Back Home in Belize City!

Well we made it back home after a great visit with Keri's sisters. We landed in Johnson City, TN and spent a few days at Keri's younger sister's, Samantha, house. No matter how many times we visit, we are always taken aback by the beauty of where they live. Just look at the view out their kitchen window! They had made plans to go to a cabin with her husband's family for Thanksgiving in Gatlinburg and were nice enough to invite us along. The entire family was very gracious and made us feel like part of the family.

After Thanksgiving week, we rented a car and drove to the other side of Tennessee to visit with Keri's older sister, Sheri. Well I say Tennessee but they actually live over the state line in north Mississippi. Sheri planned a great Elvis day for us as she knows very well of our penchant for the King. Our day started out just down the road from her house at the little known of Elvis ranch. Evidently he bought it as a wedding present or something for Priscilla and they spent part of their honeymoon there. It just hit the market and can be yours for a cool 6 million! We obviously then went to Graceland only to find that it was closed that day for renovations.... oh well, we've been inside before. Check out the video.

The trip was great, and especially important for Keri to spend some time with her sisters and family. Everyone was doing ok with the shock of Gerald's death, especially the children. They seemed to have a good perspective on not only his death, but also the end of his suffering due to the Lupus. But at the end of it all, even with the hospitality and family, we were ready to come home. It was the strangest thing, for the first time we referred to Belize as our home. We figure that is one of the "steps" to our settling in, huh?

Keri's bio-Dad passed away....

We received the news that Keri's bio-Dad, Gerald, passed away recently. We were not able to get to Tennessee in time for the funeral but are leaving tomorrow to spend some time with Keri's sisters. We will be in Tennessee through Thanksgiving so we will update you all some time after then.

Seen as our warmest article of clothing is a fleece jacket, we are bracing ourselves to freeze!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Keri's 40th Birthday in Belize!

Just a quick update to share Keri's birthday with everyone as promised. We went out the night before to our local casino, the Princess, here in Belize City. We had dinner and then ventured into the casino. It was strange since they take down your information from ID and photo you before they let you in. They had a craps table but it was not open.... BOO! So we saddled up to some video poker machines and played for a while enjoying some free drinks. We lost US$3 but considering the drinks cost US$4 at the bar, we figured we were ahead because of the free drinks. On Halloween we went to a party at a local place called Riverside Tavern for a party they were having. We did some people watching and had a pretty good time. It was very weird to be away from all our friends on such a big night. And of course what would a birthday be without a cake? Check out Pat's home-cooked creation in the picture below!

Now for the creepy part.... when we called our taxi guy to arrange for a pick-up he said he was on his way back from Orange Walk (a district town up north) but would pick us up on time. When he picked us up, he said his friend's mom had passed away that morning and she had asked him to transport her to Orange Walk. Then he said he had been scared. We asked him why, like maybe traffic or something, and he said "because of the body". Excuse me but what?!?! Evidently he wasn't taking his friend to Orange Walk, he was transporting the body of the mother!!!! And we were the next people he picked up! So we were in the same cab, probably the same seat as a dead person on Halloween night! Very weird and creepy!

That is one for the Belize files, huh?

Our Swearing-in Ceremony Peace Corps Belize 2009!

Hi everyone! Sorry we have not updated the blog for 3 weeks but we have been very busy. First of all, like the title states, we had our swearing in ceremony on October 22nd at the Belize Governor General's house. It is fantastic to finally be official Peace Corps Volunteers! The ceremony was a grand affair held on the lawn and was also attended by the new US Ambassador. The event ended after lunch and we then prepared for the 1st-years vs. 2nd-years soccer match. Due to my surgery, I couldn't participate and Keri forgot to bring her sneakers.... so we spent the game cheerleading.

After the game, we hustled back to get ready for a reception dinner at the US Ambassador's residence. Evidently he is a good friend/college buddy of our current president. Both him and his wife were very gracious in hosting us and put out a top of the line spread! He is a real supporter of the Peace Corps mission and should be a real benefit to our work during his time at the post. Anyway, it was a very nice affair with food prepared by the Ambassador's staff and his wife. The real treat was they had real wine.... the first we have had since leaving the US. It is very expensive here! Check out the picture of The Ambassador and his wife with us below! During the dinner, the superlative awards were handed out.... Keri won "Best Chef of Local Cuisine" and Pat won "Best Haggler", "Biggest Consumer of Rice&Beans", and "Most Likely to Extend Service".

After the "official" reception, we all headed back to the hotel for the informal party. Awaiting us was a nicely chilled keg of Belikin donated by the Brewery! It was a lot of fun.... probably too much fun. But everyone acted somewhat appropriately and a great time was had by all. The next morning was a little challenging for everyone as we had to check out and head back to our sites. Keri and I chose the late check out option and slept in a bit.

After everything was said and done, it was a very busy, but fun week. We look forward to our two years (maybe more) of service and are excited about the future. Stay tuned for our post on Keri's Birthday this Halloween.... in some ways it was our creepiest!!!!

A Quick Update and pics from Gracie Rock

Just a quick note on my recover from the surgery.... everything is coming along fine. I was cleared by the doctor to go back to work yesterday. I do have a few restrictions, such as no bike riding for 4 more weeks and no heavy lifting for 10 more weeks. I'm feeling better every day and should be 100% soon. I just have to remember to take it a little easy and not to over do it too soon.

We have picked out our apartment that will be our home for the next two years. We were given a heads up to it by another couple who just left Belize City. The gentleman has been leasing it out to PCV's for 6 years or so. It's very nice in that it comes fully furnished (down to the sheets and plates.... even has a blender!) and it is also fully fenced. Also comes with a German Shepherd guard dog. Having the dog makes me feel a lot better about leaving Keri alone if I have to travel. The big kicker is........ it has AC!!!!!! Some of you may remember me saying we may be living in a grass shack or a nice apartment with cable? Well we are definitely the later. We will post a video when we move in the middle of November.

This Sunday we are heading back to Belmopan for our swearing in ceremony on 10/22. We will finally be official Peace Corps Volunteers! It should be a relatively swanky affair and is being hosted by the Governor General of Belize. I believe the US Ambassador will also be in attendance. We will be glad to put training behind us and get down to the work we have been assigned. We will post some pics from the ceremony, dinner, and the party when we get back. A little side note.... Belikin Beer donated a keg for our swearing in party! WOOHOO!

Now a few pictures from our trip to Gracie Rock and the caves they have there. This area is where they filmed Mosquito Coast.... very appropriate as I have NEVER seen mosquitoes so thick! The cave system was interesting.... actual Mayan pottery shards, cutting tools, even spear heads all visible about the cave. Oh yeah, and also bats.... tons of them! Right over our heads, I'm sure we really freaked them out. Check out the pictures below. The walk through the jungle was beautiful all by itself. After we hung out for a while at the guides house and discussed eco-tourism and it's future in Belize. Gained a lot of insight.

We miss you all dearly.... thanks for the emails and posts! Till next time!

Our site assignment in Peace Corps Belize!

So the big day had finally come and where were we? Laying in a hospital bed in Belize City recovering from my appendectomy the night before! It was so frustrating for both Keri and myself. We have spent 7 weeks bonding with our Trainee group that we will serve with for the next 2+ years only to be separated on THE big exciting day. Well dear readers, have no fear as we did join the group via cell phone and received our assignments over speakerphone. So without further adieu, here they are:

Keri - The Association of Protected Areas Management Organizations (APAMO) is Belize’s leading network of environmental non-governmental organizations, particularly in the areas of protected areas management. Its 18 member agencies are responsible for or involved in the management of twenty-one (21) terrestrial protected areas and nine (9) marine protected areas.

Basically a newly formed "umbrella" organization for all the NGO's that run every cool place in Belize! Keri is very excited! Check out their website at: http://apamo.net/members/members.html

There is a clickable link and you can see all the areas.

Pat - The Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) The BTIA’s mission is aimed at promoting sustainable tourism, while maintaining the natural and cultural integrity of Belize.

Basically every hotel, guide, tour, restaurant, and bar in and around all the cool places Keri is working with! Check out their website at: http://www.btia.org

Needless to say we are very excited! We will fill you in on more details later, but for now we will be based out of Belize City and be traveling extensively to work with our respective chapters. I can't wait to heal all the way up and get busy! Please keep the emails/posts coming as they really mean alot!

Pat's Plastic Surgery Disaster!

Well last Tuesday I started to feel a little tenderness in my lower right abdomen. By Thursday it wasn’t getting any better, so I had the nurse at the Peace Corps office take a look. She arranged for an appointment with a doctor in Belize City and both Keri and I took off for the big city. I saw the doctor and he gave me the bad news.... appendicitis! Surgery was scheduled for 3 hours later and I nervously waited in my hospital bed with Keri. To make a long story short, I now have a 4 inch scar and no longer have my appendix. I can not believe it happened here in Belize! I am now recovering in a hotel room in Belize City with Keri. She is taking good care of me and I hope to be back on my feet in a week or so.

Trip to the Belize Zoo and The Blue Hole National Park.

Our last "field trip" was this past weekend. We went to the Belize Zoo and The Blue Hole National Park to perform an evaluation of the facilities and really to just have some fun too! Now this Blue Hole is not THE Blue Hole that is pictured on the top of our blog. This is a National Park inland that has a significant cave system that the Mayans used for rituals and also a sinkhole where the underground river's ceiling collapsed. We went on a 2 hour hike through the cave that was breath taking as well as very challenging. Tons of slippery wet clay and mud made for a messy time for all! Afterwards we all cooled off in the Blue Hole. Pat swam up into the cave and promptly scared a bunch of bats relaxing in the cave and they flew out over his head and into the jungle.... very cool!

The Zoo houses animals that have either been left behind from films or have been rescued. A very nice zoo set in a wonderful, natural setting.

Enjoy the pictures!

A Scarlet Macaw

The Entrance to St. Herman's Cave

Keri the Spelunker!

The entrance again, from the outside.

Stairs to the entrance

Hiking in to the cave

Weird tree at the zoo!

Doesn't this Jaguar look like Tigger here?

Gibnuts! These rodents are evidently very tasty too! Definitely on the menu before I leave!

A Maguey.... cats are the same wherever you go!

A Toucan, but not the famous Keel Billed (Guinness) variety

Spider Monkey posing

A baby Tapir (mountain cow).... the national animal of Belize!

September Celebrations in Belize 2009!

We have just finished up with the big celebrations in the month of September. Here are some of the high-light pics! Enjoy guys!

Young girl who was reciting poetry onstage at the Jump-Up celebration on Independence Day in Belmopan

Horse rides at the Independence Day festival!

Teenage girls boxing at the Independence Day festival. The girl on the right won.

Our Host "Dad" Douglas barbecuing chicken on Independence Day.

It was awesome.... he used coconut shells as charcoal. It was REALLY good!

Belikin Beer calendar girls on the float for Carnival in Belize City.

Picture from Carnival in Belize City.

Picture from Carnival in Belize City.

Picture from Carnival in Belize City.

"One Barrel" rum float in Carnival.... the women are bathing in actual RUM that is coming out of the pipes!

Picture from Carnival in Belize City.

Just look at the size of the speakers they use in the Carnival parade! Use the people for size comparison.

Cute group of kids at the beginning of the Carnival parade.

Greasy Pole contest at the Battle of St. George's Caye festival in Belmopan. The point is you put a big pole in the ground, grease it with tons of lard, then guys take turns trying to get a bottle of rum from the top with money tied to it!

Some of our fellow PC Trainees at the beer tent at the Battle of St.George's Caye festival in Belmopan.

The Battle of St. George's Caye festival in Belmopan.