First Day in Punta Gorda

Hello everyone!! I am sorry this took so long, but all has been chaotic these past few days. It is only Sunday, but I have done so much that I feel like I have been here for a week already! The flight out from Minneapolis was early, but all went well as we (7 of 8, Andrew was missing this whole time) made our way to Belize City. From there, just as we were leaving from Belize City to Punta Gorda (PG as the locals call it) Andrew showed up! We took a small charter plane, which was so fun, to PG. As we arrived, Celia, my host mom and her family was out on the cayes for the weekend. So, her brother Cesar picked us all up and delivered us to our host familes. It was very confusing at first since nobody knew what was happening...even Cesar. Needless to say, everyone made it safely and are doing well. That night everyone went to their homes, and my roommate John and I went with Cesar around town. We went to a bar call the Upstairs Lounge where we shot pool and drank some Belikin (the local beer). It was a good time and a great way to get to know and see the community right away! While Celia was gone, tia (aunt) took care of us until she came back. She speaks like 99% Spanish, so it was interesting communicating with her. I have actually learned a lot of Spanish already...mostly because I have to.

The next day (Saturday) Celia wouldn't arrive until 4:30, so we walked around town, went to the market where they sell amazing fruits and vegtables. I can't believe so many people say "Stay away from that stuff, it could get you sick. The way I see it, if the locals do it...I am going to do it. From there we went swimming (the ocean is two blocks from my house) basically until Celia arrived. That night we went to a local resturant where I had grilled Snapper. It was amazing. My host dad Pual said Belizians eat everything...including the head. So, to stay true to my philsophy of being a local, I ate it all...meat, brains, and even the eyes!!! It was so good, and they said now I pass. Last night, Cesar took us all out to his brithers bar, where we played pool (once again) and sang kareoke all night. Seven of us went out, and we took turns with the locals singing our favorites and theirs. They never heard Sweet Caroline, Piano Man, and some others we were singing, but we rocked it and they loved it. I also met Rip, Cesars rasta friend, great guy.

Today, we went swimming once again (rough I know), and then prepared for a kayak tour up the Joe Taylor Creek. It was by far one of the coolest things I have ever done! It started off a wide river, and as we entered the rainforest, it got so narrow only one kayak could go at a time. We had a tour guide, two double kayaks, and four individual ones. It was deep in there too!! There were so many thick roots, and trees overhead...just like you would imagine a rainforest would be! We saw a monkey, iguana, hawks, lizards, crabs...pretty much the gammit. Tonight, I had fresh baracuda for dinner (fish again...I love it!). This was so good, definetly up there with some of the best fish I have ever had. Bold statement I know (sorry Scott), but the fish here is so different and amazing the way they prepare it. So, I have had rice and beans every day...most of the time twice or three times, fish everyday, these little bread things that are heafty but really good also, and some fruits and veggies. My home (pics to come) has our house and tias house on the lot. It is fenced in with a little yard and a garden where a lot of our food comes from. They also have a farm where they have even more food!!

I guess my family is pretty popular with the government which is evident in town with all the locals. I am not quite sure what this means yet, but I know Paul (host dad) has meet the Queen, is a Master of the Parliment? and the rest of their family is pretty political. The minister of somewhere, I can't remember, came over to out house today which was a big deal for me, but they acted like it was normal. Paul also gave me some "Turbo" to try last night. It is a brandy mix with ginger and other greta roots from the forest. It soaks in this huge jar, and the bottle is stuffed with the things it is soaked in. The name says it all. It is definetly strong and used to give you energy. You also drink it at night to relax. I think he is pouring some right now!!! He is going to teach me how to make it, and I will be sure to make some when I get back.

Tomorrow I start my first day at Toledo Community College (TCC), and I am pretty nervous. We still don't know esactly what we are doing or what grade I will be teaching. More on that later.

So...there it is, everything that has happened to me in the past few days. I will update this regularly, so all of you reading this make sure to check back frequently for the latest skinny.

noche, eddie