be your own palace
or the world is your jail

Reconnect  December turned out to be a whirlwind month. I was coming off of a period of integration in my village, which was full of challenges and successes, and looking forward to Reconnect, our first in-service training as PCVs. I was full of questions and eager to spend time with all of my fellow volunteers, some of whom I hadn't seen since our...

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I’m in the middle of my integration period here at my site, and it’s hard to describe what I do on a day-to-day basis. Every day is so different, the only constants are the beans and tortillas. Also, the cold water showers... Hopefully the photos that follow will help you envision a part of what I do! I wake up, and this is...

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Independence Day in Belize feels like a month-long event, culminating this year with the Independence Day weekend. The actual holiday fell on a Sunday, which was great timing because it meant that Monday would be the observed holiday, while festivities began on the Friday. Friday during the day, I was invited to march with the students of my village's school in their parade....

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My birthday was during only my second week at site. Truthfully, I didn’t expect much (Peace Corps rule: manage expectations). And when I woke up that day at 5:30 am because of my neighbor’s propensity to blast the radio at such early hours, and then opened a box of cereal only to discover that ants had gotten to it first, I felt justified...

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A little description about my site: I’m in a small village in the southern Cayo District, where the capital is also located. Our training was in the Cayo District as well, but my permanent site is in a more rural area. Farming is one of the top occupations, although tourism jobs are increasing in the area. There are rivers and jungle surrounding, and...

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The week before swearing in, called Bridge to Service, was like a sigh of relief after PST. We were back in the capital, where it all began for us, only this time we are now close friends, comfortable, relaxed, and, for the most part, full of excitement for what lay ahead. Our swearing in ceremony was a bittersweet moment: starting our service but...

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