Look what I found at the market!

I've been inspired by fellow grad student blogs - Sara's blog from Peru, and Doug's blogs about food and culture/politics. I have about three weeks left in Belize but I think I can squeeze some posting and pictures in!

For those of you who may not know what I'm doing here: I'm setting up a community archaeology dissertation project that involves collaborating with Tumul K'in Center of Learning (a Maya-run high school) and Aguacate village (a Q'eqchi' speaking Maya village). This summer involves laying the groundwork for a joint field school with Tumul K'in students and about a dozen or so UNC undergraduates. I'm making trips to the high school to hammer out logistics and spending time looking at the archaeological resources on Aguacate land.

At the moment I am recharging in Punta Gorda with my friend Doug (we were in the MA program together at USF), who is graciously letting me stay in his amazing purple house in PG:


As a side note - I realized the other day that this house has now facilitated the completion of at least 4 dissertations and 1 MA thesis focused on the Toledo district. Doug and his friend Jillian have been renting this place since 2007 and subletting it to various people coming through PG, some of whom have been researchers. Maybe it needs a good academic nickname? Anyways....

So, last week I was staying with a family in Aguacate, which was wonderful in some ways but difficult in others. Really the only difficulties were that I got a terrible cough and head cold that put me in my hammock for two days, and the rain that flooded two creeks we had to cross to get back to PG (as Punta Gorda is called around here). But everything else was great - my next blog will be about the trip, I promise! Right now I really have to get some other work done so I'll post it tonight or tomorrow.

For now, here's some cool things I found at the market this morning in PG:


This is called sorosi, or bitter melon; they are reminiscent of cucumbers except the skin looks like melted wax. I bought it because I have no idea what it is!! The lady said to peel it, boil it and then stir fry it. We'll probably add chili pepper, turmeric and curry powder. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Here's the rest of the haul

Oh, and these delicious cinnamon rolls I bought from a guy on a bike - hurray for second breakfast!