I am a Volunteer!

I want to start off by thanking everyone for the sweet comments I have received about this blog. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to read through my often very long and sometimes too long (like this post) blog posts! It is what has truly kept me going in continuing this project. Not only has blogging been a way to keep loved ones in the loop, but it has also been very cathartic to reflect and document this experience. Additionally, this project also meets the 3rd goal of the Peace Corps, to educate Americans about our country of service...whoo, it's a very multi-functional endeavor. 

So, I know I start off every blog talking about how so much has happened, but this time it’s by far the truest! Since my last post, my training class lead a health fair, taught in the school,  hosted a host family appreciation party, finished Pre-Service training, Sworn-in as new volunteers, celebrated independence day, and moved to our new homes and communities for the next two years! Whew, just typing that out is exhausting! 

Health Fair in Valley of Peace!

Host Family Appreciation Party

The week of the September 13^th was quite the whirlwind. Sunday- I said extremely tough goodbyes to the best host family I could have imagined, Monday-Tuesday morning= last minute training days in the office. On Tuesday afternoon-Wednesday Peace Corps hosted a ‘Counterpart Workshop.’ This was (part 2) to a wonderful workshop which bring together PCV’s (Peace Corps Volunteers/Trainees) along with our counterparts/workpartners who we will work day in and day out with for the next two years. These includes Community Health Workers (through the Ministry of Health) and principals of schools in our villages. This conference focused on group building exercises, effective communications, and methodology for establishing work plans. It was extremely beneficial and helped lay a foundation for which we will enhance our relationship and effectiveness for the next two years.

The following day was a day that we have all been waiting for. In many ways, the swearing-in ceremony is a pinnacle moment of the Peace Corps Experience. It is a monumental moment of every Peace Corps Volunteers service. It marks our elevation from the status of ‘trainee’ to ‘volunteer’, and with that elevation it not means that we aren't constantly referred to as trainees anymore!  It also celebrates that we successfully survived three months of Pre-Service training…a time full of blood, sweat, and tears (ok, maybe just constant sweat and the occasional tears). It also marked the time where we said many goodbyes- to our wonderful training host families and to each other- the amazing friendships and support system that was established the past 3 months. 

Having said our goodbyes on Sunday to Valley of Peace, the village and families we came to love, we spent the week in a hotel near the Peace Corps office. The morning of our Swearing-in ceremony began as we scrambled around the hotel to shower (in a real shower!), shave our legs, put on makeup, and dress in something fancy….basically all things that we would very likely not do again for the next two years! The ceremony was beautiful. There were over 150 people in attendance. From our host families of the past 3 months, our work partners (some who traveled 10+ hours to be with us), Embassy officials, Peace Corps staff, and of course Mr. Ambassador to Belize- Carlos Mareno. The ceremony included singing each country’s national anthem, speeches from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, our Peace Corps Country Director, fellow cohort members, and from the Ambassador himself. I was especially touched by a speech from the Deputy Chief Education Officer, Dr. Carol Babb, who recounted her personal story as a young girl in a rural village of Belize who was greatly influenced by a peace corps volunteer who recognized her potential and inspired her to finish her education and accomplish her goals. 

Following the many speeches, the moment came to stand, raise our right hand, and take the oath administered by the Ambassador. It was without a doubt one of the 'biggest' days of my life thus far. I am so proud to join the ranks of over 220,000 Peace Corps Volunteers before me and to serve my country in a spirit of peace and friendship. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and to be on this journey with an awesome group of people! Thank you to everyone who has supported and inspired me to get here today (especially to Mom, Dad, and Allie!).

Our Super Professional Picture

Far left- Country Director, Melanie Emerson.

 Far Right- Greg McDonald, Director of Programming and Training

This one definitely feels like a more accurate depiction of our group!

The day after our ceremony, all 17 of us said our goodbyes and embarked to our new homes for the next 2 years. Getting to San Roman in Orange Walk, was a 3 bus, and 4 hour journey….not so bad (especially considering people going south to Ketchi land had a whole day + night in a hotel of travel). However, what makes our travel stories worth noting is something that every Peace Corps Volunteer all over the world experiences- an experience that in many ways is a Peace Corps right of passage, and one that I am glad I experienced but one that I NEVER want to do again....This is carrying an inordinate seemingly impossible amount of belongings. I am very grateful that I traveled up north with my very good friends Kelsey and Matt. We got to share the joy of lugging our multiple suitcases, hiking bags on our back, and backpacks on our front... Additionally, Peace Corps was nice enough to give us multiple pounds of additional supplies. ugh. So adding to our load to transport were fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, gigantic first-aid kits, peace corps books and binders, and language materials. Thankfully, the experience was made much better by helping each other and laughing at ourselves along the way! 

Since arriving to my site 2 weeks ago life has certainly been interesting. Two days after arriving, Belize celebrated its 34^th independence (nice timing peace corps). Belizian celebrations for Independence Day is like nothing I have ever experienced, and it was absolutely wild. Many belizians go to the nearby town of Orange Walk for multi-day parties, carnivals, and parades that last all hours into the night and draw thousands of people. For a country of only 350,000 people, I am pretty sure at least 1/5^th of them were in orange walk over the weekend *maybe exaggerating*.  This was certainly quite the cultural experience but one I am glad occurs only once a year.  One of the best parts of the festivities was getting to see all the volunteers who live in the Orange Walk district…so much for those teary goodbyes just a few days before!

The grandchildren of my wonderful Community Health Worker (basically my family). So happy I get to see these kids everyday!

The sign is a bit hard to read...If one wins the game, you can get a "six-pack of ice cold beers or any rabbi"....welcome to Belize!

Now that the September celebrations have come and gone, I have enjoyed getting immersed into village life. The past few weeks have been spent meeting people, building connections, observing classes at the primary school, and developing work plans. I have recently started PACA (Participatory Analysis for Community Action). This is the Peace Corp’s approach for step 1 of conducting sustainable development work. It provides gender sensitive tools and a philosophies for assessing community needs, priorities, and perceptions in order to guide the work I will be doing for the next two years. I really enjoy PACA and the Peace Corp’s approach to development- to take a step back, observe, gather information, analyze, and thoughtfully and collectively work towards action. Really PACA is a set of tools that can be utilized in any type of organizational (community or otherwise) work in order to encourage capacity building, participation, and sustainable democratic initiatives. This is one of many aspects of development work which have distinguished the Peace Corps from other development organizations (i.e. those who practice the ‘white savor effect’). I have clearly drunken the Peace Corps Cool aide…but I am absolutely fine with that! 

In meeting so many community members, it is very interesting to see the way of life here. The vast majority of men are cane farmers. This past summer, many did not have work (out of cane season), so the men would ride bicycles into the bush every day to collect a specific kind of seed (one that builds thatch houses). In collecting these seeds (for very little money), they are sent back to America for their use in a prostate cancer drug….who would have known! Considering that the rain forest is responsible for providing ingredients in 25% of modern pharmaceuticals (and 70% of anti-cancer drugs...thank you google!), it shouldn’t have been too surprising, but it was certainly a full-circle, humbling moment.  One man who continues to do this laborious work is the Village Elder, who I was extremely privileged to meet. Mr. Vasqez is 86 years old and continues to ride his bike 2 miles into the bush every day to chop Sugar Cain or in the off-season, collect seeds for pharmaceutical companies. He speaks Spanish, Mopan (Mayan), English, and Kriol. In addition to being the Village Elder, he is also a self-proclaimed historian who has meticulously chronicled his life and the history and happenings in San Roman. It was fascinating speaking with him...learning about his life, the history of the village, and of course- his many words of wisdom. 

Another interesting interaction was with an older Mennonite (similar to Amish) couple who live on the outskirts of San Roman and are originally from Ohio. There are thousands of Mennonites here in Belize (both traditional and modern). This couple has been living in the village for 4 years and running the Mennonite church. Considering my mission for the next three months in San Roman for the next three months is to observe, build relationships, and integrate into my community, I went to go meet with her this past week. Upon arriving at their beautiful American style ranch home (aka polar opposite of homes in the village) I was greeted by a cheerful older woman dressed in very much traditional Mennonite clothing. After making introductions, she invited me to her bible study that was being held ten minutes after my arrival. For those of you who know me, you know that bible study, and I do not typically interact together. Of the many pieces of advice that have been handed down by veteran volunteers, two have stood out in particular and that is to "never turn down and invitation" and to "Embrace the Awkward." Whether it's maneuvering around awkward and embarrassing language mistakes (like when I told a stranger I loved her on accident), figuring out how to politely decline pig's tail which had been sitting out unrefrigerated for 4 days, or in a bible study session in my brand new community, what my personal feeling are on adultery vs fornication, sometimes you just gotta smile and role with the punches. Despite the topic of conversation, it was a wonderful afternoon spent meeting genuinely wonderful women in the village.

 

I have gotten to spend a lot of time with my host family, which has been nice! My mom is a hard-working and quiet woman who has raised 13 children! Currently, only one granddaughter- Daisy lives in the house and she is 15 years old. We have been spending a lot of time together exercising at the football (soccer) field here. There is also a wonderful new addition in my life (no, not a man!). I have adopted a 2 month old puppy who my family lovingly named Brownie (they already have a dog named Blackey, so I guess it makes sense). Brownie or Paz (Peace) has been a wonderful joy, despite the constant biting of everything in his sight. And yes, for those wondering…I am definitely planning to bring him home in two years! Peace Corps life can get pretty lonely and isolating at time, so I am very happy to have a canine pal by my side!

*I am sorry for the novel, if you have gotten to the bottom of this you deserve an award!*

Paz with my neighbor, Chelsea