Is there a way NC and Belize can share weather? It is very hot and muggy here while NC braces for more snow. Somewhere between 92 and 32, there is an ideal temperature. I actually turned my air conditioner on last night to cool the bedroom down before going to bed.

First thing this morning, I went to the Belize Immigration Office in San Pedro to extend my visa for another month. When you come into Belize, your passport is stamped for a maximum of 30 days. If you intend to stay longer, you must renew your visa before the end of that month. It was a simple procedure -- the agent at the Immigration Office filled out a form; I walked 3 doors down to the Treasury Department where I paid my $25; then I went back to Immigration where my passport was officially stamped. So, I'm good until March 22 -- only 6 days before I leave to go home for 2 weeks. I will have to renew again for those 6 days. Once you leave the country, it starts over.

I used the day to get all sorts of things done. I did some shopping -- mainly looking -- in places I haven't been to before. I went to the bank, the grocery store, all those mundane places. One of the things I needed was needle and thread to sew on a couple of buttons. So I went to the store whose name is my favorite -- War Paint Beauty Supply -- which is really a general store. If they don't have something, it doesn't exist on the island. When I asked if they sold sewing needles, the girl pulled out a little plastic box of needles and asked me how many I needed. They are sold individually. I guess I only need one, so that is what I bought for 25 cents. I also needed thread. Here came a big plastic jar with spools of thread. They were small but probably a more practical size than what I'm used to. So, for $1.50Bz, I have 2 spools of thread and a needle. That's a quarter for size reference.Today I hit the jackpot --- the mail came! This is the first mail I have received since the first week I was here. There were 3 letters -- a Valentine, some mail sent from home and another note. I have one more piece of mail but will have to go to the post office tomorrow to retrieve it. It is considered a parcel so it wasn't sent to the box. There must have been a big bag of mail to come in from the U.S. These were mailed as long ago as February 6. It really is "snail mail".

Tonight I attended a community meeting in San Pedro led by Joanne who is in Belize from Canada giving talks and workshops about domestic violence. She is trying to get a women's/children's shelter built here on the island and to start education programs for adults and children about breaking the abuse cycle. She spoke about many of the same things as she did in the workshop she gave at Holy Cross. There seems to be strong support from key members of the community: the president of the Lion's Club and another woman who has a piece of property she is willing to donate. Things are falling into place, one step at a time, and there is still much work to be done. It will take much more than a building, but at least people are talking and sharing ideas. The incidences of abuse are numerous here.

Joanne with Cynthia who works with the shelter in San Ignacio.