As de mass email said:
So I made it to beautiful Belize safely. It is extremely hot, and for being the wet season, it's been rather dry. Cold showers have never been such a blessing, and I'm finding out all kinds of new things about myself, such as how much I am capable of sweating. Meanwhile, I have already learned so much about this place, and classes haven't even started yet. With one day of birding, I have been introduced to about 20 different birds that I'm fairly certain I can sight-recognize. The colors are amazing. I think that my favorite so far is somewhere between the collared aracari and aztec parakeet. I seem to be the only student excited about birding though hopefully that will change.
Today we visited Xunantunich (Mayan ruins). Learning about Mayan culture has been extremely interesting. I wish that we would be spending more time on it together, but I will be reading up on whatever is available. It's the strangest thing to wander ruins, or monuments, what have you, and contemplate how many people have stepped exactly where I am stepping now, how they lived their lives, everyone inbetween, and in the future. I wish that I knew more about Mayan civilization, that anyone knew more, or could prove that the current "sayings" are true. I wish I knew as much about astronomy.
CCSP-Creation Care Study Program (Belize, rather than South Pacific) is excellent. The staff are wonderful people, all with different things to offer, all very open and easy to get to know. They are very focused on group dynamics. It seems to be a bit more challenging this semester as 10/13 students are from Messiah, and 8/13 are all in the same class and well acquainted previous to the program. It's a strange mix of academic and something more. I'm finally learning how to properly compost, they're huge on reusing and reducing, THEN recycling. I'm learning more and more to be aware of my own contribution of trash and wasting of energy. Ha, I think I'm becoming more environmentally infatuated and in love as we (I) speak (type).
When not in class or reading up on the ancients, I can mosaic! I've never before had the access. Woodwork and gardening too. I find this exciting.
I'm close to the Guatemalan border, near San Ignacio. It's not quite rainforest, but specifically, I am on pastureland, bordered by what I guess is technically jungle. It's gorgeous and I cannot wait to figure out what plants I'm surrounded by. I can't wait for anything, or everything, whichever makes more sense. I've been taking star pictures. I'm trying to keep myself from picking up on a Kiwi accent that I love so much. I'm pretty darn excited. Speaking of speaking, one of my goals here is to learn Creole, if you haven't heard so far. Not too much progress on that yet. Worry not, it will come.
Today we visited Xunantunich (Mayan ruins). Learning about Mayan culture has been extremely interesting. I wish that we would be spending more time on it together, but I will be reading up on whatever is available. It's the strangest thing to wander ruins, or monuments, what have you, and contemplate how many people have stepped exactly where I am stepping now, how they lived their lives, everyone inbetween, and in the future. I wish that I knew more about Mayan civilization, that anyone knew more, or could prove that the current "sayings" are true. I wish I knew as much about astronomy.
CCSP-Creation Care Study Program (Belize, rather than South Pacific) is excellent. The staff are wonderful people, all with different things to offer, all very open and easy to get to know. They are very focused on group dynamics. It seems to be a bit more challenging this semester as 10/13 students are from Messiah, and 8/13 are all in the same class and well acquainted previous to the program. It's a strange mix of academic and something more. I'm finally learning how to properly compost, they're huge on reusing and reducing, THEN recycling. I'm learning more and more to be aware of my own contribution of trash and wasting of energy. Ha, I think I'm becoming more environmentally infatuated and in love as we (I) speak (type).
When not in class or reading up on the ancients, I can mosaic! I've never before had the access. Woodwork and gardening too. I find this exciting.
I'm close to the Guatemalan border, near San Ignacio. It's not quite rainforest, but specifically, I am on pastureland, bordered by what I guess is technically jungle. It's gorgeous and I cannot wait to figure out what plants I'm surrounded by. I can't wait for anything, or everything, whichever makes more sense. I've been taking star pictures. I'm trying to keep myself from picking up on a Kiwi accent that I love so much. I'm pretty darn excited. Speaking of speaking, one of my goals here is to learn Creole, if you haven't heard so far. Not too much progress on that yet. Worry not, it will come.