Day One...

Well, we made it! Steph, Joey, and Francesca got put on the wait list at the airport. That was a nice thing to find when we got there at 5:30 in the morning. But...After much pleading...and threatening (by Joey) we got our tickets!! And off we went...


The flight to Atlanta was relatively quick. We welcomed the 3 hour layover in the Atlanta airport. Steph hit up the mall in terminal A despite the long walk. (she was doing jumping jacks before the flight) Joey and Francesca decided that they had burned enough calories sleeping on the plane and decided to eat instead.

The flight to Belize however was more exciting as we flew across the Gulf of Mexico and watched the complimentary Dream Girls film... (Beyonce is a babe...she's probably Belizian...who knows...)










After finally getting to Belize, Joey, Steph, and Papa had their first customs experience. We would have a picture to show you, but Joey violated the "no photography" rule in the airport, and therefore was told to delete all pictures...needless to say, it was an eventfuly customs trip.

We were united with the group, finally, after a long day of travels. Three-fifths of the Pennino family was reunited. It was glorious. From the airport, we stopped by Brodie's, the only supermarket chain in Belize. Lucky us, because they had JUST built a new store this year! It is always a bit surreal to be able to buy Cheetos in a Third World Country... however the majority of the groups money went towards beverage expenditures...primarily bottled water.




What Notre Dame students feel the need to buy for a week in Belize:

Francesca & Kara:
1 Cranberry Ginger Ale
1 box of honey teddy grams
8 water bottles (32 oz.)
3 bags of homemade tortilla chips
1 can of salsa
2 boxes of bourbon cookies
3 oxen

Joey:
4 bottles of water 32 oz.
1 bottle of Belizian Yum
1 box of whole wheat Club Crackers
1 box of Keebler E.L. Fudge cookies
2 postcards (1 for the family, 1 for the girlfriend)
10 boxes of bullets
1 wagon tongue




Steph/Mr. Nienaber:
4 bottles of water 32 oz.
10 postcards
1 wagon yolk
3 extra sets of clothing

















So after a trip to Brodie's that somehow resembled the Oregon Trail...we made our way to the Jungle Dome, which was an hour away.














These were some of the mountains on the way. Eventually, after a LONG and BUMPY hour (Belize only has one paved road) we made it to the Jungle Dome...Here it is! Our first night consisted of eating, napping, swimming, and having fun. It was a killer night for Joey, our own S. Irwin...the pictures explain it all...




























Here are some more pictures from the Jungle Dome...

We call this picture: Big Tree, Little Steph.










2 spider monkeys were captives on the Banana Bank compound of whom several of the nurses apparently have become acquainted with in past visits.

The day came to a close with crickets chirping, doctors laughing, monkeys howling, and subtle warnings from our hosts to keep the noise down...