Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The View From The Top
Today I hiked to the highest peak in Belize which overlooked all of the souther region and had a beautiful water fall that led into a natural water sourced pool. Genuinely the most beautiful sight I have ever seen. We went with the Police Cadets. These children in this cadet program are those who have fallen through the cracks. Shop lifting, sexually active at 12, skipping school long term, petty crimes and the list goes on. It was so cool to get to hang out with these kids. They have a past but they also have a future and the best way to ensure they get attention is to physically be there giving it to them. These kids were such champs about the hike too. Most were in flip flops and jeans with long t shirts in 100 degree weather climbing a basically verticals rope hiking course for 2 hours. Meanwhile, my out if shape self was STRUGGELING. I couldn't hardly make it up without being drenched in sweat. I was miserable. Seriously it was Devils Den X 100. I was by myself at one point and had a cliche moment but started thinking about Mulan and the "be a man song" lolz. But I felt like Jane however contrary to popular belief, to the vines hanging in the rainforest, you CANNOT swing from them. At all. It's all walking/sliding down super slick rocks. The water fall was so worth the struggle though. One of the most beautiful sights I have ever laid eyes on. There were three teirs and the higher you climbed, the more beautiful it became. No fish, just natural water streams that pooled into the perfect little hide away. The Mayans had lived in this rainforest and had several tempels built here in this region. However, due to poor funding, these ruins have well, become ruined. They looked like piles of rocks with debris on top from various vegetation. Broke my heart since Mayan culture is so emerssed in our own culture. However, I'm told this is a mute point and nothing can be done to preserve it now that it has laid to waste for so long. If you have not seen any Mayan ruins, GO! These people were not messing around when they built their cities. So beautifull.
Monday, May 25, 2015
Caye Kaulker
this weekend was amazing!
We had a weekend excursion to Caye Caulker. A little gem of the careivean coast of Belize! White beaches, Belizian culture, and cheap local rum. I honestly kinda thought our hotels would be not that nice, considering it a small island with 70+ students piling in for a weekend. We get there, and it's a resort. Me and my roomate had a beach front suite with a HUGE luxury, a comforter. In Dangriga we only have a single sheet since its so hot anyways. So basically, LOVE YOUR BEDS PEOPLE. Most of the world has no clue what a down pillow is. It's such a luxury.
But anyways, back to the point. This island was stunning. After checking in, we hit the hotel bar. Alcohol I figure will be expensive since its imported, however the Caye sells local rum, so it's super cheap! About $2 a shot. I was pretty excited. Our bartender was probably annoyed we only got drinks w the cheap stuff. Oh well. Smirnoff here is about $12 a shot and the prices go up. Anything American is always really high end in prices.
The night life was so fun! We went to a reagee bar that at first only played that style of music, then the DJ decided to play Taylor Swift... Not so fun and authentic. We cleared out and went home kinda early because we had snorkeling at 9 am. After a solid 8 hours of sleep, we met up at the dock for our tour! I SWAM WITH A SHARK. Seriously almost freaked out but got it together thank god. We had the chillest tour guide ever who made fun of my "barbie" self but hopefully it was in all good fun-probably not though.
After snorkeling we went to the split! In the 1960's a hurricane ripped through the island and actually created a channel of water that separated into two bodies of land. So typical optimistic belizians threw up a swim up bar and called it even with nature. I can't even describe how much fun this place was! I'm dragging my big sister back when she comes! Tons of Americans and Australians come here to vacation along with locals so the environment is very comfortable but different at the same time. So cool getting to talk with people who had traveled around the world. We met a man who had worked for the UN and traveled all around. He told us to follow our dreams and travel as much as possible. So now I'm seriously considering taking off in between undergraduate and MBA to see the world. But that's just me dreaming out loud I suppose.
We had a weekend excursion to Caye Caulker. A little gem of the careivean coast of Belize! White beaches, Belizian culture, and cheap local rum. I honestly kinda thought our hotels would be not that nice, considering it a small island with 70+ students piling in for a weekend. We get there, and it's a resort. Me and my roomate had a beach front suite with a HUGE luxury, a comforter. In Dangriga we only have a single sheet since its so hot anyways. So basically, LOVE YOUR BEDS PEOPLE. Most of the world has no clue what a down pillow is. It's such a luxury.
But anyways, back to the point. This island was stunning. After checking in, we hit the hotel bar. Alcohol I figure will be expensive since its imported, however the Caye sells local rum, so it's super cheap! About $2 a shot. I was pretty excited. Our bartender was probably annoyed we only got drinks w the cheap stuff. Oh well. Smirnoff here is about $12 a shot and the prices go up. Anything American is always really high end in prices.
The night life was so fun! We went to a reagee bar that at first only played that style of music, then the DJ decided to play Taylor Swift... Not so fun and authentic. We cleared out and went home kinda early because we had snorkeling at 9 am. After a solid 8 hours of sleep, we met up at the dock for our tour! I SWAM WITH A SHARK. Seriously almost freaked out but got it together thank god. We had the chillest tour guide ever who made fun of my "barbie" self but hopefully it was in all good fun-probably not though.
After snorkeling we went to the split! In the 1960's a hurricane ripped through the island and actually created a channel of water that separated into two bodies of land. So typical optimistic belizians threw up a swim up bar and called it even with nature. I can't even describe how much fun this place was! I'm dragging my big sister back when she comes! Tons of Americans and Australians come here to vacation along with locals so the environment is very comfortable but different at the same time. So cool getting to talk with people who had traveled around the world. We met a man who had worked for the UN and traveled all around. He told us to follow our dreams and travel as much as possible. So now I'm seriously considering taking off in between undergraduate and MBA to see the world. But that's just me dreaming out loud I suppose.
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Monday, May 18, 2015
The One With The Coconut Man
A man scaled a palm tree today with the sole purpose of cutting us down coconuts. Absolutely the CoOlEsT thing I have ever seen. Attached is the video.
I sorta thought he was just gonna lure us out and ask for money.. nope. He climbed a tree like a freaking iguana. (idk if iguanas do that, however that was HIS analogy, not mine). He then proceeded to crack the coconuts on a rock and demanded we pour our water out and allow him to pour his "purified" cocnut water into our water instead, sketchy yes, but we agreed. It was AMAZING. Best coconut water I have ever had. A little trust went a long way and I am so excited to see what Steven The Coconut Man does during the rest of our trip.
After our coconut water fix was fufilled, we went on our way to spread the word about our business classes, which by the way, is why we are here. Education in Belize ends at 8th grade. Yes, PLEASE imagine you being thrown into the world at 14-15. Personally, I was a little brat at that age and couldn't fathom High School, let alone the job market. The business classes we teach spread education regarding, what many of us consider "common sense", like basic accounting, marketing and customer service. However, at 15, did ANY of us know that stuff? nope. So our classes allow adults to learn basics so they can better their community and most importantly, themselves.
Personal growth leads into community growth.
I sorta thought he was just gonna lure us out and ask for money.. nope. He climbed a tree like a freaking iguana. (idk if iguanas do that, however that was HIS analogy, not mine). He then proceeded to crack the coconuts on a rock and demanded we pour our water out and allow him to pour his "purified" cocnut water into our water instead, sketchy yes, but we agreed. It was AMAZING. Best coconut water I have ever had. A little trust went a long way and I am so excited to see what Steven The Coconut Man does during the rest of our trip.
After our coconut water fix was fufilled, we went on our way to spread the word about our business classes, which by the way, is why we are here. Education in Belize ends at 8th grade. Yes, PLEASE imagine you being thrown into the world at 14-15. Personally, I was a little brat at that age and couldn't fathom High School, let alone the job market. The business classes we teach spread education regarding, what many of us consider "common sense", like basic accounting, marketing and customer service. However, at 15, did ANY of us know that stuff? nope. So our classes allow adults to learn basics so they can better their community and most importantly, themselves.
Personal growth leads into community growth.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
The one where Emily mistakes a dog as a lion
Five hour layover in DFW, easy; after a 2 hour detour to Chilies. $30 later, I was okay with my last meal. 3 hour flight, I was even okay with this! I fell asleep instantly but forgot my jacket in my checked bag, so the lovely missionary next to me gave me her jacket. Well, not gave but forced. She knew I would never ask so in my sleep she draped her jacket over my shaking freezing cold body. Like seriously why are airplanes so cold?..
All of the above is normal standard procedure, however, the hour waiting at BZE(the airport) and the THREE hour bus ride to Dangriga, was NOT standard. Its hot. Like reallllly hot. 87 with 100% humidity. Lovely. Customs was a breeze, but the hour wait for our sanes airconditioning big yellow school bus made the journey an eternity. We were all distracted from our demise by the absolutely breathtaking views of Belize. It's actually so incredibly beautiful that me and my roomate stared in awe sometimes. I think Belize gets underplayed for their jungles and rainforests, the pictures I took don't even do it justice.
FINALLY..3.5 hours later... We get to our hotel! The ocean is about 100 yards in front of us and the air is salty and humid. But I wadnt expecting the area to be so well( developed. Compared to other towns we drove through, Dangriga is a lot nicer. However, never in a million years would you see anything from Belize in America. So "nicer" is a relative term for my expectations.
All of the above is normal standard procedure, however, the hour waiting at BZE(the airport) and the THREE hour bus ride to Dangriga, was NOT standard. Its hot. Like reallllly hot. 87 with 100% humidity. Lovely. Customs was a breeze, but the hour wait for our sanes airconditioning big yellow school bus made the journey an eternity. We were all distracted from our demise by the absolutely breathtaking views of Belize. It's actually so incredibly beautiful that me and my roomate stared in awe sometimes. I think Belize gets underplayed for their jungles and rainforests, the pictures I took don't even do it justice.
FINALLY..3.5 hours later... We get to our hotel! The ocean is about 100 yards in front of us and the air is salty and humid. But I wadnt expecting the area to be so well( developed. Compared to other towns we drove through, Dangriga is a lot nicer. However, never in a million years would you see anything from Belize in America. So "nicer" is a relative term for my expectations.
Day One: XNA -> DFW -> BZE
Sooo.. I have never actually blogged before, but I figure a month spent studying abroad in a developing country more than merits the occasion. So bare with me.
I'm a girly girly girl who hates sweating, working out, hiking for long periods of time, or really anything that involves physical labor. Maybe I am just super lazy, or maybe its the culture I was raised in, however that remains the current situation. So when I told my parents that I wanted to join the Peace Corp after college, they literally laughed, hard. I couldn't understand their hysterics and got super angry at them, but then I kinda realized their reaction, I am the LAST person I would EVER expect to want to go into a 2 year program where resources would be scarce and a nail salon wasn't on every corner along with a shopping mall. Spoiled, doesn't even remotely describe American culture. Our adviser on this trip, Molly Jensen, made a comment that has stuck with me, "America is so rich that we flush potable water." When so many people in countries, and hell even California is in a huge drought, are dealing with water sustainability problems and clean drinking water, Americans pee in clean water. This concept never even occurred to me in my 21 years alive. When I have been afforded so many wonderful opportunities, it greatly concerns me that other humans on a basic level cannot even survive day to day. So when the opportunity to go to Belize with Walton College for Community Development and Service Learning came about, I instantly signed up.
I'm not sure what to expect even though I have been trained for months on what to expect. I guess I just have never seen an area where everyone wasn't okay. I wonder if I will even have any impact at all on the individual people I meet, however human rights and lives matter greatly to me on a deep level. I have always wanted to help, but was always told that you cannot change the world, However, while I firmly believe that what I underlined is true, I think changing the world is not ever going to be a grand scale operation. I believe changing the world starts with just changing one person.
Now, enough with the seriousness. I can guarantee that I will have whatever can go wrong, go wrong on this trip. I already almost missed my flight and then the gate was broken, and now I have a 5 hour layover in DFW. Sooo, off to a great start! I'll update this blog daily with my adventures across Belize and Central America and I promise you will get lots of laughs!
XOXO Em
I'm a girly girly girl who hates sweating, working out, hiking for long periods of time, or really anything that involves physical labor. Maybe I am just super lazy, or maybe its the culture I was raised in, however that remains the current situation. So when I told my parents that I wanted to join the Peace Corp after college, they literally laughed, hard. I couldn't understand their hysterics and got super angry at them, but then I kinda realized their reaction, I am the LAST person I would EVER expect to want to go into a 2 year program where resources would be scarce and a nail salon wasn't on every corner along with a shopping mall. Spoiled, doesn't even remotely describe American culture. Our adviser on this trip, Molly Jensen, made a comment that has stuck with me, "America is so rich that we flush potable water." When so many people in countries, and hell even California is in a huge drought, are dealing with water sustainability problems and clean drinking water, Americans pee in clean water. This concept never even occurred to me in my 21 years alive. When I have been afforded so many wonderful opportunities, it greatly concerns me that other humans on a basic level cannot even survive day to day. So when the opportunity to go to Belize with Walton College for Community Development and Service Learning came about, I instantly signed up.
I'm not sure what to expect even though I have been trained for months on what to expect. I guess I just have never seen an area where everyone wasn't okay. I wonder if I will even have any impact at all on the individual people I meet, however human rights and lives matter greatly to me on a deep level. I have always wanted to help, but was always told that you cannot change the world, However, while I firmly believe that what I underlined is true, I think changing the world is not ever going to be a grand scale operation. I believe changing the world starts with just changing one person.
Now, enough with the seriousness. I can guarantee that I will have whatever can go wrong, go wrong on this trip. I already almost missed my flight and then the gate was broken, and now I have a 5 hour layover in DFW. Sooo, off to a great start! I'll update this blog daily with my adventures across Belize and Central America and I promise you will get lots of laughs!
XOXO Em
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