The Tapir, April- Belize's national animal.

The Toucan, Belize's national bird.

Karla measures up to the Jaiburu Stork

Scarlet Macaws

Lunch at the zoo.

A Curious Parrot

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo...

Monday we took an end- of-the- semester trip to the Belize zoo, which is one of the best zoos I have ever been too. The animals are all in natural habitats- it is like walking through a jungle. We saw almost everything, too, including the black jaguar. We learned her name is Ellen, and when the trainer called her she roared back and came over to say hi. The girls enjoyed the trip, even though they had to do reports on a zoo animal... They had to raise the money themselves for the bus (cause the school's broke) which ended up being about $7 Belize (3.50 US) a kid. They got creative- some girls couldn't pay, so they brought lunches for other girls, who paid for them. So we had an elaborate picnic lunch of stewed chicken, rice and beans, mashed potatoes, fried plantains, and coke. No paper bag lunches for these girls!

Tuesday was the 100th anniversary of Mount Carmel Parish, so the Bishop came down and said Mass. After Mass, all the kids were yelling,"we want a HOLIDAY!" so the Bishop gave us yesterday off! As Father Dan said, it only happens once in a hundred years....

Today was more excitement, because the new American Ambassador to Belize came to visit. It was actually quite amusing- he thought he was coming to quietly visit some American volunteers, and instead was treated to a whole school assembly complete with an hour long presentation of speeches and cultural dances. Two of my second-form girls performed a song and sign-language act. I was especially proud of them; they performed last, and Yadira, unprompted, gave a little speech about how although the cultural presentations were nice, our school is about much more, and that was why she had chosen to sing about God. I was thrilled, she is one of my quiet girls, but got right up in front of the ambassador with so much presence! They did a wonderful job. The ambassador was nice. He seemed a little stunned; I think he expected to find some huts staffed by hippies in long skirts. He kept saying it wasn't what he expected! Although then he wanted to make sure we were registered with the embassy, supposedly so that if people wanted to find us, they could. I wanted to say that my mom already has my cell phone number, but I refrained : )