Here is a photo of me accepting my post as official Peace Corps Volunteer for the next 24 months from the new Country Director Nina Hernandez who once lived just up the block from us when we lived at Teachers College. She served in South Africa in the 1990s (the first group post-apartheid; is originally from the D.R. and is very impressive -- as are all the PC staff. in the background is Sir Colville Norbert Young, Governor General who is the Queen's (of England) representative at whose home this took place. It was a great day ending with dinner (a superb Indian dinner) at the home of U.S. Ambassador Vinai K. Thummalapally who was the President of MAM-A Inc., formerly Mitsui Advanced Media, manufacturer and distributor of archival recordable optical discs. He talks about his lack of diplomatic history, relationship with Obama, and is irreverent as they come. In my case, he has contacts in the area of micro finance and women and after a brief conversation has followed-up with some leads. And more important--his wife Barbara Thummalapally knows all "our" music!!! (That is her holding the microphone.)

Update May 25, 2010: Final Stretch to the Beginning

On Friday, May 28, 2010, I become an official Peace Corps volunteer with a swearing in ceremony at the Governor General's home (as in the Queen of England--something to do with their former colonial/now commonweath status). Today I am back at the Peace Corps Belize headquarters with final training that today included how to hang a hammock, how to install a propane tank, what to do in the event of a serious hurricane (and the boots John has sent me may not be all I need as in rules for evacuation) and most important how to sharpen a machete (pronoounced MACHET in Kriol). Here is a photo of the Belizean Peace Corps staff that taught us how to do these things (I did learn that for $20 Belize -- which is $10 US -- I can have someone else do it!) They taught us how to fix a bicycle flat tire (which I also probably won't be doing-considering my mishap at the 79th Street Boat Basin when I was at least two years younger) but the photo shows you they will be giving me a fire extinguisher, life vest, a first aid kit and other important things.....

My job is very similar to what I've done before--building an administrative infrastructure, proposal writing, resource getting--and it is a very good job to have. Next steps are finding a place to live so more to follow.

Permanent Site: San Ignacio, Cayo District

On Wednesday, May 12, 2010, I moved to San Ignacio to begin my permanent assignment. I will be working at Mary Open Doors that is an inovative advocacy program for victims of domestic violence. There is only one other such program in the country--this program is founded by a wonderful woman who is a survivor. Her name is Ms. Anna Silva and it is already an extraordinary experience; this photo is us at the doors of the program. It is located on the grounds of the Catholic Church and is right opposite BFLA which promotes family planning--apparently that makes for some interesting issues. Mary Open Doors works closely wtih BFLA. There are two safe houses and plans for a day care program. Its purpose is to assist victims of domestic violence with temporary shelter, education, court advocacy, reporting, and services. My job will be to assist with structuring their administrative systems, five year strategic planning, grant writing, fund raising and training. It feels like a perfect match.

San Ignacio is a bustling town on the river about 45 minutes from the capital Belmopan. I will soon be searching for a permanent home but for now I'm enjoying life with a wonderful family on the top of a very steep hill (further up is a fancy hotel where I will check out swimming in the next few days.)

Our Final Days in San Antonio Village

So after all these weeks of bucket baths, today was the dedication of the new potable water system (we leave tomorrow so we will get one real shower). The Belizean Prime Minster Dean Barrow came and here is a picture of Peace Corps trainees with him. Today is Mother's Day in Belize and they honored all the mother's in the village with special notice of the Peace Corps mothers--we were honored with gifts and lunch. Here is the picture of us with the PM.

This village has an incredible spirit and history--they are 100% Yucateca Maya and everyone speaks three languages well--Maya, Spanish and English.

I am also posting a photo of my host family making earrings with the materials I brought; not only did the teenage girls have a great time but the very young children intently strung beads.

UPDATE May 9, 2010

This is a photo of my last night in San Antonio with my host family at a party we gave to honor and thank them.

I have received my permanent, two-year assignment, and it couldn't be better. I will be posted to the village of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize. The town has a combined population of about 20,000 including: Creole, Mestizo (Spanish-Maya), Lebanese, Chinese, Mennonite, Maya and other cultures. I have traveled through on my way back and forth to San Antonio--it is a beautiful town, with lots of Spanish spoken and lots of activity!

My work will be with a womens' collective addressing issues of domestic violence; my primary assignment involves providing support for its shelter, training, administrative duties, proposal writing, micro-enterprise, and more. It was started by a woman who is personally committed to this project and the Board chair, I'm told, is the leading social worker in Belize. A secondary project involves a women's group that has created a sewing cooperative to teach women victims of domestic violence a vocation to earn independence. The two projects, although in the same town, apparently don't know of each other. The politics of suggesting cooperation here will be a challenge. This assignment is exactly what I had hoped for.

After 6 weeks of technical community development training and intensive Spanish on Tuesday I move to this village and then begin the search for housing. Soon thereafter visitors will be welcome. Here is a website if you want to learn more http://www.belizex.com/san_ignacio.htm.

More to follow soon.

UPDATE May 5, 2010

Photo notes...
- a typical Maya hut and vehicle in the community where I am in training
- fishermen showing off his catch
- Maya ruins; very impressive (but I didn't climb up!)
- your typical iguana
- sign on the road to the San Antonio Women's group that is a kind of cooperative that sells traditional artesan crafts mostly to the ecotourist resorts and now they are becoming involved in selling chickens. We worked with them as "trainees" and had a lot more to learn from them than we could possibly teach.

I watched my first news show this morning and learned that Laura Bush's two
favorite musicians are Bob Marley and Jerry Jeff Walker;
This is news!!!!! And I guess the world has changed in my absence.
I also learned that it is snowing in Cheyene, Wyoming which is
interesting to watch when it is 105 degrees in your home.