Getting familiar...

Today I got to interview the Mayor of Corozal, Hilberto Campos. It was really interesting and I learned a lot about the town, business and development.

There are currently only four of us in Corozal, the other 7 went to Punta Gorda to go to a conference. Instead four of us are doing community projects.

Tonight we're cooking dinner (I think).

This weekend we are all traveling to the ruins at Lamanai and then to Chetumal, Mexico.

I spoke too soon saying I wasn't sunburned... I am, even on the backs of my hands! (ouch.) But maybe it will turn into a nice tan (or maybe fade away, who knows).

I've gotten used to smelling like Sunscreen and Bug Spray. As soon as I step out of the shower on goes the bug spray. There are tons of bugs, ants, mosquitoes, spiders, and many others. But they really aren't so bad.

I found out today that only a few days ago a 10ft. crocodile was caught in the bay only 200 yards from our housing. The New River is only 1 1/2 miles away and they think it got lost and turned around. They said it wasn't the first time that had happened. Hmm. Note to self: watch out for crocodiles.

By the way... the Chinese food here is amazing. Sorry August Moon and China Wok, you ain't got nothin' on this. It was soo good.

Pictures will come soon, once I find a faster internet connection.

Time to go explore the town (and hopefully find some ice cream).

<3 Amy

Another day, another internet minute...

We finished painting the school! YAY! (only took out a few wasps nest in the process...eek).
Went and swam in the bay last night which was nice but choppy.
Last night we decided to walk into town in the evening to buy cokes and a deck of cards. Probably not out brightest plan, but we went in a large group. It's not the people you need to watch out for...it's the dogs, they're somewhat insane.
Anyway, this was just a quick update, I think some of us are going to jump in the bay.
Hope everyone is doing well!
<3 Amy

Seriously... I'll get pictures on here at some point.

First Post from Belize!

Well, here I am, I've made it! I'm in Corozal, Belize.
The journey here was relatively uneventful. Two plane rides and a 5 hour drive through Mexico (including a pit stop to use a bathroom with out TP or a toilet seat...HA). I didn't get to see much of Cancun (sorry, Todd, I don't have much to report on that)
The town of Corozal is small and laid back.
Our first night we went out to eat (Rice & Beans, Plantains, Stewed Chicken, and Potato Salad... MMMMmmmmm....)
We also did a bit of grocery shopping (fruit, juice, eggs and salsa [the essentials]).
We figured out how to turn the a/c on (and subsequently flooded our apartment over night, but got it cleaned up! )
The first full day (Easter) we went to Church and laid out and swam at our Murray State person's hotel (she's only here a few days) and then went out to eat again (Fried Fish & Chips, salad).
I'm so glad I'm drinking caffeine again, it's wonderful!
Today we painted a preschool and after this we're going to explore the town I think.
I don't have a lot of time to post (this costs money, ya know :-) ) so here is a list of thoughts:
OMG the heat (but it's not so bad)
The gecko that lives in our apartment is named LiveText.
Spanish TV is hilarious.
I get more channels here than I do in Murray (the one time I turned the TV on)
Coffee here is great.
The water to shower in is actually warm at times, which is nice.
I definitely didn't over pack like I thought I did. I spend most of my time in tank tops and shorts.
The people are really nice.
The food is amazing.
I love it here.
I start teaching at the community college (really the high school) next week.
Sorry for the lack of pictures (Yay dial up!)
This weekend we're going to some Mayan Ruins and Chetumal (sp?) Mexico to hang out I believe.

<3, Amy

Heading to meet the msu bus that's taking us to the Nashville airport! Belize, here I come!!

It's finally here!

My student teaching in KY is now complete. I'm definitely going to miss it! My final day was spent mostly talking and eating. My First Block class had donuts. Second Block we had Dairy Queen. Third Block was Pizza and Fourth Block was cookies and desserts. I was definitely on a sugar rush by the end of the day (which led to my inevitable crash, falling asleep in Hilary's car as we ran errands yesterday afternoon). 

I loved student teaching and am definitely going to miss my classes and students (Yes, it's true :) ). 

They all signed a big poster for me and wrote notes so I hung it up on my wall. 

I had fun and I feel like I learned so much. I definitely became more comfortable standing up in front of a class. No matter how many education classes I had to take (which was a lot), student teaching by far has been the best learning environment yet.

In Belize news...

The MSU shuttle bus to the Nashville airport leaves at 2 AM, only 14 hours to go!

In that 14 hours I have to:

Fill out one more online job application

Pick up transcripts

Mail all of my other job applications

PACK

That's right, I haven't packed yet. I've made my lists of everything I'm taking, but I haven't packed them up yet.

I did, however, find out that my first week in Belize I am doing a project on local businesses and education, health care, and culture down there. (I know I've been doing grammar too long, I just looked at that sentence and thought: Ugh, I would hate to diagram that.)

Moving right along...

Last night Sara and Erin planned at going away party for Dara and myself, it was definitely a blast.

I definitely couldn't ask for better friends.

Anyway, I suppose I should actually start doing productive things today (after I catch up on the latest episode of Castle, of course). 

A week away

I'm a week away from going to Belize and I'm really starting to get excited.

I'm also incredibly stressed out because there is so much to complete before then (job application type things and completing student teaching in Kentucky).

Student teaching so far has been wonderful and I've loved [almost] every minute of it. Waking up that early was hard at times.

I'm currently home on Spring Break trying to get things together. I've got clothes and shoes and toiletries and teaching materials together. All that's left is to get back to Murray and make it through the week.

Hopefully I will be able to update every once in a while during my stay in Corozal, Belize. 

Stay tuned...