what we're thankful for...

we were blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate thanksgiving with so many inspirational and motivated peace corps volunteers and staff members this year. those of us from the northern districts of orange walk and corozal came together in the home of a former peace corps volunteer to share food and good times. with a succulent turkey, proper stuffing, and homemade pumpkin pie, it was official. thanks to everyone who contributed in making this year's thanksgiving so special.

volunteers, staff members, and belizean friends gather to share what they are thankful for.

spending a few moments to reflect before stuffing ourselves silly.

staff and volunteers enjoying some post-meal laughs.

the morning after our thanksgiving feast, we boarded a bus and headed to orange walk early in order to prepare for the much anticipated orange walk chess extravaganza. after nearly a month of visiting local businesses to ask for donations; planning for the venue, arranging for supplies and seating, inviting chess teams from around the country, and even appearing on the local wake-up show, coy and fellow peace corps volunteer, kevin, were ready for the big day. with a team of committed and hard working peace corps volunteers to staff the event, the day was a huge success. chess players from three other districts came to participate, local residents of orange walk and corozal district came to see what chess is all about, and the local news even showed up to check out the event.

kids gather round the clay sculpture making table

the face painting station was a big hit. thanks, shannon!

the chess puzzle section stayed busy as players worked hard to analyze challenging scenarios.

coy and zach contemplate puzzle solutions with inquisitive players.

the local news channel interviewed coy for a feature segment.

winners display their mystic chess quest workbooks (created and designed in belize by a former peace corps volunteer and local chess players).

nearly 100 chess players from around the country participated in the day's festivities.