Back from Vacation

I am back from my recent visit to the United States and I am refreshed, re-energized and ready for my last year of service. While back in the motherland, I experienced the following for the first time in a year:

Chick-fil-a
Subway
Driving
Shopping Mall
Disney World
Relative Ease
I felt completely Safe
Relaxing with Family
Sleeping with a comforter

I had a great time with my family and I was happy that Julie got a chance to spend some time with my whole family. I still can't believe how fast my niece is growing and how smart she is.

This year I hope to have a even more productive year than last year. I hope to work on the following:

Sports Complex at E.P. Yorke
Teacher's/Leader's Manual for It's Up To Me Program
80% promotion rate for the It's Up To Me Program (73% last year)
Start a School Garden
Secure a Peace Corps Volunteer at E. P. Yorke for 2010-2012

A few sports predictions for the year:

NCAA Football Champions: Florida Gators
NCAA Heisman: Tim Tebow
MLB World Series: New York Yankees and Jeter retires
Tennis: Federer retires in the next 2 years


Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

First US Visit

I will be making my first trip back to the United States this week for the annual Weiss Family Vacation. I am really excited and it should be a blast. I haven't seen my brother, sister-in-law and niece in over a year. I look forward to dominating the Weiss Family Olympics and taking back the crown. I am also excited for Julie to meet my whole family.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Rain, PTSD and 1 Year

So it's the rainy season and it hasn't been raining that much, but when it does....look out. Every time it rains I say" That's the most amount of rain I have ever seen." It is so much rain that it looks like it is snowing; and then you add the wind, it takes it to another level. A few systems are starting to form over Africa and the Cape Verde Islands which isn't good for the Caribbean or Central America, so the next few weeks should be interesting.

PTSD - sometimes known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Well, I would like to change the acronym to Post Traumatic Spider Disorder. I had my first run in with a large spider last week in my bathroom. It was about the size of a small sand dollar and i think it was venomous. I took a picture of it and showed it to the Eiley's and the first thing they said: "Dis da no ordinary spida." Most of the time if you see a spider here, it's a tarantula but not this time. It came in through my bathroom window and was hanging out in the shower. I had to get all pumped up to kill this thing because it was a. in my house and b. the biggest spider i have ever been in contact with. I tried spraying it with "Belizean Death Spray" (a really powerful bug killer that kills and melts ants) but it had no impact on this thing. So i spent about 10 minutes getting pumped up to kill it and finally it took my broom and trapped it in a corner and killed it. I have done some research on the internet and i am led to believe I killed a Black Recluse spider. Look up the bite on Google its pretty crazy. When you get bit by these things and it goes untreated your skin disintegrates and they typically amputate. I am kind of tweaky now and everything I see moving reminds me of the spider and I am constantly checking the shower and my bed for spiders. But the score remains Weiss - 1 Spiders - 0.

I have been in Belize a year now (As of August 20) and I can honestly say that I have learned a lot about myself, others and a developing country. I'm in a good place right now. This year flew by and it seemed like yesterday I was in Chicago living it up one last time. I look forward to the upcoming year in country and I hope to accomplish a lot.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

PSA Peace Corps

I'M IN BELIZE Moment

I just had one of those happy moments where bursts of joy travel throughout my body and I want to yell: I'M IN BELIZE!!!!! But I then realize I am in an office with a bunch of Belizeans and it wouldn't be appropriate for me to yell.

I guess its just part of being truly happy with where I am right now. It is still exciting to think I am in the Peace Corps and I am in Belize. Crazy.

Summer Update

So Summer is almost over and I have a couple of updates for everyone:

1. I finished the It’s Up To Me Manual. I am happy with my work and it is currently being edited by several Belizeans. It should be ready to print by the beginning of the school year. The manual is one of my ways of ensuring sustainability of the program.

2. Random trips to Caye Caulker are nice. It only costs $25 round trip and when you find a secluded hotel/cabana on the backside of the island, its the recipe for complete relaxation.

3. Trip to Argentina is in the works for Spring of 2010.

4. I will be in the United States in September – Cocoa Beach, Florida for the Weiss Family Vacation. Julie is coming too!! I am excited for her to meet my entire family.

5.  http://thisisdiversity.com/ – wanted me to post some of my blog entries on their website. They said they enjoy my take on life as a PCV. Money is given to the author’s of the articles who receive the most hits for the month. If my articles receive any money it will be donated to the “It’s Up To Me” program . Check out the website and search for my articles.

6. http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/its-up-to-me-program – Please donate to my project!!! We are so close to obtaining the funds. Thanks to those who have already donated: Vens, Ruza, Gill, Cook and Heiner. If you know of anyone that would be interested, please forward them the link.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Lobsterfest and Family Reunion

It’s been a while since I last posted. I’ve got two things to talk about:

1. Lobsterfest – Julie and I went to Lobsterfest in Placencia a couple weekends ago. It’s a festival celebrating the opening of lobster season. There are a bunch of booths selling all different kinds of lobster. We decided to splurge at a nice restaurant instead of buying lobster at all the booths. We went to a nice place called Rumfish y Vino. We split the “Lobster 5 Ways” special. It was 5 kinds of lobster dishes with 5 different kinds of wine:

-Lobster Seviche, Lobster Bisque, Lobster crepes, Lobster Sheppard's pie and Lobster pasta.

It was delicious. It was nice to be back in Placencia again.

2. Eiley Family Reunion – I was invited to the Eiley Family Reunion in Placencia last weekend (back to back weekends in Placencia, not bad). It was my first large Belizean Family gathering experience. I was able to sit in the front seat while driving down south for the first time; most of the time I am on a bus or in the back seat of a SUV. The country of Belize is beautiful and driving from Belize City to Placencia you go through about 5 different scenery changes: city, Caribbean dessert (its kind of like Belize’s version of Texas), Jungle, Maya Mountains and Placencia peninsula. We left early in the morning so the fog was still hanging around in the Maya mountains. It was a spectacular sight. The reunion was a good experience and  I had a good time meeting the relatives of my host family. They all treated me as if I were apart of the family.

I failed the Foreign Service Exam. Its not an easy test due to the randomness of the questions and the limited time given on the writing portion. Now that i am familiar with the layout, I am going to attempt the exam again next year. The pass rate is somewhere in the 20% range. Happy Birthday to Erich Weiss (July 6th). Hope all is well in the States.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss