Day 14

I truly can't believe that I've already been here for two weeks. Where has the time gone?! Don't get me wrong, I've done quite a lot in my time here so far, but there is still so much that I want/need to do! Next week is our inland trip, and then the next two weeks we will be busy teaching in the schools. I hope I can make time for everything. I just don't want this trip to ever end!

Since the schools are off for Easter break, this week has been dedicated to getting our service hours completed. For our class, we are required to do 20 hours of community service during our stay in San Pedro. I will be getting the majority of my hours by working on a children's book that will be published and distributed to the schools that we have been working in. My book focuses on healthful living-nutrition, exercise, good hygiene, etc-something that the children here could definitely use a lesson in. I have only been in the schools for one week, and I have already seen too many bad habits forming in the schools. For one, the cantinas (the schools don't have big cafeterias like back home, they have little cantinas that cook some food and sell snacks) are filled with unhealthy items for the kids to eat. Sodas, sugary juices, marshmallows, candies, donuts, chips, the list could go on and on. And with all of the breaks that the students have during the school day, they pretty much eat these unhealthy snacks constantly. I don't understand why with all of the fresh fruit on this island that the cantinas don't offer more healthy options like fruits and smoothies. The cantina at Isla Bonita does have oranges, but with all of the other sugary snacks available, only a handful of students eat them. I am working on my book with Kelli (who is a high school English teacher and is helping me a lot with grammar, spelling, and story writing) and Erika (who is an ESL elementary teacher and is helping me make the book bilingual). I'm really excited to see how it turns out.

Other than my book, I will also be doing some small projects in town to get hours. So far this week, I helped paint classrooms and the outside of Ambergris Caye Elementary School and worked at an Easter Camp for kids at the San Pedro Public Library. The Easter Camp was a lot of fun. I took the kids outside and played some games with them. I also plan on walking dogs and playing with cats at the Humane Society around the corner from Pedro's.

Tonight I'm doing another night dive in Hol Chan with Kelli. Can't wait!!!!!!