It was a mere $30 BZE for a tour and then 45 minutes of all you can drink...including soda! Katie and
Adam joined us and we had a great time catching up. Steve also handed out gifts of fun dip and pack towels. The best part of the tour was the bottling line. It was like Mr. Rogers for big kids! While hanging out in the bar, we had all to ourselves, we decided to make a stop at the zoo before heading to the final destination of the day...Benque Viejo. We took the boys on their first ever bus ride, on an express.

Only to find out that Expresses up north go straight to Belmopan with out stopping so the driver took a chance and let us off. We had to stand up and wait while the bus was speeding along and then jump off while the bus was still rolling. Oh Belize. As soon as we got off we were bombarded by swarms of super mosquitoes. They laughed at our bug spray and followed us in swarms on our walk to the entrance. Once inside we promptly held snakes and then bee lined to JR. the jaguar. He did some tricks for us and mainly looked like "one cool cat" to quote Sam. We had to keep moving or the mosquitoes would begin their slaughter. They got to feed the tapir and hear the howler monkeys go off. We also had a good time watching the spider monkeys. We practically had the whole zoo to
ourselves too. We walked back out to the highway to wait for
another bus to Benque Viejo. We got there around 7 or 8 and as the bus stopped the taxi drivers started yelling and fluttering around the windows like bees on honey. We walked off into the feeding frenzy and after about 20 minutes, some kriol negotiation we managed to get a ride to Emily's house. Greg and I had only been to Benque once before during training and I was amazed at the different look and feel of the town. The main language is Spanish and it has buildings and a street layout of a real
hopping town or city. Lights sprinkled the valley and there were
huge luxurious houses along our walk to Rodger's. We settled in for the night. The boys took their first (and much welcomed) cold showers and we were out.
DAY TWO: We woke up early (they were 2 hours ahead, and we...well we're on village time) so we headed over to Emily's work, The
House of Culture and got a little tour. There was an art exhibit oh display; 29 years, 29 artists and we toured their museum which was the former jail. Greg and Anthony also got to dabble on
the marimba...like a big wooden xylophone. Off to Xunantunich!
Mike, Steve and Anthony were good luck for Iguanas because we saw around 10 medium sized ones and one HUGE one! I'd never seen so many. We came over on the ferry with a football team and other than them we had the place pretty much to ourselves. We ate our lunch of bus station chicken sandwiches and water on the top of the main temple looking out at Guatemala. It was very warm and we drank so much water. Steve found a hacky sack that said BECZE on it, the lady quietly took it away
after he showed us. Anthony cut open his water bottle to give a
dog and we left happy. After a delicious lunch in San Ignacio (where Anthony bought a fan for himself) we were off to Belmpoan. We had some local food of panadas, salbutas, and burritos at a tiny shack. During our meal it started to downpour and we moved tables and found ourselves jumping and, okay so I screamed, because the lightning was INSANE! There were two cell phone towers in the field behind us and they just took turns getting


struck with ear splitting aftermath. Greg managed to hail a taxi and we booked it back to the bus station to wait for the express (AC and reclining seats) down to Silver Creek. Our express bus was the one with a TV and we watched a bootleg Beyonce concert for 2 hours.
Arrival in the Village:
We arrived at the Silver Creek junction at around 8:30 and began the walk into the jungle, Steve even donned his headlamp. We warned them to walk away from the tall bush (as to avoid
snakes) and we soon heard a vehicle. Greg said that we should
catch a ride, "what with some stranger!" was Anthony's response. But since we live in a village of 500 rarely is there a stranger. It was Luis one of my teachers and his family in the truck. We all climbed in (the truck was packed already). As we're settling in saying hello we start to hear a squawking sound. It
Seems to be coming from Anthony. I look at him and say, "Um...I
think you're sitting on a chicken." To what Anthony replies, "What?!" with marked concern and confusion in his face. He looks to Luis's son who just nods and then jumps up. The squawking stops as the boy picks up and cradles the small chicken. While we're in the truck Angelica asks

which one is Greg's brother. "Oh but he is fatter than Greg." It's
begun. The truck comes to a halt and as we're unloading villagers begin running out to see these new people we've brought. We have to reintroduce them several times and there is much giggling of the women (I later found out they all thought Anthony was handsome). Flashlights were flickering from face to face as they all stood in a line staring at these new 'saq eb' (white people).
The boys had quite an adjustment to the latrines and the chickens... I wouldn't say it
was a very restful first night. DAY THREE: The boys mainly napped and ate while I washed their clothes at the creek and then washed the latrine. Finally we went on a little village walk.
We didn't visit anyone because it was so close to lunch and they
would have to feed us (all 5 of us) so we went back to the house. Not two minutes after arriving a girl comes selling tamales for a dollar. Lunch! We nap a little more and play with the kids then head off to do some visiting. Each house we were served a large glass or bowl of coffee and one house even gave us fresh bread.
The three houses were perfect because they showed the spectrum
of culture. From a mix of traditional and modern at the first house to Super traditional at the last house; we were ushered to the kitchen to sit with the man of the house and the women served us but did not speak. We wanted to visit more but the boys weren't used to the amount of
liquid you have to consume so we cut it short. That night I baked 15 tortillas. Margarita was helping me pat tortillas as usual but then Mrs. Cecilia sent in Lynette too because she knows what it's like having to cook for so many boys with no daughters! We had lots of fun, Lynette was making fun of me because my dough was sticky! DAY FOUR:The next morning we woke up at 4:45 to walk in the dark rain to the junction. By 8:00 we'd taken a bus and a boat and had arrived in Placencia.

We had a breakfast of Belizean hot dogs ( mayo, onions, ketchup and mustard) and headed out to the beach. It was cloudy and covered in trash from the storms of late and I found quite a lot of treasures. We ate fried chicken for lunch and then went down the way and found a beautiful beach and an other PCV, Miguel who told Anthony about a man who does fishing tours. We made spaghetti

in our cabana with the rest of the calaloo we bought from Santiago's brother. We did have a tragic accident...Anthony's pictures thus far were erased. There was much reminiscing and morning. DAY FIVE: Anthony went out fishing at 5:45 and we had a lazy morning then walked around. We also got a papaya shake to see if Steve and Mike had the gene that makes it taste like vomit...they don't. The sky began to get dark and Anthony calls saying he's coming
in early. Greg goes off to meet him. Steve, Mike and myself go to
get some more of those tasty hot dogs. It starts to downpour and lightning. This old man starts to talk to me. Soon he is telling me about his 16 yr-old son who was beat to death by baseball bats last week.
Yup. What do you say to that? We said our condolences then ran in the

storm back to the cabanas. Greg and Anthony appeared with a pig
tail bucket filled with 32 barracuda steaks! We texted Fermin and told him we're bringing dinner tonight! All the Coh's came over and as I and the women baked, fried fish and also prepared lancha (spicy fish in waha leaves) the boys went off to collect coconuts. We had a really fun time with the whole Coh family.
The kids were climbing in the rafters, Morpheus was dancing for us and the ladies were all gossiping around the fire hearth. I found out that all the villagers were talking about how cute Anthony was and that they even knew a woman who was not married that would leave tomorrow with him!


DAY SIX:
We went in town to watch the world cup finals and then stopped back at Bill and Beth's to play some guitar and show off their awesome house.
We had a great last night in the village playing with all the kids. Margarita couldn't understand a word Anthony said. Sheldon loved


Steve. I think he called him Mike or Steven though. Everyone liked Anthony's facial hair and when they talked about him they would clarify which one by pinching their chin. DAY SEVEN: Our final day with everyone was quite interesting. Steve had a reaction to Dramamine and was vomiting all morning.

Then we came in the rain to town to try to go on our fishing/snorkeling trip. I forgot my bag with my bathing suit, Steve was still feeling kind of sick, and the weather wasn't looking great. We had a pretty wonderful day despite all that though. The snorkeling was great we saw many a strange fish and got to snorkel as long as we wanted. The clouds helped us not to get sizzled and Anthony caught a large stick and some fish too. I got sick, again, surprise and so the boys went out with a bunch of our Peace Corps friends for their final dinner before their 6:00 bus up north and back home:(

The Visitor Surveys will come soon...it was a great trip with great people. Thanks for visiting Anthony (Bra Li AKA Brother in Law in Kriol) and Mike!!!!! (Steve is staying for another week!)