well, the first week of training is officially over. somehow we managed to be together every night via hitch hiking and life threatening bus rides. we live about 9 miles apart. the road between our towns is one lane, but not one way. which makes for excitement. it winds through jungle, swamp, and a few small villages and is pretty much one big pot hole, aka 'the old northern highway'...but the use of the word 'highway' is a bit of an overstatement. just picture yourself on the white roller coaster at lagoon, only sometimes on two wheels, and sometimes swerving off the tracks to let another roller coaster go by, and being EATEN ALIVE by mosquitos, and listening to reggae, that pretty much sums up the bus ride. i pray the whole way. it puts a whole new meaning to commuting to work. i prefer the back of a truck, if that says anything. sleeping is another adventure. lucky strike and maskall are notorious for two things: crocadiles and misquitos. not to mention the jaguars and snakes we have been warned about. so at night we have to sleep under bug nets with fans to keep off the bugs. here is a typical night. it starts with the neighbors blaring hits from the nineties on LOVE FM. you know, two hearts that beat as one, eternal flame, kenny rogers. that goes till about midnight. then the dogs bark. for no reason. for hours. right outside our window. then it rains so hard on the tin roof it becomes unromantic, and then it thunders for awhile. by now its about 4 am. people are already awake because of the rain so they turn on country music. tim mcgraw "every time you touch me..." i'm not just talking soft soothing music. it takes OVER THE HOUSE! it's like a college dorm room. so so much for "quiet village" our families are hilarious. they are kriol. todd's mom has 17 kids and they all just run in and out shouting kriol stuff. i can barely walk in our out of my house with out being killed by a dog. i have to threaten them with glass bottles and rocks. everyone laughs at me and small kids walk me to my door. so is life in belize. congratulations if you read this whole thing. WE MISS YOU!
ashli and todd
12 comments:
He, he, he! The romance is gone, now the fun begins! How deliciously dangerous to be living amongst wild animals--I think I would be afraid of the dogs more than anything! I'm glad you got to be together during the week, that makes it a little better. And if things get too crazy, and you get bit by a rabit alligator or something, you could always come home and live in our shed! Miss you! Be careful! We're getting a little package together for you, so please give us some hints of what you need!
kissy
I meant to say "rabid" alligator...Where were you able to access the internet?
I hope Ashli's mom is not reading this or she will send her Dad down to get her. It all sounds exciting, I'll just keep to my comfort zone as in warm baths, air conditioning, enclosed sleeping areas and no dogs, ()well except for Witneys). We are anxious to hear from you via phone. Be careful! Love MOM
ah yes...rain so loud on a tin roof that you can't even hear each other talk...I miss that. Hope you guys are doing well...you rule...so do people in Belize all suffer from "Ataque de higado"...or are they spared since they don't speak spanish.
i LOVE it! besides feeling just a little bad for you. i hope you are able to enjoy the humor of where you are first of all, not to mention all the heinous things that are happening to you. the mosquito thing sucks though. LOVE fm. classic.
Ash, why did you have to leave, who else is going to teach me how to read guitar tabs?! Don't you know that I am more important than orphaned children in Belize? Where are your priorities!!!?
Ya Ash! It's just not the same without ya... We miss you both!
Love ya!
I am reading this and i can not believe that Ashli and Todd are living thur this!!! But i will not send Dad down to get you. Todd just has to promise to take care of Ashli!! I am glad that you have been able to be together at night - even though there is a whole new meaning to being together. Advice: BE CAREFUL and only ride the bus when you HAVE TOO. We miss you both tons and love you. We are proud of you too - REALLY!!! Love, MOM
Ah how exciting!! While we don't envy your living situation nor the tortuious music selections your have to endure in the wee hours of the morning, we do look forward to your adventures and your humorous accounts of them. We now have a blog, as you can see. It's pretty sad, but we feel "cool" just having one. We miss you guys so much! Enjoy being 'Mericans in Belize and don't die!
Todd n Ash,
My favorite quote from Todd's letter home..."It's a lot like the mission except you can come home any time without shame."
I had a dream last night that you came home. It was a big to-do. But it was also weird because everyone was wearing black. So maybe there is shame if you leave early...
I'm not feeling sorry for you until I hear you have fleas and scabes. Mosquitos pale in comparison.
We miss you tons and love living vicariously through your adventures. We already have enough FF miles for one ticket to come see you, so give us another year and we'll have two.
besos,
Jenn
This is great! I was talking with Todd via email the other day about what we were feeling being in the field. It's funny because the field research book I brought with me has a whole chapter dedicated to the emotional experience, dividing it into 5 or so phases. We're all in about phase two right now. At least its good to know we're on schedule! Here's to bein'away
Cheers,
Brandon
p.s. what are you guys doing (in class etc.) to learn the language?
I kept forgeting to get on your blog because of emails, and i kept hearing from people about your life and i couldn't figure out why you weren't telling me these things. then jami reminded me which made me feel like a dumb-dumb for forgeting. It sounds so funny! I can picture you just lying there feeling so sad and making todd tickle your arm. I love the highway situation... only 3 months till i get to try it out! yippy. I love you!
sara
ps. have you considered hair dressing as a profession? I think it looks cute. You did good!
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