I thought I would list what I do during the week here in Belize: Wednesday and Thursday
Wednesday:
6:00 am - Wake Up, make breakfast and shower
7:00 - Walk to School, its about a 10 minute walk
7:15 - Check my email
8:00 - Morning Announcements
8:10 - Meeting with a student
10:10 - Meeting with a student
12 - Lunch - I walk home for lunch
1-3 - Plan for classes
3-4 pm - American Football Club
4:30 - Home
4:45 - Run to the Gym that is one mile away
6 - Dinner
9 pm - Bed
Thursday:
6:00 am - Wake up, make breakfast and shower
7:00 am - Walk to school
7:15 - Check my email
8:05 - Meeting with a student
8:20 - Meeting with a student
8:50-9:30 - Life Skills Class
10:30-11:10 - Life Skills Class
11:10-11:50 - Life Skills Class
12 - Lunch
1-3:30 - Plan for It's Up To Me Program
4 - Home
4:30 - Gym
6 - Dinner
9 - Bed
Two typical days in the Peace Corps.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Purpose of the Peace Corps
What is the Peace Corps exactly you ask? Great question. I think it is best described by JFK upon signing Executive Order 10924 on March 1, 1961:
"In establishing our Peace Corps we intend to make full use of the resources and talents of private institutions and groups. Universities, voluntary agencies, labor unions and industry will be asked to share in this effort--contributing diverse sources of energy and imagination--making it clear that the responsibility for peace is the responsibility of our entire society.
We will only send abroad Americans who are wanted by the host country--who have a real job to do--and who are qualified to do that job. Programs will be developed with care, and after full negotiation, in order to make sure that the Peace Corps is wanted and will contribute to the welfare of other people. Our Peace Corps is not designed as an instrument of diplomacy or propaganda or ideological conflict. It is designed to permit our people to exercise more fully their responsibilities in the great common cause of world development.
Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language.
But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace."
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
"In establishing our Peace Corps we intend to make full use of the resources and talents of private institutions and groups. Universities, voluntary agencies, labor unions and industry will be asked to share in this effort--contributing diverse sources of energy and imagination--making it clear that the responsibility for peace is the responsibility of our entire society.
We will only send abroad Americans who are wanted by the host country--who have a real job to do--and who are qualified to do that job. Programs will be developed with care, and after full negotiation, in order to make sure that the Peace Corps is wanted and will contribute to the welfare of other people. Our Peace Corps is not designed as an instrument of diplomacy or propaganda or ideological conflict. It is designed to permit our people to exercise more fully their responsibilities in the great common cause of world development.
Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language.
But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace."
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Sunday, January 11, 2009
What I Like and Dislike about Belize
I am writing about things I enjoy about Belize and things I dislike:
Likes:
The Food - rice and beans, chicken etc. (excluding pigtail)
The Weather - 80 and up and that's winter
The Beaches
Belize City - 38 of 45 murders in Belize City last year happened in the south of the city, i don't live in the south side
My Job - the office, schedule and weekends off
My Host Family - The Eiley's are awesome
Palm Trees - gotta love em
Julie - she lives in Dangriga but its only a 3 hour bus ride to see her
Movies - bootleg copies of movies that haven't hit theatres yet in the states
Dislikes:
Sand flies - they come at sunrise and sunset, they bite, they are small and fly through the screen
Music - Punta is obnoxious and i don't like it at all
Belizean TV Shows - They have this show called Duets down here its like a local American Idol and everyone in the country watches it. Imagine the 10 worst performing acts you have ever seen. Now picture those 10 acts competing on TV: That is Duets. It's torture to watch. While living in Independence i figured out the entertainment situation in Belize. If entertainment value was put onto a universal 1 to 10 scale: Americans are accustomed to 8, 9 and 10's while Belizeans are accustomed to 2, 3, and 4's, but to them it might be a 8, 9 or 10.
The treatment of dogs - dogs are treated like crap down here, most are malnourished and have VD, its gross
Lack of News sources - Love FM provides all news on the radio and there are 2 news stations
Being treated like a tourist just because I am white - this means that I always have money and I always need a cab
The trash - Most Belizeans don't understand the concept of a trash can, plastic is everywhere
Do not let the list of dislikes fool you, my likes highly outweigh my dislikes and I am thoroughly enjoying myself down here. I should also let the record state that I am very respectful of the culture and do not publicly voice my opinions on dislikes and consider all experiences to be part of the Peace Corps journey.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Likes:
The Food - rice and beans, chicken etc. (excluding pigtail)
The Weather - 80 and up and that's winter
The Beaches
Belize City - 38 of 45 murders in Belize City last year happened in the south of the city, i don't live in the south side
My Job - the office, schedule and weekends off
My Host Family - The Eiley's are awesome
Palm Trees - gotta love em
Julie - she lives in Dangriga but its only a 3 hour bus ride to see her
Movies - bootleg copies of movies that haven't hit theatres yet in the states
Dislikes:
Sand flies - they come at sunrise and sunset, they bite, they are small and fly through the screen
Music - Punta is obnoxious and i don't like it at all
Belizean TV Shows - They have this show called Duets down here its like a local American Idol and everyone in the country watches it. Imagine the 10 worst performing acts you have ever seen. Now picture those 10 acts competing on TV: That is Duets. It's torture to watch. While living in Independence i figured out the entertainment situation in Belize. If entertainment value was put onto a universal 1 to 10 scale: Americans are accustomed to 8, 9 and 10's while Belizeans are accustomed to 2, 3, and 4's, but to them it might be a 8, 9 or 10.
The treatment of dogs - dogs are treated like crap down here, most are malnourished and have VD, its gross
Lack of News sources - Love FM provides all news on the radio and there are 2 news stations
Being treated like a tourist just because I am white - this means that I always have money and I always need a cab
The trash - Most Belizeans don't understand the concept of a trash can, plastic is everywhere
Do not let the list of dislikes fool you, my likes highly outweigh my dislikes and I am thoroughly enjoying myself down here. I should also let the record state that I am very respectful of the culture and do not publicly voice my opinions on dislikes and consider all experiences to be part of the Peace Corps journey.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The New Year
Happy New Year to all! I had a great holiday season here in Belize, despite being away from my family.
My new years was spent in Caye Caulker: which is a nice, quaint tropical paradise with waters of every shade of blue and green. The boat ride to Caye Caulker from Belize City is about 45 minutes and costs $25 Belize round trip. Julie and I stayed in an ocean front hotel and we had a lot of fun. I saved some money over the previous weeks and took her out to a nice Italian restaurant called Don Corleone's. I got lasagna and she got the lobster dinner. It was surprisingly the best lasagna I have ever had in my life.
After celebrating the New Year, I came to the realization that I do not need two things in my life anymore:
1. Swear words
2. Alcohol - excluding the occasional glass of red wine
Cussing or swearing is totally inappropriate and unnecessary. I feel like an idiot every time i swear. I'm done with it.
Alcohol has done nothing for me in my life besides drain me financially, physically and emotionally. I hate hangovers, I hate not being in control and I hate making mistakes while under the influence. I hate alcohol. I'm done with it. (Excluding the occasional glass of red wine, which has been proven to provide health benefits)
I don't really believe in new years resolutions, due to the inevitability of failure, so i prefer life changing/self realizations. So when I return to the United States in 2010, don't expect to see me swear or drink.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
My new years was spent in Caye Caulker: which is a nice, quaint tropical paradise with waters of every shade of blue and green. The boat ride to Caye Caulker from Belize City is about 45 minutes and costs $25 Belize round trip. Julie and I stayed in an ocean front hotel and we had a lot of fun. I saved some money over the previous weeks and took her out to a nice Italian restaurant called Don Corleone's. I got lasagna and she got the lobster dinner. It was surprisingly the best lasagna I have ever had in my life.
After celebrating the New Year, I came to the realization that I do not need two things in my life anymore:
1. Swear words
2. Alcohol - excluding the occasional glass of red wine
Cussing or swearing is totally inappropriate and unnecessary. I feel like an idiot every time i swear. I'm done with it.
Alcohol has done nothing for me in my life besides drain me financially, physically and emotionally. I hate hangovers, I hate not being in control and I hate making mistakes while under the influence. I hate alcohol. I'm done with it. (Excluding the occasional glass of red wine, which has been proven to provide health benefits)
I don't really believe in new years resolutions, due to the inevitability of failure, so i prefer life changing/self realizations. So when I return to the United States in 2010, don't expect to see me swear or drink.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
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