A Quiet Sunday

My typical weekend includes cleaning my place thoroughly and washing sheets and clothes on Saturday - I've never spent so much time cleaning and washing since the kids lived at home. Just in one week, the place accumulates a thick layer of fine dust and sprinkles of dead bugs. The clothes can quickly mold if not cleaned and dried. I already lost two good pairs of shoes to mold resulting in one moldy big toe. The black mold in my toe nail is finally growing out, but, now, I make sure to dry my shoes thoroughly. I've decided that although I like a clean living place, I don't particularly like the chore much less the washing task. The good thing is that I can finish in three or four hours and then I have the rest of the day free. I walk to the library and read books authored by Belizeans - I'm hoping eventually they will allow me to take the books home. I shop for food and household goods in the afternoon. I do enjoy living close to everything since I don't and can't have a car (vehicle, the word they use here). I've come to the conclusion that hardly anyone other than students and poor people like me walk in Belmopan. Everyone drives, bikes, or takes a taxi. When I think about it, it's the same in the states and much more pleasant - no dealing with the weather, hot or cold.

The Peace Corps training was interesting in that I got a glimpse of how other volunteers are living, especially the ones down south in the Toledo and Stann Creek districts. One older couple lives in a rural village - the villagers built a thatch roofed house for them but still needs an outside latrine. In the meantime, they use a bucket at night and then walk across the field to the nearest latrine. Most volunteers used the buses to transport essentials like mattresses, stove, refrig, etc. I have to admire them for working through the transition of making a home. Compared to them I feel lucky for my living quarters. Another older couple expressed an interesting perception of life: they spent a weekend in a nice Guatemalan resort and expressed disdain on how people with money can enjoy life extravagantly while there is so many people living in poverty. Peace Corps philosophy is to live like the people in the country in order to truly experience life in poverty. At the beginning, I believed that was good but living the experience is entirely a different perspective. Yes, one should appreciate the living conditions and feel the lack of prosperity in their lives; but to engulf oneself in that way of life knowing that eventually one goes back to living an American life is almost hypocritical. We, Americans and that includes other foreign volunteers, missionaries, and students, come to a third world country to help these "poor" people for a week, two weeks, three months, two years, whatever, then go home thinking they did this great thing of helping the indigent. I do find my worth in working here and know that I can help move the country forward but find lots of mixed feelings and emotions about our presence here.

I did find another project to add to my life - I'll help train teachers on conflict resolution - the public schools are implementing a pilot program here in Belmopan. The program leaders scheduled an initial workshop for last Thursday but had to cancel because of a teachers' protest rally. They were protesting the government eliminating corporeal punishment in the schools - yes, teachers can physically punish students. Both family and school environments strongly believe in physical punishment.

I'm watching the Winter Olympics in Vancouver which I've never done before but now that I have more time I can enjoy the events. Next weekend I'm having the Belmopan PC volunteers over to my place for a gathering - I think it's about time that I stop isolating myself and help and support others.