Another Update

Hello All!
I'm still in Cristo Rey with my four fellow colleagues and our language trainer Brian. Training is going well and I'm already caught up and learning more Spanish than before. My host family is really nice--they actually own a small bar so there's music going most of the time. When I'm not in class here or in Belmopan or traveling to other sites for training. I've been spending time with my family--watching sponge bob square pants with the kids, movies and novellas (spanish soap operas ) with my host family sisters Jasmin and Keri. I also have been reading my health related books alot, swimming in the river and at the waterfalls, with my friends, played guitar once with a guy in town, etc. This weekend I'm doing a Volunteer visit with a PCV in Orange Walk and I think we're going to visit Corozal and the coast too.

The story of the last couple days has been "trying to eat and enjoy onions, (green) peppers, and tomatoe chunks." Those that know me, know that these are my least favorite foods--in fact I have a gag reflex when they go in my mouth. Needless to say I have been giving it my best effort. Last night my dinner was tortillas and a pot of onions, peppers, tomatoes, and little chuncks of meat. I sat at the dinner table for about 45 minutes trying to swallow each bite. Then, this morning I was given a wonderful omelette filled with the dinner concauction. I'm proud to say I ate almost the entire thing--but I can't say I enjoyed it.

Well, I've got to head out. I'm currently working on preparing a nutrion presentation to give to my training group, a group health fair for our town, a class presentation in the local school, and a Spanish presentation on the history of my village here. I appreciate all the notes and prayers that have been sent my way. If you think of it, please pray that I will fall in love with onions and peppers and that I get sent deep into the jungle for my final site placement (or that I am content whereever I get sent). Belize is awesome! Sorry about the randomness of this post. Until training is done my internet time will be sparce. Love to all,
Owen

Cristo Rey!

Hey All,
I'm going to make this brief. I have just started the training phase and am living in a little town (population cerca 800) called Cristo Rey. Cristo Rey is set right in the middle of the rolling hills in the western portion of Belize (we're about half an hour from Guatamala). I'm living with a host family made of Faldi (mother), Jose (husband), and Jasmine and Keri (both daughters of Faldi by other marraiges). Keri and Jasmine are both seniors in highschool. The whole family speaks Spanish and English and Kriol, but we speak Spanish together. I have a wonderful room on the second floor of their home where I have a porch and a rocking chair where I can sit and watch Toucans, etc. Just about everyday I have gone to swim at the Macal river which is just down the hill from the house. Today we started Spanish clases and tomorrow is our first Healthy Communities class. Everything has been going great and I will try to give you some more info soon,
Love,
Owen