School in Belize

The education system in Belize is a British model of education. Schools in Belize come in three levels which is primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary schooling for 8 years is the only mandatory education. Secondary schools include the classification of forms. Many religious congregations operate the primary schools and secondary schools have a high element of religion in their classroom. Primary education is free but related expenses such as uniforms, books and test fees are definitely a financial strain for most families and especially so for the poor ones.

TJ has attended Corozal Community College and this is his TJ's Blog entry...

School in Canada is substantially different then the schooling in Belize. Teachers have a unique approach on punishment towards the students. They are a lot harder on students in the discipline side of classes. They use "The Demerit System" and staying after school hours is often the punishment of choice. Classes are usually chaotic and, at times can be controlled but sometimes have absolutely no direction simply because students wont shut up and no one seems to use the "put up your hand" method to speak. All of the noise and confusion usually results in the progress of classes to slow down. My classmates at school were great to say the least! We would constantly fool around in and out class hours and everyone was friendly. Lunch hour usually meant sitting around the large fruit tree outside of class and eating lunch from the snack bar. The choice of food included everything from the classic, "Rice N beans" to Tamales and tacos. All in all Corozal Community College was an excellent cultural learning opportunity. I wouldn't like to attend CCC full time but it was definitely an experience i will never forget.

Lamanai

Set on the edge of the New River Lagoon, Lamanai is one of the largest Mayan sites in Belize. On Monday we booked a Jungle River Cruise out of Orange Walk to take us to the ruins. I felt intrigued as we drove past each village throughout the 45 minute journey. The similar sight in each location was masses of uniformed school children getting to school. Students doubled onto handle bars and as usual dogs roamed free amidst the activity. Vendors were preparing their roadside stalls for another day and every clapboard house seemed to have clothes on the line. Cars that seemed all too close to these activities sped past at extremely high speeds. Sugar cane workers were commuting in the back of empty flatbed trucks, though soon to be filled their harvest, with the wind whooshing in their faces. We were following a truck with passengers huddled in the back and I could not make out what the woman was holding in her arms. When we passed the vehicle, I saw that it was her baby that she had swaddled in a blanket while breastfeeding. We passed through towns with such names as Calcutta and San Pedro. The day was a little cooler to start off at 65 degrees which was the perfect temperature to start out before the day heated up.

Our guide Gilberto welcomed us into his small motor boat for the 2.5 hour trip that totally enthralled us. Captivating and adventurous, we loved every part of our journey, passing numerous crocodiles, colourful birds and turtles. My favourite was the Jesus Christ bird that can walk on water. The proper name is the Northern Jacana but it's the vegetation that holds the long toed bird above the water looking for edibles. Our guide stopped the boat when he saw two spider monkeys. Gilberto gave Andy a banana and instructed him to pass it to the monkey unpeeled. The monkey jumped into the boat for such an offer and proceeded to devour the fruit while staring us intently in the eye. After ingesting her meal, she was looking for more than an appetizer so she proceeded to try and lift the lid of the cooler. Before she exited the boat, she walked around the ledge of the boat peering into our eyes. The amount of laughter in the boat could not be stifled and perhaps could be heard from a distance. Entertainment at it's finest!

Andy seemed to have the knack of losing his hat in the wind. Twice Gilberto caught the wayward cap before it exited the boat. The third time he was unsuccessful but managed to turn back to allow Andy to retrieve it from the water. Our guide reminded him that the water was infested with crocs. Strangely enough that was the last time he accidentally lost his hat.

When we reached the ruins, we were treated to a meal of Mayan stewed chicken that was cooked on an open fire, potato salad, coleslaw and the National Dish of Belize.........."Rice and Beans". We ate in a palapa with the backdrop of the forested lagoon. Our guide directed us to the ruins to give us an extensive tour. It was believed to have served as an imperial port city at the height of its power. 728 buildings have been identified at the site but only five are available for visitors to view. Lamanai is believed to have been occupied from 1500 B.C. to the 19th century. At its peak, Lamanai was home to more than 55,000 Mayans. The temples that we saw were the Mask Temple, the High Temple which we climbed for a breathtaking view above the canopy of trees and over the river. The Ball Court held great ritual significance and we each had our turn to throw the rubber ball. You can hear howler monkeys echoing and we were lucky enough to actually look at them closeby. Our guide also pointed out to us a beautiful toucan

I had woke up that morning with a slight pain and wondered if I was having problems with something I had ingested. Just as we were cautiously climbing down the ruin in the blazing sun (while crossing our fingers), I knew that something was wrong. Luckily there are washrooms available in Lamanai unlike some other public areas. I found myself in a terrible predicament, which was not being able to leave the washroom when our guide wanted us to be ready at the dock. The boat ride back to Orange Walk was going to be only 90 minutes, as we had already done our exploring on the river, but the ride back was torturous especially for the fact that stopping was not a possibility because of the Morelet's Crocodiles that live in the river. I was a very grateful passenger by the time we reached shore and quickly ran into the hotel where we had docked. The adventure continued!

Oops! This blog was meant for the last batch of photos.

Things as usual have sped by the last week. Another trip to Mexico but this time with James and TJ. Andy generously offered to take the rickety three hour bus ride to Belize City so we could have the vehicle to drive to the boat dock. We overspent in Mexico and actually had to put back a few grocery items as we went over the remaining 1300 pesos we had. Nevertheless we had a good laugh and a great day!

We were delighted to welcome Bishop Cyrus Pitman from the Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador to join us for lunch on Monday of last week. He traveled with Canon Eric Richards, a long-serving priest in active retirement in our neighbouring parish of Orange Walk, and Stephen, who works in the Diocesan Office and helps with youth ministry. After a quick trip to the market, Andy harvested the bananas from the backyard so I could make a banana cake to serve with our meal.

Bishop Cy(rus) was visiting Belize for a week to enter into an agreement of companionship between the two dioceses that will encourage visits between clergy and lay people between these two very different parts of the world, and projects in ministry that they can share together. Andy met with the companion diocese committee in Belize City on Wednesday to observe how the partnership was being planned, and he came away impressed by the range of input and the goals they have in mind for helping out with parishes, schools, youth programs, and building projects, among other things. The January trip to Labrador should be quite an experience for some of the Belizeans who have not been to Canada before! He also noted for the committee that it is actually further to travel from BC to Nfld than it is to travel from Victoria to Belize.

James celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday. After Andy picked such a large cluster of bananas, I thought everyone would get sick of the same chocolate banana cake I make. I tweaked the recipe minus the cocoa and fried some fresh pineapple in Belizean honey for an upside down cake with figs, local bananas and dates......topped off with a hibiscus from our front yard. James travels to Belize City Thursdays on the bus to help at the Anglican Cathedral School and returns Friday night. We had picked up Mexican Rib Eye steak and Belizean veggies with a bottle of Mexican Merlot. James arrived home at 8 PM just on cue for his birthday dinner!

Guests and a Birthday

Bureaucracy and a Day in Mexico

We are breathing a sigh of relief after getting approved documentation to allow us to stay in Belize until our planned departure. Normally tourists are permitted a maximum stay of 30 days and a month extension will usually be granted. The extensions are handled on a case by case basis and cost $50 Belize per person. The staff at the Anglican Diocese in Belize City have been working on our behalf to obtain approval for us to stay the duration of our mission as volunteers and without paying fees every month. The rather lengthy process seemed to go on forever. The Immigration Office is just a three minute walk away from our house. The Officer who was working on our case, did not seem overly pleased that we were going to be getting away without paying our monthly dues. We had just met a Canadian woman who said that after six months, the monthly extension fees jump to $100. Andy and I had planned to take a boat from Consejo to Chetumal Mexico on the day we were approved the extension by fax by a government official in Belize City. The boat departs from a "gringo" development but only runs once a week on Wednesdays. We had determined that there was only one day he could juggle his Wednesday obligations. The catch was that we could not leave Belize without having our papers in order. Belize charges a departure fee of $19 U.S. per person to leave the country by land or $3.75 U.S. by boat which makes travelling by boat more appealing. To make a long story shorter, it would have definitely seemed that the Officer was trying her best to stall our plans for catching the boat. When we got to the end of the process, she insisted that we had to go to make photocopies (for her records!) of our passports. Luckily for us, when we arrived at the boat dock, it was 30 minutes late leaving and we just walked on after paying our departure fee.

My first impression was that of the size of the boat carrying everyone who was going to Chetumal with the intentions of filling up their large and wheeled carry on shopping carts. Hmm........it seemed like the boat was weighted down already with the amount of passengers and the thought of the extra merchandise on our return journey definitely entered my mind more than once. The passengers happily chatted about what they had planned on buying in the shopping mecca during the 8 minute journey. Everyone had their fair share of water splashes whether that be to clothing or hair but everyone took it in good humour......after all shopping is retail therapy isn't it? We passed through mangrove swamps and my mind wandered to my guide book information I had previously read about the American Crocodile being an inhabitant of those exact areas. Yikes! Even the elusive life jackets would have been a little more comforting had we needed them.

We docked at a tiny pier where we were required to fill out tourists cards in a very small office and then we were on our way. We were really impressed with Chetumal as we walked past the Palace of the Governor. We walked further and entered Sam's Club just to take a peek. We hailed a taxi and drove to Plaza Las America which is an indoor air conditioned mall much like Woodgrove Centre with a large food court. We really had no notion of what we were looking for but the experience was fun. As we were nearing our time to leave and catch a cab back to the dock, we passed a Supermarket............truly a real supermarket that enticed us both inside. To our amazement there was plenty of the foods that I had been craving. We wondered how much we could pack in our packsacks and at one point even debated on whether we should purchase a cooler as we only had one backpack each. Eventually common sense prevailed and we made it to the checkout with everything from Organic Mexican coffee, Gourmet Mexican Chocolate and things we could not purchase in Belize.......good bread. The bakery reminded us of home except the way the customer selects the items. First you take a aluminum platter and with tongs, you place all your intended purchases and pass to the lady who weighs your baked items. The store was clean, attractive and food handlers wore masks. Time was of the essence to catch our boat back to Belize but we were having fun......and I wanted more time to wander up and down the aisles looking at products and to read labels........even if I don't understand Spanish. I honestly did not think grocery shopping could be this much fun. By the time we were at the check out, our bill came to 925 pesos. Our cab ride back to the boat including a 33% tip came to 20 pesos........less than $2 Canadian.

Upon arriving safely back in Belize, we were met by Immigration Officers who were sitting at a plastic table under the palm trees. They requested that we open up our backpacks for inspection. There is a long list of foods that are not allowed back into Belize such as Pasta, Rice, Soft Drinks, Meat and Produce. We had our passports stamped and we were on our way.

Guess where I am going to next Wednesday?

Images of Corozal..........People and Places

We have been in Belize for four weeks now. I feel like we have a rhythm and purpose to our day. Initially it would be fair to say that I was not adjusting as best as I could have. The last week has left me feeling more comfortable in my new environment and actually feeling like I could belong as a temporary resident.

Festivities seem to be celebrated frequently. At "Miami Beach" (nothing like the other Miami Beach, and no luxury condos!) which is just a three minute walk away from our house, there seems to be something celebrated most weekends. The seaside road closes off to vehicular traffic and music is played in the large, thatched shelter - locals refer to this as the Roundhouse Palapa - often until very late at night. We even were lucky enough to follow a convoy of vehicles that included the Chinese New Year Dragons. The participants entered each store for celebration and good luck. When they departed from each business, firecrackers were let off and I felt the joy and excitement around me. Valentine's Day had an all day music/food/dancing along the seawall on Miami Beach. Last weekend the East Indian community held their event which highlighted dancers,coconut grating contest, Masala rubbing and a horse and carriage ride.

After school and frequently until late at night, families gather to eat and visit on the beach and under the numerous palapas. The atmosphere usually includes small children running around and perhaps music blaring from a speaker in a parked vehicle while either snacking or eating a meal together amidst a beautiful location. I find it inspiring that there seems to be all the time in the world to stay after dark.

Corozal is located on a beautiful turquoise Bay. The town is compact with a population of 9,000, the streets laid out in a basic grid system. While driving on the Streets and approaching the Avenues, one must know to stop regardless of the missing stop signs. I cautiously slow down even when it is my right of way as drivers here tend to have their own rules of the road.

My favourite time of the day is when Andy and I take an early morning walk after he drives TJ to school and before the temperature rises. Whatever direction we take on our walk, the common denominator that we encounter are the primary, uniformed students. Many young children navigate the busy roads on their own riding a bike. Kids in Belize play outside after school and when I saw two children playing in a dirt pile yesterday, it took me back to when I was a kid doing the same thing. The people that I have met generally have larger families but their houses do not reflect that in size compared to North America's average dimensions. As I see it, getting your children outside to play is a healthy thing! The soft pastel shades of the houses are unique even though most have peeling paint. I see all the goodness and have become comfortable enough to ignore the strewn garbage that is so prevalent here. What I cannot ignore, and what truly disturbs me, is the canine population. I feel pain on a daily basis to see dogs that either roam the streets looking for food or those who are chained for endless hours. Some dogs seem to have skin disorders perhaps exacerbated by the hot sun and lack of proper nutrients. Yesterday I saw an older man walking his dog.......a happy and seemingly healthy pooch. walking a dog on a leash is something that almost stands out of the norm here.

At any given time of the day, it seems you can hear vendors selling their products. Frequently bike vendors will be riding around the neighbourhood ringing their bell. Yesterday we purchased cinnamon buns at our driveway. Every morning our alarm clock could sound something like that of a clown's horn with the shout of "Baked Goods" Every evening in Corozal near the clock tower square, Grackles congregate in the trees. The first time I heard the sound, it felt like something out of Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds". Now I think it is quite entertaining. As this paragraph has to do with the sounds we hear in Corozal, I asked James and TJ what sounds they would describe hearing on a daily basis. The response I got was barking dogs, the roosters including one that starts crowing at 1:30 in the morning, sugar cane trucks with exhaust systems that backfire while we are trying to talk in the house, and other unique bird calls. You can be guaranteed to hear music blaring out of at least a few house. We just laughed about the other sound we hear on weekday mornings........."I can't believe that school starts this early.........I just can't get out of bed!"

One last comment I have about Corozal is how friendly the residents are. No one is too shy to say hello, smiles are given out generously and even when there is a language barrier (me not speaking Spanish or understanding the Creole), people really go out of their way to make you comfortable in their hometown.

I am not going to blog about a very sad event that happened this week. Instead I will ask readers to read Andy's blog about the tragedy. The memories of the service, the walking procession behind the pick-up truck with the tiny white casket and the burial will be forever etched in my mind. I have since met with the young family to offer our help, if in the event they may need some assistance. Just in the short time we have been in Corozal, we have never ceased to be shocked at how many deaths there has been in each family. Please hold your loved ones closer to your heart tonight.