The silly-ness:
While walking down the street with the umbrella, a man rode by on his motor-scooter and
ducked under the umbrella (similar occurrences with bikes happen as well).A comment by a woman as Ginnie walked by on a rainy morning in her work clothes and pink with hearts rain boots: “I like see how you dress up, miss!” with a big smile.
Another day walking with those same boots just around the corner from the house, a man slowly drove over a speedbump and pointed to the boots with a smile and gave a thumbs up.
During a volleyball tournament in which St. Luke’s was competing, an Infant I student (about 5 years old) “danced” atop the bleachers as she sang aloud “Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me” as Anthony sat nearby.
Just yesterday, two pikni (Robert and Lindy) had this conversation with Ginnie:
Robert: Miss, who did you vote for? The Honorable Dean Barrow or...?
Ginnie: I can't vote in Belize elections. I vote in America and just mailed in my ballot for the elections coming up.
Robert: Did you vote for the rock obam?
Ginnie: Barack Obama. Do you know who else is running?
Lindy: The president of the United States!
Ginnie: That's George W. Bush. He can't run this time it is someone else. Do you know what he looks like?
Lindy & Robert in unison: He's white!
Lindy: With white hair. And a black shirt!
And there you have it - American politics from Belizean children
Signs -just all the street signs, store signs, labels on items, etc; there is often comic relief in just "interpreting" these signs.
The everyday:
The meat pie man and dukunu lady riding by on their bikes and food carts. In the morning, we
hear "meat pie, meat pie" as the man rides down the street. Later in the afternoon it's, "dukunuuuu, dukunu with meeeeat" when the lady comes by. It's quite wonderful, despite not liking either dish. Well, dukunu is okay, but it's just a lot of corn mush at once. Quick aside - Is not dukunu with meat a tamale? Though she did previously say "Tamaleeees! Dukunuuuu!"
Women breastfeeding next to us on the bus and everywhere else – it’s such a cultural norm, we don’t even notice it anymore.
The moms breastfeeding during our support group meetings and activity sessions or classes. The first time, I just didn’t know what to do, now we just keep right on going (though I have no idea how this will work during my yoga session coming up soon…).
“Miss/Sir, please a shilling?” as asked by pikni
“Taxi!” as we walk anywhere; or, a particular favorite – the taxi man shrugging up his shoulders and hands to us as if to say “what do you want?” when in actuality he is asking “taxi?” Another neighborhood driver asking us if we wanted a taxi, after which we replied “no thanks,” he says, “Dat’s ahrait man. Ai see, you tek da two wheel drive today!” Yes, we'd be walking to the shop today :)
"Miss Geenay" as I walk in the neighborhood or come into school (often accompanied by a big hug!)
Students running up and practically knocking you over the veranda as they hug and squeeze you as if it's been a lifetime since they'd seen you
The things we hear:
“Right now!” – which means “just a sec” if you really break it down and is Ginnie’s new favorite!
“Mek ai see/show you/try…” – which means "let me… "
“I neve kno-ah” – which is best when actually heard and means “I didn’t know”
“miss, miss, miss” or “sir, sir, sir” – kids like to call this repeatedly in class; we’re working with the teachers to reduce it so they learn to just raise their hands politely and wait to be called on. I think the funniest example was one day in Standard I last year when Ginnie did a lesson and the kids got so excited to answer (I bring treats) they not only shouted “miss, miss,…” they came up 
to me with their hands raised all crowding around – how I wanted to laugh, but instead just called on a quiet, lee bwai who followed directions and raised his hand and stayed in his seat. We can laugh now :)
“No-ah!” – "no," but with the best accent
“Miss, you sound like us!” – this I heard in my recent Club GLOW meeting when I needed to get their attention to move onto a next activity. Apparently my accent when I said “Hello” was very Kriol.
“next” – when used in Kriol it really is about another of something; we have adopted this into our daily lingo and I think it will stay. For example: “You want one next one? (You wah wahn nex wahn?)"
Fruit lady, Ms. Rosa, at our favorite market stand telling us about avocado ripening: “Two days” turned out she had made a perfect prediction as our avocado was perfectly ripened just as she promised
As Anthony hurried out of his office, closing the door behind him, albeit very slowly (parents nearby are in wait to register children for school), he overhears, "Ahhh!!! My fingers!!!" That'll teach you to rest your fingers in active door jams :) After apologizing and asking if there was anything he could do to help (ice, etc.) the man requested rubbing alcohol. Have we mentioned 
the rubbing alcohol myth before? For some unknown reason some believe rubbing alcohol to be the be all and end all in cures for the flu, cuts, bruises, fainting, snake bites, insect bites, headaches...you name it! When someone falls ill, passes out, etc. everyone reaches for the bottle of rubbing alcohol. Actually our first aid kit at school, or at least the paper bag we label as such, contains a bottle of this fine ointment and that's all. Hopefully it will stop all of the bleeding in time so that no bandages are necessary. :)
Just really cool moments:
When we finally received our absentee ballots, Ginnie was really excited and so was her principal because she wanted to see what an American ballot looks like. I showed it to her and we talked about the different categories – she was so interested in the county elections and senate, too. She was surprised to see so many candidates for president since she’s only heard about Obama and McCain. Also, our school warden and I had a nice conversation about the recent debates and her thoughts on who should win and who she would vote for. It was one really cool moment and I get to learn more about Belize’s elections in the process, too!
The teachers joking with us every day; we are definitely integrated into our schools now and have a lot of silly conversations on top of the serious ones.
Moleisha, Lindy, Summer – three of Ginnie's students who I just love – they love to talk with me and tell me stories. Here’s a recent conversation with Lindy “Miss, my skin is turning white like you” (he has a pigment thing where he has lighter areas); I pointed out how my freckles are a pigmentation thing and make me get the little brown spots so he said “You are turning to dark like me and I am turning to light like you!” It was just adorable and he is too cute. He’ll talk to me for an entire day if given the chance, I am pretty sure of it! And then there is Moleisha with her hugs and Summer’s infectious laugh – she gave me directions to her house: “It’s just over so and then turn so and so!”
The delicious treats delivered by our adopted mom (but really, we think of the whole family as our fourth host family in a way!) – she makes the best powda bun in Belize, I am convinced of that and she has said she will teach me (though I’m gonna wait for a few more months so she keeps sending over hers!).
The not so fantastic:
Going to the store to find a favorite item is just no longer there – and then not being able to get it for months or more (like brown rice – weh di go ahn! We now pay sooo much for brown rice; we have to really cut back on how often we make rice dishes)
Having your long skirt get caught in the chain of the beach cruiser – man it stinks! One day the left side somehow made it into the chain, which is on the right! I was just turning onto a busy road so not an inconvenient location or anything :) I got myself to the sidewalk in front of a shop where we will go for things on occasion and where a delivery was being made at the moment. As I assessed the situation to determine how I could get it out without a tear (I mean, I only have so many skirts here, clothes are precious, I can’t just replace them!), I was gaining an audience and as I maneuvered myself to try to not fall and get the chain to move backwards, a delivery person came over to help. I was embarrassed, but pretty grateful to the people offering suggestions and the help of the delivery person! I imagine they got a good laugh out of it after I passed ;) 
Sudden downpours as you ride your bike home – one day it hit so hard, Ginnie's skirt was soaked and getting so heavy that it was harder to peddle, not to mention the wind coming right at my face!!! Anthony gets soaked with mud all on his pants and somehow it has sprayed up all over his shirts – and he had the one time when it began to downpour and his chain decided it was the perfect time to pop off!
Open sewage system – and that should really be self-explanatory
Miscommunication due to the non-direct nature of many people. And, while we do love to be laidback, there are some things we really need to not be laid back about sometimes.
Corporal punishment – we accept that it is part of the culture; we just wish it wouldn’t happen in front of us.
Floods – in the streets and in our drainage because it causes the toilet not to work, making it seem as though sometimes indoor plumbing isn’t the best option since when it doesn’t work it’s not pretty!
Here's the best part - it's all pretty amazing! We could just keep adding to this with new and remembered moments! Just to live and work among the beautiful people of Belize and to get to experience a whole new world is worth all of it. "Land of the Free by the Caribe Sea." Plus, they never said it would be easy, it is "the toughest job you'll ever love."
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