Accomplishing my long to-do-list!

Tuesday August 9- Friday August 12

All week I have been lucky enough to have internet so I can begin finishing all my projects!!!  Internet is not the most reliable in Belize (often very slow and cuts out). But, I am managing and accomplishing a lot on my to-do-list thanks to the access of internet!

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More Workshops!

Monday August 8, 2011

Today I attended Kevina’s wonderful preschool workshop on reading strategies, writing strategies, preschool planning and make-n-takes!

I also got to catch up with Erica which was wonderful as always. We talked about our future plans and I can’t believe we are going home so soon. (Her sooner than me though… she is finished her service in Sept and I finish mine in Oct.)

 

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

All week teacher workshops!!!

Monday Aug 1 to Friday Aug 5, 2011 

This week is teacher’s workshop for all of Belize’s teachers. Most of the secondary teachers from my village have to go to Belize City to get their training and workshops. This year Laguna Government School teachers also went to Belize City to receive training because we are a pilot school for the new science program. Since my teachers were in Belize City I was attending the workshops in PG and taking notes for them.

I did not get the chance to go to all the workshops as I did last year, but I did make it to quite a few.

Also, this week I am trying to work on my many Peace Corps reports such as the Volunteer Reporting Form we need to fill out. Since I am finishing my service soon I will also need to fill out a Description of Service; therefore, I began working on that too. Other things I want to accomplish are

1-      Insanity Workouts

2-      Updating Blog

3-      PCPP Grant Report and Thank You’s

4-      High school scholarship funds

5-      Making sure the shipment of books/education resources arrives on time to Laguna Village

6-      Research about Central America (my 1 month trip after my service)

7-      Resume and future job applications

8-      Visit villagers and make good byes to give to them

I have so much to do in so little time!!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

GLOW CAMP 2011

GLOW camp was from Tuesday July 26 to Saturday July 30.
Girls from all over Belize are invited to this Camp… therefore, my southern Belize girls were able to meet some northern Belize girls, who probably would have never been able to meet and/or make friends with if they were not given this chance to go to the GLOW camp! 

GLOW camp teaches the girls about self-esteem, self-expression, and self reliance. Some sessions included….

 Water safety

 

Yoga (which I had the privilege of helping and leading Mindy (a blind girl) in yoga. She was an inspirational to see how motivated she was to participate in camp.

Professional Dance Session

GLOW pageant

Camp Fire and Smores!

Talent Show

And much much more!... Thank you!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Poite Girls in Laguna

Monday July 25, 2011

Today my GLOW girls are getting ready for GLOW camp tomorrow. Laguna GLOW girls are lucky because they can charter a vehicle out the village for a low price. Poite GLOW girls (Poite is a far back village and they have a bus that goes to town every M,W,F, Sat) are not so lucky to charter for a low price. Laguna doesn’t have a bus anymore but we are much closer to town to charter.  Anyway the Poite GLOW girls stayed the night at my house so we could charter in the morning to the bus and then take the Express bus to San Ignacio to the Log Cab Inn for the 2011 GLOW camp!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Slip-N-Slide in Laguna!

Sunday July 24, 2011

Today Hillside Clinic was here in Laguna for their Health Fair. Cali, Jay, and Joel (PCVs) were also here and we decided to a slip-n-slide for the kids… and pcvs lol! Most of the kids were too shy to use it; however, the ones that did join in had a blast!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Alcalde Domestic Violence Case

 Saturday July 23, 2011

 "Alcalde”… an easy way to describe an alcalde is to call him/her the judge of the village. Our alcalde of Laguna Village was voted out of office today because he abused (cut his wife with a machete). I am sad to see the alcalde change but glad domestic violence is not being tolerated anymore in the village.

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Last Day of our COS Conference

Friday July 22, 2011

-Breakfast

-Reentry and readjustment issues and strategies

-Providing feedback to Peace Corps Belize

-Saying Goodbyes (I feel is going to be the toughest part)

-Closing and Certificates.

Our COS conference was wonderful… my only critique is that it should have been longer… so much was thrown at us in a very little time…it would have been beneficial to have a longer conference.

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

COS Day 2

Thursday July 21, 2011

This morning Kevina and I woke up early to work out in the pool!

Thursday’s agenda entailed…

-Breakfast

-Leaving the Peace Corps

-Identifying and Documenting Skills

-Photo shoot

-Leaving the Peace Corps -Safety and Security

-Leaving the Peace Corps –Medical Tasks

-Lunch with all PC Staff

-Leaving the Peace Corps-Administrative Tasks (there is definitely A LOT of tasks that need to be done before officially COSing)

-Career Panel (talking about the Foreign Service)

-RPCV Resources (pleased to see there are many resources for returned peace corps volunteers!)

-Round Robin… I went to planning for the future!!!

-Dinner

-Fun COS activities – white elephant, awards, slideshow, and prom! I’m getting a bit sad to leave… I have already got teary eyed several times.

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

COS Conference

Wednesday July 20, 2011

Today we headed to San Ignacio via an early bus. Amy, Megan, and I went to see the ruin Cahal Pech before COS activities and sessions began.

 

Our agenda for today entailed

-Welcome and Overview

-Reviewing your Peace Corps Experience

-Volunteer Review session

-Letter to self (in 1 year Kevina will mail our letters we wrote to self back to us… I love this!... I haven’t opened the one that Ginnie had us Education PCVs do. Im waiting for our two year anniversary! I will open it at my official COS)

-Pool time

-Dinner

-exciting COS activities – random fact, slideshow, PC Belize jeopardy

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

COS Conference!

This Week is our Close of Service Conference.  I can’t believe it is actually here! WOW were did 2 years go! Some days were so slow, but overall the 2 years have flown.

Tuesday July 19, 2011

Today the Toledo District folks when up to Belmopan a day early so we could make it to our COS conference on time!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Memorial service

Sunday July 17, 2011

Today in Laguna Village there was a memorial service for Pedro Shol (one of the founders of Laguna Village… today is the anniversary of his death.) He passed away 20 years ago. He had such a large wonderful family. They all very much a part of the village whether it be through the church or village council. I love the Shol family. I will never forget them! They have been so amazingly kind to me over the past 2 years!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Preschool Possibility!

July 15, 2011

Today I was finally feeling better so I went to town to see Ms. Modesta (the head of the Preschool Department for Toledo District). She said that the government is still considering taking over the preschool this coming 2011/2012 school year. She sent me with more paper work to fill out and informed me that she needed to come inspect the preschool building (which is our community center).

I just hope the government does take over the preschool. It will make all my work here I have done sustainable!

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Sad Day in Laguna

Thursday July 14, 2011

I am so sad to be informed that the Coy family lost their baby at 7 months old. I will keep them in my prayers. The baby was born sick (he had a tube put into his body because he had something wrong with his spine. They told me that he had a hole in his back, but I am not certain what that means.) They took the baby to Belize City and he passed away on July 13. Then they brought him down on the bus to have the funeral/burial the next day. It all happened so quickly and I was not able to attend the funeral because I was still very sick (vomiting and loose stools.) I will just pray for that baby and the Coy family.

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Sick… with I don’t know what

Wednesday July 13, 2011

Today Peace Corps Volunteers and Staff had a meeting at Big Falls today (for my group) and I was unable to go because I was so sick (vomiting and loose stools). The worst ever… I couldn’t even make it to the latrine/outhouse. I had to resort to being sick in a bucket…. 

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Frank in Laguna and PG... helping my women's group and TEA!

July 11 and 12, 2011

Frank was here in Belize for a short time, but his goal was to get a lot accomplished. I think he did well for the short time he had here. He got pictures and interviews he needed. I was grateful he also came to help my women’s group. He helped them create a website and  helped the TEA guest house with brochures… which will hopefully help with tourism in Laguna!

 

Here is a little information from the TEA official website….www.southernbelize.com/tea.html

TOLEDO ECOTOURISM ASSOCIATION

The TEA guesthouses are designed to give both tourists and villagers personal privacy while allowing a respectful cultural exchange. The location of the guesthouses vary in each village - some are in the center, while others are on the outskirts. Accommodations are simple and clean, built of local wood and covered with a traditional thatch roof. Eight bunkbeds with mattresses and mosquito netting, along with blankets and towels are provided. Primitive, private outdoor showers (usually a bucket and cup) and latrines are provided. Be prepared to rough it.

The objective of the T. E. A. is to share the benefits of tourism as widely as possible throughout each participating village. Guides, food providers, and entertainers are rotated among seven to nine families in each village.

The Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary are elected for each T.E.A. village every two years. In addition, members vote on a board which oversees the running of the program, ensuring guesthouses maintain certain standards and that tourism is distributed as fairly as possible among the villages.

Ten different villages participate in the Toledo Ecotourism Association program:

Laguna Blue Creek Pueblo Viejo San Jose Barranco

San Miguel San Antonio San Pedro Columbia Santa Elena/Santa Cruz

Direct contact information:

Toledo Eco-tourism Association P.O. Box 157 Punta Gorda, Belize Tel: 501-722-2096 Fax: 501-722-2199 Email: ttea@btl.net

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.

Blessing of the new pastors house

Sunday July 10, 2011

Today Frank and I woke up very early to help the women cook and prepare for today’s church service- the blessing of the new pastor’s house. Frank got a lot of GREAT pictures this morning. The women cooked from 5am to 8am. Then frank and I went back to my house to have some breakfast and then we headed back to the ceremony. It was a long ceremony from 8:30am to 11:30am. The ceremony included singing, guitar playing and preaching and of course the blessing of the house. After the blessing of the house we all ate chicken Caldo and pooch. I was surprised Frank liked it. I didn’t like pooch when I first arrived…it didn’t have much flavor but, now it has grown on me, but Frank said he liked it. I think he would do well here as a PCV in Laguna!

 

After the ceremony Frank was able to take photos of the ladies washing the dishes in the creek (which is common here in Laguna)! I am lucky enough to have a pipe at my house so I don’t have to wash my dishes in the creek anymore; however, when I first arrived I did.

Disclaimer This website expresses the views of Grace Boswell, who is entirely responsible for its content. It does not express the views of the United States government, the Belize government, the Peace Corps or any other institutions named or linked to on these pages.