Thursday, March 9, 2017

Busy Stuff

Hey all,

Welp, after keeping up with the blog challenge every week in January I couldn’t find time to make a single post in February, sorry about that! A couple of things have really contributed to that – I’ve been sick twice in the past month (a week the first time with a nasty cold, currently getting over #2 and I’ve just passed 2 weeks on a flu turned sinus infection, woof) and work has really picked up. I’m currently in Belmopan on sick leave for the sinus infection, so I figured I should write an update while I have good internet. I think the meds are finally starting to work so hopefully I’ll get to go back home to my site tomorrow, worst case is Saturday, but I’m more than ready to get back.

Anyways, the more important stuff lately has been work. I started teaching a ton in February, which I absolutely love! There was one week I taught 10 classes, which was a crazy amount of planning, but it was a blast. I’ve finally gotten to the point where the teachers are comfortable with me being there and want me to teach their classes. The kids too, that’s been the best part. I get asked by students all the time now when I’m going to teach their class next, even after I’ve just taught one. Some of the classes have been beyond amazing, too. I got to teach 5 year olds about private parts, and they were absolute champs, that class was a blast to teach. I taught a class on tooth decay to 12-13 year olds and got a round of applause afterwards, and the lesson really got through to them. I challenged them to cut down on soft drinks and told that class they should come rail up to me if they see me drinking one, and I’ll do the same. Not only did a couple of students come up to me to call out one of their classmates right after the lesson, but they’re still doing it! Seriously proud moments there. I also taught a straight lecture-style class on non-communicable diseases (which I try not to do since it’s not the most exciting thing) to 11-12 year olds and they still wanted to know when I would come back and teach them again. And those are just a few examples! I love teaching so, so much, I’m really glad it’s the main portion of my job.

On top of teaching health education, I’m also teaching PE which is a lot of fun, and I’m tutoring some of the standard 6 (8th grade) kids in math and English to help them get ready for their high school entrance exam. Other noteworthy things that have happened: helped out with PCV Grant’s health fair (which was super cool), taught a class on puberty with another PCV, Morris, to 90 standard 4 (6th grade) kids at one of the nearby village schools; again with Morris and another PCV, Loan, taught handwashing to an entire primary school of 900+ kids at a different nearby village school; got dubbed “Big Bad DJ Bryan” because I was asked to DJ the school’s Valentine’s fair; got asked to join one of the football (soccer) teams in the village (haven’t been able to yet because I’ve been sick, but I will be doing so); tutored a couple kids to prep for the area spelling bee (neither won, but super proud of my kids for all the work they put in); and showed my family I do in fact know how to cook by baking a couple cakes for my sister Senaida’s birthday. Busy stuff.

Things that I have coming up: going to be starting work (fingers crossed) on my library project soon, and I’m also designing a literacy program for the school; looking at working with the local boys and girls club, and also setting up a boys club and hopefully girls club as well; my current community health worker is retiring in a couple weeks (after having been a CHW for 31 years!), so I need to start working with (and helping train?) the new one; going to start doing weekly blood pressure checks at the village health post; hopefully will be starting some sort of workout group; getting scuba certified next weekend; camp for all the boys clubs in Belize is coming up in April; helping out with PCV Sarah’s Courts for Kids (basketball court building) project in April as well; in May I’ll be coming back to Boston for a week; in June BH5 (the next group of volunteers) get here (woop woop!); and in July I’m back in Eau Claire for a week. I love that things have really gotten busy, and it seems like 
they won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

Crazy to think that in just a few short months, I’ll have been here in Belize for a year. It’s already been a truly incredibly experience, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of service has in store. There have definitely been plenty of ups and downs, but things overall have been amazing. I love my host family and my village, and I feel really comfortable there. Work has been both meaningful and enjoyable, and I know it’s going to be impossible to leave here when I’m done in just 18 short months.

Well, I think that’s all for now, I’m gonna go back to resting and watching Chopped.

Teeril eerib! (Take care!)

Bryan


P.S. Sorry no pictures this time, hopefully soon?

1 comment:

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