So Black People CAN Tan and The Thigh Sticker

I'm sitting with one of my most favorite companions as I type this blog--BREAD! The elementary schools here have the coolest system for school. They/we have a 90-minute break from 11:30 to 1 everyday. The kids walk or ride their bikes home so they can eat with their families. Since all the schools are centrally located, it helps. There are no busses to transport them. Watching the wave of students in their blue bottoms and white tops walking to school is such a sight. They yell out, "Good Morning Miss!" when they see my partner in crime (Samantha Carroll) and me.

Today, I taught on multiplying decimals and this afternoon I will teach on bodies of water and story writing. The content is not all that important to write about in this blog. I love listening to the students read. Their accents are very island or Jamaican. I found out today that Belize is the only country that is a part of the Caribbean and Central America--they double dipped.

I brought my laptop in yesterday to read them a story (can't print out because of resourcelessness) and they were amazed. They wanted to know what the finger pad was used for and how I could type on it. They wanted to see how heavy it was and they LOVED the pictures that I had on it. I showed them my brother's band, VOP from MSU, all my friends, and whatever else I could think of. Their complete and total fascination was humbling for me. The only question I did not answer was how much my Apple cost. I was like, "Uhh....a lot."

I asked what one of the kids wanted for her birthday. She didn't hesitate to answer. She exclaimed, "I want a GameBoy!" I stood there and was thinking, "Is that it? No PSP? No Wii? No 360???" Just a GameBoy. The throwback one from 1995. To be that isolated and content is astounding.

Also today, I asked the students to bring home a notebook to start working on this geography project. Some of the students didn't have money for a $1 notebook. It kinda reminded me of Freedom Writers, but the Belize version.

So. Back to the bread that I just put in my mouth. I found a pasteleria or pastry shop down the street from the school. I actually smelled it, then found it. Bread is one think I can eat all day and be satiated. It warms my deepest of spirits--both the Bread of Life and the thigh-sticker versions. Today was one slice of pizza with green peppers and pepperoni, two types of sweet bread, and I also bought a loaf of white bread made fresh this morning all for (drum roll please) $2.60! Tada! Life is bliss!

Oh and just in case you were wondering, black people can get tans. I have a flip flop tan now and am pretty proud of it. I also have approximately 30 bug bites. 15 of which are on my left arm.

Well, it's been real. I gotta start getting ready for the afternoon teaching.

JLP