Big Rock Falls

Yesterday Elizabeth decided we should all go to Pine Ridge to Big Rock Falls to go swimming for the day. Also with Me and Nadia came Elizabeth's brother Al, her daughter, Erika, and their friend, Morris.

It was a very bumpy drive out to the park. Once we got they we had to hike to the falls which was very steep and rocky. I'm pleased that I only feel once.

Once we got there it was beautiful! Well worth the hike.

We spent all day swimming and relaxing around the waterfall. It was an amazing day!

A Cornerstone Christmas

This year Cornerstone through big Christmas party for all the poorer children in the community and their families. It was wonderful. Everyone ate a big plate or Chicken, rice and beans, Potatoe Salad, and a delicious cupcake.




Then each of the kids received a present. It was so much fun watching them all open their gifts.

Then the had a dance.



Days like these make me really like Cornerstone.

fin de semana de luna nueva

This past weekend was the perfect weekend.

Friday:
There was a health fair at the Belmopan market that Kashay and I went to. When it ended at noon we headed over to wing stop to get my fav chicken wings....mmmmm...spicy mango.... We then started the 6 hour journey to Holly's house in Corozal. It was a very very long bus ride and I was grouchy with a numb butt by the time we got there.

The good mood quickly returned and we went to a restaurant by the sea.

Afterward we walked back to Holly's amazing apartment, watched some trashy tv, and went to sleep!

On the way we saw the most decked out house ever. If only there was snow.

Saturday:

The most amazing host ever, Holly, made us a breakfast of Pancakes. mmmmmm. After a bit we headed to the bus station to catch the bus to Chetumal. About an hour later we were through customs and in Mexico.

We then went to a really nice cafe.

I don't care for coffee but Kashay and Holly enjoyed theirs. The waiter seemed really happy to see us because he is learning English so he got some practice.

After the coffee we headed to the mall. THE MALL!

An actually mall. It was amazing. In it was a real movie theater!




We got our tickets and popcorn (none of us knew how to say popcorn but eventually figured it out).


New Moon was amazing. soooo much better then Twilight. Holly and Kashay weren't really into seeing it but I'm confident that I converted them to the Twilight Saga. Kashay is clearly team Jacob, while Holly and myself are obviously team Edward.

After the movie we had.... wait for it..... Mcdonalds!...


I was so excited.... It's pathetic I know.. I learned the the meals in Mexico are call McTrios.... I had a McTrio de BigMac con una coca...



I've also noticed that speaking to people in Spanish in Mexico is a lot easier then in Belize or Guatemala.... In Mexico they speak much more clear and also seem more patient with me trying to speak with them... amused even... everywhere would just get impatient....

We then did a little shopping in Mexico's version of Walmart..

I bought a bunch of cheap stuff for my house (pots, pans, skillets, silverware).. We also each bought a bottle of wine, bread, and goat cheese which we had later that night.


Back in Corozal, the restaurant we went to the night before said that they were having a big party with a balloon drop. (balloons in a net attached to the ceiling that drop and midnight and have prizes in it).. well the big party turned into us and five other people... I did enjoy popping the balloons though... Kashay even won a Belikin.

Sunday:

Sunday we slept in and went to a "resort" down the street from Holly's house. We laid out in the sun for a bit and ate some delicious nachos.

Kashay and I then took the very very long bus ride back home and crashed.

Garifuna Settlement Day

So on Tuesday Kashay and I headed down to Dangriga for Garifuna settlement day to help a friend with an art show and also to meet up with my Peace Corps peeps to enjoy the festivities.

All day Wednesday we spent setting up for Nehanda's art show. She has some amazing art.


We even found a red lobster....


I was so excited to see all my people! We went back to the hostel that some of them were staying for a little pre-drinking before we headed out to go dancing. We had a really good time.



The party was supposed to be from 6pm to 6am with the re-enactment starting at 6. Unfortunately i didn't make it and went to bed and missed the reenactment. I did catch the awesome parade.. Here are some pics and a summary of what the Garifuna Settlement Day really is....

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The Garifuna are a mix of African, Arawak, and Carib ancestry. Throughout history they have been incorrectly labeled as Black Caribs. When the British took over Saint Vincent after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, they were opposed by French settlers and their Carib allies. The Caribs eventually surrendered to the British in 1796. The British separated the more African-looking Caribs from the more indigenous looking ones. 5,000 Garinagu were exiled, but only about 2,500 of them survived the voyage to Roatán, an island off the coast of Honduras. Because the island was too small and infertile to support their population, the Garinagu petitioned the Spanish authorities to be allowed to settle on the mainland. The Spanish employed them as soldiers, and they spread along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The Garinagu settled in southern Belize by way of Honduras as early as 1802. However, in Belize November 19, 1832 is the date officially recognized as "Garifuna Settlement Day"

Belizean Breakfast

Refried Beans:

3 cups of red kidney beans
salt
thyme leaves
powdered chicken bouillon

1. boil the beans in water
2. blend them
3. add oil to frying pan
4. add beans mixture to the frying pan
5. add a pinch of thyme leaves, salt, and powdered chicken bouillon
6. heat

Fry jacks

4 cups of flour
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1.5 teaspoons of salt
1.24 table spoons of shortening
2 cups of water

1. mix ingrediants
2. knead the mixture
3. roll into balls

4. let balls sit for 30 mins

5. flaten balls
6. heat oil in a frying pan

7. fry till golden brown

Wow. What a weekend. Where do I start?


So this past week all the Peace Corps trainees went to Belmopan for a couple days of training and officially swearing in. On Thursday we got all dolled up and headed to the embassy for our ceremony. All forty of us swore in to official become Peace Corps Volunteers! After the ceremony we had a awesome lunch and chatted for a bit.

We went back to the garden city hotel and got ready for the annual second year vs first year futbol game. I thought I was best served as a cheerleader. Even with my remarkable sprit and enthusiasm the first years still lost 5-1.

That night we had our fancy dinner at the ambassador’s house. It was amazing. Delicious food and the best part was there was an open bar with American beer and wine. I don’t think I’ve ever been so pleased to have a beer before. There was also a nice slide show and we gave out superlatives. I had the honor of receiving ‘Most likely to fall down while standing still’ (Sarah I’m sure you can appreciate that award).

Later that night was the big fiesta in the Garden. Belikin donated a free keg to our cause. It was a great party. Many fell victim to Belikin and Panty rippas.

Parts of the activities were a limbo contest which Stephen won

and also a buns of steel competition which Stephen also won along with a second year, Heather.

It was a blast. It was nice to become more familiar with the second years since we had we only had a few interactions with them.

I think my favorite part of the evening was when Kristen put on a classic Nsync song and we all slow danced 7th grade style.

Friday Kristen, Emily, Christine, Heather, Kevin, and I took a five hour bus ride down and a quick watertaxi to Placencia for the weekend. It was AMAZING.

Finally we were able to step on a beach. What a beautiful beach it was. We got there after dark and found a small hostel which had a large room with six beds in it that we shared for 15BZ (7.50US) each. We immediately threw on our suits and headed to the beach right outside of the hostel. It was just amazing. There were about a million stars out and we all just sat on the beach for a while in our own little worlds. We went swimming for a bit but baby jellyfishes kept stinging us. After a while we got dressed and headed out to find some food. We then learned that during the off season everything is closed in Placencia after 9. We were able to find a bar that served chips and salsa. There was also and awful singer jamming out of the keyboard. Then a beautiful Belizean woman attempted to teach Kevin to punta dance. It was an interesting sight.
Saturday morning we dragged ourselves out of bed at 5:30 to watch the sunset. It was breath taking. We then went back to sleep for a couple hours and got up in search of breakfast. It was difficult but we finally found some place open and had an amazing breakfast. Kashay joined us after breakfast.

We then laid around the beach all day. (We each got sunburnt) Kristen, Kashay, and I then spent some amazing time in a hammock reading till we got kicked out by the owners of the hotel we weren’t staying at. That night we had the most amazing meal that I’ve head yet in Belize. We went to the owner of the hostel’s restaurant. I had lobster with rice and beans, garlic bread, and a plantain. It was so damn good. He said he caught the lobster that morning. It ran us 20BZ (10US). (Dad you would have LOVED it)

We then went out for drinks back at the bar. More punta dancing and then we dragged our tired butts to bed.
We got up Sunday and sat at the beach for a little while. Everyone was too burnt to hang out too long. We had a good lunch and at 2:30 we started our trip back to our respective homes. I got home at 8pm exhausted.
It was such a good weekend. It makes me excited for when my friends and family come to visit. They would have loved it.
Okay. I need sleep now.
Love you all!!
Christa
XOXO