Volunteering and Travel Itch

Seems every fall I get the itch to travel, and the itch to be out doing mission work somewhere. I watched the movie Darfur Now, and Emmanuels Story, and keep thinking to myself I should be doing something like that. That is where my heart is.

I did get some wonderful news from my Boss yesterday. He said that he has looked at my leave of absence for next year (3 months in San Pedro volunteering at Holy Cross School) and he said it looks positive. He stated that he would like to help me, and that he will have a definite answer by next week. So Please do send positive thoughts on this.

I ordered a few books from the library today:

Three Cups of Tea




Vagabonding An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel


How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas



I feel like I am getting ready for take off - no pun intended. I went yesterday and bought a whole bunch of stuff to bring to children in Cuba. I am also collecting clothes for the women and men.

I will rest for the most part today. I have been very sick, and am trying to get myself better as naturally as possible. I am taking a lot of Chinese herbs, greens, honey, lemon, and ginger.

It seems to be working. Bye for now! Off to read

Making space and getting rid of junk

I am getting excited. Life is changing once again. My best friend and I have decided that we will live together, and in doing so, we will reduce both of our overhead debt in half, freeing us up to live our lives.

I am cleaning out a lot of JUNK. It is interesting to see the things that I have held onto and acquired over the years, and it is a relief to let them go...... cleaning out the clutter.

I am hopeful that once she is here permanently, that I will be able to spend more time in Belize. I really am drawn to the Holy Cross School and plan to set up a pen pal program hopefully with my daughter's school. I will do that tomorrow, approach the principal and see if we can get it going.

I also want to look at buying some property in Belize. I am not quite sure how I am going to do it, but I am sure I am going to do it. Everyday I find myself being drawn there more and more. There is lots of work I can help with, and my feet don't hurt there. It must be the warm weather or the sea salt or the sand. Not sure exactly, but know it feels good to me. I had the opportunity to look over some photos today and they reminded me of how enjoyable life is down there.......

I finished my final exam, and it went well. A few more courses and I am finished my BA, hopefully onto a teaching career.

Well I best return to the cleaning of the clutter.

JO

Back to the Grind

Time is flying by, and there are so many things to do. I am never bored. Been spending time writing my book, doing workshops, university studies and meditating.

Last week I had another Dream Rebuilding Presentation at the Shelter. The women really seem to enjoy it. I notice that anytime spent not worry about the crisis they are in is a positive step forward. I enjoyed listening to a woman that always dreamed of driving and having her license. She was able to find a car in a magazine, cut it out and regain that as one of her future goals.
I also met another woman that was inspiring to me. She wants to return to school and become a P.S.W. I sure hope that she will continue on that path. She will do a wonderful job at helping those that are sick and frail. It is interesting to see how a a few magazines, a pair of scissors and some glue can bond a group of women together, and get them thinking in a forward direction.
I am back at the shelter again in April to do another presentation. I really enjoy my 2 hours there, and as nervous as I once was, I seem to be coming more confident in my abilities to facilitate a group of people.

My daughter returned from Italy two days ago, and said it changed her life. She is ready to travel now! Already saving for Spain and France. Like mother like daughter I suppose. My youngest daughter is content with a new skateboard and is anxiously awaiting the big melt and spring. She said she is tired of putting on hat and mitts and will be happy when she just needs her short and some running shoes.

It took me a little while to get back into the groove here in Canada. I was stuck on island time. I am just finishing my research paper on the Working Poor in America. Ironically, a country so wealthy and so rich in knowledge can not figure out that there has to be Employer Consortium to eliminate poverty. The answer really does seem simple. The most important thing I learned this week is that in a country like the US and Canada, nobody that is employed full-time, and works all year, should live below the poverty line. It is sad that so many do, and such a huge portion of those are children.

Well ~ it is back to the books, back to the the grind. I am looking forward to finishing up my final year of university and seeing what is next in line.

So Many Options ~~ So much to do

Well I am back from San Pedro Belize, and must say, I am looking forward to returning. I have found a place that warms my heart and the options are endless. When I was there, I felt more alive than I have in years. San Pedro is my natural clock. I wake with the sunrise, and sleep around midnight. My aching bones went away, my nails grew, and my breathing improved.

I plan on buying a piece of land there this year, and hopefully my best friend, Erin will build with me on it. My little piece of paradise far, far away. A small 14 seater plane will fly me to my destination. Amidst the beauty of the sea and the warm air, there is a small part of San Pedro that could use some help.






I saw that there was ample humanitarian work that could be started there. After talking with the school officials, it became clear, that I could get some pilot projects started on this tiny island. Some of the things I was told were desperately needed are:

Sponsor a grade 8 student to go to high school for 1000.00 US per year, there are 35 students who need to go to high school next year, and for half the yearly salary of a US or Canadian teacher 35 deserving kids can have that.

There needs to be sewage in San Mateo and electricity. The smell of San Mateo will stay with me for a long time. There is nothing so disappointing as the SMELL of poverty.

A safe house for women and children needs to be built. I spoke with a female police officer that informed me she would be interested in working on a domestic abuse program.

A donation needs to come from a shipping company to deliver the playground that is waiting to be shipped from Texas to the school so that the children can play in a nice safe playground, and not be surrounded by broken glass and bottles.


I am planning on trying to connect with some church groups, social groups and organizations to see if we can get donations of money, time, and service. After all we are all one. I am looking forward to a day when I will be able to give my time to those that could use the help.

The options are endless where to help and I just can't wait to get started. I also will enjoy after a hard day of work, going to the beach and watching the sunset. Ya! That warms my heart!

Buying Bananas and Vacation Time

I am so excited! We are booked to head to Belize, that is my best friend Erin and I. We booked our tickets and I am looking forward to joining our other friends in Belize. I am also looking forward to visiting the Holy Cross Anglican School. I want to go down to the school and volunteer for a day and see how things are working in a school in a third world country. It will be good exposure for the life I am planning on living.

http://tacogirlblog.blogspot.com/
http://holycrossbelize.blogspot.com/

University is moving along great. I just can't believe how much there is to learn. I have been learning about the poverty in Jamaica and the Kingston Free Zone.

I am just appalled to really learn how much wealth is in so few countries, and how the rest of the world survives or struggles might be a better word. I thought about that tonight when I was buying my bananas. I recently saw a clip in the movie "Life and Debt," how Dole, Chiquita and Del Monte have slave labourers working on Banana Plantations. It was disgusting to see the workers being beat and forced back to work at gun point when they tried to form a union. All because bananas is a big money business. The more I hear about slavery in the year 2008, the more grateful I am to be privledged to live in a country like Canada. The next time you reach for those bananas when you are in your local grocery store, take time to give thanks, for the people in South America that are getting paid 1.00 per day and living in squalor, to ensure that we can send a snack in our kids lunches.