Community Building

After realizing some of the human challenges facing this village we decided to make up a holiday schedule of community building events to help bring the people together. 

Our first event was an American Luncheon TL cooked for her friends.  Starters were 'Ants on a Log' (Ormigitas en Palo) and 'Deviled Eggs' (Huevos Diablos).  The kids were hesitant to try things at first but seemed to like it once they had tried it. 
For the main course she served the classic Bradley dish 'Tuna and Noodles' whch seemed to be a hit!  Everyine was happy to try new things and be together.

Directly after lunch we held Poetry Teatime.  Several local kids stopped by to drink tea, eat free cookies, and take turns reading simple poems (in english!)  It was somewhat difficult for them to read outloud but I was amazed that they stayed and participated happily for over an hour!  We ended by reading 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' and taught them the song too!

The next day the community held a Christmas party at whuch our host, Rod, played Santa Claus.  There was dancing and games and the local deputy Prime Minister, Gaspar Vega, stopped by and shook everyone's hand (including mine!)  They ended the night by passing out presents to all the kids and Belizean chicken with beans and rice to all participants.  It was great to see the whole community together.

Up on the roof of the community center we met a 9 year old girl named Kayna who was so interested in our camera-phones and how they worked.  We let her take some pictures of us and took some of her too.  She was excited to edit hers and I asked her if anyone in her family had email so I could send the picture to her.  "Email?  What is that?" She asked.  I told her it was like mail, but on the computer. I also old her she would make a good photographer when she grows up.  She seemed surprised that I thought a woman could have a job.  Sometimes things are different here.