COS & Futbol

In the middle of May our PCV cohort (commonly called Omnibus ’09 or BZ 45) came together for our COS (Close/Continuation of Service) Conference in beautiful San Ignacio at the Cahal Pech resort. The resort is atop a hill right next to the Maya ruins of Cahal Pech and overlooks the town of San Ignacio and the beautiful hilly countryside that is western Belize.

The conference provided all of we COSing volunteers one last opportunity to spend time together as a group as we reviewed all the many things we need to do before we can be cleared out of the government system (medical, paperwork, closing out Belizean accounts, etc). Cahal Pech was a perfect spot, they provided us with wonderful accommodations, the luxury of two swimming pools, and some of the best meals we’ve had!

While it’s a bittersweet time, it was great to be able to see our PCV family together to say our farewells and share memories of the past two years. With the official COS date of August 21^st rapidly approaching we will all be on our separate ways before we know it (anytime between July 22nd and September 21^st). We received our “diplomas” and the COS committee members also shared special certificates with everyone stating what makes each such an important part of our group. We both truly feel that BZ 45 is an amazing group of people – we came together as strangers in Miami nearly two years ago and each of us has built strong connections and relationships with one another. It’s a great group of people to share this experience with and to know will always be important parts of our lives. Our PC family is a strong one – we went through a lot of challenges as a group and that certainly served an important role in making us so tight. It also suddenly hit us that most of these people will no longer be here in Belize as Anthony and I continue our work with Peace Corps for the coming year; that's sad.

Look at us - from swearing in to COS; 2 incredible years!

Following the conference, the Gibnuts (PC Belize’s own football {soccer} team) played an afternoon game. This was followed immediately by the first ever PC Belize women’s team game! Way back at AVC in February the idea was presented to put together a female team. Ginnie supported it, but didn’t intend to play – just cheer them on. Anthony felt it important to share with the team coordinator, Rachel, that Ginnie played sweeper on the club field hockey team at Stonehill – so then Rachels’ charm and persuasion could not be overcome and Ginnie found herself ordering a uniform. As the game approached, I grew more and more apprehensive and did not want to be running around in the hot hot sun of the stadium (where I nearly passed out of heat exhaustion back at the Bandfest in April). Nevertheless, my sense of commitment and responsibility was too strong and I couldn’t let the team down. Fortunately, Nicole was happy to play in the second half, so I played photographer! I had a lot of fun playing in the game and while it’s quite evident I am not good at football, I did my best! The high school team we played was really good – they worried me when I saw them coming to the field. The majority of the game took place on our defensive side, so I definitely got a workout. I was often paired with Mini G from the other team – great name, wish I’d thought of it for my jersey J

The team really came together more in the second half as everyone got to know each other’s strengths but we still never did manage to make it to the other goal. Nonetheless, it was a lot of fun and I am glad I played. Our goalie, the fabulous Miss Mica, was named Player of the Game because she worked her butt off in the goal and kept the game from being a total massacre. Everyone on the field did awesome and it was a true WID/GAD experience when the husbands and boyfriends and other males in attendance came over at halftime to give the girls water and encouragement. It was a great afternoon which ended in a trip to Cayo Twist where I finally splurged and got the banana split (it was my reward for following through with playing in the game and was definitely worth it!).

That night many of us stayed in Cayo for one final night. We filled up the lee movie theatre with PCVs to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Some of us fell asleep during the show, but it was fun anyway J