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?
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