Earlier this month I traveled to Belmopan, the capital, where the Peace Corps Belize headquarters are located. During my week-long volunteer conference, a few friends and I visited Central Park to see the official Christmas tree lighting. The park was full of decorations and even had local vendors selling food and gifts.
Sadly, over the New Year holiday, someone in my host family passed away. While I know that death is always part of life, it is still sad to deal with. I attended my first funeral in Belize, and it was quite similar to an American funeral. Dressed in black, I went to the wake, burial and dinner celebration to honor the person's life. It was hard to see my host family cry, but being able to comfort loved ones in times of grief can make relationships stronger. By the end of the night, there were people laughing and recalling old memories with family and friends.
While a funeral isn't the happiest event, I was honored that my family invited me to celebrate such an important day with them. They have always made me feel like a real daughter. Throughout the holidays, I have been reminded that part of traveling to a different country is meeting and connecting with new people. Belize has brought me some of my most cherished relationships: I now have a second home and a second family.
