Carmelita and Orange Walk

I write to you from the nicest internet cafe I have seen yet in Belize. AC, late model dells, pretty sweet huh? all this for $2 US an hour. Id pay that for just the ac! So yeah, I am up in my new district, Orange Walk. The cafe is in Orange Walk Town, otherwise known as Sugar City (sugarcane refineries are plentiful here!) I'm pretty pleased to be up here and finally know what this place will be like. I arrived in Carmelita two days ago and was promptly introduced to the family and the family's cows. I then spent all day yesterday killing and butchering one of the genial fellows (cow, not family member) Yes, the family has a farm. 500 acres in fact. The hills are rolling, the palm trees are tall and the bush is intense. I should be riding horses and rounding up cattle within the next couple of days. Rock on.
As far as the village goes, Carmelita seems spread out, full of nice people and slightly damp. Guess that might be because we are on day 3 of what seems to be a rain of biblical proportions. Hmm... i borrowed a bike the other day and rode around checking things out. While it seems a bit disorganized (guess thats why im there!) it also seems like there is a really cool vibe. Alot of young men and women gather in the evenings and play volleyball under the lights. I got to play, but i realize that my only volleyball experience has taken place on the beach, usually after a beer or two. Way to go sports inept gringo. Lets see me blend in when i cant even get 2 consecutive serves over the net! :) Good thing i got two years to practice. Im gonna tear it up on the beach next time i play.
My host family should be interesting. They are incredibly nice, incredibly devout 7th day adventists. Should be a trip. The 17yo seems to be the most religious, and i have been given a hard time for drinking coffee and not going to church with them. Now I know it would be a good way to meet alot of community members, but evidently its 4 hours every saturday. Wow. I might end up going next week, but todya I had to meet a bunch of other volunteers in Town to kinda get the lay of the land and feel our way about. Ate a damn good donut, bought "Wanted" on DVD (pirated of course, its the only kind in this country) and generally wandered about. Orange Walk is not exactly touristy, but more has a workaday kinda vibe. Most of the people here are hispanic, and it feels like it could be any town in mexico. I like it. it will give me an opportunity to speak more spanish, even if its only just in passing.
I am hoping to get the chance to post some pictures in the next few days, give yall an idea of my situation. Until then, keep well
jake