Hello all!

We’re finally beginning to acclimated to island life! Since we are right in the heart of a very touristy town we can hear loud music most nights until past midnight. It has been a little difficult when trying to fall asleep at night to wake up for school but we close the shades and manage. After a two week Easter break we began school again last Monday. Hillary and I are at the San Pedro High School and it is definitely a different experience than teaching in MA. The classes are larger than what I have been used to and it is very hot during the day with just a breeze to cool everyone off. We walk about 15 minutes on the beach to the school everyday arrive at 8 and leave between 2 and 230 everyday.

This week we were fortunate enough to witness a few special events hosted by the high school. We taught Monday through Wednesday then Thursday morning we arrived and the school was setting up for a parade! The boys softball team from the school had won their national championship the week before so they were celebrating the accomplishment by parading the whole school through the bustling streets of San Pedro accompanied by the drum line and a DJ. Hillary and I had also been invited to chaperone the boys and girls regional track meet, hosted by San Pedro, and we were leaving that very same day.

Since the island of San Pedro did not have the facilities to host a track and field competition they were going to use the fields at Corozal Community College in the north of the mainland. An hour after the parade ended Hillary, myself, and about 50 students and staff from the high school boarded a boat heading to Belize city. When arriving in Belize city we then got on buses (separated by boys and girls) and took the 2 hour ride to Corozal town in the north. When arriving at the hotel we were put in charge of students to watch. The thing that we found different was that we actually stayed in the same hotel room as the students we were put in charge of! We figured this would not happen in the U.S. but things are a little more relaxed here.

Friday morning, the day of the meet, came and all the students were so nervous! Each staff member had a different task assigned to them at the field. It was great to be able to cheer on the San Pedro students. Everyone really made us feel like we were apart of the school. Many activities and medals later we left at about 6 p.m. It was a very long, hot, and tiring day (about 90 degrees in an open field all day) so everyone was grateful to get some rest on the ACed bus. All the students that had won either gold or silver was invited to compete at the nationals, including the best of the best from the entire country the following week. We finally arrived back in San Pedro Friday night around 1030 p.m. Overall it was a great two days where me and Hillary had the opportunity outside of school to have conversations with the students and teachers and feel apart of their community.

Until next time!