Just Belize: The Latest Stories

After Christmas break it was right back into the swing of things as usual...Its been awhile since I updated this but a lot has been going on up here Orange Walk! All Good Of Course! :) I believe I mentioned last time that I was coaching a girls high school football (soccer) team here in town at Muffles High School. The season was fun, the girls worked hard and I know I learned a lot more about teenage Belizean girls! I also coached the First and Second Form team (Frosh/Soph) in a tournament one of the weekends in February. All I'm going to say is that we should have done way better than we did! (Spoken like a real coach, right?) We were the best team out there, we just tied too many games to get out of our bracket. Through this team I was able to get some football gear donated to the entire team, and it was a great benefit for many of the girls! They loved it! Major shout out to Sportsgift!! A thousand Thanks!!

Muffles Varsity team

Trying on gear.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

1st/2nd Form team

So here in Orange Walk Town I have been playing on Women's Volleyball team...I know what your thinking, Volleyball!? I know, I know, not my forte at all! I am so out of my element there, the whole hand-eye coordination does not bode well for me what so ever. But, it is still loads of fun! I've met some really great people that I can truly call my friends. Overall, the team is a work in progress, were not bad just need to practice a lot more! :) We go and play in some tournaments down in Belmopan and up North. Our men's team is kick ass though! They just got 2nd in Nationals behind Belize City.

Our guys team, BadNews!

I couldn't find the pictures of our girls team. Next time!

The latest at Santa Martha Government School...are things are still going great! I love that village, the teachers, the students, the parents, everyone is just so welcoming and appreciative of everything and willing to help in anyway they can. Its really a beautiful thing! So, the computer classes are still going strong there with the upper division students and started working with a handful of students to improve their reading. Because the village is predominantly Spanish speaking, the only English they get in school and its so easy for the teachers and students to revert back to Spanish in school. So, another PCV, Barbara, who goes out once a week are trying to really improve the reading at that school. We also started the World Map Project!! It is still a work in progress but so far it looks great. The students still have to finish the school logo on the left and the country of Belize on the right. The students, teachers and even community are all getting involved with it. I am also working with the Principal and Ministry to possibly get a Pre-school built in the village. We've talked a lot about this and it would just hands down benefit the students in the school. This is very, very early in the process, so wish me luck! :)

Computer classes.

Barb teaching away! :)

The World Map...so far!

And the eating program slowly getting started at SMGS still going strong!

The Project hopefully to get done...a Pre-School!

Recently, we just had a visit from Prince Harry this past week for the 60th Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. There was a street renamed after the queen in Belmopan and there was a big celebration for his visit. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it down there. But, I heard it was a raving success from the people who attended...check out the link! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3R2J5iQgLA&sns=fb

Also, this country had its elections at the National and District level. There has been a ton of campaigning the past couple months and the past few weeks they have been really pumping it on. The elections were held March 7 and it all went very smoothly.

Rallies and Banners.

I also recently went down to Placencia to go scuba diving again to laughing bird caye. Absolutely gorgeous!

This month of March is Women's Month and I'm going to be doing some sessions at Muffles HS and SMGS on self-esteem/self-confidence and puberty. So looking forward to those sessions. And also going to be starting some parenting classes at SMGS with the ministry of human services. So hopefully March runs smoothly! :) And its also my BIRTHDAY MONTH!! Having a little bash with some friends and pcv this coming weekend. And of course March 12 is a Holiday here! AWESOME!! :)

HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAV PICS THE PAST MONTHS...