Letter to Future Volunteers

A few weeks ago I was asked to write a letter to the future volunteers who are coming to Belize in August. The letter is included in a pamphlet they receive a few months before they depart. So here it is:

15 minutes before the revelation of site placements, I walked into my training officer's office and stated: “Send me anywhere in this country except Belize City.” Six months later I would say the complete opposite: I would not want to be sent anywhere but Belize City.

As a youth development volunteer, my primary concern is bettering the lives of Belizean youth, particularly those who attend E.P. Yorke High School. My assignment calls for me to develop and plan the It's Up To Me Program, which is a program for “at-risk” youth who are in jeopardy of being expelled from school. As one of the top high schools in Belize, one would assume that a United States Peace Corps Volunteer would not be necessary; however with over 42% of the school's population residing on the south side of Belize City: the country's epicenter of violence, gangs and crime, a volunteer is much needed. The presence of youth development volunteers in Belize is crucial due to 70% of the nation being under 30 years of age.

Upon arriving at E.P. Yorke, I was not sure how I would fit in with the students and staff. I had never worked in a school setting before or mentored students and I didn't speak Kriol that well. After about three months in my site, I felt like I belonged. I was developing the program, speaking and understanding Kriol, coaching American football and teaching five Life Skills classes (I am actually apart of the “Big Five” on campus: the Principal, two Vice Principals, the counselor and myself. We have Management Meetings, which are in Kriol, every Friday and my input is wanted and respected).

Believe it or not, Peace Corps was kind of a step up for me: I am satisfied with my job, work 7-4, have my own office (with Air Conditioning), a nice apartment and weekends off. I did not have any of the previously listed in the United States. It was not what I was expecting for the “typical Peace Corps experience;” but then again: what is the typical P.C. experience? The answer is: there isn't one, it's what you make of it. The effort you put into it will be given back to you in rewards beyond monetary value, exponentially. Closing with a bit of advice: Don't expect anything.....except a rewarding experience.

Christopher Weiss

Youth Development

E.P. Yorke High School

2008-2010

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

The Power of Ants and Creepy Bus Rides

1. Being here in Belize I have learned many things, but one thing that I am constantly amazed by is the power, quickness and efficiency of ants. There are multiple kinds of ants and they all like different flavors and items. The first kind are these tiny 1/2 black 1/2 red ants that really enjoy sweets and any crumbs left on any surface: chairs, table, counters, stove etc. Their response time is about 3 minutes. If you leave anything on the counter, lets say a tiny piece of left-over fruit they will be there attacking the fruit. I have noticed they work with the sun, basically a 5 am to 6:30 pm. The second kind of ant is a big black ant that seems to aimlessly wander looking for dead bugs. Their response time is around 5 minutes. If you kill a roach and leave it there, the ants will be taking the bug apart and carrying it out of the apartment. Often times I will leave the bug/roach there just for the sake of entertainment. Both kinds of ants are afraid of movement and they seem to have a very quick communication system.

2. I have had 2 creepy bus rides in Belize. What exactly do i mean by creepy bus rides? This: Leaving a tiny village on the 3:30 am bus (that is the only bus out of the village and most of the residents take this bus to go to work or school. Can you imagine getting on a bus that early everyday to go to school? It makes you appreciate the relative ease of going to high school in the States.) and its packed with villagers who are all Mayan, meanwhile I am the only white person on the bus so they are all staring at me. The music on the bus: 1950’s American Gospel music. I said to myself wow this is straight out of a horror film. The second creepy bus ride was similar and the bus driver began playing 1950’s American Gospel music and 90% of the passengers began singing along. Creepy.

I spoke with a fellow Peace Corps volunteer who is currently serving in Guatemala and I asked why he hasn't been updating his blog anymore. He replied with: “It’s all become normal to me so it’s hard to write about stuff that goes on down here. I mean some guy took a shit in the middle of the road yesterday right in front of me and i didn't even think twice about it.” I am starting to feel the same way, but I am still going to try and update as much as I can.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Foreign Service Exam

I have decided to take the Foreign Service Exam. The test is the first step in becoming a State Department Foreign Service Officer. If you are a FSO you work in Washington D.C. or at an US embassy somewhere in the world. The test has a reputation of being very difficult and many state department officers took the test several times before passing it.

The first part is Job Knowledge which includes: US Government, US Society and Culture, World History and Geography, Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Management, Communication and Computers. 

Second: English Expression

Third: Biographical Information Questionnaire

Fourth: Written Essay

If you pass the test you are invited to an Oral Exam in D.C. Apparently this is the toughest part. So basically its going to be a tough test, then if I pass that, a tougher Oral exam. Wish me luck. I would not pursue a career with the State Department until my obligation with the Peace Corps is fulfilled in October of 2010. 

Three Language Meeting

Since joining the Peace Corps in Belize, I have experienced a wide range of new things. Just recently I was asked to sit in on a Disciplinary Committee Meeting for the high school: students who have been suspended twice come in with their parents and meet with the board to discuss their future. The cool thing about Belize is that there are many different cultures and languages; when one student and his mother came in it was made clear that the mother did not speak English or Kriol. The meeting was conducted in Spanish, English and Kriol. My first three language meeting.

Spring Break

Since I am working in a school I get two weeks of Spring Break. Julie and I decided to go to San Pedro and it was really nice, to say the least. We both saved some money for a couple months so we stayed at a nice hotel called Banana Beach. We got a free breakfast every morning and brought food from Belize City so we did not end up spending a lot of money on the trip. I took her out to a nice restaurant and the food was out of this world. She got a bleu cheese, walnut and pear salad with shrimp skewers and I got stuffed chicken breast with sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese and garlic potatoes. San Pedro is probably the nicest tourist destination in Belize. The island is filled with high class resorts, red bricked roads and golf carts. It’s touristy but not overwhelming. I enjoyed the vacation and hopefully will visit again. If my brother and his wife come down to Belize, we will probably go to San Pedro for a few days.

I saw two sporting events while on vacation: The Masters and the NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship: Miami vs. Boston University. I enjoy watching the Masters every year and this year it definitely made me feel like I was in the states. As for the hockey game: Miami was up 3 goals to 1 with 1 minute and 30 seconds to play. Boston pulled their goalie and proceeded to score 2 goals in 42 seconds sending the game into overtime. Miami ended up losing in overtime. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. I thought Miami was finally going to win a national championship in something but no no. Better luck next year.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

Close Proximity to Murder

One thing that takes some getting used to down here is being in close proximity to crime. Never in my life have I been able to stand at my place of residence and point to where murders have taken place. Just last month at the Bachelor Hotel (a huge hotel that does not seem to have any guests), which is a block away from my house, the owner let 4 people into the front office because he thought they were going to rent a room. Well that wasn't the case. They proceeded to corner him in the rental office, torture him, stab him repeatedly and then slit his throat. This all happened within 200 yards of my apartment. The robbers/murderers apparently wanted some money and the man (who in local newspapers is referred to as “Chinee man”) refused to give them any.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss

La Ruta Maya

I did the La Ruta Maya Canoe Race/Challenge this past weekend, which is one of the greatest accomplishments in my life. Over 170 miles of paddling from Western to Eastern Belize.

Pre-Race
Joel and I arrived in San Ignacio around 11 am to do some last minute shopping/preparations for the race. Jacob arrived with the boat, paddles and life jackets at around 4:30 pm. Not knowing what the race really was about we thought we were going to be fine with out 150 boat, child like life jackets and our 3 wooden paddles, I repeat wooden paddles: 1st one was 10 pounds and approx. 5 feet tall, 2nd one was 8 pounds and 4ft tall and the last one was relatively light weighing in at approx 2 pounds. Let the record state that half of the boats in the competition are simply there to have fun and complete the race, the other 45% are there to compete while the other 5% are trying to win. The difference between those trying to win and those having fun is as follows: carbon fiber paddles weighing less than 5 oz., canoes that weight less than 30 lbs, year long training sessions, slim life jackets and pit crews that swim out to their boat and drop supplies in if necessary. We did not have any of that. We had the heaviest boat in the competition, the heaviest paddles, we didn't practice, huge life jackets and we carried all our food and water in our boat.

Day 1
Getting used to paddling because we had never paddled together before. We look obnoxious because we are the only team using wooden paddles. Day one was just exhausting and I am convinced we were the hardest working team in the race that day due to the weight in our boat and paddles.

Day 2
Wow I was sore so I took a Ibuprofen. Mistake. This allowed me to not feel my soreness so I could paddle harder and therefore I was more sore the next morning. Half way through the 69 mile day we convinced the safety crew to give us their lightweight paddles and we switched out the ten pound beast appropriately called BEN HUR. 2 wooden paddles one light paddle. This was the longest day of the race and it wasn't that bad. I think we just got into a grove and zoned out.

Day 3
I was really sore to start the race but got through it. Julie's 4H boat had dropped out of the competition so I asked if we could use her boat's light weight paddles and they said yes so this was our first day with relatively light paddles. This was out first full day of sun and the river was really flat with not very many rapids.

Day 4
Our best day by far. It was only 25 miles, but the wind and ocean current were going against us. I was in front and the middle for the first 3 days and we decided to switch it up so I sat in back steering the boat. I think this had something to do with our strong finish. I felt more comfortable controlling the ship and we seemed to swerve a lot less.

Looking back on the competition, it was as if we were running a marathon without training: not an easy task; despite the grueling conditions of the race, it was enjoyable and worthwhile for a number of reasons. Next year I hope to have a lighter boat, lighter paddles and pre-race training that includes rowing a canoe.

Far From Home,

Christopher Wilkins Weiss