I'm not sure if I have ever been so exhausted. Yesterday was Independence Day and San Ignacio was the place to be.

Every year there is a huge parade that goes all around Cayo. It's probably about 3 miles long total going in a huge circle from San Ignacio to Santa Elena and back. Our float consisted of the Women's Group, Youth Ambassador Program (my youth group), and the Volunteers. Our float had a huge set of speakers pumping out all the dancehall music.

Obviously we were all required to dance the whole time.

Myself and the YAP group spent their time passing out information on HIV/AIDS.

Four hours later we finally reach the end at Makal Park. The big Beliken tent was up and pretty every person from Cayo was was in the park. Luckily I live right across the street so my friend Jamie and I went to my house to bathe, mad a quick drink that involved red tang and rum (not too tasty), and headed back out to the party. We found our Belizean friends and danced for the next four hours or so.

I honestly believe that their is no funner place in the world then San Ignacio on Independence Day.

(Jamie, Ms Elise, and me)

(YAPpers Tracy, Gillian, and me)

(me and Jamie)

Welp, One year I've been living in Belize (minus vacation with the fam last week). The overwhelming majority of my time has been amazing. I can count the bad days on one hand. I'm looking forward to another year (hopefully) as good as the previous. While I do miss my friends and family I love living in Belize. I can't wait to share my experiences living here when I get my visitors this Christmas. The past year has flow by. I can't believe it!

Hola!

Well, I just got back from Antigua, Guatemala for Easter break. It was a great first vacation.

It started by meeting Heather and Tonia on the bus from Belmopan to Benque (Belize border town). That particular bus ride is only about 10 minutes for me since i'm so close. From there we took a 5 minutes taxi ride to the border of Belize and Guatemala. After we crossed the border and exchanged our money we crammed into a collectivo for the 2 hour ride from Melcor (Guatemala border town) to Flores.

Flores is a beautiful little island city in the middle of Guatemala. As soon as we got there we bought our bus tickets for later. We hung out in Flores for a couple hours just walking around and shopping. At 9pm we boarded our overnight bus to Guatemala City. It was a very long bus ride, about 9 hours, and I passed out in minute 5. So much for the huge book I brought for the ride. We got into the City around 6am and took another hour car ride from Guatemala City to Antigua.

It was a very long trip but really not too bad since I slept most of it.

As soon as we got to Antigua we checked into our hotel, The Black Cat Inn, and I passed out.

Antigua is known for having the biggest Easter celebration in the Americas. It was very big. All day long they had parades where men and women would walk the streets

with huge platforms with different religious figures on them. It was intense.

On Sunday Kristen, Heather, Tonia, and I toured Lake Atitlan. It was a beautiful lake. We went to three small communities surrounding the lake. It was so much fun.

It was a great vacation. I hope to get to spend more time in Guatemala.

I know, I'm really late on writing this one but here it goes...

Last weekend, my friend and volunteer with Cornerstone, Nadia, was leaving Belize as the end of her month here was over. She decided for her last hurrah she wanted to go to Caye Caulker. I was pretty strapped for cash but, what the hell, I went anyways. We had an AMAZING time.

I loved Caye Caulker. It's so laid back and calm.

The weather was supposed be bad but by pure luck the sun came out and stayed out all weekend.

We were plaining on heading over there at 6:00 but of course we slept late. She thought I set my alarm clock, I though she set hers. We made it on the bus at about 9am. We arrived at the Caye at about noon. Quickly got a room at Tina's Backpackers, changed into our suits, and hit the beach.

We spent all day working on our tan.

Once the sun went down we started wondering around town in search of grub. We had an AMAZING salad at some restaurant that I can't remember the name of but it started with A.

After dinner we started walking around an noticed a sign that said "happy hour 8-11" That is our kind of happy hour. AND! They had guacamole which I have seriously been craving badly. Outside they had this circle of swings set up with some rasta guys playing music. They were really cool so we ended up just swinging and listening to music all night.

Sunday Nadia wanted to go snorkeling but like i said i was strapped for cash so I just laid in the sun all day. Elizabeth showed up around noon (yay!) and we just hung out till Nadia got back.

We met her out at the split.

Then we went to an amazing restaurant. Outside of the seating area there is this table of lobster and fish that had been caught that day. You pick which one you want and then they grill it for you. I picked a red snapper. I was kicking myself for not getting the lobster though.

After eating we went back to the swings where we learned that nobody goes out on Sundays in Caye Caulker. We then went to bed pretty early.

Monday Liz and Nadia got up early to ride bikes while I slept in a bit more. We then got on the water taxi, said our goodbyes to Nadia at the airport, and headed home.

Yesterday Elizabeth decided we should all go to Pine Ridge to Big Rock Falls to go swimming for the day. Also with Me and Nadia came Elizabeth's brother Al, her daughter, Erika, and their friend, Morris.

It was a very bumpy drive out to the park. Once we got they we had to hike to the falls which was very steep and rocky. I'm pleased that I only feel once.

Once we got there it was beautiful! Well worth the hike.

We spent all day swimming and relaxing around the waterfall. It was an amazing day!

This year Cornerstone through big Christmas party for all the poorer children in the community and their families. It was wonderful. Everyone ate a big plate or Chicken, rice and beans, Potatoe Salad, and a delicious cupcake.

Then each of the kids received a present. It was so much fun watching them all open their gifts.

Then the had a dance.

Days like these make me really like Cornerstone.

So on Tuesday Kashay and I headed down to Dangriga for Garifuna settlement day to help a friend with an art show and also to meet up with my Peace Corps peeps to enjoy the festivities.

All day Wednesday we spent setting up for Nehanda's art show. She has some amazing art.

I was so excited to see all my people! We went back to the hostel that some of them were staying for a little pre-drinking before we headed out to go dancing. We had a really good time. The party was supposed to be from 6pm to 6am with the re-enactment starting at 6. Unfortunately i didn't make it and went to bed and missed the reenactment. I did catch the awesome parade.. Here are some pics and a summary of what the Garifuna Settlement Day really is....

ps... i can't post pics now but will lata

The Garifuna are a mix of African, Arawak, and Carib ancestry. Throughout history they have been incorrectly labeled as Black Caribs. When the British took over Saint Vincent after the Treaty of Paris in 1763, they were opposed by French settlers and their Carib allies. The Caribs eventually surrendered to the British in 1796. The British separated the more African-looking Caribs from the more indigenous looking ones. 5,000 Garinagu were exiled, but only about 2,500 of them survived the voyage to Roatán, an island off the coast of Honduras. Because the island was too small and infertile to support their population, the Garinagu petitioned the Spanish authorities to be allowed to settle on the mainland. The Spanish employed them as soldiers, and they spread along the Caribbean coast of Central America. The Garinagu settled in southern Belize by way of Honduras as early as 1802. However, in Belize November 19, 1832 is the date officially recognized as "Garifuna Settlement Day"