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We arrived back in Texas on July, 10, 2009, and we were greeted by a crowd of family of friends. The trip to Corpus Christi was quite the adventure, and after a long day of traveling while in a full leg cast, we were ready to be home. It has been a crazy 2 1/2 months that has involved unpacking, summer school, doctor's appointments, apartment hunting, moving, fall classes, football games, and readjustment. We are finally settled and working on getting into the swing of things. John and I are both attending Graduate School at the University of Texas. We love living in Austin, and we have enjoyed catching up with old friends.
We think about Belize often and miss our friends in Punta Gorda. We continue to stay in touch with our Belizean counterparts, fellow Volunteers, and friends. I will continue to volunteer with Teachers for a Better Belize as we work to provide professional development and school supplies to teachers and students in the Toledo District of Belize.
We hope that you have enjoyed following our blog and reading about our adventures in Belize. We have enjoyed sharing with you, and appreciate your warm thoughts, kind remarks, and words of encouragement. We will continue to keep our blog for the next few months as a resource to those who are interested in Belize, Kiribati, and the Peace Corps. Be on the lookout for our new blog, describing the adventures of two graduate students.
Thank you so much to all of our friends and family who have loved and supported us over the past two and a half years. It has truly been an amazing adventure that has changed who we are and how we think about the world.
We left Punta Gorda on Monday, July 6, 2009. Our friends, co workers, fellow Volunteers, and Belizean family wished us farewell as we boarded the plane bound for Belize City. We would spend the next week in the capital city attending appointments, interviews, and meetings, as we prepared to exit the Peace Corps system.
Saying goodbye to our loved ones in Punta Gorda was difficult and sad, especially since I was leaving on such short notice. I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye, but as I reflect on our time in Belize and the many people who played such an important part in our lives, I am not sure I would have ever been ready to say good bye.
Punta Gorda has been our home for last two years. We have had a wonderful time in PG, and we will miss living there. We will miss our home, the ocean breeze, the rain, the sunshine, and so much more, but what we will miss most are our friends. Those people who have taken us in, fed us, laughed with us, cried with us, nurtured us, and loved us.
Collecting books and organizing the St. Benedict R.C. School Library was a major project during my time in Belize. I worked with several organizations to collect books, and in late June we received a large book donation from family and friends in Houston, TX. Upon the arrival of the shipment we began a total reorganization of the library. The staff and students were very excited, and the project would continue through the summer holiday break. Unfortunately that didn't work out when I broke my leg and had to return to Texas several weeks early. I was determined to get this library into shape, and with the help of a few friends and fellow Peace Corps Volunteers I was able to leave St. Benedict with a beautifully organized library space. For three
days we sorted, labeled, taped, and shelved. The work was amazing and
I couldn't have done it without the help of some very special people. Miss Jan has even volunteered to continue work in the library during the coming school year.
Thanks again to the Peace Corps Belize Staff, Hoover Oil Supply Company, and the Clark Family for gathering, collecting, shipping, and transporting the books for St. Benedict R.C. School.
And a special thank you goes to Mike, Dov, Sussanah, Emily, Pat, Karey Manley, Jan, Gary, Patrick, the Jesuit Volunteers, Traveling Mission Group, Miss Olive, and John. Once again words cannot describe how grateful I am for your willingness to help. I couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
When the St. Benedict Butterflies Girls Club began in June 2008, I went over the various activities that the girls would be participating in.Painting a mural was on the list, and the girls were very excited about painting and couldn’t wait to get started.
We began planning the mural in March.Fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, Cheryl Frances, is an excellent artist and has a background in mural painting.With Miss Cheryl’s help and funding from Kids to Kids, we began the mural project.
The first step was deciding what the mural would include.We spent several sessions discussing and voting.The girls came up with everything from an underwater scene to a wall decorated with various Belizean foods to a jungle scene and kids playing with sports equipment.In the end the St. Benedict Butterflies decided they would like to paint a mural of the Belize National Symbols: the black orchid, tapir, keel billed toucan, and mahogany tree.Over the next few weeks the girls drew pictures and designed various sketches for the mural.Miss Cheryl took the girls’ drawings and combined them into three different pictures. The girls voted and chose the design they liked best.Of course there were a few changes, and the girls were excited to begin.
The next step was practicing how to paint; how much paint goes on the brush, staying within the lines, taking your time, not mixing paint, etc.The girls did an excellent job painting and they were eager to begin painting the wall.Miss Cheryl did a great job of explaining the steps of painting a mural. She talked about the process and our plan.
Finally the girls were going to get to paint on the wall.We would paint the mural on the new kitchen building.We started with primer, and even got a little help from DeSmet High School.Then we put on the base coat.The girls were getting more and more excited.We did our best to keep paint off of the sidewalk and off school uniforms, but by the time we finished with the base coat, we had paint every where.
The girls were so excited the day Miss Cheryl came to sketch the picture on the wall.That afternoon, we began painting the grass.Each day a few girls would paint various parts of the mural. The girls did an excellent job painting.I would assist with shading and outlining, but for the most part it was their project.
The plan was to finish up the mural during the first few weeks of the summer holiday break.Unfortunately, due to my injury and an early departure date we had to finish the mural in two days.I was committed to seeing this project finish, and thankfully I had some good friends who were ready to help. With a little help from some fellow Peace Corps Volunteers, Jesuit Volunteers, and Missionaries, we were able to finish the mural.The St. Benedict Butterflies met one last time on Friday, July 3.We played games, had snacks, made bracelets, painted, and said goodbye.
I am so happy with the way that the mural turned out, and I know the St. Benedict Butterflies are too.The mural project was so much fun, and I am so glad that I was able to see it through to the end.The girls have something at St. Benedict that they designed and painted.The mural gives them ownership of the school and something to be proud of.
Thank you so much to the Kids to Kids Organization, DeSmet, Miss Cheryl, Mike, Dov, Sussanah, Emily, Patrick, Karey, Jan, Pat, Miss Olive, and John.Words cannot describe how grateful I am for your willingness to help.I couldn’t have done it without you!Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I have truly enjoyed my work with the St. Benedict Butterflies, and I will miss them dearly.They have been such an important part of my Peace Corps Service.I look forward seeing each of them in the future, and I hope that they have enjoyed being a part of the St. Benedict Butterflies and learned more about themselves, each other, and their community. I know I have.
We all make plans: how we will finish things up, how we will wrap up our service as Peace Corps Volunteers, etc.
John was scheduled to depart Belize in early July. I would follow a few weeks later after finishing up my work with the St. Benedict Butterflies, the St. Benedict Library, and the TFABB August Workshop.
Plans change, and one thing we have learned, as Peace Corps Volunteers, is to expect the unexpected.
During the Black Orchids Futbol Game in Placencia, I collided with an opposing player and injured my leg and ankle. I was unable to return to the game, and early the next morning we returned to PG. A few days later, a trip to Belmopan, and some time with the doctor in Belize City, I had a fractured leg and a cast above the knee.
Peace Corps suggested that I reconsider moving up my COS Date and leaving with John in early July. After a few days of trying to manage on crutches with a broken leg, it was obvious that I was unable to get around without help. It was then that we made the decision that it was time for me to return to Texas as well. John’s flight was delayed a few days, and we began to wrap our lives in Belize.
The last two weeks have been a whirlwind of painting, organizing, packing, cast signing, and saying goodbye.
Earlier in the year I collaborated with my aunt and uncle in Houston, Texas, to organize a book drive for the St. Benedict R.C. School Library. I wrote an article for their church newsletter and put together a slide show with photos and information of the school and students.
Aunt Wendy, Uncle Dan, and Stuart and Stephen did an excellent job of organizing book collections and picking up donations. They gathered close to 800 books and prepared them for shipment.
We received the shipment of books during the last week of June, just before the end of school. The students and teachers were so excited to receive the books, and we immediately began unpacking the boxes. We will continue to work with students, parents, and teachers over the summer to organize library.
Thank you so much to Peace Corps Belize Staff, Hoover Oil Supply Company, and the Clark Family for all of your help to get books to the students at St. Benedict R.C. School.
The Black Orchids have not stopped talking about our first match together back in May, and we couldn’t wait for our next game.We played under the lights in Placencia following the Gibnuts game.The Placencia Pearls were also excited to play.
We started out strong, showing much improvement from our last game.We communicated more and had lots more offensive play.Once again the Gibnuts on the sidelines were great coaches, cheering and encouraging us with every play.
The final score was 3-0, but despite the loss we had a great time.The Placencia Pearls were a great team, and we had lots of fun.
Last weekend we traveled to Placencia for the annual Lobster Fest Weekend Celebration and a little futbol.The game had been planned for weeks.There was fear that rising waters at Kendal might keep the Gibnuts from playing with a full team, but luckily the rain held off and the Gibnuts showed up ready to play. For many Gibnuts, including John, the battle again Placencia F.C. was their last game.
The Placencia Futbol Club also came ready to play, and they meant business. The game was intense, but the Gibnut players never gave up.In the end, the Gibnuts just couldn’t get it in the goal and the boys lost 2-4.
It was a great game.The Placencia F.C. really enjoyed the competition and is already planning another match.
The St. Benedict Butterflies Girls Club recently invited Coach Zuniga from Toledo Community College for a volleyball session.Coach Zuniga is the husband of one of St. Benedict’s teachers, Mrs. Leticia Zuniga, and has led his volleyball team to international titles. The girls were very excited to learn the basics of volleyball.
We started out the session with some warm ups and stretching, followed by instruction.We learned the very basics of hitting and serving, and practiced getting the ball over the net.Coach Zuniga was very patient with the girls, and despite the heat, the girls had a great time.Now every chance they get the girls are at volleyball net practicing what they learned from Coach Zuniga and ready to show anyone who will watch.
Thanks Coach Zuniga for your hard work and patience.We had a great time and really appreciate your help!
Families, friends, students, and community members celebrated the graduation of the Forest Home Methodist School Standard VI students last week. Unfortunately John was in Belmopan with Close of Service Medical and was able to attend, so I gladly went in his place.
The ceremony was held at Forest Home Methodist Church and the 16 Standard VI students were excited and very nervous.During the ceremony students received diplomas, certificates, awards, and gifts.Students spoke about their experiences and love of Forest Home Methodist School, and along with the principal spoke about John’s service and how much they appreciate the work he has done.He was even honored with a certificate, which I accepted on his behalf. At the close of the ceremony, the graduating class sang the Forest Home Methodist School Song one last time.
It was wonderful to hear how much “Sir John” has touched the lives of so many at Forest Home Methodist School. I only wish he was there to hear it himself.His work at Forest Home is truly appreciated, and it is obvious how much he will be missed.It was a beautiful celebration, and I was honored to attend.
