My new career as a Dental Assistant

Well, actually, it only lasted a day so I guess its not really a career. And, all right, I was more like an assistant to the dental assistant, but still.

This week I have been doing an abstinence program with the Standard 6 class:



But I took a break today to expand my vocational skills when a dental team from Alabama came to examine the kids. My job was to go through the attendance roster and bring the kids two at a time from the classroom to the kitchen, our makeshift dental office (minus the soft rock).

This job, which lasted all day, gave me the great fortune of being able to take before and after pictures of the kids.

Here are my favorite before pictures (some have never been to the dentist before):

















And the proud after shots:









The scary waiting cooler:







David (principal) in the hot seat:





David after his "appointment"



David trying to tell me its my turn:



The dental team (minus the actual dentist, who will restore the teeth tomorrow at a different location that has electricity)

Melcher

So, the plan was to go to Guatemala (only a few miles away) to Melcher so I could purchase all my little souvenirs for all of you, at a cheaper rate. You know, the little beaded bracelets and coin purses and things that say Belize? I made a checklist to be organized, because I break into a frenzied sweat when trying to buy souvenirs. Just ask Elaine, who sat with me on the floor of a German supermarket while I tried to figure out what kind of chocolate to bring home, and for who, and how much? It was stressful.

Anyway, the first thing I bought was ice cream- not on the list. Then I followed Francis around for an hour through rows and rows of clothing- not on the list. Then we stumbled upon this amazing little shop owned by real, true full-blooded Guatemalan Indians and purchased two bags of things not on the list. But CUTE things, okay? Including a little handmade Guatemalan sundress for baby Lily.

I never even saw one beaded bracelet or coin purse or anything that said "Belize" so, Erin, sorry. I am still going to do my best to find you the coinpurse that says Belize, but if I come home empty-handed, you'll know I tried... I can still check that one place by the river...

Anyway. Here are some pics of the day.

Me & Francis



Me & the Indians



France & the Indians



Dwayne, Frances, Me & Inez





After hours and hours at the Indian shop





Inez & Dwayne (on the streets...)



PS- My brother, Ben, graduated from boot camp/AIT on Thursday. He was one of 3 people (out of 190-something) to receive honors and a promotion to the next rank- go boonjy! He leaves for Alaska tomorrow, where he'll be stationed until he leaves for Iraq in August.

He told my mom, "Yeah, the tower was the scariest thing I've ever done. Man, looking down from there and having to repel down, i mean it was the hardest thing I've ever done, I'm so afraid of heights."
And then he said, "When I get to Alaska I'm putting in for Airborne school."
Good ol' Boonjy.

He's third from the right. The cute one in the back.



Love you Ben!

Week Eight

Happy Leap Year.

I just have to say, first of all, it's hot. Thursday is supposed to be 97 degrees, and they still make me heat my water in the morning because of a cough, which not only means I am bathing in hot water on hot days, but also it means I have been bathing out of a bucket for about a month now.

That said, here are some pics of class this week. Note the hot-pink Umbros, circa 1994. It may appear as though I am teaching them to fight. Rest assured, I am not. We are acting out fighting scenarios.









This one is blurry, but I love it because everyone looks really scared of the invisible tomatoes I am pretending to throw at the boys who fell down in the pretend mud.







All week, we have been playing volleyball in the afternoons to get ready for the volleyball tournament on the 13th. For some reason, they kept putting me on the boys team. I need to explore that.



On Friday I went to Old Belize with Inez and had the best time. Besides meeting a famous Jamaican artist- I have no idea who he was, but the pic is nice- we got the Belizean rate, which is a milestone for me, free beach passes, went through the museum and learned the history of Mayans, Garifunda, Carib Pirates, British Hondurans, Chickle farmers and buckaneers. We even got to eat REAL chickle. Then we sat by the Caribbean and ate a huge plate of chicken Pirate nachos. I ordered them with an "Arrrrgggg!" and Inez hid behind the menu.







Mayan ruler (like he's soooo powerful now)



chickle camp



chickle farmer & pot





Garifunda settlement



Coffee roaster



Famous guy



coral reef pool in the making



Pics of the beach and marina (and clouds, I like them)

















The ride home: Nelly, Chris, Keilee, Inez



Antonia trying on hat, scarf and mittens for her trip to Canada in March. We had to do lessons on how to wear a scarf.