Belize ITE 2019

Our final day has come. We all woke up this morning and slowly moved our luggage to the white vans one more time. We piled into the seats one more time. We laughed and sang songs together, one more time. We boarded the plane and looked back one last time at our newly found home- Belize. As we travel home today, we all reflected on our time “hiking” a mountain, zip lining, snorkeling with sharks, and teaching in the villages. We shed tears and laughed until our bellies ached. We all feel indifferent about traveling home and leaving Belize. Some want to stay and begin their teaching career in the villages, and some are eager to get back home to their lives in the states. Either way, we all agree on one thing; Belize, the students, and the teachers have changed ALL our lives. This experience has opened our eyes to not only the impact that we have made in Belize, but the impact Belize will have on us for our lifetime. See you all soon! Kayla

Hi all, Today was a great day for sight-seeing, exercise, and fun! We started today off with our last breakfast at Cardie’s and said goodbye to the wonderful staff there. Then, we headed to Monkey Bay for canoeing down a river! After a bus ride through an orange farm to the river, we each partnered up with someone and started our journey. We stopped along the way for a dip in the water, which felt AMAZING. During the end of our ride, we rode through many groups of butterflies, and trees, which were absolutely beautiful. After our very strenuous canoe trip, we made our way back to Cheers for a very delicious lunch. I had a chicken quesadilla that hit the spot! After lunch, we made our way to the Belize Zoo. Though we didn’t get to go into the jaguar’s cage, we were able to see more than one jaguar roaming around and being the big cats that they are. I even saw some of my brave classmates hold a boa constrictor! The Belize Zoo was so neat and different from the zoos back home. I

             When I first thought about applying to come here, I was very apprehensive because I didn’t know what to expect. I literally waited to the last day to apply. Everyone I talked to that has come before me has told me how life changing the experience is, but I didn’t understand what they meant until now. I don’t even know how to explain this to anyone who hasn’t had this amazing opportunity has been. Today was the most emotional of all. My students all wrote me individual cards to tell me goodbye and made me a sign that I WILL be hanging in my own classroom soon. We were lucky enough to be able to have lunch with all of the staff at San Pablo today and there were many speeches, gifts and tears. These teachers were incredibly generous using their own time, money and resources to make and give us amazing and thoughtful mementos from this trip. It took everything in me not to cry from all of the love and respect that was in that lunchroom today. I truly hope to be able to return

Thankful. Grateful. Blessed. Those are the four words that came to mind today as I sat in lunch with the teachers, in the gloomy classroom during a storm with minimal lighting, and more certainly when I said goodbye to my teacher and talked to my students about what we had planned for the last day. Today I am thankful for being able to spend 5, almost 6 days fully emerged into a classroom where I felt nothing but appreciated. I am even more thankful for the relationships that I made with students, especially those who took more effort. I am grateful for the students that I met. I am especially grateful to witness  the progress that these students have made, more specifically in writing over the 5 days. Being able to share with the faculty in the school the writing that these students have done and discuss the growth that had occurred was truly amazing. These faculty members are so eager to learn, and I don’t see them hindering the progress that these students have made. Lastly I

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Don’t take sand with you to the beach” -Melvin ( the head tour guide ) wow. today. Just wow. I am reflecting on this day enjoying the peace of a silent secluded beach with few of my peers. As the sounds of waves approaching the shore and palm trees bustling are the only noise filling my senses and overwhelming me with a tranquil mindset. We woke up bright and early to go get our Kentucky fried skin on. I can successfully say each of us have suffered from a sun burn in some location on this day. After two boat rides we made our way to an island about the size of a 10yard wide and 60 yard long football field. This beach was occupied by us and a few other snorkelers. We divided off into groups of four with one guide per group, so mom and dads, we were well supervised and guided. Jumping in the water all I could think about was the sound of my breath huffing through the snorkel, my pruny fingers, the sight of the crystal blue water and salt seeping into my mouth

After singing off key, dancing despite the lack of coordination, and laughing until our stomachs hurt last night, waking up this morning was ROUGH. Coffee was absolutely necessary. Nine of us ladies joined Dr. Finch to an early morning church service at Red Bank. Experiencing a religion we surround our lives around with a different cultural twist was truly beautiful. God’s love showed no limit this morning as the preacher, who is also my coordinating teacher, preached in both Cache and English. One of the most memorable experiences so far this trip!  To add to a wonderfully spent morning, today was resort day. Yes, with 21 females in Belize, we have got to get our tan on at some point! The afternoon started with a delicious lunch on the beach. And for the ladies who didn’t get the shrimp quesadilla- you done messed up! The rest of the afternoon was open to multiple pools, kayaking and swimming in the ocean, biking, reading, card games, and so much more. Stories were told, jokes were

Today was adventurous for all of us! The whole group were able to finally sleep in a little bit and then went straight to a hike. (And I mean a REAL hike up) After I took numerous breaks, we all were able to gaze at the gorgeous view of the mountainous jungle. The next adventure was going zip lining. It was a lot of people’s first time and there was a little encouraging that had to be done, but everyone made it across in one piece. The views were breathtaking while flying across the air. Our last excursion was river tubing. This was a nice relaxing ride through the river with some rapids to push us through the 45 min ride ... also the amazing guides who pushed us out of rocks and down the river. I was so excited to be able to experience Belize through activities with this amazing group that pushes each other to get the most out of this extraordinary trip!  -Kesley Today was the first day without seeing our students, and it was so sad not waking up to go see them. However,

WHAT A WEEK! That's my first thought while sitting in the van on our way back from Red Back Village for the last time this week. It's been a whirlwind of an experience to observe and help all the wonderful teachers this year. The work that is being done inside the classrooms is so exciting! It's amazing to see the progress that is being made after just four days. Being able to be back in Belize, and even more specifically, back at Red Bank Village, has brought so much happiness to me. Watching the children run around the school with smiles spread across their faces makes me feel like I take so much for granted. The amount of love that the students have for soccer, playing tag, and even duck, duck, gray duck, makes me want to dig deeper into the simple things that bring happiness in my own life. I am so grateful to be at Red Bank School with the group of teachers that I'm with. The energy, determination, and love that they bring to school will leave marks for years t

When I sit here and attempt to reflect on Day #3 of teaching in San Pablo, I am speechless. I know it sounds cliché, but I have truly been blessed by being here. The attitude the students and teachers have not only about school, but life in general, is nothing short of amazing. Students immediately come up to our van when we pull up in the morning. Them trying to please us does not stop the whole day. I’ve had three great days, but today took the lead (so far). We sweated our bootys off again- thanks to the 79% humidity and heat index of 90-, but we also had the privilege of getting a tour of the village. The principal of our school, who happens to also be my AMAZING teacher (yes, the principal is also a teacher) was our tour guide. The school let out an hour early so he could do this for us! Tell me how many schools would do this in the U.S…. if you’re thinking what I’m thinking, none. During our tour, we had the privilege to see a family’s home who lives in the village, learn about

Day two in the village and boy do I feel blessed. I have experienced so many emotions in my lifetime, but nothing compares to what I have felt during the last two days. Yesterday was exciting but today was even better. Majority of the children were already anxiously awaiting the big white vans this morning upon our arrival. When we got out of the doors all of the children were smiling ear to ear running up to us hugging us like they hadn’t see us in years. I got goosebumps through my whole body. Today I taught my first full language arts lesson and regardless if some things didn’t go as planned, the children and my host teacher loved every single minute of it. This experience has been the most rewarding and life changing experience I have ever been apart of and we have only been in the schools for 2 days.  During my day in the school I get to watch children play with the blowup beach balls, hula hoops and bubbles we have brought with us. We enjoy bonding time with the students by pl

Exhausted. Shocked. Inspired. Selfish. Hesitant. Excited. Nervous. Eager. Curious. These are just a few of the emotions rushing through my mind during my first day in Red Bank Village. As we drove down the dirt road, the children recognized our white vans, smiling ear to ear and waving their hands in excitement of our arrival. The students were shy at first, but warmed up to us quickly. They were intrigued by our phones, blonde hair, and our names. The children said “Miss” more times than I have ever heard. Watching many students walk to school without shoes on, witnessing my host teacher creating worksheets by hand, and exploring the limited resources available to the students and the teachers made me feel so grateful for the life I live at home, but it was also inspiring to know that through the 100+ degree weather and the limited resources and training the teachers receive, they continue to care for their students and do whatever needs to be done to help them learn and get the ed

Belize Adventures-Day 1             Today was our first full day in Belize, and boy was it long and amazing. The controversial conversation that has been going on all day is the heat; some of us love it and some of us are still trying to get use to the 98-degree weather. I, for one, love it. The main attraction of the day is going to the Mayan Ruins and hiking up about 140 feet to the top of some of the oldest structures known, even older than “foxy pops.” There was a lot we learned, and a lot of selfies taken. One of the things we learned is that the kings and the elite were seen as kings; they didn’t have to eat, drink, or go to the bathroom, but this was obviously untrue and instead they ate a lot of the available food and their defecations were removed by servants who weren’t allowed to tell anyone. After buying too much for family and nothing for myself, we had lunch at The Orange where we all had amazing lunch, and all wanted to crash after. We finally made it back to the

Megan  I am so excited to go to Belize and work with children from different cultures. I cannot wait to build connections with the students, faculty members, and my peers throughout the experience! Julia  I am looking forward to traveling to Belize for a new cultural experience especially within the teaching field. I am hoping to gain a new perspective for those who don’t have the same resources I have. I am wanting to return with a new appreciation for the things that I do have. Riley I am beyond excited for this teaching opportunity in Belize, because it will allow me to step outside of my comfort zone and expand my teaching philosophies. Teaching and learning alongside my peers, my professors, and the students and teachers of Belize, will be an experience that I will carry with me into my future teaching career. Natalie I am so looking forward to getting to work with the students in Beliz