Finally in Belize!

After much anticipation, I have left the snowy world of Iowa behind and journeyed into tropical Belize! I have already had so many incredible experiences...Orientation week held field trips to the market in San Ignacio, a game of soccer in the village of Succotz, a visit to the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, a morning at the Belize Zoo, and so much more! After orientation week, we were sent off on our own (as a group) to travel and explore. All eight of us went to Caye Caulker-a small island about an hour's taxi ride off the coast of Belize. It was a little disorienting at first to arrive there and still have to find a place to stay. It made me so appreciate all the times my family has gone on trips and my parents have arranged everything! Despite feeling a little homesick, my newfound friends and I enjoyed walking the sand-covered streets, snorkeling with stingrays and nerf sharks, and eating amazing food.

The scenery here is so beautiful. The campus at Nabitunich overlooks mountains, palm trees, pasture, and cows. There are eight students in the program including myself-seven of which are girls : ) One girl goes to school in California, and three others go to school on the east coast. We all stay in small hut-like cabanas with attached bathrooms. It has been interesting getting used to cold showers, sleeping under a mosquito net, and finding all sorts of creatures in my room...my roommate and I have seen several large spiders, a gecko, a frog, and some pretty huge cockroaches in our room. Let's just say I'm glad that I'm glad cockroaches weren't a new thing for me : ) We do not have internet access on campus, but a 20minute walk to the Trek Stop provides unlimited access with the purchase of a cool drink...which is much needed by the time I get there!

This past week we had our first class-Introduction to Sustainable Community Development with professor Sara Alexander. Time flew by with numerous readings and several field trips. Probably my favorite trip was to the Baboon Sanctuary where we were shown plants that help with snake bites, back pain, toothaches, and that even help women after childbirth. We also saw a troupe of black howler monkeys that, with some coaxing,came down from the trees to eat leaves out of our hands. Where else in the world would you be able to do that in the wild? I have had so many experiences like that so far...experiences that leave me amazed at all the wonders of Belize. We finished off the week with frantic paper writing all day Friday. Even though I hardly felt like I had time to breathe this week I learned so much about what sustainable community development means and the role an anthropologist plays in that process.

This weekend it has been so nice to be able to regroup and get a little laundry done. Tomorrow we start stream ecology. I'm hoping that our field trips will involve a little swimming too : )