Time Capsule Letter

Boy, time sure flies when you’re making an impact on the world (and having fun doing it)!

I know we said this a lot, but you guys left some big shoes to fill. Through these past 21 days every single one of you made such a lasting impression on us mentors, Mrs. Emily, and the students at Helping Hands, not to mention every other person you connected with! From the excursions to the classroom to snorkeling on the Caye, you truly embraced what it means to be a global citizen and exemplified appreciation and gratitude for life. Never forget the tiny hugs and huge hearts of the students. You affected them in such a positive way; just as much- if not more- than they affected you. Side note, I have a suspicion that RayJey’s pants peeing was his way of showing affection.

I sincerely hope that once the dust settles y’all have a chance to not just reflect on the experiences you’ve had here, but to also apply what you’ve learned and be the change. Open the next chapter of your life with your group’s One Meaningful Goal: “Be present, engaged, and productive; seek out opportunities.” Make small changes like making your bed and using your phone less, but also push yourself to find new adventures & give your time to helping others. Remember that whatever you do, be sure to give it all you’ve got, because #yolo.

Remember how quiet Cruz was at the beginning of the program? How Pryanna was horrified of every bug? How reserved you all were? Holy smokes! Y’all came out of your shells with your souls ablaze! You guys started trends with your glue hands and lime juice hair. You trapped tarantulas and swam with sharks. You broke down barriers and traded weird slang. You formed bonds and friendships that can’t be shared by anybody else in the world. From valley girls to Virgin Islanders and everywhere in between, you guys make up the best of the best. Stay rad.

Written by Layni, sentiment felt by all.

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Friday June 28, 2019

Greetings from Belize!

All of the GLA team are so excited to finally meet the 14 students on the Belize: Initiative for Children program. We all started to get to know each other while we waited for everyone to arrive. After a long travel day (or two!), the students arrived to their new home for the next 21 days at the gorgeous tropical paradise T.E.C. Homebase.

The sounds of birds, the scurrying of iguanas, and lush jungle plants greeted the students upon arrival. The next 21 days will be filled with all kinds of new sights and sounds, teaching summer classes at the local school, leadership activities and discussions, fun adventures, and new friendships. Speaking of new friendships, the session was kicked off with a round of making friendship bracelets!

After a delicious dinner at Homebase and letting everyone know what to expect for tomorrow, students settled in after a long day of travel, to get a good nights rest amongst the sounds of the forest, ready for a full day of Orientation and games tomorrow!

June 28, 2019
By: Erica Wrona
International Director
Belize: The Initiative for Children
June 28-July 12, 2019

Saturday June 29, 2019

Hello!

Today we had our first official day on the program. Starting off with orientation and ‘get to know you’ activities, we learned a lot about GLA and each other! For lunch we had the most delicious quesadillas. After that we had a full tour of the beautiful home base (complete with iguana sightings!) and some chill time in the pool.

There was a bug apocalypse during dinner, but we were protected inside the dining room as we enjoyed our stewed beef and mashed potatoes.

Looking forward to a busy day tomorrow out and about in Belize!

Written by Layni (International Mentor)

Sunday June 30, 2019

Today was a great day. we started off the day at 7:45 and for breakfast we had fried dough, eggs and ham, beans, and other fruits. then we headed for Xunantunich mayan ruins which we hiked up to and they were beautiful. after the hike down we got some time to go shop and then we went to lunch. for lunch we ate some delicious rice and beans with chicken and potato salad. after lunch we went to the green iguana project over there they help injured iguanas and we even got a chance to hold, pet, feed them. we ended off our excursions with some ice cream at an adorable little ice cream shop. after returning back home we had dinner which was spaghetti with sauce and bread. for dessert we got chocolate cake. we ended the day with some leadership activities, mentor groups, and shout outs. finally at 9:45 it was lights out.

By: Araba & Aishi

Written by: Pryanna Alper & Jahan Daswani

Monday July 1, 2019

Today was the first day we got to work with the kids at the school, Helping Hands. It was an amazing experience. We all worked with different ages and types of kids and got to get a really good idea on who they are. Today we also got told our after service activities. Half of us went to the pool to relax and swim. The other half got to cook the dinner for the day. It was rice and beans, veggies, beef, potato salad, and orange juice made from squeezing 100 oranges (we made everyone drink the juice). After that we did fun activities that taught us how to manage and conduct an activity with a group of people. Then we ate dinner, which was extremely delicious, and talked about our experiences with the kids for that day. Lights out was at 9:30, but as always the girls did some more bonding in the cabins 🙂

The food today was some of the best we had so far so we called Juan Carlos into the dining room to thank him. For breakfast we had pancakes, oatmeal, bacon, oranges and papaya with orange juice, Nutella (thanks to Araba), butter, and Aunt Jemima syrup. For lunch we had corn tostados with chicken and beans inside with tomato paste and cabbage salad. It was an all around super good food day. As a group we are really thriving and we’re all super excited to continue working with the kids and go on exciting adventures together.

Written by: Pryanna Alper & Jahan Daswani

Tuesday July 2, 2019

Today we woke up, and had some delicious eggs, toast, and sausage. After breakfast, we left home base and headed to the school. We worked with the kids for 3 hours. Last night, we came up with some learning strategies for our classes, so we did our best to apply those. After school, we came back to a delicious lunch of fish sandwiches, and french fries. After lunch we tuned in to the woman’s world cup soccer game!

In the afternoon, we focused our attention on improving our leadership skills with a heated role playing activity. We then were able to relax and cool off in the pool after a long day and had yummy chicken, rice, and cake. To wrap up the day, we met with our mentor groups and did service trip for the next day!

By Alina & Abby

Wednesday July 3, 2019

Early today, several of us enjoyed a morning run and yoga. For breakfast we ate biscuits with beans, cheese, and ham and pineapple juice. We took the bus to school and started our day of service; a day filled with the Little’s peeing their pants and the Standard 4’s learning three-digit multiplication.

We came back to home base for lunch and had nachos with all kinds of toppings. After lunch, we participated in a traditional dance class and learned 3 dances from all over the world. We learned that Brad was the best dancer in the program and Pryanna and Bella can get really into Belizean dance too. After some service prepping for tomorrow, we got to relax in the pool for a while and then met up again in the classroom to continue planning our lessons.

We had diy burritos for dinner and then brought out cake for Erica because TODAY WAS HER BIRTHDAY!
Following dinner we did some exercises to advance our leadership skills and concluded the night in our mentor groups. Overall, today was amazing and we continued to grow our relationships with each other.

Written by Izzy & Ale

Thursday July 4, 2019

Today we had a busy day starting off with an early morning breakfast of eggs, tortillas, and bacon. We then went to service from 9-12 and had a sack lunch with chicken and rice on the bus afterwards. After that we went on an hour and a half drive (including lots of music) to the hot sauce factory which is owned by the only woman in the hot sauce hall of fame. There we had a chance to browse the gift shop and buy an assortment of hotsauce. “Back on the road again” to base camp and on the way we got some amazing ice cream and stopped at “the mall” for snacks. Although we weren’t home to celebrate the Fourth of July we still had an amazing day.

By: Belly
(Isabella von roenn)

Friday July 5, 2019

Today was an interesting and fun day. We started with a breakfast of eggs, sausage, bread, refried beans, and papaya. We were on the bus and left the TEC by 8:15 and we got to Helping Hands a full fifteen minutes before the start of classes. Today we had the parent of two students at the center play the drums for a demonstration which included group songs and dances. After running the classes, we ate tamales for lunch on the bus. After the sack lunch, Mrs. Emily taught us a little about the history of Belize focusing on culture and the education system, including why our service at the center is so important.

At about 2 o’clock we began cleaning the shelves in the back corner of the center, uncovering many cockroaches which were killed with a fly swatter, a belt, a broom and pieces of plastic pipe. We also found a small jean jacket which Jahan tried on and a tarantula hidden in the back corner of the room. To keep it from being smashed by the boys, Bella trapped it in a bucket and Whitney took it outside to set it free.

We did manage to get the shelves organized and the rest of the center swept and clean by about 4 o’clock. On the way home we stopped at Art Box for souvenirs and coffee. For dinner we ate pasta salad, potatoes, baked chicken, vegetables, and flan. Then, after writing some journal questions about service and making service flags to hang at home base, lights were out by 9:30.

-By Carmen

Saturday July 6, 2019

As today was a Saturday, we did not have any service. Instead, we spent the day rotating through different activities. First, Whitney led us on a nature photography hike. We walked by countless trees and plants, stopping at several look outs to take photos with the gorgeous scenery. We learned about rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and other photography essentials. Overall, the hike was very beautiful and we got a great look at the nature of Belize.

Our next rotation was with Erica where we watched a Ted Talk about happiness and then proceeded to make art with nature. The Ted Talk was very interesting and gave us tips on how to be genuinely happy from the inside-out. Next, we went outside to explore nature and make art with varying pieces of nature. For example, we used leaves, sticks, and pinecones to represent different ideas.

Our last rotation, with Layni, was a field day. We played different games such as balancing a lime on spoons in our mouths, a three legged race, and a water balloon toss. The two teams competed in a number of games and it was a great bonding experience.

Finally, we took a trail to the Belize zoo and got to see incredible animals. We got a tour of the zoo, seeing countless animals such as cougars, crocodiles, jaguars, and vultures. Overall, even though we were not doing service, Saturday was extremely fun. We got to walk gorgeous paths, play games, and see exotic animals!

-by Emme Shaffer

Sunday July 7, 2019

Today at GLA, we went on an excursion to the ATM Cave. Before the Mayans disappeared, it was used as a Church for various events. It was about an hour and a half car ride there. When we got off the bus, we went straight to gearing up for an educational adventure! To get to the Cave itself, we had to walk for about 40 minutes through a forest like terrain, which also had 3 rivers.

Once we got to the entrance of the cave, we split up the group into 2 groups of 7, with 1 mentor per group, and 2 mentors getting their own private tour with another guide. The cave itself was 5.5 kilometers, but we only visited 0.5 kilometers of it. In the cave, we had to swim, climb and hike, to get to the “main hall” of our tour. In this part of the tour, we saw many artifacts including clay pottery, remains of sacrificed Mayan’s, and some beautiful stalagtites and stalagmites. There are no cameras allowed in the caves, so we could only get the one picture for today on the way to the caves.

After a long hike back from the ATM Cave, taking the same route we took heading there, we had lunch at the rest site and enjoyed chicken salad sandwiches, plantain chips, and cupcakes. On the drive back, we stopped at “The Mall,” aka the supermarket, to grab some snacks.

Back at home base, we did some brief service prep for the next day and had dinner. After dinner, we did a leadership activity that was definitely a favorite so far. We did an anonymous compliment circle that left a lot of people in tears from feeling so loved and appreciated. To end the night, we met with our mentor groups and then the lights were “out” at 9:30.

By Jahan Daswani and Izzy Werdesheim

Monday July 8, 2019

Today was a special day because we had two birthdays, Aishi and Whitney! We started the day doing service at Helping Hands. We all ran our classes smoothly despite it being a Monday and the kids having so much energy. A radio show even came by to take photos of our classes and talk to some of us.

After service was over, we headed to Home Base for lunch, followed by a birthday surprise. We went to a cool ice cream place called Mooncrust where everyone got drinks called “cholis” (which were basically frappuccinos with ice cream).

After Mooncrust we went back to home base, where we saw Erica in the pool area jumping up and down extremely excited with balloons everywhere. The councilors had surprised Aishi and Whitney with a pool party! We all went to the pool and payed lots of fun games of tug o war and just swam around.

After the pool party we had some time to ourselves to shower, call our parents, etc. Then we headed to dinner and did some very helpful service prep like we do every night before service. Then we ended the day with some time before to hang out and call friends and family, and went to bed.

By: Emme Shaffer and Ale Sigg

Tuesday July 9, 2019

Today we started off our day with a delicious breakfast at 7:30. After that we continued to our daily routine of going to Ms.Em’s for service and after service we had a sack lunch and headed off for the blue hole national park. The national park was beautiful although the water was really cold it was still a highlight of the day.

Over there we also got to see into this dark cave where the longer you looked into it the deeper it got. After the Blue Hole we dried off and were on our way back when our bus broke down. However we did get a new one and finally reached home base. Later that afternoon we had some activities then dinner and finally ended the night with mentor groups.

By: Aishi and Bella

Wednesday July 10, 2019

Hello ladies and gentlemen all over the US! Welcome to another blog 🙂 Today was a pretty chill day to be honest me (Pryanna) and Brad where the leaders of the day. It was a good day of service and after that we broke into two groups. One went to the pool and the other cooked dinner. The pool was much much needed, because it is extremely hot down here.

After that we all got together to do our daily activities. Then we had dinner and played jeopardy!! My team almost won but in the last round we didn’t bet enough money (I really should’ve went with Carmen’s idea because then we would’ve won), but there wasn’t really a prize so we’re chilling ;). Any who, overall great day and great mementoes made as always. Tune in tomorrow for another day with another blog. 👍🏼

By: Pryanna

Thursday July 11, 2019

Today we had service from 9-12. After that we went to the grocery store and stocked up on snacks. Then we went back to home base and swam in the pool. We did service prep and a leadership activity before dinner. After dinner we had mentor groups. We ended the day with a super fun movie night. We watched Rio (one of the greatest movies of all time). That was the day!

– By Alina

Friday July 12, 2019

On July 12th was our last day of service at Helping Hands with Mrs. Emily. First we started out our day with a 7:30 breakfast and then we headed out to Belmopan for service. Since it was our last day we were all very sad to let go of our kids but we all got things to remember them by. We all took pictures with our kids also. After we said our goodbyes to helping hands we headed back to TEC for lunch.

After lunch we changed and got ready for cave tubing. Cave tubing is basically a hike up to a cave and floating through the cave in this gorgeous water. It was honestly so relaxing and refreshing and the water was so blue and clear. After cave tubing we left and showered ate dinner and then had a leadership activity. We also got ready for the Parent empowerment workshop that was on Saturday. Overall it was a great day.

-by Araba & Abby

Saturday July 13, 2019

This morning we had a nice and early breakfast at 7:15. We had a hearty meal of fried dough, eggs, and beans. Then from there we headed off to Helping Hands for the Parent Empowerment Workshop.

Once at Helping Hands we set up for the workshop by cleaning the room up and welcoming parents. During the parent workshop there were multiple inspirational guest speakers who gave all of us a boost of confidence. We also sang the Belizean national anthem and did a skit on the ABC’s of parenting. After the successful workshop we cleaned up and took pictures with Mrs.Emily and the local Belizean volunteers. We then took Mrs.Em our for cholis, ice blended coffee, for a celebration of her success with the parent empowerment workshop.

After the long and hot day we went swimming and hung out before getting ready for Caye Caulker. After a yummy dinner of Mac&cheese and chicken fingers we made informational letters to the next volunteer group about our students. Ending the night we packed for Caye Caulker and went to bed for a full day tomorrow.

-by Hannah and Carmen

Monday July 15, 2019

Snorkeling Day!!! On this wonderful Monday morning we had a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant in Caye Caulker. Next we went to get our snorkeling gear and headed to the boat. Throughout our trip we saw sea turtles, nurse sharks, and even an octopus. Halfway through the excursion we had a yummy lunch of rice and beans with chicken.

After the long day we washed off and split into groups to do different afternoon activities. Some went to see pelicans, sting rays, and seahorses in the wild. Others waited later to see the beautiful sunset. After dinner we all crashed after a long day in the sun.

Thursday July 18, 2019

Last night was an epic evening of sharing memories during the Capstone Showcase, shedding tears, feeling all the feels, an extra long shout-out circle, and an unexpected visit from a bat who joined us in the classroom to bid everyone a fond farewell. To say we will miss the students is a vast understatement. This group is well on their way to change the world for the better. Their positivity, inspiring ideas, laughter, kindness and compassion, and understanding of what it means to be a global citizen, creates a ripple effect out into their communities.

These 14 change-makers have visibly transformed in the 21 days they spent in Belize, and today we send them off knowing that the change starts from within. We witnessed them transform, step up, step out, push past their comfort zones, sing songs from their souls, lead with their hearts, teach with passion and patience, and laugh and laugh and laugh into the stillness of the night. We staff can’t thank this group of students enough, for the way they transformed our own hearts and souls, and took loving what we do to a whole other level.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! We miss you already.

Much love,
Erica, Emma, Layni, Whitney, and Kelli

Time Capsule Letter

Hey there everyone!

It’s been a while now since our awesome adventure in Belize, and we hope you’re enjoying home life. We are hoping you had time to digest all of the incredible things we experienced and are staying connected with the friends you made on the program. We learned so much from our incredibly cute Belizean students and have come so far.

From day one introductions at service, to the end where we built such strong bonds with the children that we didn’t ever want to let go of that last hug goodbye! We made memories that will last forever on adventures snorkeling with turtles, sting rays, and sharks. Many of us faced our fears and overcame challenges on this trip- laughing and crying along the way and coming out stronger on the other side.

We explored ancient Mayan ruins, floated through incredible caves tied to one another for support, and even held iguanas! Everyone remembers the funny moments like calling Emma to come and save the day from giant bugs in the shower, bats flying around the classroom, creating whirlpools, and making terrible panorama photos! I hope that everyone has made a strong effort on our OMG (One Meaningful Goal) to continuously create goals to better the environment.

We hope this program made an impact on you, opened your hearts and minds, gave you a greater perspective on how others live, and inspired you to get involved in more service centered activities back home. We will never forget our time together in Belize and all the individuals who participated and made it so special for us. We love to see you grow, do more amazing things, and continue to be the change you wish to see in the world!

Your Friends,

Danielle, Emma, Jenny, and Julianne ❤️

 

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Thursday August 1, 2019

Hi friends and family,

We have all arrived safely to the wonderful country of Belize! We enjoyed getting to know each other at the airport and getting settled at home base. We just finished eating a delicious dinner of beef, mashed potatoes, salad, and carrot cake and are about to do another activity before bed! We are excited for our orientation and zoo trip tomorrow!

Friday August 2, 2019

Hi friends and family,

After a great night sleep we had breakfast together and started the day with orientation. We discussed community guidelines and played a game of extreme rock, paper, scissors. After lunch we took a hike through the Savannah and went to the zoo! We enjoyed feeding monkeys, tapirs, and some giant birds. After the zoo, we we had a swimming race and a made a whirl pool at the pool in home base. After dinner we did an activity on the Belize/Guatemala territory debate and are about to have our first small group meetings. We are all exhausted but excited for the next two weeks!

Saturday August 3, 2019

Today we woke up and ate breakfast and after breakfast we headed to the Mayan ruins called Cahal Pech. After the Mayan ruins we went to a delicious lunch and had burgers, quesadillas and cold sodas. Then we went to an iguana reserve and got to hold them and see the baby ones. Then we went and got ice cream and walked around the market and bought fruit and some souvenirs. Afterwords we headed back onto the bus and ate pork chops, veggie salad, potatoes and brownies. We played a game of mafia and talked about the environment. We then met with our mentor groups and talked about the day.

Sunday August 4, 2019

Hello friends and family!

Today we started off our day with a breakfast of pancakes, bacon and fruit. We quickly got ready to go on a short nature hike at one of the nearby trails, followed by some volley ball, card games, or a run. Did a quick leadership activity then spent some time playing pool games and cooling off.

For lunch we had rice and beans, stewed chicken, and potato salad with some tropical punch. After lunch we loaded up the bus the headed to our service site to meet the principal and set up our classrooms for tomorrow! We can’t wait to meet the kids!

Before dinner we quickly learned what type of curriculum we will be teaching the kids this up coming week. For dinner we had make-your-own burritos with mango juice and banana cakes. After dinner we meet with Mrs. Emily Martinez who taught us about the history, education and culture of Belize, before heading to our mentor groups to finish the night.

Tuesday August 6, 2019

Yesterday was the first day of teaching at the local school in Cotton Tree. All of our GLA students had fun getting to know their students and getting a feel for what their students knew so that they could gauge what needed to be taught. The mornings consist of math, then a break. The afternoon is spent on reading comprehension and writing. After leaving the school, half our GLA students were able to take a cooking class in the kitchen while the other half cooled off in the pool.

Today consisted of the same things as yesterday. GLA students found today much smoother than yesterday as they knew exactly what they needed to teach. Afterwards, the half that didn’t take the cooking class the previous day were able to. Same with the pool. Before dinner we participated in a leadership activity that involves service reflection that got all of us truly thinking. Dinner consisted of chicken, carrot rice, veggies, and chocolate cake. Now we are heading to mentor groups and service prep to end our day!

Wednesday July 7, 2019

Today, we woke up and enjoyed some fried jacks, scrambled eggs, and fruit for breakfast. Right after that, we headed off to service at cotton tree. We’re all getting more comfortable leading a classroom and it’s really cool to make connections with the kids. At noon, we headed back to home base and enjoyed some pasta salad for lunch.

After a little bit of free time, we were joined by a dance teacher who taught us a variety of Belizean dances-we may not have been very good but we all enjoyed laughing at ourselves. Then, we headed off to the pool to cool off after the intensive class and relaxed with a little bit of downtime. We wound down the night with some service prep, some coconut rice and fish, and a fun new leadership activity. Goodnight!

Friday August 9, 2019

Dear friends and family,

Today we finished our last day of service. We all said our sad goodbyes to our lovely kiddos. We’re going to miss them so much. Then, we came back for lunch and had Mac and cheese and chicken. We then headed to cave tubing. It was quite the adventure and lots of fun. Our guides were incredible and the caves were magnificent. We then made the calming and peaceful journey back to home base.

After that we changed out of our wet clothes and got ready for dinner. For dinner we had stewed beef, beans, vegetables, and upside down pineapple cake. After dinner we headed upstairs for an exciting game of Belize jeopardy. Congrats to the “we’re just going to wing it” team on winning jeopardy!

Monday August 12 and Tuesday August 13, 2019

Dear friends and family,

Our trip is coming to a close, but we spent our last couple days in Cakye Caulker, exploring the island and having a great time!

On Monday, we took a bus ride from home base to the shore, stopping at the Belize sign to snap a few pictures, before boarding our water taxi to the island. Once there, we shopped our way down the coast, and tried lots of delicious food. Then we ate dinner, and turned in for the night after a quick mentor group session.

On Tuesday, we went snorkeling! We spent the majority of our day on a boat, enjoying great music, views, and the gorgeous ocean water.

Now, we’re on our way home, armed with new knowledge and unforgettable memories.

Time Capsule Letter

Remember that first night sleeping in your cabin, surrounded by unfamiliar people and unfamiliar sounds? Can you believe you eventually adjusted to the heat and sweat and food and the night sounds of the jungle?!?! Can you believe those unfamiliar people became your new best friends?

In 14 days everyone came a long way, not only in distance across the world, but in your growth as leaders and change-makers. From being patient and persistent teachers in the classroom, to taking on all the daily tasks as Leaders of the Day (thank you for keeping us hydrated!), to sharing your voice and opinions in discussions, your leadership traits shined through and through!!

Remember when Tayo’s cabin was visited by a jungle squirrel? And those well-rehearsed skits for Literacy Night when the stories from the pages of URAGA came alive upon the stage? And those delish tortillas everyone made for dinner on that hot day after Sports Day? A day in the ocean hanging out with your students? And cave tubing in those crystal blue waters? I particularly loved answering all your inquisitive questions about what us staff have done in our lives, and how you learned about each other on the bus rides, and while swinging in the hammocks, and chattering from your bunks, long after “lights out.” We also celebrated three birthdays together!

My favorite memories were the daily routine: how Leaders of the Day stepped up to get meals moving, play great music on the bus, and make sure we lugged around those huge jugs of water. Arriving to Helping Hands in the morning to see Belizean students eagerly awaiting their GLA students-turned-teachers to get the morning rolling with Mindfulness. I especially loved the daily Shout-Out circle, where all the warm fuzzies were shared, and gratitude flowed.

Shout-Out Circle made such an impact on everyone’s hearts, that it became the group’s One Meaningful Goal: implement your version of the Shout-Out Circle in your lives back home, tell people how much they mean to you, shout them out for the beautiful little things that often go unnoticed. And remember to check in with each other to keep your One Meaningful Goal fresh in your minds and etched upon your hearts.

The final days of the session were bittersweet, wrapping up and saying goodbyes to TREES homebase, and getting some much deserved rest and relaxation on Caye Caulker. Between the air conditioned rooms, a fun day of snorkeling, and delicious Belizean meals, it was a fabulous ending to a fabulous session.

Even though everyone has settled back into the familiarity of their lives back home, we know that it will never be the same. You’ve all grown as individuals and as change-makers, your perspective has shifted, and you’ve made a lasting impression on each other and on the hearts of the students whose lives you impacted with your warm hearts and dedication to service!

We hope everyone knows how loved and appreciated they are…from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being you!

Much love,
Your GLA team – Erica, Dillon, Layni, Whitney, and Kelli

 

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Monday July 22, 2019

Hello!

Today was a busy yet relaxed day, as everybody was flying in to Belize after a full day (or two!) of flying. We played a few games in the airport and got to know each other, then we took in the beautiful Belizean views as we headed to the T.R.E.E.S home base. Once we settled into our cabins we learned about the flora and fauna around us and had some time to relax.

For dinner we had rice & beans, stewed chicken, and coleslaw. Chocolate brownies for dessert! After dinner we talked about what to expect from service, and got to chat with the students from the previous program (it was their last day) about service and their experience. We had an early night as everybody was exhausted from traveling, and we want to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for service tomorrow!

We are looking forward to meeting our final two students who will be arriving today and tomorrow, Omotayo and Mimi, so we can get them up to speed and integrated into the group!

-Layni (program mentor)

Tuesday July 23, 2019

Hello from Belize!
Today was our first official full day in Belize. We had eggs, toast, fresh banana and fresh pineapple juice for breakfast. After that we boarded the bus and drove through the Mayan mountains to Belmopan, the capital of Belize. We had our first day of service at helping hands. After getting to know our students, we headed back to T.R.E.E.S (home base.)

For lunch we enjoyed tacos with fresh pico do gallo. The rest of the day was filled with orientation, service prep, and a presentation on the culture and history of Belize from Mrs. Emily (the heart behind Helping Hands.) We had basil pasta for dinner with garlic bread and a Caesar salad. We are looking forward to service and dance class tomorrow.

By: Whitney Cooper

Wednesday July 24, 2019

Today was our second day of service! Everybody felt much more prepared and ready to take on their class. We got to know our students better and we’re able to really identify their strengths and weaknesses. We have seen growth already and can’t wait to continue.

Back at home base, we participated in a Belizean dance class. We learned many different styles and had a lot of fun with it. Some got to wear the traditional skirts and we all danced to the local music.

We continued the day with a leadership activity, discussing the best and worst leaders in our lives and their traits and habits. After, we met with our service groups and prepped for tomorrow’s class. After a long day we enjoyed free time and ate dinner. We are very excited for tomorrow!

By Alexa Feder, Iman Khanbhai, and Annika Patel

Thursday July 25, 2019

Hey all,

Today we started off with French toast to lead us into service! We had some trouble making the kids cooperate and pay attention, but the little accomplishments made by the kids were very rewarding. After service, we stopped at a china shop (“a little mall”) and stocked up on snacks and some treats for the kids. We came back to lunch and ate sandwiches that were well deserved! With our power out, our schedule required flexibility and we switched our plans from a cooking class to everyone going on a turtle telemetry expedition. We learned about how a machine detects turtles with distinct grooves in their shells.

We then headed over to the swimming hole and relaxed for a while. Some of us got to try out a move called the monckeydoo. This is a position performed by hanging upside down on a fallen tree log overhanging the swimming hole. On the way back, we collected pineapples and limes. We did a role play leadership activity letting us learn how to communicate different opinions in respectful ways. We ended the day with a delicious dinner and a hangout in the possum pad along with our mentor groups!

By Mimi Novak & Riley Buehler

Friday July 26, 2019

Woke up to another beautiful day in Belize!! For breakfast we ate yummy sausage and egg tacos. Then we got on the bus and headed to the school. At the school we all got in our classes and got back on the bus to go to the Philip Goldson House. The house was where he lived and is now a museum. We learned about the history of him and Belize in the air-conditioned museum.

After eating some snacks with the kids we went back to the school and then to home base. Lunch was yummy veggie burritos and then back on the bus to Marie Sharps Hot Sauce Factory where we tested and bought hot sauce and jams. We were surprised with ice cream on the way back to home base where we did service prep and leadership activity. After a dinner of lo mein some of us went on a night hike. It was the perfect end to an amazing day.

Lola & Tayo

Saturday July 27, 2019

Today was a busy day for the GLA students. In the morning they celebrated two birthdays- one amazing student, Jules, and one awesome staff member, Dillon. After a breakfast of pancakes and bananas, the students loaded on to the bus to go hike the Xunantunich Maya Temple. They took fantastic photos at the top of the temple. Following a long but rewarding hike, everyone went to a local restaurant for a hearty meal of barbecue chicken and beans.

Next stop was a nearby hotel where students enjoyed WiFi and spent time at the iguana conservation. From there, everyone went to the local markets to do some shopping and grab some ice cream. After a long day, the students headed back to home base for a dinner of chili and to continue the birthday celebrations with cake. To wrap up the evening, everyone participated in Game Night. Ending a fun-filled day, students returned to their cabins to rest up for their next adventure!

-by Allison

Sunday July 28, 2019

Hey there it’s us again, the young world travelers! Today we had a jam packed day of adventure that included meeting Belize’s most popular animals. We met a tapir, a speckled owl, a howler monkey, a jaguar, and so much more. After the zoo, we relaxed by tubing down crystal blue cave water. Everyone especially loved the cold water and shade that the caves gave us.

By Emilie & Hannah

Monday July 29, 2019

Hi everybody! Today we got up bright and early to go to sports day with Helping Hands and played with the kids for a few hours. After that we came back to the base for a delicious lunch. Then the staff taught us how to make some cultural food including tortillas and zucchini bread. Yum! Following the cooking class we did leadership activities.

The first one we looked at some quotes and said what we thought they meant or what they meant to us. For the second we learned how to use social media responsibly to portray Belize as the wonderful country that we have experienced! Then a dinner made by our very own hands. After we prepared for our service tomorrow and practiced the play we are giving for literacy night with the kids. We are already over the half way mark, it’s crazy how fast time flies when you’re having fun!

– Maddy and Meagan

Tuesday July 30, 2019

Hey guys today was Tuesday and we had a looooonngg day! 😋 We woke up and had a delicious breakfast of eggs, beans, sausage, and fry jacks at 7:30! Then we went to Helping Hands for our last great day of learning and lots of fun! We stayed at Helping Hands and had a filling sack lunch with sandwiches, tiny bananas, and cookies! After lunch we went out to Moon Clusters, a Belizean coffee and ice cream shop, for a refreshing break before we got to work again. Then we met with students from an organization called Tek Time Fi Read, which is creole for Take Time For Read. We split up into groups and talked about our lives and cultures back home with the Belizean volunteers.

We then helped set up for literacy night while we sang and danced to some of our favorite songs. Literacy night is a night that is annually celebrated at Helping Hands where the community comes together to bring a story to life, and honor its author. We had lots of fun helping decorate the stage!! Then we stopped to eat a delicious sack dinner as well. Our dinner was warm tortillas filled with vegetables and cheese. We also devoured an amazing chocolate cake for dessert in celebration of Jordan’s 16th birthday! After finishing dinner, we were all full and literacy night had begun! We watched our students put on amazing performances and even participated in a GLA group play as well which we had practiced a couple days prior. Then literacy night ended and we all headed home to quickly shower and head straight to bed!! 😁

Love your Leaders of the Day
Caro & Jules

Wednesday July 31, 2019

Hey peeps at home!! Wuz poppin?!!

We had an awesome day which began bright and early at our 6:30 breakfast. We had to start early to get in a packed day- our field trip and the last day of school :(We had a nice hearty breakfast with biscuits, eggs, beans, papaya, and orange juice.) We then boarded the bus and met up with our students and their families, here at TREES.

Then we left to our first activity, the Mayan Centre chocolate factory where we met with the rest of the students and families. We took a tour of the factory and got a look into the chocolate making process. It even included taste testings of raw cocoa beans and freshly made chocolate!

After the chocolate factory we got back on the bus to head to the beach. We were all super excited to spend our last day with the students, swimming and playing in the sand. It was a beautiful day and the water was super warm, so we swam for hours. For lunch we had a taco bar, watermelon, chips, and wafers. After some more time relaxing on the beach and swimming, it was time to say our final goodbyes to the kids. We were heartbroken to leave them but we’re so grateful to have had such an incredible experience throughout the last week and a half.

After a great day, we came back to home base and got some free time to relax before a comfort meal of pasta and chocolate cookies. Dinner was followed with mentor groups and a free night!

We’re also all really looking forward to going to the Caye and can’t wait to update you all on the rest of our trip!

-Jordan and Jasmine

Thursday August 1, 2019

Last day at helping hands! Spent the day cleaning the school with miss Emily, and did fun closing activities back at Trees. Everyone has their bags packed, and we are ready to head to the Caye!

Olivia

Friday August 2, 2019

Hey there!!

Today we made our way to the caye for our mini vacation after a long 12 days of service and leadership activities! We started off by driving to Belize city and then taking a water taxi to the island. When we arrived we had lunch and were able to walk around the island and buy gifts for our love ones at home. Then we had some free time where we checked into our hotels and were greeted with air conditioning and our own showers and bathrooms. We were all very excited. After some free time on the island we ended the night with dinner and some yummy ice cream. It was a bitter sweet day because of the fact that we were so excited to go to the island but it means that our trip is coming to an end. 🙁

From yours truly,
Carly and Tapaynga

Saturday August 3, 2019

Hi blog! Today we went to a nice breakfast at the cafe Amor y Cafe and got some delicious food. Then, we headed on over to the boat for snorkeling!! The Catamaran bot was a great way to relax in the sun in between snorkeling adventures. We saw nurse sharks, coral, a sea turtle, and all different kinds of beautiful fish. When we finished up snorkeling we headed over to ice and beans for a coffee run, and then watched the sunset. We got some great pictures! Next stop was dinner and it was at a beautiful tropically designed restaurant with pretty string lights. Then, we headed back to Laka Laka for some souvenir shopping and then had a closing activity and evaluations. It truly was an awesome day!!

-by Keeley O.

Sunday August 4, 2019

We are so sad to see our students go! This group of GLA students made it hard to say goodbye at the end of an awesome summer in Belize.

We ended the session with a much-deserved trip to Caye Caulker, where we snorkeled and went souvenir shopping and ate delicious Belizean cuisine. We hope the flights home aren’t too uncomfortable for those who got a bit too much sun on the boat yesterday!

Much love,
Erica, Whitney, Layni, Dillon, and Kelli

Time Capsule Letter

Hey there everyone!

It’s been a while now since our awesome adventure in Belize and we hope you’re enjoying home life. We are hoping you have had time to digest all of the incredible things we experienced and staying connected with the friends you made in our program. We learned so much from our incredibly cute Belizean students and come so far from day one introductions at service and teaching kids how to read and write and do math to the end where we built such strong bonds we didn’t ever want to let go of that last hug goodbye.

We made memories that will last forever on adventures snorkeling with Manatees and Sharks and many of us faced our fears, laughed and cried along the way and came out stronger on the other side. We climbed to the top of ancient Mayan ruins, floated through incredible caves tied to one another for support and even watched Jaguar do somersaults and held baby iguanas! Everyone remembers the funny moments calling Dillon to come and save the day from giant bugs and of course Jessica’s honey spill heard round the world! I hope that everyone has made a strong effort on our OMG (One Meaningful Goal) to do one thing every day to make the world a better place.

We hope this program made an impact on you, opened your hearts and minds and given you a greater perspective on how others live and inspired you to get involved in more service centered activities back home. We will never forget our time together in Belize and all the individuals who participated and made it so special for us and we love to see you grow and do more amazing things and continue to be the change you wish to see in the world!

Your Friends

Danielle, Ameena, Julianne and Vinny ❤️

 

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Friday July 12, 2019

Hello Friends and Family!

Our students have arrived safe and sound to the beautiful country of Belize. We spent the evening getting settled in and learning about the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society where we are staying. We are excited to get some rest and for our orientation and zoo trip tomorrow.

-GLA Staff

Saturday July 13, 2019

Today we started the day with a bright morning view of the mountains and different wildlife around the home base. We went to breakfast and ate Jellyrolls (which we were convinced were called ‘jolly’rolls), eggs, fruit, and sausages. Then we went to an orientation about the GLA program and the service that we would be participating in. We played a fun activity where we sorted different actions that would result in ‘good behavior’, ‘verbal warning’, or ‘sent home’.

Some of them were so funny: catching a snake to keep as a pet (verbal warning) & hazing someone in the swimming hole (sent home). We ate a delicious lunch of hotdogs, chips and salsa, fruit, and cantaloupe juice! We then headed to the Belize Zoo! It was incredible!! Most of the animals were rescued from local areas, and many of the species are endangered in Belize. A bird peed on several students, Jaguars did somersaults in the grass, and monkeys swung from branches above us! We stopped for ice cream on the way home at a local Dairy and it was really good. Chocolate was the most popular flavor- followed by coconut, banana, and pineapple.

We got home and went directly to dinner to eat rice & beans, stewed chicken, and an amazing vanilla cake! After dinner we did an activity where we wrote letters to ourselves that we will read on the last day. We talked with our mentor groups, and then showered and went to bed. It was a long eventful day but it was super fun!! Everyone got closer and more excited for the rest of the trip.

Sunday July 14, 2019

Today was really fun. This morning we went and did T.R.E.E.S. Workshop which included picking limes, digging up yucca, and picking pineapple. We also went to the swimming hole which was very fun and a nice break from the sun. After lunch we had a very inspiring speech by Mrs. Emily Martinez. The presentation was remarkable and touched everyone’s heart.

We learned to live life to the fullest and use our collective energy to do good in the world wherever we may go. I learned that there are many distractions in life, and it felt very refreshing to listen to someone truly amazing and down to earth. We all loved Mrs. Emily. Lastly we did a lot of service preparation to prepare for tomorrow and to work with the kids. Dinner was the best meal so far.

Monday July 15, 2019

Hello parents,

Today was a great day. We started the morning with zucchini eggs, toast, fruit, and juice. Next, we got on our busses and headed to our service sites. We were at our service sites from 9:00-12:00 teaching and playing with the children. Next, we went to the local grocery store and got some snacks.

After that we arrived at home base and had our lunch. After lunch we learned about the Belizean cultural dance, called the punta. Lastly, we finished the day with a fun group activity, dinner, and service prep for tomorrow. We are excited to continue our service tomorrow.

Tuesday July 16, 2019

Today was the second day of service with the kids! We started off the day with a great breakfast of French toast, eggs, and bacon with orange juice. It was great to continue making connections with the kids we are working with.

When we got back to home base, we had sandwiches with ham and turkey for lunch with fresh squeezed lime juice. Then, half of our group took a cooking class and made tortillas and coconut rice, which we cracked open ourselves! The other half of the group played volleyball, card games, and went on a hike with our local director to see minnows and turtles.

For dinner we had burritos with the tortillas and rice that we made earlier. To finish off the night, lots of us are making friendship bracelets while mentor groups are about to start. We can’t wait to see the kids again tomorrow!

Thursday July 18, 2019

Hey y’all,

Today was a GREAT day, as usual. It was our last day of service and we had to say goodbye to the kids :(. It was bitter sweet but we hope we made an impact on their lives and we hope they will remember us as much as we will remember them. Today for lunch had tacos, which were amazing (Katie thinks they are the best thing she’s ever eaten in her life). In the afternoon we played volleyball and hung out in the yoga fort. Also, for dinner we had a favorite – pasta and garlic bread with brownies. We are about to venture into the jungle for a night hike. Sweet dreams from Belize 🙂

Friday July 19, 2019

Hey all!

Today we drove to the Xunantunich ruins and climbed the stairs of an ancient Mayan temple. Along the way, the bus broke down. But luckily we were able to get a new bus and continue our journey. After, we got lunch at Benny’s Kitchen. We ate chicken, rice, beans, and plantains. Then we split into two groups and half went to an iguana rehabilitation center. There, we were able to hold and interact with iguanas; including the babies! The other half went to the local market and got fresh fruit and shopped for souvenirs. Then the groups switched activities. In the afternoon we drove back to home base, ate dinner, and played the leader of the day activity. Very tuckered out and ready for bed!

Sunday July 21, 2019

Today on our Belizean adventure we started our day off with a filling breakfast meal consisting of pancakes and melon. After breakfast we kicked off our activities of the day with a full group scavenger hunt. We split into teams and solved a series of riddles to win over the grand prize of fresh coconuts. After a bit of down time and lunch we traveled to Belmopan for an afternoon of cave tubing!

As we drifted through the blue transparent waters we experienced the wonders of Belize’s extraordinary caves. To top off our afternoon we visited a local grocery store to stock up on some snacks. To end our wonderful day we enjoyed a home cooked dinner of beef fried rice and tres leches cake prepared by the talented staff!

Tuesday July 23, 2019

Hi Friends and Family!

Today was a busy travel day that marked our transition from roughing it at Trees to the beautiful beachside adventure portion of our trip. We started off with an early breakfast and then embarked on a two hour bus ride to the water taxi that took us to our final destination: Caye Cauker! We were all amazed by the incredibly clear blue water and white sand beaches at the Caye. Upon arrival at our little island paradise, we had a tasty lunch of cheese quesadillas and fries; a welcome taste of home!

Next was an afternoon of soaking up the sun on the beach in front of our hotel and exploring the local shops. Highlights included shopping for touristy T-shirt’s, picking up some handmade jewelry, and happening across some pretty amazing fruit smoothies. We finished up the day with a tasty dinner and mentor groups that included a walk around town to the local ice cream shop. Overall, it was a fun and relaxing day, and everyone is so excited for tomorrow when the real adventure begins: snorkeling!!

Thursday July 25, 2019

Hi Friends and Family!

Yesterday began with an early wake up and tasty breakfast of waffles and fresh fruit. After getting suited up with our snorkeling gear, we boarded a beautiful catamaran and set out into the clear blue Belizean sea for the day. The day was full of snorkeling, soaking up the sun, a tasty lunch and lots of sunscreen reapplication. We saw tons of tropical fish, turtles, and even a manatee! Finally, six hours into our boating adventure we returned to the Caye, happy and a little more sunburned than when we set out.

After an idyllic day of boating, snorkeling, and enjoying our final time together we ended the day with a delicious meal at Food Republic. The day finished out with an appreciation circle, mentor groups, and a final trip to ice cream. Today, as final hugs were exchanged at the airport, we reflected on the two weeks of unforgettable service and adventure behind us. We can’t wait to tell you all about it when we get home!

Time Capsule Letter

Hello Friends,

We hope this message finds you well. Can you believe that just months ago you were living in the rainforest at T.R.E.E.S.? We hope that you all reflect on this trip as an amazing part of your journey in leadership.

Some of our favorite memories include: our hike to Xunatunich, snorkeling at Caye Caulker, T.R.E.E.S. service with Dillon, and cave tubing. Do you remember how happy you were running around and playing duck-duck-goose with the little ones? What do you think think your students are up to now?

Do you remember how bright the stars were at T.R.E.E.S.? Or how cold and refreshing the swimming holes were? Or how about the infamous lime juice? Did you all finally get your queso upon returning home?

We know that we all remember this trip fondly, and we hope that you all do too.

Sincerely,

Dillon, Erica, Kelli, Layni, MG, and Whitney

 

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Wednesday June 12, 2019

Welcome to Belize! All of the GLA staff are so excited to finally meet all 28 students on the Belize: Initiative for the Children program. We’ve been eagerly awaiting getting them settled into their new home for the next 14 days at our beautiful T.R.E.E.S. Homebase.

Lush jungle trees, bright red tropical flowers, and the sounds of a symphony of exotic birds greet the students upon arrival. The next 14 days will be filled with new sights and sounds, service learning at the local school, leadership activities and discussions, fun adventures, and new friendships. We all enjoyed a delicious dinner at Homebase and settled in after a long day of travel, to get a good nights rest amongst the sounds of the jungle, ready for a full day tomorrow!

By: Erica Wrona
International Director
Belize: The Initiative for the Children
June 12-25, 2019

Thursday June 13, 2019

Hello from Belize,

Today was the first full day of our program. We mainly focused on orientation and getting to know our group. The highlight was the jungle tour and the hike through the orchards to the swimming hole. T.R.E.E.S. is a beautiful and diverse environment. Today we learned about the GLA leadership curriculum and about our new friends. We had pancakes for breakfast, enchiladas for lunch, and lo mien for dinner. We got to try fresh pineapple juice. We are looking forward to diving into service tomorrow and for our cooking class!

Bye!

-Written by Whitney – Program Mentor

Friday June 14, 2019

We woke up to a very loud thunderstorm at 5:30 that caused a power outage until later in the afternoon. Some of us went to an early yoga class which was hard, but relaxing. Then we had eggs for breakfast before getting on the bus to begin our service journey at St. Matthew’s Anglican School where we helped paint their school and pick up garbage. Also, we got to play with the kids and get to know some of them.

They were all so happy to see us and were super playful and energetic. We had so much fun with them! After playing games like tag, Simon says, and duck duck goose with them, we went back to home base for a delicious lunch with beans and cheese tortillas. Then, we split into two groups and one group cooked dinner for later while the other group worked with Erica in nature, thinking about our purpose for going on the trip. Next, Dillon gave us a biodiversity talk about all the different species of animals in the area.

It was really interesting. Afterward, we got some free time and relaxed on the hammocks before dinner time. For dinner later, we got chicken tortillas that were amazing! Finally, for my personal favorite part of the day, we listened to Mrs. Emily, a teacher and education leader throughout Belize who came to inspire us and teach us about the history of Belize. We all felt so inspired and happy to be doing what we are doing after her talk. After the talk we were all exhausted and went to bed to prepare for another fun day ahead!

By: Elle Snyder

Saturday June 15, 2019

Hi from Belize!

Today is our fourth day in Belize and a fun one too! We started off the morning with some yummy pancakes and fruit salad before getting on the bus to go to St. Ignacio. There, we broke into two groups; one going to the local market and the other going to the iguana project.

At the local market there were tons of vendors selling cool souvenirs and local fruits and veggies. Parents, get ready for some cool gifts!;) At the iguana project, we learned about the threatened species, green iguanas, and got to play with them. Some even crawled on top of our heads!

We then headed to Benny’s Kitchen, a local eatery, to eat a yummy lunch of chicken and rice. After relaxing for a bit, we went to Xhunatunich and viewed the Mayan ruins. It was really cool! We climbed all the way up the highest ruin and got to take some really great pics. And then the best part of the day, WE GOT ICE CREAM!!! It was a good reminder of home:)
We went back to home base and after a quick dinner circle had some yummy pasta for dinner. It was a very hot and long day but super super worth it! Thanks for reading!

– Ella and Siena 🙂

Sunday June 16, 2019

Today we started with bfast at 7:45 and then loading up the buses to go to cave tubing! When we arrived, we got in our bathing suits, helmets, inner tubes, and life jackets. Then, as a group, we began our hike up to the cave. It was not a hard hike, but rather a peaceful walk as we saw the jungle and the river. We took a nice swim in the river before getting strapped together in groups of 8 to go through the cave. Being in cold water felt absolutely incredible.

Going through the cave was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had. Our guides explained the carvings, bat holes, and waterfalls throughout our slow travel in the darkness. After the unreal cave tubing, we headed back to home base for a delicious lunch. Then, our afternoon consisted of half the group cooking chicken, beans, coconut rice, and brownies with the kitchen staff while the other half participated in a nature meditation activity. We ended our day with a great meal and looked forward to starting service the next day.

-by Camille Cox

Pictures by Camille Cox and Grace Charwat

Monday June 17, 2019

Today started with a yummy breakfast consisting of fried dough, scrambled eggs, refried beans, and papaya. We then participated in a leadership activity where we were split into groups with the objective to create a sales pitch for a marketing company that would then be presented to the judges. Every five minutes, each group was given a new product to market towards.

Through this activity, we learned the importance of adaptability. After lunch, the group headed to school for our first day of service and lessons with our classroom. Getting to see the kids excited faces and joyful attitudes was the best part of my day; their ambition to learn was incredible to witness. We ended the night with a filling dinner and worked on tomorrow’s service prep and mentor groups.

Written by Bri Stunda

Tuesday June 18, 2019

This morning, we woke up to a delicious breakfast of bread with peanut butter, refried beans, and fresh orange juice. After breakfast, we hiked down to the river here at home base to gather macro invertebrates to take back to the T.R.E.E.S.’s lab. Next, we had some free time before lunch, where we had tacos and refreshing watermelon juice.

After lunch, we traveled back to school to begin our service for the day. We finished painting the school’s church before joining our classes for teaching time. Playing with the kids was the highlight of my day. They have the most amazing smiles and hugs. We ended our busy day with a delicious dinner and bonding with our mentor groups.

Written by Emma Ashton

Wednesday June 19, 2019

After a delicious breakfast of cheesy potatoes, eggs, melon and papaya, we were all ready to start our morning service project. Everyone got their hands dirty weeding, planting, picking limes and working with the chickens and compost process. Climbing back up to home base before lunch, many of us rinsed off in the showers and some also broke open coconuts as a refreshing drink/snack. For our second meal of the day, we enjoyed tostadas with beans, cheese and purple cabbage, and hydrated ourselves with watermelon and carrot juice. Once we finished eating and got ourselves prepared to go, we were on our way back to the school we have been volunteering at.

For about two hours we all spent time with the different age groups of students. Some of us taught lessons in the classrooms, while others spent time playing and talking with the kids. After our work and play with the kids, everyone was delighted to indulge in ice cream at Country Barn before returning to home base. Following dinner circle, we had a lovely time eating pesto pasta, salad and garlic bread with brownies and lime juice- compliments of those who picked the limes this morning and the hard work of the kitchen staff.

The following hours before lights out consisted of mentor groups in which we all played games that we could lead the students in when we go back to the school next Monday. Some took a night hike through the forest as well before getting to sleep. Tomorrow we will be going on an adventure to a new town where we will explore and take a dance class!

By: Gabby Shaul

Thursday June 20, 2019

Today we visited the Ignacio cacio library in Dangriga and helped clean books. This library was very unique considering it had an ocean view! Right after we were done with our service at the library we walked over to the beach.

Next we took a trip to the famous Marie Sharp’s hot sauce factory. Here we got to sample popular hot sauces and purchase many souvenirs.

By: Payton Richardson

Friday June 21, 2019

Today we left T.R.E.E.S. to begin our weekend excursion! We went to the Belize Zoo and saw many local animals such as jaguars and monkey. We also fed toucans and tapirs. Then we enjoyed lunch at the zoo before heading to Belize City to embark on the water taxi. While waiting, we walked to the Belize sign and had a mini photoshoot. Finally it was time to board the boat. We enjoyed an hour of beautiful Caribbean water before arriving at Caye Caulker! After a short walk to our hotel, we settled in, and then started dinner. Over fresh local foods you could hear chatting of AC and wifi! We ended the night with some souvenir shopping and ice cream on the beach. We went to sleep, dreaming of tomorrow’s snorkeling excursion!

Photos coming soon!

-Kat, Mariah, Addy

 

Saturday June 22 and Sunday 23, 2019

Hello from Belize!

We had an adventure filled weekend at Caye Caulker! On Saturday we went on a catamaran all day. We saw sea turtles, sharks and a Tonna fish and some really pretty coral! Lots of the group got some sun! We ate some tasty rice and beans, chicken and an assortment of vegetables! Although a typical meal, being on the water made it taste even better. Afterwards we were able to walk to dinner on the small island, which doesn’t have any cars, only golf carts!

At dinner there were three options of either fresh fish, pasta with garlic bread and chicken. Then we hit up the homemade ice cream shop which was delicious and then made some stops to pick up some souvenirs. This morning we took the advice of the islanders and “took it slow” and we went back to our favorite breakfast spot, Amor y Cafe. We did some final last minute shopping and packing before starting our trek back to our home base at T.R.E.E.S. Overall the visit to Caye Caulker was so much fun and everybody had an amazing time! We’re looking forward to our last day with the kids tomorrow and coming home!

Written by Kate and Audrey

Monday June 24, 2019

This morning we woke up to the song “who let the dogs out” around 7 am, and went to a delicious breakfast consisting of cheesy potatoes, papaya salad, and orange juice. Right after breakfast, we went to our last day of service. The group split into different tasks, such as finish painting the church, gardening, and planting trees. But most importantly, we played with the children. Everyone was smiling from ear to ear, and any thought of parting was pushed to the back of our minds.

Leaving the school was sad, but a sense of fulfillment flowed from our hearts. After lunch, Wilson promised us that the kitchen would cook whatever We went for dinner and everyone voted on tacos, zucchini bread, and lime juice. “We are really leaving” sank into us as we wrote parting words for everyone. Looking at all the signatures and all the good wishes was very emotional. At 4:30 pm the different cabins had a cleaning competition, and we rushed trying not to be the one to clean the bathrooms. We finished the day with dinner circle and mentor groups. We are sad, but thankful for our time here in Belize together.

-By Helen