Description of Service

Each Peace Corps volunteer is responsible for writing a Description of Service (D.O.S), which is the only official document that describes the work you completed as a volunteer. A copy is sent to Washington where it is kept on file for 60 years. Here is my D.O.S.:

Description of United States Peace Corps Volunteer Service (D.O.S.)

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Country of Service: Belize

Invitation to Serve: After completing his application, interview, background investigation, and receiving medical/dental clearance, Christopher Weiss received his invitation to serve in the United States Peace Corps in April of 2008. He accepted his assignment to serve in the country of Belize as a Youth Development Facilitator in the Youth Development Sector.

Pre-Service Training

Dates: August 18, 2008 – October 28, 2008

Location: Independence, Stann Creek District, Belize

Christopher entered pre-service training on August 18, 2008 at the Peace Corps Belize Headquarters in Belmopan, Belize where he completed a twelve week (331 hours) intensive training program that covered the following areas:

Cross-Cultural Training – Volunteer safety and security; working as a development volunteer and professional, forming and working with groups; training and motivating adults and youth; integration into Belizean culture and community (94 hours)

Technical Field-Based Training – Training in youth development practices; training on how to work with groups and local organizations; utilizing non-formal education techniques; planning and organizing a community event with local youth group (164 hours)

Language Training – Intensive Belizean Kriol language instruction (73 hours)

Mr. Weiss was sworn in as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) on October 28, 2008 by U.S. Ambassador Robert J. Dieter at Governor General Sir Colville Young’s residence in Belmopan, Belize. Mr. Weiss was assigned to Edward P. Yorke High School in Belize City, Belize to serve as the Program Developer/Coordinator of a youth development program. Built with the help of Peace Corps Volunteers in 1962, Edward P. Yorke High School is a government funded co-educational institution based on a firm foundation of discipline. Since that time, it has gained the reputation of being one of the best secondary schools in the country.

Peace Corps Service

Dates: October 28, 2008 – September 22, 2010

Location: Belize City, Belize

Christopher arrived at Edward P. Yorke High School in Belize City, Belize on October 30, 2008 as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Throughout his two year service he was responsible for the following:

Program Coordinator/Developer – Coordinated, developed and facilitated an after-school at-risk youth development program: It’s Up To Me. Each of the two years, 15 students were selected in August by the school’s administration to participate in a 25 week behavior modification program. He increased the program’s group promotion rate from 50% to 73% within a one year period. Six students who took part in the program during Mr. Weiss’ stewardship eventually graduated from high school. He created a 60 page student workbook to allow for program fluidity and sustainability; subject areas included: time management, study skills, friendships, decision making, personal strengths, anger management, communication, puberty, stress, drugs, goals, life-purpose and HIV/AIDS prevention. The It’s Up To Me student workbook was presented to the Minister of Education’s Task Force on Alternatives to Corporal Punishment. He also wrote and received a $500 grant from the Kids to Kids organization to help pay for the student workbook, sporting equipment and school supplies for the students in the program. He created a 40’ by 40’ vegetable garden (basil, tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers) on the school’s compound to be utilized by the program in the future.

Life Skills Instructor – Mr. Weiss taught eight 36-week Life Skills (5 in 2008-2009: 150 students, 3 in 2009-2010: 90 students) courses at E.P. Yorke High School to students ranging from ages 14 to 19. Students were exposed to various methods of instruction such as debates, panel discussions, role playing, class discussions, group projects, reflective writing, guest speakers, class lectures and presentations to enhance their assertiveness, critical thinking and decision making skills. Subject areas included: goal setting, values, self-awareness, communication, conflict resolution, sex education, decision making skills, social issues, career development and exam taking skills.

Disciplinary Board Member – As a member of the Disciplinary Board, Mr. Weiss met twice a quarter with students nearing expulsion and their parents to discuss their child’s future at E.P. Yorke High School. After the meeting concluded, board members vote on the status of the child. Often times, the meeting served as an intervention to let the student know he or she needed immediate improvement or face expulsion.

Disciplinary Seminar Lecturer/Facilitator – In August of 2009, Christopher facilitated a two day Disciplinary Seminar (50 participants in 2009) to teachers and senior administrators at E.P. Yorke High School with the Vice Principal of Discipline; topics included: suspension rates, reason for suspensions, setting disciplinary goals, alternative methods of discipline, positive discipline and the introduction of the Think Sheet. Towards the end of the seminar, Mr. Weiss facilitated, in a democratic forum, the changing and implementing of school policy in the following areas: homework policy, equipment/textbook policy, tardiness, absenteeism, demerit policy, study hall and Think Sheet policy.

School Management Member – Each Friday during the school year (August – June), Mr. Weiss met with the Principal, Vice Principal of Academics, Vice Principal of Discipline and the Counselor to report and discuss the progress and status of the students involved in the It’s Up To Me Program. Management meetings included general discussion of the status of E.P. Yorke High School; Mr. Weiss compiled data, created visual charts/graphs, provided analysis and recommended necessary policy changes for the betterment of the high school.

American Football Coach – Mr. Weiss was responsible for running the American Football Club on Wednesday’s during the school year. Each week, 40 male students ranging from ages 13 to 19 learned about and played American football under Mr. Weiss’s tutelage.

Sports Committee Member – Mr. Weiss was a member of the E.P. Yorke Sports Committee. He was responsible for setting up and running numerous sporting activities (October – February), culminating in the annual Sports Day. In collaboration with the Sports Committee, Mr. Weiss wrote the first Sports Day rulebook. In addition, he wrote a grant proposal for a $300,000 sports/multi-purpose complex that contained plans for on-site sporting and coaching development as well as the development of the Belizean student-athlete.

Contributions to Peace Corps Community:

Mr. Weiss served as the Volunteer Advisory Committee (V.A.C.) Representative for the Belize District (June 2009 – June 2010). The Volunteer Action Committee is a forum for volunteers to vocalize their questions and concerns to Peace Corps Belize staff. Meetings were held once a quarter.

He served as the Warden for the Belize District (June 2009 – June 2010). Wardens are responsible for relaying safety and security information to district volunteers.

He facilitated two sessions on Mentoring and Working with Belizean Youth to the Peace Corps Youth Development Sector Trainees (September 2009 and March 2010).

He took part in training panels for Peace Corps trainees: Life as a PCV and Relationships in the Peace Corps (October 2009).

He documented numerous stories on personal blog: Far From Home: Wilkins Weiss http://christopherwilkinsweiss.blogspot.com/ (June 2008 – September 2010).

Belize Human Development Report

Here's a link to some info on Belize's overall situation according to the UNDP:

http://hdrstats.undp.org/en/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_BLZ.html

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

COS Conference

A couple things:

1. Tulum, Mexico - Julie and I took our last vacation this month. We took a trip to Tulum, Mexico and it was glorious. Anyone who doesn't believe in heaven, hasn't been to the beaches of the Yucatan: white sand, crystal blue water, warm weather. We went snorkeling with sea turtles, snorkeling in fresh water centotes: Dos Ojos, to the Tulum Ruins (whoa!) and Playa Del Carmen for the day. It was refreshing to be in Mexico again, it is such a nice break from Belize and everything is a lot cheaper. I did pretty well on using my vacation days while being in the peace corps. Each volunteer receives a total of 42 days of vacation for the 2 years, i have 7 left. Not bad. I made some phone calls a few weeks ago to buddies back in the states, and one of them stated: "It looks like one big vacation down there." There are a lot of nice places in and around Central America and Peace Corps allows for regional travel, but let the record state peace corps work is no vacation.

2. COS Conference - we had our Close of Service conference this month at Hopkins Bay Resort in Hopkins, Belize. It's the last of the Peace Corps in service training seminars, but this one fills volunteers in on exiting Belize and transitioning back into life in the USA: saying good bye to host families, host country agencies, friends and filling out your DOS (Description of Service) and completing your resume etc. It was an awesome conference and it was nice to be with my training group one last time. Our group started with 42 volunteers and we are down to 22 as of yesterday. A lot of people decided to ET (Early Termination) due to a variety of reasons. I am really proud of myself for sticking it out down here. 3 years ago when i started talking about doing Peace Corps, my friends thought i was crazy and it was "un-weiss like."

3. 64 Days left in the Peace Corps - its crazy to think I have been in Belize for 2 years now, this whole experience flies by. I am COSing on September 22 and should be back in the States on September 23.

4. I am working on starting a non-profit: VolunteerPlacement.org. More to come at a later date.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Video

I thought I would post videos so people could get some sense of what goes on down here in Belize. To read about some of this is one thing, but to actually see it is another. So I hope you all enjoy these videos.




Man on his way to work crossing a flooded bridge, while carrying his boots, a gun AND his bike. No big deal. What route do you take to work?

Video

Garifuna Settlement Day 2009 - Dangriga, Belize

Video

100 Days

So I only have about 100 days left in the Peace Corps. Pretty crazy. School let out for the summer vacation. I am working on creating a Leader Manual for the It's Up To Me program. One of my main concerns is long-term sustainability, but with a Student Workbook, a Leader's Manual and the support of the Principal, the program should stick around for a long time. The school received a replacement Peace Corps volunteer to continue some of the work with the program and for our first project together we are building a trellis over the garden. I thought it would be cool if we could turn the gardening area into a permanent gardening area.

Julie and I are going to Tulum, Mexico for our last vacation next month.

COS conference is coming up in July.

My official COS date is September 22, 2010.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

New Experience

Well I don't know how to put it any other way: one of my co-workers at E.P. Yorke was murdered last week. Apparently he was driving around the downtown area at 11 p.m. and a group of "gang bangers" stopped his car and shot him in the head and then took his car. After shooting him, they then tossed him into the street and drove off with the car. Cops later chased down the vehicle and captured 3/5 criminals.

I can say that this is a new experience for me. Never have I personally known someone who has been murdered; to have one of the people you work and interact with on a daily basis taken away is painful. He worked at the high school for the last 10 years and he was a really good basketball player in Belize. I can't recall a day on campus that we didn't joke around or speak to each other. Just recently he started calling me "rich white bwai" because he asked what my parents did for a living. I stated that sure my parents are doing well but as for me, well let's just say that the $79 in my US Bank account would not take me very far.

So yesterday I attended my first Belizean funeral and it was very large even for US standards. They had to use the University of Belize gymnasium for all the people that showed up. The Prime Minister, Minster of Education, The Ambassador of the United States along with other dignitaries were in attendance. My co-worker was the son of the mayor of Belmopan. They are hoping that this senseless murder will be the turning point for the violence in Belize. In my opinion, the corruption will prevent any real progress from taking place.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

It's Hot

What's the temperature down here right now? Thought you'd never ask:

99 Degrees
Feels like 117 Degrees

Can't wait for June.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Mention in the Miamian

Check out the article: Snapshots of Service in the Spring 2010 Miamian: Miami University Alumni Magazine:

http://www.miamialum.org/s/916/internal.aspx?sid=916&gid=1&pgid=2249

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala

So i just got back from a whirlwind of a trip: 8 days in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. So here goes:

Day 1 - Dangriga, Belize to Puerto Cortes, Honduras: 3 1/2 hour boat ride
Private Taxi from Puerto Cortes to San Pedro Sula
Nice bus from San Pedro Sula to Copan Ruinas

Day 2 - Copan Ruinas, Honduras: We all went to a natural hot spring resort/spa that was 45 minutes out of Copan so we got to see some of the Honduran countryside. One of the highlights of the trip.

Day 3 - Bus from Copan to El Poy, Honduras/El Salvador border. It was Sunday so one of the buses were were going to catch wasnt running, so we get on one of the worst buses i have ever been on. 3 1/2 hour ride to El Poy, the bus stops a town short of where we are supposed to be so we get a taxi to the border. After walking across the Honduras/El Salvador border we take an authentic chicken bus ride to San Salvador: sharp fast turns, loud music, half the bus is standing, making stops every 2 minutes, conductor yelling out the window, people selling random food and drinks at every major stop. craziness. We finally get to San Salvador and we are staying at the Hilton (one of Julie's friends gets employee rates) We barely left the hotel; there was no need: gym, comfortable bed, tv, steam room, pool, sauna and a subway right across the street.

Day 4 - San Salvador, El Salvador

Day 5 - Private taxi to Playa El Tunco, El Slavador, the best beach I have ever been to (move over bootleg Wind n Sea in La Jolla, CA there's a new beach in town) Cool little surf town with black sand beaches, fish tacos, awesome waves and pure fruit popsicles: Heaven is that you?

Day 6 - Private shuttle from Playa El Tunco to Antigua, Guatemala. Julie and I have already seen Antigua so it was nice to be back but i've seen enough Antigua.

Day 7 - Ran out of money and had to borrow some from Julie's friend just to get back home. Shuttle from Antigua to Guatemala City, overnight bus from Guate to Flores

Day 8 - 7 am bus from Flores to Belize City and we are home by noon.

Crazy trip. We are almost done with seeing all of Central America:

Belize - check
Mexico - check
Guatemala - check
Honduras - check
El Salvador - check
Panama
Costa Rica
Nicaragua

Ask me again in August and they will all be checked.

Let the record state that Matthew James Gill owes me $20.00 US Dollars. Why you ask? I'll tell you: Before the tournament began I bet him that the Duke Blue Devils would make it farther that the Kentucky Wildcats. So if you see him on the streets of Chicago, please remind him to pay up.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Your Real Age

This has nothing to do with my Peace Corps service but i thought it was cool: Check this out and take the real age test:

http://www.realage.com/

My Results:

Calender Age: 26.4

Real Age: 21.0

5.4 years younger than I actually am!

March

A few updates:

The garden is coming along nicely. We have installed a roof to shade the plants from the intense direct sunlight. The roof consists of "bush sticks" and coconut tree palms. We planted cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, basil and yellow peppers. We tried to plant green peppers but i think the seeds were old. I have three goals for the garden:
1. Have/produce at least one piece of vegetable
2. Incorporate gardening into the It's Up To Me Program
3. Create a permanent garden for the school

Thanks again to The Tennis Company in San Diego, California for donating 12 basketballs to the E.P. Yorke High School Physical Education Department. The owner/my former boss donated 12 soccer balls last year and the school greatly appreciates the donations. If anyone is interested in donating sports equipment (softball mits, volleyballs, soccer balls, basketballs, jump ropes etc.) or school supplies (pencils, pens, notebooks, rulers) please feel free to contact me:
weisscw@gmail.com

The Social Investment Fund Application for the E.P. Yorke Sports/Multipurpose Complex is eligible for funding, which is good news; the bad news is they don't have any more money for the year. We will need to wait until September to see if it receives funding. That would be awesome for the school and it would be kind of the icing on the cake for my Peace Corps service.

Well I guess Belize has reached a new low: cops are shooting cops in San Pedro (a major tourist destination). I stand corrected: "A cop intentionally shot another cop and killed him" As many outsiders know, Belize is considered a violent place, but if you live here it's different. Everyone knows that the violence is primarily gang-on-gang violence with the occasional outbreak of random brutal crimes. A cop shooting another cop is pretty crazy though. If the violence in Belize continues, regardless if it's gang-on-gang, this country will have a tougher time climbing out of the developing world.

The new class of volunteers comes to Belize next week. It's crazy to think that I am almost done with this experience. My COS (Close of Service) date will probably be the first week of October.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

February Garden

I started a garden at my school. The school gave me a large plot of land to do whatever I want. So far we've created a seed bed, compost pile and we are just about done turning the soil over. It's a lot of work and I am using forced/slave labor to help me complete the project: Suspension students. If you get suspended from school in Belize you don't go home, you work. The soil is very rich because about 10 years ago a teacher started a garden and chicken coop but it was abandoned about 5 years ago. We should be planting some seeds within the next week or so and doing some transplanting in about 3-4 weeks.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

New Week

I had a long day yesterday at school. I thought I would share:

6 am - wakeup
7 - go to school
8 - school starts
8-9 - ref 2 basketball games
9-9:50 - Life Skills Class
10 - meeting with a student
12 - lunch
2:30 - meeting with a student
3 - Sports Committee Meeting
3:30 - It's Up To Me Group Meeting
4 - ref 2 basketball games
5:30-10 pm - Disciplinary Board Meeting

14 hours at school.

In other news, the It's Up To Me received a $500 grant from Kids to Kids. I wrote the grant about a year ago and it was rejected. I reapplied, and we got it. So now the group can operate without tapping into the school's budget.

I submitted a grant application to the Belize Social Investment Fund for the Edward P. Yorke Sports Complex and Athlete Development Program last week. This one is a lot bigger than the Kids to Kids and has an impact on the entire school and community.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Guate

(Let me state that before you read this post, there are a lot of "best ever" classifications. The Weiss' have been know to throw that phrase out from time to time, but believe me when i say "best.")

Wow! Guatemala was awesome and I can say that it was the best trip of my life. When each day seemed as if it couldn’t get better, it did:

Day 1 – Punta Gorda, Belize to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala – 1 1/2 hour boat ride across the bay. Small boat + medium sized waves = fun ride. 6 hour bus ride from Puerto Barrios to Guatemala City. 1 1/2 hour chicken bus ride from Guate to Antigua, or as the conductor put it: TIGUA! TIGUA! TIGUA! We arrive in Antigua and head to our hostel: El Hostal. We head out for dinner and find this awesome sushi place that had the best pad thai I have ever had.

Day 2 – Walk around the city and decide to sign up for the Pacaya Volcano night hike. Lunch before hand we had panini's (something we can’t get in Belize) and they were awesome. Shuttle left at 2 pm and returned at 9 pm. Best hike i have ever been on: high altitude, volcano, lava flowing at the top, roasted marshmallows on volcano lava! crazy. It was a “Humbling, Earth Experience” as i like to call them: being tossed around in a rip tide, skiing, small boats in a big ocean etc.

Day 3 – We walk around the city in the morning and took off for Lake Atitlan in a 3 hour shuttle ride. A lake that has been called the most beautiful lake in the world; and i have to say it very well may be in the running. Our hotel was awesome: we had a private cabin with a incredible view. If you got to Atitlan, stay in Santa Cruz at the Iguana Perdida. Delicious commune style organic dinner.

Day 4 – Signed up for a Mayan weaving class and it was really cool, we were invited in to their home and they taught us how to weave this backstrap/belt type thing and it takes a lot of work. Whenever Mayans pass us in Belize we always say how expensive the gifts are, but now I understand: it takes a lot of work. Julie did Yoga in the morning too, which was given to her for free thanks to her Peace Corps status.

Day 5 – Back to Antigua and as we are talking about leaving this guy comes up to Julie and I and he says “where are you heading?” We say Antigua. He says he can give us a ride. no charge! Whoa. Saved us a few Quetzales. We also met some PCV’s from Guatemala who gave is this backdoor place in Antigua for 30 Q for the night. We later ran into this guy (Patrick) in the central park and he took us out to dinner!! Awesome!

Day 6 – 4 am Antigua to Guate shuttle. 6 am bus ride from Guate to Puerto Barrios. 1 1/2 hour boat ride from Puerto Barrios to Punta Gorda. Sike. 3 hour boat ride: small boat + really big waves = pant shitting fear that your life is about to end. Scariest boat ride i have ever been on, but for some reason i kind of enjoyed it. I should have been in the NAVY, or when you feel that your life is about to end, sarcasm takes over.

What a trip!! If you ever have the chance to go to Guatemala, go to Antigua and Lake Atitlan. I truly feel blessed to have had an opportunity to take a trip like that, especially to experience it with someone I really care about! I shaved my beard finally. October – January.

Check my pictures out on facebook.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss