Greetings from Corazal, Belize

Today was my first full day in the classroom at St. Paul's. I can't belive how much I already love the school. I love the children and their enthusiasm. They have so much passion about school and about life. I was greeted with a million hugs early this morning and each student already treats me like a friend or family member rather than a teacher.

I ate lunch with the students and after we'd finished, they took me around the school and to the back where the playground was at. They were so excited to run and play with me. Unfortunately, I wore open toe shoes today and my feet got trampled by about 100 different boots, tennis shoes, and sandals. My toes are raw and sore. I brought my camera out and the students couldn't contain their enthusiasm. They jumped at the chance to be photographed. They climbed all over each other to get to the front of the picture, and then after the picture was taken, they climbed all over me to see it replay on the screen. At one point, I had been pushed to the ground and the students were literally stepping on my legs and stomach to see it. At that point I had to put the camera away. I doubt I would've made it out of lunch alive if I hadn't stopped. I loved playing with the kids. They thought it was so great to run around and tickle me or hang onto an arm or leg. I was dragging them all over the place. I also handed my camera over to a couple students to take a picture because I just couldn't say no when they asked. Sure, they weren't the best photographers, but neither am I so who am I to judge? They had the greatest smiles when they started ordering everyone around to pose for a picture.

It was a whole new experience to be in the classroom for a full day also. The classes don't have clocks so no one ever knows what time it is. Well, I think everyone else knows what time it is except me. They seem to know when to head to lunch or change subjects without a schedule telling them to do so. I find the "no clock concept" here amazing. Besides setting an alarm to wake up, I don't follow a schedule or live life by the clock in Belize. I eat when I'm hungry, I go to bed when I'm tired, I'll go to the market when I'm bored, or go on a run when I need exercise. I don't feel rushed to do anything or get things done by a certain time. It's probably mainly this way because I'm on a sort of vacation, but I also don't feel like people are rushing around me either. Everyone seems to enjoy this sort of lifestyle, including me.

The weather hasn't been too bad here, but it's not exactly what we were expecting. I think we've been in Nebraska for too long because the cold weather has seemed to have followed us here. Locals are telling us that this is the coldest it has been in over 40 years. Great. Although most of the people and all of the students are walking around with coats and hats on, I still think it's great enough for shorts and a t-shirt. Not tanning weather, but 10X better than anything I've ever been used to in the States.

This school day has left me absolutely exhausted but I can't wait to go back tomorrow. The students gave me hugs on the way out and I even got a "Don't skip school tomorrow" from one girl. I was planning on staying in my classroom for only a day or so and then travel to the other student's classrooms to take pictures of them in action. I think my plans have changed because I can't pull myself away from this classroom and these students just yet.