A former graduate of University of Maryland College Park and North
County High School Sariane is now a recently returned Peace Corps
Volunteer in Belize. She shares her experiences living and working in a
developing country in the following story.
By Sariane Leigh
My mother inspired me to join the Peace Corps. Her spirit and
enthusiasm for the world always intrigued me. She spent two years in Sierra
Leone West Africa in 1972 as a Peace Corps Volunteer in education and water
sanitation. Growing up with a “hippie” mother, I have always had a
strong passion to work and live overseas. Even as a teenager High School, I
remember embracing the exchange students from around the world and
sharing exotic foods in the High School Multicultural Club.
Joining the Peace Corps was an obvious career step for me. After
graduating from University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in
Communications and in light of the international tension, I felt that I would
be more productive offering my heart and my hands to international
community in need.
The United States Peace Corps offers Americans the opportunity to
volunteer in developing countries for two years. The purpose of the Peace
Corps is to share the positive aspects of American culture and identity
while providing uncommon skills to the community. Success is measured in
small steps, and the emphasis is placed on sustainability and
fulfilling the needs of the communities.
When my time to explore the world arrived, my mother gave me her
blessings and sent me on my way to Belize, Central America. As I kissed my
mother goodbye from BWI airport, I thought about all I was leaving behind
in the fast paced life of the US. A new car, a stable job, supermarkets
and even McDonald’s. I put all that behind me and I was sent to Belize
in June 2002, where I worked in HIV/AIDS Education until July 2004.
When I arrived in Belize, I underwent an intensive six-week training
program that introduced us to Belizean life and culture. Meeting the
other 34 new volunteers working to promote HIV/AIDS awareness,
environmental protection, basic computer skills and water sanitation was an
exciting change from my normal circle of friends in Maryland. For the first
time in my life, I as an American felt a sense of unity and purpose for
a common good with other Americans. I felt proud, excited and nervous
to meet other Americans who sought to help outside of the safety of the
United States for two years.
As the only English speaking country in Central America, Belize is also
the smallest country with has strong ties to the Caribbean Islands.
Belize sits below Mexico at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula. It was
formerly known as British Honduras, but gained its independence in 1981.
The country is roughly the size of New Hampshire, with a population of
250,000, and due to its size and small population, the entire country
feels like one small town.
My work in HIV/AIDS conjured an interesting brew of emotions.
Counseling teenagers about birth control, fishermen about fidelity and
housewives about condom use required that I tap into my sensitivity and
understanding. Belize currently has the highest rate of HIV infection in
Central America, estimated at 1 in 50 people. With a diverse ethnic mix of
Creole, Mayan, Mestizo, and Garifuna people, I learned how important
each communities’ needs were when I executed a sexual health presentation.
Trekking into a village of 200 people where some have never seen
condoms also taught me how to repress laughter, shock and the arrogance often
associated with American culture.
I lived in a small dusty town called Dangriga, which lies on the coast
of Southern Belize. Every morning I would awake to a window view of
grassy beach, vivid sunsets and pelicans gliding off of the salty air. And
every evening I would stroll through the lazy streets of Garifuna
drumming, kids flying kites made of trash bags and elementary school soccer
games. Most families lived in 2 room wooden flats. Sometimes my
neighbors would invite me for some “cultural food” or in Creole “Kulcha food”
which would consist of fresh coconut milk, stewed fish and ripe
plantains.
After one year into my Peace Corps service, the stress of living off of
$500 US dollars a month, cold showers, tarantulas in my toilet and
flying roaches began to take it’s toll. Some days were more difficult than
others. When three of my friends died of AIDS, all under the age of 30,
I began to ask myself how could such a beautiful place be in the shadow
of so much sadness?
In an effort to keep my spirits up I took on another project, the Yoga
Stress Relief Workshop for HIV workers. Collaborating with a local
hospital, I introduced yoga, stress relief and breathing techniques to
nurses who cared for terminally ill HIV patients. While staring over the
horizon of the Caribbean sea, I saw the natural beauty of Belize and felt
that with patience and commitment I could implement small change in
someone’s life. The range of emotions of living in a developing country
were all just apart of the volunteer experience.
Living in Belize teaches you patience, acceptance and the process of
change I slowly began to learn to combine the productive spirit of
American culture with the humanity and community of Belize. My projects began
to get off the ground, my neighborhood teenagers began to confide in me
and my ability to cope with the reality of Belizean life made it easier
for me to deal with the poverty and sadness.
As I look back on my service in Belize, I have memories of laughing
with friends under a coconut tree, sharing a hammock with four kids and
seeing the smile of a mother who needed an extra hug that day.
I encourage more Americans to consider volunteer in this time of war.
Not everyone can dedicate two years but maybe two minutes, hours or days
to a cause can change our whole perspective on the connections around
us.
Sariane Leigh, RPCV Belize 02-04
sarianeleigh@hotmail.com
Executive Aide
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Voice: 202-994-5934
Fax: 202-994-0227
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