tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53195173918530685092024-03-16T02:07:54.801-05:00PCV: Paid Caribbean VacationThis blog is not in any way associated with the Peace Corps or the United States Government and merely reflects my view of my time spent in Belize.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-56433985057444655852010-09-16T14:26:00.002-05:002010-09-16T15:09:36.663-05:00Rain Rain RainSo it's rainy season. It's also September, which means nothing gets accomplished in school. Sure, school is in. The kids come to the building daily, but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">doesn't</span> mean they are learning anything. <div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, school was cancelled because of rain. Something about some guy named Karl had a hurricane named after him. It didn't hit here and it was a weak storm to begin with. Just 10 hours of rain that caused the Ministry of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">EDU</span> to cancel school for the day. That's no big deal, but then I would have expected better today. Nope. </div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, our STD6 has been on the loose all day. The boys came and hung out with me for over an hour. When I asked them why they weren't in class, they said they were working. </div><div>"Working on what?" I asked. </div><div>"We don't know, our teacher just told us to go work. So we came to hang out with you," student replied. </div><div><br /></div><div>Awesome. What are the girls doing? Decorating for a rally that we are having tomorrow. Bottom line is nothing will get done in September. Sometimes we blame it on the rain, most of the time we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">don't</span> need an excuse. </div><div><br /></div><div>September is a time for celebrations, which is why they are referred to as the "September Celebrations." Even though there are really only 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">holidays</span> on the 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">th</span> and the 21st. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Never mind</span> all that. We will have a parade and a float and something else to do everyday of the month.</div><div><br /></div><div>Most curriculum can't even begin until October. So why don't they just say that? Last year I was told that nothing would happen in September, but I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">didn't</span> believe anyone. Wow oh wow was I ever wrong. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-19448407312217735032010-09-09T11:14:00.003-05:002010-09-09T11:25:09.222-05:00All the Rage right nowWhile I don't live in the Toledo District that is mostly comprised of indigenous Mayans, the country is small enough that any news is news everyone hears about. <div><br /></div><div>Believe it or not, Belize has made it all the way to CNN! Not really in the best light but its there regardless. </div><div><br /></div><div>It all started last sunday when 2 kids went from their village in San Marcos to Punta Gorda Town to sell lime and craboo. They never made it back. Some say they were kidnapped but the bottom line is the kids are still missing and no one knows what happened to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>As you can imagine, the public was outraged. The police did nothing. This is very usual. I could never imagine a police department more worthless than is the one in Belize. More specifically just the enforcement in general. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well when the police did nothing, the Mayan people did what they have always done. They went to the local oracle to ask for guidance. This may seem crazy to you but this is the custom and how things are done here. It was done this way for thousands of years before police were around and when the police fail to do their job, it still has a place in the community. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well this oracle told the villages that these white people who own a crocodile sanctuary ate the hearts of their children and then fed the rest of their bodies to the crocodiles. As you can imagine, this outraged the village. They chartered a bus and went to the sanctuary and burnt down the compound while carrying rifles and machetes. </div><div><br /></div><div>Luckily the owner and his wife were not there, but all of their property was destroyed. The fire department says they are "looking into the matter further" but I can almost guarantee that no arrests will be made. This is life here and life will go on. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have included a few links that will show the difference in news coverage you are used to and stories from places like CNN and then from our local Channel 7 here in Belize. Enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Belize News Sources</div><div><a href="http://www.7newsbelize.com/index.php#story2">http://www.7newsbelize.com/index.php#story2</a></div><div><a href="http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/387181/American_Crocodile_Educational.html">http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/387181/American_Crocodile_Educational.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div>CNN version</div><div><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/07/belize.american.house.torched/index.html#fbid=EhBzIIZVsNz&wom=true">http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/09/07/belize.american.house.torched/index.html#fbid=EhBzIIZVsNz&wom=true</a></div><div><br /></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-35268267459186312802010-09-09T10:48:00.002-05:002010-09-09T11:14:06.150-05:00Long Overdue AbsenceIt's been awhile. I would and should apologize but then again, I will just use the excuse that I was busy. It's not entirely true but it kind of is. <div><br /></div><div>The truth is actually far from being busy. I have been busy over the summer but in a different way. Where as during the school year I am busy at school (which consists of a lot of time in front of the computer, writing this blog), during the summer I am busy in a totally different kind of way. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm free during the summer. I can mostly do whatever I want and am not held down by the ups and downs and expectations of the school day. So because of that I got to travel around a lot and help other people with their projects. I also <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn't</span> really have to ask permission to do projects in Yo Creek like I have to have approval for everything from someone on staff before I do anything. I can make my own agenda which is a lot more liberating. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will also blame Melissa for my lack of blogging. This is, again, a horrible excuse but having a visitor for 2 months <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">doesn't</span> allow for a lot of time in front of a computer. We were too busy seeing and exploring. </div><div><br /></div><div>The bottom line is it is becoming harder and harder to write about Belize in a way that you can understand because it is becoming more and more of everyday life. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">don't</span> understand how people can write blogs back home where they do the same thing everyday. Well I see how they can do it, but why would they expect people to ever read it? That's where I am today. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yo Creek is still just as amazing as it was the day I moved here almost a year ago, but very few things are new. And if they are new, very few things are story worthy in a way that anyone would understand. I'll try my best but all of the funny pictures and surprising things to find have probably been found. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, now school is back in and I will try to post <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">at least</span> once a week. I have a lot to catch up on from over the summer and many many pictures to post. </div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-18071551860934120772010-08-10T10:42:00.003-05:002010-08-10T10:47:39.294-05:00Chess Camp<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6lc-2rIivUE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6lc-2rIivUE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Since most kids have nothing to do during the summers, I decided to have a chess camp and work with the Belize National Youth Chess Foundation to host a chess camp in the village. The community center let us use the space for free and all the boards were provided by BNYCF.<br /><br />We had 18 kids come for 5 days and most of them are very qualified chess players now who can teach other kids once school starts and the excitement grows.<br /><br />I made a little movie for them and attached it above.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-39451111255300007742010-06-02T10:48:00.002-05:002010-06-02T11:00:20.630-05:00Count It!The 2010 census is happening in Belize just like back in the mother land. I didn't think I would or should be included but the nice little census guy assured me that I should be included. I agreed with this authority of the law and quickly realized a few things:<br /><ul><li>All I do is skew results</li><li>I'm probably the only person in the country who lives in a 5 room house with no furniture</li><li>5 bedrooms but no stove? Yup, that's me</li><li>AC in the house? yes. Bathtub? yes. Radio? No </li><li>Hours per week you work? Define work... </li><li>Religion? none. - That's not an option, can you pick one? No</li><li>Children? 172 of them ranging in age from 5-14 (he didn't like that answer)</li><li>Ethnicity? Is gringo an option? No. OK, I guess I'll be white.</li></ul><p>Either way you look at it, I shouldn't be included in this census but since I live there more than 6 months and plan on being there more than a year longer, I get counted. I'm not sure if its just a ploy to increase numbers or to find out just how many outsiders call their country home. Either way, I'm counted and from the numbers, I don't think I did a great job of representing the average Belizean. </p>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-25516683026966953442010-05-17T09:35:00.005-05:002010-05-17T11:18:08.889-05:00Some Random Pictures<div align="center"> For all you visual people<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd1PZ9d-YfBneiMUMfEhuP9392P-gOJpRKr1UxO-_JHb2PB2bnxzpopHDOWn3PxB3qPyT-nH1zYc0wkZS5JgxXSES-2hJ6jNYG0S4Z1tO1sgghg6qu7wR9cCwBfxXHqnBcnLNynR_g8YL/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269527780474802" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdd1PZ9d-YfBneiMUMfEhuP9392P-gOJpRKr1UxO-_JHb2PB2bnxzpopHDOWn3PxB3qPyT-nH1zYc0wkZS5JgxXSES-2hJ6jNYG0S4Z1tO1sgghg6qu7wR9cCwBfxXHqnBcnLNynR_g8YL/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">This place gets better <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">every time</span> I walk past it</span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA13skYOAZdZ5nPrODZRulrovqHsRwpvK9t5LjRpYjblMDrR7LrZR1gvQmoErGqD8LYb8NXgKBhqrWJacOIey8iyckhV1Gwy7VmGArRiMCj3Yanz4uojHeN200LJtpxnAdSewaaNHrQ8x/s1600/IMG_3616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472270068373955298" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPA13skYOAZdZ5nPrODZRulrovqHsRwpvK9t5LjRpYjblMDrR7LrZR1gvQmoErGqD8LYb8NXgKBhqrWJacOIey8iyckhV1Gwy7VmGArRiMCj3Yanz4uojHeN200LJtpxnAdSewaaNHrQ8x/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">In case you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">couldn't</span> read it the first time. I doubt they even know who Bob Barker is and the question that will forever be in my mind is "What does great dog taste like?" For those of you who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">don't</span> speak a lick of Spanish... Se <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Vende</span> = For sale</span><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUojRJuJ-OMeaXT7MQ56euEP4K0mvDDUOQiWUmswJ5RXtINkcD7hk55koH4JiA2R7bup9fuicOY2vqclcPICmsLRSAuxPw3S4t_CMsX2tiaxqDZ0p6RLZuhZ1ItZWW2SETmvlbkn0YAw51/s1600/IMG_3615.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269523417008530" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUojRJuJ-OMeaXT7MQ56euEP4K0mvDDUOQiWUmswJ5RXtINkcD7hk55koH4JiA2R7bup9fuicOY2vqclcPICmsLRSAuxPw3S4t_CMsX2tiaxqDZ0p6RLZuhZ1ItZWW2SETmvlbkn0YAw51/s400/IMG_3615.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">My little friend hanging out in my tomato plant, there is usually a huge lizard there too but he is a bit too fast to take a picture of</span></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MXyrMiWpy3bDfeIsr4KeN1uJb6G6czHrCEzKHK3VkM71jeAGr-2nCb7SOW79O99NehLho9PKrkj1o4H5I6yc2drtz7ZAfYkCASC33vjlUjDn5TfoR4KRYquL_lgFtmofU4L_xG1cHxjL/s1600/IMG_3601.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269232087364082" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MXyrMiWpy3bDfeIsr4KeN1uJb6G6czHrCEzKHK3VkM71jeAGr-2nCb7SOW79O99NehLho9PKrkj1o4H5I6yc2drtz7ZAfYkCASC33vjlUjDn5TfoR4KRYquL_lgFtmofU4L_xG1cHxjL/s400/IMG_3601.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Part of the destruction my body took while climbing Victoria's Peak. In all there were: </span></div><ul><li><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">9 blisters</span></div></li><li><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">7 ticks (1 found 3 days later between my toes)</span></div></li><li><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">countless bug bites</span></div></li><li><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Many splinters</span></div></li><li><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">2 bad burns on my hips from my pack</span></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWwfnxaTttuif8R4Wmojku_L44dh0onVIWDlzjGzfznsvlB6CLpTjPfGJQW-VH-LmhCIdqEHq1nc8v6o4eHdIeO6V-MfcPiE2bouG5H7zpL9wLsUAWCVEjXXcB_OoyGKXmlT8J-EmG5x5/s1600/IMG_3597.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269228200262418" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWwfnxaTttuif8R4Wmojku_L44dh0onVIWDlzjGzfznsvlB6CLpTjPfGJQW-VH-LmhCIdqEHq1nc8v6o4eHdIeO6V-MfcPiE2bouG5H7zpL9wLsUAWCVEjXXcB_OoyGKXmlT8J-EmG5x5/s400/IMG_3597.JPG" border="0" /></a></p></li></ul><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">I made the mistake of reaching a tree instead of falling, only problem was the tree had thorns. This is after cutting them all out</span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zjB5T0le_MQd1x3GU1mWJ2oH4nO-ZGZyH_9qD9It_oJLrT_Pb29bFk9fLkzSyP50I0Xu-yLmpZ4sOq37r2xQ8xXT1DyvXF0BTJgUydxdWTVThCebk1fMMW51AA4uaDFgviCuR1k5BZQ9/s1600/IMG_3559.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269222273119506" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6zjB5T0le_MQd1x3GU1mWJ2oH4nO-ZGZyH_9qD9It_oJLrT_Pb29bFk9fLkzSyP50I0Xu-yLmpZ4sOq37r2xQ8xXT1DyvXF0BTJgUydxdWTVThCebk1fMMW51AA4uaDFgviCuR1k5BZQ9/s400/IMG_3559.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Hay <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mucho</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">polbo</span> = There is lots of dust. This is what happens when you hitch hike and have 1 leg hanging out of the truck because there <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">isn't</span> enough room for both of them</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB4-NlPBXvNx1dJDrVgzpJOqpKC6okM_GBag3F9JjGVIfTGk6l2nj7oxMlvoHpzI38TqS4sG_uBJm6Cl4lY9B29RCjZmNEIqyWl_Pd8rtDVvzl5wchbQDjVkWas350HdO-rfaksiI_zfO/s1600/IMG_3558.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269216138647682" style="WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOB4-NlPBXvNx1dJDrVgzpJOqpKC6okM_GBag3F9JjGVIfTGk6l2nj7oxMlvoHpzI38TqS4sG_uBJm6Cl4lY9B29RCjZmNEIqyWl_Pd8rtDVvzl5wchbQDjVkWas350HdO-rfaksiI_zfO/s400/IMG_3558.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Speaking of hitch hiking, you know you are beginning to get integrated when you can pass out in the back of a truck sitting next to a police officer on his way to work. Classic Emily. She is classy after all<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqECAZCj_1A56dVH0NH5tLUPNRsmnRRzKTV5eFIwiJyWJ663YftKsWA93arZoX1QNU2lV3tyKrJB1kSKmaDD1TumTMUXeerZjVuN_ILHWHzzhFfr15BK-GcB75CR2BMWmBlYk1vJmGb9Y/s1600/IMG_3554.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472269209715175746" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqECAZCj_1A56dVH0NH5tLUPNRsmnRRzKTV5eFIwiJyWJ663YftKsWA93arZoX1QNU2lV3tyKrJB1kSKmaDD1TumTMUXeerZjVuN_ILHWHzzhFfr15BK-GcB75CR2BMWmBlYk1vJmGb9Y/s400/IMG_3554.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">You do the math... 24 seats x 2 people per seat should = 48 right? I guess 84 sounded better. Welcome to public transport in Belize. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I'm</span> pretty sure I've been on a bus with well over 100 people. Somehow it works</span></p>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-16297263967088266752010-05-11T12:15:00.003-05:002010-05-11T12:28:48.745-05:00Subway of Belize City<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470062537189005074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y00MZEAjwWkr-MGcWjF_FLzhcoteemX9tJOhpyCdSuH7eYiJeH2T-fLtGHcBUymGiyROz5GUQXXed2KW24QwpCLI1hfqbeUnd6wXEADEzKqjdrhfmfYs4q9U66BVsTSoE_WlNrc3oGoD/s400/IMG_3594.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">After seeing a sign such as this, it may seem like a beacon of hope. Belize City is the capitol of Belize. It has skyscrapers, train systems, and millions of people right? Wrong. It has no buildings over probably 15 stories, no efficient public transit system, and only about 70,000 people. It is per <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">capita</span> the highest murder rate in the world. It may sound dangerous but its only because there <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">aren't</span> that many people. This "Subway" is at the heart of Belize City. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Every time</span> I see it, I get excited. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Every time</span> I think of what is inside, I get sad. </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbacZ4ILE6CiO-1ViCvf9f-pFqzVImEdo1Y-C_BFAUt2RH79HJlmLcUrPVfVyeiA6K50iWJ5gznlZeiqFZpniZaQ7rCOZLKSdJv7r6ZHo-26FqZvJKAKzWEpjFLoMHBkadtSxNJwX1VPdz/s1600/IMG_3596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470062550035434226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbacZ4ILE6CiO-1ViCvf9f-pFqzVImEdo1Y-C_BFAUt2RH79HJlmLcUrPVfVyeiA6K50iWJ5gznlZeiqFZpniZaQ7rCOZLKSdJv7r6ZHo-26FqZvJKAKzWEpjFLoMHBkadtSxNJwX1VPdz/s400/IMG_3596.JPG" border="0" /></a> You see... this is not a Subway at all. It may be a sub shop, but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">doesn't</span> mean it's any good. It used to be a real Subway, but then it was too expensive to pay for the meat to be shipped in and the franchise refused to have its name on something that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">wasn't</span> to the industry standard. So they pulled out. That <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">doesn't</span>, however, mean they took the signs down. Its much cheaper to just leave everything.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx54d1SQ7dDEfw839bs_SQfDyMlBlT-6vcjJI82wvIhXA-B2BQ8uoywyfl-u8gUb_Kc9H6qatG_2IntbOo3NGSfsxC_BKAMAy8GNhroVSOe7l2xc1J8VYvJMgwiAedr5JdcQCcMvFCONYZ/s1600/IMG_3595.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470062547909060594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx54d1SQ7dDEfw839bs_SQfDyMlBlT-6vcjJI82wvIhXA-B2BQ8uoywyfl-u8gUb_Kc9H6qatG_2IntbOo3NGSfsxC_BKAMAy8GNhroVSOe7l2xc1J8VYvJMgwiAedr5JdcQCcMvFCONYZ/s400/IMG_3595.JPG" border="0" /></a> The sign still stands today. The breads, the sauces, the cheeses, pictures... everything is like a real Subway in the United States. The only problem is just because there is a picture of it on the menu, or a oven that says Subway on it, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">doesn't</span> mean you can expect it to taste anything like you'd want it to.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvV-O6kvO_ca1HOPYcewQT0HBOJv7swPObHMAcprdHCIzwy7YvvjT9xQFJCaXwvCGeFraRS5WmduARy6fyI12dH4eYz8ytlqWpvgSvGS_FQAPb6K6QECGa7YYgthGJsDMygwLGXt4gvns/s1600/IMG_3593.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470062531421930914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvvV-O6kvO_ca1HOPYcewQT0HBOJv7swPObHMAcprdHCIzwy7YvvjT9xQFJCaXwvCGeFraRS5WmduARy6fyI12dH4eYz8ytlqWpvgSvGS_FQAPb6K6QECGa7YYgthGJsDMygwLGXt4gvns/s400/IMG_3593.JPG" border="0" /></a> Why the sign may say one thing, what is inside is obviously different. It's just a skeleton of what should be a Subway. Instead of delicious fresh baked cookies wafting throughout the air, it smells more like Belize City. Dirty. Dirty. Dirty. But then again, on my 2 times walking into this place, I have never seen a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Belizean</span> try to eat there. They know better. They are smarter than that. </div><div> </div><div>Want a soda? You better like Sprite. Its the only thing available. </div><div> </div><div>Just how you cant judge a book by its cover, you cant judge a Subway by the sign out front.</div></div><br /></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-79703830547292447062010-05-06T15:01:00.002-05:002010-05-06T15:17:54.043-05:00Hace Calor!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SRvXt2KYsHkTVKz-NoML7gkmFfmm3FeogIjG7O9rqrF78_o5Nxt30roTBcnMRjOrk74fjdmvyI2JpKCge8Vftqy8V4uL4e6MdDLiRBiDILy9W6Ms6tYBtxo6UP9IQu9SuazV9RKilRAn/s1600/fry+an+egg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468249835982450466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SRvXt2KYsHkTVKz-NoML7gkmFfmm3FeogIjG7O9rqrF78_o5Nxt30roTBcnMRjOrk74fjdmvyI2JpKCge8Vftqy8V4uL4e6MdDLiRBiDILy9W6Ms6tYBtxo6UP9IQu9SuazV9RKilRAn/s400/fry+an+egg.jpg" border="0" /></a> The saying goes that it's so hot outside that you could fry an egg on the sidewalk. Well here in Belize, sidewalks are kind of rare but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">I'm</span> pretty sure that you could fry an egg anywhere you wanted. It would taste better too because it would be fresh from the Mennonites. The egg might even still be warm, straight from the chicken. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">As you know, I live in Orange Walk District. Its in the North of Belize. It's hot here. It's usually abbreviated OW for short, but now <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> just <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">starting</span> to realize what OW stands for. OW is due to the heat because it gets so hot that it hurts and makes you say OW! For example: </div><ul><li><div align="center">Last Sunday- 112 degrees with a heat index of 123</div></li><li><div align="center">Last Monday- 109 degrees with a heat index of 117</div></li><li><div align="center">This <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Monday</span>- 100.9 degrees at 8:30am</div></li></ul><p align="center">Those may be the extremes but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">doesn't</span> mean we get a nice 80 degree day anytime either. It's hot everyday. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hasn't</span> rained in weeks and I sometimes get hot showers now due to how hot the water gets in the pipe before it turns cold. </p><p align="center">I shower on minimum thrice daily. Yes, I just used the word thrice. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">don't</span> care about cleanliness, I care about cooling my body from extreme heat. </p><p align="center">Luckily, most of the day I sit in an air conditioned computer lab in pure bliss until I open the door and the sweat begins to pour. </p><p align="center">The worst part are the nights. My idea of cooling off is rolling over from my back to my stomach so the sweat from my back can be cooled by the 2 fans blowing on me. I'm like a rotisserie chicken, ever 5 minutes, just turn me over. </p><p align="center">It's a great life and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">wouldn't</span> change it for the world but I am beginning to understand why Mateo (a 3rd year volunteer) said he had to go home before the summer because he simply <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">couldn't</span> do another summer here. </p><p align="center">I guess this the beginning of 2. I hope I survive. Just be thankful my water <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">isn't</span> metered so I can shower all day to keep cool. </p>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-22255332812503046562010-05-05T18:58:00.003-05:002010-05-05T19:12:54.669-05:00Cinco de MayoI <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shouldn't</span> even waste my time on this but since I did St. Patrick's Day and Fat Tuesday, I might as well fill you in on this one too.<br /><br />It's pretty simple.<br />Nothing happened.<br /><br />Once again, no one drinking, no one dancing. No need to go out and party like a fool.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> starting to think its more because places of the world like this have something the United States <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">doesn't</span> have: Culture.<br /><br />Not that the US <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">doesn't</span> have culture, but not a unified culture. Unless you count being <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">xenophobic</span> or flying an American Flag outside your house having culture, but sorry... I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">don't</span>.<br /><br />I see culture every day. It's unique, beautiful, and inspiring everyday. Some of it may be boring, but it was created hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago when things were as exciting to watch.<br /><br />Speaking of years, the US is pretty young. Only 234 years old. May seem like a long time but in the grand scheme of things we are young. Belize may only be 28 years old but the culture was here long before colonialism ever came around.<br /><br />I think the most disappointing thing about how the US celebrates made up holidays that are supposed to represent other countries' culture is how unwelcoming we are of other cultures. People are busy getting drunk right now, with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">sombrero</span> on, dancing salsa, trying to be Mexican while in the same country we do our best to keep Mexicans out.<br /><br />The US is what it is today because of the influence of other cultures and mass immigration, but somewhere along the way, many people decided we couldn't fit anymore. Or better yet, we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">don't</span> want anymore. Now, those people are Mexicans or anyone of Latin decent and Arizona doesn't want them.<br /><br />I just hope no one in Arizona is celebrating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Cinco</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">de</span> Mayo while at the same time hoping more "Mexican looking people" get arrested for being anything other than white and speaking a language other than English.<br /><br />Crazy how fast we celebrate the culture of the "other" while making damn sure they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">don't</span> become one of "us."Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-46579832738447626742010-05-05T18:39:00.002-05:002010-05-05T18:54:45.038-05:00Kids Say the Darnedest ThingsBill Cosby used to host this TV show back in the day that I never watched but was titled "Kids Say the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Darnedest</span> Things."<br /><br />Yes, they do.<br /><br />I had them make Mother's Day Cards and then we would print them out. Seems easy, seems fun. Not easy, not fun, but perhaps very funny. Some of the best quotes were:<br /><ul><li>"Mom, thank you for not lashing me, I love you."</li><li>"Mom you are beautiful and big"</li><li>"Mom you are fat."</li><li>"I love when you cook for me"</li><li>"Your eyes are the color of mud"</li><li>"You are the best mom I have in this world"</li></ul><p>I wish that some of these could be funny if only taken out of context, but for most of them, its simply what they wrote. When I would ask the kids if they were sure <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">that's</span> what they wanted to say, they were <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">adamant</span> about it. I asked the teacher and she said it was fine. Who knows. As much as I try to understand cultural communication, there are some things I may never get. </p><p>I may be completely wrong too and the meanings of what those kids wrote is not even close to what I think they mean. Bottom line is every single kid out of 149 mentioned either "I love you" or "Happy Mother's Day," so that has to count for something. </p><p>And on that note, Happy Mother's Day a bit early Mom. I love you and sorry I cant be there this year. I'll try my best to call you. </p>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-79459785287601484602010-04-21T15:32:00.002-05:002010-04-21T15:38:25.941-05:00MangosGo to your local Kroger or King Soupers today and check out how much mangos are. I bet they are over $1 each. How much are they here?<br /><br />FREE<br /><br />Why? Well, just like money in the United States, they grow on trees. They are everywhere. Sounds delicious right. But there is a catch 22 in every situation.<br /><br />For some odd reason, Belizeans love salt and pepper. So instead of waiting for the mangos to become ripe, they pick them, peel them, and put salt and pepper on them until they taste good.<br /><br />The idea of waiting for them to become ripe when they are sweet and delicious seems to fall on deaf ears. Similar to sarcasm and inside jokes.<br /><br />The catch 22 is something I am waiting to find out. Will there be so many mangos once they are ripe that we must eat them before they go bad? By eating them now when they are green, does it help them so none are wasted?<br /><br />I don't know the answer to this, but if kids keep coming to school everyday with salt, pepper, and mango in a bag and in a few months when they are ripe I cant find any of them... I'm gonna be pissed.<br /><br />Think about that next time you go to the grocery and think about buying fresh fruit. Is it really fresh if there are only 3 months of the year where people who live where it grows can eat it?Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-24567103973441980772010-04-21T09:28:00.014-05:002010-04-21T15:31:26.440-05:00Victoria's Peak<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPZd8ch2x2OCoX6KlTtXK-TY9NdEETINXPreIgwjDpWUSkgwrPSYpWGsHNOD9ZzxESLPgtJXVvRxmIBSXmyDT4uaU7kGLNeCRE-gECeT0ubLPM8UhA6tRv3Fdi2RKv7R4z37vtlE3yQ9F/s1600/24703_833265891459_14810428_46629888_1231793_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600895535152978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPZd8ch2x2OCoX6KlTtXK-TY9NdEETINXPreIgwjDpWUSkgwrPSYpWGsHNOD9ZzxESLPgtJXVvRxmIBSXmyDT4uaU7kGLNeCRE-gECeT0ubLPM8UhA6tRv3Fdi2RKv7R4z37vtlE3yQ9F/s400/24703_833265891459_14810428_46629888_1231793_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> Someone had the great idea to climb Victoria's Peak. You, like everyone else, may be saying to yourself: What is Victoria's Peak? Well for all you business savvy people out there, here is a bulleted list: </div><ul><li><div align="left">At 3,675 feet Victoria's Peak is the highest mountain in Belize</div></li><li><div align="left">Fewer People have climbed this mountain than Everest</div></li><li><div align="left">The hike usually takes 5 days 4 nights with stops at 12k, 19k, 19k, 12k</div></li><li><div align="left">The hike is 27k up and 27k down to make 54km</div></li><li><div align="left">54km is roughly 33.5 miles</div></li><li><div align="left">We hiked it in 3 days 2 nights only stopping at 19k and 12k</div></li><li><div align="left">It was the worst decision I've ever made</div></li><li><div align="left">8 left for the hike, 5 made it to summit</div></li><li><div align="left">I made it</div></li><li><div align="left">I do not recommend anyone in their right mind to do this<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnlnE3zjKh5hYX22xze5nxK9IH5y-kB20v-74L_FrsWlSZF6DmxL80UXFgaGvMHtarLS5_25KOAvLsHuNc3_GsicEe2z3jIzdXq659vDuNieBLKXqaNIeMtc65z5OZbOM6VLdjy9TpSqp/s1600/24703_833264254739_14810428_46629879_812843_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462597939393605554" style="WIDTH: 142px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnlnE3zjKh5hYX22xze5nxK9IH5y-kB20v-74L_FrsWlSZF6DmxL80UXFgaGvMHtarLS5_25KOAvLsHuNc3_GsicEe2z3jIzdXq659vDuNieBLKXqaNIeMtc65z5OZbOM6VLdjy9TpSqp/s200/24703_833264254739_14810428_46629879_812843_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTlZKVusPHcRz8QRzN1JTadGSCn2K0FH4D4-wWMKO66EGbBP4xxVAUXJULmQKV4YZl8F1Esg8ks4V4DFWVkAEQdi1ms7o9FQe2TU8haQxPAWEQfnrsyB-_KsbVQfWdDs9rORf823JPuge/s1600/24703_833264249749_14810428_46629878_6677580_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462597934480108866" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTlZKVusPHcRz8QRzN1JTadGSCn2K0FH4D4-wWMKO66EGbBP4xxVAUXJULmQKV4YZl8F1Esg8ks4V4DFWVkAEQdi1ms7o9FQe2TU8haQxPAWEQfnrsyB-_KsbVQfWdDs9rORf823JPuge/s200/24703_833264249749_14810428_46629878_6677580_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7n3abwi1gD47uOM2j1B4FTZ-LrNE8S4gLzIGfsIAi0mTnDbK7XZpr6YzsUwGkRX5gYKY-v-bMKrv0cz54qFS2M-y87d6hi4JTxwQdliHqAS8Ln4CYFu6tScB0B_I-cJWPA-ny315z5Ch/s1600/24703_833264264719_14810428_46629880_6255890_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462597951036477474" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7n3abwi1gD47uOM2j1B4FTZ-LrNE8S4gLzIGfsIAi0mTnDbK7XZpr6YzsUwGkRX5gYKY-v-bMKrv0cz54qFS2M-y87d6hi4JTxwQdliHqAS8Ln4CYFu6tScB0B_I-cJWPA-ny315z5Ch/s200/24703_833264264719_14810428_46629880_6255890_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></li></ul><p align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;">This was part of the Jaguar Preserve, but we didn't see any. Look at how happy we looked, we almost enjoyed one another. </span><span style="font-size:78%;"><br /></span>Now, for those of you who prefer more of a story... here we go. </p><p align="left">We camped the night before at base camp (0 km) and left at 6am. By the pictures, you can tell we look clean and well rested. We didn't know what we were about to get ourselves into. We left full of smiles and the first 12 km were a breeze. Most of the trails were nice and wide with wooden bridges over the streams so we wouldn't get wet. We were chatting it up like it was a Sunday stroll without a care in the world. The 30 lbs on my back was nothing. I may have only brought bagged re fried beans, a loaf of bread, some tortillas and a jar of peanut butter, but I had more than enough. Its only a little hike. </p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw6ZzCViPATya-glJNVjdA99p4vY_d8hrxJC7hTKswHEUPHGXcJm1spwdPa6xlu9iJAqKG4gmbvwQXPEjXnvNUxLOeXmOfpnNB6UYGiD9tQEWronDBQnw9WiYeOBLDgm_jQvncLZ0zwP8/s1600/24703_833265896449_14810428_46629889_2805313_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462597956883282386" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxw6ZzCViPATya-glJNVjdA99p4vY_d8hrxJC7hTKswHEUPHGXcJm1spwdPa6xlu9iJAqKG4gmbvwQXPEjXnvNUxLOeXmOfpnNB6UYGiD9tQEWronDBQnw9WiYeOBLDgm_jQvncLZ0zwP8/s200/24703_833265896449_14810428_46629889_2805313_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUL5EgGnTq9omIK_JO5YQXAWYC4S5N2z9pmtkhXTt36cPqnEG6Wv8g7aynQRdIQH-rKrjpSaiT5x1LEI8WF0ZRmpxqXMbNi9wTSpyDqQNsatH0n0g70QMKabMwgTBixJ9pdFbxTDOXfwQ/s1600/24703_833265901439_14810428_46629890_911020_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598365704066610" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUL5EgGnTq9omIK_JO5YQXAWYC4S5N2z9pmtkhXTt36cPqnEG6Wv8g7aynQRdIQH-rKrjpSaiT5x1LEI8WF0ZRmpxqXMbNi9wTSpyDqQNsatH0n0g70QMKabMwgTBixJ9pdFbxTDOXfwQ/s200/24703_833265901439_14810428_46629890_911020_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Heather, hating her life first. This is 15k when most of us are already thinking "Why the hell am I doing this?"</span></p><div align="center">We crossed over a river at 12 km and stopped to have a small bite to eat. We were all feeling great and my Keens were holding up just as I thought they would. I brought tennis shoes just in case but didn't plan on needing them. Keens can do anything. Now notice some of the faces in the pictures, we are already starting to hate our lives around 14km and we had no idea that we hadn't even reached the hard parts yet. The first day we were hiking to 19 km to camp. The 2nd day we would summit and then stop at 19k again before hiking out the last 19k on Monday morning. As you can imagine, the plan never works out the way it was planned.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UCP_VyA-Brk926UTMCUYlpvWy7eMsBXqL4-Yffy0FbRJXdL3u6eC5VM7HIpqq575o8KAhEBSD1Ct4QmAD8a9U2MbVvvHmn_WZB8hUi7L2c13dvkZNpnDWWSnWgOTyHIC5g2kBXzhOvFT/s1600/24703_833265991259_14810428_46629905_3585406_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598661774111890" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UCP_VyA-Brk926UTMCUYlpvWy7eMsBXqL4-Yffy0FbRJXdL3u6eC5VM7HIpqq575o8KAhEBSD1Ct4QmAD8a9U2MbVvvHmn_WZB8hUi7L2c13dvkZNpnDWWSnWgOTyHIC5g2kBXzhOvFT/s200/24703_833265991259_14810428_46629905_3585406_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Adam wringing out the sweat from his bandanna while we caught our breath and pounded fluids.</span><br /><div>Luckily, it wasn't too hot up there. It was probably around 80 degrees most of the hike. Not to mention we were covered by dense jungle about 90% of the time. This may lead you to believe that we were not sweating. This is not true. I have never sweat more in my life. Most of the hike wasn't fun, but we didn't quite know what torture was yet to begin with. We were just searching for the next pole in the ground to tell us how far we had to go. <div><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2l_hgy3fuVDTgCkS7isdQ0nbMNP8rZ07PDn6WHr-Ga_bzfnaIO-L94IbL2TK7S8rEjV8BXDkYCz0b1XOz5Eg3uXrBzhCRgodWvNA5lXVMp8_32CEHJXTEe5vU5VVHYQDUCE8LxSplG4tg/s1600/24703_833265971299_14810428_46629901_3525552_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598657860897346" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2l_hgy3fuVDTgCkS7isdQ0nbMNP8rZ07PDn6WHr-Ga_bzfnaIO-L94IbL2TK7S8rEjV8BXDkYCz0b1XOz5Eg3uXrBzhCRgodWvNA5lXVMp8_32CEHJXTEe5vU5VVHYQDUCE8LxSplG4tg/s200/24703_833265971299_14810428_46629901_3525552_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNF7o9OCgn7qLXv7_fvjvBUixmm078e28ak42ersfGMM4ZbFklSl3E_eVZIlyC9ovgBpSvlkJtVs7QiMmrNfGid_IMq51axVZIN6jhvkqeOU5-TeJTjyZEbT0hyQioOQu3ttFN2Jakvmv/s1600/24703_833265946349_14810428_46629898_1690994_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598651463872482" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNF7o9OCgn7qLXv7_fvjvBUixmm078e28ak42ersfGMM4ZbFklSl3E_eVZIlyC9ovgBpSvlkJtVs7QiMmrNfGid_IMq51axVZIN6jhvkqeOU5-TeJTjyZEbT0hyQioOQu3ttFN2Jakvmv/s200/24703_833265946349_14810428_46629898_1690994_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:78%;">Adam trying to be sexy at the waterfall. I just wanted water. More H2O please.<br /></span><div>17 km was the worst on the first day. It is almost entirely up hill. I know, I know. Its a mountain, it's all up hill right? Right, but not in the way you are thinking. The difference between this measly 3,675 ft peak and a 14,000 ft peak is 1 thing, the little guy is harder. </div><br /><div>You see in the US and most hikes you go on, they have these things called switchbacks that allow you to ascend the mountain but not go straight up. You have to walk farther but its not as strenuous and allows for more people of less skill to complete the hike. Not in Belize. It was straight up and straight down. We got our water from streams along the way and pumped them through a filter to purify it. The only problem was when you reached a stream, it meant that you had to go back up hill again. Which is so much harder than it seems.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9eTBkcjToJLiXwPxDW4liWrFmnxXhYF9GaRmyZQzWyjeQoeQtQQuVYdNgWq-mMQ-ViIf_4zOgbMNNkNOx8DZIb7_yKbFlwHdsMtxtAqJrgi9aYaz4-jKQ_dmrJ0tUEuasWfbyKaVrTUJ/s1600/24703_833265906429_14810428_46629891_5597752_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598371534332322" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9eTBkcjToJLiXwPxDW4liWrFmnxXhYF9GaRmyZQzWyjeQoeQtQQuVYdNgWq-mMQ-ViIf_4zOgbMNNkNOx8DZIb7_yKbFlwHdsMtxtAqJrgi9aYaz4-jKQ_dmrJ0tUEuasWfbyKaVrTUJ/s200/24703_833265906429_14810428_46629891_5597752_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqArGStY2sw8BpF8x70aBf0knJNNFtiADyJf49UQMTydWM_2a5lGzbSmYj3HzOqrKopN0iLoa3H4FvPWSFF-nDITsZkPF0U_XkIWsz1TzY0KMtb1Qop1yWLTFCKW8ohSUJvGq0q9RMNqBq/s1600/24703_833265916409_14810428_46629893_520117_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598374129832194" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqArGStY2sw8BpF8x70aBf0knJNNFtiADyJf49UQMTydWM_2a5lGzbSmYj3HzOqrKopN0iLoa3H4FvPWSFF-nDITsZkPF0U_XkIWsz1TzY0KMtb1Qop1yWLTFCKW8ohSUJvGq0q9RMNqBq/s200/24703_833265916409_14810428_46629893_520117_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Dense Jungle and a small clearing where we finally got to put our eye on the prize<br /></span>At 18 km, we got our first glimpse of old Victoria herself. It was intimidating how steep it was. The picture does not do her justice. We pulled into 19k and thought we were close to death. There was not much talking anymore and most people ate some food, drank fluids, bathed in the river, set up tents, and went to bed around 7pm to wake up at 4am for the hike to the summit. </div><br /><div></div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXYNHF0rGcSrzJPmDi272R_R9M9EiFZhb91pbbyfLP7SzHU0wYYVx1NOxwmphfbDtvVR4NmG1xQNSw0E8im7zm6j1R_MRHUR-MRTird8xzkO9giTIcGhJzCneewryEJxnvITS5oOpVW9M/s1600/24703_833265931379_14810428_46629896_6437991_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598379272136834" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXYNHF0rGcSrzJPmDi272R_R9M9EiFZhb91pbbyfLP7SzHU0wYYVx1NOxwmphfbDtvVR4NmG1xQNSw0E8im7zm6j1R_MRHUR-MRTird8xzkO9giTIcGhJzCneewryEJxnvITS5oOpVW9M/s200/24703_833265931379_14810428_46629896_6437991_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6sw5fOvIoqFDZAnzVSFLG7KIqFvGvsb3j2D-OLgCT4MZgs5DaUAHh3KI5KWW6HxSwpNaMJoXDR7u-UDxu1zNLyVMeF4QhDroqL3h-9rCnA6tEU7gfOmAaZyD15HfqCCK_cSjKrhNb1HP/s1600/24703_833271555109_14810428_46630065_6300567_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599519876561634" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6sw5fOvIoqFDZAnzVSFLG7KIqFvGvsb3j2D-OLgCT4MZgs5DaUAHh3KI5KWW6HxSwpNaMJoXDR7u-UDxu1zNLyVMeF4QhDroqL3h-9rCnA6tEU7gfOmAaZyD15HfqCCK_cSjKrhNb1HP/s200/24703_833271555109_14810428_46630065_6300567_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:78%;">Me, making it to 19 km, when I was pulled to the site by the spirit of Rambo.<br /></span><div>The 19 km camping ground wasn't exactly what most would consider a camping ground but there was a clearing and a make shift structure with half a roof. Good enough. Our feet were disgusting, I had 1 blister by this point.<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfYS_aO2CYwz-4ZzrU_iEqKETheqWg5H945wciJKKXKYVMM8Gowmrkol01MSAsjOKJykvc1rbq7zPVi0uCQeTNYIxDpSSFjxGAkst4_TPfyblRfBEoIZbbLnfFXtfCgBNVeH2_3m5JlaR/s1600/24703_833265936369_14810428_46629897_1575609_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598387050092578" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfYS_aO2CYwz-4ZzrU_iEqKETheqWg5H945wciJKKXKYVMM8Gowmrkol01MSAsjOKJykvc1rbq7zPVi0uCQeTNYIxDpSSFjxGAkst4_TPfyblRfBEoIZbbLnfFXtfCgBNVeH2_3m5JlaR/s200/24703_833265936369_14810428_46629897_1575609_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:78%;">Katie's feet, mine didn't look any better. Lt. Dan was right about those socks after all.<br /></span><div>It is also important to mention that my Keens did fail me. For those of you who really know me, you can imagine how disappointed I was in myself and in my footwear. I had to switch to shoes halfway up the hill at 17 km. I never put them back on my feet until I reached Yo Creek. They are somewhat broken but far from not being able to wear them. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1n99uFmzdN8yvuU1QW-iffvgx057CoTIMt7iCt1gr60FDLMK1uDax-M-7bfMH31wq52aNTdILrk2sZ4kVaMi7GU-UfMWW12_idFl4X90QPJLHBQuUPIkfahEns0eJO12lCLqMhZ4QLqb/s1600/24703_833266001239_14810428_46629906_72316_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598664241456178" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1n99uFmzdN8yvuU1QW-iffvgx057CoTIMt7iCt1gr60FDLMK1uDax-M-7bfMH31wq52aNTdILrk2sZ4kVaMi7GU-UfMWW12_idFl4X90QPJLHBQuUPIkfahEns0eJO12lCLqMhZ4QLqb/s200/24703_833266001239_14810428_46629906_72316_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Me feeling like absolute hell<br /></span>We left the next morning by headlamp at 5am. I couldn't figure out why, but then after awhile I realized the trick our guide was playing on us. He had hiked Victoria's 25 times and knew how us gringos would react if we knew just how steep the hill we were climbing was. Lucky for us, we could only see as far as our lights would show and just took it one step at a time. One of the hardest things was after the 20 km point the marker signs stopped showing up, but we didn't know that. We thought that the 20th km was the longest one yet and we had been hiking for hours and still hadn't come close to 21 km. Then Marcelo, our Mayan guide, told us we were past 24 km. This was when your mind began to play tricks on you. </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtiL5-emw28nZEqUUUs6eqpb83phUXxy-2cAMYBq_J90y7luS0k1GbYnhiPWFkv2OBBmmhobYR8aol96JoBSGZGEEVoXDSToNPKE-zY98GuVp7bazO-oP0g3c6kiqEUveur84GuOg0dUT/s1600/24703_833271480259_14810428_46630056_6601530_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462598672446963490" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtiL5-emw28nZEqUUUs6eqpb83phUXxy-2cAMYBq_J90y7luS0k1GbYnhiPWFkv2OBBmmhobYR8aol96JoBSGZGEEVoXDSToNPKE-zY98GuVp7bazO-oP0g3c6kiqEUveur84GuOg0dUT/s200/24703_833271480259_14810428_46630056_6601530_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Determined. Ready. Stubborn.<br /></span><div>I like to think I've done some really stupid things in my day. All the hard workouts from growing up being a wrestler to the 52 1/2 poles in baseball, but nothing ever compared to this. I'm not one to feel sorry for myself on a tough workout, but I was on the verge of tears a few times. On the uphills, my quads would cramp, on the downhills, my hamstrings would cramp. I drank as much water as I could stomach and never peed. That Sunday, I drank 11 liters of water and all and never went to the bathroom until the middle of the night and 2 hydration salts later.<br /></div><div>But as many other people know, I'm quite stubborn and when I set out to do something, I'm going to do it. I didn't care if someone was going to have to carry me to the top of that mountain, I was going to make it. </div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUELQ5nEBVDAmm1qXs0ZTi0AT_gs_CXewrrQEbnLCrVbxsTYce2bU8X4ELAxDR_AD-ITOAXt7wlpcR5O64YkiW4McZREY70x4oizditEsHp3SWzWhwt3ivENzJMdwLj6IDMb8tMJKd5hG/s1600/24703_833271565089_14810428_46630067_2855655_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599516464314274" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWUELQ5nEBVDAmm1qXs0ZTi0AT_gs_CXewrrQEbnLCrVbxsTYce2bU8X4ELAxDR_AD-ITOAXt7wlpcR5O64YkiW4McZREY70x4oizditEsHp3SWzWhwt3ivENzJMdwLj6IDMb8tMJKd5hG/s200/24703_833271565089_14810428_46630067_2855655_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfadt3tx1IEMs4clN-tZDPDhp0sBhzDX-jJqYUfqQ0NL42WDlDsYc3fur2zOYO2QoR3XpLpe_A2gLKtIQQFGQM06R8ySfs8DTCQKOzLc3ydANfvh7Mur2maEy3zbO6Ssu_iJZeb0OtN0V/s1600/24703_833271570079_14810428_46630068_2843017_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599510462892130" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfadt3tx1IEMs4clN-tZDPDhp0sBhzDX-jJqYUfqQ0NL42WDlDsYc3fur2zOYO2QoR3XpLpe_A2gLKtIQQFGQM06R8ySfs8DTCQKOzLc3ydANfvh7Mur2maEy3zbO6Ssu_iJZeb0OtN0V/s200/24703_833271570079_14810428_46630068_2843017_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Steep hills and luscious green jungle below</span><br /><div>The last few km on the hike are straight up. No need for your walking sticks anymore because they wont help you. It is pretty much hands and knees climbing on rocks that are so wet you could fall at any moment. We were in the jungle after all so it might not have been raining but the moisture was so apparent, all of the trees were dripping all around us.<br /><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462600906294026002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPgDeaIsMi20AQqmAeavKNngUbybFlZAxhbovisGzb7HBQIyxpxNzGjsWJko2M-VSD4jpMsWkYMG9Vi-0smDAxlNxj3Pi2iFwF-V1ARvaFV3ZABf01_KMC6fIg1IGdFjyHkoHepbF7uSh/s400/24703_833271575069_14810428_46630069_2181498_n.jpg" border="0" /></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Just before the summit, coming through the fog</span></div><div>We kept thinking the summit would be just over the next hill because for all that we could see, there was nothing else higher than that. But it seemed to never come. It was only 9am when we reached the summit but it felt like it took forever. Those were the 4 longest hours of my life.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_LYWDzjFliTFtnJUVsXdPO8hyy5GDty4JzA6fvvo9EZyUYztgh7silfi3NRh_xZYvRBeq76I0vBrJZd7OIxn6J8Gvss74_pbl34_9b2BadNsXrbdUiRoe4aGbOsuuvQ0tlxxBKhds3zi/s1600/24703_833271535149_14810428_46630062_5328925_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599018997825634" style="WIDTH: 138px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_LYWDzjFliTFtnJUVsXdPO8hyy5GDty4JzA6fvvo9EZyUYztgh7silfi3NRh_xZYvRBeq76I0vBrJZd7OIxn6J8Gvss74_pbl34_9b2BadNsXrbdUiRoe4aGbOsuuvQ0tlxxBKhds3zi/s200/24703_833271535149_14810428_46630062_5328925_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rNx7IGI_7WKX9LJuwrf7s_B3M-86jzFIEjbZTiBOvGmzkeB-nfdarrsHVN_K39FU195RGy91dqmXGZ_7islg8HA4OgVGhCx5r67pW6p0xZCfN23Zw1-0vRjKi9dFiLVEAkYNa-w66_rZ/s1600/24703_833271515189_14810428_46630061_7942664_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599014217654722" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rNx7IGI_7WKX9LJuwrf7s_B3M-86jzFIEjbZTiBOvGmzkeB-nfdarrsHVN_K39FU195RGy91dqmXGZ_7islg8HA4OgVGhCx5r67pW6p0xZCfN23Zw1-0vRjKi9dFiLVEAkYNa-w66_rZ/s200/24703_833271515189_14810428_46630061_7942664_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><span style="font-size:78%;">Climbing the rock</span><br /><div>Of the 5 (Jacob, Rion, Evi, Fiona, and myself) that left on the 2nd day, we all made it to the top. The 3 (Heather, Adam, and Katie) who stayed back at 19 km to wait for us will never know what they missed out on. But they might be better off for it. </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVLcwX5jE7L2PA9CfF2vwn1keube3whKCZKC_dSzqzltgeovYwmfv1qEgQb8yuCiJ4PNjokf5fbrLp8racsXfTuZHYNHqwfFqt9qJcI9elmVIUvw3ublpZ0JiWNvqVTXXsNv5a3fxV639/s1600/24703_833271510199_14810428_46630060_4908036_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599008006821698" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVLcwX5jE7L2PA9CfF2vwn1keube3whKCZKC_dSzqzltgeovYwmfv1qEgQb8yuCiJ4PNjokf5fbrLp8racsXfTuZHYNHqwfFqt9qJcI9elmVIUvw3ublpZ0JiWNvqVTXXsNv5a3fxV639/s200/24703_833271510199_14810428_46630060_4908036_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">3,675 of the hardest feet you'll ever walk</span></div><div>The summit was a bit of a disappointment. Most of the view was blocked by clouds but there are some things about the top of a mountain that pretty views and majestic skies cant show by taking a picture. The feeling of accomplishment that you get when reaching summit is something you can only understand if you've been there. Due to the clouds, all of the others that didn't leave 19 km think they were the smart ones. That they might be, but I'm glad I made it to the top and felt the rush of being there than giving up and simply using the excuse of "well it was cloudy anyway." The clouds and the views are a side point to the feeling of personal accomplishment by making it there.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL52LZKrXjmnxtCYaLm4KWKUbcgvU5LRyFn5EFUbyU4K14xl0JUn0WUZfuJnIBDXV4wj9hLtDf6VQE-mwEk8zAaU65y1BcNeX__YNXS2WCJz1pBit_0WwMj5UqQQKC3sLGmWV1cQUjn33q/s1600/24703_833271505209_14810428_46630059_1676718_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599003494956322" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL52LZKrXjmnxtCYaLm4KWKUbcgvU5LRyFn5EFUbyU4K14xl0JUn0WUZfuJnIBDXV4wj9hLtDf6VQE-mwEk8zAaU65y1BcNeX__YNXS2WCJz1pBit_0WwMj5UqQQKC3sLGmWV1cQUjn33q/s200/24703_833271505209_14810428_46630059_1676718_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIaapZaD8G4ouXMq7pbfsCn6K10NzAvRzGg7RmNFh_ky0yO1L90U_E_m_dpuaTa-bjd3Lq7lRawC3YJzLKJA51dFTha4rxD1-6XRtnzy7AWyAJIL3edcb117K356nLLe9bChyphenhyphenx9-DGHOB/s1600/24703_833271500219_14810428_46630058_6268560_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462599000867669922" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIaapZaD8G4ouXMq7pbfsCn6K10NzAvRzGg7RmNFh_ky0yO1L90U_E_m_dpuaTa-bjd3Lq7lRawC3YJzLKJA51dFTha4rxD1-6XRtnzy7AWyAJIL3edcb117K356nLLe9bChyphenhyphenx9-DGHOB/s200/24703_833271500219_14810428_46630058_6268560_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Writing in the summit log and the 5 who made it with our trusty guide. European girls are just a stronger breed I guess.<br /></span>If going up was hard, going back down was humbling. Different parts of my body now hurt that never hurt before because now my body was being used to stop itself from falling down instead of pulling itself up. This is when your feet scream and you grab for a tree to hold your balance only to find that its covered in thorns. Coming down was inspiring because when looking down at some of the hills you had climbed only a few hours ago, you had to wonder just how the hell you did it in the first place.</div><div></div><div>Instead of camping at 19 km for that night, we decided to go ahead and pack up and move another 7 km onto the next camp site and camp at 12 km. Those 7 km were hell. After hiking to the summit and back, the last thing I wanted to do was put the 30 lbs pack on all over again. But we made that too. Bed time on a mountain is as soon as the sun goes down, if you can keep your eyes open that long. I was asleep that night by 6:30pm. We had hiked from 5am to 5:30pm. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462603300456562594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJLz7qnXYsgYwuMsw2rwxwmnVVGjxeT_tth7g199bSb9w_kvR4jfreNflQaz24hKzmWb2lpbjOwENxVSlQCUcToaim5xKOizxhju705X5I9O2OQxlq4wUREWR0uDakoZNxzYYodpQfmhj/s400/24703_833271580059_14810428_46630070_8132121_n.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /></div><p align="center">I wish I could say that we all loved each other and made it to the bottom to a grand feast but I think we were all so sick of our own smell and filth that we just wanted to go home and sleep. I was in bed that night by 7:30pm and I didnt even reach home until 6:30. To make things better, I couldnt walk. But we will leave the injuries for another blog post. With other, not so great pictures. </p><p align="center">In the end, was it worth it? Probably not. I am very proud that I made it to the top but it's not something I look forward to doing again. That mountain pulled out all I had and it took all I had. It wasn't even about physical endurance because everyone's tank was on empty. It came down to mental toughness and the decision of whether or not you were going to let the grade of the hill decide the grade of strength in you. When I tell Belizeans that I climbed Victoria's Peak, they usually first ask what it is? Then I tell them and they say "Why the hell would you want to do that?" Before I left, I thought I had an answer. Now, upon return, I'm not so sure. </p>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-16409897704632539472010-04-20T10:48:00.011-05:002010-04-20T16:27:40.136-05:00San Pedro (Isla Bonita) = Not Belize<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasCXXedQozztsA_tEGvnjI3NWCVj7kr1Z6dWRUoKlJqOCkgi4kNovgAALS3q0yKTIJpUI9FOK7rcXdixL8ACMRcBhtpqfWLwmQrE3D8_AJPPWZiCH0Qq8T1FcsBLrrGZB0hm3DB5UxhtM/s1600/24703_833263576099_14810428_46629869_7863583_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462250592169422866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 99px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgasCXXedQozztsA_tEGvnjI3NWCVj7kr1Z6dWRUoKlJqOCkgi4kNovgAALS3q0yKTIJpUI9FOK7rcXdixL8ACMRcBhtpqfWLwmQrE3D8_AJPPWZiCH0Qq8T1FcsBLrrGZB0hm3DB5UxhtM/s400/24703_833263576099_14810428_46629869_7863583_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">View from the pool. Our room was the middle balcony across the water.</span> </div><div align="center">Madonna has a song called "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Isla</span> Bonita," you may have heard of it. Well, its about San Pedro, Belize. She <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">couldn't</span> have been more right, and the idea that most people get compared to what Belize really is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">couldn't</span> be more wrong. I got to spend part of my Easter break there because of 2 amazing women that invited us to hang out at their condo they had for the week. <br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqwgsNIaG31t6Vd2O0n6JYXcaariwMBpFB0k8MuW4MAEOJ5LykXGURGY4tUJl56EjYXnF-ejS0y1jsmIFLPzf6ovD-SO79hW7dDPDHPm62CVkkM2RY57W-EDzAtPNjYuVqTpbAH67EAk4/s1600/25268_718194929633_19214143_41870253_7752682_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462249036302715282" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqwgsNIaG31t6Vd2O0n6JYXcaariwMBpFB0k8MuW4MAEOJ5LykXGURGY4tUJl56EjYXnF-ejS0y1jsmIFLPzf6ovD-SO79hW7dDPDHPm62CVkkM2RY57W-EDzAtPNjYuVqTpbAH67EAk4/s200/25268_718194929633_19214143_41870253_7752682_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8kr58MMlKxtmBzjeBUOf5dX2yOwUoso9Y-RyzaXwU6lMbvaVBYUsHfUFmHsPEXbPL3dr8XfV1lGLWvVzIONnumN9Y_wqZioqVOiafzW7MGJKvZ6eWA_6EZICA503nze2ECEpF-Tcoauk/s1600/25268_718194944603_19214143_41870255_200244_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462249028860799746" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8kr58MMlKxtmBzjeBUOf5dX2yOwUoso9Y-RyzaXwU6lMbvaVBYUsHfUFmHsPEXbPL3dr8XfV1lGLWvVzIONnumN9Y_wqZioqVOiafzW7MGJKvZ6eWA_6EZICA503nze2ECEpF-Tcoauk/s200/25268_718194944603_19214143_41870255_200244_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Views of the Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Caribe</span> Condos</span><br />I got out there on a Wednesday and left on Saturday. I had originally planned to leave on Good Friday but as you can see, there were better things to do than go back to the village and read. Instead, I could sit out by the swim up bar and read there with ocean breeze keeping me cool. Much better than the Orange Walk heat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNHcEGUPnXqXyMw1ebCxuFlPKrOB4ABtVyZRrEGjDqRzFDssctuJSKrQ6z6-ycIKhT4ZkOi8U7DwGeTAKUNd9ckgUDFEleWXDHjYSF7Dfpwi22jbfBshuZt6DFCbFUBRXHvhUBdJsPJgm/s1600/24703_833263576099_14810428_46629869_7863583_n.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdQEbkxuL7NG8zRkuPVSR7vtIu9gtd58UPI-TSSNqA9bO14pLmW_UWA8cPCbpvS6r9fPqS8_ihrGIRu8Zr3SrzxTdIioBZRF1tDB6p7kW3AqX9UrlrveKeTIiaCfr34CwJA316hQp-zZP/s1600/24703_830342674609_14810428_46538027_6550626_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247782067890850" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdQEbkxuL7NG8zRkuPVSR7vtIu9gtd58UPI-TSSNqA9bO14pLmW_UWA8cPCbpvS6r9fPqS8_ihrGIRu8Zr3SrzxTdIioBZRF1tDB6p7kW3AqX9UrlrveKeTIiaCfr34CwJA316hQp-zZP/s200/24703_830342674609_14810428_46538027_6550626_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtR2N6FzFFwqCQu-Wyw8HJcKak2Ada0CXQwmPa0GXo7quSE8UFtpWarW37i1b1HbWqp_K1IGiq1wO6PtXGwijNNjPpGRX6FHtxgyEDo24ZSweKyIC9h2-OfsLSZNdKFVedjKGwqynpMom/s1600/25268_718194849793_19214143_41870239_2884006_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248496066970850" style="WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTtR2N6FzFFwqCQu-Wyw8HJcKak2Ada0CXQwmPa0GXo7quSE8UFtpWarW37i1b1HbWqp_K1IGiq1wO6PtXGwijNNjPpGRX6FHtxgyEDo24ZSweKyIC9h2-OfsLSZNdKFVedjKGwqynpMom/s200/25268_718194849793_19214143_41870239_2884006_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Swim up bar and a view from our room. Life was tough.<br /></span>We stayed at Grand <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Caribe</span>, which is about 3 miles north of the bridge to mainland San Pedro and its a paradise that is discovered but you wish <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">hadn't</span> been. San Pedro was amazing. It was like Mexico, except people spoke English. And not like Mexico at all because most of the people you saw were white.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QZPjyhQx1989166O3YbTF9rFxH60BgllpwBI5tCnsOwHmxr3DsT76whSu3kEYZBvKNr_vZHcfMMNqB-_dK2qF_rylQjYcZoAuCnugpEOoO8M13kIfi8YMZicwEzkBLBgAa6SIfOHplPi/s1600/untitled.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462249020510435682" style="WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QZPjyhQx1989166O3YbTF9rFxH60BgllpwBI5tCnsOwHmxr3DsT76whSu3kEYZBvKNr_vZHcfMMNqB-_dK2qF_rylQjYcZoAuCnugpEOoO8M13kIfi8YMZicwEzkBLBgAa6SIfOHplPi/s200/untitled.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kysGvS7jUfYdXu6W-WSq4183lJe8jsd-uRVQpnDUz_e_ulcHRKuiPP2qxzROZAmtQq1rC9ZiI6t4HfvnFpUS30thoiQiivcaABgJ0rj8KQ7qIM-X4TOYYqCnUfrPdw6XpMp9WY9Gk9r3/s1600/25268_718194959573_19214143_41870257_7628487_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462249027425077778" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kysGvS7jUfYdXu6W-WSq4183lJe8jsd-uRVQpnDUz_e_ulcHRKuiPP2qxzROZAmtQq1rC9ZiI6t4HfvnFpUS30thoiQiivcaABgJ0rj8KQ7qIM-X4TOYYqCnUfrPdw6XpMp9WY9Gk9r3/s200/25268_718194959573_19214143_41870257_7628487_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Need advertising? Not here, just put the word "Bar" really big out in the ocean. Someone will stop. Who? White people with $!</span><br />This was tourist haven. There is nothing wrong with a place like this. But there is something wrong if you come to Belize and this is all you see. San Pedro is just one of the many things that are amazing about this country, but its a place like this (and pictures like these) that make people from back home think there is nothing wrong with Belize.<br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HJE6WQITbq9SKr5ZlDOHKkzy_DKrpIu6Kkw5iMKJqHFMGkQ5Jk2DZhhwPXDIeA8BVp6MiwzipYhDR5EG9E7uE20q1V8HJJA0u5-xoiDLVc6m9yo1hJ3C8E3VfXV0wUAcWUlZEf-BcNKq/s1600/25268_718194894703_19214143_41870247_6575456_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462249015399347218" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HJE6WQITbq9SKr5ZlDOHKkzy_DKrpIu6Kkw5iMKJqHFMGkQ5Jk2DZhhwPXDIeA8BVp6MiwzipYhDR5EG9E7uE20q1V8HJJA0u5-xoiDLVc6m9yo1hJ3C8E3VfXV0wUAcWUlZEf-BcNKq/s200/25268_718194894703_19214143_41870247_6575456_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW24vbGfhVCM_i_Pd8209rZxCgH06RtouFKGwvZZ4NIsAC7N6OX9xk2Df1ocnlkKwr1EFNKAh3OWRun4gz97YlIZGYgED_uDSsHwP5UwPuPQdZrPH_eDAulfukpsWXmj1nx2ucheUA3kr/s1600/25268_718192958583_19214143_41870151_6426013_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248480216363042" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVW24vbGfhVCM_i_Pd8209rZxCgH06RtouFKGwvZZ4NIsAC7N6OX9xk2Df1ocnlkKwr1EFNKAh3OWRun4gz97YlIZGYgED_uDSsHwP5UwPuPQdZrPH_eDAulfukpsWXmj1nx2ucheUA3kr/s200/25268_718192958583_19214143_41870151_6426013_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">We may have been enjoying our time a bit too much. Sometimes this is needed from a break in the village life. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div>Being able to go snorkel and watch amazing fish or sea turtles float by is great. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Don't</span> get me wrong, I had my fair share of fun. Fishing in the ocean for my dinner, you bet I did. They were damn delicious too.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi882jxO_57oqd8m_ITwafD9O1A3QdCRg2MU37dV1WmUUc42pCRr4_jkaJbCe0CCFS7nWy09Ng74gRSfkKtFLYu8pEvkAfZUiosvjrzE4clQpqar6jS8lV4vN11hy6IqPjIu9wkmu-mwXBv/s1600/25268_718194839813_19214143_41870237_2496667_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248489757207970" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi882jxO_57oqd8m_ITwafD9O1A3QdCRg2MU37dV1WmUUc42pCRr4_jkaJbCe0CCFS7nWy09Ng74gRSfkKtFLYu8pEvkAfZUiosvjrzE4clQpqar6jS8lV4vN11hy6IqPjIu9wkmu-mwXBv/s200/25268_718194839813_19214143_41870237_2496667_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMTYtpT-IC60swyaXVEhzukSaGZffYU1rp03gfk_v-Wnqztx7tvnl5Bf3Q0iI3J1zV8K0ACi6U4zVaJhW1dBmPUYlrNMy5IoMisAr1D4QEIepdwMC6JQlxGN1zS8zfh02EMk_0rWeYGZ9/s1600/25268_718193128243_19214143_41870176_2647788_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248485730783234" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrMTYtpT-IC60swyaXVEhzukSaGZffYU1rp03gfk_v-Wnqztx7tvnl5Bf3Q0iI3J1zV8K0ACi6U4zVaJhW1dBmPUYlrNMy5IoMisAr1D4QEIepdwMC6JQlxGN1zS8zfh02EMk_0rWeYGZ9/s200/25268_718193128243_19214143_41870176_2647788_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Fish we caught and made for dinner and me getting ready for my photo shoot.<br /></span>I have now been to most of the tourist destinations of Belize and I can say that San Pedro is the most beautiful but my least favorite. The problem? Too many white people.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbslCC4-DODG9JvP0DtnenFQC6IZlMXlwpKK58BQSsbKDq38nnVzVKutKOrHJ5WkKMtGgvUhjZ5m0UP9NCPIfkJ9hFs9SnDLjR87CZ3k1AmUjcA1yiKCSzFExEoIjwG_4jBqBfGYSglhnU/s1600/25268_718192883733_19214143_41870139_1814010_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248090518357778" style="WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbslCC4-DODG9JvP0DtnenFQC6IZlMXlwpKK58BQSsbKDq38nnVzVKutKOrHJ5WkKMtGgvUhjZ5m0UP9NCPIfkJ9hFs9SnDLjR87CZ3k1AmUjcA1yiKCSzFExEoIjwG_4jBqBfGYSglhnU/s200/25268_718192883733_19214143_41870139_1814010_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">White wine? These lovely ladies brought a case of it. Best idea ever.</span> </div><div>You may be saying to yourself, just like the people in my village, that "Kevin, you are white!" I will have to disagree. I may have a slightly clearer skin than most in Belize, but I no longer act like a white person. Wondering what that looks like? It's hard to imagine because its probably like looking into the mirror and we all think we are better than that. Even me, even though <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I'm</span> really not.<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_HHBpixHhZR0Yz6pwpJhU_0EtV4Xo4FDD1SLABHotjFEsbFrIToHYP7oU7ZB8z59hJWRN158zJcdIVaKKwnVkWIvd1J3_ZOapjk3jAf4-Q_7RyP-k_nfpoj_ySYGN83tV433POKsk6rp/s1600/25268_718192863773_19214143_41870135_5221127_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248087698745218" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_HHBpixHhZR0Yz6pwpJhU_0EtV4Xo4FDD1SLABHotjFEsbFrIToHYP7oU7ZB8z59hJWRN158zJcdIVaKKwnVkWIvd1J3_ZOapjk3jAf4-Q_7RyP-k_nfpoj_ySYGN83tV433POKsk6rp/s200/25268_718192863773_19214143_41870135_5221127_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlQo3zK2_iJbTlvUsjvWeG_E-ZzFI0-f21bNgSHjLLnegDSE5aaQS8UB8kUlRke4MtP8se8UR9LNLOoCy2XiLnaUFBcR4A6OZj-yqZmwlbz5jEVW-WzZGsmksu7QcHDSiiqSoNuql3AIb/s1600/25268_718192778943_19214143_41870123_2261323_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248087006653490" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlQo3zK2_iJbTlvUsjvWeG_E-ZzFI0-f21bNgSHjLLnegDSE5aaQS8UB8kUlRke4MtP8se8UR9LNLOoCy2XiLnaUFBcR4A6OZj-yqZmwlbz5jEVW-WzZGsmksu7QcHDSiiqSoNuql3AIb/s200/25268_718192778943_19214143_41870123_2261323_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">The two lovely ladies who made this happen. Cant thank them enough. Aunt Carol and Momma Ronna are new members of the PC family.</span><br /></div><div>Look at those pictures... Those are white people at their finest. They are usually drunk, they wear flashy colors, always have sunglasses on, eat at restaurants that accept Visa and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mastercard</span>. They are the people in Belize that I despise. Why? Because they are the people that give Americans all over the world a bad name. Despite all of this, despite all of my ranting about how I think I'm better than that... I become one as soon as I get off the water taxi. <div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo46h69_O5eAkib5kQEkcRvsTLlcrSnELsSlZc1aN-bY-q2od_KEwlXNIm1SCGqOuUU9uZuB6v1AM_UkSSq94lpJuszygBRFed3YQAwCzJdqICHwlVNlwjm9sOtG4dJHqj4cYf-VBVR_M/s1600/25268_718192684133_19214143_41870108_3605753_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248082102785554" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo46h69_O5eAkib5kQEkcRvsTLlcrSnELsSlZc1aN-bY-q2od_KEwlXNIm1SCGqOuUU9uZuB6v1AM_UkSSq94lpJuszygBRFed3YQAwCzJdqICHwlVNlwjm9sOtG4dJHqj4cYf-VBVR_M/s200/25268_718192684133_19214143_41870108_3605753_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKQuWXcxJXTqD3KFlQYxueyw_EKzOcl33ogH3v8l7QzcXmhcSWOZMg6LtGmTc6-vFwleSBMLZNwxTSQTqL_89sM1cY4Y2DhhJEcoTMTu8Bqu9l_1WCxXIME5Do42qJXimqxfbLprVMXJ8/s1600/25268_718192669163_19214143_41870105_943928_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462248077906327090" style="WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKQuWXcxJXTqD3KFlQYxueyw_EKzOcl33ogH3v8l7QzcXmhcSWOZMg6LtGmTc6-vFwleSBMLZNwxTSQTqL_89sM1cY4Y2DhhJEcoTMTu8Bqu9l_1WCxXIME5Do42qJXimqxfbLprVMXJ8/s200/25268_718192669163_19214143_41870105_943928_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The sign says it all... "Living the Dream."</span><br /><div>Sure I pretend to talk a little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Kriol</span> here and there and I can converse with the waiter in Spanish about what I want, but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">doesn't</span> mean <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">I'm</span> not going to order a drink that no one with a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Belizean</span> residence card ever has. I become a tourist. Guilty as charged. It's worse than white trash in my mind. Am I ashamed? You bet I am. Does it stop me? Hell no.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWfa6vPedm1eIPttT5r3I3SfAXISl2LTC6IAyaAlMleNS5Awzy3xm1s-U_LXoowJRb-1h6e8KtRQYcmPqBPJWoeJ6njeouTm16RPh4NX7Sf5UoOtjx5ov9GGAvEvtTpzvZ32bgOxa4mAh/s1600/24703_830342649659_14810428_46538024_6078299_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247775390480578" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWfa6vPedm1eIPttT5r3I3SfAXISl2LTC6IAyaAlMleNS5Awzy3xm1s-U_LXoowJRb-1h6e8KtRQYcmPqBPJWoeJ6njeouTm16RPh4NX7Sf5UoOtjx5ov9GGAvEvtTpzvZ32bgOxa4mAh/s200/24703_830342649659_14810428_46538024_6078299_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqNrSxVwqCAPUgWK7i5lw3nqxVkYaI-Jg1ZC78zEtcopFUn8B8TePrNndvEjovaYGWJn88_a2D6dZcT1YztSqbj85xOU_0x8Q4inCz6ZMfnNTObws8zd6N3bPt783gbWR-x-Az07cZdOw/s1600/24703_830342634689_14810428_46538021_6812648_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247771995869266" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 114px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJqNrSxVwqCAPUgWK7i5lw3nqxVkYaI-Jg1ZC78zEtcopFUn8B8TePrNndvEjovaYGWJn88_a2D6dZcT1YztSqbj85xOU_0x8Q4inCz6ZMfnNTObws8zd6N3bPt783gbWR-x-Az07cZdOw/s200/24703_830342634689_14810428_46538021_6812648_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">I may have worn my sunglasses at night, but look at those fishes. Yes, I said fishes... it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Kriol</span><br /></span><div><div>San Pedro is not Belize. It probably used to be. But it has been taken over, bought out, and reclaimed as the USA just a few hundred miles south. This is one of the few places that tourists many outnumber the number of people who live there.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6uyiOgqIa8aLsfopq4auuKi4j66s-wN0R_0_XlIOPD70yE00zwghdzWdcvCXnnzUEVslSVuawbSBSkIO_On5eRnIt3skFM-fzHrqC6AaDvHp-XhdQMusIXRfNtY9nso7c935OTa-LQsr/s1600/24703_830342594769_14810428_46538018_5525149_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247769466113282" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6uyiOgqIa8aLsfopq4auuKi4j66s-wN0R_0_XlIOPD70yE00zwghdzWdcvCXnnzUEVslSVuawbSBSkIO_On5eRnIt3skFM-fzHrqC6AaDvHp-XhdQMusIXRfNtY9nso7c935OTa-LQsr/s200/24703_830342594769_14810428_46538018_5525149_n.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9-1sEBVt7qpFkQumNI5IGQWy6hcEXT22D0mf7NlRbHXT-NZqpSoHoMh33bZNeXHZf8fzFNJlhfccc41sky_XLtqrnPV5gtFBMhkbr-2WZ14auzSJIn2Bx-IEko-2UEY0rcIm5DfJaVsx/s1600/24703_830342564829_14810428_46538015_5099305_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247487843714530" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9-1sEBVt7qpFkQumNI5IGQWy6hcEXT22D0mf7NlRbHXT-NZqpSoHoMh33bZNeXHZf8fzFNJlhfccc41sky_XLtqrnPV5gtFBMhkbr-2WZ14auzSJIn2Bx-IEko-2UEY0rcIm5DfJaVsx/s200/24703_830342564829_14810428_46538015_5099305_n.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Adam, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">doublefisting</span>, why is this not surprising? This is just before I hated both of them for talking nonstop about Magic the Gathering. Hot tub. Necessary? Nope. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Appreciated</span> because we can? Yup. </span></div>It's easy to forget people live here all the time when the people you meet who are white live there too and they seem to be on vacation for life. Some would call it retirement, others call it privilege. I know one thing is for sure, laying in sea on a tube while beers are being lowered down to me on a rope is something I never expected when I signed up for the Peace Corps. I guess the blog title does fit from time to time.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLRBztmdjlQ414aQJYZlOTSz3AxWNeFO9VOhqg7-0JhyTku5fQTvC4nPHHbvfAgy01Vm6ehXNxjoIL-nZkSDL7AhPvpBXVpMoff9WxeAY45_RxFrkznTs9a8b7fLp0ctx72CgV4eoaiPW/s1600/4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247477717533394" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLRBztmdjlQ414aQJYZlOTSz3AxWNeFO9VOhqg7-0JhyTku5fQTvC4nPHHbvfAgy01Vm6ehXNxjoIL-nZkSDL7AhPvpBXVpMoff9WxeAY45_RxFrkznTs9a8b7fLp0ctx72CgV4eoaiPW/s200/4.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyB84o9ZOBk3NzwlKMXKDffdWQXz8T3xDi9KQLfKr1Yw-pjQiHk8wV9wdL02niEoyT3rNBviZ0B4ROooEDdqB7KNVbQOitoukP1HZud7TM9JQB3qkOWfqL8Ncs6PcToNPrMSTLyY-OTBVk/s1600/2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247466870718498" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyB84o9ZOBk3NzwlKMXKDffdWQXz8T3xDi9KQLfKr1Yw-pjQiHk8wV9wdL02niEoyT3rNBviZ0B4ROooEDdqB7KNVbQOitoukP1HZud7TM9JQB3qkOWfqL8Ncs6PcToNPrMSTLyY-OTBVk/s200/2.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">It's not floating <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">down t</span>he <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Poudre</span>, but its close and its still great.</span> </div>San Pedro was a great getaway and I recommend it to anyone who is coming to Belize. But I must warn you, if you are coming to see me, I will not allow you to just sit on a resort and have this be all you see. There is so much more to Belize than just a coastal view with umbrellas in your drink. There is real culture here and its hard to find on an island like San Pedro where everything from the land to the music (thanks Madonna) has been sold away to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">foreign</span> investors. <div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC9gXTNj7bbzvFj7z_tYmqmJKR_PfBJ_7Gfu6JbYpIuP06lth0euJx3_pq0QoT7t6aFIpLZjpTsICbSqPUabSrk5nPauD6Di5c1CgPIXWglXV7I4KlJDTJNomVVPZtNVirru4TvDQ6Wyy/s1600/3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247473480646082" style="WIDTH: 112px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpC9gXTNj7bbzvFj7z_tYmqmJKR_PfBJ_7Gfu6JbYpIuP06lth0euJx3_pq0QoT7t6aFIpLZjpTsICbSqPUabSrk5nPauD6Di5c1CgPIXWglXV7I4KlJDTJNomVVPZtNVirru4TvDQ6Wyy/s200/3.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DUqnMkB7GR-RgFrmAnGP1D_nzy6LQfVcC6ajM7oLhg-n2wDKkttR78w9mED8zcBx8P7ktsnxDUfXzg785gORqEzbpLRjEuGxe3MiD0dpWnkqn_GVzIfG6yTyjhYXglbQAA8GQb3U4-Qf/s1600/1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462247460457957218" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 112px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DUqnMkB7GR-RgFrmAnGP1D_nzy6LQfVcC6ajM7oLhg-n2wDKkttR78w9mED8zcBx8P7ktsnxDUfXzg785gORqEzbpLRjEuGxe3MiD0dpWnkqn_GVzIfG6yTyjhYXglbQAA8GQb3U4-Qf/s200/1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">Meet Fred. He was our mascot for the week. He was too good to eat. Just like Emily, who gets sexier by the day. We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">don't</span> know how she does it.</span> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-1356077364687182782010-04-16T12:23:00.000-05:002010-04-16T12:24:16.843-05:00Arm Wrestling Video<object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PNqrySa4uYs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PNqrySa4uYs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-76176798253120376762010-04-16T10:44:00.003-05:002010-04-16T12:11:03.508-05:00Haircut DayI <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wasn't</span> going to go to school today, but I thought since I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">didn't</span> go to the assembly on Monday that I'd go check out what is going on before going home to clean up for the weekend and the PCT visit. I never thought I'd see what I did and am still a little shocked about it myself.<br /><br />We have uniforms here at school. Most students cant really show too much personality with their bodies other than their hair or shoes. Now that may all be over now.<br /><br />On Fridays, it is known as "Rags Day" which means that for a small price, kids can wear whatever clothes they want and not the uniform. This usually is a great day because you can tell that people, especially the older kids, put some effort into their appearance.<br /><br />Today, the principal decided to tell kids that their hair had to be "normal" from now on. Exactly what "normal" is I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">don't</span> know, but these kids better find out. Otherwise they will be put on display for public embarrassment and shame.<br /><br />She called out every kid that had gel in their hair, whomever <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">didn't</span> have their hair combed nicely. She told them they needed to gel their hair straight and others to just comb their hair. Some kids she told to get a trim.<br /><br />This was bad enough. Actually pulling them up in front of the rest of the school for humiliation may have been too far. Most of these kids had gel in their hair, making it very hard for a comb to slide through. That <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">didn't</span> matter. She forced it through. With each stroke of the comb, she took away a small part of their individuality in a culture that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">doesn't</span> leave room for much in the first place.<br /><br />The flakes of hardened hair that fell out onto the ground were pieces of those kids excitement on why they come to school. If you cant express yourself in anyway, how will you do it? If a kid is failing all his classes and never gets noticed, but on Friday he can look nice and get members of the opposite sex to look their way, why should we stop them? What happens to the boys that we forbid from doing this? We have some problems, but take away the only way for these kids to express who they are and they will find other ways to be noticed. Then we will have other, bigger discipline problems than we currently do.<br /><br />Some kids may have need a small trim. Others may have too much gel. But public <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">humiliation</span> is not the way to do this. Instead of worrying about what is going on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">on top</span> of their heads, we ought to be worrying about what is going on inside their heads. Test scores keep dropping, but the scores getting lower <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">aren't</span> important. However, the amount of hair is.<br /><br />I've heard the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I like this definition. Our teachers preach to the kids all the time about growing up to be somebody. To make Belize proud and more importantly to make Yo Creek proud. Then the frustration begins when most of them seem to have simple problems like saving money or holding down a job.<br /><br />If they are supposed to be different and stand out in a crown so they get noticed, how are we reinforcing that? We tell them to be exactly the same. From smiles to books to uniforms to shoes to the food they eat and finally to the way they style their hair. Everything is supposed to be uniform in an effort to make a streamline machine of efficiency. But somewhere that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">doesn't</span> happen. We tell them to all be the same, and when they turn out to be so similar, we wonder why. Why is it that so many kids have the same problems? It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">couldn't</span> be how we teach reading. It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">couldn't</span> be the uniforms. It must be the haircuts.<br /><br />It's hard enough being a 13 year old kid trying to fit in without being pulled out <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">in front</span> of all your peers to be laughed at. We tell them to be different and then scold them when they are. We tell them to be the same and get confused when they listen. When they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">don't</span>, they are acting up. This is confusing just for me. I cant imagine being 13 having all this stuff thrown at me that changes every week. The times they are a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">changin</span>'. Everything goes with it too. From the corn field of the Midwest to the sugar cane fields of Orange Walk, everything is changing. It's about time we allow hairstyles to do the same.<br /><br />I've got a pair of scissors at my house. Anyone need a haircut? I promise to make you as "normal" as I know how, but no matter how hard I try, I still seem to think the main priority should lay whats under the skull, instead of how people decide to fashion and style whats on top of it.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-13849185738824012902010-03-18T11:19:00.002-05:002010-03-18T11:27:02.583-05:00St. Patrick's DayAnother "holiday" comes, another "holiday" goes. Such a surprise this year to not see one single green beer or to have one single person try to pinch me for not wearing green. What was it? Why didn't these expected things happen?<br /><br />One simple reason why:<br /><br />No where else besides the USA do cultures need a reason to drink and celebrate. They are usually busy working or they celebrate on the weekends because that's what they do every weekend. Only in the USA do we need to give ourselves a reason for everything we do. You want to drink heavily on a Wednesday? No problem, We'll make a holiday that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">isn't</span> recognized by any government and give ourselves a reason.<br /><br />That is 2 holidays up, 2 holidays down. Fat Tuesday and St. Paddy's Day where not one person in this village seemed to notice or even care about it passing. I think they are for the better because of it, and I assume <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Cinco</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">de</span> Mayo will be the same way despite most of the people in my village having real Mexican decent.<br /><br />Unlike most of us who will count down the days to the next made up "I need a reason holiday." I'll let you know come May 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> just how relaxing it is here.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-20138812878049734892010-03-17T19:24:00.001-05:002010-03-17T19:28:59.480-05:00Student Interview #2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLon7lp7FdVSzy-H3kN45iHg7V7WpnGw73DE4FLXcxnZ4VVG0vVhths23SPM1AZCiozfmgUUji4mrB1eNaOtoYzLcaqCFlZTRnMLwFQ_AutxVPO5ZYnHkBADWCKZzG2bQTipx80ulgHFDh/s1600-h/scan0004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLon7lp7FdVSzy-H3kN45iHg7V7WpnGw73DE4FLXcxnZ4VVG0vVhths23SPM1AZCiozfmgUUji4mrB1eNaOtoYzLcaqCFlZTRnMLwFQ_AutxVPO5ZYnHkBADWCKZzG2bQTipx80ulgHFDh/s400/scan0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449764109436324370" border="0" /></a>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-66576536522280088522010-03-16T11:03:00.003-05:002010-03-16T11:13:13.075-05:00A Taste of Politics in BelizeThe below was directly copied from the website of the local Ch. 7 news. I got to watch this live on TV and was shocked. Just for clarification of characters, they go as follows:<br /><ul><li>Hon. Dean Barrow - Prime Minister of Belize, UDP Party</li><li>Hon. Johnny Briceno- PUP Leader</li><li>Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Fort George Area Rep. -Former Prime Minister</li><li>Emil Arguelles- Speaker of the House</li></ul><p>As you are about to read, this is messed up. Regardless of what party you align yourself with it is easy to see that getting anything productive accomplished is hard when words like these are thrown around from both sides. Imagine if the House and Senate floors were like this. Fox News and CNN would have a field day. </p><span style="font-family:courier new;">Earlier we shoed you the main features the budget that was presented today in Belmopan. It was done at a special sitting of the House. Special sittings are usually single purpose affairs but there was a good deal of other business that came up, most notably those amendments to laws governing the banking sector. We first reported on it last week when you heard PUP Deputy Leader Mark Espat describe them as a sinister backdoor attempt for government to get its hands on depositor savings. And then you heard the Governor of the Central Bank say that it was no such thing; it was simply a new instrument of monetary control which would allow the Central Bank as regulator to free up funds in the commercial banking system which could spurt lower lending rates. Well today it went to the House and it created major fireworks. Here’s how it went:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Hon. Johnny Briceno, PUP Leader</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“What they are doing with these changes is that the Prime Minister is saying now that by allowing the banks to use some of their liquid assets that are sterilized in the banks, they could make some extra money by getting 6.5% interest and then he adds by saying that by doing that the banks will be able to reduce their interest rates they charge their customers. Well we know that is certainly not going to happen. Mr. Speaker when you start to force banks to hold government securities, especially if the banks are concerned about the government’s ability to pay, it continues to further erode confidence.”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Fort George Area Rep.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“No matter what is said, the truth of the matter is when you strip away all the technical jargons in all these amendments, whether it be the Central Bank or the Treasury Bills or the International Financial Banks, strip it all away and look at exactly at what is happening – it is to afford this UDP government the ability to borrow more from the commercial banks in Belize utilizing the Central Bank through the Treasury notes. They can’t get away from that, that is a simple fact. Why are we increasing the Treasury notes to a 10 year bond? The Barrow Bond for 10 years. It is to give him the ability to use these monies and not being required to pay back for it until 10 years. This is the new Barrow Bond. You cannot get away from that.”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Hon. Dean Barrow</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“Dealing with the Member from Fort George, Mr. Speaker I say again that I continue to be shocked that he can continue to speak like he’s suddenly regained a voice. But you know I just want to say this Mr. Speaker, I was reading a book by an Afghan writer and there was a phrase in the book which I supposed must be Afghan, it is apparently a traditional saying. You know what it is: a stubborn jackass needs a stubborn driver. Well you are the stubborn jackass and I will be your stubborn driver every time, every time. Every time you get up to persist in your outrages against the Belizean people I will be here to flog you and chastise you…I won’t stop until I hang a…”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Emil Arguelles, Speaker of the House</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“Hon. Prime Minister.”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Rt. Hon. Said Musa</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“You’re a disgrace to this nation for a Prime Minister to be speaking like that. Utter disgrace.”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Hon. Dean Barrow,</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“I won’t finish until I hang the bell around your neck as in the days of what they used to do lepers because that is what you are, a moral leper in this country and everybody should be alerted as to when you are passing or when you are speaking so they can avert their nose. That is what I think of you. Can I deal now with the Leader of the Opposition? Am I allowed to continue?”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Emil Arguelles</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“Do you have a point of order…?”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Hon. Dean Barrow</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“I am speaking."</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Hon. Johnny Briceno</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“It is unparliamentarily language that the Prime Minister is using in the National Assembly. Fortunately we have the students that have just left because it would have been a shame to have the Prime Minister speaking in such a manner in this Honourable House.” </span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Emil Arguelles</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“Members of the gallery I will ask you to remain silent. Hon. Prime Minister please proceed without reference to that word. I acknowledge it is a word in the dictionary.”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><strong>Hon. Dean Barrow</strong>,</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">“Now coming to the Leader of the Opposition, it must be obvious to all on this side of the House and I think the entire nation that you are singing for your supper. It is now a matter of record the connection, the business relationship between you and the owner of one of the banks in this country via the vehicle of Speednet and Smart. So every time you get up on an issue like this which in anyway affects that bank, I will know that you are singing for your supper.”</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Despite the testy back and forth, the Bills passed. The Governor of the Central Bank told us he expects to see the effect of the new measures as early as April.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Courier New;"></span><br /><span ></span>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-87158303679928382492010-03-16T10:45:00.001-05:002010-03-16T10:49:16.117-05:00Story from a student<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2QMpOlDPIN5H386zpZ4NH7gnXsGguboEvYMQx7ehaZsekZuyCJtK2p9QBGuwTmEQMc7BjfRpGOZgntibq1GEVQ_JLozgUQhOXvdTuy1PJY_z5AgHTXRBFSZDY073_NvkIMHH1_ugIf4r/s1600-h/scan0001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449258778296259634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 359px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii2QMpOlDPIN5H386zpZ4NH7gnXsGguboEvYMQx7ehaZsekZuyCJtK2p9QBGuwTmEQMc7BjfRpGOZgntibq1GEVQ_JLozgUQhOXvdTuy1PJY_z5AgHTXRBFSZDY073_NvkIMHH1_ugIf4r/s400/scan0001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-25026627459955755472010-03-10T17:44:00.019-05:002010-03-11T15:33:41.566-05:00A little trip to Guatemala<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447475342173113954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQPanywDJMYWRyoWVgWRVOs3vZgfYmH2Ykn3flW2bbzqqXzkBAUoQRDDUUCK3uQzjwXtgsXzCH3UYIWfyvvOSQKoM3opVcqpPJMA0PNwOhhn9StbA0PiOroQ-tY5-LhQNkqQCbb5g18e4/s400/IMG_3466.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:78%;">A note before we begin: All those that say you are visual people, this is for you. I will probably still get wordy but with the amount of pictures, you can make up the story as you go along and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> want to hear you complain. That means you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Eseems</span>. </span><br /><br />There are a few things the people who have been to Guatemala usually leave out when describing it, but then again, they usually have come from somewhere else before their that is just as beautiful or home. They most certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> come from Belize.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQagnmeNjr-69G7LNw02_V7VCTj9yCo-EyIR2RlzboWzewKJmSzYmb6AiZxuLHnRq6fGIxbdcRavRmGUoNUevPGaViVv79F6GboWbD-oxWOcqt7Pvzz1ot2vO-6jFXf1HubZVW4YM69zKf/s1600-h/IMG_3456.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140403159618738" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQagnmeNjr-69G7LNw02_V7VCTj9yCo-EyIR2RlzboWzewKJmSzYmb6AiZxuLHnRq6fGIxbdcRavRmGUoNUevPGaViVv79F6GboWbD-oxWOcqt7Pvzz1ot2vO-6jFXf1HubZVW4YM69zKf/s200/IMG_3456.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwy68bQsdwaMnYsxllSp5X6Ci_q5kI7D9GyfAFKoIrHXLORg1DaB0OcPcJDzIOUJbU7y_qNCYldRcUTgwHjZ34y8S7skF6M2_wTKcDHW-lhbOQDgIG27IHB_NYWRU4UmTOHHUV1P-2bks/s1600-h/IMG_3455.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140401951643698" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRwy68bQsdwaMnYsxllSp5X6Ci_q5kI7D9GyfAFKoIrHXLORg1DaB0OcPcJDzIOUJbU7y_qNCYldRcUTgwHjZ34y8S7skF6M2_wTKcDHW-lhbOQDgIG27IHB_NYWRU4UmTOHHUV1P-2bks/s200/IMG_3455.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFC_cB6tJXPBD24-raBsZZ6oUS_mU4aUFSU2a-aT5R5MEikr84u_GOVpRrSCDNxpy-ikXzixKfxd7esov3Y-50-xdaig-f_RwFczm3fqZpVgP-0gyd3L-JFxNwslIoLSrR7nO9UjDf7Bg/s1600-h/IMG_3454.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140394411840418" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFC_cB6tJXPBD24-raBsZZ6oUS_mU4aUFSU2a-aT5R5MEikr84u_GOVpRrSCDNxpy-ikXzixKfxd7esov3Y-50-xdaig-f_RwFczm3fqZpVgP-0gyd3L-JFxNwslIoLSrR7nO9UjDf7Bg/s200/IMG_3454.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Entering Guatemala City</span><br />The trip begins with a boat ride. We all made the mistake of assuming it was a ferry of sorts being that it was $20us to ride an hour. We were wrong. It was the type of boat that only holds at most 15 people and let's just say its not a real smooth ride. You may get a little wet.<br /><br />Upon pulling up to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Puerto</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Barrios</span>, Guatemala you start to notice something. The sky seems to be a little bluer, the air is a little cleaner, the streets seem to be taken care of: you are in a different country and it is evident even from the sea.<br /><br />We got onto a bus not long after for the 6 hour ride to Guatemala City. I had heard rumors of these buses, but my standards on what a nice bus is has drastically gone down since my time as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">PCV</span> began. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Litegua</span> (the bus company) is an inspiration. All other buses in the world should follow from their example. We had a double <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">decker</span> bus with A/C and movies to boot. It had a bathroom on the first floor and all the movies were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kung</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Fu</span>. My personal favorite along the trip was "Blood Sport" which any boy that was born in the 80s knows all about Frank <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Duks</span> and Chung Li but somehow other people never watched the re-runs on TBS as a kid and saw the same man destroy the world. I guess you can do those sorts of things when you are <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">JCVD</span>. If you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">dont</span> know who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">JCVD</span> is, you should be ashamed of yourself.<br /><br />We pulled up into Guatemala City and it was the land of the free. Well, kinda. They had these things called overpasses, bridges, multiple lane roads, painted lines on the roads. It was infrastructure at its finest. Not to mention there was a McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, or Taco Bell on every block. It's worse than being back home. These aren't just your run of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">mill</span> fast food joints either, they are all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">supersized</span> to the max. We saw a Taco Bell with 2 drive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">throughs</span>, 3 floors, and a play place. While I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">didn't</span> eat in Guatemala City, I wanted to.<br /><br />Another thing I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">wasn't</span> aware of is that Guatemala is apparently the capital of the world when it comes to pinatas. You can get them life size and in any shape you can imagine. Pinatas, once again, will be something I hope to have at every party I ever host for the rest of my life. They span the generations and bring people together better than our good friends Jim, Jack, and Jose.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gax86dt-Usir-zUN4X1I9qUbgmfq90Z0bwKpDE6Z_EvUidZV1D1yDNmhRm0UTbDms6bQyQlSFHP644EgyWmDpQ27k9Qi8978Huc_9S2fhxhY2fQQ5Hr9hYgTm-oCbCyGAu1tQkJlI4uP/s1600-h/IMG_3473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447374456897955554" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gax86dt-Usir-zUN4X1I9qUbgmfq90Z0bwKpDE6Z_EvUidZV1D1yDNmhRm0UTbDms6bQyQlSFHP644EgyWmDpQ27k9Qi8978Huc_9S2fhxhY2fQQ5Hr9hYgTm-oCbCyGAu1tQkJlI4uP/s200/IMG_3473.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT5dzM19EPFNuzYtzd67RQYjonaAch5b-_ERO_TMmbeiGcItwZIzNnWrw5vuoXIaUXaK4WYDGpVGiP64iHKWwL1pjJeV1FwEsR5A2T789FdeMXUJ56dkgcwWdLnnkq8q6PT-VQM3WeGX-/s1600-h/IMG_3472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447374450849645058" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuT5dzM19EPFNuzYtzd67RQYjonaAch5b-_ERO_TMmbeiGcItwZIzNnWrw5vuoXIaUXaK4WYDGpVGiP64iHKWwL1pjJeV1FwEsR5A2T789FdeMXUJ56dkgcwWdLnnkq8q6PT-VQM3WeGX-/s200/IMG_3472.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q-A5n_52Ri0xQ6tCQjGQg_72PSYaO8GHsTZLsTRJzsELN4InrpTPMD-zG8aP6_iPNDGlnCFGYe6ZaRTgTl_o9Y78WxHZ-W0gaWbl_B4HB4o3wWYFpNJfgW0hLzQpqvsZK6u0AuZQE1dh/s1600-h/IMG_3459.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140409228407170" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Q-A5n_52Ri0xQ6tCQjGQg_72PSYaO8GHsTZLsTRJzsELN4InrpTPMD-zG8aP6_iPNDGlnCFGYe6ZaRTgTl_o9Y78WxHZ-W0gaWbl_B4HB4o3wWYFpNJfgW0hLzQpqvsZK6u0AuZQE1dh/s200/IMG_3459.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Church built in the 1500s, an erupting volcano, and THE Taco Bell</span></div><br />We took a taxi from Guatemala City to our final destination of the night in Antigua. The Lonely Planet says that if you are looking for traditional <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Guat</span>, you wont find it in Antigua. They <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">couldn't</span> be more right, but who cares. This place was heaven on earth. Surrounded by 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">volcanoes</span> at 5,000 feet elevation, it was amazing. The architecture was out of another time when things like art mattered. The churches were mostly destroyed into ruins but their beauty still lives on.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZaZoAtBroHi4zQwYqaYnWFvTboIk4c5rFkN3LB-6h34D4rOQwzm0pWupaMrpaybnHg__fwSpUdKF6LeioRgdpmd01YY7sHkn173Y5mLDQzGo_4RwswH8_51NmKAVJUIvZIsHYEyi1D4U/s1600-h/IMG_3471.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447374445110140802" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZaZoAtBroHi4zQwYqaYnWFvTboIk4c5rFkN3LB-6h34D4rOQwzm0pWupaMrpaybnHg__fwSpUdKF6LeioRgdpmd01YY7sHkn173Y5mLDQzGo_4RwswH8_51NmKAVJUIvZIsHYEyi1D4U/s200/IMG_3471.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Same church from the front, or the half still standing</span><br />We took a tour of the city (something I would have never done but that post will come, there are just somethings you have to do when travelling with the old folk.) and were guided by the most pretentious, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">opinionated</span> woman I have ever met who's job it is to tell people about a city and a country. She was great telling what things were, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">don't</span> ask any questions. If you do they better be simple and stupid questions. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Don't</span> ask about social issues or anything that may require deep thinking. Her answer for everything: "its the economy." I guess she <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">wasn't</span> prepared to lead a talk with well travelled doctors and 2 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">PCVs</span> who eat, sleep, and breathe development.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rtieYVEZTYPeYd8C7lUzzMzjD_ZIAFjKiRhpMXjC-g60Bo2h-BuIfoyIjl8UN-CCzB8xTo3IT1G3AV5KYOqdnskPNOT2xNpby-vFebVYwOQjosSkkrffWt-ezlJcREQm5Ybhkz7sB9Lh/s1600-h/IMG_3470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447374432351122658" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3rtieYVEZTYPeYd8C7lUzzMzjD_ZIAFjKiRhpMXjC-g60Bo2h-BuIfoyIjl8UN-CCzB8xTo3IT1G3AV5KYOqdnskPNOT2xNpby-vFebVYwOQjosSkkrffWt-ezlJcREQm5Ybhkz7sB9Lh/s200/IMG_3470.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBciZV6ljhYJexN_n5qxHD_9meG7Fitpgfeeju09qQ70W1msWgr1nZwwK3vBc0aegvO8rTDKDPCpJugzVxhNO4xpDQYlwdwUNr08yIRvloR2AJnqp87J9ZmsWRlUYvn0cnr-60xeFelZxp/s1600-h/IMG_3467.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447143001468244514" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBciZV6ljhYJexN_n5qxHD_9meG7Fitpgfeeju09qQ70W1msWgr1nZwwK3vBc0aegvO8rTDKDPCpJugzVxhNO4xpDQYlwdwUNr08yIRvloR2AJnqp87J9ZmsWRlUYvn0cnr-60xeFelZxp/s200/IMG_3467.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQiTZ25V1cFWyl6l4tJF_KnxgSHqpsA8JImXAFxRg7I3bVb4Y6rnF4EEs3UaqQDJrPUg2PPTi3NV_Bz11PXemGtqIQ6f6lPIxviVjXwayms3lkHPP9E0iMlbVUBEikyD6ytV7GVgLqVLn/s1600-h/IMG_3463.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447142967896382578" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQiTZ25V1cFWyl6l4tJF_KnxgSHqpsA8JImXAFxRg7I3bVb4Y6rnF4EEs3UaqQDJrPUg2PPTi3NV_Bz11PXemGtqIQ6f6lPIxviVjXwayms3lkHPP9E0iMlbVUBEikyD6ytV7GVgLqVLn/s200/IMG_3463.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_ZVwNLlRE1C0tqKYr2-O87Wt6lMJ3lPid9OOEXw6_5crDWkMRdbq5uX5r0cZNkRGZbX6T44buQnKIUx2wUk5y-_EvNKBbBvxKfPUsAgzaw1KGj1SlEPJBiUcFKhXAdiXRy-FKouLXpdw/s1600-h/IMG_3468.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447143005925518658" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_ZVwNLlRE1C0tqKYr2-O87Wt6lMJ3lPid9OOEXw6_5crDWkMRdbq5uX5r0cZNkRGZbX6T44buQnKIUx2wUk5y-_EvNKBbBvxKfPUsAgzaw1KGj1SlEPJBiUcFKhXAdiXRy-FKouLXpdw/s200/IMG_3468.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Sn8PC4UrKHvpgyzz2-gsNC6H7gssvPXGpS3-uUMok2x14kVzB4qiKptJBp20D2nsJQxgdGE3mpjeIbFGk1638lmiNBTgp5GszGKBm7GJ6WMMoH7hyz3S1VkfnG4bVVqAZly7fpyu2iI6/s1600-h/IMG_3466.JPG"></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">city hall, some fountains, and girls in traditional <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Maya</span> attire</span><br />The really nice thing about travelling with the older crew was the nice hotels we stayed at. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">couldn't</span> believe some of them. Emily and I said we were going to parade around and tell people we were on our honeymoon, but we were both lame and went to sleep most nights before 9. I guess the village life is taking its toll. Gone are the days when I used to stay up til 4am <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">every night</span> and wake up at noon.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcqqSJNprlNPwkJg8Q9xXBoeVLilOS4pdpt7GxVLCULgyWkIsZWNKkzW8nEj4piHeNfC4FnFfw7wFQvuZ2AwjoZb1WyQSmD7VjIeuPe640bPR7wvgOF5vKPWyYW-4Q0igV-NvLkVDgTu7/s1600-h/IMG_3462.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447142960249380194" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLcqqSJNprlNPwkJg8Q9xXBoeVLilOS4pdpt7GxVLCULgyWkIsZWNKkzW8nEj4piHeNfC4FnFfw7wFQvuZ2AwjoZb1WyQSmD7VjIeuPe640bPR7wvgOF5vKPWyYW-4Q0igV-NvLkVDgTu7/s200/IMG_3462.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LuzF9LzPHZZi30ps8uEug2SHI9yjf6_Vj-RDZfIKJzjDa2rium0AJRJYwmY2xbyEOoD2u9N6q8ChYWaSDL570SQmWPdg18TzhQPRboDp5vkKEpLkXva8K7XuKsG-hzFk5SRJY8ymClEM/s1600-h/IMG_3461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140413191475106" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LuzF9LzPHZZi30ps8uEug2SHI9yjf6_Vj-RDZfIKJzjDa2rium0AJRJYwmY2xbyEOoD2u9N6q8ChYWaSDL570SQmWPdg18TzhQPRboDp5vkKEpLkXva8K7XuKsG-hzFk5SRJY8ymClEM/s200/IMG_3461.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Our first "<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">honeymoon</span> suite"</span></p><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuIE0YjLRFRAJxtL4ymXEorTEa3Fr9n8RvhZ1OQEMAERj8duToZXGldrc-p0g2eEM_zkg2sJvmlCvptHz6WB_md3EGmfSORUisudtgFd-qPxmT7_xvSIZr_7dW6Lq6EZkWvWtteMqrhsv/s1600-h/IMG_3481.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409771176580226" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuIE0YjLRFRAJxtL4ymXEorTEa3Fr9n8RvhZ1OQEMAERj8duToZXGldrc-p0g2eEM_zkg2sJvmlCvptHz6WB_md3EGmfSORUisudtgFd-qPxmT7_xvSIZr_7dW6Lq6EZkWvWtteMqrhsv/s200/IMG_3481.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe6G6whE0edmmg5yIAtJjfyJnIH6sx2R3Y1rP8JMQ8dDjuvw0KgXN0azTwlJMCsNDqAWfNPpxbHqUQsi-4nycKrRrDc0qNBP1xvFobo4nNqM3R5i9vPKRAeYGjK0_pcYrtIb2bJv7nui8/s1600-h/IMG_3483.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409766153245234" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKe6G6whE0edmmg5yIAtJjfyJnIH6sx2R3Y1rP8JMQ8dDjuvw0KgXN0azTwlJMCsNDqAWfNPpxbHqUQsi-4nycKrRrDc0qNBP1xvFobo4nNqM3R5i9vPKRAeYGjK0_pcYrtIb2bJv7nui8/s200/IMG_3483.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">a crypt where the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Maya</span> would bury their dead underground</span></p><br /><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOhc5z46O6pWrjPEKj2DuoKUy_YRV4x0oJkglL0FHRDHU1QjG9wrLSU3TvJVL4Ml9NimVFSu39t4_Qx37BSB5_y6U8tOIC8ZaMqA9APV5HyXWGDdCj73oDDcuSvi-rwsgfZE29Iv5RBXh/s1600-h/IMG_3479.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409770444557682" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOhc5z46O6pWrjPEKj2DuoKUy_YRV4x0oJkglL0FHRDHU1QjG9wrLSU3TvJVL4Ml9NimVFSu39t4_Qx37BSB5_y6U8tOIC8ZaMqA9APV5HyXWGDdCj73oDDcuSvi-rwsgfZE29Iv5RBXh/s200/IMG_3479.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtRlyc9EXPSF1ruFCh3r-1BDBUW21Tw5YTutFv4GHSIQe6OEm2uAUkysMbjBvPAWqoVg1NM8g6CmiszrX73hmML0NIxexHgpd5mftO4Lteo_q5Lfb9BudrTyUb8zcPCtJ9eHa23qGl8cd/s1600-h/IMG_3475.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447374463018237266" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtRlyc9EXPSF1ruFCh3r-1BDBUW21Tw5YTutFv4GHSIQe6OEm2uAUkysMbjBvPAWqoVg1NM8g6CmiszrX73hmML0NIxexHgpd5mftO4Lteo_q5Lfb9BudrTyUb8zcPCtJ9eHa23qGl8cd/s200/IMG_3475.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">inside a church that is half crumbled but still allows sunlight in for services<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1nlSgVwlbeYy3oUyekQgj2dDioTEOehQ6aHlP6e5fLdh25tOqDuR11kViQsunYV0tr_MCdXpD7gCOs0D35VW0YIrqI90B3zKA-DdtpdbsTp9Ghsb2JuiQkFnuhGIf5UJZeUBI6kAeEY9/s1600-h/IMG_3484.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409761011013026" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo1nlSgVwlbeYy3oUyekQgj2dDioTEOehQ6aHlP6e5fLdh25tOqDuR11kViQsunYV0tr_MCdXpD7gCOs0D35VW0YIrqI90B3zKA-DdtpdbsTp9Ghsb2JuiQkFnuhGIf5UJZeUBI6kAeEY9/s200/IMG_3484.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXKuG3HQLTJffsDcyfuYahnC3qGUsRvU2Db0NU7vwopx1d0MLwqYFJinm1CeYIXmEWGAJGZC6g1Mit2ddsnJ3vWC-ngD8Is8DkVR7u8SDNv0s7NlihxqgmUrcvmIDdVJ4UyjxjUt8mKJU/s1600-h/IMG_3485.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409756773213234" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXKuG3HQLTJffsDcyfuYahnC3qGUsRvU2Db0NU7vwopx1d0MLwqYFJinm1CeYIXmEWGAJGZC6g1Mit2ddsnJ3vWC-ngD8Is8DkVR7u8SDNv0s7NlihxqgmUrcvmIDdVJ4UyjxjUt8mKJU/s200/IMG_3485.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFqWJF_HPugHmqCs-dPHOa-Vi9hQIc3Pju89cWN37z_GtovFwK8kC5pZDqkFAcR6bfVeEOafX2RjeJT0B01lrIqhy_PHRDwh7zdyQN7HiVoj5KTnolTo_HC6kI7qQp2TVxMVQdCiKXYXa/s1600-h/IMG_3486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409378514840002" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFqWJF_HPugHmqCs-dPHOa-Vi9hQIc3Pju89cWN37z_GtovFwK8kC5pZDqkFAcR6bfVeEOafX2RjeJT0B01lrIqhy_PHRDwh7zdyQN7HiVoj5KTnolTo_HC6kI7qQp2TVxMVQdCiKXYXa/s200/IMG_3486.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Maya</span> girl, a courtyard of our hotel, and a pure jade mask<br /></span>The tour was like most any I have done around the world. They always try to make you buy something, but what they should have figured out is if we hustled you down to half your original price for the tour, we probably <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">don't</span> have any money to be buying Jade. I guess some people <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">don't</span> read between the lines.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz3KAlqi20Ve3GX3FDFB-R0lZx5awoAXCal4jRzGcgD1oKX5a10Sk5fF43rOFyjYYi4gUfYhKkefx2y-hcHouXwwiniomJqUwiv9BA-LQpCi6iY26yNuiIfpCBuKuXEL7PjRYqiFeIwZ8/s1600-h/IMG_3487.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409373885457106" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYz3KAlqi20Ve3GX3FDFB-R0lZx5awoAXCal4jRzGcgD1oKX5a10Sk5fF43rOFyjYYi4gUfYhKkefx2y-hcHouXwwiniomJqUwiv9BA-LQpCi6iY26yNuiIfpCBuKuXEL7PjRYqiFeIwZ8/s200/IMG_3487.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy87lwKu_rMpg-eenBCmd57QpOipBTuGzEx2bL81fmDCet3s30dwdIOZ9HhAn-v4_Wf-9sbxqNaP0p6G920eMG64ZqbACn47avOrCA95iWsUNCIUwwOQyDb08B6HHSttq8fUneOdb0iuMc/s1600-h/IMG_3489.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409366740607954" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy87lwKu_rMpg-eenBCmd57QpOipBTuGzEx2bL81fmDCet3s30dwdIOZ9HhAn-v4_Wf-9sbxqNaP0p6G920eMG64ZqbACn47avOrCA95iWsUNCIUwwOQyDb08B6HHSttq8fUneOdb0iuMc/s200/IMG_3489.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0JGGFnzGw3TdFn98S7reejOcNzJ5JRSRzD6dRYqgPozEtRWz7jUrbuzZqRI-ojJd4her6N8ydVWy8Lz9dKd7ZkU4PHn6JEHFzDpwL-RrglK9D0Dro06BYIEhjREqMtnfROfKKSpvcIKb/s1600-h/IMG_3490.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409363161564642" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0JGGFnzGw3TdFn98S7reejOcNzJ5JRSRzD6dRYqgPozEtRWz7jUrbuzZqRI-ojJd4her6N8ydVWy8Lz9dKd7ZkU4PHn6JEHFzDpwL-RrglK9D0Dro06BYIEhjREqMtnfROfKKSpvcIKb/s200/IMG_3490.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Em and Minor walking, Macaws, and a church after a wedding ceremony</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM42eQgqkB-364xm49qBEU5kPHlIYeIj49YJOaxZFrLKy4oK-OEXcHyscLYGHIVff_PGEaRML2546qEGl7ITOb8DClgK4BSg4cttGU0GWord3wagWWukeQ5gKzkVph4xuJQNmRzliZHJLF/s1600-h/IMG_3491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447409358005162866" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM42eQgqkB-364xm49qBEU5kPHlIYeIj49YJOaxZFrLKy4oK-OEXcHyscLYGHIVff_PGEaRML2546qEGl7ITOb8DClgK4BSg4cttGU0GWord3wagWWukeQ5gKzkVph4xuJQNmRzliZHJLF/s200/IMG_3491.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTFsc18MSApfE1gorrDbrAujIp737ArFkmgGslRLQuCYlftgmr72kekmhNDVnDNyapRmSY8RqWi9_Q128PJ6oQ8u-OAbZ1DbBn7IrItIdqOBk0bCF2MwMc5zFxU0O7BkP7HTSKuqbmE2H/s1600-h/IMG_3494.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447408942304583074" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTFsc18MSApfE1gorrDbrAujIp737ArFkmgGslRLQuCYlftgmr72kekmhNDVnDNyapRmSY8RqWi9_Q128PJ6oQ8u-OAbZ1DbBn7IrItIdqOBk0bCF2MwMc5zFxU0O7BkP7HTSKuqbmE2H/s200/IMG_3494.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">"friends forever", me feeling rich (beginning of the trip)</span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxtEL_mg-7LwcIZedf9JAYFW7bQ1oYzkxKfdwaIfZ5lHePZWboIBWAfCiNpQq2L7KVRE2fx-Vb4IKN8aspqfzzcifJYVcOx9qAhdvVSVINuQ3MbpKd6iXLGCWeW9mS_x5zrGbqGrMmFon/s1600-h/IMG_3495.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447408942020745186" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaxtEL_mg-7LwcIZedf9JAYFW7bQ1oYzkxKfdwaIfZ5lHePZWboIBWAfCiNpQq2L7KVRE2fx-Vb4IKN8aspqfzzcifJYVcOx9qAhdvVSVINuQ3MbpKd6iXLGCWeW9mS_x5zrGbqGrMmFon/s200/IMG_3495.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhib5a3mISKEGi6EXCucSI4AahVxqu-qTQRVlJS1qK7rhHY7vWe_-1g_sljafR2LeMUVREPLWAGdNJ1-PC4fcYWLzLSGpU0410FmPYmls6aCwj2yiagRbwdjFdFTXhLuBvIgVcIXfkCpJsM/s1600-h/IMG_3496.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447408935620752242" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhib5a3mISKEGi6EXCucSI4AahVxqu-qTQRVlJS1qK7rhHY7vWe_-1g_sljafR2LeMUVREPLWAGdNJ1-PC4fcYWLzLSGpU0410FmPYmls6aCwj2yiagRbwdjFdFTXhLuBvIgVcIXfkCpJsM/s200/IMG_3496.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Emily getting hustled at the market</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJzCa8ZCTa1SeLuHXn4KBXzV-Y65MJK8QjcYJWxOt9TCNLXmh30JTEBMQtSrPP6BS9CzwO0Vsd9tSgi1BqT3ld02HyAnz8i8911mx4SbJoxPQNk5Gk2zPjIBUqdj79xh4I8K0qzQGyn3J/s1600-h/IMG_3497.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447408931972210706" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJzCa8ZCTa1SeLuHXn4KBXzV-Y65MJK8QjcYJWxOt9TCNLXmh30JTEBMQtSrPP6BS9CzwO0Vsd9tSgi1BqT3ld02HyAnz8i8911mx4SbJoxPQNk5Gk2zPjIBUqdj79xh4I8K0qzQGyn3J/s200/IMG_3497.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfOMPPx_hstjKrA79Xqp4qU-1u6wYgiaj16k1hBTiFbly03neTVnMoHQYLsjwah3nfEgMS-UYzaQoMIdsgnAz2O6i_xHTiKM8a2cp_lav9KEw0DgBjKVgLYscN89p0MDJceCkj6rCseo7/s1600-h/IMG_3500.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447408924270146226" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfOMPPx_hstjKrA79Xqp4qU-1u6wYgiaj16k1hBTiFbly03neTVnMoHQYLsjwah3nfEgMS-UYzaQoMIdsgnAz2O6i_xHTiKM8a2cp_lav9KEw0DgBjKVgLYscN89p0MDJceCkj6rCseo7/s200/IMG_3500.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />One of the most amazing things about the entire trip was the luscious amount of plant life. We <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">aren't</span> sure if its due to the altitude or how much Guatemalans just seem to take better care of everything. It probably has something to do with the amount of tourism in this part of the country but every single detail was covered. The culture was bustling with excitement. The women were always dressed in their traditional <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">Maya</span> attire.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGfH_hxMZvyaMNq4U9L2QFgCIiVuljTyeXZVFZxau06fTtQvxSeiOXAv14vt-BNVUmC7xx1mhPeBDLekDLTu0BKHkJWicUC9jDO8gOpz4H9NmQsVImlza6J5PFcN7X5uu4Yl7FewXjupW/s1600-h/IMG_3501.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447407736467173170" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGfH_hxMZvyaMNq4U9L2QFgCIiVuljTyeXZVFZxau06fTtQvxSeiOXAv14vt-BNVUmC7xx1mhPeBDLekDLTu0BKHkJWicUC9jDO8gOpz4H9NmQsVImlza6J5PFcN7X5uu4Yl7FewXjupW/s200/IMG_3501.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1Tfr5DcmGGWSFnUfqqq3I6x4B5pJ2joW3vDdd3s6_0WPMJeUMxXQl-3-cV1OHDCCNPnntiCy406r1GVHtimM-KRKP_WLliLWd7F3fSTQDdBebMtyX7kWq3TQuEDv-MU97UenHwAxiTk1/s1600-h/IMG_3503.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447407734723089234" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1Tfr5DcmGGWSFnUfqqq3I6x4B5pJ2joW3vDdd3s6_0WPMJeUMxXQl-3-cV1OHDCCNPnntiCy406r1GVHtimM-KRKP_WLliLWd7F3fSTQDdBebMtyX7kWq3TQuEDv-MU97UenHwAxiTk1/s200/IMG_3503.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhocYUKHOJ1G4XuJ82nGFzo8vPY1xBnXvdKGQuR5a5t8NR_bHh0fm3QQU7tnJruNM4a0o4VR-MfGmRrn_gZpy5bJG8LLlUWswSKOTZPOlrBH-owGFNiF16gveUJK5Wh-ut7cslEeW4yxb/s1600-h/IMG_3504.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447407730235676354" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhocYUKHOJ1G4XuJ82nGFzo8vPY1xBnXvdKGQuR5a5t8NR_bHh0fm3QQU7tnJruNM4a0o4VR-MfGmRrn_gZpy5bJG8LLlUWswSKOTZPOlrBH-owGFNiF16gveUJK5Wh-ut7cslEeW4yxb/s200/IMG_3504.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">flowers<br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl55DFlJ7Jhxex4as6MmQAGSIWBTsVjdy_Q-ziQzlXOXf056QI4so2BodwT69fPFxJSeErZN9sV0SkrxzQdNOHVrz-DmUr_usOsN5cE5Cmq1tOP8PWGMMjiHyElOHu4m8HjsqUZtziCDB/s1600-h/IMG_3507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447407723423872994" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl55DFlJ7Jhxex4as6MmQAGSIWBTsVjdy_Q-ziQzlXOXf056QI4so2BodwT69fPFxJSeErZN9sV0SkrxzQdNOHVrz-DmUr_usOsN5cE5Cmq1tOP8PWGMMjiHyElOHu4m8HjsqUZtziCDB/s200/IMG_3507.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uL_vxXpHMkehEcEefcAgAL7IIWnRisoKJwubKRhSmJ8lZOW7EfoYsfQGj2XEEwkI4OW8Wk4yVyKE07kLyV51TAMt4tQZkftIecDGNdxcJLiV7J8a05Zmn4VxLgKTNYmI3Q2JLBcwHNyg/s1600-h/IMG_3510.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447407717565756914" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uL_vxXpHMkehEcEefcAgAL7IIWnRisoKJwubKRhSmJ8lZOW7EfoYsfQGj2XEEwkI4OW8Wk4yVyKE07kLyV51TAMt4tQZkftIecDGNdxcJLiV7J8a05Zmn4VxLgKTNYmI3Q2JLBcwHNyg/s200/IMG_3510.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3XNYfSK3u9NdVN23sztPTo1kAIsxx_nurmS2fOeEQTFeXX0i9mBKJ60OdSQYTtSde2uSXxWu4nvgb9b3wbdKvo9mppucxU2CQdtJHVw3wSl1GxfaK8gBE2XOrTa734P8GoXJCZ5BBnWF/s1600-h/IMG_3511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384535692903794" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3XNYfSK3u9NdVN23sztPTo1kAIsxx_nurmS2fOeEQTFeXX0i9mBKJ60OdSQYTtSde2uSXxWu4nvgb9b3wbdKvo9mppucxU2CQdtJHVw3wSl1GxfaK8gBE2XOrTa734P8GoXJCZ5BBnWF/s200/IMG_3511.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Some of the coolest things were being set up for the big Easter celebration coming up. They make carpets out of sawdust. The streets are lined with them. They are beautiful and then they walk on them and mess them all up. Then make them all over again. It seems like a lot of work, which just goes to show how much detail seems to go into everything that happens here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDCHwLkEkGTdfEwZeC6-UdzRttP6_moz94tSbbml4HSUOhBz5hCc9pqSD-2t4PU54mBQnyySRBCbVK01CKYcRxFPoyr5wvsuk4HWVn5gQEKCDo3dyqn_ViCpAa9WhzdfAMTTGp3KsQ6D9/s1600-h/IMG_3511.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384534802600178" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQDCHwLkEkGTdfEwZeC6-UdzRttP6_moz94tSbbml4HSUOhBz5hCc9pqSD-2t4PU54mBQnyySRBCbVK01CKYcRxFPoyr5wvsuk4HWVn5gQEKCDo3dyqn_ViCpAa9WhzdfAMTTGp3KsQ6D9/s200/IMG_3511.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcMfBNlcodFokGVGjuVwCgcPfVLsC9lhUlLoeoz5HeQ7K8jSDWatKyRqrb1QA3H4fFH4iwaNmChxMv65hsZu2MDBgYjlf-IgxPYKPeviFFFkcjFHiGwpdmIcLPeRo6HZWNBceJeS7h0zd/s1600-h/IMG_3512.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384531308793746" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcMfBNlcodFokGVGjuVwCgcPfVLsC9lhUlLoeoz5HeQ7K8jSDWatKyRqrb1QA3H4fFH4iwaNmChxMv65hsZu2MDBgYjlf-IgxPYKPeviFFFkcjFHiGwpdmIcLPeRo6HZWNBceJeS7h0zd/s200/IMG_3512.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGUP2o0P7-zlZw1dTS-tRPlEzz8wu31_roKsAE25bQsMlL-6qI7mQCRMwMdRJ0LDi9kHM1IbhP0hyphenhyphenoCSVQSt1ja0NveJvRmXI_9kR1k7mKwnQ6tD7AkiBv1S72GADZuz4e8KkH3X3de_w/s1600-h/IMG_3513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384524346179298" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGUP2o0P7-zlZw1dTS-tRPlEzz8wu31_roKsAE25bQsMlL-6qI7mQCRMwMdRJ0LDi9kHM1IbhP0hyphenhyphenoCSVQSt1ja0NveJvRmXI_9kR1k7mKwnQ6tD7AkiBv1S72GADZuz4e8KkH3X3de_w/s200/IMG_3513.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />After staying in Antigua for 2 nights, we travelled by a van to Chichicastenango. Say that name 10x fast, its fun. It has the biggest market I've ever been to in my life. It went on for what seemed like days. I had so many kids trying to come up to me and sell me things that I had to make a game out of it. You offer me something I dont want for Q40 (about $5us) and I will offer you back Q5. Those kids are going to be pissed, but then their next asking price is Q20. Even though I still dont want it, the kid has me thinking now. Then I realize Im the one the game is played on and I quit and in the end usually win. Emily on the other hand, she will buy anything and get suckered by anyone. She is cute, but I think it may have helped to have my cheap ass by her side to tell her no. Just as I enjoyed having her around to tell me to buy something.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFRKQX2o7AuIh_WDL7lj9WdGBBCrFAa0SztrXdxujjUTyZdjQlXeY9kBgrLCZYi9uZOPK2Lby-R1UzanhAHMo8jYpcs3w2u3_MHHASLDC7vIHeSxDZLoWxD3ZmpBUIRX8XHLh3kDyGVPS/s1600-h/IMG_3514.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384520942567426" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFRKQX2o7AuIh_WDL7lj9WdGBBCrFAa0SztrXdxujjUTyZdjQlXeY9kBgrLCZYi9uZOPK2Lby-R1UzanhAHMo8jYpcs3w2u3_MHHASLDC7vIHeSxDZLoWxD3ZmpBUIRX8XHLh3kDyGVPS/s200/IMG_3514.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ_kgd6IhGF9fbXkHkZBGByXHJ0UiZ3Y2B6bHi81-wxN5IzyGo1NMje61gNdTKegUMBtG2FIN539uPkXulNOXA-BiweigEl8tceYpS47_DN23sW0CQvW9X5GozmX1K-tesSLTR0oDIXF9/s1600-h/IMG_3515.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384100177686898" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ_kgd6IhGF9fbXkHkZBGByXHJ0UiZ3Y2B6bHi81-wxN5IzyGo1NMje61gNdTKegUMBtG2FIN539uPkXulNOXA-BiweigEl8tceYpS47_DN23sW0CQvW9X5GozmX1K-tesSLTR0oDIXF9/s200/IMG_3515.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_opTHIerqS-FQ8od1DxJ__RAqA8iubLyFh9O8qL1GjYQsrjeXuqBHzHplJxgD_SaT_ppBNyn7VKJmA-NKPbXmxd9DFk_FkLB3x_CyNLXqgNJR6FlsDWlUEPH5d7dltLQlxTz5mNabGxih/s1600-h/IMG_3516.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384095358180770" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_opTHIerqS-FQ8od1DxJ__RAqA8iubLyFh9O8qL1GjYQsrjeXuqBHzHplJxgD_SaT_ppBNyn7VKJmA-NKPbXmxd9DFk_FkLB3x_CyNLXqgNJR6FlsDWlUEPH5d7dltLQlxTz5mNabGxih/s200/IMG_3516.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">These things are carried around for parades. They are very large and take up to 60 people to carry. ChiChi market at its best and a bunch of kids trying to sell me anything they own outside a church billowing with smoke from inscents.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq3NQvLGbEqmgXbls8y2woWeVVvS89dIbbBliaMMgmiBWoClYLif_T2UgobeZ4js9fA3Ddw9x7mPAlGEt4QW83fXNH1fgDU9FTLOMmkJKR5HKHsQ5geRAk73dVy3XsRPvhcGInNWjhBYi/s1600-h/IMG_3518.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384091481563506" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq3NQvLGbEqmgXbls8y2woWeVVvS89dIbbBliaMMgmiBWoClYLif_T2UgobeZ4js9fA3Ddw9x7mPAlGEt4QW83fXNH1fgDU9FTLOMmkJKR5HKHsQ5geRAk73dVy3XsRPvhcGInNWjhBYi/s200/IMG_3518.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJHvWWZFBeLLBU-bd6ym6YwPjQ8vK6RSzK0YBIP-JyGVOhFtYoTT0e3k682fHNf9k51oBlehgfjrTYK-PrHjryksy0Ribq3E_2_gmr4dDqLQnz8zAqgYR_de-Cgz02-VFhxaS8lE_wBot/s1600-h/IMG_3519.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384087363392066" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJHvWWZFBeLLBU-bd6ym6YwPjQ8vK6RSzK0YBIP-JyGVOhFtYoTT0e3k682fHNf9k51oBlehgfjrTYK-PrHjryksy0Ribq3E_2_gmr4dDqLQnz8zAqgYR_de-Cgz02-VFhxaS8lE_wBot/s200/IMG_3519.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeqX8dnxZeYHv6hgu-hkS-0fS7HIaQvkc4O-UQfDYHNPdCPSTjzZ49-rIDnD5HNjg7O7KjjnUF4yaIpU98Ltnf0h5dt0oOgcnwL6XvpgMjeQRt9uO_zOKTcW26eGj8l5ieTkdqMpm-JfH/s1600-h/IMG_3520.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447384084837013074" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeqX8dnxZeYHv6hgu-hkS-0fS7HIaQvkc4O-UQfDYHNPdCPSTjzZ49-rIDnD5HNjg7O7KjjnUF4yaIpU98Ltnf0h5dt0oOgcnwL6XvpgMjeQRt9uO_zOKTcW26eGj8l5ieTkdqMpm-JfH/s200/IMG_3520.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">more chichi market, gringos that are pretending they fit in... but obviously fail, and the "cheap" buses of Guatemala<br /></span>When reading the travel buses, they always talk about the "chicken buses" as being the cheap way to travel. They are like old school buses on crack. If you compare their "cheap" buses to Belize's "best" buses, I assure you Guatemala will win. Hands down. They are chromed out, have music blaring from them, roof racks, and are much cheaper than any bus you'll take in Belize too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOVfXrVOSHlvw4W8x0_mUNf4HVVLRxRj5wzn82R5E7IbDmTN8f9tBnXJPdsPyzhrcPwKl3nOc80ZlOA_oBFtiLlh665Pn3YJxHoiUWCGp00uowPMvTlHONZSLnaJbJMpgnbAZ8XaDPUjD/s1600-h/IMG_3522.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447376493359774674" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOVfXrVOSHlvw4W8x0_mUNf4HVVLRxRj5wzn82R5E7IbDmTN8f9tBnXJPdsPyzhrcPwKl3nOc80ZlOA_oBFtiLlh665Pn3YJxHoiUWCGp00uowPMvTlHONZSLnaJbJMpgnbAZ8XaDPUjD/s200/IMG_3522.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLT35PnnsffBagx8RkGE5bCIq9plq7E0adv9jvmkNhzuxiI1j8W7u5Jd7r1Mzx-Q5HlETHrhcJfAMNzPs-qDOMG9j3ha47DD_Oh-GVo0mwvsFn1ngxkZsMI0p4JK_25liSMgmadarv_B_/s1600-h/IMG_3530.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447376490157485026" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLT35PnnsffBagx8RkGE5bCIq9plq7E0adv9jvmkNhzuxiI1j8W7u5Jd7r1Mzx-Q5HlETHrhcJfAMNzPs-qDOMG9j3ha47DD_Oh-GVo0mwvsFn1ngxkZsMI0p4JK_25liSMgmadarv_B_/s200/IMG_3530.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgez6yXX292vVxQQ6whs8OjfoyIhsaj9F4b6CprEI9IILO4DfdKRSiJ-_O-EDrdVmpRYiMIXrQyVKDk-5CUMOZw4dca4oXvmDAborxbmDgpXD_X0j9MireEdF76j4Q6QKpl6pDWeaFlAa/s1600-h/IMG_3532.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447376485532904658" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDgez6yXX292vVxQQ6whs8OjfoyIhsaj9F4b6CprEI9IILO4DfdKRSiJ-_O-EDrdVmpRYiMIXrQyVKDk-5CUMOZw4dca4oXvmDAborxbmDgpXD_X0j9MireEdF76j4Q6QKpl6pDWeaFlAa/s200/IMG_3532.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Our lovely tourists turned Maya</span><br />The food in Guatemala may have just been the best part. We had things like vegetables and beef. I know, it sounds crazy, but they even cook with spices and oils there that arent just lard and vegetable oil. It was amazing. Ever heard of Olive oil? Guatemala: 1, Belize: 0.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl254jy8SdKLpYLa95oks9jbtsq61sb0gVLpR4HE-r4LL9LC5sXfirRafgoiP3ULMV8RX0vACVRFzg3TliJF12boe0T9cTqUxABfwbcjyXSoCBYqWLa8NkcEhFHO4o7sgPdrIZ_aZsgVL/s1600-h/IMG_3533.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447376481624049778" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTl254jy8SdKLpYLa95oks9jbtsq61sb0gVLpR4HE-r4LL9LC5sXfirRafgoiP3ULMV8RX0vACVRFzg3TliJF12boe0T9cTqUxABfwbcjyXSoCBYqWLa8NkcEhFHO4o7sgPdrIZ_aZsgVL/s200/IMG_3533.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFzH2An8_MRClOa8HUMd-X0LF9l8oAYjLT3D1I-Gz1PQXiusvzahwrIrRDXSoPGmq7tz82WfWWiQLhD6_pTa6wYelCFpqgUuzrslt_kmTb2KprF7ywU2Tqli91U13jhjwDEV6SjSKHtMk/s1600-h/IMG_3534.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447376483924811090" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFzH2An8_MRClOa8HUMd-X0LF9l8oAYjLT3D1I-Gz1PQXiusvzahwrIrRDXSoPGmq7tz82WfWWiQLhD6_pTa6wYelCFpqgUuzrslt_kmTb2KprF7ywU2Tqli91U13jhjwDEV6SjSKHtMk/s200/IMG_3534.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Lake Atitlan</span><br />From Chichi we stayed that night at the Lake Atitlan town of Panajachel. It rained most of the night as I've said before, we were lame and went to bed early so there wasn't much to see. Pana is a hotspot for travellers going to other places on the lake, but it seems that no one stays for long.</p><div align="center">Lake Atitlan is an oasis in every form of the thought. 5,000 feet above sea level is this lake surrounded by volcanos with skies so blue that you must blink to believe it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8qnEnlWcOSa99Wik-LQeZS6fnVyqc9s8dirRDTo8N63nfKbCe8JixAjHhMtDgUEI-dhmiiJgwqtumA2PZQWBSwD0IKigz9_aZ9l8aMeV3b07CgJamCvNx5CLHMiammsE6y1T14rT0Sl2/s1600-h/IMG_3537.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375985893614418" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8qnEnlWcOSa99Wik-LQeZS6fnVyqc9s8dirRDTo8N63nfKbCe8JixAjHhMtDgUEI-dhmiiJgwqtumA2PZQWBSwD0IKigz9_aZ9l8aMeV3b07CgJamCvNx5CLHMiammsE6y1T14rT0Sl2/s200/IMG_3537.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Lake with volcano in background covered by cloud cover</span></div><br /><div align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5eoP9vLlYpsO_nBwUc7rZddg9ZmcfaSo9t_bUkrf56q0LUw4BNXBXlst8P-so4cR7C0qXl3k2QOja6uppwdonozTYNk05Hf_AkyGkf2vIO0HWVvRjxCB4mbHnyq0HHOb3_aORCANoAWu/s1600-h/IMG_3538.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375985752459442" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5eoP9vLlYpsO_nBwUc7rZddg9ZmcfaSo9t_bUkrf56q0LUw4BNXBXlst8P-so4cR7C0qXl3k2QOja6uppwdonozTYNk05Hf_AkyGkf2vIO0HWVvRjxCB4mbHnyq0HHOb3_aORCANoAWu/s200/IMG_3538.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iNkile_AZziL7fbp7LfbYfBwr0LT1AI-yag_XdIg5aj8MbWg-TkHjYVxhiZ0U3LECs5nbUGZRZkJkUwmUcy16EtidYsnkNlngzYPhoGGXMgvPzcnBFpUruRB5zRoaNeJFkVAFJ88PR2F/s1600-h/IMG_3539.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375979180204754" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iNkile_AZziL7fbp7LfbYfBwr0LT1AI-yag_XdIg5aj8MbWg-TkHjYVxhiZ0U3LECs5nbUGZRZkJkUwmUcy16EtidYsnkNlngzYPhoGGXMgvPzcnBFpUruRB5zRoaNeJFkVAFJ88PR2F/s200/IMG_3539.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Santiago Hotel</span><br />Santiago Atitlan was our next destination. Considered more of a working town, it was a busy town where people were always moving. This was our last night to enjoy the amenities of Jeannie and Minor and our hotel was possibly the best we had stayed at yet. It had a fireplace, hot showers, candles all over the place, hammock outside and overlooked the lake. It had free canoes, pool, hot tub, and sauna to use as well. Simply Magical.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUg2PdyLg66V-fDOKVUgN42tcnoqzLIx856YgabawfYcVAHmT3grb4LRmK8tD-Q3xJDi2dz5l7tDvkthT6yZlL7haqDw71YuWOdVWKscR9z5waMfJ1S7qBqmzwLe1SuuXn_5N324e9KYj/s1600-h/IMG_3541.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375969666093234" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUg2PdyLg66V-fDOKVUgN42tcnoqzLIx856YgabawfYcVAHmT3grb4LRmK8tD-Q3xJDi2dz5l7tDvkthT6yZlL7haqDw71YuWOdVWKscR9z5waMfJ1S7qBqmzwLe1SuuXn_5N324e9KYj/s200/IMG_3541.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGSubvCtng0BLTMts5Etr6H9L9hcwRR-ukyV56PPAaEc-5al4HR3l7fj9zevcYBkpdIgFptRT39sSK793Kd6-XogZcCOax1V39fOtyFgOs8QQgdB0x9Dc-ITsK4HgCPjWmSrub2m14n7w/s1600-h/IMG_3542.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375967141459362" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGSubvCtng0BLTMts5Etr6H9L9hcwRR-ukyV56PPAaEc-5al4HR3l7fj9zevcYBkpdIgFptRT39sSK793Kd6-XogZcCOax1V39fOtyFgOs8QQgdB0x9Dc-ITsK4HgCPjWmSrub2m14n7w/s200/IMG_3542.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-3CePQ713AC6f5zB7Q-Mvj6Sf1l70MVVFovT3vZoMTnc-typ8Y5DwtX8snu3368qZk75XvJQlkrDSs0hUpEum6_CRxanTqjWcJlz8f2uSkmHqFfXrQ6Y51ezAHKjJ595FqeDwGq4V4HM/s1600-h/IMG_3543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375072005022386" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-3CePQ713AC6f5zB7Q-Mvj6Sf1l70MVVFovT3vZoMTnc-typ8Y5DwtX8snu3368qZk75XvJQlkrDSs0hUpEum6_CRxanTqjWcJlz8f2uSkmHqFfXrQ6Y51ezAHKjJ595FqeDwGq4V4HM/s200/IMG_3543.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvTuQpPl5LVzaLRw1YeNS2zgvWT_G69FEAXfGlKc28xB7p8NzGnd3o9O-F6OEZNG0_PzsZ8Zs5vZfO4cbytkJQvS3212kNtyv-DvHtz-WAnQwBgfz48g_LOHKwHR1HtHLQyM05Cu8u4y7/s1600-h/IMG_3544.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375068729989474" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvTuQpPl5LVzaLRw1YeNS2zgvWT_G69FEAXfGlKc28xB7p8NzGnd3o9O-F6OEZNG0_PzsZ8Zs5vZfO4cbytkJQvS3212kNtyv-DvHtz-WAnQwBgfz48g_LOHKwHR1HtHLQyM05Cu8u4y7/s200/IMG_3544.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyIgTjGv1caf7P0XiF2PR65gzq1nMe8gfH3Yg27YlJnvqbZX69FaMgQQdxEyb-PSB205-AqM67Wwl5MLYep98JeMn2On0xy9DRAAzDhCO1-nzvDTYs6aQ0Mj15T4lLlEssXfRSNSwBLyE/s1600-h/IMG_3545.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375065618330658" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyIgTjGv1caf7P0XiF2PR65gzq1nMe8gfH3Yg27YlJnvqbZX69FaMgQQdxEyb-PSB205-AqM67Wwl5MLYep98JeMn2On0xy9DRAAzDhCO1-nzvDTYs6aQ0Mj15T4lLlEssXfRSNSwBLyE/s200/IMG_3545.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Canoe trip</span><br />Being as adventurous as we are, Emily and I decided to take the canoes out on the lake. This was one of the best and worst decisions we ever made. After about 10 minutes of "easy" paddling, we decided we were good and took a little rest to soak in the atmosphere. 30 minutes later, we had floated about a mile in the wrong direction and now had to paddle into the wind to the direction of the hotel that we could no longer see. </div><br /><br /><br />I was in the front. Em in the back. I knew that we'd make it if we just never stopped paddling. About 30 mins in, I looked back to see Emily in the middle of a daydream and inquired as to why she was not paddling. She told me to shut up and that was that. Or was it? Not more than 20 seconds later we just both happened to lean too far to the left for a paddle at the same time a wave hit our little canoe. As you can guess, we flipped.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now, 100 yards from shore in the middle of a huge lake is quite a problem. The canoe was too full of water to flip over. Both of our cameras would be lost and we'd have to somehow swim to the nearest shore to empty out the canoe.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">When we reached shore, Emily was laughing and talking about how crazy that was. I was laying on the ground trying to catch my breath. I guess pulling her and the boat across the lake was supposed to be easy. As you can guess, Emily has a slightly different story, but if you ask me, I saved her life and she should be forever greatful to me. I'm a hero and I deserve a certificate of bravery.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2TA4MDYz6iBXXzySet_dt8Zlrs5WncqA7UrzXwG5b5KN2ZZnjwUiI7CfLRqgXtHJU7zfw9B86b7-jyWpmbf5BHn1nt4twK-tujEjNvXwjKlQPQSzFm7xZMCXIjjpt5vixsxrhijVhWfU/s1600-h/IMG_3546.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375058219296482" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2TA4MDYz6iBXXzySet_dt8Zlrs5WncqA7UrzXwG5b5KN2ZZnjwUiI7CfLRqgXtHJU7zfw9B86b7-jyWpmbf5BHn1nt4twK-tujEjNvXwjKlQPQSzFm7xZMCXIjjpt5vixsxrhijVhWfU/s200/IMG_3546.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UXtTl-FPntsSdJt-goA7W75yBZvHeV6P4vWRohk1rPpFNG4-3cjebA6-9lfkUEVyZdYImTTWvt6kPtqwvM2VwB9OScgwLZOMA5U3DbZ1cWfgXqtBsNOw1ub2y-O-sVGfDOfV7seuo303/s1600-h/IMG_3547.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447375053647024418" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UXtTl-FPntsSdJt-goA7W75yBZvHeV6P4vWRohk1rPpFNG4-3cjebA6-9lfkUEVyZdYImTTWvt6kPtqwvM2VwB9OScgwLZOMA5U3DbZ1cWfgXqtBsNOw1ub2y-O-sVGfDOfV7seuo303/s200/IMG_3547.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Relaxing just before getting soaked</span><br />As you can guess, with no camera, this picture full blog is coming to a close. </div><br />We spent the next few nights in San Pedro which was a great town pretty much run by tourist for the purpose of attending language schools. You can learn Spanish here for a week with a 1 on 1 tutor and stay with a host family with all your meals included for about $90us a week. That is amazing. I will be doing this on my next vacation for sure.<br /><br /><br /><br />The last night we ran off to Antigua to meet up with Jeannie and Minor one last time before trekking back to Belize. We left the next morning at 5am on a bus to Guatemala City and then back to Puerto Barrios and onto Punta Gorda. Completely broke, without a camera, and intact with a bag full of atleast twice worn dirty laundry. It was a success in every aspect of the word.<br /></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-76076651211210942902010-02-24T09:23:00.002-05:002010-02-24T09:32:59.640-05:00Happy Birthday to me?Is February 23rd my birthday? I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">didn't</span> think so. But it must be or 15 kids <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wouldn't</span> have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">busted</span> into the computer lab yesterday morning singing to me. I guess some things <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">don't</span> matter.<br /><br />There I was minding my own business, checking email or something else that takes up my time before the bell rings and pretty much every girl from the Infant II class came in doing a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rhythmic</span> dance and singing happy birthday to me. In English... and Spanish.<br /><br />They went through the entire procession, which lasts about 2 minutes after they go through all the verses and then clap one time for every year in age as they count how old you are.<br /><br />Then when they all finished, the all came around me, hugged me and told me happy birthday. Then the bell rang and they all screamed as they ran out of the room back to class. They made sure to tell me happy birthday one more time as they were running out the door.<br /><br />Afterwards, I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">wasn't</span> sure what happened. It was one of the weirdest things that ever happened to me. Maybe when you have a fan club of 5 year old girls, you get to have your birthday whenever they feel like celebrating. That would get annoying, I bet you Hannah Montana has her birthday everyday then.<br /><br />Just another day in the life of a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PCV</span>.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-27565981619134595652010-02-18T15:16:00.006-05:002010-02-18T15:39:06.397-05:00Belizean Valentine's DayValentine's Day is a stupid made up Hallmark holiday that consists of people who suck at telling those they love on a regular basis making up for it on February 14th each year.<br /><br /><div><div><div>Did I fall in love on Valentine's Day this year? I most certainly did. I fell more in love than before. </div><div align="center"><strong>I'm head over heels in love with Yo Creek Village. </strong><strong><br /></div></strong><div>I was asked to go out to a farm with my friend Andrew to help with cows. Little did I know that I would running the cows and helping to move them around to brand them. This was much easier and much harder than I had expected. Much easier because I didn't think the cows would be so dumb to run together in a pack directly where we wanted them to and trap themselves. Much harder because while I would never proclaim myself to be an animal rights activist, some of the things I watched were not so easy to stomach.<br /></div><div>We left around 9am to the farm which is about 4 miles north of Yo Creek. </div><div>We pulled up and there were about 4 other guys there waiting for us. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1koG_pjTeRvvTyHquDXkqWG2Nno4ug1COCgXrkadcvAwqGWGHK61xITJMPULCiD3kLMWwEYQOtquBWznldZWFrKeNwJWA7EKQJ5jwohu5xPGFjL8raZj8JcC4mCS5zbx_Gd7lce4YpvO4/s1600-h/IMG_3427.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439683487318287682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1koG_pjTeRvvTyHquDXkqWG2Nno4ug1COCgXrkadcvAwqGWGHK61xITJMPULCiD3kLMWwEYQOtquBWznldZWFrKeNwJWA7EKQJ5jwohu5xPGFjL8raZj8JcC4mCS5zbx_Gd7lce4YpvO4/s320/IMG_3427.JPG" border="0" /></a>We were bringing the brand, so we were important. We started a nice fire and put the piece of iron in the fire until it was needed. </div><div></div><br /><div>Most of the guys worked for Andrew's family. 1 guy was from the Ministry of Agriculture who comes to help out when needed. He did most of the work and administered all the shots the cows received in order to protect them from ticks and parasites.<br /><br /></div><div>I mostly just watched and moved boards from time to time when I was needed. It was an easy job. Some may say that animals don't have souls, but I can assure you they were afraid of what was about to happen to them. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-YXSfU-FmlH-Ulw5IJlGi92kD0V_4-IU45Mfjzo7A4cwIWj_yIrxdO3YkeOX6JlWowspwyc7-7o8vdMdNc9nElHy4NWoWwU71ZBXmNJhQKNpdKPtCqn0PZDHdOuMtyCXaig-XwsmpANy/s1600-h/IMG_3429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439683573862904994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-YXSfU-FmlH-Ulw5IJlGi92kD0V_4-IU45Mfjzo7A4cwIWj_yIrxdO3YkeOX6JlWowspwyc7-7o8vdMdNc9nElHy4NWoWwU71ZBXmNJhQKNpdKPtCqn0PZDHdOuMtyCXaig-XwsmpANy/s320/IMG_3429.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The rest of the day was spent getting ready for a feast. Andrew's family came out to the farm and barbequed chicken with rice and beans. Once again, another Sunday where I didn't have to cook anything. I sat around in a hammock most of the day and listened to the radio play love ballads with everyone while we told stories of Belizean folk lore. I think I heard the Spanish version of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Dear Mama" by Tupac at least 20 times.<br /><br />As we were coming back to the village, I learned some things that I didn't really care to know but am thankful now that I know them. The farm that his family owns was previously a huge marijuana plantation. There is wreckage of an airplane that was shot down by the Belizean government years ago. The story goes that most elders in Yo Creek used to work as look outs and security for the Americans that used to own the fields. Lets just say that a few of those Americans ended up dead and the problem seemed to fix itself. When I get the full story, I will be sure to fill you in with pictures but those aren't quite available yet. </div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439683709852679330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJnqfE_u5oamR11q3MkKxJNVYWuNmFMzMMgVQ6WFVi0v9v8lh4LVoakJja-yH_z9YneYSFvPGZ_6mVzV2hHbARRRZh9zAwLqL9onl5GefWuE-ZbIYy-1BoV2rI9oXEr1sv7kvfsfBEdeT/s400/IMG_3433.JPG" border="0" /> <div>I finally came home to find one of the teachers had made me some bread and brought it to my house. I, of course, used it to make peanut butter and jelly and called it a night.<br /></div><div>Chalk it up to another day of integration and Sunday lovin'. </div></div></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-7896404448903367952010-02-18T11:03:00.002-05:002010-02-18T11:23:06.280-05:00Talking PointsI've been noticing something recently and I will assume that anyone I have talked to from home or Belize can attest to it. It's either that or you <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> notice because <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">I'm</span> not in that frame of mind when <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">I'm</span> around you and feel more comfortable. This may be the problem to begin with.<br /><br />The problem: I talk too much, I talk too fast, I mumble.<br /><br />What am I in such a hurry to say that I can't just relax and say it in a civilized manner? Why do I feel the need to get as much information out as fast as possible?<br /><br />I was thinking about solutions to those questions when I realized one of the biggest changes that has been occurring while I have been in Yo Creek. While here, I do more listening than anything. This is mostly because people are speaking in Spanish and it takes an extreme level of concentration for me to understand anything. Then I either know how to respond but am timid, or I have no idea and just there smiling and nodding. Something I do very well.<br /><br />Then I notice that when I talk to fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">PCVs</span> or people from home that I suddenly have all this stuff to say. I've always talked a lot but I am noticing just how much I do it now, and I'm not really a big fan of it.<br /><br />It probably has something to do that even when I do speak English it is mostly to people that do not understand my sarcasm, do not speak English, or understand English very well. When this happens, I usually find myself <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">enunciating</span> better, speaking much slower, and trying to not use words that might confuse people. Things like metaphors and figures of speech are an absolute NO NO.<br /><br />While things take a lot longer and are often frustrating when speaking this way, I find that I am actually forced to think about what I am saying instead of just spouting off at the mouth. It's crazy how differently you speak when you know that what you are saying may be falling on deaf ears and you must try to make them understand anyway you can.<br /><br />I think this type of constant interaction with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Belizeans</span> where I am watching what I am saying has really helped me to notice how different I am around those that know me. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">I'm</span> not sure which me I like better. The one that has <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">diarrhea</span> of the mouth, or the one that takes all emotion out of what I say in order to be understood. I think some middle ground would be appreciated by all.<br /><br />The thing I am finding so fascinating about my experience thus far in the Peace Corps is how often we just take language for granted. Have you ever sat down and thought about how hard it is to learn English? It's impossible! Spanish is hard, but there are very consistent rules that people can follow and not look stupid. English has no such thing.<br /><br />Coming from a country that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">doesn't</span> understand the notion of why it might be important to teach people more than one language, it is easy to forget how important language is to a culture and ,most importantly, keeping us sane.<br /><br />It's a lesson I'm learning. It's coming slowly and I hope there is a middle ground that I can someday find. So next time I start getting excited and start talking too fast, too much... just tell me to shut up (especially if any alcohol has been involved). As for all you English only speakers out there, make an effort of trying to pay attention what you are saying instead of just talking.<br /><br />It's a challenge, but it's worth a try.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-73488426065532399862010-02-17T11:13:00.005-05:002010-02-17T15:40:58.015-05:00All Volunteer Conference Arm Wrestling<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK77MlBpTBDxB1sl6VnrtWBcJBg8TRTR2AvH_vFpF9gKbUeTaH-08BN0wolJ_bV-vpkuWmZpagChDOhwmIwHnRFPQ4c9XFIKA5y_8WbxX1QQvkfxzOikeM8bOwfhGEea2A1dYWOp-u-C3/s1600-h/IMG_3407.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439246600289557842" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK77MlBpTBDxB1sl6VnrtWBcJBg8TRTR2AvH_vFpF9gKbUeTaH-08BN0wolJ_bV-vpkuWmZpagChDOhwmIwHnRFPQ4c9XFIKA5y_8WbxX1QQvkfxzOikeM8bOwfhGEea2A1dYWOp-u-C3/s200/IMG_3407.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>There stood two chairs divided by half broken table in a moldy room. One chair would win, one chair would lose. To one chair would go all the spoils. In every Peace Corps event, we try to have a little themed contest to give ourselves something to do in between the countless ice breakers and millions of other things that are important but we usually <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> listen to. Then we head back to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">GarDen</span> and do stupid things like ass grabbing contests, hand stand contests, mustache bashes, limbo competitions, and the annual arm wrestling match. Many men and many women enter, only one of each emerges a victor.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3gYbAgNxn_lfyF_RbSLq26a-bO-jatmBjPVCNaDtM0DTn7vfsCLA-d6xke6UauHGrRe6Yi_-x04myk_UBXva8vrlL4qJPIHjPfCm3shxxRliw_73Az84yFFQIs3TlukVVMV3ho1qCI2Z/s1600-h/IMG_3418.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439247174675001298" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA3gYbAgNxn_lfyF_RbSLq26a-bO-jatmBjPVCNaDtM0DTn7vfsCLA-d6xke6UauHGrRe6Yi_-x04myk_UBXva8vrlL4qJPIHjPfCm3shxxRliw_73Az84yFFQIs3TlukVVMV3ho1qCI2Z/s200/IMG_3418.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw32nKymnoHO6HbZttLnddiyseJFGMNHCkiPsLhsFGbbE13rnSgBMzbn1kNeNJenW4P-7mfPBOGHadTQdJzvpneFFmTqC_3fJMrHmaFfmNGL6OjeBaETlqOLIwxkLAmPvqsWykg7pyG_Me/s1600-h/IMG_3408.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439246601918288242" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw32nKymnoHO6HbZttLnddiyseJFGMNHCkiPsLhsFGbbE13rnSgBMzbn1kNeNJenW4P-7mfPBOGHadTQdJzvpneFFmTqC_3fJMrHmaFfmNGL6OjeBaETlqOLIwxkLAmPvqsWykg7pyG_Me/s200/IMG_3408.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Some take this very seriously while others pretend they <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">didn't</span> know what was going on. Let us compare our field. There is me, who know about it, but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">didn't</span> care. That seems to be the majority of the field. Then there are people like Adam, who knew about it, joined a health club and has been getting 'ripped and shredded' for months in practice. Then enter Dave Thomas, the guy who just disgraces Cincinnati at ever chance. I will mention that he did make it farther than I did despite being 100 lbs. less in muscle but much stronger in heart.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4pm-URvfgVyV79P1_SNLFn8_AJ0je0L-7pmDTC-yepCsghtr5yueje7-MeuOJ4C0In2vtbTOK5Z-OBs7NN6U155oHA-ZZ8RABmPqoirmXaObVW1hd2kqS02NjUi2lJJhAiXbdIr8v86J/s1600-h/IMG_3411.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439246611908778210" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie4pm-URvfgVyV79P1_SNLFn8_AJ0je0L-7pmDTC-yepCsghtr5yueje7-MeuOJ4C0In2vtbTOK5Z-OBs7NN6U155oHA-ZZ8RABmPqoirmXaObVW1hd2kqS02NjUi2lJJhAiXbdIr8v86J/s200/IMG_3411.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBzRWNB8OGDLV9puSx-G03mpecsjFV-KJ4LjBPByDMOvJP-rO8Ji5uYzFjZG-mqFKf9DAX6W6qRm_yNGGVyqpm0knGdbR0MGNvxzImhUUSMpjRDEAoB5ywSBE4F4NchxvgqemfntMHo1c/s1600-h/IMG_3409.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439246608693002546" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBzRWNB8OGDLV9puSx-G03mpecsjFV-KJ4LjBPByDMOvJP-rO8Ji5uYzFjZG-mqFKf9DAX6W6qRm_yNGGVyqpm0knGdbR0MGNvxzImhUUSMpjRDEAoB5ywSBE4F4NchxvgqemfntMHo1c/s200/IMG_3409.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFFZ4-sxKiUA5TMspzfPG2j4e8TrLk0UZDBjBQltVM-eR8UENFYomDwm2qXSlE1VoJkFCtpcgAZjuaygDj13kzN_wnq5QvwsIifNKrGbDCqwcTFPQOOh_HFWeigPy22FChZ2P10pdHid8/s1600-h/IMG_3416.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439247166709510466" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFFZ4-sxKiUA5TMspzfPG2j4e8TrLk0UZDBjBQltVM-eR8UENFYomDwm2qXSlE1VoJkFCtpcgAZjuaygDj13kzN_wnq5QvwsIifNKrGbDCqwcTFPQOOh_HFWeigPy22FChZ2P10pdHid8/s200/IMG_3416.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjFwtVgFqA5qGxvqdqxkyr42vhI_CLMPFpITaGuCoo_CTleY8aqz9UpWZ6L2otK7Ohts292_TmTNc58fkyAvIVeS15spwrzesbeS_HuLTHZoaFB3tIXPzwIueyes42izTSp9uJJQk4NKb/s1600-h/IMG_3412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439246615466240306" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjFwtVgFqA5qGxvqdqxkyr42vhI_CLMPFpITaGuCoo_CTleY8aqz9UpWZ6L2otK7Ohts292_TmTNc58fkyAvIVeS15spwrzesbeS_HuLTHZoaFB3tIXPzwIueyes42izTSp9uJJQk4NKb/s200/IMG_3412.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><p>Some came well dressed to the event, others came in their boxers. Sam claims to have had no idea and was sleeping but we pulled him out of bed in his underwear to compete. He made a strong showing and made it all the way to the semi-finals. A good strong showing from the village boy who chops entire farm plots with one swing of his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">machete</span>. Sam is all that is man. He is like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Everclear</span>. Clear, compact but concentrated to give you a strong blow. </p><p>Greg brought his mustache. Need I say more? I think not. If only the bonds of his wax weren't stronger than his arms. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">At least</span> someone in the family makes the family name proud. </p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSzpDztEwzyDKrq8H4t9Dj1c7CeZmIwT-LjyC7g3QNd-Cto6SpffVKgiZHbxJ5oMhTJM4rlIWCowh8qDA0PhY5ej1axw_oTLdavMj9dW-sheYxwFkNxVsTRTHtsa1HZWYNln5fg9Ami05/s1600-h/IMG_3420.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439247177100786450" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSzpDztEwzyDKrq8H4t9Dj1c7CeZmIwT-LjyC7g3QNd-Cto6SpffVKgiZHbxJ5oMhTJM4rlIWCowh8qDA0PhY5ej1axw_oTLdavMj9dW-sheYxwFkNxVsTRTHtsa1HZWYNln5fg9Ami05/s200/IMG_3420.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Adam, the privileged <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Beverly</span> Hills boy, trying to look ghetto against the reigning champ Coy. Many people had nicknames on the bracket. Coy was just Coy. It's all that needs to be said. He is Coy and will cook you a gourmet meal and beat you up all without breaking a sweat. He is just that good. Adam <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">didn't</span> stand a chance. Regardless of a gym membership or not.<br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl5DhGIbUtZmP8U2Es6JXpY0rA-lt_2kA-kf3AbT6ktHUbBb93ZvggDqgmdQMBup3k2TjaZpnf2pqvfE0dvzY3l9WoOzRmrVtC4pzGELXIIauSD0IsQH_d_OGPkrc-faykqvsoWNDNUGG/s1600-h/IMG_3421.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439247180728085714" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl5DhGIbUtZmP8U2Es6JXpY0rA-lt_2kA-kf3AbT6ktHUbBb93ZvggDqgmdQMBup3k2TjaZpnf2pqvfE0dvzY3l9WoOzRmrVtC4pzGELXIIauSD0IsQH_d_OGPkrc-faykqvsoWNDNUGG/s200/IMG_3421.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><p>The finals came down to Coy and Steven on the men's side and Kevina and Kristen on the women's side. It was clear from the get go when Kevina dominated Katie that we'd have a new female champion this year. Coy retained his title and stopped Steven from beginning Peace Corps' first ever <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">trifecta</span> champion. He had already previously won the limbo contest and the nicest ass competition. No small feet for either. He was just no match for Coy. Coy is Coy. Some will never understand. </p><p>Kevina, being one of the smallest women in the contest, showed that (contrary to what most women say) size <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">doesn't</span> matter. She blew through probably the top 4 women in the tournament with ease. I feel sorry for the next batch of volunteers because no one notices just how strong she is. Coy is easy to see by his huge arms and general physique, but Kevina hits you with a surprise attack. I guess it just has more to do with the name. Whether it be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Casaletto</span> or Kevina, she is too much for far too many to handle. </p><p><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">I'm</span> going with the name. Kevin or Kevina. This is something big. I need to start training. I'll win next year and that is just one more step to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Kevolution</span> of a lifetime.<br /></p><div align="center"><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><div></div></div></div><br /></div>Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5319517391853068509.post-52215919878274859692010-02-17T09:08:00.003-05:002010-02-17T09:29:57.772-05:00Something MissingLast night I went to a birthday party of an older guy in the village that now calls me his son. He is quite the comedian and although he was turning 64, he swore that he was really 18. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Never mind</span> the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">grand kids</span> piled on his lap or the scores of family that were in attendance, he was only 18. He sure acts like it anyway, and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">couldn't</span> be happier because of it.<br /><br />When he told me of his party during the morning, I knew <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">that's</span> where I'd be later in the evening. I also thought that there would be some kind of partying going on being that it was Fat Tuesday after all. I assumed they would call it something different. Not Fat Tuesday, not Carnival... Nothing. No one was doing anything. As I walked home around 9 pm (well past my bedtime), the village was completely dead.<br /><br />Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Cantun</span> even had a sister who lived in New Orleans that called to wish him a happy birthday but most of them were convinced that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mardis</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Gras</span> was a celebration only in the States. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Never mind</span> the many more people in the world that celebrate Carnival in a much bigger way than anyone in New Orleans ever dreamed of.<br /><br />I guess to my surprise, this is just one of the things that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Belizeans</span> miss out on. They have every other holiday that they celebrate as well as all the British holidays they still observe from when they were a colony. Carnival must have slipped through the cracks. I know its still relevant because I heard rumors of people going to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Chetumal</span>, Mexico to partake in the big festivals that were going on there. That is only 25 miles away. Surely, people here would have heard of it? Nope. Not even a little bit.<br /><br />The biggest surprise is how much of a Catholic community this is. Or the country is for that matter to miss out on something such as this. Most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Belizeans</span> either <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">don't</span> party at all, and the rest seem to make up for those who <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">don't</span>. There are times when just like us, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">never mind</span> a reason to party, they just do it. So on one of the most internationally <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">renowned</span> days to drink of the year do <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Belizeans</span> seem to abstain? It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">doesn't</span> make sense. Seems to go against the laws of gravity.<br /><br />Tonight at church they get to break in the new Deacon. Its supposed to be a big deal. I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">don't</span> really know what that means but Ash Wednesday is no laughing matter. Its a big day from what little I know. They celebrate that, why not the day before. Lent <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">hasn't</span> really come up in conversation either.<br /><br />Which leads me to my big question: Is something missing in Belize or are my conceptions of Catholics in the States wrong? Probably both, but one thing is certain: Catholics here and Catholics at home are not exactly the same.Kevin Frasurehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08449604101381295597noreply@blogger.com0