First Week in Punta Gorda, Belize

My host mother's son, Owen, is home on break from the University of Houston, TX. He has graciously allowed me to use his computer, enabling me to share with you everything that, until now, has been stowed away in my journal.

My first week of student teaching in PG was busy, exciting, and filled with new things. I arrived last Friday, and the flight in on the Tropic Air puddle-jumper was spectacular. The color of the water along the barrier reef is beautiful. I'll soon have pictures up; be patient!

Over the last week I've become increasingly familiar with my host family: Elana, my host mom; Owen and Howard, her two sons; Deja, Howard's little girl who visits frequently. Elana is the best hostess anyone could ask for. She feeds me WAY too well, WAY too often! I try to repay her by doing the dishes, but I had to fight for that chore. Owen and Howard are great, too. Howard often gives me a ride to school in the morning, which is nice, because sometimes it rains.

It doesn't rain often, though. The climate is wonderful, but very hot. It is always above 80 degrees Farenheit during the day here. So, consequently, the rest of the UMD students and I are always up for a swim. The water is, of course, always perfect. Frigatebirds and brown pelicans are always visible near the shoreline. Inland, hummingbirds are a regular sight, as well as large boat-tailed grackles. I've seen many vultures and many common black hawks.

I've had many adventures during the last week. Last Sunday, Celia Mahung (our host family organizer) arranged for us to go on a kayaking trip up Joe Talyor Creek, a small creek north of town. The trip took about three hours, and we were able to take a dip in the stream halfway through the trip. We were mostly in the middle of the rainforest, surrounded by giant trees and tangled mangroves that grew out of the water. Small crabs clung to the mangrove roots, and we saw an iguana relaxing in the sun. I saw many yellow-crowned night herons, and I may have seen a crocodile...or it was an iguana, but I prefer to think it was a croc!

Thus far, I have completed five days at Toledo Community College, where I will shortly start teaching. My CT's (cooperating teacher) name is Ms. Glendora Guy. She is very intense, and expects a lot from her third and fourth form students. She is also a very good teacher, and I look forward to learning a great deal from her during the next two months. I've already addressed the two classes I will be teaching, and I've almost learned all 80 of their names (40 students per class). Next week I'll teach a couple mini-lessons in order to warm up for the following week, when I will take over two of Ms. Guy's classes full-time. Whoo!

Tomorrow, I will be heading up to Blue Creek and Tamul Kin (sp.?) to visit Garnet Mayo, one of the UMD students. Tamul Kin is a Mayan village. There are also Mayan ruins nearby (SWEET!) Our supervising professors are here to visit until Thursday.

More later!