Yo Yo,
I am in Belize and I just had the best week of my life. I've seen more stuff in 7 days than my previous 24 years of living: Garifuna Dancing, Beliziean Sunrise etc.
I wont have the Internet so i'll catch up in a couple weeks. We leave for our towns today.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Almost Time To Leave
So I've got about 6 days until I head to Miami, FL for the staging event. I am going through lists of what I need to pack and making necessary purchases. There is a facebook group for all of the volunteers and some of the people who are already down there have made suggestions on what to bring and what not to bring. One volunteer's list included numerous items including: pots and pans, vegetable peeler, pillows, spatulas, nice pair of sunglasses, hanging shoe organizer, etc. Lets be serious here, I don't have most of these items and I am pretty sure I wont need them in lesser off conditions. She's telling me to bring a blow up sleeping pad. A blow up sleeping pad? Come on now....I slept on a pile of clothes for a little over 6 months in San Diego. I repeat a pile of clothes. I think I can make it without buying a blow up sleeping mat thank you very much.
About a week ago we were asked to fill out questionnaire's so the Peace Corps volunteers can get to know us better and one of the questions was: What is the craziest item you are bringing to Belize? I replied with: "I'm actually bringing a full grown adult chimpanzee. I'm thinking I am just gonna duct tape his mouth and bury him under clothes during the flights. He should make it through security right?"
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
About a week ago we were asked to fill out questionnaire's so the Peace Corps volunteers can get to know us better and one of the questions was: What is the craziest item you are bringing to Belize? I replied with: "I'm actually bringing a full grown adult chimpanzee. I'm thinking I am just gonna duct tape his mouth and bury him under clothes during the flights. He should make it through security right?"
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Monday, July 14, 2008
Conference Call
So I had a conference call from Belize the other day and I was taken back by a few things. I couldn't understand the lady (my future boss) on the other side of the line due to her thick Caribbean accent, she was on speaker phone, and we were the two only people on the call. I thought conference calls involved more than two people? I guess that's how they do it down in Belize. I also wasn't expecting the questions she asked. The email informing me of the call said that it would be an info session and they would answer any questions we had. Well there was very little info given and she couldn't really answer any of my questions. The call consisted of her interviewing me.
I left Chicago this past weekend. My buddies threw a party that consisted of keg stands, daring people to take their shirt off, and yelling: YOU BETTER BELIZE IT!!!!!! I had a great time for the three months that I was in Chi city. A couple memorable things: Moe's bottle service, Kenny Chesney Concert, working for Ralph Lauren again, living with fraternity brothers, Taste of Chicago, and the art museum. All in all Chicago is an awesome city, but its a bit expensive and from what I hear the winter is miserable. Despite the amount of friends in the city, I don't think its for me.
34 days until I leave.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
I left Chicago this past weekend. My buddies threw a party that consisted of keg stands, daring people to take their shirt off, and yelling: YOU BETTER BELIZE IT!!!!!! I had a great time for the three months that I was in Chi city. A couple memorable things: Moe's bottle service, Kenny Chesney Concert, working for Ralph Lauren again, living with fraternity brothers, Taste of Chicago, and the art museum. All in all Chicago is an awesome city, but its a bit expensive and from what I hear the winter is miserable. Despite the amount of friends in the city, I don't think its for me.
34 days until I leave.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Peace Corps Application Process
So I thought I would explain/list the whole Peace Corps application process:
1. Online Application (September 2007) - 25 pages of life information, 3 letters of rec., 2 essays
2. Interview in L.A. (November 2007) - Hour and a half interview in Los Angeles, CA
3. Nomination (November 2, 2007) - basically a recommendation to be given further consideration. The program or location one is nominated for isn't guaranteed. I was nominated for the Community Development Program in the Caribbean Region.
4. Dental Clearance (February 25, 2008) - I didn't have insurance at the time of my dental checkup = $400 occlusal guard + $110 checkup fee = $510.
5. Medical Clearance (March 14, 2008) - $110 checkup fee + $300 in lab work = $410.
6. Legal Clearance (March 21, 2008) - this is only a preliminary legal clearance. As soon as you accept an invitation they are running a full on FBI Background investigation.
7. Invitation to Serve (May 21, 2008) - I was invited to serve in Belize in the Youth Development Program.
8. Acceptance to Training Program (May 25, 2008) - this basically reserves a spot in the Belize training program.
9. Staging is August 18-20 in Miami, FL - 3 day seminar on Life in the Peace Corps
10. Depart for Belize (August 20, 2008)
Alright there it is: September 2007 - August 2008. 11 months. From all of the stories and advice from Mike Buckley, John Slattery and Randy Quinn (whom all served or are currently serving in the Peace Corps) it is well worth the work/wait.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
1. Online Application (September 2007) - 25 pages of life information, 3 letters of rec., 2 essays
2. Interview in L.A. (November 2007) - Hour and a half interview in Los Angeles, CA
3. Nomination (November 2, 2007) - basically a recommendation to be given further consideration. The program or location one is nominated for isn't guaranteed. I was nominated for the Community Development Program in the Caribbean Region.
4. Dental Clearance (February 25, 2008) - I didn't have insurance at the time of my dental checkup = $400 occlusal guard + $110 checkup fee = $510.
5. Medical Clearance (March 14, 2008) - $110 checkup fee + $300 in lab work = $410.
6. Legal Clearance (March 21, 2008) - this is only a preliminary legal clearance. As soon as you accept an invitation they are running a full on FBI Background investigation.
7. Invitation to Serve (May 21, 2008) - I was invited to serve in Belize in the Youth Development Program.
8. Acceptance to Training Program (May 25, 2008) - this basically reserves a spot in the Belize training program.
9. Staging is August 18-20 in Miami, FL - 3 day seminar on Life in the Peace Corps
10. Depart for Belize (August 20, 2008)
Alright there it is: September 2007 - August 2008. 11 months. From all of the stories and advice from Mike Buckley, John Slattery and Randy Quinn (whom all served or are currently serving in the Peace Corps) it is well worth the work/wait.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
New at this whole bloggin thing
What up,
This is my first official post on the blog, suitably entitled Far From Home: Wilkins Weiss. So I got accepted to be in the U.S. Peace Corps in Belize as a Youth Development Facilitator Trainee. I can't wait for the journey to begin and it should be a rewarding experience, to say the least. I hope to write a new post at least once a week and provide videos and pictures to boot.
I am doing this whole Peace Corps thing for two main reasons: 1. to become a better person and 2. to help other people. I've been a "leader" ever since I can remember: student government, sports captain, fraternity president etc. But have i really been a leader? Who's life did I make better? What contributions did I really make? I recently heard a speech by Rick Warren the author of The Purpose Driven Life and his remarks reminded me of why I am doing the Peace Corps: "Every time I give it breaks the grip of materialism in my life....we think that the good life is about looking good, feeling good, and having the goods, but that's not the good life. If money made you happy then the richest people in the world would be the happiest...not true...So the good life is about being good and doing good: giving your life away. Significance in life doesn't come from status, it doesn't come from sex, it doesn't come from salary, it comes from SERVING. It is in giving our lives away we find meaning and significance." My Peace Corps experience will be the first time that I truly give myself away to help other people.
This is my first official post on the blog, suitably entitled Far From Home: Wilkins Weiss. So I got accepted to be in the U.S. Peace Corps in Belize as a Youth Development Facilitator Trainee. I can't wait for the journey to begin and it should be a rewarding experience, to say the least. I hope to write a new post at least once a week and provide videos and pictures to boot.
I am doing this whole Peace Corps thing for two main reasons: 1. to become a better person and 2. to help other people. I've been a "leader" ever since I can remember: student government, sports captain, fraternity president etc. But have i really been a leader? Who's life did I make better? What contributions did I really make? I recently heard a speech by Rick Warren the author of The Purpose Driven Life and his remarks reminded me of why I am doing the Peace Corps: "Every time I give it breaks the grip of materialism in my life....we think that the good life is about looking good, feeling good, and having the goods, but that's not the good life. If money made you happy then the richest people in the world would be the happiest...not true...So the good life is about being good and doing good: giving your life away. Significance in life doesn't come from status, it doesn't come from sex, it doesn't come from salary, it comes from SERVING. It is in giving our lives away we find meaning and significance." My Peace Corps experience will be the first time that I truly give myself away to help other people.
My assignment will be to work with youth, community groups, and schools to increase youth leadership skills, employability or job creation, and to develop a knowledge based on facts about HIV/AIDS; how it is transmitted, how it is not transmitted, prevention strategies, and peer education skills.
Far From Home,
Christopher Wilkins Weiss
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