Can you believe it's almost over? This year has just flown by! School is out one month from tomorrow and things are quickly winding down.
Every year, the Linda Vista School holds an annual picnic to bring the community together to celebrate the end of the school year. This year, it was held a few weeks early because they wanted to have the pictures from the picnic in the yearbook - which hasn't happened in previous years. It wa
s a lot of fun, but strange for the teachers who were here last year since they have to go back to work the Monday after the end-of-the-year picnic.
Though it was a lot of fun, the dry season is here full force. A couple days ago, it was a reported 112 degrees outside with 60% humidity. It felt about the same yesterday, too. On the way to the park, I experienced a sensation I'd never felt before. When I exhaled, the air from my nostrils actually felt cooler against my upper lip than the air outside. Now that's stinkin hot!
Anyway, the picnic followed tradition, beginning with games held by each class and ending with a community supper. We were divided by level, so my group included grades 6-8. Our games included several of the old-time favorites such as "Thaw Mr. Lemanski's sock from the block of ice" and "Pull the nylon with the orange in it off the other guy's head using your own nylon with the orang
e in it on top of your head." I'm pretty sure these games have their roots in Mennonite tradition dating back to Europe circa the late 1500's. Always innovators, these people.
We also had a camel-back egg toss, and a relay race where each team member had to run across the field, drink an ideal (a melted fruit ice-pop), and run back to tag the next person on the team to do the same. The kids had a good time and it helped fight the heat. Not the most restful Saturday possible for the teachers, but it's all part of working at the Linda Vista School! Today is mostly recuperation from the festivities, and back to work tomorrow. Of course, we have another 4 day week ahead of us, so it won't be too bad. And at the end of May, Melissa's mom is coming down to visit! It's going to be exciting taking touring around with her, and a great way to end an exciting year before packing up and preparing to hea
d back to the States. But there's still plenty of time! If anyone else wants to visit us before mid June, book your tickets now! We'd love to host you and show you around as well!
As always, we love and miss you all and hope to hear from you soon!
N8
Today marks our last full day in the Mayan riviera. This has been an amazing getaway from work and from moody junior high students. So relaxing! Who could ask for anything more? Wide, white beaches, palm trees, sunny weather, clear Caribbean blue water, good food, good drink, and great company. We are so blessed! Though today ended up being overcast, we've both darkened a lot on this trip. The sun shines hot here!
Playa del Carmen is a beautiful city, too. It looks more European than Mexican. It has the feel of 
a Spanish city with the countless sidewalk cafes and striking architecture. What I've found most interesting about this city is that even though it's spring break, and there's a strong American influence, the mix of people here is very different from Cancun - which is just two hours North of here. Though there are a lot of American tourists here, there are more Mexicans and Europeans.
And, it really may have one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It's similar to Cancun's beach, but without any rocks, more sand, and hardly any waves. I've never before been able to float on my back in the ocean with my eyes closed without having to worry about the waves crashing over me. It's crazy! The large island of 
Cozumel is just across the water - you can see the skyline of some larger hotels from the beach here. We think maybe the island keeps the ocean current from crashing against the shore and creating large waves and a strong riptide. It's safe enough for children to swim in, and there are lots of them here. This definitely seems to be more of a family destination than a tourist town centered on alcohol and bad decisions.
This morning Melissa and I went to a large protestant church for Easter service. We stopped by last night to check on the service times and were greeted warmly this morning by the 
woman we had spoken to. As well as the rest of the congregation, of course. It was such a good service! We were familiar with most of the songs because we sang them in our church back home, and they projected the Spanish lyrics on the wall, allowing us to join in. For the most part, the pastor spoke slowly enough that Melissa was able to catch the gist of it without having me translate it for her. Every now and then, though, he would get really excited and talk really fast, then we'd both get confused. It was a great message, but the music was my favorite part.
This is a very musical city overall. In the evening there is always music playing at different places along fifth avenue - which is a few miles long. There are always street musicians and a couple mariachi bands playing, and last night a newlywed couple walked the length of the avenue to their reception with a mariachi band following them, and the wedding party and guests right behind. It's funny - I was watching the crowd pass by the band when I noticed that most of the Mexican people who 
passed just couldn't contain themselves. They'd be walking walking walking, then when in front of the band they'd shake shake shake, maybe a twirl, then they'd pass the band and continue walking normally as if nothing happened - usually without interrupting the conversation they were already having. What a fun country!
Tomorrow however we return to reality. Though our bus doesn't leave until mid afternoon, so we'll still enjoy the afternoon sun and a quiet morning on the beach. We're thinking of catching a movie while in Chetumal before crossing the border 
back into Belize since it's been awhile since our last flick. Thank you, cinepolis!
I hope everyone else enjoyed their Easter Sunday and spring break if it's nearby. I'd love to hear from y'all. Let us know how you're doing too! Love and miss my friends and family!
N8
Some of you will be horrified at this posting and others will say, “What’s the big deal?”
Most of us grow up in the Western World where wildlife is generally seen on TV and in zoos. At my mom’s house, in the city, I grew up thinking raccoons were “nuisances” who got into our garbage. At my dad’s house, raccoons were furry, territorial animals who challenged our cats for their food and ate plums off our trees. At my Grandmom’s house, raccoons were fuzzy, clever animals we left food out for and watched, with big smiles and giggles as they took our dinner scraps and carefully washed each piece of food before eating it or sharing it with their young.
In Belize, raccoons are nasty, dirty animals who live in the rice fields and destroy the farmer’s crops. They are mean, they are not afraid of dogs or of people, and they will bite, scratch, and attack. In a 3rd World Country, without PETA and the WWF, people are left to themselves to defend their farms and cattle from wild animals. Here in Blue Creek it is always “Open Season” on crocodiles, alligators, cougars, and raccoons who threaten their livelihood.
So, one evening my friend, Susy, called me and said, “We’re going hunting! Wanna come?” I said, “What are you hunting?” “Raccoons, gators, whatever we find in the rice fields.” “Sure,” I said, “What about the girls?” (Referring to their 2 -and 4-year olds.) “They’re coming too! Get ready, we’ll come get you!” So, since Nathan had a meeting and I had no plans that evening, I jumped into Paul and Susy's truck and sped off to help save the young rice buds from the terrible creatures that would seek to eat and destroy them before they could mature to become yummy meals of Belizean rice & beans.
So, I get in the truck and Megan (the 4-year-old) says, “We’re going hunting Melissa, daddy’s going to kill a gator and I am going to jump in the water and kill it too!” ….Alright, Megan….wow, so this is what it’s like to grow up in Belize….If a probation kid talked like this I would assume it was indicative of some terrible childhood trauma, order a psych evaluation and get ready for a long battle with mental health professionals, the Court, and irresponsible parents….But here, it’s just called “family time!” Megan was very excited and Kate was also in great spirits. They posed for the camera and were silly little giggly girls in all their glory!
Our mission was to seek and destroy any and all animals posing a threat to the rice fields. The girls, Susy, Megan, Kate and I, were in the truck, driving and navigating. The boys, Paul and Corney, Susy’s husband and lil bro, and faithful Rusty, were standing in the back of the truck with the guns, ammo, spotlights and all the other “many” stuff.
After about 5 mintues of driving around, Susy stopped the truck and yelled to Paul, “Do you see it!?” Paul said “yup!” and the girls immediately covered their ears. I was completed confused….see what? What are we doing? Why did we stop? Then Megan yelled, COVER YOUR EARS MELISSA IT’S LOUD!” ..What’s loud….BANG ”Aaaah!” …oh that…You see, when you’re sitting in a metal truck and a man is in the back of that same metal truck with a loaded gun, when he shoots that gun, Megan’s right, it’s LOUD! So, with one nasty man-eating-rice-crop-destroying crocodile down, we continued our crusade.
Next, it was Rusty’s turn to shine as we spotted several raccoons in the middle of the rice field. Paul and Rusty jumped out of the truck and ran to confront the enemy on the front lines. You could hear the raccoons from the truck and we could also tell when Rusty was injured because he let out a classic hound dog yelp/howl. After about 10 minutes of screaming raccoons and howling dog, Paul comes into view with 2 raccoons. One is an older, bigger one which is near dead and which Paul quickly puts out of its misery. The other is a juvenile, 
not full-grown, but not a baby either. He holds it up for the girls to see and I think it looks kinda cute. Of course Megan immediately says, “Don’t kill it daddy, let’s keep it!” It was very cute, silently hanging there by its tail, until Paul tried to touch it. Then, it spat and let out a nasty hiss that scared the girls and reminded met that, although cute, raccoons are nasty little wild animals. In the end, Paul wouldn’t kill it, he said it was too young to kill. He thought it was old enough to survive on its own, so I am sure they will just end up killing it on their next hunting trip. I’m not really sure which option is the more humane. But again, this is all new to me, I’ve never had to defend my livelihood against a troop of wildlife. There aren’t a lot of mountain lions rallying to pick of my probation kids….and somehow if there were I don’t think I would fight them….Of course I’m kidding.
Anyway, throughout the night, they killed 2 crocodiles and 3 or 4 raccoons. I guess that’s what you call a successful hunt. I don’t think it did a whole lot to save the rice, but I am sure that every little bit helps. The girls seemed to have fun, the dog had a blast, the men got to hold guns and shoot stuff and Susy and I got to keep each other company in the truck and tell the guys what good hunters they were. So, in the end, everyone but the animals were winners. And no matter what you think now, when you see my crocodile tooth necklace, you’re going to think it’s pretty cool.
Can you believe it's almost over? This year has just flown by! School is out one month from tomorrow and things are quickly winding down.
s a lot of fun, but strange for the teachers who were here last year since they have to go back to work the Monday after the end-of-the-year picnic.
e in it on top of your head." I'm pretty sure these games have their roots in Mennonite tradition dating back to Europe circa the late 1500's. Always innovators, these people.
d back to the States. 
