Despite the rain today, which started last night, we were able to get over 10 houses done. It seems as though the rainy season has officially started but what can we do but go with the flow. Despite the heavy rain today Tita opened up to me more about her family. Since she is the only one with a stable income and since she is a council member she has a lot of pressure from her family to provide but she also has to provide for her own family. Today, she let me know that her brother had tried to commit suicide over the weekend. I don’t know the details but that is pretty serious. She seems a little angry about the whole thing maybe a little frustrated. Her brother is an alcoholic and has been fighting with her parents who are old. I now understand why she always says she feels like giving up, that’s a lot of pressure, to be expected to provide when you don’t even have enough to give to yourself. As we surveyed she talked and let it out and by the end she seemed to feel a lot better. I think I may be an outlet for her because she doesn’t have anyone to talk to. This experience begs me to question what type of mental health intervention can be put in San Martin without the stigma that is associated with mental health issues?
Also, this morning Alicia told me that she is currently in trouble with the City Council and that this is the second time that she has been called in to a meeting with them. It has something to do with her title as community health worker, which she has apparently lost because of what sounds like mismanagement. I hope her participation does not affect results but how will we find this out? As a result of this meeting she wasn’t able to help us in the morning but only in the afternoon.
To further confirm my suspicion, today I had a household refuse to participate in the survey in the evening. It was interesting because Alicia had approached the family and they had shut her down completely but when Tita approached they opened their house and wanted to participate. Its very interesting because Suzie has told me that there have been occasions were Alicia has not wanted to go to certain houses because people don’t like her. I haven’t had that experience with Tita at all. Since she is a schoolteacher and knows a lot of the families and she is also a council member people seems to have respect for her and want to talk to her. Maybe it’s because of her power, but it could also be because she is respected in the community.
In the afternoon after lunch we ran into Marissa who is claiming that we have not put down any money for utilities. I explain to her some more that we have and she continued to deny. I really need to get a copy of our lease to show her we paid her money. UGH! Why is the lease not here? This is so frustrating, Word of advice if you want to stay in Belize its better to do a home stay with a family so that you don’t get swindled out of money.
As I walked home back across campus with Suzie, tired and excited but a little irritated we met a kitten who meowed at us and would rub himself on our feet. We were drawn to his meowing and continued to rub him, which I guess got him interested in us. As a result the cat followed us home. Because he was so skinny we gave him some Tuna and so now we have a cat. I hope she is not rabid because that would suck. She is also really lovey and if your arms or hands are near the floor she will run to them and meow and try to get rubbed down. Makes me want to get a cat when I get home.
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