"Trott On" to Belize: An Educational Journey: POWA Women are Awesome! All Work & No Play Makes Idonia a Dull Gal

Meeting with the Women of POWA (Productive Organization for Women in Action) on Friday, July 18th to hash out the details of our upcoming community townhall meeting to be held August 1, 2008 on sexual assaults in Dangriga (Stann Creek District). To the far right in the red shirt is an awesome woman (Ms. Michelle Irving) who leads this group and heads the Stann Creek Women's Department. The goal is to replicate this meeting in the other 5 districts of Belize in the following months. We dubbed the upcoming meeting "Shining the Light on Sexual Assaults". At the meeting, participants at each table will light a candle to symbolize their support for survivors and victim's families and their advocacy to encourage swift and thorough prosecution of perpetrators. In addition, we will encourage those who were unable to attend to turn on their lamps at home during our meeting time (5:30p - 7:30p) or wave "on" flashlights to symbolize their support as well!

ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES IDONIA (AKA "PEACHES") A VERY, VERY DULL GIRL. SOOOO.....LET THE GAMES AND FUN BEGIN!

I had a chance recently to attend my neighbor, Popetos' Garifuna Preschool Graduation. Here he poses with his mom, Arlene, and dad, Roger.

At Popetos' graduation, his class mate and her grandmother takes a picture with Flat Stanley at the Dangriga Town Hall. Aren't they both just beautiful.

Popetos enjoys a lazy Saturday evening (July 19th) at our pad. He truly has brought a lot of joy to our little cubby hole. Saturday he said...."I love you Cookie Lady".....well he knows exactly what to say to win over a girls heart...doesn't he!

Meet Tiger. He is the assistant to the Mayor of Dangriga. My roommate, Rachel, told him my nickname (Peaches) and now EVERYONE CALLS ME THAT HERE!! Well, I guess I understand though. "Idonia" is pretty hard for Dangrigans to remember. It's just kinda odd to them (smile). Tiger came over and made dinner for me and Rachel and other guests. Stewed chicken, garlic potatoes, salad and bread. He is also a Garifuna drummer. If only you could witness the spiritual dance rituals the Garifuna perform in honor of their ancestors. THEY DO NOT ALLOW PHOTOS TO BE TAKEN! ......ask me about how I know this when I get back to Arkansas. An absolutely "unbelizeable" story to tell.

After dinner, Rachel & Tiger are giving "Double 15 Dominoes" a go at it. I introduced this game to the group (thanks to Andy & Dawnetta Moore) and we have had many evenings of hilarious fun with it. Rachel really is concentrating too hard though!