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Journal Entry 43

April 13, 1977 / Belize City, Belize:

It was too bad that Dad only had a week in Belize, but I think we did about as much in that one week as possible: Belize City, Belmopan, Xuanatunich, Hummingbird Hwy, Stann Creek, Placencia, Punta Gorda, San Antonio, reef and caye. I know that everyone tried very hard to show him a good time. It was especially fun for me because I got a chance to catch up on all the news from home.

Today was to have been Fisheries Open Day, but we were rained out. This gives us a few more days to prepare properly. It was a good way to save face, as I think we should have postponed the event anyway because we were not totally ready to go ahead with it.

I'm going to leave work early today and see Dr. Lizama. I was loading crates of beer and soft drinks onto the skiff tied up near Swing Bridge and I fell in the water. It was the classic one foot on the seawall and one foot on the skiff. As a result, I got a slight ear infection. I want to stop it early this time. Also, when I fell I scraped my skin on the concrete. Every one of the cuts I got became infected, but I cleaned them all out and they're nearly healed now. I hope nobody finds out that I went for a "swim" by the Swing Bridge.

[Photo: Xunantunich, Belize, 1977.]

Journal Entry 44

April 25, 1977 / Belize City, Belize:

I've been back to work for a week now. Fisheries had a good Open House, and things are back to normal.

Two weeks ago a new group of Peace Corps Trainees arrived in Belize City. Apparently, most of this new group has quite a few apprehensions concerning Peace Corps and Belize City. Unfortunately, these trainees had been talking to some Volunteers who were themselves disenchanted with Belize and had come away with a one-sided view of Belize and Peace Corps. These Trainees then approached Reggie, the Peace Corps Director, with all their complaints and doubts, and he was not able to help much.

So, Reggie called me into his office to ask me if I would make myself available to the Trainees to answer questions and present a more positive view of Belize. It is well known that I am a "well-adjusted, happy volunteer." In fact, I think I'm one of only a few Volunteers that likes living in Belize City. So, I took Friday morning off from work and tried to do what I could to help.

The Trainees were primarily concerned with the problem of not being accepted by their Belizean peers and by not being able to make friends. I guess the old Volunteers who had gotten to this group first had painted a pretty bleak picture. I tried to emphasize the need to get out of the Peace Corps clique and attend functions (sports, fairs, etc.) which are not normally attended by Peace Corps or tourists. I suggested they read every word of at least two of the local newspapers every week, so they could speak intelligently on Belizean affairs, price of cars, pay scale for different jobs, coming events, whatever.

Also, I suggested they not dress "touristy" and not travel in "packs" of 3 or 4, but to venture out individually. Also, not to become offended by some of the verbal abuse on the street, but to check it out and even let that person know you'll be around for two years, and he should get used to seeing you. One female complained specifically about one group of boys on Dean Street. When I told her that they were friends of mine, everyone was quite surprised.

I hope I was of some help. I was glad to do it because it got me in good with Reggie, Louis Lindo, and Mr. Yorke. It is these men who select the Volunteer Trainer to work with the new groups, like Russ did with us. I'm already trying to be considered for that position when my tour is up. It pays a good State Department salary and is not much work.

By the way, due to an oversight somewhere we are not entitled to the 10% pay raise we got starting in April. Now we only get 5%. I'm going to have to readjust my lifestyle because I already became accustomed to that 10%.

David's basketball team won the league championship Friday night. Going into that night's games there was a 3-way tie for first. For David's team to end up with sole possession of 1st place, Berger had to beat Carnation and David's team, Belikin Wheels, had to beat Old Parr. That's exactly what happened.

I volunteered to cook breakfast Sunday morning. The family was quite skeptical. I fixed bacon, eggs, and sourdough pancakes. Denton, Michael, Debbie and Einar all dropped in for breakfast. My breakfast was an unqualified success, even though I was so busy I didn't get to sit down and eat until all the eggs and bacon were gone. The pancakes were good though.

After breakfast Denton, Michael, Einar and I went to Bird's Isle for boxing. It was another Mexico vs. Belize card. I guess the truck ride down from Mexico tired out the Mexican boxers too much because, again, Belize won all the fights. We're looking forward to May 8th when Fitzroy Giuseppe fights.

I got the prints from film Roll #8. They were exposed correctly. Now I have my Olympus permanently at work (it takes the most abuse there) and the Minolta at home. After reading up on the Minolta I can see it is a good camera. I'm anxious to use it soon. I used the Nikonos III last week underwater. That's a lot of guesswork because we don't have a light meter. I used the suggestions on the film instructions for proper exposure, and then opened up the aperture one stop for every 3 feet below the surface. Also distances underwater appear to be 25% closer than they actually are. I didn't have the Sportfinder (framing aide) that goes on top of the camera and so had to view through the small viewfinder. With a mask, underwater, that's a trick. I shot black and white and will get the film processed here in the city.

[Photo: Dory on the beach, Placencia, Belize, 1978.]