Just the Beginning

I can already see where keeping a blog is going to be a challenge! Firstly, the internet situation is not always optimal.  Secondly, there is so much to do…all the time.

Where do I start? After I hopped on a plane down to Miami, I checked into my hotel where I met the 19 other volunteers with whom I will be training.  We spent about five hours getting a Peace Corps crash course.  It was led by two Peace Corps staff members who regularly host this event called staging.  You do some team building events, and you generally  review Peace Corps structure, expectations, and goals.  It’s a great way to start bonding with your new friends.

The next morning, we all flew to Belize together.  Our flight was a little delayed, but everyone was so excited we barely noticed.  Upon landing in Belize City, we were welcomed by Peace Corps Belize staff with hugs and cheers.  Not losing any time, we boarded a bus and took a hour and a half journey to Belmopan, the capital city.  (No volunteers are aloud in Belize City except to travel in or out of the country, for security reasons.)  On the bus, I was struck by how rural Belize is.  We were on one of the few main highways in the country, and we only encountered a few small communities.  Most towns are 250-3000 people, which will be quite a change.

As soon as our bus arrived at the Peace Corps office in Belmopan, our training began…and it really hasn’t stopped since then.  We train for about nine hours a day, but the time seems to fly by because we are covering such interesting topics; Belize’s culture and language, global development, and public health are a few favorites.  We did get a chance to meet the director of the Ministry of Health of Belize, attend dinner at the Peace Corps Belize director’s home, and meet the US ambassador to Belize.  It has been quite an honor to be treated as such an esteemed guest.  Also, the Peace Corps staff in Belize is on the ball.  They are all very approachable, but they mean business.  I really feel like I am in good hands.

We have only three more days of orientation at the Peace Corps office before we head to a village for the beginning of Community Based Training, where we will be assigned a language and a host family.  I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

Love always,
Jess

Our group with the Ambassador.
Photo Credit: Peace Corps Belize