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Sunday July 1, 2018

All students have arrived and are in good spirits! Can’t wait for the next two weeks of adventures!

-The Brazil Team

Wednesday July 4,2018

We started the day with amazing fruits for breakfast and a group stretching session. We learned that pineapple in Portuguese is abacaxi. Early in the afternoon we had an educational talk from a local biologist about her work in animal conservation and education. She gave us important knowledge into the art of camera traps. After durrato for lunch, we put that knowledge to use and ventured into the forest. Leo (a leader of our community) led us through the forest to collect and view footage from camera traps, all the while teaching us about native plant and animal species. We finished the day with a leadership activity and a pasta feast. “

– written by Mason Kellogg

Thursday July 5, 2018

Day 5: We woke up o some delicious local breakfast. Then we had cooking classes with some of the local chefs. We learned to make tapioca as well as some amazing Brazilian cheesy bread. We also learn to make the Brazilian version of Indian bread, it was very tasty. Finally, we learned to make thick noodle pasta their way. After cooking classes, we looked at some footage from video cameras set up around the rainforest. We saw some recent footage of monkeys eating fruit.

We saw some old footage of jaguars and pumas as well. After we looked at the footage we went for a hike where we saw monkeys. We got so close to the monkeys, they started to throw “stuff” at us, and some hit their target. We returned to home base to eat local fish for dinner. We ended the day with a night hike to the campsite where we sat around the bonfire and slept under the stars.

Word of the day: flor = flower

-Written by Tobie Pak (student)

Friday July 6, 2018

Written by Benjamin Miller:

Saturday July 7, 2018

During our seventh day in the Amazon, the group ate a fresh fruit breakfast and prepared to travel to a local village based around a large lake. We all piled one day’s worth of belongings in a van and made our trek to Acacaia. Friendly faces greeted us from the moment we arrived. The group walked through the small village, amazed at the new culture and ways of life that the natives possess.

After strolling through the small wooden houses and interesting markets, the group split off into multiple boats to travel to where we were staying. The small boats and choppy water made the hour long ride difficult; however, the experience was unique and unforgettable. Once we arrived, everyone explored the multiple storied house and large property. Again, we were greeted by faces that were kind, even though they were unfamiliar.

We went swimming and had a great time. Fresh fruit, fish, and beans with rice were set on the table for lunch. By sunset, everyone split up into groups again, lead by guides, to go fishing for piranhas. Motivated by whatever we caught was going to be our dinner, everyone made attempts to catch the biggest fish possible. Afterwards, we returned to the camp to play games and sit under the night sky. A fish soup dinner was made that everyone enjoyed. Overall, the day was full of activities and new memories.

-By Jared Levine

 

Sunday July 8, 2018

Today we woke up before the sun & had a piranha fishing contest and my boat was the winner with 10 fish. After we ate our prizes for lunch we tried to go pink dolphin spotting but could only catch a glimpse of those beautiful creatures. after that we stopped at a little island and met a parrot named Bella. after an hour and a half boat ride some of us almost burnt to a crisp because of the amazonian sun, went to a little town and bought souvenirs for our families. Now back at home base we play cards while waiting for dinner after an eventful day.

-Taylee Dyer

Monday July 9, 2018

This morning started off with a nice breakfast of cake, steamed bananas, and tapioca which some girls and boys helped to make. After completing an exercise in our mentor group, we helped cut down trees to contribute to the compost that makes charcoal. It was very hot, physical work — one of our most challenging days. A few hammocks were set up at our home base in case we needed to rest. During lunch time, it started to rain heavily. It was still raining when we resumed our work with the trees, making it more fun. We settled down after our work by connecting with our mentor groups, and then eating dinner. We finished the night with a dance lesson from Vanessa, teaching us the salsa and samba.

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Today we learned that sloth in Portuguese is Bicho Preguiça. Sadly we didn’t see any today but we still did some pretty amazing stuff. We had more service work this morning, the rain made for a great experience as we planted coconuts, trees and other plants.

We also helped in crushing and sifting charcoal for the Terra Preta, that is the most nutritious soil discovered by the ancient Amazonians, used to help continue the growth of the forest. This afternoon we had a cultural experience with a native named Silvio, spokes Toucano and Portuguese, this was a great immersion to the local culture.

He came to teach us how to make traditional bows and arrows as well as giving us face paint, symbolizing something different for each person, a welcome to the rainforest. I know I speak for the whole group when I say that we are all excited for the new adventures tomorrow will bring and new things that we will learn.

-By Savanna Erskin

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Today we were taught by a wise Amazonion man named Silvio. He is a cultural teacher and taught us how to make acie beaded necklaces and fiber bracelets. He told us how to channel the energy of the forest into our craft. Silvio is an amazing creative man and we all had the change to buy some of his handmade baskets and jewelry.

Later we took a walk in the forest where Silvio showed us different plants to use for different purposes. And we cut some bamboo like plant to make our own flutes and horns together. In our crafts today we used all resources from the forest except a knife. The dinner today was delicious, pasta noodles, veggies, and cheese. We also made our own chocolate ball dessert!

-blog by Madelyn Sprigg

Thursday July 12, 2018

Today we enjoyed being able to climb a 150 foot tree and see the rainforest from a birds eye view. The experience was truly magical and the view was breathtaking. We also discussed important issues such as ways to promote sustainable living and spread them to our communities at home. Our inspiring conversations have made us eager to share our knowledge we have leaned here with friends and family.

We watched a TED talk about not having certain expectations and assumptions when traveling to new places. You will never truly know until you fully experience it. We also closed our mentor groups and shared how everyone grew as a person and what lessons and perspectives we should take with us home. Even though our time in Brazil is coming to a close we are excited for our last days before we depart to soak in the beauty of the tropical rainforest.

-By Avery Arroyo

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Thursday July 12, 2018

Arrival day has come! GLA staff waited at the airport and welcomed students with sack lunches and smiles. After students arrived we went to a local Belizean store for any snacks or toiletries students needed. It started to rain as we all got back on the bus heading for our home base.

It was about a 45 minute drive to The Tropical Education Center (TEC) in the Belize district where we are staying. A small tour of the home base was given and students met our local staff. After students settled in we had a few ice breaker games and then a traditional dinner of stew chicken, rice and beans, plantains and coleslaw as well as some birthday cake for our birthday girl.

Happy birthday Candace Gardner!

After a long day of travel and making new friends we are excited to start fresh in the morning and meet our last three students who arrive tomorrow!

You better Belize it!

-Maria, International Director

Saturday July 14, 2018

It’s now our 3rd day in Belize! We took an hour thirty minute bus ride, which we listened to music and braided hair while we bonded. We took a semi strenuous hour long hike to the ancient Maya ruins. We climbed all the way to the top to see an amazing view which we stopped for pictures. For lunch we stopped at a local restaurant named Benny’s.

The next thing we did was go to an iguana sanctuary, where they had over 25 iguanas! The biggest iguana was over 5 feet! We were able to pet, hold, and put then on our head. We then headed to Ajaw chocolate and crafts in San Ignacio. While we were there we got to experience how the Maya’s make chocolate. We got to taste many different cocoa beans! On our way home we stopped for snacks. We again sung and bonded on the bus! When we got back, for dinner we had mashed potatoes, pork chops, and lemon tarts. To finish of the night we met with our mentor groups.

-Molly and Leah

Sunday July 15, 2018

Today was a relaxing day after the first few days of orientation. First, this morning, we watched the World Cup. Then we had two inspirational guest speakers from the service site we will be working at. After that, we prepared and reviewed our curriculum for the following weeks at the school. It made us extremely excited to start our service and see the kids!

-Ally and Schuyler

Monday July 16, 2018

Today we woke up and ate breakfast at 7:45. For breakfast we had eggs, toast, pineapple, guava, and pineapple juice. We soon there after (at 8:15) left home base for the school. We volunteered for 3 hours teaching students between preschool and 8th grade. We had been split into groups of 2 and 3 and we taught the students with these people.

After teaching the students for 3 hours we came back to home base and ate nachos, watermelon, and lime juice for lunch. About 1 hour later we had a Belizean dance class for 2 hours. After dance class we had free time in which people socialized, read, and rested. At 5:30 we wrote our first journal log. We wrote about how our day went in school. At 6:00 we had pasta, bolognese, and brownies. After dinner we met as a whole group and talked about service. We then had free time and had lights off at 10:00.

Shout outs to:
Ezra’s parents and Ian’s parents! (We wrote this)

 

Tuesday July 17, 2018

Today is our sixth day in Belize and our second day of service. We each rotated up an age group from what we had yesterday. The kids were still excited to see us and welcomed us all with big bear hugs!

After service we took a quick snack stop and then took a thirty minute drive to Blue Hole National Park where we swam for about an hour. It was a perfect way to cool down after a long three hours of service. While the water was peaceful, the fish took advantage of us being there and decided to nibble on our legs.

After leaving the Blue Hole, we grabbed milkshakes at Moon Clusters Coffee House and hung out there for a while. To conclude the day, we drove 40 minutes to our home base and are now hanging out before dinner. It was a pretty amazing day!!!

-by Hannah and Sonya

Wednesday July 18, 2018

Hey everyone! Today we started off our day with a scrumptious breakfast which included: eggs, fruit, bread, peanut butter, and fresh orange juice. After filling up our stomachs, we loaded the bus and headed on our way to our third day of service. Not only were we excited to work with amazing groups of kids, but they were super stoked to see us.

After an eye-opening morning with the kids, we returned to home base for some terrific empanadas. We then split up into two groups and prepared for our afternoon activities which included cooking and cave tubing. One group stayed at home base to help cook dinner, while the other group experienced the riveting journey of cave tubing. We then ended the day prepping for a service project involving a parent teacher conference. It’s been a pretty un-Belizable day!!

-Viviana and Anthony

Thursday July 19, 2018

We started off the day with another amazing breakfast made by the wonderful cooks. It consisted of oatmeal, yogurt, and banana muffins. We then went off to service and had a productive morning that was filled with lots of memories that we will carry for a lifetime.

In the afternoon, the groups switched activities from yesterday. Half of us went cave tubing. It is definitely something worth experiencing. While that was happening, the other half of the group cooked dinner for everyone to enjoy. They made mashed potatoes, beef, veggies, pineapple cake, and pineapple juice. We ended our night in the classroom with a fun game of Mafia.

-Fatima & Tyla

Friday July 20, 2018

We started off our day with a delicious breakfast of fresh tortillas, bacon, eggs, and horchata. After, we left for service. Today was Ms. Emily’s birthday so the mentors brought her a pink cake. We sang happy birthday to her in front of the school and started off the school day energized and ready to go!

Filled up on our nutritious lunch of chicken and rice, we headed toward San Ignacio for a few hours to get to western dairy, an ice cream place with two dozen different flavors and other dishes including hot pizza, crispy chicken tenders, and yummy fries. After we went to a market and bought any essentials we needed (some of us bought hammocks). We headed to Art Box after, a store specializing in knick knacks and other souvenirs. Exhausted from the long bus ride, we ate a scrumptious dinner of empanadas and refreshing watermelon juice. Tonight we worked on our presentations for Ms. Emily that we’re giving on Sunday. Wow!

-Meera and Natasha

Saturday July 21, 2018

Today was a very beautiful day. Our group had the delightful opportunity to visit the ATM cave. No one was expecting the adventure that the cave had in store for us. The cave was full of beautiful history that embodied the Maya culture. We swam, hiked and squeezed our way through the day. We also feasted our eyes with ancient pottery and dazzling cave crystals. For some people, it proved to be difficult. Yet, it made those people realize how strong they really were. Also, how much strength they had within them all along. The meals today were super helpful for the hike as well as delicious! For breakfast we had piping hot pancakes as well as fresh pineapple and refreshing melon. For lunch we had sweet plantains, corn with rice and savory chicken. For dinner we feasted on some more flavorful chicken with fresh beans and rice. For dessert we had yummy carrot cake. Overall, we were exhausted from the long yet beautiful hike. It was definitely a day that will stick with us all!

-Natasha

*NOTE: you are not allowed to bring phones/cameras/etc. into the caves with you

Sunday July 22, 2018

We were able to sleep in today. Breakfast was fried jacks with scrambled eggs and some fruit. After that we did a leadership activity called Challenging Assumptions where we practiced visualization. Next we had free time which we spent, bonding, napping, and plucking eyebrows. We ate tostadas for lunch at 11:30. Then we had 3 Maya women come and tell us about their culture as well as teach us how to make bracelets! We also had some fun playing with one of their sons Deray.

At dinner tonight we saw a cute dog while we made our own tacos and had some yellow cake for dessert. Lastly we had fun playing Jeopardy on all the information that we have learned about Belize so far.

Sincerely,

Olivia and Mia

Special shoutout to our parents who are the reason we are in Belize. Also happy late birthday to Olivia’s dog, Cosmo who turned 6 on Friday!

Monday July 23, 2018

Hi everyone!

This morning we woke up bright and early as usual at 7:00 am for a 7:45 breakfast. Breakfast today was sliced bread, scrambled eggs, beans, and pineapple. Then we headed over to Helping Hands (the school), for Monday morning class.

After school, we drove to a nearby park to eat our lunch, chicken burgers. After lunch we took a long, scenic drive to Marie Sharps Hot Sauce Factory for a quick tour and taste testing. We learned about the history of Marie Sharp starting her company and how it has grown. Once the tour of the factory was over, we got to taste test all the varieties of hot sauces and jams made at the factory. The hot sauce was super good and we were able to purchase some at the gift shop there. We took a big group photo outside the factory (pictured below).

Following our trip to the factory we drove back to the TEC, had a rest period and then dinner. Dinner was curry chicken, rice, carrot cake, and fresh pineapple juice. After dinner we met in our mentor groups and had discussions about our experiences thus far and life at home. 8 days left 🙁 See you soon!

-by Ali and Sofia

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Good afternoon friends and families!! Today, we ate a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls and oatmeal. We then piled into the bus, cranked up some music, and got pumped for service. After an incredible 3 hours at the school teaching and bonding with the kids, we did our first trip to the local markets. It was an incredible experience to be able to immerse ourselves in the true Belizian culture. As an additional plus, we were also able to buy handmade bracelets and trinkets!

Then, we headed home, went for a swim, did some leadership activities, and ate a fantastic dinner of chicken and pasta salad! We can’t Belize that our time here has gone by so fast, but we are doing our best to make the most of the upcoming days!

-Candace and Sarah

Wednesday July 25, 2018

Today we woke up and had breakfast at 7:45. We went to the school and taught one of our last classes. 🙁 Back at home base we had lunch then a guest speaker. He told us all about tapirs (the national animal of Belize) and ways to keep them safe from their extinction. A tapir is a mix of a horse and a rhino!

Afterwards we had free time and many of us went swimming. Before dinner we had an activity called the appreciation circle where everyone is in a circle facing outwards with their eyes closed. Then 3 people would get chosen to stand in the middle. There were questions asked like “someone who makes you laugh”. The people in the middle would then tap on people in the circle that fit the description. This was a great activity to show how close we have come! After dinner a few of us laid on the dock with blankets and pillows! 🙂

-Leah

Friday July 27, 2018

Hello Everyone!!

Today was sports day with all the kids from the school! We had breakfast then went to a park to be greeted by the happy all the children. At sports day we got to just hang out with everyone we have bonded with from the school and play games such as soccer, basketball and even bean bag races! We had lunch there then headed back to home base. Back there we had some free time in which some of us preformed a synchronized swimming routine for Kacey and Maria, that we had been working on. Before dinner we had a leadership activity, and after we decided to do a bon fire before we head off to our vacation from vacation at Caye Caulker tomorrow!!

-Mia and Olivia

Saturday July 28, 2018

We made it to Caye Caulker! Today we took an hour bus ride and a 45 minute boat ride to the island. We had chicken quesadillas for lunch. Then we headed to our hotel and checked in and unpacked. After an hour or so, we hit the town to shop where we found amazing custom made bracelets, necklaces, and more. Then we got ready for dinner and went to a local place in town called Roy’s and for dessert we headed to get so Boba Tea and delicious homemade ice cream.

(Shoutout to our fabulous parents and siblings!!!)

Sonya and Hannah

Sunday July 29, 2018

Today we ate breakfast at 8:00 at a local restaurant called Amor y Café and then went to get our snorkel gear at Carlos Tours. Once we had our snorkel gear and had lathered up in sunscreen we proceeded to our tour boat. We boated for around an hour to our first snorkel destination where we saw manatees, turtles, a manta ray, a shark, and various fish. We got back on the boat and went to a snorkel spot where we swam with sharks. After this we had chicken, rice and beans, and macaroni on the boat. After lunch we went to our third and final snorkel spot where we saw eels, barracuda, and more fish. When done with this final snorkel we jumped off the boat and swam a bit. We arrived back at our housing a bit after 4 PM and we had rest time until dinner at 6:00. After dinner we had dessert which was ice cream or boba tea. We then did an activity called Appreciation Circle and then had some free time and went to bed.

Shout out to:

Ezra’s parents and Ian’s parents

Monday July 30, 2018

Today was another amazing day. It’s hard to believe were leaving so soon. We started our morning with a delicious breakfast at Caye Caulker. After that we went back to Belize City in a Water Taxi. When we got to Belize City we went to the Belize sign and took lots of pictures. From there we drove back to home base. Once we got to TEC we had free time until 3:30. Many of us unpacked, packed, and took naps. At 3:30 we met at the dining hall. We practiced our skits for literacy night. We then had dinner at 5 that consisted of spaghetti, garlic bread, and flan. At 5:30 we left to Belmopan. Literacy night started at 6 at the park. After watching the kids perform, we were able to say our goodbyes to the students and teachers. We ended our night by dropping off Mrs. Emily at her home and saying goodbye to her.

~Tyla & Fatima

Tuesday July 31, 2018

Our final day in Belize has come. We all have grown, overcome challenges, bonded with new friends and made memories that we will always cherish. One of my favorite memories is……

When we spent time with the kids at sports day because we got to have a good time with the kids and celebrate with them after their hard work at Helping Hands. –Jennifer

Going through the ATM caves because it was a lot of fun swimming and climbing on the rocks and it was really cool to see. –Tyla

Snorkeling was insane! I was really able to get out of my comfort zone and have a lot of fun with everyone. –Vivi

Literacy night was amazing because we were able to bond with the kids and say our final goodbyes. It was full of tears and smiles. –Candace

Our service was truly one of the greatest things I have ever experienced, I will never forget the children that we had an opportunity to help, or forget how immense of a positive impact those children have made on my life! –Schuyler

Our service days was one of the best things I have experienced. The time we had interacting with the kids individually was so special, and the connections we’ve made will never be forgotten. I will miss them so much! –Sarah

Service was everything I could have imagined and more. The kids were so welcoming and excited to build relationships with us. Once in a lifetime experience I will never forget! –Ally

One of my favorite memories was on the first service day. I taught my very first class ever and at the end of the class some of the kids hugged me goodbye. I will always remember my very first class! –Mia

My favorite memory was seeing this one kid’s eyes light up after I explained a problem to him. Oh and swimming with manatees was pretty rad too. -Meera

The sports day is one of my favorite memories. Getting to play with the children and interacting with them in an environment that was not the classroom was awesome. – Anthony

One of my favorite memories was literacy night because it was when I got to say goodbye to most kids and the things some kids said will stick with me forever. Having the experience to work with them for two weeks is beyond amazing! -Leah

One of my favorite memories was on sports day when I automatically made a connection with one of the children I had not worked with yet throughout the two weeks of service. –Olivia

One of my favorite memories was the snorkeling day in Caye Caulker where we saw manatees, sharks, manta rays, etc. –Ezra

The moment I learned I could beat up any shark because they are all not Jaws. – Ian

My favorite moment from this trip was working with the children and the school and helping them understand new information –Sonya

My favorite moment was when Sonya and I were laying on top of the ship looking out at the sea and reflecting on our experience as a whole. –Hannah

My favorite memory was jumping into the ocean for the first time in a few weeks; it felt great to be there with everyone after three weeks of hard work. –Ali T.

My favorite memory was our boat day at Caye Caulker, specifically swimming with the sharks and turtles. –Sofia E.

My favorite memories include working with infant 1 and infant 2. The kids always helped put a smile on my face. –Natasha H.

My favorite memories are at night when all the girls gather together in a bedroom and chat. We had some pretty great conversations. –Fatima

My favorite memory was decompressing with my friends in the pool by making a synchronized swimming routine. –Mo Bomann

Best Belize we had a great time!

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Friday June 29, 2018

All have arrived and students are adjusting well to the Belize humidity! We had a quick arrival day at the airport, with all students arriving within four hours of each other!

We had a short drive to our home-away-from-home at the Tropical Education Center (TEC by nickname) and settled in with a swim test and dip in the pool. Staff and students enjoyed a welcome meal of homemade tortillas, beans, chicken and vegetables.

Our night consisted of a few get to know you games and our “Story of Self.” Each student and staff shared their personal narrative – an wonderful spin on bedtime stories. Students quickly went to bed, and all but three were asleep before we showed up for bed checks!

This afternoon was spent at the Belize Zoo, and tomorrow our first Leaders of the Day will be taking charge and writing the blog posts from here on out, which we send to GLA headquarters staff to update on the blog page!

English quote of the day: “I am not the same, having seen the moon on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Kriol quote of the day: “Weh wi gwen?” (Where are we going?)

Saturday June 30, 2018

Leaders of the Day: Claudia and Cathryn

Today we all went to the green iguana sanctuary where we held iguanas. Our favorite was named “Kim Kardashian,” and known locally as “Ziggy.” Her spine is deformed because she was once a pet and had a lack of calcium and natural light. We went to the San Ignacio market and bought everything from fruit to hammocks to bracelets. After a filling lunch at Benny’s, we traveled by foot to the Maya site of Xunantunich, because our bus was too big to fit on the bridge they crank by hand. Some people weren’t big fans of the hike in the heat, but it was worth it for the view. The guides told us many stories and legends about the site while we were there.

Sunday July 1, 2018

Leaders of the Day: Chloe and Rachel

A poem:
Met Miss Emily and saw the amazing school Helping Hands that she put together with her own money
Inspired by Miss Emily’s life motto
Sang the song for our first day of service
Sipped Belizean blue lemonade and other Belizean delicacies

Emily gave us stones and hugs and told us to be a “shining light”
Many full bellies; good eats
Interesting stories of Belize’s culture and past
Love, peace, joy, hope – this is Miss Emily’s motto
You don’t know it yet but service will be fun tomorrow

 

Monday July 2, 2018

Leaders of the Day: Helen and Grace

This morning was our first day of service. We welcomed the kids with song and dance. It was a very fun but exhausting first day of service! In the afternoon we went cave tubing, which was a great way to cool after a long day of work. We are excited to continue working with the kids for the next two weeks!

Wednesday July 4, 2018

GLA Belize continued to grow their teaching abilities taking on varying roles in different classrooms. Students showed extreme amounts of flexibility with the unpredictable school environment, growing as educators and individuals while forming deeper bonds with their students. Despite being overseas for the Fourth of July, the group made a snack run and enjoyed some traditional American junk food. Overall great day!

-Leaders of the day: Jordyn and Stella

Thursday July 5, 2018

Today we continued our service at Helping Hands. We are all feeling more comfortable and accomplished in our endeavors in the classroom. After service, we visited a Mayan Chocolate making workshop. In the workshop we learned about the history and origin of chocolate as well as sampling tradition Mayan chocolate. We all got to try and chocolate drink that was mixed with honey, water, cinnamon, and chili powder. Lastly, we went to an ice cream place in Cayo and enjoyed delicious ice cream. All around today was a good day.

-Caroline Kilgallen and Carolyn Moyer
(Leaders of the day)

Friday July 6, 2018

Today marks an entire week of service completed! Although there were moments of being out of the mood, everyone pushed through and pulled their weight, putting the kids before themselves. Sadly, next week is our last week working with the students so we are going to soak in our final moments. The afternoon was spent watching Mama Mia with each other and ate a s’mores bake made by Jordan, Codi and Megan. We are all excited for the long and early day at the ATM cave tomorrow!

-blog by leaders of the Day: Hiyasmin & Kaitlyn

Saturday July 7, 2018

Even though none of us dropped a camera on a mayan skull, like former tourists, today we did lose a croc gibbet as we journeyed across paths and rivers to the Actun Tunichnil Muknal cave. We adventured to the atm cave today, pushing ourselves to climb large rock formations and view ancient mayan skulls and artifacts that prove that mayans practiced human sacrifice.

We waded through water that was up to our necks, and squeezed through small openings in rock formations. The food served to us at the end of the day was one of the best meals yet, and we ended the day with a wet and bumpy bus ride back to home base.

-blog by leaders of the Day: Claudia and Rachel

Sunday July 8, 2018

After a full week of service and many days immersing in the many cultural activities, we had an opportunity to sleep in until 8:30 and eat a late breakfast! Students had a restful morning, and a super engaging Maya workshop with two women from Punta Gorda. We learned about Maya culture in Belize, women’s empowerment, tasted sweet corn tortilla and aged sugar, and even learned how to weave. Our night concluded with a GLA/TEDex activity, where each member of our community shared a 3-5 minutes story of something they are passionate about. Students are super excited for our final week at Helping Hands with Miss Emily!

-Blog by leaders of the Day: Jordan, Meg and Codi

Monday July 9, 2018

Today GLA Belize began our second week of service with the kids at Helping Hands. We kicked off the week with a new “theme song” to get the kids stoked and it is now stuck in everybody’s heads. We were thrilled to see that the number of students attending is continuing to grow. We were also excited to see that not only did the kids remember us and what we had taught them, but also were happy to be back at school.

After lunch back at the TEC, Garifuna women Dixie and Amber came to teach a Belizean dance class. We got in a good workout while learning a lot about Belizean culture and the dances of many coastal cities.
After dancing we all needed some downtime before dinner. During our time usually reserved for mentor groups, we tested our knowledge of Belizean culture with a game of Belizean Jeopardy. Overall, it was a great day, and we can’t wait for a good night’s sleep and another day of service tomorrow.

-blog by leaders of the Day: Caroline D and Jordyn

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Yesterday marked our last rotation through the classrooms as we began second day of our second week of service. We continued to develop our skills, foster relationships with students, and enjoy a positive day overall. In addition to our personal success, Miss Emily was interviewed by a local news station about her Helping Hands Summer Program. Later that day, we journeyed to Marie Sharpe’s Hot Sauce Factory where we toured the production floor and sampled a variety of the products, including jams, hot sauce and steak sauce.

-Blog by leaders of the Day: Cathryn and Stella

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Today GLA conquered another successful day of service at Helping Hands. The kids continued to improve in skills and relationships were further developed. One of our favorite things is watching the bus come from San Martin, a neighboring village with 14 students and one teacher!

It really is more of a van, than a bus. After service, Celso, who manages the TEC and Belize zoo, shared his knowledge on the Tapir. The Tapir is Belize’s national Animal and can grow to be 550 pounds! After, we enjoyed some down time including: movies, painting, ab workouts, and zoo gift shopping! As the day wraps up we are enjoying some homemade lime juice and some good spaghetti.

We are finishing the night talking as a group with our journals. Yet another good day. Excited to see what tomorrow brings!!

-Blog by leaders of the Day: Caroline and Chloe

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Saturday August 4, 2018

Good Evening, families!

Arrival day has officially come and gone! With 28 of our 30 arrived, our community is starting to blossom. Although two of our students are held up in Miami overnight, but we are so excited to welcome them to the Tropical Education Center in the morning.

After an awesome dinner of rice and beans and stew chicken (and stew veggies), we got to know each other by finding similarities and celebrating our differences. We have a super experienced group of young travelers, and are looking forward to seeing them support each other.

Post activity, we broke into mentor groups to touch base on expectations for the next few weeks, further our connections with each other and answer any burning questions before checking out for the night.

Our leaders of the day will be taking over the blog posts from here, filling you in on our adventures, challenges and learnings!

Here’s our team pre arrival of Eli and Erin (here, but not pictured) and Rachel and Abdul (arriving tomorrow). Will send a full group photo once our team is fully assembled.

Best,
The Belize Team

Sunday August 5, 2018

Today was the first full day ! We woke up and had the breakfast of champions. There was good bread, eggs, sausage, beans and fruit. After we got all of our food in, we had orientation. It lasted 9-12 and we can all say our butts are all sore. For lunch, we ate empanadas which were so good. Then Miss Emily came and talked to us. She explained to us the history and culture of Belize along with her work and personal story/experience. After, we did an activity where we had to find our buddy with a sticky note on our forehead where we couldn’t see. We could only ask “yes” or “no” questions to find the “jelly,” to our “peanut butter,” or “mario,” to our “luigi.” Then, we talked to our partner and found out information about him/her and then presented each other to the group. Dr. Minerva talked to us about the service that we will be doing at Saint Joseph’s School in Cotton tree. We went over the curriculum packets we will use to teach our students. After, we got our groups and went to visit the school. Our groups then split up into our classrooms and we organized our chairs and desks to get ready for tomorrow. When we got back, dinner was ready. We had really good fajitas and great tortillas along with it. After, we revisited information about service and asked questions for tomorrow so we can ready to begin service.

– Lexi and Collier

Monday August 6, 2018

Today was our first day of working with the kids and it was a whirlwind to say the least! The kids were super excited to meet everyone and see their friends after the summer. Since today was the first day, almost all the classes played games and icebreakers. At break, all the classes let out and played soccer and tag. We got back home just in time for a tasty lunch. We then had a workshop on Maya culture, women’s empowerment and education in Belize with the inspiring Miss Annelita Garcia. We ate sweet corn tortillas and made bracelets.

Before dinner, everyone took their swim tests because tomorrow, half of the group will be cave tubing and the other half will be going to the zoo. After dinner, we had service prep to make a plan for tomorrow. Before lights out, we all met with our mentor groups to discuss our days!! Overall, everyone is excited and ready to see all the kids tomorrow!

-Written by the Leaders of the Day: Maddie and Eli

Tuesday August 7, 2018

Starting off the fourth day in our program right, we ate banana muffins and bacon with a side of orange juice to energize us for our exciting day ahead! We took the bus to Cotton Tree Village to start our second day of Service. Being greeted at the gate by our kids was a great way to start our morning 🙂 we spent our day full of laughter and learning (whilst being teased by the kids of course). After our service day we headed back for lunch where we munched on a pasta salad, chicken and horchata (a rice / cinnamon /sugar drink). However, our day didn’t end here as our group split off into two groups for activities; cave tubing and visiting the local Belize zoo! (P.S. Dolly Parton took A photo there!) At the zoo we marveled at the Spider monkeys, Howler monkeys, and the Tapir/Keel billed Toucan (the national animals of Belize).

We fed many of the animals we came across too- such as the Scarlet Macaw and jungle deer. For the Cave Tubing, we drove off into the wild side of Belize, and ventured off with life jackets, rad helmets and our tubes to the caves. It was a combination of swimming, exploring the crystals in the cave and floating around whilst enjoying the beauty Belize has to offer! After our activities, we headed back for service preparations, getting into our groups to prepare for tomorrow’s lesson plans. Following up was dinner; mashed potatoes with seasoned pork, with a banana raisin cake for dessert. We ended off our night with a competitive game of Jeopardy, teaming up with our mentor groups to form the amazing three groups; The Suite Life of Kids and Codi (featuring mentor Codi), Abdul and the gals (featuring only male Abdul) and Baum.com (featuring mentor Emma). After sweat, tears and lots of competitive yelling, our winners ended up being Baum.com, giving an all or nothing in the final round! Before going the bed, we met for our regular mentor sessions and then headed to our cabins and cabanas for lights out! Can’t wait to get started with our next day!

Love, Tiffany and Liesl!!

Thursday August 9, 2018

To start off our day we woke up around 7:30 and had breakfast. The meal for this morning was eggs, peanut butter and jelly, and fruit. As usual we ate quickly so we could get ready for service on time. We left for service around 8:15 (maybe a little later) and headed off to cotton tree school. During the ride we listened to music and talked amongst ourselves until we got there.

Since it was raining all throughout yesterday not many kids showed up but there was still enough to teach and have a good class going. Although there may have been some issues, the school day went well and we all went back to home base talking about some funny or cute thing a kid in our class did that day. At 12:30 we had a great meal of chicken burritos and watermelon.

Everyone had a good time, the dining room was filled with laughter. The mentors got their food and everyone was enjoying the company of their tables. After lunch, we had a while before our next activity for the day began. Most went to their own cabin to take a nap and others went to be with their new found friends. Rejoining at 2:30, everyone was in the classroom excited to learn about the dancing workout. The dance class was the most energetic the group has been, everyone was letting loose and dancing their hearts out. We had finally come to an end with our workout and everyone was sad to say goodbye to another fun filled activity.

After we danced for a few hours, we headed down to dinner. For dinner today we had yellow rice, beef, and tres leches cake. As usual, we talked with our friends and enjoyed the delicious meal. As the day settled down, we went to our mentor groups and did a questionnaire filled with 520 random questions that you could answer. After mentor groups we went back to our cabins and cabanas and packed for the Caye. Overall it was an amazing day.

Grace Avery and Tyla

Saturday August 11, 2018

We started the day at Amor y Cafe for a tasty breakfast before the day of snorkeling. Then, one mentor group went out to the water on the speedboat while the rest took the catamaran. We got a tour of the reef, and all our questions answered about which fish we were looking at by our guide. After that stop we went to a different location and the guides put bait in the water to attract the nurse sharks in the water. We got the opportunity to swim with the sharks then get a tour of the reef in that area.

For lunch, the groups came together on the bigger boat. We had Macaroni salad, Rice and Beans, and chicken. We ate while enjoying the views of the clear blue water. After lunch we all went snorkeling at the coral gardens. We saw sea turtles and stingrays along with many different colored fish. Then we got to free swim in the water before heading back to Caye Caulker. When we arrived in Caye Caulker we went to the hotel to shower and freshen up for dinner. Considering we were all covered in salt from the salt water i’m sure everyone needed that. For dinner we headed over to Roses where we all sat at one long table.

Dinner consisted of shrimp, chicken and vegetable kebab. There was also an option of whole fish or grilled chicken. After dinner we split off in our mentor groups to debrief about the long and wonderful day. Then we had a few minutes to chill or sleep. After that it was lights out!

– by Caroline and Abdul

Sunday August 12, 2018

This morning we woke up to an air conditioned room, on the beautiful Island of Caye Caulker. We walked to breakfast and ate at Amor Y Cafe. We filled out mouths with waffles, fruit, yogurt, and fresh squeezed orange juice. After breakfast we walked in and out of local shops, buying different items for our family and friends back home. After that we walked back to our hotel, packed up, said bye to our air conditioned rooms and ocean view. We walked to the dock to get on a boat and head back to the TEC. Once we reached land the group and I met up with our bus driver Windell. Being the clumsy child that I am, someone threw me the bag of bracelet strings and when I tried to grab it it fell out the window. “The bag went out the window!”, “stop the bus!”, and “the bag!” were the only thing everyone said in sync. Jordan being the MVP that she is, ran back and grabbed the bag for us. Before coming back to our new dorms we made a detour to the Belize sign. It was a beautifully photographic ocean landscape.

Seeing everyone jump around and laughing with each other was an amazing moment for the group. Afterwards we headed back to the TEC, our home away from home. After arriving back from Caye Caulker we finally got to see our new dorms! There’s anywhere from 2-8 people per room which is great because we all get to room with the wonderful people we’ve met on this trip. The rooms are spacious with high ceilings made out of metal so that we can hear the patter of rain throughout the day and night. We have a community shower area-2 showers for 28 girls! So far we’ve been good about sharing and letting everyone have their time. For dinner we had chicken with a tortilla and some coleslaw on the side. The vegetarians got to have some delicious Kebabs. At the end of the day we all gathered for an activity where we were divided based on a personality test into separate color groups where we had to come up with different words to describe our group. After this we had a group discussion about how each group was important in a functioning society to bring a well rounded and diverse group personalities to the table in discussions.

-Bri, Rhiannon and Abby H

Tuesday August 14, 2018

Today we woke up to a gorgeous day with an awesome breakfast of banana muffins, bacon, yogurt, and cereal. Everyone was excited for the last day of teaching but looking forward to tomorrow’s celebration with the kids.

We boarded the bus and drove to service.

A lot more kids showed up at service today. Emily and I are in standard three and we worked on writing numbers and independent reading with the kids.

When we got back to home base we ate lunch which was beef and yellow rice with a side of cabbage salad and cantaloupe. We quickly prepared for our hike today and loaded the buses.

We had an hour bus ride. Everyone was very tired and fell asleep on the bus, Emma and our driver, Windell chilled while laughing at everyone sleeping.

We arrived at the Mayan Ruins – called ALTUN HA. We started by getting the background of the ruins. Then we walked around while having a tour of them.

As our tour concluded we walked up one of the ruins where we got an amazing view of the whole place. After climbing down we went to some souvenir shops. We had some smoothies and ice cream. Some of us tried sugar cane and raw coconut.

We took the bus home and arrived to an amazing dinner. We had shrimp Alfredo with garlic bread one of our favs!

Later we had a talk about the last day of service and the expectations with it. And lastly split into mentor groups and did a thoughtful activity on what shapes us! We are all excited and ready for the last few days!

-Erin and Emily

Wednesday August 15, 2018

After being away for about a week and a half it still amazes me that I’m here! In Belize! As we close out our journey and have our last few meals together we enjoy the lovely breakfast Juan Carlos and the staff made us today. Tortillas, eggs, pico de gallo, fruit and MG’s favorite, avocado. We then get on the bus and admire the beautiful scenery along the way to St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic School.

Unfortunately today is our last day teaching and seeing the cutest kids ever! We start the school day with a few math problems, spelling words and history lessons…the usual. We enjoy every moment with our kids not only teaching them but learning from them. Break ends and the party begins! Loud music! Games! Candy! Smiling faces! everyone is having the time of their life. Loving and reliving every moment we’ve shared with these kids for the past week and a half. As our party comes to an end we clean up and say our goodbyes. Many tears and hugs exchanged from one happy face to the other. Leaving wasn’t easy. Believe me. I got teary eyed. But it was an experience that we will never forget no matter what!

After service we headed out for Marie Sharp’s hot sauce factory. There was no time to stop at home base so we had packed lunches. We stopped at a little playground along the way to eat. We all sat in a circle and talked about the day while eating a lunch of sandwiches with cheese, onion, chicken, tomato, and bacon. Good as always!

After that we were on the road for about an hour and a half. After driving through some beautiful green scenery, we arrived at Marie Sharp’s. First, we got an interesting history talk from Marie Sharp herself! After we learned about how the amazon company got its start, we headed inside for the full tour. We got to see all the different rooms used for making all their products, while also they receiving more information. After the cool tour, we got to go to the tasting room. We were able to try all their different hot sauces as well as their steak sauce and many different jams. They were all delicious from what i had tasted 🙂 Right next door was the gift shop where many of us stopped to buy some cool shirts, sauces, and gifts for friends & family. After we were all done purchasing, we made our way back out the door and got on the bus for the drive back to home base.

After returning to the TEC, we had some downtime where we could all shower and relax in our rooms before a 6:00 dinner of baked potatoes and chicken! Following dinner we had our final mentor groups where we talked about our original goals for the trip and how they have been changed and/or accomplished.

-Shay, Emma and Annika

Thursday August 16, 2018

Today was out last full day together!! It’s crazy how fast time flies when you’re having fun. This morning we woke up 30 minutes later than usual which was nice getting the extra sleep. And for breakfast we had fry jacks which everyone was very excited about!!! We then had time to pack up all of our stuff and clean out cabins. Then we had lunch and split up into groups to do different activities. Emma’s group did creative writing, Jordan’s group did some nature drawings, and MG/Codi’s group did mindfulness activities. After the group activities some of us went swimming and others chilled in our cabins enjoying some of our last conversations and card games with our new friends. After that everyone gathered up in the classroom and we made reflection flags. Where we could write something to remember this trip on a small piece of fabric. Many of us wrote Belize 2018 and had everyone else sign them, some wrote quotes and others drew symbols that have meaning to them from this trip. After that we gathered in our mentor groups for the last time, we had pizza for dinner on our last night. Then we had a closing group discussion, where we reflected on our experience. Where we posed many group questions like what’s next? And motivated us for our next adventure and how we can get involved. After we wrapped up we headed to a group bonfire, where we danced, stargazed, and laughed. A great way to wrap up the program. It was bitter sweet to soak in our last memories together. We all had a blast on this program, and were all so grateful for the memories and experiences that we hold on to forever. A special thanks to all the mentors, for making this program extra special.

Thanks for following us along on this journey!

-Frankie and Summer

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Wednesday July 18, 2018

A stormy day in Belize didn’t stop all 32 students from joining us today in Belize! After everyone arrived we made the scenic journey back to home base, where we were able to settle in and get the basic lay of the land. After a delicious dinner of rice, beans, and stewed beef, it was off to bed in our cozy jungle cabañas. Tomorrow it will be a full day of orientation, getting to know each other and learning more about our time together!

Love from Belize!

Thursday July 19, 2018

Hi everyone! We’re having so much fun in Belize already and can’t wait to share our experiences with you on here! Yesterday was our first full day in Belize and we started with orientation, then met with Dr. Minerva to learn about what we’d be doing in our schools. After that we explored the swimming hole that is on Home base, and ended the day with dinner and an inspiring speech from Mrs. Emily Martinez. The day was filled with bonding time and we’re all already growing close. We can’t wait for the rest of this amazing experience!

Libby, Christina, and Bella

Friday July 20, 2018

Hey family and friends! Today we were off to a kinda early start at a 7:45 breakfast full of pancakes and bacon. We quickly ate breakfast then hopped into the rumbling bus on our way to service!!

Our first time at service was a very exciting day. First, we played soccer, duck-duck-goose, and swings with the kids, who ranged from 2 to 12 years old. Then, groups of three were assigned a grade and also a classroom. Most rooms were pretty messy and unorganized, so we spent the rest of the time fixing up our new room. After that, we said our goodbyes to the locals and were off to the Belize Zoo, which is an hour drive.

The zoo is in the Savannah part of Belize, so we got a change of scenery. At the zoo all of the animals here are rescues, and they are also native to Belize. After looking at all the animals we hopped back on the bus and headed to the dock to catch the ferry. The ferry ride was beautiful with bright turquoise blue water wherever you looked.

After a short walk from the ferry dock, we reached our final destination- Tropical Paradise Hotel. We all got settled in to our rooms of two or three. We walked 5 minutes to Roy’s for dinner. The options were Whole Fish, Veggie Curry, Chicken Curry, or Jerk Chicken. One girl didn’t sign up for a meal so the mentors decided she’d get a whole fish. Everyone got their first cold drink of the trip at dinner which were so refreshing- juice or soda. After dinner, we walked to Scoopdis, a local ice cream shack.

They had the best creamy home made ice cream- coconut and Belizean fudge were the best! Then we walked back to the hotel for the night. We formed a huge circle and gave props/shoutouts to people from the past couple days. All of us were excited we got AC for the next two nights so we enjoyed it while it lasted. We got a break from bugs in our showers too:) Hopefully you heard from us either text, FaceTime or call!

-Jack, Grace, and Victoria

Saturday July 21, 2018

Hello GLA family & friends!

The students had yet another jam packed today here on the beautiful Island of Caye Caulker in Belize!

Students began the day with a leisurely walk to Amor Cafe. A student & staff favorite, many started their busy days with a selection of fresh waffles and eggs. Immediately after breakfast the group walked to the dock, where students either boarded a small speed boat or catamaran to begin the snorkeling excursion. Each student stopped at a total of 3 snorkeling spots where they were able to experience a variety of Caribbean Sea life. An assortment of fish, sharks (don’t worry, nurse sharks!), sting rays, and even a manatee, students enjoyed a day exploring the depths of many Belizean reefs.

Snorkeling wrapped at approximately 4:00 PM where students then were able to relax in their air conditioned rooms and prepare for another dinner in the heart of Caye Caulker. Dinner was enjoyed at Roy’s where many daring students took the challenge of enjoying a whole fish for supper!!(eyeball and all!). Students enjoyed ice cream at a local shop once again and then returned to the resort for debriefing. With a variance of activities, students were able to bond and reflect on the days adventures.

Another day for the books where students were kept busy and sun kissed on this day of underwater adventure!

Bon Voyage Caye Caulker!

-Cate & Alyssa

Sunday July 22, 2018

Hey guys it’s day 5 aka 07/22/18 and we started the day off with some delicious breakfast at Amor y Cafe. We then broke off into our individual mentor groups and continued to shop and relax. At 11:30 We all sat down and had chicken quesadillas. Unfortunately we had to leave the beautiful Caye Caulker on a nice water taxi ride to Belize City. From there it was a three hour journey back to home base, with a quick stop at the supermarket so we could buy food and drinks. Once we arrived at home base we ate dinner and spent the rest of the night preparing for our service the following day. After a hectic few days we finally settled in back at home and got some good rest. We all look forward to the rest of the week helping the children. Signing off

~ Lucy and Devyn

Monday July 23, 2018

Today was our first real day of service!! Our breakfast was healthy and consisted of eggs and biscuits. After breakfast we loaded up the bus and went to St. Margaret’s Community School for service. Devyan, Isabella, and Lucy got to stay on the bus and pick up kids to bring them to service. School began at 9:00 and the groups were split up into six sections because we had fewer kids than expected. After service, we came back to T.R.E.E.S. and had enchiladas for lunch.

Right after lunch we had a Mayan workshop where a presentation of current Mayan culture was given by Ms. Garcia. After the presentation there were two different crafts which included making beaded bracelets and “Belize” bracelets. Then we had a break which was followed by the leaders of the day games. Dinner was next, and included pork stew or coconut stew. Lastly was our mentor groups where we talked about our first day of service and planned for the following day of service.

-Khari & Maggie

Tuesday July 24, 2018

Hi everyone! we started off our day at with a trip to St. Margaret’s school! It was our second day of true service so we were still getting to know the kids. After we finished service we went to a unique and amazing ice cream/dairy store close to TREES. Are our afternoon was filled with traditional Belizean dances. We then all went outside of our comfort zones and had the time of our lives! The evening was relaxing and filled with talks with our mentor groups, reflecting on service for the day.

-Mikki, Ani, & Jenna

Wednesday July 25, 2018

Today was our third day of service at St. Margret’s. We got to know our kids better and figured out our teaching styles. Today was definitely easier and we were able to understand the atmosphere of the school. After lunch, we went to Marie Sharps’s hot sauce factory. We loaded up on every kind of sauce imaginable including spicy jams, and got meet Marie Sharp herself: a eighty year old woman who started the company from her own kitchen. The dinner may have been the most exciting part yet, spaghetti and garlic bread. We are all eager to get back to service tomorrow and attend open mic night!

-by Luke & Audrey

Friday July 27, 2018

Today we had our fourth official day of service and it went super well! The amount of kids that come to school has grown each day. Right after we dropped kids off after school we stopped for ice cream and had lunch and just a little free time before going back for a talk about ethical photography and an early but delicious dinner of comfort food. We had Mac and cheese, wings, and garlic bread. As soon as we were done we set off again to go to an open mic night at a library in Dangriga. There were mostly local performers either singing or reading poetry but a few people from our group stepped up to the challenge too, presenting skits, poems, and songs. After a late night and lots of fun, it was time to head back to home base for the night.

Carli and Mackenzie

(This is Carli and yes I’m okay, mom)

Saturday July 28, 2018

Hi GLA family and friends!

We had another early start to our day with a 7:30am breakfast of spinach eggs, toast, and pineapple. We all hopped on the bus to begin service at 9am. Sadly, today was our last day of service. We taught from 9-12, and this included teaching math, English, simple games, and playing soccer during break. At the end of service, we got to bring our phones out and take pictures with some of our students that we got to know and have some pictures that we could treasure forever. Afterwards, we took the bus back to T.R.E.E.S., while dropping off some kids on the way back. For lunch, we had vegetable tacos, watermelon, and some lemonade. Shortly after, we split into two groups and half of us went to the Blue Hole while the other half took a cooking class.

At the cooking class, students made coconut milk from freshly ground coconuts, and put in vegetables such as onions, peppers, and plantains to make a soup. Students also made fresh pineapple juice, and they took turns mashing plantains to make a mashed potato-like dish. They also made brownies with frosting, which were definitely a favorite. While half of the group went to a cooking class, the other half of us went to the local Blue Hole! The water was beautifully clear, and I️t was a great trip filled with lots of swimming, sightseeing and pictures! Once we finished up at the the Blue Hole, we headed back to T.R.E.E.S. for the dinner that our cooking class made for the whole group! I️t was a delicious Belizean classic: coconut soup with mashed plantains, along with tons of other types of veggies! We also had homemade brownies for dessert with chocolate frosting which was very tasty!

Needless to say, the cooking class did a great job as our dinner was super yummy! After dinner we had our evening activity which was a bonding activity. Each person got a piece of paper to write their names on, and then would hand it around the circle and everyone else would write anonymous compliments or funny memories with the person. Once everyone had written something nice on the paper, the person whose sheet it was got I️t back. The responses were all so sweet and definitely brought our group a little closer together! After that we headed back to the bunks for a bit of chill time before bed check. I️t was another amazing day in Belize, and we all can’t wait to see what the activities have in store for us tomorrow!!

-Emily & Kathryn