The past several months have been super busy, with ginnie studying for the lsat, Anthony transitioning the leadership of the HIV/AIDS committee, and the major project review at Peace Corps, we have not put any time into blogging. So, here is a quick recap of the past few months.
June - July
~ PC held a major test of our Emergency Action Plan (EAP) with fake Hurricane Zeus and got all 100 PCVs consolidated in record
time
~ An actual Tropical Storm (Alex) hit Belize right after we sent everyone home and we had to activate the EAP once again!
August
~ Peace Corps Belize undertook a major review of our projects and rewrote our project frameworks reducing from four to three to ensure best quality of service between volunteers and community partners
~ ginnie took part in the review and conducted interviews with Belizeans and PCVs to help gather data compiled to determine what activities are important to ensure a focus on youth are a
major aspect to our work
~ For several days we worked in project teams to write and revise our project frameworks (which include our major goals, objectives, task analyses, and volunteer/counterpart activities)
~ We presented our new projects to Belizeans and PCVs to rousing approval and agreement!
~ We took the frameworks and developed KSAs (knowledge, skills, attitudes) PCVs need in order to be successful in the project and which are used to write our learning objectives for the PCV service training activities from PST through COS
~ ginnie studied every day for hours and all day on Saturdays and some Sundays – it was not exciting and it carried through until leaving for the est in October
September
~ Celebration Time! This is Belize’s big celebrations month with the Battle of St. George’s Caye Day, Independence Day, and ginnie’s birthday (well, we just throw that in for the sheer fun of it)
October
~ We co-facilitated the Designing for Behavior Change (DBC) in-service training workshop for PCVs and their counterparts from the Cayo and Belize Districts. We definitely put together a great program and work really well as a training team – it was fun.
~ Since the HIV/AIDS Committee conducted a full DBC study of the issue of why teachers are not teaching the sex and sexuality portion of the Health and Family Life Education curriculum in the upper primary division, we used our experiences with the process to put together the major points for the entire DBC training program for the post!
~ ginnie spent a glorious week in Texas with Joe, Alex, Siena, and Barron to take her test and to enjoy some down time
and relaxation
~ The HIV/AIDS Committee began implementation of its activities to address the Behavior Change activities and began holding teacher training workshops with upper division primary school teachers to provide resources on teaching sexual and reproductive health using a teaching guide developed and published by the committee (Anthony was one of the major writers of this manual!). The first sessions were held with the Cayo District government school teachers and the Toledo district teachers.
~ We began the process of wrapping up projects and preparing documents for the new staff who will replace us.
~ ginnie served on the hiring committee for our new program manager for the healthy environment project, the new focus of which will be on nutrition, HIV/AIDS outreach and education, and improved personal sanitation and water safety, as well as some work on vector control measures.
November
~ We started the month off by celebrating our fifth anniversary, thankful to have fulfilled our dream of spending our first married years in Peace Corps with a delightful dinner of nachos and a Coke float with coconut ice cream; yes, that is correct and it was delicious if entirely not nutritious
~ ginnie facilitated her favorite aspects for the Project Design and Management workshop held the first week of the month – budgeting and writing proposals
~ Anthony worked with the new PCVL, Joel, to help prepare him for his extended year of service in this leadership position. We’ve changed our model and now PCVLs will work regionally as a local support person for PCVs, so Joel will be based in the south.
~ We continued the celebration with a trip to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye for relaxation and great dining! We also purchased our first original work of art by our favorite Belizean artist, Walter Castillo; it’s a perfect recuerdo for our Belizean experience.
~ Mid-service site visits are underway and we checked in with a few of the local volunteers.
~ The goodbyes really started to hit when we visited Trinity and told the teachers we have just 3.5 weeks in country – some thought we’d be coming back after the holidays. However, ginnie was reminded that it’s certain we will be back because “we done drink de wata.” :)
June - July
~ PC held a major test of our Emergency Action Plan (EAP) with fake Hurricane Zeus and got all 100 PCVs consolidated in record
time~ An actual Tropical Storm (Alex) hit Belize right after we sent everyone home and we had to activate the EAP once again!
~ We said farewell to our friend and Spanish tutor, Diego
~ Ginnie also attended her fourth Belizean wedding for her friend from YES, Earleth – it was a beautiful day!
~ Ginnie also attended her fourth Belizean wedding for her friend from YES, Earleth – it was a beautiful day!
~ We took a mini-holiday to our favorite town, San Ignacio, and rested, swam, and shopped at the best market in Belize
~ Anthony co-facilitated Peace Camp at the George Price Center
~ Camp GLOW 2010 (3rd annual) was held and Ginnie served as a supporter and session facilitator for her favorite health and nutrition topic and on self-esteem
~ Anthony co-facilitated Peace Camp at the George Price Center
~ Camp GLOW 2010 (3rd annual) was held and Ginnie served as a supporter and session facilitator for her favorite health and nutrition topic and on self-esteem ~ We got to see some fun live shows; a Belizean version of the play The Miser, called Treasure, played at the George Price Center and we saw StepAfrika perform at the UB gymnasium
~ Anthony took his home leave and Ginnie found a last-minute affordable ticket to spend a week with him – it was glorious, we rode our bikes daily, enjoyed really good soft serve ice cream, and
just relaxed (and ginnie’s major study plan began)
~ The Close of Service Conference was held for the 2008-2010 class and the vehicle I was in got a flat on our way out of Hopkins! Glad Sharmaine knew these gentleman who noticed us and stopped to help - it was like our own little pit crew getting us back up and running
~ We also hit some milestones in July – 10 years of no McDonald’s (we gave that up after too many times getting sick and having “mysterious” chicken) and 1 year of no TV (well, that’s a big one for Ginnie because she has a history of just hours of mindless TV playing even if not paying attention – it’s also been great to have so much more free time since we’re not caught up watching a full day of food network or something)
~ Anthony took his home leave and Ginnie found a last-minute affordable ticket to spend a week with him – it was glorious, we rode our bikes daily, enjoyed really good soft serve ice cream, and
just relaxed (and ginnie’s major study plan began)~ The Close of Service Conference was held for the 2008-2010 class and the vehicle I was in got a flat on our way out of Hopkins! Glad Sharmaine knew these gentleman who noticed us and stopped to help - it was like our own little pit crew getting us back up and running
~ We also hit some milestones in July – 10 years of no McDonald’s (we gave that up after too many times getting sick and having “mysterious” chicken) and 1 year of no TV (well, that’s a big one for Ginnie because she has a history of just hours of mindless TV playing even if not paying attention – it’s also been great to have so much more free time since we’re not caught up watching a full day of food network or something)
August~ Peace Corps Belize undertook a major review of our projects and rewrote our project frameworks reducing from four to three to ensure best quality of service between volunteers and community partners
~ ginnie took part in the review and conducted interviews with Belizeans and PCVs to help gather data compiled to determine what activities are important to ensure a focus on youth are a
major aspect to our work~ For several days we worked in project teams to write and revise our project frameworks (which include our major goals, objectives, task analyses, and volunteer/counterpart activities)
~ We presented our new projects to Belizeans and PCVs to rousing approval and agreement!
~ We took the frameworks and developed KSAs (knowledge, skills, attitudes) PCVs need in order to be successful in the project and which are used to write our learning objectives for the PCV service training activities from PST through COS
~ ginnie studied every day for hours and all day on Saturdays and some Sundays – it was not exciting and it carried through until leaving for the est in October
September~ Celebration Time! This is Belize’s big celebrations month with the Battle of St. George’s Caye Day, Independence Day, and ginnie’s birthday (well, we just throw that in for the sheer fun of it)
~ Several teams of PCVs and Embassy staff competed in the LionMan Triathlon in Belize City so ginnie went out for some team support and photos
~ The 2010 class held entry-into-site events (when they present their
plans to their community and also do a little Goal 2 by sharing anything about themselves and where they are from and staff gives a brief overview of PC and our mission, goals, and project work in country). ginnie headed north for visits to the PCVs in Orange Walk and Corozal districts. Anthony came along for the first one, but had a lot of stuff to do back in Belmopan on the other travel days.
~ The 2010 class held entry-into-site events (when they present their
plans to their community and also do a little Goal 2 by sharing anything about themselves and where they are from and staff gives a brief overview of PC and our mission, goals, and project work in country). ginnie headed north for visits to the PCVs in Orange Walk and Corozal districts. Anthony came along for the first one, but had a lot of stuff to do back in Belmopan on the other travel days. ~ PC and the Ministry of Education and Youth got together to hold a meeting and connect PCVs with District Education Officers and to share our new project plan for the 
future role of PCVs in the education project - they'll work more as co-teachers and mentors and will work on extracurricular activities and out-of-school youth outreach and literacy education and training. Exciting times!
future role of PCVs in the education project - they'll work more as co-teachers and mentors and will work on extracurricular activities and out-of-school youth outreach and literacy education and training. Exciting times!~ Anthony worked with the leaders of the HIV/AIDS Committee to hold training for new members and interested persons from the PCV Class of 2010-2012 and prepare them to work successfully on outreach and advocacy campaigns and training events
~ Another tropical storm threatened Belize and all the PCVs were consolidated when Ginnie was in
Orange Walk, so while the EOC was in action, she was missing all the details. Fortunately there wasn’t too much rain for her to drive through and the storm didn’t end up hitting us.
~ Another tropical storm threatened Belize and all the PCVs were consolidated when Ginnie was in
Orange Walk, so while the EOC was in action, she was missing all the details. Fortunately there wasn’t too much rain for her to drive through and the storm didn’t end up hitting us.
October~ We co-facilitated the Designing for Behavior Change (DBC) in-service training workshop for PCVs and their counterparts from the Cayo and Belize Districts. We definitely put together a great program and work really well as a training team – it was fun.
~ Since the HIV/AIDS Committee conducted a full DBC study of the issue of why teachers are not teaching the sex and sexuality portion of the Health and Family Life Education curriculum in the upper primary division, we used our experiences with the process to put together the major points for the entire DBC training program for the post!
~ ginnie spent a glorious week in Texas with Joe, Alex, Siena, and Barron to take her test and to enjoy some down time
and relaxation~ The HIV/AIDS Committee began implementation of its activities to address the Behavior Change activities and began holding teacher training workshops with upper division primary school teachers to provide resources on teaching sexual and reproductive health using a teaching guide developed and published by the committee (Anthony was one of the major writers of this manual!). The first sessions were held with the Cayo District government school teachers and the Toledo district teachers.
~ We began the process of wrapping up projects and preparing documents for the new staff who will replace us.~ ginnie served on the hiring committee for our new program manager for the healthy environment project, the new focus of which will be on nutrition, HIV/AIDS outreach and education, and improved personal sanitation and water safety, as well as some work on vector control measures.
~ A Belmopan PCV, Kathryn, held a 
fun school-wide Global Handwashing Day Event (15 October) and Anthony went to take support the event and take photos
fun school-wide Global Handwashing Day Event (15 October) and Anthony went to take support the event and take photos~ Hurricane Richard blew through Belize with 90 mph hour winds taking out trees, roofs, power lines, water, and leaving behind a lot to clean up
~ ginnie took a photo of the electronics vending machine at the airport because - well, really? ... an electronics vending machine? yikes!
November~ We started the month off by celebrating our fifth anniversary, thankful to have fulfilled our dream of spending our first married years in Peace Corps with a delightful dinner of nachos and a Coke float with coconut ice cream; yes, that is correct and it was delicious if entirely not nutritious
~ ginnie facilitated her favorite aspects for the Project Design and Management workshop held the first week of the month – budgeting and writing proposals
~ Anthony worked with the new PCVL, Joel, to help prepare him for his extended year of service in this leadership position. We’ve changed our model and now PCVLs will work regionally as a local support person for PCVs, so Joel will be based in the south.~ We continued the celebration with a trip to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye for relaxation and great dining! We also purchased our first original work of art by our favorite Belizean artist, Walter Castillo; it’s a perfect recuerdo for our Belizean experience.
~ Mid-service site visits are underway and we checked in with a few of the local volunteers.~ The goodbyes really started to hit when we visited Trinity and told the teachers we have just 3.5 weeks in country – some thought we’d be coming back after the holidays. However, ginnie was reminded that it’s certain we will be back because “we done drink de wata.” :)
~ ginnie’s also completing the education section of our country’s annual report for HQ while anthony’s been writing reports for PEPFAR and HIV/AIDS activities and working on his description of service
~ We celebrated Thanksgiving with a fabulous feast made by each of our coworkers – we brought pumpkin pie cookies and ginger-garlic green beans; we also decorated the office for Christmas!
~ We celebrated Thanksgiving with a fabulous feast made by each of our coworkers – we brought pumpkin pie cookies and ginger-garlic green beans; we also decorated the office for Christmas!
~ We enjoyed walking through our neighborhood the day after Garifuna Settlement Day (the 19th) to see the Christmas decorations and trees were up! not time wasted
~ The rest of the month will be spent clearing out the house, closing out our projects, and saying our goodbyes.
~ The rest of the month will be spent clearing out the house, closing out our projects, and saying our goodbyes.
~ We have also enjoyed a final meal with our Armenia family, visited Miss Udeen and Miss Lilith, sent Maya on her way to Philly, PA, and will spend our final Belizean weekend sharing delicious treats with friends and packing up the rest of our things 
(it's almost all done already - Ant is a great (aka seerus ;) ) move-out coordinator
(it's almost all done already - Ant is a great (aka seerus ;) ) move-out coordinator
**disclaimer: if this post has typos or the formatting is funky, well, we just have to live with it this time because there is only one week left to get these things up and it is taking quite some time to try to perfectly align the photos and text and it looks great in the compose box, but moves itself once it is previewed and time is just not with us to play with html. so, we hope you enjoyed the recap and some photos!
No comments:
Post a Comment