Chapter 5: The Village in the Bush

"Welcome to Aguacate" sign; in a Mennonite dress & rain poncho 

The Surprise:

The five of us going to Toledo pretty much knew four out of the five villages we were going to be assigned to. The four communities were carry-over villages (villages that hosted BH1 volunteers) and the fifth community was to be a new site that had never hosted a volunteer. I had originally hoped to be placed in Santa Theresa since it possesses an functioning satellite health clinic with a active doctor and nurse; however, due to last minute Safety and Security issues, it no longer became a prospective site. The long-awaited day to reveal our site placements arrived and no one, the trainees and staff alike, was attentive enough to sit calmly during the morning training sessions. The only thing mentioned in our nervous conversations were conjectures of where everyone might be placed. When each volunteer and their villages were finally revealed that afternoon, I was happy to be designated as the volunteer of.....(drum roll please)..........Aguacate! It's a small Q'eqchi community with a population of 400 people located in the bushy highlands of Toledo district. 

The Origin of Its Name (uncertain whether these stories are legitimate):

1. Two men, one Spanish and another Mopan, were hiking through the jungle and got very thirsty. They stopped for a drink and named the village "agua" the Spanish word for water and "cate" the Mopan word for want

2. There is supposedly an abundance of avocado trees that surrounds the village (I have yet to witness this)

Brief description:

Geography - Aguacate is a Q'eqchi Mayan community situated in the western half of Toledo. The village is elevated and hilly, located in a valley between some low mountains. Located on the north end of the village, there is a bridge across a major river, the Aguacate River, that connects to the main road leading to the entrance of the village. There is also a small creek to the south of the village, which villagers use as a water source for bathing, washing clothes, and doing dishes. During the rainy season (June - Jan), the village can be cut off from the rest of the district as both the Aguacate and Blue Creek bridges are prone to flooding. After the two bridges are crossed, only one road exists to get to the closest town, Punta Gorda, which is about an hour and a half away. 

Amenities (or lack there of) - Although the village experiences several  power outages a month, Aguacate luckily has electricity, as it is connected to the grid through Belize Electricity Limited. There are few street lamps scattered along the main road and most families share a single connection with their neighbors through long extension cords draped across a great distance. In addition, there is a village water system that allows most families to possess one pipe in their yard; however, the system frequently runs out of water, therefore families have to rely on utilizing government installed hand pumps connecting to underground wells. To my dismay, there is neither a sewage system nor an established waste disposal system. Several households share their latrine with 10-15 members of the extended family and those who don't have the resources to build one, resort to using the high bushes in their yard. Another major setback is the limited cell service in the village. Most villagers need to spend time finding a "good spot" to use Digicell or climb up a hill to the cemetery for SMART service. And unfortunately, there is no internet connectivity available in the village. 

Organizations, religion, & politics  - This community utilizes both a Village Council and the Alcalde System, both of which are important structures of the village and heavily involved in projects and events. The Chairman of Aguacate also happens to be the principal of the only school in the   village, Aguacate R.C. (Primary) School. Many other organizations exist such as the Aguacate Conservation and Development Committee (ACDC) that runs the home stay program in our village, the PTA that supports the school, a Water Board Committee that refills our community's pipe water daily and even a Women's coop that creates local art and crafts to sell to tourists. Although there isn't an established police station, minor infractions or disputes are managed by the village police and presented to the Alcalde to solve. For more heinous crimes, police officers from Punta Gorda are to be contacted. In addition, the village has a tiny health post and a community center utilized by the Ministry of Health, Humana People-to-People, and Hillside clinic for their monthly mobile clinics and educational sessions. Also, there are only five churches throughout the village: Mennonite, House of Prayer, Roman Catholic, Baptist, and Pentecostal; all of which start their services at 8am on Sunday morning. Although Belize is currently run by the United Democratic Party (UDP), majority of Toledo district is represented by the People's United Party (PUP). Elections will be held this year on November 4th, 2015. 

Transportation - The village recently inherited an operating bus (owned by the Kan family, aka. my host dad) that drives to town so that villagers can buy necessities for the week. The bus runs only on Mon and Fri from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and since it is the only village bus to go to Punta Gorda, the villagers need to be strategic when planning a trip out of the village. During the weekdays, there is also a public school bus that transports students to their respective high schools in neighboring villages of Blue Creek and Mafredi. In the case of emergencies or a mere desire to get out of the village, one would have to pay a decent sum of money to either charter a vehicle (currently only one truck exists, also owned by my host dad) or  catch a ride on the back of the few motorcycles to come and go.

With hindsight:

In Chapter 3 (The Mystic Tongue), I had mentioned that although I was slightly disappointed that I was not placed in a Spanish-speaking community, I was going to give it my best fate decided to put me in a Q'eqchi village. Now that I am 3-months in and an official Peace Corps volunteer of Aguacate, I couldn't have asked for a better placement where I can push myself to my upmost limits and engross in a community that will provide the full peace corps experience. As for the most part, I learned to trust the peace corps staff and their erratic, unexplainable decisions. [PS. Much love for our PC staff!]

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"We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare for us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world." - Marcel Proust

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Chapter 4: The Power of One's Mind

In Valley of Peace with other Q'eqchi volunteers and our language coach's daughters

A Friendly Reminder:

Before stating anything further, I want to clearly express that this entry is by no means a complaint about my new life nor is it written with any form of contempt or disappointment. My only intention is to be as transparent as possible and accurately describe my OWN observations and encounters in Belize. Please keep in mind that every volunteers' experience and reaction is different even if we were to be placed in similar situations. 

The First Week:

As a Korean-American girl raised in the suburbs of Southern California, there were many lifestyle changes I had to readily adjust in order to become an effective public servant and to integrate successfully within my host community. Although I had some notion of what would be expected to live in a remote village, a heavy air of undeniable clash between reality and expectation lingered on my first night at our training site, Valley of Peace. Here are a few challenges I encountered:

- The weather: Immediately after exiting the plane, I was cloaked with a blanket of humidity that clung to every inch of fabric and skin it came in contact with. Even with the slightest movement, sweat poured down from every crevice of my body and soaked my clothes. Then without warning, it began to drizzle and I had to spraddle through mud with all my belongings. Densely crammed into a school bus with twenty other damp bodies and our heap of luggage, I had never felt so sticky and uncomfortable in my life; better yet, there was nothing I could do in my power to relieve my overwhelming tension except to focus my energy on the scenery and relish in the breathtaking view of luscious hills and wild animals until we reached the air-conditioned Peace Corps office. Every day is an relentless fight against intense heat and lingering humidity or sudden downpour and ankle-deep mud.

- The bugs: I have been bitten by mosquitoes on camping trips with family and friends, but never to the inescapable extent that I endure daily in Belize. Even after taking all precautionary measures (medicine bands, bug spray, long sleeves, garlic, mosquito net), all visible (and non-visible) anatomical surfaces of my body are constantly devoured by an array of insects of all sizes and shapes, day and night. I wouldn't mind getting bit if I didn't have to suffer the aftermath of itchiness, swelling, open sores, infection, and scars. My limbs are hideously branded with inflamed scabs and permanent circular scars, an appearance similar to a child with a case of chicken pox. And frequently before jumping into bed, I engaged in Spartan-like war against a swarm of moths, scorpions, tarantulas, flies, and cockroaches; my slipper emerging from the bloodshed as the triumphant victor. The unexpected encounters and apathetic annihilations with these creepy-crawlers have given me numerous nightmares where at times, I would jolt wide awake unable to shake the sensation of these critters crawling all over me. 

- The amenities: Until my recent arrival and intent to live in this underdeveloped country, I have never realized, to this extent, how fortunate Americans are to be constantly surrounded by electricity, running water, internet connectivity, and uninterrupted phone service since these are standard essentials that children in American households grew up with. We tend to take advantage of what we have and never think twice about how much we waste. Although these are basic necessities to live comfortably, it is a rarity to come across in remote areas.

• Electricity: My family lives a bit far from the main roads; therefore, don't have access to attach to the power lines for current. However, a member of their church installed a solar panel to their house, which allows minimal use of the power we save during the day. With no light, I tend to go to bed when the sun sets and wake upright as the sun is about to rise and the roosters start crowing. Getting dressed, reading books, writing letters, typing up emails, and completing assignments for our projects are usually accomplished under a solar lantern that Peace Corps kindly provides. I probably look like a hot mess everyday. 
• Running water: Since there is no continuous source of running water, each household has to create their own derivation of a toilet and a shower. My family, like most families in Valley of Peace, dug up a massive ditch with a small cut-up hole in a wooden outhouse couple yards away from the house that serves as a latrine. On a daily basis, they also preserve water in gigantic containers that is used for cooking, washing hands, cleaning dishes, and bucket baths. 
• Internet and phone connectivity: All I can say is that it is rare, very rare.  Internet can be found in homes that can afford it, or at Internet cafes, hotels, and small businesses. And even if you end up connecting onto the WIFI, it runs as slow as a snail. Text messages get lost in cyber space, photos take hours to upload and most likely will need multiple attempts, windows need to be refreshed every so often, and updating your phone can take up to a whole day. Luckily, the Peace Corps office has blessed us with Internet; however, with the plethora of volunteers and staff scrambling to reach their loved ones back home with all sorts of devices, the bandwidth gets clogged with increased activity and becomes so dysfunctional that it's not even worth trying to connect to the network. In addition, not a day goes by where my phone calls do not get dropped or continue undisturbed without yelling "hello?" at the end of each sentence. In my opinion, you might have a better chance of reaching or clearly communicating with someone driving up to Mammoth mountain than with someone walking down the streets of Belize. Majority of the time, I can't even reach other volunteers living in the same training community as me until I walk around aimlessly with the phone high up in the air, praying to catch a bar of signal. 

- The diet and exercise: Although I am not a yoga blogger or sports athlete, I am fully conscious about my health and actively work to improve my diet and physical activity on a daily basis. While living in in San Diego, my portioned meals usually consisted of a nutritious assortment of vegetables, lean protein, legumes, fruits, yogurt, and whole wheat carbohydrates. In addition, I would sneak in at least 30 minutes to an hour of some form of exercise such as running, yoga, Zumba, weight lifting, or rock climbing and even ventured out to half-day hikes during the weekend. In contrast, my current diet in Belize consists of an overload of flour or corn tortillas, rice, and an excessive amount of beans. On special occasions, we eat peppered soup with chicken called caldo. The meals lack variety, the portion sizes are gargantuan, and everything is fried in lard or oil, depending on what the family can afford. And since the roads are unleveled and rough with rocks, gravel, and mud, it makes the terrain unbearable and difficult to walk on without tripping. Therefore, the amount of physical activity that I exhibit is almost non-existent. In my attempt to integrate successfully into a Q'eqchi household, the combination between unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise has put me in a sensitive situation where I have to put aside my concerns of gaining several pounds a week so that I can finish every local meal prepared by my host mother out of deferential respect for the effort she puts into providing for the family with the little they can afford.

- The freedom: When I was 17-years-old, I moved out of my parents' house to attend college in San Diego and even after graduating, I ended up finding employment in the area and lived independently with couple roommates. For about six years, I paid for my own expenses, made my own responsible decisions, and completed my own chores. Now that I am assigned to a host family, I feel like I have reverted back to my adolescent days when I lived under the roof of restrictions and curfews. For instance, my host parents expected me to wake up by 5 a.m., when they ran their corn-mill for our neighbors and to be home by 6 p.m., just before the sun was beginning to set. Also, I was expected to stay home and spend time with the extended family on the weekends. In the states, I managed my own schedule, came and went home whenever I pleased, and spent time with friends during my spare time.

The Afterword:

These accounts are a true testament to the "adaptation principle" that Jonathan Haidt claims in his book The Happiness Hypothesis. The psychologist and philosopher states that the human mind is extraordinarily sensitive to changes in conditions, but not as sensitive to absolute levels. Peoples' judgments about their present state are based whether it is better or worse than the state which they have become accustomed to and therefore, most return to their baseline level of happiness. Even the notable Adam Smith is quoted, "in every permanent situation, where there is no expectation of change, the mind of every man, in a longer or shorter time, returns to its natural and usual state of tranquility. In prosperity, after a certain time, it falls back to that state; in adversity, after a certain time, it rises up to it." As highly intellectual species, we are not only capable to habituate, but also, more likely to recalibrate. We create for our selves a world of targets and each time we hit one, we replace it with another. After a string of successes we aim higher; after a massive setback we aim lower. We surround ourselves with goals, hopes, and expectations, and then feel pleasure and pain in relation to our progress. So in the long run, it doesn't matter much what happens to you whether it is considered good or bad fortune; you will eventually return to your brain's default set point of happiness.

Despite such challenging circumstances, I have adapted to this new life and remain as happy as ever and undeniably committed to my duties as a rural health volunteer. Truly, I am fortunate to be surrounded by exceptional staff and a devoted host family that accommodates to unthinkable measures in order to provide a comfortable environment to meet my needs.

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"When heaven is about to confer a great responsibility on any man, it will exercise his mind with suffering, subject his sinews and bones to hard work, expose his body to hunger, put him to poverty, place obstacles in the paths of his deeds, so as to stimulate his mind, harden his nature, and improve wherever he is incompetent." - Meng Tzu

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Chapter 3: The Mystic Tongue

In my Q'eqchi outfit with my extended family

*Ma sa aach'ool? (Translated to: "Is there happiness in your heart?")*

Isn't that a beautiful greeting for an ancient, Mayan language? During the first week of Pre-Service Training, we had a host family placement interview with two of our program managers specifically to classify the volunteers into three different communities: Kriol, Mestizo, and Q'eqchi (least to most remote, respectively). As of all things with the Peace Corps, we were  told that we had a choice depending on our specifications for living conditions and language preference, but we're also forewarned that our "preferences weren't guaranteed". The questions mainly revolved around our comfortability to live in an unstructured environment with limited amenities and what are priorities were between running water, electricity, and amount of communication. 

Since the beginning of my application process, I expressed an extreme interest to carry out my service in a Latin American country in order to improve my proficiency in Spanish (a language that is practical in the medical field especially for someone who wants to work with  underdeveloped communities in Latin American countries). So then, my answers during my host family placement interview was simple and honest: I didn't care how remote I was living as long as I was able to learn Spanish. On our judgement day, to my disappointment, I was placed to live in Q'eqchi household with the expectation to learn a language that I was extremely unfamiliar with. After finding out where each trainee was placed and collecting information about their preferences, I believe that our ability to thrive in a remote community had a huge impact on our placement site, which eventually placed me in the "bush" of Valley of Peace. Since I had pledged to "serve where Peace Corps asks [me] to go, under conditions of hardships, if necessary, and with flexibility needed for effective service (core expectation #3)", I accepted my fate with an open mind and a happy heart and took this outcome as a learning opportunity to develop myself, personally and professionally.

Background:

The official language of Belize is English; however, most of the population are either bilingual or trilingual. The multitude of languages include Spanish (predominantly in the Northern districts), Creole (consummated by European slave owners and West African slaves), Garifuna (consummated by Caribbean Native-Indians and West African slave), Maya (predominantly in the Southern district), and a bit of German (surprisingly a decent amount of Mennonite communities exist throughout the country). 

Most of southern Belize locals of indigenous descent speak Q'eqchi Mayan, though some communities speak the Mopan language as well, which is more closely related to the Yukatek or Itza Maya. Although the different dialects of the indigenous natives have existed long before the Europeans colonized the Americas, the language has just recently begun to be standardized into written form. In the neighboring country of Guatemala, The Academy of Mayan Languages is developing a standard Maya alphabet. Due to the recent conformation of the language, most locals only know how to speak their native tongue and a handful recognize how to write or read it. Therefore, there are little-to-no reliable resources to learning the Mayan languages except through direct communication with native speakers.

(Reference: The Lonely Planet travel guide of Belize)

Insight:

My principal priority as a volunteer is to make even the smallest attempt to speak and learn the language of my Mayan hosts, an integral component to successfully immersing in my community, hence deepening my Peace Corps experience. Throughout my multiple interactions, I either receive blank stares or constant laughter at my funny accent; however, with persistence, I am aware that my noble attempts to learn such a language will be rewarded with the most humbling and empowering experiences that no one else can fathom. 

*Sa sa inch'ool. (Translated to: "I feel happiness in my heart.")*

Basic words and phrases:

Banuu [bah-noo] = hello (when going into someone's house)

Okan se kab'l [oh-kahn se kahb] = come into the house

Chank xawil? [chank sha-kweel] = how are you?

Q'aru yookat? [kih-aroo tyoo-kaht] = what are you doing?

Ani aakaba la'at? (ah-nee ah-kah-bah lah-aht] = what is your name?

Inkaba laain a/xGrace [in-kah-bah lah-in ish-Grace] = my name is Grace

**use "a" before a male's name and "x" before a female's name**

Bar wank li toilet/eswusaad? [bar kwank lee es-kwu-sahd] = where is the toilet/bathroom?

Xik we [sheek kwe] = I'm going (used to say "goodbye")

Taaqil aawib [tah-keul ah-kweeb] = take care (used to say "goodbye")

Hehej [heh-heh] = yes

Inq'a [in-kah] = no

Us [oo-s] = good

Ha [hah] = water

Kim wain [keem kwa-in] = come and eat

Banyox [ban-tyi-osh] - thank you

Note: If there is anything you want to learn how to say, please leave a comment below of what you want to know and I will try my best to translate it for you as much as I can.

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"Concern yourself more with accepting responsibility than with assigning blame. Let the possibilities inspire you more than the obstacles discourage you." 

- Ralph Marston

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Chapter 2: The Preparation

The PCH roadtrip: Brixby Creek Bridge

As the date of my departure slowly approached and the pressure to pack kept piling, I felt less and less prepared to spend 27-months in a new country. I was constantly conflicted whether to spend the remaining two weeks staying at home and relaxing with my family or catching-up and saying my good-byes to my friends or organizing travel plans to places I've always dreamed of visiting. After scribbling-in important events and scratching-out unrealistic plans, I can happily say that I was able to pack everything into my schedule from wine tasting with my favorite grannies, drinking and singing my heart out with my childhood friends, celebrating birthdays and engagements with my high school friends, stuffing my face meal after meal with more friends and family, and even squeezing in a short trip up the beautiful coast of California. 

Then came the challenge......How in God's name did Peace Corps expect us to pack 2-years worth of luggage into two 50lbs check-in bags, a carry-on, and a personal purse/backpack? The remaining week before my departure, I restlessly scrambled to research and purchase the bare essentials that were going to be necessary for my survival in Belize. Luckily, after reading a multitude of volunteer blogs and posting endless questions in the Peace Corps Belize Facebook group (composed of former/current/incoming volunteers), I was able to compile a basic packing list that was derived from a master list created by thoughtful BH2 volunteers. I will generously include the packing list below so that future Peace Corps volunteers, who will most likely be in my shoes before their own departure, can reference it when the time comes.

The packing list includes (brace yourself, this list is quite extensive):

Luggage

- hiking pack

- day pack

- suitcase/dufflebag 

- fanny pack

- side purse

- dummy wallet

Clothes 

- nice clothes (for swearing-in ceremony)

- business casual outfits

- casual shirts/tanktops

- blouses

- skirts/pants

- workout clothes

- swim suit/clothes
- hats/headwear
- additional cute outfits for to use during your annual leave

Shoes

- sandals (teva/keen/chacos)

- bath slippers

- heels/nice shoes

- 2 flats/closed-toes shoes

- 2 running shoes

- rain galoshes  

Toiletries (get 3-months worth and buy everything else in-country)

- shampoo/conditioner

- face/body soap
- deodorant
- chapstick

- pads/tampons/diva cup

- floss, toothbrush/paste
- Kleenex
- sunscreen

- bugspray, TONS OF BUGSPRAY!!!

Technology/Miscellaneous

- waterproof watch
- rechargeable batteries
- flashlight/headlamp

- multi-tool

- laptop/tablet

- GoPro/waterproof camera

- Kindle

- speakers

- external hard drive

- sewing kit
- nail clippers

- french press

- duct tape

- stationery&pens

- entertainment (books/cards/games)

When we were given the two suitcases/duffle bags maximum, to say the least, I thought it would be impossible to make it work. I remember I had to constantly pack, weigh, repack and modify everything in order to perfectly allocate the weight of my baggage. Although I had to sacrifice and leave out about 1/4 of my original baggage (such as the French Press, waterproof camera, exquisite stationery, colorful markers, certain snacks and clothes), I managed to successfully force the remaining of my belongings into different compartments while sparing about half an hour to sneak in a short nap before heading out to the airport for staging in Miami. 

In any case, if anyone wants to send me a package whether it is filled with any of the items listed above or specific items that you think I will need that aren't listed or snacks/food that I won't have in country or even just a letter to update me on your life, please send it to this address below (until further notice, might change once we move to our permanent sites):

Attn: Grace Hwang

Peace Corps Office

6130 Iguana St. Ext.

Belmopan City, Belize

**Reminder: Send packages with US Postal Service via flat rate or weight. You will get overcharged if you use UPS or FedEx. Also, write "GOD IS WATCHING!" on the box. I will be looking forward to getting some mail!** 

PS. If any of you want letters from me, please please please email me your address!

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"All things are ready, if our minds be so." - William Shakespeare

"Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul, there is no such thing as separation." - Rumi
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Chapter 1: The Waiting Game

Continuing Promise 2015: Division of Dental Services

I had initially contemplated on applying and departing as soon as I graduated from UCSD in 2013; however, instead I chose to withhold my application for a year or two in order to attain research and healthcare experience in preparation to be a competitive applicant for medical school. And so, after graduating, I became a lab manager under the supervision of a neurobiology professor from Stanford University who was a recent addition to the Division of Biological Sciences at UCSD. After extensive consideration and careful planning, I decided to apply a year later on June 2014 so that, in the case I were to be accepted, the date of my departure would be around June 2015, which would make the date of my Close-Of-Service at the end of Summer 2017, just in time to make it back to the States if I intend to complete a Masters Program. Here is a brief post-graduate timeline: 

(underlined dates are major events; bolded dates are related to the Peace Corps application process)

June 2013: graduated from UCSD

September 2013: began my first full-time employment as a lab manager/research assistant

Early June 2014: submitted my application under the old system

Late June 2014: in-person interview with a recruiter

Early July 2014: received a notification that the Peace Corps was implementing a drastic change to their application process 

**under the new system, you were allowed to directly apply for the country, sector, and position you preferred whereas under the old system, you served where you were told to serve** 

Late July 2014: nominated by the Regional Officer

October 2014: switched jobs; became a medical assistant at an Internal Medicine and Travel Immunization Clinic 

December 2015: applied to volunteer for the 6-months USNS Continuing Promise Humanitarian Mission

January 2015: received an invitation to be on the "waitlist" (know-by date was January 15)

Feb-March 2015: began my legal and medical clearance for both Peace Corps and CP Humanitarian Mission

April 2015: embarked the USNS Comfort 

Late May 2015: received an invitation from my Placement Officer to be serve for Peace Corps 

Early June 2015: disembarked the USNS Comfort (supposed to be till the end of September)

June 23rd, 2015: departed for staging; the start of a new chapter of my life in Belize

As shown above, in the month of March, I made a huge life decision to quit my medical assistant job, move all my belongings back to my parents house in Orange County, and participate in a 6-month humanitarian mission on the USNS Comfort as a dental technician/assistant. As a NGO student volunteer, I had the opportunity to embark on one of our nation's largest hospital ship and to work alongside professional military personnel who shared a common interest to provide free medical and dental care in eleven host nation countries across Latin and South America. Keep in mind, even though I was traveling the world, I was anxiously waiting for the final decision from Peace Corps that would determine the turn of events in my life. As the departure date for Belize was slowly approaching, I felt incredibly discouraged and continuously questioned whether I would be accepted. Coincidentally, our first mission site was located in Belize! (What are the odds right?) I was part of a team that camped for a week at a high school in Independence, Belize. Luckily, I had the pleasure of meeting current Peace Corps volunteers who stopped by the medical site to help translate the local languages. A shout out to the two volunteers, Sarah Schaffer and Justin Montrie, who were extremely supportive and rekindled my hope. I was able to continue the mission with optimism and a positive attitude. The USNS Comfort was on transit from Jamaica to Nicaragua when I received THE email from my placement officer stating that I was called off the waitlist. All I can say was: F-I-N-A-L-f*cking(excuse my language)-L-Y! It had been about a year since I had applied to become a Peace Corps volunteer and the wait was unbearable, I am sure anyone in this process can attest to that. Seriously, what sane person would wait a whole year and eagerly cling onto the slightest hope that he/she will be sent to an unknown, desolate country to deal with unimaginable hardships and undergo a complete lifestyle change? On the broad spectrum of emotions that consumed me, I was mostly disheartened to know that I was soon going to be leaving the ship, the mission, and the people I had grown a fond affection for on this deployment. 

In the end, I believe that everything happens for a reason; that something happens in that exact moment, with that exact person, at that exact place, in that exact way. In the present perspective, life may seem chaotic and disillusioned, but in retrospect, all the components seem to somehow connect in coherent perfection like pieces of a puzzle. It is neither accident nor coincidence; it is called fate. - Derived from Shantaram

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"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." - Harriet Tubman

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Prologue: The Journey

The News: From waitlist to final invitation

K'ulub'anb'ilex ("all is welcome" in Q'eqchi),

I will soon partake in a journey that will change my life, my character, my perception of the world. With an open mind and a genuine heart, I intend to share the progress of my personal and professional development as well as my experiences in this mysterious country with whomever stumbles onto this blog. On a side note, I am currently absorbed in reading the novel Shantaram by David Gregory Roberts (I must say, hands down, one of the best gifts I have received thus far) and will probably reference the author's life philosophies into my posts since I am convinced that his fate in Bombay will parallel to my future adventures. If you have not heard of or read this 900-page book, I eagerly urge you to put your nose into it immediately. 

The #1 asked question: Peace Corps service presents major physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges; why do you want to be a Peace Corps volunteer?

The simplified answer: As a child, whenever I had scraps of food left over on my plate, my mother would constantly prompt me to finish my meal because there were starving African children who did not have the luxury to eat everyday. I asked myself what were the stories behind these African children and what were the reasons why they were skipping out on their meals. After extensive research, I realized that growing up in a household of parental and financial burdens were insubstantial in comparison to the countless life-threatening difficulties that children in Third World Countries have to withstand on a daily basis. My heart shattered when I discovered that these children not only have to fight off infectious diseases with limited medical/dental resources, but also have to struggle with affording basic needs such as food and education. Subsequently, I aspired to become a global health professional and assume the responsibility of a public servant who will make a difference in the lives of people in underdeveloped countries. Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer is an essential step to fostering an understanding on how to improve the human condition at the most basic level while experiencing an extraordinary cross-cultural opportunity to immerse in a new culture and to learn a new language. Although this 27-month commitment poses as a challenge that will probably push me to my upmost limits, it will also provide an array of possibilities for me to become an active resource to my community by spearheading developmental projects and cultivating healthy lifestyle habits that will benefit the well-being of the locals.

And so it begins...as long as fate permits, follow me through the thick-and-thin and the ups-and-downs of my life as rural health volunteer for the Peace Corps. You better Belize it!

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"Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. you know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."

- Sir Winston Churchill

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