Plenty with a little

The Plenty office opened up again on jan 3rd after a nice long holiday break. Upon arriving at the office Gary and Mark had a project for me, an EU grant proposal. It was exactly what I had asked to do, but still sounded a bit daunting. Initially just talking about Mark's idea for the project I was suppose to ask for half a million USD! My current net worth that's a lot of money, and then I starting to think a lot about money... First let me give you the 2 second version of the proposal. We are asking to set up a nationwide women's business network and as an initial pilot for the network set up a food processing supply chain, of canning salsa here in the Toledo district. All aspects of the project would be run by women from the farming of the produce, the canning and processing right to the sales and marketing. This project would also then put in place the infrastructure for other women's enterprises to get started or further developed.
It seems like if this project were to get started it would do a lot for economic develop in Toledo (the poorest district in the country with a poverty rate of 46.4%) and Belize as a whole.
The impact 500Gs would have here hurts my head a little when I think about it too much. Thats the cost of sending 2 kids to BU and here you could lift hundreds of women out of poverty! If only it were that simple: send money->get rid of poverty but it's clear that's not how the world works. This is the reason that humanitarian aid has come into such scrutiny lately. Of course I could write much more on that subject but that's not the point right now. It's been humbling to witness so many people working so hard to improve the lives of others. It shows what money in the right hands can do. It takes planning, patience and foresight, from both the funders and the recipients. Plenty has an amazing staff that are skillful navigating through all the red tape, getting at the money and using it skillfully to create innovative development projects. Lots can be learned from these small scale, efficient NGOs as to how to improve the aid system. They are getting stuff done here and people should start looking.

More to come on my recent travels and heading home
Love
Mariel

Time; There's Only So Much to Go Around

How many of have wished for more free time? Lord knows I did when I was a rower, student, working and trying to fit in some semblance of a social life, maybe volunteer a bit and still try fit in an 8 hour night of sleep (if not you don't really want to talk to me). There were days when I was so tired I couldn't keep my eyes open walking down the street, or when all my friends were going out for dollar draft night on a Thursday  that I wished I had more time to do it all. We always wish for more hours in the day, we wish for more time. But what would you do with it if you got it? Well I have recently come upon such time; since crossing the finish line of my last race and walking the stage in my cap and gown my two biggest time consumers are gone (They were also two of the ways I defined myself but that's another post altogether...stay tuned).

Tick Tock goes the Clock

What did I do with my time you ask? Not as much as I would have hoped. I found after a day of playing with the kids I was often exhausted and I was taking advantage of having the time to have a glass of wine and chat with my mom or play more music. I caught up with old friends (although not as much as I would have like; did you know when you go home everyone doesn't live on Comm Ave?), caught up on TV, but all in all didn't take full advantage. I did take that 6 week trip, which was amazing and could have never done as a rower/student. I started to notice a strange pattern, the more time I had, the less productive I became.

The office was closed for the week between Christmas and New Years, and I found after the first few right after Christmas I was bored and wanted something to do, but I didn't do anything particularly productive. I didn't write many blog posts or finish my last lingering grad school application. I didn't workout that much or explore as much as I could have on my bike. I read a lot, and aimlessly browsed the web a lot (I wasn't a total bum, I didn't go on a lot of walk around town and some bike rides, went to the beach one day, etc).
I had gotten my wish, but "be careful what you wish for"; I've figured it out, I have been confused about a syllable. It's not more free time that I wanted, but more freedom. Time is finite, there is always the same amount; Twenty-four hours in a day, 365 days in a year (...except this one). Freedom is infinite, make of it what you will. I like being busy and now I get to fill my time with what ever I want. I better use that finite time to the fullest, because "being bored is for the boring" and no one wants to be boring.

I have a new project to work on during the days and I am more motivated to run, or bike, do something with my time. I am writing this blog right now.
It's easy to just get sucked into a vortex of not really doing anything. I am trying to figure out what I want to do with my fairly new freedom and fill my time with that. I have been trying to be conscious of what really makes me happy in my free time and spend more time doing that.
I know I said no resolutions but this isn't about that, its about trying to seize the day; something I normally try to do anyways, I just got a little lost on the way.

Lake Louise, AB
That day was truly seized

Much Love and Carpe Diem

Mariel

Reflections not Resolutions

Two Thousand and Eleven, Deux Mille Onze, MMXI, 2011....
Its been one crazy ride from start to finish. I am sure all of us in the class of 2011 from universities all across the globe can say this has been a year of big changes, exploration, fun and sadness. If this year has taught me anything, it's that you can't predict a lot; I certainly didn't know the adventures this year would hold when the clock struck midnight last year. So rather then writing resolutions for 2012, I think its more appropriate to write reflections of 2011 and let 2012 be what it may.

Here are my highlights:

• Camp Pepin

I can honestly say (and I think those in attendance will agree) that, that week in Melbourne Beach, FL was one of the best of my life. MANgaritas, and mexican food, thrift stores, beach games, dock side chats, Insanity workouts, runs, helicopters lifting away homeless men, magicians at the bar, Gators, Gill,  nicknames, card games, beer, arts and crafts, new friends, old friends... I can't thank Jerome and Christine enough for letting us crash your house, those memories will last a lifetime

• Whiskey Tree

Walking over for a Jam Session

   Jam sessions with JM and Toph were definitely some of my favourite times of this year. Despite the fact that all of us were way to busy to fit it in as much as we would have liked, our Rihanna covers, original songs and improv sessions made the stress of school, work and rowing and dissipate into the music every time.
Thanks boys

• Dungeon Dragons, Saving Doby and Mario Cart

Rah Rah Like a Dungeon Dragon

Despite having a disappointing final rowing season, my love for my team mates was stronger than ever and we had some pretty hilarious moments.  Its impossible to explain the ridiculous things that happen at team meetings, the jokes that happen in the midst of physical and mental exhaustion. Although there might have been days that I wanted to thrown in the towel and and spend my last semester enjoying life as a college student, I wouldn't trade those special inside jokes for anything; I don't think anybody else can say they have cried tears of happiness after being called Bowser from Mario Cart.

• Senior Week and Graduation

There are no words for how thankful I am that the dates with rowing worked out so that we got to participate in Senior Week and the BU Commencement Ceremony. Getting that last week in Boston to be a crazy college student and soak in every last bit of my BU experience was amazing, and to get to spend it with the  best friends in the world from not only the class of 2011 but special guest from 2010 and 2012, and my family; life doesn't get better. Although no good bye tears were shed (those came later in the year), repeated hugs and words of love were shared as we all packed up with heavy hearts heading on the next phase. I didn't know what was in store for the immediate future but I did know that those friends would be in my long term plans.

• Kids and Babies

Home and unemployed, it was fate when a friend of my Mom called saying her neighbour was desperate for a nanny since she had just had twins 3 weeks ago and their current nanny was leaving. It was perfect for me, I get to get paid to spend time with 4 cute as button kids and save my money to go travelling when my contract is up in July. The summer with Betty, Paul, Henry, Karen and Lorraine involved many trips to the duck pond and Mudlake, lots of bread baked, loads and loads of laundry, tickle fights while trying to make the bed, and watching the babies grow by the day. I think everyone should be a nanny, it's like a a test run to having your own kids.

• Seeing the Sights 

My journal and some local brew

Until this year, my summers had been spent at the Ottawa Rowing Club. Two rows a day doesn't really leave much time for travelling. I had people I wanted to visit and places I wanted to see, so I started planning. Next thing you know its July 29th and the time has come...

Ottawa->Kenora->Winnipeg->Banff->Kelowna->Vancouver->Seattle->Portland->San Francisco->

LA->Boston-> Bethany Beach->Back to Ottawa

It was six amazing weeks! I could write a novel on just that, but I'll just leave you with the advice that you should try travelling alone sometime. Bring a camera, write a journal and send some postcards.

• Being Home Again

On Parliment Hill to see Will and Kate

I didn't take full advantage of this. I was still in full post breakup depression with Boston, I wasn't ready for the split, and therefore wasn't ready to fully appreciate Ottawa for all that it is rather than all that it isn't. It's a beautiful city, with lots of space for outdoor activities. Paths along the canal and rivers for running and biking, provincial parks near by, awesome outdoor concerts all summer long (despite being rudely cut short by wind storms) super cute up and coming neighbourhood (my current favourite is Wellington West, but I want to explore Hintonburg more) and lots lots more. When I get back, I really need to take advantage of more of it, rather then wallowing in what its not. Not to mention I love my house, my bedroom, my dog and my family; it's nice to have them all around me again. 

• Head of the Charles 2011

So happy together

I have been waiting for the HOCR where I didn't have to row since my first Charles experience in 2005. During HOCR weekends of college I always felt like there was 1.5 millions things going on and people to see that racing just got in the way of all that. Maybe it's the fact that I don't really like head races, or the fact that I have never had a very good race for the Charles but I couldn't wait for this year when I would no longer have to be the one on the river. Everyone was in town and  it was as though no time had passed, we were all just going out to the bars on an ordinary weekend. It was a strange feeling, almost like time travel, like it was too good to be true. It was an awesome weekend; four crazy nights of partying, catching up with my besties, walking up and down the course collecting freebies, and shamelessly critiquing the rowing. Then, like a kick in the stomach reality set in that this was not reality and I had to fly back home without all my besties. Boston and I have had a tough breakup and it was finally time to really morn the loss, which involved a still hungover me crying in the lounge at the airport, it must have been a site to see.

• Belize

Land of the free
By the Carib Sea

In a year full of big changes this has been the biggest. I moved thousands of miles away, to another culture, to a small town, to volunteer. It's been a crazy learning experience, a growing experience and an adventure. 

Given all that 2011 has given me I really do have Plenty to Belize In.

Thanks 2011 and all the people in it that made it such a crazy and special year

Love and Best Wishes for 2012

Mariel

Merry Christmas from Belize

How could you not miss this?

The most common question I was ask before leaving for Belize was, how do you feel about being away for Christmas? My response was always "fine". I love Christmas at home, probably because my mom loves Christmas so much. Our house always looks amazing (my mom should be a florist), and Ottawa is normally a snow covered winter wonderland. Christmas for the past four years has meant the end of exams and a time to be home and relax, normally something not experienced since September. This year has not been the same kind of stressful and especially here in Belize life is much more relaxed so I don't think I needed the same dosage of coziness normally required: being home among the beauty of the decorations and curling up with Rosie watching Love Actually. Not to say I didn't miss all of those things, they were just not required, this year.

We all  must go through  that "first year away for Christmas" and for me it was this year. It seems an appropriate year in my life story to have that first and I have to say it was a great Christmas despite most of the people I love the most being so far away. Today I think might be harder, as I write this with all the business of preparations over, it's a bit sad that I missed it all home, but post Christmas depression is normal; normally put at bay by the venture out to the mall to get $3.00 off a TNA V-Neck at the Aritzia sale, followed by the annual awkward high school reunion where you tell the same story of what you are up to 1.5 million times, there are no Boxing Day sales here; today I will write, read, maybe go for a run. Lots of time to relax and lots of time to reflect.

        The living room from the Loft (look at the floors!)

We had been invited to a Christmas Eve party a few weeks ago by an American couple who live just outside of town , right on the water. I had heard their house was fantastic, and it did not disappoint. Both Anne Michelle and Eric are artists and it is evident in their home. Anne Michelle said she had design this house when she was in College and now 30 years later its become a reality. There was Belizean hardwood everywhere used in creative ways (wood tiles!), I was in awe of it all. It was a lovely group, most of whom I had met at one event or another, I am going to start calling it the PG ex-pats. Cocktail, hors d'oeuvres and great people, it was a great time.

Jan and Gary with their Sunglasses

To wake up to blaring sunshine on Christmas day was a first for me, as we sat down to eat our breakfast outside we immediately had to all go back in to get our sunglasses; imagine, sunglasses on Christmas, it's hard to think about even after it happened for a little Canuck like me. After opening presents, we planned out our day of cooking so that we could make everything in our tiny little kitchen and oven with one rack. I Jan made pecan pie, tourtiere, the ham, scallop potatoes and I made buns, cabbage, ceasar salad, and balsamic glazed onions. The neighbour had gotten an XBox Kinect, as we were over to check it out the boys got picked up by their Dad, leaving me to play Dance Central for an hour as Rachel went back out side to read. I had to stop only to get the bread in the oven on time. Jacob got an Xbox at home and I need the Kinect! Its awesome and there are fitness options on the Dance Central, I don't care if I look like an idiot in the play back. Everyone came over for pre-dinner drinks, Mark brought over homemade rum popo, and then we stuff ourselves on delicious food. It was a lovely meal, and we all slept soundly after the festivities.

Any holiday is what you make of it. My Canadian Thanksgivings in college are some of my favourite (Ask me sometime for the turkey story of 2009). Holidays require only two ingredients: Love and Good Food, (Booze helps too). As long as there is plenty of both it will be a good time.

Our Non-traditional Christmas Tree

Love to you and yours over the Holidays,

Mariel

I have Good News and Bad News...

This isn't the bad news

Let's start with the bad news,

On Sunday we had the Plenty Christmas party out at Mark's house in Jacintoville. It was a great time, tonnes of delicious food, great people, cutest kids, and even some dancing. I was feeling fine when we went out there, had a few Belikin Christmas Stouts, Some Rum Popo (rum and eggnog), but nothing to warrant what happen next...

It was a chilly ride home, and I was tired so I though I would just get into while Jan and Gary went out to see some of the peace corps guys play at a local bar. I got into bed to watch a movie and get under the covers because I was freezing, and then I could stop shaking, ok this will go away, put on a sweater, oh man I am cold, but I really don't want to get up, why can't I stop shaking, oh man I have a fever, I am cold, ok this will go away, go to sleep...

Tthis went on for a few hous, after being a little sick and actually falling a sleep for a few minutes Jan and Gary came home, and decided I should go to the hospital, it's just around the corner from our place. They admitted me, took my temp (99.6F), took some blood for testing and after me resisting like a small child put an IV in me, after the first bag I began to feel much better, and after two more bags I felt semi normal. They gave me malaria pills and sent me home to take a shower, eat something and go to bed. I already felt loads better. The next day I was just a little under the weather but almost normal but not up to do more than lay in bed all day watching movies. Now I am on two types of antibiotics but feel pretty much back to normal. Despite the hospital not looking like anything we would have back home they were efficient and everything, including the drugs, was free. Pretty amazing. Now the only downside is, because of the antibiotics I can't drink on Christmas.

And now the good news,

For the first time in ages I went on row2k yesterday (and if you don't count just checking race results last spring season even longer). I don't know what inspired my nostalgia, but I was missing rowing. It's not as though I was on Fluid design figuring out if they could ship a single down to Punta Gorda, I was just feeling a little nostalgic for it all, even someone who was as burnt out and worn out as me can feel that.
It seems as though fate played a part in this; Gary had to head up the Rio Grande to the TIDE ranger station to fix their solar electrical system, and he suggested that Jan and I see if we could hop in the boat for a ride. Nelson, the ranger, had no problem letting us hitch a long for the ride, and so off we went.

Glass

We had to ride up the coast for a few minutes before turning in to head up the river. The water was like glass, it would have been perfect for a paddle in the skiff. After heading up the river for about 15 minutes we landed at what seemed to be a Belizean Garden of Eden. Mango Trees, Mahogany, Mally Apple Trees, Travellers Palms, a perfect thatch overlooking the river, and cut grass all in between.

I think the Mahogony looks like something from a Dr. Suess

 There wasn't much for  us to do while Gary and one of the interns were on the roof, so we explored the grounds; sat on the dock with our feet in the water listening to the rock fish (fish that make noise...is this real life?) as the minoes gathered around, watched the leaf cutting ants make trails that look like they were made from human foot traffic (they call them machinahmy, like marching army...get it?), and sat there sketching a picture of a Mayan woman that Nelson thought was awesome despite my lacklustre drawing skills.

See the sunken sailboat?

Jan and I by the river

Do you like my art?

After Gary was done working hard we headed back up the river, as we turned the corner there was the most beautiful sunset over PG.

Aren't they the cutest?

It felt awesome to be out on the water again; seems a boat ride was all I needed to cure my nostalgia. There really is nothing like the calm waters of a glassy river.

Much Love,
Mariel

Childhood Memories and Adult Realities

Some of the best travel advice I have ever read was written on an Anderson Cooper blog, and I am just paraphrasing here: “Everyone is proud of where they come from; everyone is nostalgic about their homes”. Here I am finding that true in many cases, many people say they prefer village life to life in town. When I first hear this, my internal reaction is “Are you crazy?”, but I feel the same way about anyone wanting to live in the suburbs. But then I got to thinking, how much of what we want in life is shaped by our childhoods?

When people ask me where I am from I feel torn. I lived in downtown Toronto till I was ten and then in Ottawa, so where am I from? I like to think both Ottawa and Toronto. So much of me was shaped by my childhood in Cabbagetown, and exploring the city so young. The neighbourhood was filled with interesting people from all walks of life. I was exposed to so much so young, in the nest possible way, when we are young we are oblivious to the cultural prejudices and we are friends with whoever we like as a person. When you’re young you don’t know how much money someone has, or that it isn’t cool that your friend shares a room with her mom and two sisters in the projects. None of that matters, and I think that being exposed to that at a young age (along with having amazing parents not placing prejudice in my small little brain) has really made me more open as an adult to different types of people and the challenges that face everyone.

As I get older I realise more and more of what was really going on in my childhood, and how I didn’t care about any of it, all I wanted to do was to play with my friends. There are limits to this way of upbringing and my parents began to realize that despite their efforts the challenges faced on an inner city school can sometimes be too great. Most of our core little group moved on to other schools, private or in a different neighbourhood and I moved to Ottawa.

winter coats and city streets, the definitions of my childhood 

As Jacob likes to describe it, “Ottawa is the definition of middle class”, it’s like living in a nice suburb without actually living in a suburb. It was a great place to spend my teenage years allowed me the opportunity to row at an amazing club (which I will always consider one of my homes), make great friends and live in a very beautiful city. 

How much of that has shaped how I want to live my adult life. If anyone ever asks me where I want to live, I always say in the city. I don’t drive (although I will learn) and I never want to be dependent on my car for groceries, booze, pharmacy, or a coffee shop. I love to walk places; it’s my preferred way to get around. There was no therapy better than taking a sunny fall stroll down Beacon Street to Coolidge Corner, or walking down Newbury with a big coffee (ok Venti Americano, or Large Iced Dunks for the warmer days) in my hand just to people watch.

Do I need the city life because of my life spent on the subway and throwing pennies into the fountain at the Eaton Center? Or is it just me, who I am that makes me want that? Of course it’s a bit of both.  That brings me back to the Belizeans, who want a simple life in the village, living under a thatch roof, their children playing in a safe place. There may be electricity there may not, there may be running water there may not, there may be a toilet there may not, but it doesn’t matter. It’s how they spent their childhood and they must have had a fantastic childhood, and that’s what matters.  Although it may be to foreign to me to really comprehend the appeal I am sure they would think my way of life was too crazy and loud.

What are your favourite childhood memories and how do those shape your adult decisions? Do you want to live in a place like where you grew up, or the total opposite?

Happy Children in Graham Creek

As long as we are safe, healthy and surrounded by loving people the rest is just gravy.

Happy Memories and Bright Futures

Mariel

Cooking up a Storm

If you know me you know that two things that I love are foodand kids, so getting to help out at the St. Benedict’s School feeding programwas tones of fun for me. Jan started up the feeding program at the elementaryschool again when she came down in October, she had run it two years ago andreally wanted to take it on again and create a system that is sustainable aftershe leaves. Gary and Jan were going to be gone for a week so someone needed tostep in take over so the kids could eat for the week. So I went with Jan for afew days to learn the ropes and then was there all of last week. Brenda is ayoung mother who also volunteers in the kitchen with Jan. Brenda is an amazingcook and knows how to cook Belizean food that the kids love and unlike many Belizeansis focused on providing the kids with lots of healthy vegetables in deliciousways. The feeding programs feeds about 15-30 kids a day for BZ$1.50 (US$0.75)and those who cannot affords that eat for free. The program is still able to run a small profit of BZ$25 aweek; which is then used for things that are needed in the kitchen. It's pretty incredible that it can be done for so little money, and for many of these kids they don't have another place to go at lunch if their parents work, and they probably wouldn't get as nutritious and generous a meal as they do with Jan and Brenda at the school. It's a very important program and every school should have one, many do, but some just a few days a week.

Plenty Belize's GATE program has set up gardens at all of the schools throughout the Toledo District. It is an awesome and ambitious program that has taught many people not only the joys of gardening, but where their food comes from, and supplemented the schol feeding program with free vegetables (something Belizeans don't eat a lot of). After 5 years of being in the program Plenty "graduates" the school garden. The kids do little songs, poems or skits about gardening and there is a big meal for everyone at the school and any parents/ community that wants to come. Plenty and Sustainable Harvest International where there with informative booths.

The school has about 235 kids from Infant 1 to Standard 6(Kindergarten to grade 8) and plus there was about another 75ish people. The cooking was lead by Gomier who owns a vegetarian and seafood restaurant here in PG and is on the Plenty board of directors. Jan and I had cooked up a storm the day before making Banana bread for snack (356 good sized pieces) and making 36L of Fever grass (from the garden) iced tea, on top of cooking the regular days lunch and snack. The day of the graduation was a little crazier than we had hoped for, but it all got done and all the guests got to eat (despite there being not enough of everything for people in the kitchen). We made fish, cabbage stirfry, cassava and cocoa yam fritters (delicious, I will be making these at home), boil up (half way between a soup and stew), green salad (I made the dressing) and fruit for dessert. It was delicious and I think the kids ate way more vegetable than they expected (even though some of them turned up their noses).
After washing 1.5 million dishes in a very small kitchen we went home, with some lessons learned about how better to run it (just making sure the kids eat on their time, but Belizean time is its own thing)
I have learned a lot from getting to spend time at the school. We take a lot for granted at home, can you imagine elementary school without a gym? a play structure? a library (St.Benedicts just got one this year)? an auditorium (or at least a gym with a stage)?
Life here is a lot more laid back and the schedule is a lot more lax, which I find a little uncomfortable to witness since I feel like my academic career was so time oriented. Things start and stop at very precise times. Not always the case here, sometimes recess is 15min and sometimes its 40.
It makes you think about what is necessary and what is just cultural? How much structure to children really need and how much is too much? It seems to me its somewhere in the middle of Belize and North America Suburbia, but I don't think anyone has gotten it perfect yet.
Much Love
Mariel

All the delicious produce

The kids assembled for their presentations

The girls cooking in the kitchen

Fritter recipe yummmm