Groups, Cards, and Euros

There was a nice group of Europeans interning at MB bay who were working on completing their MBA.  They were the same age as me and all very kind, reserved, and mellow. They were all from Belgium with the exception of one from Colombia.

Often I observed  them playing cards together. It had seemed they loved cards, and  they loved doing everything Together.  They were always sitting in a group for meals, work, and social time. I never saw them engaging with another local besides some tourists from the US and they never separated to even give themselves a chance to meet someone new i.e. meet a Belizian person. They just stuck together like glue, which made it difficult to get to know one of them individually.   

One night they invited me to play cards so  I decided to be social and act interested in the game.  I was my usual entertaining self and I was capturing the attention of the cute, French speaking boy from Belgium. He has this French, broken English accent that I fancy.  He was not my tall, dark, and handsome type, but he had dirty blond hair, cute dimples, great smile, nice physique. OK-he was cute.  

During the game, he was being so sweet teaching me the rules and he would change his voice in the sexy French romantic way. He put his hand on mine when I lost to console me.  He was sweet, cute, responsible, nice-all the things that a normal girl should go for yet Priscilla likes the unavailable, mysterious, beautiful players. 

When it comes down to it, this was not a social trip and I was very busy with MH. I did not focus on meeting someone or staying up late playing cards. I focused on people and making an impact. Although, in my life it has always been possible for me to do both. It was time for me to be social therefore I decided to invite the group out to Amigos to enjoy some food and the Euros enjoy some drinks.  It was so funny when I asked them because they acted so sweet and almost honored. I'm sure it would be a fun time where we could spend time talking, sharing our travels and experiences, or we could be......

Food shortage

When it comes to the MH community, food was hard to come by for many families. Many children would come to camp with empty stomachs. There was a sponsor for the camp who was going to provide money, but it never came through in time. 

Mrs.Ravel was so resourceful and amazing with getting snacks. She worked out a borrow back system for the  chips with the local market and we bought a juice concentrate to mix.  Some days we would look at each other like, " What are we going to do tomorrow?" 

One day we had no snacks and it was depressing seeing the kids facial expression when I said, "Sorry dear not today."

As far as my contribution, I worked on Monkey bay a bit each day. At first. There was watermelon and bananas offered. When I asked again, I got a different answer. Also, I had asked the founder and he needed to know a week in advance. With all the food we cook, I asked if there were any leftovers I could bring. I ended up getting a big lecture on where the food goes and the kitchen budget. 

Anything I requested was coming from good intention and MB knew this fact.  Whether it be apple sauce, fruit, or Plantain chips. I just wanted them to have something each day and I know MB had it, but it was a struggle trying to get it.
It was difficult trying to prove how high the needs actually were and how something so little could provide so much.  They had the belief that Mrs. Ravel was over there making requests, but she never once asked me to request or bring food.  She always made the best of what they already had and I loved her for that.  

It's a shame having that belief that the MH community is always "asking for money." The belief that "money" will just solve the problem is completely false.  While they do need food to meet their basic needs, they truly need education, religion,  acknowledgement to their being, and a cultural exchange.  

Money can only go so far, but contribution towards a human's existence means the world. PRIS

Don´t Stop Believin

When you are a psychoanalyst, you are constantly observing and analyzing people, places, things, and one more thing-you. You analyze yourself in your daily interactions and how you work as a professional. You have to analyze and reflect on your work for it to get better. That goes with any profession as one should always be learning more about themselves and their work. 

With my current project, I was doing a self assessment on how things were going and I was not quite satisfied. The youth were not showing up because the timing was too early. I was spending time with the parents and I was not sure if our session was just talk or they would actually try out what we discussed. 

While children are often playing outside, their kids are always on the street-always. They are often beating each other with sticks or crawling in the mud. They had 1.5 months of summer vacation left  so I challenged them to think of activities they can do together i.e. pull weeds, sell lemonade, do household tasks together, and help out their Mom as much as they can

When I came home I went for a run, came back for dinner, and just felt disenchanted. While I am suppose to be working in my purpose, it just doesn't feel like enough sometimes. I am challenging this population. They are responding well to me, but I just need a confirmation.......

The next day....

The next morning I was biking to work at 815am. Usually, there are not many people up at that time in the homes of the two mothers. In the house of the women with 10 kids, I passed by to see five of them outside pulling weeds. 

Her older kids are on summer break and they hardly ever wake up early, but they woke up to pull weeds. The best part is that they listened to her request when they could have just ignored her.  
They were so proud as they looked up and waived at me. I smiled at them and then I looked straight up at the sky and said, "Thank you." He knows when I just need that jump start to keep me going. 

Don't stop believing and keep the faith in people-they won't disappoint as long as you keep your faith in them. PRIS

Touched by an Angel

When it comes to the MH community, they may be in poverty, they may have no health care, they may have limited education, but what they do have is: faith.  Within this community, there are four churches along with many religious ones who believe in the word of the Lord. They may have trials, triumph, and tragedies, but they have the love and support from up above.

Being there in the middle of some tragedy, I saw the way they coped with it in a religious way.  People had less worry and anxiety when they had the church.  The prayers were made, songs were sang, and people were united with one another through his spirit.  It was lovely to witness how powerful the church can be.  In their life, they face many questions on a daily basis. Am I going to be able to pay the light bill this month? Can I send my children to school? Is it possible to get job when I have 6 kids to watch? 

These questions are asked day in and day out, but the one thing that never needs to be questioned is faith.  These communities have daily struggles, but their faith in God remains.  The local residents attend service, meet on Sunday for service, the kids attend Sunday school, and they make their daily prayers and rituals.  They sing songs of Jesus when they are in the church for camp or humming it to themselves on the bus. 


With the struggles of life, there is undying strength in these beautiful, little hearts. The faith they have builds towards their resilience. The resilience of the pain that is building in their life or environment. They pain from seeing their friend shot and dead. The pain from being hungry day in and out.  




While I can´t control what is happening, I can count on what I see in front of me. I see beauty within these children that is given by the Lord.  It’s beautiful to see his presence within the smiles of the children, especially those who have a very difficult life. He loves and takes care of his children. Some will not make it, but many will live within his loving arms. Jesus will save the day.  

Cycle of Abuse

My first day working in the MH community, I watched a Mom tease her child on the bus and smack her a few times. She had such anger in her eyes and she kept teasing the girl when she was not even misbehaving. I saw it coming as I know the culture I had signed up to work with- Afro Carribean. 

It is common for abuse to occur within this culture and its a battle for therapists who are trying to encourage more positive methods. The clients at working based off their experience with discipline and punishment. 

The cultural impacts on parenting can have a huge influence leaving a therapist at a loss. Working with a few mothers, It took some time to get them comfortable, but when they were I had them just where I wanted them. We had an open discussion about hitting. One parent said she learned better ways to handle her kids. The other offered positive solutions, but it's clear she was going to go right back to her old ways. Getting through to the one parent is progress with this population.

As far as the other parents, I did not get a chance to work with them because their work schedule. It was clear that abuse was a central part of the community, which I had to work through. One day I was teaching a lesson and through the aisle comes my volunteer chasing her granddaughter with a tree branch. I watch them pass by as she follows her out the door. I understand they are going to keep their abusive ways, but can you please keep it out of my camp and out of the church. I don't think that is asking too much.

As far as witnessing the abuse, I never get myself involved with a parents discipline as that is their own situation to handle. You never interrupt a parent and tell them the right way to parent their children. There are different ways to bring up the conversation to effectively address the topic. 

What is truly important is to establish a rapport and put yourself in their shoes. Think about a cousin, a family member, a time you were baby sitting, a movie you watched, and let yourself think about how difficult the job must be. When you empathize, it makes the door a lot easier to open to discuss deeper things.  You can make suggestions based off your experience, but in a kind, gentle, non-confrontational, and non-superior manner.  

There may be many cultural barriers, but one has to keep that in mind.  It's a lot of work to teach someone something completely foreign to them. They were given this job of motherhood and they are just doing it the only way they know how.  A way that is taught by the culture to use verbal and physical abuse.  If we teach them something new, there is a chance they might try it.  

Keep smiling kids and believe in a better tomorrow! 

Mama Jones

There is only room for one Big Mamma in Belize and that is Mama Jones.  She was suppose to come to make jewelry with the kids, but she came late and the kids were gone. Mrs. Ravel had a meeting so I just sat with her. I did not exactly know who she was until she told me about all her amazing work.  She started a program for young women to start their own business with sewing, she teaches classes at her own school, she plans weddings, and she has her own ministry.  Her knowledge of the bible is impeccable as she quotes so much scripture I honestly can't keep up.   

Mama teaching how to make earrings

  

It was  nice having someone listen to me for a change as I addressed some of my concerns with ministry work. I feel like that is where God has placed me on this trip, but I told her I feel so much judgement from others. 

She told me to follow God's purpose no matter what and to follow the signs. I think I am pretty good at tuning into these signs, symbols, and people that come across my path.  She shared her personal experiences and signs that lead her to ministry.  I had been feelings some doubt this day specifically, but she empowered me to get back on the boat and keep paddling. 

She asked me to stay to work on an upcoming project she had- quite tempting I must say, but next project was already planned. The amount of people that ask me to stay and all the times I just have to keep moving-so many. 

Youth, Gangs, Shots Fired

As for the youth age 14-20, I had individual sessions with them about their life struggles, environmental pressure, handling anger, family situations, social supports, making short term and long term goals, jobs, and independent living skills.  It was difficult to meet with the youth because of the time frame I had allotted for youth. With my  curfew at Monkey Bay, I could only run the youth groups from 2 to 5 and this was not the time the youth were available.  Youth came out after 6 or 6:30 and for my Director, this was past dark and past my curfew.  I did the best that I could with the youth I did meet. I also personally went to the homes to stop by and meet them.  Many times they were not home, but at least I tried. 

As for my youth I did meet, they were all boys with the exception of a few girls.  The one young girl was completely house bound.  She was home schooled and only let out of the house with adult supervision.   She was sixteen and one could imagine how tough this must me for a young girl.  Her mother wanted to protect her from all the trouble going on outside, which there was trouble. Drug use, burglary/theft, and promiscuous behaviors i.e. girls pregnant at 12 years old. We discussed some ways to find her freedom and enjoy herself. I requested to speak with her mother, but her mother was working during the day. 

 One young boy was applying to work at a computer store and we practiced interviewing. Another was just turning his life around from gangs and fighting. He found himself in the same struggle most do-trying to stay away. This was very common territory and it flash backed right to Compton when I worked with those caught in gang wars.  It's truly such an awful thing when you want out of a gang, but you are stuck living right in the middle of it.  

The thing with gangs in Belize is that there is red vs. blue and there is the power of association.  This is present in all gangs, but in Belize it seems like more of a chain effect.  When you are a part of the gang, everyone around you is involved.  Just 2 boys were killed that day at the local store. Shot. Point blank. They had no gang association, but their cousin did so they shot them.  It was so sad what was happening just when I was there. There was one death after the next with gang violence. 

 One of our mentors, Mama Jones, did not show up for her jewelry lesson because her grandson was shot and killed. It was all connected with this person knowing that person and a whole community left completely saddened. How could something like this happen all in just one week? It was complete tragedy hearing one story after the next all due to gang violence.

 Of course nothing is being done by the government to prevent this rather it continues to be problematic in the community.   Even Mama Jones said, there is nothing that we can do rather we just have to pray. And that is what we did. We prayed for those young souls lost due to gang violence.

Believe in Me Summer Camp

When you work with children, you gain experience each and every time.  You know what exercises and activities are a hit and when students can handle a challenge. It was my mission to make sure everyone was participating and at least putting in some effort.  Kids were often seeking my praise, which increased their motivation and interest in learning.   

Overall, the camp was quite successful with the kids and the community.  Local parents, teachers, the pastor, and others responded very well to my work and dedication to the community.  Each day things were hectic and some days were better than others, but with teamwork we achieved our goal. 

With the help of a few parents and And it was the amazing commitment from Mrs. Ravel, which made things come together with short notice.  

There was plenty to do in the daytime between the 50 to 100 students in attendance, meetings with parents, and community outreach.  It was my responsibility to plan all the activities and it was Mrs. Ravel's responsibility to get the kids to show up.  This required going around the community and reminding everyone of the camp.  Each morning we started with a song followed by aerobics. The activities following involved therapeutic and psycho-educational verbal exercises and games. It required some serious creativity tailoring exercises for the age 4 to 13 age group.






We planned to split them up, but the volunteers partially showed up.  And with our limited resources, we had to limit the materials we used.  I did go to the store with Mrs. Ravel to purchase a few things, but supplies in Belize are limited and super expensive.  There are only a couple stores that sell arts and crafts and they sell $7 crayons-it's ridiculous. How do these poor people afford anything.

When we walked in, I was like, "Um this is it?" 

She said, "Yes, welcome to Belize."

 "Um, isn't there just a dollar store or some discount store?" 

"This is it." 

With that said, I bought a beach ball and some other fun and easy activities with balloons. I was advised to not purchase anything, but I went against the hierarchy.  I had been advised to not purchase anything for the program-not one thing. 

With this community, the kids were very respectful saying, "No Maam" and "Yes Maam." When it came to me assigning leaders to tasks or asking for helpers, they could not have been more eager. When activities were starting and ending, there were always kids cleaning up-sweeping the floor, pushing in chairs, and picking up papers.  From their upbringing, they help out at home and are taught to respect their teachers and adults.  



As far as the older kids, ages 8 to 12, they were open to discuss their feelings and share their experiences.  I always have this close connection with boys and these group of 6 to 8 boys were fantastic. They were so kind, polite, we worked and we had fun together. We had a mutual respect and with this we met our goals while having fun and enjoying activities. Their biggest challenge was working together as a team and making compromises.  They were encouraged to push through activities they did not want to complete together and they learned a dose of patience.

Mrs. Ravel would say, "Priscilla they don't know anything about teamwork."

 I would say, "Well now is the time to learn."

That is the whole point of my presence to challenge them and help them learn better social skills, listening, teamwork, and coping.  
With Priscilla's  therapy, there is always some skill being practiced even when they don't believe it.  
                                   Jump!

                         Pris morning workout 

Musical chairs

                                  Deyra 

\

Herbert 

]

Mrs. Ravel´s kids I adored

Singing Jesus songs in the Church

Bracelet making 

Our two wonderful volunteers

Brother and Sister

Feeling Exercises 

They won the Scavenger Hunt

Favorite Little Boy 

Favorite boys 

Soccer with Rock nets

Volleyball

Sponge Relay Reward 

The Teamwork Train

The Willow Confirmation

In this blog, I mention so many people I met abroad, but I fail to mention my amazing church, Willow Creek in Barrington, IL. It is such a blessing being reconnected with Willow Creek after being away for 8 years. Within the months, there are different series ie Stronger, Thirst, Celebration of Hope, which focuses on the poverty epidemic worldwide and how we can do our part. 

We learn that we each have a commitment. My commitment is greater than others as it is my calling and my life's work to educate, empower, assist, improve, learn, listen, and give my time. 

At Willow, I engage in volunteering and connected with a great group of people. The church has grown tremendously with people from all over the world. What used to be primarily white has changed to Chinese, Russian, Latin American, African, and European. There are kids, adults, elderly, special needs, youth, kids, couples, singles, etc. With this variety, people can choose a section that suits them best. Our own Section prayer  303 meets after service and for volunteer projects. The group is lead by the fantastic, Maria, who always loves and supports her members. She is a believer on my side who supports my journey.  

Along with Maria and my section group I also have my fabulous bible study group. We meet every week and they were all informed of my latest ventures abroad. They all pray for my safety and I feel their prayers from afar. 

It is Willow Creek service and our Celebration of Hope week that lead me to my mission. It is a true calling to go abroad serving God and others. It was questionable where it was going to lead, but clarity shined bright with his love and spirit. It was a mission started by the church and it will end with the church. 

I have not shared this blog with anyone, but thank you for all your love and support.

Oh and thanks for this.....

1 Corinthians 15:58 

New International Version 

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters. Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work  of the Lord because you know that your labor in The Lord is not in vein.

 Amen. 

Sun, Moon, and Stars

There was something oh so special about the sun, moon, and stars in Belize. Every night felt like a full moon for a whole week. The stars were so bright am the moon as well. It was like the sky was staring at me rather than vice versa. I would look up and the sky was looking down at me. Spiritual moments of beauty with the sun as well. 

My room was on the second level overlooking the veranda. I used to open up my door at 530am for the sunrise. With my door open, I would just lay there in bed watching it come up. 

The sunrise is one of the most peaceful times of day. There was nothing, but pure nature. The sounds of nature are all coming from thy higher power plus the sun rising. It's truly a spiritual experience and a great time to meditate or at least take in the moment

Creole Cray Cray

Creole is one of the funniest languages. The expressions and the tone of voice when speaking, it just sounds like pure street slang.It can also sound like a chicken. Sometimes I can pick up languages, but not this one. My comprehension has improved overtime, but my pronunciation is slim to none. It's just hard to speak such a broken language. It's like syllables and words cut in half. 



 Actually, Creole has an open syllabic system of language.  Many of the words are ending in vowels and syllables reduced to only a consonant or vowel. 

The Chicago Tribune 1987 reported that Belize Creole is "a language that teases, but just escapes the comprehension of a Native English speaker." Some say that Creole started from the contact of English land owners and their West African slaves to ensure basic communication(Wikipedia).     

If I am on the bus or just sitting with a couple students, I just listen to them go back and forth. My head is turning as I am fascinated by this being an actual language.  I don't even make an attempt to repeat words rather I try to just listen and make out words.  

Sorry Belize, but this language is Cray Cray

Corruption in the Air

People seem enjoy asking this one magic question. "Do you love Belize?" It's not just "Do you like Belize?" It always uses the word "love."  Sometimes I smile and say, "Yes, I love it" and other times I just say I have not explored enough to fully answer the question.  While I was staying the remote area outside of Belize City, it was not that much experience. Although, I did see Belmopan and St Ignacio as well and was not very impressed. It's not the place rather it's the cultural problems that get in the way. 



To be frankly honest,  I love my community project, I love my organization, but Belize is just not the place for me. We can't travel and love every place can we? 

In the air, I smell something strong. I smell something like "Corruption."Things are shared with me that just don't add up and I can see why people have problems with the little support they receive. The food is expensive and the families can not afford to eat. It´s been going on for years and years and the government finally comes up with a solution. They give a bag of rice and beans to families in need. This just recently happened so what was going for the past 15 years?




There so much money earned from tourism yet where does any of it go? With their expensive prices for a boat ride, the price of the Cayes and scuba diving are ridiculous.



Why isn´t this money being properly filtered through the government to the people? Why are buildings not properly constructed or renovated? 
 For instance, the University of Belize is completely run down and old.  Where was the money for a renovation after 20 years? 
Some families are living in houses that are Unsafe for hurricanes yet the government does not make attempts to improve them. 

Other countries are growing and developing and Belize just stays the same. It´s almost like it´s stuck in one era with the same culture repeating itself over and over.  While there are cultural problems and corruption in many countries, this one is a special one. India has millions of people where as Belize is a tiny country-smallest in Central America, but the most expensive. Yes, the cost of imports cost a significant amount, but it´s way more than this impacting the economy.  




Many locals discuss this corruption with me as they know it, they feel it, they live it everyday. It´s unfortunate to be stuck in a culture like this. A culture where there few rays of hope.

All one can do is pray for people who are living within this culture against their will. Those who want something more and something better for themselves. The hope that they will improve their lives in their environment or they will get out to explore a whole new culture.  

Food Coma's

The food in Belize consists of a Creole style kitchen with amazing pastries, cakes, French toast/waffles, cornbread, chicken cooked all different kinds of ways, rice and beans, mashed potatoes, green beans and squash cooked as a souffle.  It kind of reminded me of New Orleans kind of cooking, which is full of great flavors and spice.  The food was not expected to be great and when you least expect something sometimes that is when it comes through full power.

The traditional local, Belizian food was the best selection –not the tourist restaurants.  The best food was the food in the Monkey Bay kitchen made by a local staff, but the best cook was Shovonda. Shavonda was a young, heavier Black woman around 25 who had been cooking since she was a child.  She told me that they had a generational line of cooking that had been passed down for years and years.

  She had something special in her food and she cooked with love. She happened to be a mother from the MH community so we sat and had many talks about the community-problems, needs, etc. She lived in MH with her 6 year old son and 4 year old daughter.  She would walk back and forth to work each day and she worked 6 days a week. She knew how much I loved her food because I told her everyday she was the best cook. She knew it, I knew it, and everyone knew it, but it was unspoken.  Everything she made I ate it all and I would often just sit and think, “This is so good.” Or my favorite one was,”How does  she make this taste like this?” Her chocolate cake and her peach cobbler-best ever and French toast to dream about.                   

One day I was taking the bus out early to St Ignacio and I was going to miss breakfast. I walked into the kitchen to ask what she was making and she said, ‘French toast and corn bread.” I literally sat there contemplating not going and staying back just for her French toast! I ended up leaving and I heard people raving about it. I asked her to please make it again, but they had a schedule they had to follow.   

I will never live down missing the French toast of Shavonda- never. She is the best cook ever! 

       Homemade Food that touches the soul.

           

Belize Flame

Coming back late from Saint Ignacio, my perfect Monkey Bay kitchen was closed so I thought I would eat something across the way at Amigos. Amigo’s is a restaurant/ bar(the only one in a 15 mile vicinity).You walk through the field to the abandoned looking restaurant in the middle of nowhere. When you go inside, it’s full of personality with all kinds of knick knacks on the walls with all the funny drinking slogans. There is a stop light telling you when can drink and couple drinking games.  It’s a fun atmosphere for people who live in the area.

Every night, my new buddy was working and I would come in and go sit behind the bar chatting with him and pretending to be a bartender. On this particular night, I walked up the side entrance and was greeted by a young man at the door.  He smiled at me and said, “Welcome, please come in.” He lead me inside to the bar and I looked at him very puzzled and said, “Thank you.”  I assumed that he was working there and they played the joke out until Jose finally said that he was his friend.  He works as a tour guide for the caving with his co-worker who was present. 

He sat on the opposite side of the bar and I sat sitting with Jose on the opposite side where we split some food. Every time I look up, his eyes are gazing at me. I look towards him giving him a confused look and I just continue speaking. I keep speaking and he just keeps smiling and I laugh and he smiles. It’s like he is watching my every move and I’m not annoyed (good sign) and I kind of enjoy whatever is happening.  We all join in our conversation together and he begins to ask me all these questions. The first one is not a question though as he shouts across the bar, 

“You’re Indian right.” him 

“Yes, I am.”Pris

“Wow.”him 

“Wow, what? Pris

He gets quiet and says, “Indians are beautiful.”

“Thanks."
He is just totally staring and it would usually be strange annoying, but it´s not.  

The more I look at him, the more I think he is really cute.  He reminds me of my Moroccan boyfriend who was the same age, 28, mixed with Spanish and had the same mannerisms, great body, tall, beautiful smile, and just adored him.

Anyways, it was cute our flirtation and he had me intrigued with his philosophical conversation and his knowledge of India. He said that he is always reading and studying a new theory-definitely someone for me.   He randomly took me outside for a few minutes and went outside to talk with some local.  He told me this local wants to talk to you because he heard you’re an American. I walk outside and I am looking in the front and then I walk to the other side of the green wooden porch. 
Did he just make up that someone was outside? 
How juvenile. 
He says he must of disappeared and he stares right into my eyes.

“What color are your eyes? Green?” Him

I step back from him, “ Hazel.”  PRIS

He steps closer, “Do you like Belize?” Him

I step back “Yes, it’s good.” Pris

“Just good.” “Do Belize men scare you?" Him

“No.” Pris

“Then why do you keep stepping away from me.” Him 

There is little distance between us and our steps finally met.  He takes my hand and kisses it. My heart is skipping a beat faster and I am very interested at this point. This is a lot for me to take in so I distance myself away and start initiating conversation. We get into this interesting conversation about evolving and how our behavior changes overtime (Just like my Moroccan interested in psychology and philosophy). It was almost like a Belizian form of my Moroccan-interesting, but kind of sad. This guy just had this sexy mysterious suave thing going that I enjoyed participating in. 

They had all planned to go out and I planned to go to sleep. I was beyond tired and there was really nothing to celebrate because Costa Rica had lost.  His co-worker is shouting and asking him to come back in and he is just sitting and smiling at me with no care in the world. He asks me to meet him back here tomorrow night. I did not even hesitate for a second and I said, “Yes.” I could not deny the electricity between us and I did not want to leave him….

What happened with Mr. Belize?

My nerves and my fear of getting close got right in the way. I went back and forth about it and then I went to sleep. I ended up not showing up with no call, no message-nothing. This is where a phone comes in handy-office closed to use the Monkey Bay phone. The next day I biked over after work and I told Jose to please apologize to his friend. He didn’t even know there was something going on and he said, “Oh he was waiting for you.” He said that he’s sure it’s fine, but I know it wasn’t-not cool to stand up a guy you actually like. 

Chance Number 2

Going back by Amigos with the group of Europeans, I was wondering around looking and hoping that maybe he would show up. Jose caught on to my interest and told me that he rarely even comes over there so I most likely would not see him.  Sitting and socializing with some new people in there, I randomly meet his cousin.  I told him what happened and he said he would call him for us to try and meet again.  The second date was planned and I was ready to meet him. I made sure I looked extra cute and I went to meet him. There was no time set, but I figured the same time as last time. 
 Of course, I was 15 minutes late and he was not going to wait for me again.  He didn’t wait and I just missed him by 10 minutes.  Jose said, “Priscilla, I know him he really does not wait for people-it’s not his thing.” His thing was to not wait and my thing was to not show up and be late-nice one Priscilla. 

Perhaps it was not meant to be or perhaps I made it that way on my own…..never know.

While I never expected to take interest in a Belizian guy, we can never expect because that is when the unexpected comes......

Bus and Purpose

Matias is a 18 year old Belizian. He looks like a cute Spanish soap opera star. I realize that there are many Spanish and Belizian "mixed breeds."  He lives in Belmopan and we meet on the bus heading towards Belize City. He shares his parent's interest in him becoming a lawyer, but he is more interested in science. He is clearly a bit conflicted on what to do with his life, which is normal for someone his age.  He is very curious about my work and how I figured out my passion. He looks up at me with his brown eyes 
saying,



"How did you know that is what you wanted to do for the rest of your life?"

Wow, what a loaded question. I explained to him my feelings associated with my purpose, my experiences, and  I shared with him my work and feelings associated with my purpose.  He seemed to be a Belizian who had opportunity, which was great to witness. His father was an Army general and his mother worked for the embassy. He was such a nice boy and our chat was meaningful for the both of us. He gave me a big hug when he left, it was so cute. Bus therapy session number 1000 accomplished. CBC