The end of the semester is almost here. It's a mix of emotions. The students are flying out on Friday, and this week we have 3 days of debriefing to do before they leave! Tomorrow is a free day for them to do all of those 'one last time' things.
Integration week was this past week, and it was a huge blessing to be a part of class and to hear the students engaging with everything that they have been learning this semester! I am so encouraged and excited by how much the students have been challenged and have grown throughout the semester! Because I see the students' growth, I am ready for them to go home and share with family and friends, and be challenged again- this time by North American culture.
But realizing that we only have 4 days left together is hard. Staff have 10 days of work after students leave, which is another sad realization for me because I will be saying goodbye to 3 close coworkers/friends who won't be returning in the fall!
I am also going through a transition, as I am changing roles here at CCSP Belize. I'm taking on the Program Administrator position, as Kelly is leaving CCSP at the end of this semester. The decision to take the PA job was actually a really big deal. My role as SLC was only a year 'internship', a temporary job which would have brought me back to the States to start the next phase of life in December. But the PA job will put me on the 'long term' staff list, probably with a 2 year contract. I know that doesn't seem very long term, but it is a huge change in perspective for me. Belize will be home now, instead of me just working temporarily in Belize. Also, the two weeks that I'll be in Sioux Center in May will be the only two weeks I'll be home for the whole next year.
Since taking the job two weeks ago, my summer plans have changed a bit. Instead of traveling Costa Rica for 10 days like I had planned, I'll fly straight home on the 16th of May, be home for one day and then drive the next day to Madison, WI for a 7 day, 70 hr Wilderness First Responder course. Part of my new job will be to eventually become the Health and Safety officer, so I need this training. Then I drive home on the 26th, and spend 2 weeks in Sioux Center. After that I will be going to a conference with the other CCSP long term staff for 5 days, and then hopefully flying to Washington on June 11 or 12 to start my summer with Pacific Rim Institute!
So.... if any of you are in Iowa, I would love to see you between May 27 and June 5! or you could always come to visit me in Belize sometime in the next 2 years :)
I hope I can talk to some of you this summer!
