Work in Belize.

We have oncentrated on telling you about our activities at the weekend, and we now feel we should tell you about the work we are doing in the week.

As you know, I am working in the Women's Department and I have been trying to suggest improvements to the following laws: trying to make it compulsory for employers to display posters to counter sexual harassment and to have a written policy opposing it.

The sexual offences legislation is 50 years out of date, so I have prepared a report suggesting a brand new Act,comparing the current law with alternatives. I am now sounding out various interested parties to gain their views.

Similarly, I am discussing with them alterations to the divorce laws, as these are equally antiquated.

Belize wishes to bring its laws up to date by making them "gender neutral". This means making no difference between male and female. I have now compiled a list of Acts where these amendments are needed.

This is Liz here. I have been updating the Policy and Procedure at Haven House. I have designed a Resident's handbook which is user friendly for the women who arrive scared. Also I have done so much reading and research on Women's Refuges, I have written up a booklet on 'How to start a Refuge'. I have been enjoying working with the people there and I am being taught Belizean cooking at the same time. This week it was Creole bread; so you will be having some when we get home. I am attaching a photo of the boys who have been at the home with their mother.

Hope you like the picture of the supreme court building in Belize City.

Our other major responsibility it that we are on cat duty while Michael and Sally are away avoiding hurricane season! They like Bernard as you will see!

.

Caye Caulker!

We had an excellent day on Caye Caulker yesterday.

We took the water taxi from Belize city and rented a golf cart in the afternoon, because there are no cars on the island.

We had a swim before lunch and then found a restaurant, where we had grilled snapper and shrimp curry. I thought you would like to see the bar there; if you fall off the swings, they toss you round the back to sleep it off!

Look at this sensational pool!

This is the first week that the pool has been open for use, and in this climate, it is incredible!

Today at the office there was a power failure, so we had no aircon from lunchtime; it was therefore great to hurry home and get straight in the warm silky waters of the pool.

We took some of these pictures on saturday, when another volunteer,Louisa, was here. Spot the dragonfly!

PS we discovered that the noni fruit we mentioned in our last blog, was also called vomit fruit; we lost interest in trying it after we knew that!

Food in Belize!

We have been enjoying the different food here and thought it was time we shared it with you

Rice and beans is staple food here and after a couple of trial runs, Liz has got it sorted out.

You pre-soak the beans, so they do not take too long to cook. You then add the rice to the beans, add coconut milk powder, and cook until the liquid is absorbed.

Baked or grilled chicken with green or potato salad is common too.

We have been enjoying the fruit: I bought a noni from the lady who sells me vegetables, this is green and nobbly - see photo. You mash it up with water to make a drink.We also like sour sap which you mash up and add condensed milk! and put it in the fridge until it is really cold.

There is a breadfruit tree in our garden - see photo. You slice it thinly and fry it and it tastes like potato chips. We've had plantain and the oranges are green here but still taste sweet.

We could if we wanted have crab - one has moved into our laundry room - we do not know whether to eat him or keep him as a pet.. see photo

We'll tell you about the pool next time

Snorkelling at the Reef at Ambergris Caye!

We took the water taxi yesterday morning to San Pedro, the main (only) town on Ambergris Caye and stayed overnight. In the afternoon we went out with a guide and another couple to Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley and snorkelled round the reef. Our guide was excellent and knew the names of all the millions of fish we could see and would dive down to indicate them to us. The water was shallow (no more than 30 foot deep) and the visibility was good. Our friends who had snorkelled everywhere said it was the best ever

We saw loads of fish - groupers and snappers and also a moray eel .

We then moved to another part of the reef where there were young sharks in the water with us, and our guide got hold of one for us to touch! Rather like sandpaper! Liz saw a ray( when I was taking her photo from the boat) and a turtle.

We had been apprehensive (very scared!) about this beforehand, not having done it before, but we really enjoyed it (afterwards!) and Bernard found the snorkel easy to use. Liz said the snorkel was better than the one she used in Mansfield

Hope you like the pictures. We were proud of ourselves!

Haven House

I thought you ought to see my office at Haven House. My desk is the one on the right and I share the space with Dorla my boss.

You can see Dorla on the left who does all the managing and counselling and really makes sure Haven House keeps going. As you know Haven House takes in women and their children who have suffered domestic abuse. In the middle is Pamela who keeps an eye on the family overnight and Nellie is on the right who also helps in an all round capacity but is also an excellent cook.

Stacey comes in a few times a week and she is a teacher and often does work with the children. I think she also visits families outside the house.

The last is of Pamela with a resident who is 14 and undernourished as you can see. He also has head lice and I had to use that lotion again......

Belize Zoo!!

On Saturday we took a taxi out to the Zoo; it is about 45 kilometres out of the city.

It has an excellent variety of animals and birds from central america,well displayed. Many animals we had never heard of - we saw a puma and jaguar, but I had never heard of an agouti (see picture above, with its baby) or a jaguarundi or a tapir.(well I know what they all are - he should read his Gerald Durrell)

We had the place to ourselves, which made a big difference.