Happy Thanksgiving!

My first major holiday away from the states: Thanksgiving. I was alone in San Diego last year for Thanksgiving so being in Belize isn't that bad. My host mom made all of the traditional dishes for me so I got my share. Happy Thanksgiving!

Chetumal, Mexico

I went to Chetumal, Mexico yesterday with my host brother, his girlfriend and Julie. Chetumal is where Belizeans go to buy items that are too expensive in Belize: cereal, milk and toilet paper. It's got an American feel to it: there is a mall with a movie theatre, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, McDonalds, Burger King and Dominoes Pizza. We saw a movie and ate at McDiesel's: I got a Big Mac with fries and a coke. It's funny how McDonalds brings the American out of you when you are in a foreign land; in a weird way it makes you feel comfortable. At first i was adamantly opposed to eating at Mcdonalds but the golden arches were calling my name. Who can turn down big mac sauce? So good. It was a nice change from the rice and beans Belizean cuisine. I spent most of my money on food and entertainment, however I did buy a football for the American Football Club I am supervising at school.

I got my first package from my parents on Friday. It included the following:
Books
Maps - The US and World
Jeans
USA T-Shirt
Franks Red Hot Sauce
Magazines - magazines in Belize are $25

Far From Home, (Toledo, Ohio to Belize City, Belize - 1,916 miles to be exact)

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

The Full Day

On Monday morning I was doing a self reflection/personal growth activity that Julie came up with and it made me laugh, think and cry. I couldn't help but think of Jimmy V's speech at the EPSY's in 1993.

Delivered March 4, 1993 by Jimmy Valvano at the ESPY's:


"Now, I'm fighting cancer, everybody knows that. People ask me all the time about how you go through your life and how's your day, and nothing is changed for me. As Dick said, I'm a very emotional, passionate man. I can't help it. That's being the son of Rocco and Angelina Valvano. It comes with the territory. We hug, we kiss, we love. And when people say to me how do you get through life or each day, it's the same thing. To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special. And so, I can't help -- I rode on the plane up today with Mike Krzyzewski, my good friend and a wonderful coach. People don't realize he's ten times a better person than he is a coach, and we know he's a great coach. He's meant a lot to me in these last five or six months with my battle. But when I look at Mike, I think, we competed against each other as players. I coached against him for fifteen years, and I always have to think about what's important in life to me are these three things. Where you started; where you are; and where you're gonna be. Those are the three things that I try and do every day."

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

The Today Show in Belize

So I was flipping through the channels this morning and stumbled upon NBC's The Today Show (Belizeans get cable from random parts of the United States, so the TV at my house receives local channels from New York City and Denver. So I can watch the Denver local news if I wanted to. Its kinda weird though because I fell connected to family and the US in a way because my brother and his family are probably watching the same thing.) . They are doing a week long segment on exotic locations throughout the world that are being affected by climate change. One of the places is Belize. They are filming at the Great Blue Hole. What is the Great Blue Hole you ask: The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole off of the coast of Belize. It lies near the center of Lighthouse Reef, a small atoll 45 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The hole is circular in shape, over 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. It was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. As the ocean began to rise again the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed. I have not had a chance to visit the hole, but I am sure I will sometime in the next 2 years.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Quote of the month

I heard this quote earlier today and it is what it is:


“The richest and fullest lives attempt to achieve an inner balance between three realms: work, love and play. To pursue one realm, to the disregard of the others, is to open oneself to ultimate sadness in older age; whereas to pursue all three with equal dedication is to make possible a life filled not only with achievement, but with serenity.”

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

New Look

As some of you may have noticed, there is a new look to my blog. My former boss (whom I dominated in the game we like to call squash) has decided to help me out with the layout of the site. I've also posted a link to the tenniscompany.com. He has so graciously decided to give free shipping when you use the promo code: WEISS. He stated that he would also throw an extra 5-10% (depending on how he is feeling that day) off. Promo code: BELIZE. Why am i dong this you are all asking? I lost some bets. I bet that Obama would not be the next president and that Sears Holding Co. would hit $115 before it sunk below $50. Well, i was wrong. So feel free to take a look at: www.tenniscompany.com . Tell your friends, family, and anyone else you know about this limited time offer.

As for Belizean events, I just finished my first full week of work: Monday through Friday 8-4, my own office etc. I am working at a high school in the counselor's office. I am responsible for teaching 5 life skills classes, coordinating the "It's up to me" program (the Its up to me program is a program for "at risk" youth basically the bottom of the barrel of the high school, kids who are real close to being kicked out due to disciplinary or academic reasons), as well as supervising the American Football Club. (yeah i said it, football). I really like it so far and its something new and challenging.

Julie came up to Belize City this weekend and we ate dinner at the only Sushi place in the country. It was delicious and it satisfied Julie's 3 month craving for Wasabi (satisfied is an understatement).

I recently purchased Kenny Chesney's new album through I-Tunes and the first song is entitled "I'm Alive." The chorus sums up how I feel at the moment: "I'm alive and well. I'm alive and well. And today thats good enough for me."

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Swearing In

So I am an official Peace Corps Volunteer as of last Wednesday. The swearing in ceremony was at the Governor General's house in Belmopan. The Ambassador was there to speak and congratulate the group. After the swearing in ceremony we had a lee bash (kriol for little party) and I had a great time. The party consisted of a slide show, eating at a nice indian restaurant, Peace Corps superlatives in which i took home two: Best Friends For Life: Jake Hafkin and Chris Weiss otherwise known as "the jizz" all credit goes to Julie for the nickname, and Favorite Republican (i am one of 4 conservatives in the group).

On Thursday I decided to go up to Dangriga to stay with Julie for the night and we met up with Abby and Joel for dinner and red wine (which costs about $40 a bottle down here). On Friday we left for Placencia where we had our swearing in/Halloween party. One of the best four days i have had in a long time, to say the least. A common phrase used throughout the weekend: "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now."

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss