Hi Everyone,
The last week and a
half has been a lot of fun. We have completed our survey work in Maya Centre!
We only have Golden Stream and Maya Mopan to complete now. The people of Maya
Centre were really nice and seemed to enjoy our company. Maya Centre is located right by the Belize
Jaguar Preserve and many of the women in the village make jewelry, bracelets
and cravings to sell to tourist. While
working in Maya Centre, Eva and I met missionaries from North Carolina. They
were visiting the village to offer free medical exams and treatment to the
local villagers. The majority of Maya villages do not have access to medical
care or treatment; so many rely on missionaries and government to come to them.
We started
our surveying in Maya Mopan and was served lunch by a local family that Dr. Key
has known for a while. The lunch was amazing with handmade tortillas and eggs
with calla Lou. We also got to see a mobile clothing store. A man was driving a
bus through the village filled with clothing and goods. This is how many of the
Maya are getting the clothing that they wear, aside from making their own. Eva
and I also got to drink Coconut water from a coconut that a Maya man cut of the
tree for us. He cut it down then chopped one side off and we have a refreshing
drink. Coconut water is very popular here because it is good for hydration and
the stomach. It doesn’t cost anything if you cut it from the tree so it is the
cheapest choice.
I had
the great opportunity to sing and play guitar at 3 different events this week.
I met a lot of great musicians and had a great time!
Last
night I got to try out Belize’s socialized healthcare. I had an allergic
reaction to something I ate and my throat closed up. Dr. Key and Eva took me
the clinic in Placencia at 2am to get a shot. I was not charged anything for
the visit and the shot had me breathing easy in 15 minutes. I am doing fine
now, just a little groggy from the medicine.
Thank you for following me and I am sorry it has taken so
long to write again!
Here are a few pics from my travels.