Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone! This is my second big holiday away from the states and my family. Plenty of gifts have been sent down here and Julie and I will be celebrating Christmas morning at my apartment and then we are heading over the my host family's house for Christmas dinner. I am spending New Year's in Caye Caulker, which is a nice island off the coast off of Belize. Happy Holidays!!

New Apartment

I found a nice apartment near the school in Belize City. I am happy that I am finally getting my own place after 4 months of living with host families, but I am going to miss having all my food prepared for me. If you want to write or send anything here is my new address:

5964 Campus Avenue
Apartment #10
West Landivar
Belize City, Belize

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Chess Tournament

So Julie and I played in a chess tournament in Dangriga over the weekend. We both finished towards the bottom; since it was the first tournament for both of us, that was expected. We both played 4 matches and it lasted all day. It is safe to say that we both had a lot of fun and chess will definitely be a part of our experience in Belize. There are numerous chess associations in the country and they tend to team up with Peace Corps volunteers. The game has a number of benefits for both youth and adults in country: intellectual and the development of hobbies, simply put there is not a lot do do here. More than likely I will bring chess to the "It's Up To Me Program."

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

My Job

I don't think I have actually described my job in depth so here goes: I am working at a high school out of the counselor's office in Belize City, Belize. I am responsible for coordinating and running a program entitled “It's Up To Me.” The program was created by a former volunteer who basically wrote the framework, but did not include any activities/strategies/materials; so I am having to come up with the “meat and potatoes” of the program. I am having a great time because I can essentially do whatever I want with the kids. The students involved in the program are labeled as “at risk.” What is at risk? Students who are in trouble academically and/or disciplinary. There are currently 11 students in the program and I meet with them on a individual and group basis once a week. In the next two years I would like to create a manual for the program along with a handbook/assignment book for the students.

I teach 5 Life Skills classes on Thursday's and Friday's to 2nd and 3rd formers (sophomores and juniors). The subject matter includes: Goal setting, communication skills, conflict resolution, stress management, decision making skills, sexuality, STD's/HIV/AIDS, drugs, teenage pregnancy, child abuse, domestic violence, depression and suicide. It was weird at first because I don't really have any classroom experience but I am comfortable in front of groups so I am having fun with it. All classes are conducted in English but the kids often respond in Kriol.

Another crazy part of the job is that I am already one of the Big 5 on campus. Every week there are management meetings with the principal, 2 vice principals, a counselor and me. I am responsible for reporting on the status of the students in the Its Up To Me program. I am enjoying this because it holds me accountable. All meetings are conducted in Kriol.

Some of the benefits of the job: its a structured environment, I have my own office (desk, chair fan, window, door sign, the works. Its funny I couldn't find a job like this in the states so I have to join the peace corps to get hooked up with an office), I have the freedom to create my own work, I don't work on weekends, I get 3 weeks for Christmas, 2 weeks for Spring break and Summers off. ha.

I was also asked to be the advisor for the American Football Club the first week I got here. I enjoy watching football but I do not have any experience coaching the game. I think American Football is one thing that Belizeans think Americans automatically know and enjoy. The club meets on Wednesdays for an hour.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

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