Yesterday was Fathers Day which in Belize it might be better named as Male Day. It doesn't seem to matter to anyone that I have no kids, they give me well wishes all the same.
To celebrate the fathers of Caye Caulker, the elementary school once again put on its Fathers Day Program at the school which consists of giving the grateful dads all the free beer and rum they want and after getting them all toasted, making them play silly parlor games as if they were 7 year old girls (musical chairs, balloon popping contest, etc.) Throw in some bathroom humor and some oldies music and a good night is to be had by all.
It was here that I also came to a realization. I think the men here, like some in the US, crave these moments of drunkenness when they can let down their male guard and be sincere. Not that they become effeminate, but simply that they are able to show feelings and not act like some sort of walking testosterone with baggy clothes. I have to say its nice. The one thing that I will never get used to nor miss when I leave is the machismo of the guys here.
But last night I had several fathers come up to me and tell me what a good job I was doing and how well I work with the kids. That was nice to here. I'm not trying to gloat, but I'm just so proud to say this because compliments are hard to find down here. Do something nice for someone and the most I usually get is an "OK" if anything at all. Which is just the culture, I realize. I think people are appreciative, they just feel the need to show it. I'm, however, a person who needs to be affirmed. A lot.
I also got a kick last night out of telling the dads that I don't expect to have any kids. I may or may not adopt in the future, who knows? Really the reason I did this was to get a rise out of them. Its so shocking that I don't have kids already but to say I never want them is like, I don't know, deciding to throw my life away. The facial expressions just make me happy. Then they usually say something like, "but you'll be a great father". Again, I'm just fishing for compliments where I can get them.
So last night I was validated. Thats it. Just a few nice words is all I need to keep trucking. Once again I love this country. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. I relate my experience down here as being extremely bi-polar. The lows are the lowest of lows but the highs, they make it all worth it.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
1st blog EVER
Oh, hello blogging world. This is the first time I've blogged and I do hope I blog well. I have no idea what I will post on this thing, but get ready because I'm VERY interesting.
I am currently living on the small Caribbean island of Caye Caulker just off of Belize. I am a Peace Corps Volunteer working at Caye Caulker R.C. School as a teacher trainer, computer teacher, librarian, and lead secretary. Next week will be my 2 year anniversary from when I first arrived in Belize and as much as I'm looking forward to that anniversary, I'm more looking forward to my grand return to the U. S. of Yay. I do love Belize and these past few years have been out of control with how much I've learned/changed/become a better person. However, I'm over being helpful and want to go home and buy expensive things. Oh I'm just kidding! Maybe.
I will leave next month for Kansas to visit my wonderful family for a few weeks before moving away to New York City in August. I am a person who loves transition and change and something new and I spend large parts of my day looking forward to this transition, as I did anticipating my life transition from the States to Belize. Sometimes I fear that I will never be able to stay in one place for more than a few years, and other times I love this fact. I am so curious about all the places and jobs and experiences out there, I can't see myself settling down at all any time soon.
That's all I'll write for now. I do look forward to documenting my transition as well as my feelings about all sorts of business in this world. However, I feel if I convey too much in my first entry everyone will get bored with me too quickly. And by everyone I mean the 3, possibly 4 people who will read this thing.
I am currently living on the small Caribbean island of Caye Caulker just off of Belize. I am a Peace Corps Volunteer working at Caye Caulker R.C. School as a teacher trainer, computer teacher, librarian, and lead secretary. Next week will be my 2 year anniversary from when I first arrived in Belize and as much as I'm looking forward to that anniversary, I'm more looking forward to my grand return to the U. S. of Yay. I do love Belize and these past few years have been out of control with how much I've learned/changed/become a better person. However, I'm over being helpful and want to go home and buy expensive things. Oh I'm just kidding! Maybe.
I will leave next month for Kansas to visit my wonderful family for a few weeks before moving away to New York City in August. I am a person who loves transition and change and something new and I spend large parts of my day looking forward to this transition, as I did anticipating my life transition from the States to Belize. Sometimes I fear that I will never be able to stay in one place for more than a few years, and other times I love this fact. I am so curious about all the places and jobs and experiences out there, I can't see myself settling down at all any time soon.
That's all I'll write for now. I do look forward to documenting my transition as well as my feelings about all sorts of business in this world. However, I feel if I convey too much in my first entry everyone will get bored with me too quickly. And by everyone I mean the 3, possibly 4 people who will read this thing.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)