Belize day 8 (Lindie Dollery):

Today was unbelizeable!  The other students and I started the day with breakfast at Caliente restaurant in San Pedro Belize at 7 am.  Since we didn’t want to be late for snorkeling, we all had the same breakfast which consisted of eggs, bacon, tortillas, and salsa.  The bacon was my favorite part of course and it was amazing.  Once we were finished eating breakfast, all of the students and supervisors that were going to get in the water on the expedition were fitted for flippers and given snorkel masks. 

This snorkeling trip was the highlight of the trip for me and took place at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.  The first location was one of the most restricted parts of the reserve and we were instructed not to step on the coral.  After I had first jumped in, I put on my snorkeling gear and looked into the water.  The first thing I saw was some sort of fish less than a foot away from me!  We traveled around the coral reef in two groups.  The first consisted of 6 people plus the tour guide and the second consisted of 8 people.  I was in the second group.  Our snorkeling guide directed us around the Hol Chan Cut.  Because the “cut” is protected, the populations of different fish are plentiful and we were able to see big schools of fish including snapper.  Most of the time, the fish would just swim underneath or around you.  There were also lots of jellyfish that do not sting people.  We were able to touch these and play with them.  They felt really squishy.  The snorkeling lasted around an hour until we were on the boat once again and headed to the second spot of the trip.

Shark Ray Alley was the second sport on our snorkeling trip and has previously been voted as one of the seven best animal dives in the Caribbean Sea.  This dive site was previously used by fishermen to throw out the left over parts of the fish that they had caught and cleaned.  After years of this, Shark Ray Alley was born.  The Nurse sharks and stingrays circle the boats in anticipation of food.  Even though these animals are looking for food, they were very docile and careful with the snorkelers.  The dive instructor would even grab a stingray and bring it to the surface so that we would be able to touch and feel it.  Stingrays apparently feel really soft and squishy.  We were also able to pet one of the smaller nurse sharks.  Nurse shark’s skin felt similar to sandpaper.  There were also other schools of fish at this location that would swim among us and were all around us. 

The dive instructors were incredibly knowledgeable about the marine life that we saw as well as the different corrals that we passed by.  The skill that it takes to memorize all of this information and be able to tell you what they eat and which animals and plants are safe is impressive.  When we left Shark Ray Alley, we traveled the 15 minutes back to San Pedro and had made it back by 11 am.

When we arrived back at the Spindrift Hotel, we were tired and ready for lunch and a nap, but had to wait until noon for lunch.  We all went back to our rooms and took a shower and then waited for lunch.  Lunch at Caliente was once again amazing and I personally had the Shrimp Tacos.  They were amazing and definitely the right choice of food.  After lunch, we went on another stroll through the town and found a spot on the beach that was full of vendors.  One lady was selling bracelets and jewelry and was the highlight of the shopping.  She travels to different places to get beads for her to design jewelry with.  The turquoise came from Arizona and the pearls came from a freshwater clam farm in Belmopan.  The vendor made some of the girl’s bracelets and adjusted other ones to fit better.  Her prices were still low too.  There were also seashell salsa bowls.  The vendors would have a conch shell and then cut it to make it into a little bowl.  I thought this was cool and had never seen anything like it

When we were once again back at the hotel, 4 other girls and I decided to go back out in the ocean.  This time, the 4 other girls were kayaking while I was paddle boarding.  The area were we started this trip at was right in front of the hotel and there were boat docks all around us.  While we were out, the boats continued going out to a tourist destination or coming in from one.  We saw fishermen and other boats passing by us.  For the girls in the kayak, it wasn’t a problem.  I on the other hand, was standing on a board similar to a surfboard with only a paddle.  It was definitely a test of my balance when the wakes from the boats came towards me.  I am proud to say I only fell down four times in the one hour that we were out in the water.  While we were out there, we were only a short distance from the shore, but we still saw a Spotted Eagle Ray or 2 and possibly a shark.  I am thankful that I did not fall on top of the shark. 

Once we were done paddle boarding and kayaking, we had a 2-hour break until dinner and decided on a short nap before we began our homework for the night.  When it was time for dinner, we sat down and ate the delicious food.  After eating, we went back up to our rooms to work on homework and to get ready for presentations for Monday.  Tomorrow, we can have a lazy morning and then we are headed back to Belize City to prepare for another busy and fun week. 

Day 7:January 8, 2016 [San Pedro] (Nancy Juarez)

Today I was determined to watch the sunrise before leaving Placencia even if that meant watching it from my room. Therefore, my day started at 6:00am (which I consider to be early but I knew that the sunrise would make it all worth it). I was right! The sunrise was just as beautiful as I imagined it to be. I honestly believe that the people who get to wake up to this everyday are very lucky. As I watched the sun rise, I couldn’t help but feel very fortunate to be here. It amazes me that this place exists and I knew nothing about it.

After I watched the sunrise, I headed back to the room to get ready for the day. Today our itinerary included: breakfast at the Cozy Corner, traveling to Belize city to take a ferry (water taxi) to San Pedro and exploring San Pedro. At around 7:15 A.M, we headed to have breakfast at Cozy Corner. The restaurant was full and very busy. However, the waiters tried their best to get everyone’s order and food out on time. Unfortunately, not everyone received their food on time and we had to take our breakfast to go. Nonetheless, eating breakfast in the bus didn’t stop me from enjoying the delicious waffles. Although, we were all so sad to leave Placencia, we were excited to arrive at San Pedro. The drive from Placencia to Belize City was about a 3-hour drive, however, the amazing views throughout the ride made the trip go a lot faster. This is the second time I saw all of today’s beautiful scenic road but today I noticed different things that I didn’t notice the first time. We passed through a school and saw children having lunch outside. It is so interesting to see how different schools are here than back home. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone in the U.S have lunch outside except when we went on field trips. I am glad the children here in Belize get to appreciate the nature and the beauty of Gods creations while having lunch.

We then arrived at Belmopan for a quick restroom break. As we were leaving Belmopan and headed to Belize City, I noticed a young man carrying what seemed to be a weed eater while riding a bike. I will continue to say in every blog, that I admire so much the Belizean’s who find nothing impossible. I have no idea how he managed to balance himself on that bike with only one hand but it was nice to witness that it is possible.

An interesting thing we learned during the bus ride was that Belize used to have 3-4 stoplights years ago and now only 1 exists, that is located in San Ignacio. I couldn’t believe it. I can only imagine how crazy it would be if the United States had no stoplights.

About 3 hours later, we finally arrived to Belize City where we planned to take a water taxi to San Pedro. As soon as we got off the bus, a lot of tour guides and taxi drivers were trying to convince us to get a tour or a taxi with them. This city is very big on tourism so that explains why so many people are in that business. We were stamped on our arms in order to be able to get on the water taxi. As we entered the water taxi, I noticed a lot of people were traveling with our group. I believe a total of 50 or more were in the water taxi (I know! I didn’t think that would be possible). As the water taxi passed through the sea, I couldn’t help but snap a few photos of the gorgeous bluest water I have seen so far. The breeze coming through the window came perfect with the hot weather. As we continued with the ride, the water got more beautiful and bluer. The water was so perfect that we were able to see what was underwater. Being able to see and experience this is invaluable. The water taxi’s first stop was at Caye Caulker where everything looked beautiful. About half of the people who were in the water taxi got off here. Something interesting we were able to see was how fast two young men were at unloading luggage’s and packages from the water taxi.

 

After people were dropped off at Caye Caulker, the water taxi headed to San Pedro, which was about a 30-minute ride. Again, the water continued to get more and more beautiful and indescribable.

 

We finally arrived at San Pedro, which is the biggest tourist area in Belize. Everything about San Pedro is beautiful. Belize City, Placencia and San Pedro really do not disappoint. As soon as we got off the water taxi, we headed to have lunch at Caliente Restaurant. Today’s lunch consisted of enchiladas de mole (chicken). I must say that those enchiladas were delicious. It reminded me of my Grandma’s mole, so I was very pleased with it. After we ate, we headed to our rooms to get ready to explore San Pedro.

A group of 5 of us headed to shop at the gift shops for souvenirs and to see what San Pedro had to offer. Like Placencia, San Pedro is full of little shops perfect for buying our loved ones souvenirs. My favorite part about entering a shop is being able to admire handmade items (wood carvings, bracelets, seashell plates and spoons and etc.). While wandering around San Pedro we noticed a lot of commotion. The streets were filled with people running around, walking fast, people driving their golf carts (I assume it’s the main form of transportation here in San Pedro) full speed and streets being closed down. I immediately began to wonder if something special was occurring or if maybe something wrong had occurred. As we were still walking through the streets confused, I decided to ask 3 boys what was going on. They informed us that there was a bomb threat and that everyone was trying to leave as fast as possible. We quickly decided to follow the route in which the majority of the people were taking to escape this bomb threat. We then arrived on the other side of the street and saw a beautiful spot. A perfect sunset and perfect timing.

As we walked into more shops and wandered around some more, I noticed so many people speak Spanish. I really enjoy knowing that I can speak my dominant language with people from a different country. We then stopped at one particular shop located on the side of the street where a man sold his handmade items. He was very nice and negotiated with us letting us have handmade bracelets (that looked like they took a lot of time to do) for only $2 US. I didn’t anticipate buying any bracelets but for some reason my heart told me to buy from him. My friends and I ended up buying a total of about 13 bracelets and he was very grateful. I am very weak when it comes to people who I see working so hard for a living, so this man really touched my heart. I am glad that we were all able to contribute to his earnings today

We then ended up at a place close to the sea that looked like a Plaza filled with food stands. Everything looked so yummy and reminded me so much of Mexico.

After we finished shopping, we headed back to the hotel where we arrived to a surprise. The hotel was closed due to the bomb threat and the guy at the entrance was not allowing anyone in for safety reasons. For that reason, we were advised to stay away from the hotel and were directed to a local bar close by. We ended up having our dinner at the Bar to ensure that we were safe. The people at the Caliente made all of the dinners we had preordered to go. My dinner for today consisted of Coconut rice and Chicken Jacinto, which was basically chicken with peppers, a slight amount of tequila and chipotle. It was delicious. 

Overall, today was an interesting day filled with a lot of exploring and traveling. I am excited to see what other things San Pedro has to offer.

-Nancy Juarez

Belize: Day Six (Krystina Perez)

I woke up in beautiful Placencia, Belize to loud banging that sounded like pots and pans and screen doors flapping. I walked out onto the balcony that overlooked the kitchen here at the Cozy Corner hotel and the staff was hustling to get breakfast plates out to the tourists. I found the sounds to be perfectly fitting for my current state of hunger. It was as if the kitchen staff was calling me down because it was time to eat. I stayed on the balcony a few minutes and looked out at the gorgeous blue water and thought, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

 

 

 

I rushed back into my room to change for breakfast where I ordered eggs and the large fruit plate that did not disappoint. The fresh fruit experience in Belize is like no other. Nothing compares to fruit being cut fresh for you in the morning.

 

I sat and chatted about plans for the day with my girlfriends on this trip. They have helped make this experience more fun than I could have ever tried to have on my own. Studying abroad would not be the same without great people to share it with. I cannot imagine these girls not being a part of my life as friends and colleagues in the future. We had a free afternoon today so we decided to explore Placencia on foot and get a real feel for the city and its people. 

Placencia is a city with a lot of merchants and very pleasant people. We met a few locals today and last night that stressed to us over and over how Placencia is a place of peace, love, and respect. I would have to agree.

I noticed while walking up and down the paved dirt roads that everyone was dressed very casually. I loved the feeling that there was no need to impress anyone. Everyone was there to do a job or were touring just like myself and my friends Gaby, Karina, Celina, Kat, Nancy, Jessica C., Valerie, and Denise. Many people all over Belize use bicycles as transportation. It is something I have admired since day 1 in Belize. As soon as I noticed how many people rode bikes daily, I also noticed how most of the people around here are in pretty good shape.

Many of the merchants were willing to negotiate a few dollars off the price of souvenirs. I sat and watched while this young woman was hand-weaving a table runner with beautiful pink and purple threads. Each merchant I have met at every city we have stopped at draws the line at negotiating the hand-woven cloth pieces. I asked the young woman how long one large table runner took her to create, and she said 20 days. She had hand-woven every piece that surrounded us in her store and announced it with much deserved pride.

 

 

 

 

I bought a lot of other souvenirs to take home to my family. In my opinion, what makes Belize souvenirs so special is the fact that many items are hand crafted. One shop was full of wooden pieces that had been hand carved by a man. If you asked him to engrave it he would take the item outside and use an electric carving tool. The lady he handed his hand-crafted bowl to was raving about the merchant’s work, and he was very humble in accepting her compliment.

 

After visiting the shops surrounding the Cozy Corner, the girls and I made a pit stop for some Gelato that everyone from previous trips to Belize from Texas A&M University-Kingsville recommended. It was my first time ever having Gelato. It was the most refreshing treat to have on such a hot day after walking around Placencia for a few hours. It did not disappoint. I understand why people love it so much now.

 

 

We finally made our way back to the Cozy Corner restaurant that sits on the oceanfront. I sat down to cool off with a fruit beverage and then made my way into the ocean. I ran in and dunked my head in the cool, salty water. I have never experienced this type of feeling at the beach. The water was clear enough to see my toes. The water was calm and the sand was thick at my feet. The sand on this beach has a thickness to it and flakes right off your feet so you’re not stuck with the tiny dirt feeling sand that will not come off without water. I wish all beaches around the world were as beautiful and soothing as the beaches along Placencia.

I had popcorn shrimp and fries for lunch today and a burger and fries for dinner. I love all the unique tasting Belizean cuisine I have had the past 5 days, but I was longing for a taste of home today so I skipped out on the full Belize experience for a day. However, I have had some of the best meals of my life here in Belize. At dinner, the girls at my table had some conversations with our professor, Dr. Al, about life and families. Every night is a different topic at any table I sit at. Some of us discuss how homesick we are and how we are dealing with it. Others discuss exciting moments from the day and hanging out for the rest of the night. Some girls discuss plans to wake up and go for a run along the beautiful beach at sunrise. I am enjoying being a part of so many different conversations with all the girls here. It makes them feel more like family, and I think that has been the biggest contributor to helping us enjoy our limited time here in beautiful Belize.

I made my way back into the water one more time before sunset with all the other SGC girls. We relaxed and had some laughs while splashing around in the shallow end of the ocean. Some girls braved the deeper end where the sand drops off a few feet. I admit that I cannot swim well so I kept my feet closer to the bank.

The sun shined perfectly down on us today. I am crossing my fingers that we continue to have such amazing weather, especially during our long trip back up to Belize City in the morning where we will catch a water taxi to the island of San Pedro, the biggest tourist area in Belize.

Belize; Day 5 Gabriela Lopez

This morning I woke up to my roommate’s loud cell phone alarm. After dismissing mine at 6:00am I had no alternative but to wake up to hers and start the day. We got ready, finished packing some things, and went down to eat breakfast. I was so happy to see the lady at the breakfast bar making egg omelets on the spot. The lady used natural brown eggs, ham, and fresh cut vegetables to make them. She poured it all in a pan and then flipped it several times in the air (I was pretty amazed by that). I can't think of any hotel in the states that makes omelets with natural eggs like that and that is something I am appreciating a lot from Belize, their food is very natural.

After breakfast we gathered in the lobby to get on the bus. Today we had planned to travel straight to Placencia, however, there needed to be a few adjustments on our schedule and therefore we got the opportunity to visit the University of Belize bookstore in Belmopan.

During our ride to Belmopan we made a quick stop at a market to buy snacks and use the restroom. In order to use these restrooms the owners charged a fee of 1 dollar in Belize, which is equivalent to .50 cents in U.S. money. This reminded me a lot of Mexico. When I was much younger and I visited my family in Mexico regularly and we always had to pay a small fee to use the restroom in pretty much any store. Although it is a very small fee, this still makes me think of how fortunate I am to not experience this in the states. A nice restroom is something very convenient that we can find in any rest stop or gasoline station.

While at the University bookstore I purchased a University of Belize cap for my dad since he loves to wear them. We then hopped on the bus and drove off to Placencia. The ride to Placencia was definitely the most intriguing part of my day. To begin with we were able to travel through the Humming Bird Highway. According to Ms. Garcia this highway is “one of the most scenic highways in the world” and it was very true. The highway was absolutely amazing! As I witnessed this phenomenal view I could not help but think about how this whole world was created. I thought about my morals and values and the belief of a “higher being” which I call “God.” The nature in this country is very amazing. This is the first time in my life to travel this far away from home and the things that I have experienced so far are beyond my imagination. As we traveled farther I saw small houses and villages that were in the middle of nowhere. Most of these houses were made from scraps of wood or tin. There were also women standing on the edge of the road selling corn (known as “mazorca” in Belize). This shows me how hard they work. As we drove, I thought of how the people worked and what they did to survive and provide for themselves and their families.  When we got closer to Placencia, we were driving in between the Caribbean Sea and the Lagoon and saw houses that looked like mansions (those that millionaires can only afford). While passing through the villages we could all see the different living conditions. This made me think about the things I have back at home and the city life in the states. If that were I, I don’t think I would have known about another life. Those people grew up living in those conditions and that’s their life. It makes me think about the life I have in the states, and how all the materialistic things we have are not as necessary as we make them seem. I spoke to the bus driver for a bit and he explained that he came from a family that had very little. He stated the people do what they can with what they have and that’s the way they make it through.

            When we reached Placencia it was like seeing the scene of a movie in real life. The beach itself was amazing. Although I live close to South Padre Island it cannot compare to the scene here in Placencia. The sand the water and the trees are very different and incomparable. For dinner I had a “Chicken Placencia” at the Cozy Corner and had the opportunity to have a long conversation with “Victor” our bus driver. As we conversed I found that he is also one of those people that live from what they have and little by little build themselves up. He shared great stories of how he has pushed through to provide for his family and give them a better future. This made me think about my parents back home and how they have made many sacrifices for my sisters and I to give us a better future. This day was very eye opening and reminded me of many things I should stay grateful for. 

Best, 

Gabriela Lopez 

Belize: Day Four (Kathleen Aguado)

In the past four days of our stay in Belize City, today was the first morning we were granted to sleep in past 8 am. Despite the fact that our meeting time was set at 10 am, I felt the need to get out of bed earlier than planned because my internal alarm clock would not let me go back to sleep. To begin our day, we had the usual buffet styled breakfast prepared at the lobby that consisted of scrambled eggs, piggy in the blankets, fruit, sausage, beans, diced potatoes with sautéed onions and peppers and more! Even though the selection has been pretty much been the exact same since our first day, I still found it as delicious as when I first tasted it!

After breakfast, we all headed out to the lobby to load up in what I thought would be a bus for a large number of girls, but I was wrong. Waiting for us at the driveway of the hotel was a 13 seater van, which made me wonder how in the world would all 18 girls would fit in such a tight space. Never underestimate a van full of women because we got the job done by sitting on each other’s laps and sitting on the steps of the van with an empty seat to spare in the front! Unlike the previous adventures, our destination was merely less than 5 minutes away instead of the hour-long drives across town.

Once we arrived at the Museum of Belize, a 23-year-old man named Sylvian Wallace welcomed and helped us get settled for the tour.  With poor lighting and hallway like paths, the museum gave me an eerie feeling that made shivers go down my spine. The museum was divided into five sections with a designated area to describe the Belizean history and culture. The sections included the development of transportation in Belize, Mayan exhibit, insects of Belize, bottles and money, and the Belizean jades.

TRANSPORTATION

Prior to the established roadways, transportation in Belize was by water, such as riverboats and canoes. Interestingly, the use of riverboats was during the time when Belize was considered to be a part of  “British-Honduras” so the flags that were raised were called the “Union Jack”. On the other hand, railroads were developed as a mode of transportation for logwood and produce but were soon after replaced due to health and safety issues. There were four major railways found in Belize, which included the Vaca Falls, Stann Creek, Valley Railroad, and Gallon Jug Railway. Eventually, the railways became too dangerous and were not reasonable modes of transportation due to the high number of deaths on the job.

Going back to the museum itself, Mr. Wallace stated that the museum was not your ordinary museum. Developed in the 1850’s, it was actually what was left of a prison. Of the entire museum, there was only one preserved cell that we got the chance to look at. Let me just say, the prison cell was so small that my hands could reach each side of the wall when I spread them out. It was basically the size of a small bathroom but without the bath! There were also no toilets or air conditioning in the cells! Although they committed a crime, the living condition in a prison in Belize is quite depressing. Having to live with five to six other roommates crammed is unimaginable to me.  As compared to the US prisons, inmates are granted beds, and have their own cells and bathrooms. In addition, the prisons back then performed what they called “flogging” (which consists of being strapped down on your stomach on a “donkey bench” and whipped with brass or metal) if the inmate committed a crime such as rape or abuse on a female. Not to mention, executions were performed in the same building we were in, which inevitably gave me the chills. That is what makes the place so unique and kind of creepy! There were a total of 19 executions, 18 of which were male and one female.  

           

According to Mr. Wallace, horse carriages were often used in the “olden days” and were one of the main modes of transportation. Although it is modernized and still used today, it serves as a different purpose. Instead of transportation, it is a tourist attraction in not only Belize, but in several other countries, such as the Philippines.

COINS & BOTTLES

            As the tour guide directed us to the next room, an impressive display of the previously used coins and currency of Belize showed how influential the British were to the Belizeans. Before the dollar coin was used, the very first currency of Belize was from the British Honduras that equaled to two US dollars. The picture on the dollars back then and till this day is of Queen Elizabeth but there was a period in which the Belizeans decided to use an image of a stork on a coin to reflect Belize.

           

 We then came across a collection of bottles of Belize from the 1670’s. These bottles ranged from storing medicine, ink, poison such as cleaning agents, and even alcohol. Each of the bottles varied from color, shapes, and sizes. No wonder people often made the mistake of ingesting the liquid inside! A specific bottle shaped like a torpedo immediately caught my attention because I’ve never seen a bottle such as that.  The bottle not only had an oval shape but it also laid flat on its side in order to keep the cork moist to keep it swollen.

MAYAN EXHIBIT

             The real gems of the museum were located on the second floor, solely dedicated to the Mayan history and culture. There were beautiful jade stones that served multiple purposes such as weapons, carvings, pendants, and more. The Mayan exhibition also included a replica of the famous jade head that is currently stored in the Belize Central Bank in a vault, in another vault, and in another vault! Although the real jade head was not visible to the human eye, the artifacts of previous Mayan rulers were enjoyable and informative. It was amazing to see how delicate, artistic, and creative the Mayans became when it came to pottery as well. There were intricate pots that resembled animals such as otters and bats! In addition, we got to see numerous of artifacts from the Mayan temple ruins including the bones, earrings, necklaces, and anklets.

(Ear gauges)

            In the next corner, there was a room filled with various insects encased in glass frames. Although insects are not my cup of tea, I found it fascinating to see the various bugs that are found in Belize. This historical site itself was very well displayed, informative and enjoyable. The museum was full of interesting Belizean history, including an exhibit on the changing methods of transportation in Belize, a Mayan exhibit, and an exhibit of butterflies and insects of Belize. I was extremely impressed at the depth of information the exhibit and Mr. Wallace provided.

           

 After the tour was over, we got the chance to visit the gift shop where postcards, beaded jewelry, magnets, packages of Belizean sauces, wooden carvings etc. were available for purchase.

            Thereafter, we headed to a nearby restaurant that was walking distance from the museum called “Celebrity Restaurant and Bar”. Lunch consisted of steamed vegetables, grilled fish and chicken, and your traditional Belizean rice and plantain. And of course, dessert was on the menu which consisted of either cheesecake, chocolate cake, or lemon pie. ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL cheesecake and a must have here in Belize! Once lunch was over, we headed back to the Princess Hotel to work on our group presentations that is scheduled for Monday.

           

Approximately at 2:30 pm, students met with their designated partner to work on presentations for the teachers at the Stella Maris School. Since the hotel doesn’t have strong Wi-Fi connections, everyone had no other choice but to work on the assignment in the lobby. Everyone looked so concentrated and focused despite the numerous of distractions and noisy environment we were working in.  Well at least the snack stand was in our vicinity in case we were hungry, right? After dinner, the rest of the evening was dedicated to packing for our four day trip to Placencia and San Pedro where we will  further explore and learn about the culture of Belize. These past few days have given us a “taste” of what the Belizean culture is like and is only the beginning to a wonderful journey! Stay tuned for more!