This was written for Friday's entry

So guess what? (“What, Haley?”)

I was told by two teachers who work at the school I am teaching at that there would be no school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. I started to panic, but then one of our host mothers suggested I go teach at St. Benedict’s with Miss Olive (the principal AND teacher of the school). So I got up early, thinking I was going to observe her 4^th/5^th grade class. I ride in a taxi with the most interesting cab driver (Allan—has three kids. Two are in New York, one lives in PG with him and participated in the Special Olympics in Beijing, China—met Jackie Chan and Arnold Schwarzeneggar—Talk about an interesting guy!)

Anyway—fast forward: I take a cab, I get out, I get into this small classroom full of students, and I am greeted by Miss Olive:

Miss Olive: “Welcome to St. Benedict’s Catholic School! I have a meeting that I need to be at in ten minutes. Here is the schedule for the day, here are the worksheets they will have to do, and Miss SO-and-SO will be in the class across from you if you need help. Any questions?”

Me: [Wide eyes, choking back nervous vomit, queasy smile]

So, that was my first day in a Belize classroom, and boy oh boy, it was interesting! We did a lot of worksheets she had prepared, and the students will always address you by saying, “Yes, Miss,” “No, Miss,” “Okay, Miss.” They are dedicated to their schoolwork, and they ask a lot of questions! I liked it a lot, even if it was a little overwhelming, I thought to myself, “Well, as long as nobody dies, I think today will be okay!” Eek!

Thursday’s classes were cancelled for the Elementary students due to teacher meetings, and the teachers at my school (San Luis Rey) said I did not need tome to the meeting. The past three mornings I have awoken at 5:45am, walked to the pier with some of gals here, and have gone swimming. I feel so awake here compared to Duluth (it could possibly have to do with the weather. Wink!) After breakfast yesterday, Beth and I walked around town, we got some ice cream, we tanned at the pier, and we finally got some decked out bikes thanks to our new pal, Levels. He takes us running every day at 5pm with a little group of us ladies.

I love that everyone here has a smile on their face and a story to tell. I meet at least one new person a day and hear about their life in Punta Gorda. I also ask every person I’ve met here, “Where is your favorite place to go in Belize?” All of them have said, “I love this place the best.” A group of girls I met two nights ago said, “Our favorite place is to sit here on the street right here with each other.” I like that. J

Elena (my host mom) continues to amaze me with her cooking abilities. She was also featured in a cooking magazine, which includes a picture of her cooking a meal a detailed critic on her recipe. She is seriously one of the most amazing people I have been fortunate to meet.

I find it hard to make phone calls here because I have to buy a special calling card, and last night I spent $10 American to talk to Andy on the phone for about twenty minutes. Mom, if you get this, I will call you soon, but it will be on the home phone, okay? It’s also difficult to get internet here. Today the signals were really weak due to the aftermath of the hurricane hitting other cities in Belize and affecting the power lines. I am sorry if I do not respond speedily to facebook or email messages. And for those of you who were wanting my address, I will try to facebook that to you tomorrow when I am doing my homework after school.

I am still sweating buckets and getting little sunburns here and there. I look like Rudolph with my big red gringa nose.

Today I also judged a Halloween contest at St. Benedict’s school.

____

Halloween contest was awesome. The winner was a boy dressed up as a woman, with balloon boobies and a big balloon booty, a wig, and a tight black dress with heels! I couldn't stop cracking up! On a sad note, someone stole the school's printer. They broke into the school and took only the printer, and now the school is worried about how they are going to get another one. They run for about $2,000 Belize dollars.

Doodle doot doodle doot (Wayne's World time passing forward)

Okay: Updates:

Saturday: Went out to Placencia. Google it! gorgeous water, beaches, palm trees, just amazing! Layed out on beach, swam in the Carib, and then went to a Halloween Costume party at a bar there called The Barefoot--SO MUCH FUN! There were three people there dressed as Avatars! I screamed when I saw them! It was so cool! Our group just had a blast dancing! The next day we were supposed to go snorkeling, but that didn't work out because the company's boat wouldn't start and we were running out of time.

Today was my first official day at my school. My bus ride is 1 1/2 hours long, and I ride with my new pal, Yukiko (Yuki). She's a Japanese Peacecorp worker and she is the computer teacher in the village. She's so cute and funny. Today she asked me, "Haley, how do I respond when someone says 'What up?' to me?" She cracks me up. So we practiced ways she could respond to "What's up?" She said she wants to try using the phrase. She's letting me use her Internet right now, and I think I'm waring my welcome, but some of the internet sites here block facebook and blogs because they are social tool and not a learning tool.

The kids in the village are so cute and funny. They follow me like sheep and are always holding my hand or tugging on my skirt. I am going to start an after school book club. Trouble is this: there are three amazing things Belize is missing--books, movies, and guitars (my essentials!) So I'm hunting for books and other random supplies.

I'm always happy to be here, and I only get sad during my down time because it's then that I think about my family, Andy, my friends, and my kids at Lincoln Elementary.

I'll do my best to keep updating. I usually write a little blurb on Microsoft Word and then copy/paste it into my blog, so if my tenses are off, I apologize.

And I'll give you my address as soon as I write it down and put it to memory!

Love you:)