Take it Belizeasy (a saying from our Lime Caye guide)

Village experiences: a family, Garifuna boy, piglets, health education

village road

Last week I got a lot of practical stuff done. It was good to feel like I'm finding more of my place here at Hillside. I've been enjoying the other students and going running with one of the long-term volunteers. The weather has also been much nicer with not nearly as much rain. Last Wednesday and the Wednesday before that I went with a group of students and doctors on two different overnight village trips. It was an interesting experience. It was a long drive down a primarily rocky road.  Rudy the community liason introduced me to some important community members who helped me better understand their community system. Two school principals said lice was a huge problem in their villages. The two other villages said they did not have much of a problem with lice/scabies. They both attributed not having a problem to having good water. In each village there are community health workers who are supposed to help with health issues. I am hoping to be able to work more closely with these CHWs to talk about health education and prevention/treatment for lice and scabies. Also, two Fridays ago I met with the public health director in Punta Gorda. He was really supportive of Hillside and the program of trying to rid villages of scabies and lice. 

We have the same watch!!!

My overnight village accommodation

Lime Caye

Last weekend I went to Lime Caye, which is a private island about an hour and a half away by boat. It was beautiful. The family that owns the island cooks for the guests. The boat driver took us snorkeling and fishing. He would cast for us and then we would take turns holding the pole. Overall we caught 4 mackerels and 3 barracudas. The one I reeled in was a little mackerel. They cleaned them and cooked them up that night. I'm not even a big fish fan, but it was really good! We also saw dolphins when we went fishing, which was amazing. We went snorkeling around the world's second largest barrier reef. We snorkeled around a shipwreck and saw lots of schools of fish, lion fish, little jellyfish- one who stung me (but it didn't really hurt-so a good first jellyfish experience).  It was a fun, beautiful, and relaxing weekend.  I feel like things are going good with the clinic and with all the extra stuff that I get a chance to experience.

Other side of Lime Caye

Week 1 Recap

The first week was interesting.  I have learned more about the Toledo District and the people that Hillside serves.  I have also gotten to know the other long-term staff members a little better.  I really enjoy the people.

The pictures below are from my small plane from Belize City to Punta Gorda.  We made three stops...haha.

The Punta Gorda area is pretty hot with lots of rain and humidity.  It reminds me more of Vanuatu than of a Central American country.  I'll post some more pictures soon.  All of the other students left for the weekend to Livingston, so I stayed and was able to hang out with some of the longer-term staff.  It was a fun weekend even though we mainly just hung around Hillside.  This weekend it rained so much.  We had some thunderstorms, too.  The power went out and one of the trees fell down.

Last week I was at the Hillside Clinic and at a clinic in a village called Laguna.  I didn't do much, but the med students and PA's worked hard to assess and treat patients.  I felt a little in the way, but hopefully as I learn more things I will be able to help with more.  I am also figuring out how best to approach my project.  So, once I understand more about my tasks here, hopefully I will feel like I know what I am doing here.

The picture to the right is around the Hillside Campus.  It was pouring down rain when I took those.

I was able to go to church yesterday.  It was great.  One of the doctors asked me if I wanted to go with her.  I knew some of the songs and there was a variety of people - Belizeans and Americans.  The pastor was really good!  I was so happy to be able to go to church!

We will see what week 2 has in store!

flying with the flu

So... I flew to Belize yesterday to spend four months working on my public health internship.  Saturday I was diagnosed with the flu.  This made packing and flying extremely difficult!  Of course I was not contagious when I flew, but I still did not feel good and I'm still not feeling great, so all prayers are appreciated!

I don't know how my new adventure will play out, but it will definitely be a different four months.  The weather here is hot and humid.  It rained a lot last night, but it is beautiful today!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and let you know I arrived safely!  I will post some pictures soon!  Thanks!