As I grew older, I developed an interest in horses and cows, and I got my very first job at a barn, where I learned to ride a horse. I went on to work at many different barns. One of my favorites was a cattle farm that made cheese. My passion for animals will always be a big part of who I am, and I enjoy meeting all the different species here in Belize.
I will stay for one more year here in Corozal, Belize, teaching sports and life skills to local kids. I am very grateful to have this opportunity to work in a different country, help those around me and enjoy all the wonderful experiences Belize has to offer. There is much for me to do here in Corozal, the town where I live. I enjoy listening to music and talking to my family back home every week. I love to swim in the sea near my home, too. Also, I really love to cook, although it was difficult learning to cook with new ingredients and recipes in the beginning. My friends and I enjoy dancing as well. I also spend my free time reading or speaking Spanish with my host family. (As a volunteer, I get to live with a local family, and they are called my host family.) My family makes me very happy, and they help me learn about living here in Belize.
Living abroad has its rewards and challenges. Some of the best rewards are having new friends from Belize whom I will cherish forever and having some of the most interesting experiences and memories. However, as you can imagine, living thousands of miles away from all your family and friends can be difficult. It is not easy when you must start over, learn a new language, make new friends, live in a new home, work in a new job and eat new food. A few challenges I have dealt with are prejudice and homesickness.
