Lindsay in Belize

Week Nine in Belize

2009-07-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sunday I spent the day packing up some of the things I will not need the last week I’m here. It was kind of sad packing up my things. It’s hard to believe that my internship and time down here in Belize is coming to a close. I have learned so much and made great friendships. This week will be full of tying up loose ends and such.

Monday was a blur; the office was filled with lots of people who are going to be out in the Chiquibul monitoring Macaws this week. I began to work on my July report and collecting photos I would need for the rest of my PowerPoint. I also met with Pedro to discuss his trip to Guadalajara. He learned a lot about running and environmental education program.

Tuesday morning I worked on my July report. In the afternoon we had a staff meeting where I presented my PowerPoint to them. They all really liked it. We also discussed the different proposals Rafael has been working on and Pedro’s trip. Other topics covered were the sign-in sheet and issues with communication. After work Rafael, Derric, and I drove up to the Vaca Forest Reserve. They will be monitoring the wildlife up there since the area will be changing with the addition of the new dam.

Wednesday I finished my July report. The office was in upheaval all day since the printer stopped working. In the afternoon, I was surprised when all my co-workers threw me a going away party.

Thursday was a pretty slow day. I was just finishing up odds and ends before I head home. Friday was much the same with the exception of me assisting Ms. Olivia with her summer program.

This weekend I will be getting ready to go home and spending time with my host family. I hope that everyone has had a splendid summer and knows that I have greatly appreciated all the love and support you have given me. I have learned so much during my internship in Belize and will never forget the many adventures I have had. I will be seeing you soon, until then be safe and be happy.

Week Eight in Belize

2009-07-20T10:30:00.000-07:00

This week was full of paperwork but included an exciting trip to the Mountain Pine Ridge and then to Punta Gorda on the Southern part of the country.

Around noon, on Saturday the 11th, Rafael and I headed up to the Mountain Pine Ridge to meet with some people from Hidden Valley and to deliver the community development notebooks. We met with the people at the Hidden Valley Resort and were able to go see the Orange Breasted Falcons that they are releasing on their property. The falcons are a native species whose population has been thinning for a while now. They are trying to bring up the numbers around Hidden Valley. The chicks will be flying within the next couple weeks, as of right now they are getting acclimated to their new environment. On our way back down from the coop we saw a coffee field. I had never seen a coffee plant before in real life, so naturally I had to investigate. We then traveled to Blancaneux Lodge where we met with one of their guides and the manager. They are very interested in booking trips for their guests with FCD to the Chiquibul. We started back down the mountain and stopped briefly to deliver a notebook to the Womens Club in San Antonio. It was a very successful and interesting day.

Like usual on Sunday, I over slept and was lazy for the remainder of the day. I spent the day reading and spending time with Kathia. Tomorrow is her Birthday and she will be turning twenty-two. She was pretty sad because she will be spending her birthday all alone. The rest of the day was filled with noise. Next week is the festival in Benque Viejo and the bands have been practicing non-stop.

Monday was a slow day, I was supposed to meet with Edlan, but she was a no-show. We were supposed to work on the flyer for the youth group’s next meeting. Since she didn’t come, I worked on it by myself. I think it turned out pretty nice, I would just need to run it by her once she came to the office

Tuesday morning, I wrote instructions for how to play the Human Chair Game for Pedro. I included diagrams as a part of the directions as well. Rafael and I were supposed to meet with Mr. Amin, of the Lumber Company, in San Ignacio, but he was very busy and wasn’t able to meet with us. Edlan stopped by the office, so I showed her what I had done.

Wednesday, I printed out the flyers for the youth group. They are in full color and should go over well with the invitees. I continued to work on my professional paper. I was finally able to track down their financial records for 2007 and 2008 so I will be able to complete that section of my paper in the next few days.

On Thursday, I finally finished the meat of my professional paper. All I have left to do is some proofing and small edits. I was also excited to see the Land Rover after it was returned from the mechanics.

On Friday, I traveled with Rafael to Punta Gorda, which is on the southernmost tip of the country. We left at four in the morning and drove for almost four hours. We passed through the various villages along the Hummingbird and Southern Highway. We passed by several different wildlife preserves and parks. It was a beautiful drive where I was able to see some of the mountain ranges and also citrus and banana farming. We stopped in a couple villages along the way to deliver the community development notebooks to some of the individuals who attended the workshop in May. We took a detour through the Mayan Village at Silver Creek, so that I could see what a Mayan village really looks like. I was amazed to see thatch roof houses alongside the usual concrete homes. We stopped at a couple homes where I could listen to the families speaking Mayan. It was a very awesome experience. We finally made it to Punta Gorda around lunchtime. We stopped at a small restaurant where we got a close look at the Garifuna life style. After lunch we drove down to the seaside to see a new park that has just been put in. We then made it to our two o’clock meeting with a group from the Julian Cho Society. Julian Cho was a great Mayan Leader who fought for his peoples rights. The society was founded after his untimely death to keep striving for the justice he sought. After our meeting we then filled up the truck with fuel and headed back towards Belmopan. Along the way we stopped at Dangriga, a Garifuna town along the sea. You could hear the Punta Rock and the boisterous people hassling one another. We then continued the long drive home. Rafael explained to me a lot of the stories and bits about the Mayan culture in Belize. We finally arrived in Succotz close to ten o’clock to find the town winding down for the evening.

Saturday I purchased the rest of my souvenirs for my family and friends. I also spent the day with my host family since this is really my last regular weekend that I will have with them. Kathia came into town about midmorning and we got to catch up on everything she will be doing the rest of the month. I was excited to hear that she is getting a raise at the forest department and they will be providing her with further training and she might get to take some classes at Galand University. The Benque Fiesta is taking place this weekend, but due to the heat we decided to stay in Succotz.

I am finding things are beginning to slow and in realization of this I am a little sad. It has been a wonderful experience working with FCD and getting to know my host family. I have one more week left here in Belize and it will be filled with evaluations and preparations for my departure. I hope everyone back home is still doing well and I have greatly appreciated your love and support.

Week Seven in Belize

2009-07-10T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well things are beginning to wind down a little bit. I have been trying to complete some of my personal projects before I have to head home at the end of the month. I have been having issues with my camera this week. I am able to take pictures just not access the card they are saved on. Luckily I do have an extra memory card so I will for sure have pictures next week. This week was still a blur like all the others.

Monday, I met with Rafael in the morning and discussed with him the meeting we will be having tomorrow with the youth from Succotz and hopefully Benque. He also said that it looks like the Guatemalan trip might get moved to the weekend that I’m heading home. I assured him that it was alright if I wasn’t able to go, I will teach Pedro my part. The rest of the day I worked on By-Laws for the youth groups. In the afternoon Pedro and I traveled to Benque to meet with the youth group there. They were very interested in coming on Tuesday for the informational session that we would be doing. They also expressed an interest in going on the Guatemala trip.

On Tuesday morning Pedro and I bought snacks for our meeting with the youth and set up for Rafael’s presentation. I then made a packet for the Benque Group leader that contained the By-Laws, Meeting Guide, Roll Sheet, and Minutes sheet. The groups arrived on time and were very interested in what Rafael had to say. After the presentation I went over the club stuff I had given them and answered any questions that they had. We also discussed maybe doing a trip to the Chiquibul later in the month.

Wednesday, I worked on my PowerPoint presentation and on my professional report. In the afternoon Pedro and I went to Benque and gave a presentation at The House of Culture. I led the group in the ’blanket game” so that we could learn their names and get them to participate. I also received a tour of their museum. It is housed, in what used to be the old jail cells for the police station. The Director told me a little bit about the history of Benque and some of the folklore. They have stories of creatures much like Sasquatch, La llorona, and elves. It was very interesting to hear these stories and to see the sketches they had. They also had antiques that had been brought to Benque when the first settlers landed. After our tour we headed back to Succotz. It rained hard in the late afternoon really cooling everything off, which was nice.

On Thursday, I was originally supposed to go with Rafael to complete community visits. We had to move it to this Saturday since he was going to have to go visit on that day for another activity. So, instead of doing community visits I continued to work on updating my journal and finishing up my PowerPoint. I am having trouble with my memory card for my camera and I am not able to access the pictures I took this week. Luckily I have an extra memory card so will be able to take pictures in the weeks to follow.

Friday, was much the same as Thursday, mostly computer work. The exciting thing on Friday was that FCD finally got their Land Rover. It will be a lot better to use up in the Chiquibul. The roads are too rugged for a normal vehicle.

This weekend I will be traveling to Seven Mile with Rafael to deliver community development notebooks for the community leaders.They are the same notebooks we reviewed at the very first workshop I attended down here. So it will be nice to deliver the finished project. I will write again next week. I hope everyone is doing well and knows they are still in my prayers.

Week Six in Belize

2009-07-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hello All! This week was full of paperwork and productivity. Sorry there are no pictures. Next week should be better though. Monday, I began work on my monthly report for June. I also talked to Rafael about the youth group. He asked that I meet with the president of the club and talk to her about running a meeting and how to run a club etc. So I worked on making an informational packet for her on the ins and outs of a basic club.

On Tuesday, I met with the president of the youth group, Edlan, and LeeRoy about the responsibilities of running a club, the officers they needed, and what paperwork they should be keeping for their records. I got them to agree to setting up a meeting this weekend so that they could elect their other officers. I also decided that it was important that they decide what they want for their club to accomplish and then we will need to decide how to accomplish that. In the afternoon I finished most of my report all I need is pictures for some of it.

Wednesday, I worked on my blog and finalized my June Report. I also added new information to my professional report. I began to plan a little for the youth group’s trip to Guatemala.

On Thursday, I met with Rafael to go over my lessons learned for the month. We covered also some different levels of lessons learned. We then traveled to San Ignacio to meet with Nancy Juan-Marin to discuss some of the questions she might be asked when she meets with the media next week about the Chiquibul. That took a good part of the day. Once we got back to the office I continued work on my professional paper. A majority of the staff will be taking some members of the government on a trip to the Chiquibul so that they can see the threats first hand.

Friday, I began to work on my PowerPoint presentation for when I arrive home. I also met with Pedro and we planned out our workshop for the Guatemalan trip. We decided that it would be nice to have Rafael discuss some of the key species in the Chiquibul with the youth. We also want to do a sharing activity where the youth can share and discuss the different community service and conservation activities that they have been involved in. Finally we will be doing a team building event for the group to strengthen and reiterate the importance of working together to achieve common goals. We plan on running this plan by Rafael on Tuesday when he gets back.

On Saturday, I celebrated the 4th of July in a quiet manner. This 4th of July was not near as spectacular as last years in Washington DC, but it was still good. I spent time with my host family just relaxing. I also called all my family to wish them a Happy 4th. Sunday was much the same.

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying their summers. I appreciate all the goodies I recieved last week when Dr. Seevers was here. They have all been coming in handy. May God keep you safe and sound!

Week Five in Belize

2009-07-01T16:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry this is a little delayed but I have been having issues with the internet connection at my office. Last week was a spectacular week of firsts for me. Dr. Seevers arrived on Monday and from there the adventures really began. I saw three different Mayan ruins, went snorkeling, and saw a tapir in the wild.

Monday was a hectic day for me. Everyone at the office was busy trying to get everything ready for the week I was trying to finalize some stuff at the office too. Around midday I had to head to Belmopan to get my passport stamped in order to avoid deportation. Luckily Tanya’s dad met us and he got his friends at the Immigration Office to give me a free extension. Dr. Seevers arrived in Succotz around 6:30pm. She, Rafael, and I had dinner and discussed this week’s upcoming events.
On Tuesday morning we headed over to one of the bigger schools in Santa Elena with Pedro and Scarlet. Pedro gave a presentation to four classes of Standard 5. One of our major sponsors, PACT, came to check out what we were doing and we quickly involved them in the activities. Pedro had the kids play games and dance with Scarlet. One of the teachers even danced with Scarlet! In the afternoon I took Dr. Seevers to see Xunantunich. We climbed as high as we could, which was about half way. Since the quake the upper part of the structure has become unstable. I also showed Dr. Seevers the Gumbolimbo, or tourist tree. It is called this because its red bark peels. I then took her to meet my host family.

Wednesday we headed to the Chiquibul with Rafael. Dr. Seevers was given the chance to talk to Rafael about FCD and all that it encompasses. Along the way we saw a tapir on the road. Once we arrived at the ranger station we had a snack while the rangers briefed us on what their average day is like. They were all very proud of what they do. We then headed to Caracol and began our hike to the top of the highest Mayan ruin in Belize. The ruins were breathtaking, literally. We headed back into Succotz in the late afternoon.

On Thursday Dr. Seevers had her meeting with Gaeland University in the morning while I attended a teambuilding workshop with the rest of the FCD staff. I opened with an icebreaker. I introduced the team to the blanket game and we had a blast since large parts of the staff are funny guys. We then went through the accomplishments that FCD has made this year. We also covered the character awards for each staff member and then awarded Rafael with a plaque for all his hard work and dedication. After everyone had reviewed their SMART objectives, I led them in the “Scissor Game”. They liked the game quite a bit. Dr. Seevers and I then went to the Butterfly Garden at the Trek Stop and then to the ruins at Cahal Pech. In the evening we met with Rafael to go over my midterm evaluation.

Friday morning Dr. Seevers and I headed for the Cayes. We did stop by the 4-H Office where we discussed the possibility of an intern in the future. The Director was very enthusiastic and wanted to start working on the paperwork to do so. After that stop we stopped at the Belize Zoo, so that Dr. Seevers could see a Scarlet Macaw and a Jaguar. Then after some skilled navigation we made it to the water taxi and were on the water by 1:30pm. We arrived on Caye Caulker around 3:00 and checked into our hotel. The sun is hot but with the coastal breezes it’s hardly noticeable. We scoped out the pool and the little dock behind our hotel. We got our first taste of Lobster Fest at dinner where we enjoyed fresh lobster tails! We then browsed the little tourist shops where I caught up on buying souvenirs for my friends. We hit the hay early since we would be snorkeling all day Saturday.

Saturday was an amazing day! We arrived at Carlos Tours where we met Carlos our guide. He fitted us with our gear and then we headed to the boat. Our first stop was along the reef. Since it was my first time snorkeling they had me where the little floaty thing. I caught on pretty quickly and as soon following the rest of the group. We saw some amazing fish and a turtle. When Carlos found a green moray eel, I decided to keep my distance. We had lunch on San Pedro Caye and then headed back out to the water. Our next stop had about 15 nurse sharks and some humongous fish. Everyone was very hesitant to get into the water. But everyone did get in and got to pet the sharks. It was really awesome and something I never thought I would do. On our final stop we got to swim with three manatees. They were so peaceful. We were then allowed to look around on our own at the coral reef. It was really like being inside “Finding Nemo”. The fish were brilliantly colored and a lot of fun to watch. After wards we enjoyed some fresh fruit and then headed back to Caye Caulker. We spent the evening relaxing and enjoying a meal at the Sandbox Restaurant.

We headed back to San Ignacio on Sunday and rested up before the week begins again. It was an awesome way to celebrate the halfway mark of my internship.

Week Four in Belize

2009-06-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

On Monday, I worked on sketches for an Eco-Quest t-shirt. The t-shirt will read “I survived the Chiquibul”, with a hiker and jaguar tracks. The remainder of the day was pretty slow so I caught up on some of my professional report.

Tuesday, Pedro, LeeRoy, Edwin, and I traveled to Spanish Lookout to deliver the third place prize of the “Poster Contest” to a boy from their school. We took Scarlet with us and held a brief ceremony where we recognized the boy’s efforts and his accomplishment. He was thrilled to receive such a huge gift. He received a backpack and all the school supplies he would need for the upcoming year. After wards we thought it appropriate to treat ourselves to an ice cream.

On Wednesday, I arrived at the office only to be informed that I would be participating in a workshop for the next three days. Rafael, Derric and I headed to Cahal Pech to meet with others on creating a program plan for the management of the Chiquibul Cave System. There were people from all backgrounds attending the workshop. There were members of the Archeological Institute, Texas Caving Society, Belizean lumber companies, FCD, and others. Our Facilitators were members of the Nature Conservancy and will be teaching us about using CAP (Conservation Action Planning). The first day was very productive, we identified target areas we wish to preserve and conserve in biological, cultural, and geological aspects. We also identified the vision for the program.

Thursday was the second day of the workshop. We identified target attributes of each of our main target areas, how to measure them and how we will rate them now and in the future. We then discussed the importance of each for quite some time. In the afternoon, a majority of the group went on a field trip to the Cahal Pech ruins, but Rafael and I headed back to the office.

Friday we headed directly over to Cahal Pech in the morning to resume our workshop. We identified major threats that the Chiquibul Cave System will be facing on the cultural, geological, and biological fronts. We were then asked to rate each of the threats as low, medium, high, or very high. A majority of the cultural and geological threats were rated very high because of the fact that many of the items, such as pottery and cave formations, are irreplaceable. On the biological side of things the threats were termed as moderate or medium because most of them can be reversed. At the end of the day we listed all of our findings and agreed to reconvene within the next three months to discuss strategy for dealing with these threats. After the workshop Rafael and I finalized our plans for next week when Dr. Seevers will be visiting.

Camping in Pine Ridge

2009-06-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

Derric, Shirley, and I were on the road by six thirty heading toward San Ignacio to pick up Amberito and Pedro before heading to the Chiquibul. We made our way through a maze in the jungle and saw many things along the way. Derric pointed out the areas of the pine forest which had been devastated by the bark beetle, which is exactly what New Mexico is dealing with right now, and areas that were destroyed by fire.
We arrived at the FCD ranger station and spent some time making lunch and getting to see the rangers. The kids we brought along were enthralled with the four wheeler, even Shirley’s one year old daughter wanted to play on it. We enjoyed a feast of bar-b-q chicken, cowboy beans, and homemade flour tortillas, which I assisted in making.

After lunch we were on our way traveling up to the highest reaches of the pine ridge. We stopped to see the lake and stretch our legs then back in the truck for some more off roading adventure. The roads are not used very often so it gets to be a pretty bouncy ride. We finally arrived at our campsite on top of the bald hills. There is a wooden deck with bathroom facilities that, according to Shirley, are reminiscent of the “Hills Have Eyes”. I didn’t think it looked sketchy, it just had rustic charm. After unloading all of our gear, we hopped back in the truck and headed for the mountain stream to take a swim.

The water was chilly but extremely refreshing and the mountain air brought a welcome chill. Derric showed us where the large pool was, unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of it. It was so deep that you couldn’t see the bottom. After some hassling, we convinced Derric to jump off the small cliff along side of it into its center. We enjoyed the water and then headed back towards the truck. While following the creek back to the bridge where we had parked, I was blabbing about how I had managed to keep my pants dry. As soon as I said that I slipped on an algae covered rock and fell to my knees! After some cursing under my breath, we all burst into laughter at my clumsiness. What can I say, once a klutz always a klutz.

We made it back to camp and pitched our tents. We enjoyed our fajitas under trillions of stars. We saw several shooting stars and one fast moving satellite. We then hunkered down in our tents as the temperature dropped. It was the first night since I have been in Belize that I actually woke up shivering. The wind howled all around the mountains and rattled our tents so much that we had to tie them down. In the morning Derric and Pedro prepared buckets of food. Breakfast links, beans, tortillas, salad and more. We teased that this weekend was to prepare us for an eating contest.

After we had packed everything we headed to 1000 Foot Falls. It was a spectacular sight to see the water plummeting from a cliff into the vast green canyon below. We then headed home each tired with our own stories and adventures to share. The Chiquibul is an amazing place and so varied in its topography and climate. I think it is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.

Week Three in Belize

2009-06-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

On Saturday and Sunday I spent being lazy and hanging out with my host family. Miss Olivia’s daughter Katia was visiting so I was able to put a face with a name. On Sunday, we relaxed and later in the day I began teaching Krizia how to swim.

Monday morning Pedro and I traveled to Belmopan to meet with our contact at the 4-H office. We delivered trees and newsletters to them. We discussed the possibilities of forming a stronger relationship with them since they are a youth based organization. We then traveled to visit PACT, Protected Areas Conservation Trust, to discuss some of our programs and invited them to tag along on one of our school visits. After delivering the rest of the brochures and newsletters we stopped for lunch and then headed back to Succotz. It was a busy day but I met a lot of really interesting people. We also dropped off our poster so that it could be judged in the nationwide competition.

Tuesday, I made my way to the FCD office and spent some time working on the computer and waiting for Pedro to arrive so we could make our trip to the Benque Viejo Schools. I also explained to the other staff that there is a free health clinic going on at the Nazarene Church if they are interested. The Doctors come from Arkansas and one from New Mexico. After lunch Pedro, Gliss, LeeRoy, and I headed over to Benque. LeeRoy is one of the students in our youth group. We delivered all the trees and traveled further down to Arrenal. It is a small town that is split by the Belize-Guatemalan border.

Along the way I could see where farmers had used the slash and burn methods to clear for agricultural production. Entire sides of mountains were just scorched. On our way back we stopped at the hardware store, where I bought a collar for Ms. Olivia’s dog so he won’t escape anymore and steal our shoes. I reinforced it with Duck Tape. Once we returned to the office we surprised Gliss with pizza, soda’s and cake to celebrate his Birthday.

Once I arrived home I started showing Emil and Gordo how to draw cartoon characters which soon turned into a Spanish lesson for me. It was a lot of fun.
Wednesday morning I met with Rafael for a mentoring session. We discussed FCD’s community involvement and at this stage it is mostly on an informative basis. We also covered the major issues the Chiquibul is facing. Key issues include Guatemalan interference, hydro dams, and mineral extraction. In the afternoon I traveled with Pedro to the Nazarene school down the road to plant trees and educate children about their importance.

On Thursday Pedro, Shirley, Edwin and I made our way to San Ignacio to do a planting at Sacred Heart and to run some errands in town. We met LeeRoy there and proceeded with the planting. We returned for lunch then went to the Central Farm to pick up more trees for our project.

This Friday and Saturday I will be camping at the Chiquibul Ranger station. I look forward to seeing the pine ridge, howler monkeys and orchids. I will post again upon my return from the mountains. Hope all is well on the home front and thank you for your continued support and prayers.

Week Two in Belize

2009-06-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

My first weekend with my family was a lazy one. On Saturday I traveled to San Ignacio with Krizia to go shopping. She showed me how to catch the bus and how to avoid any extra costs. We arrived in San Ignacio and went to the market. There was an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits. The fragrance from the herb vendors floated lightly in the air. We stopped briefly to purchase sodas as we weaved in and out of the shaded tables. There was also furniture and a variety of clothing and jewelry. After the market we headed downtown to go shopping at the little tourist shops. We finished our trip with a pepperoni pizza at Martha’s Café.

On Sunday, I went with Ms. Olivia to visit her sister’s family and try some escabeche. Escabeche is a local favorite. It is a soup that consists of chicken and lots of onion. It is served with corn tortillas and rice. It was very tasty but extremely filling. I spent the remainder of the day lounging in a hammock chatting with the family. Life is so relaxed on Belize time.

Monday began with a staff meeting. I met a majority of the rangers who keep watch in the jungle. In the afternoon I traveled with Pedro to Spanish Lookout. Spanish Lookout is one of the larger communities of Mennonites in Belize. The land they own has been cleared for agricultural purposes and they use heavy machinery and pesticides. It is a complete role reversal from the United States. We view the Mennonites as somewhat backwards in the U.S. and in Belize they are viewed as being on the cutting edge. It was interesting to see the difference between the native Belizean farmers and the Mennonites. Pedro completed a presentation for one of the primary schools while in Spanish Lookout. He also brought Scarlet, the Chiquibul Maya Mountains Mascot, who was an instant hit with the kids. They all danced with Scarlet to his theme song. Afterwards the children assisted Pedro in planting trees. On our way back to Succotz we stopped for some ice cream at Western Dairies which was delicious.

On Tuesday, I attended Pedro’s briefing with Rafael. We learned how he was progressing towards his goals. Afterwards I worked on my own formal reports. Wednesday I was asked by Rafael to sketch out some ideas for a poster and fact sheet for an upcoming campaign.

Thursday was a slow day; I tried to work on my reports a little more. On Friday we finalized our choices for which poster will win the biodiversity poster and poem competition. The winner must have a well thought out poem and a poster that represents the importance of biodiversity in Belize. The winner will go on to compete nationally against posters from the other districts. The winner of the entire competition will win a laptop. I finished out the day mailing out the FCD newsletter.

I am slowly beginning to accept that it is going to remain hot down here and that I will just have to get used to it. I am grateful for showers and insect repellant and look forward to the adventures yet to come. Next week I will make my first trip to the Chiquibul and camp for a night. I am looking forward to it. I hope everyone is doing well back home and will keep you all in my prayers.

If you want to learn more about Pedro's work with environmental education you can check out his blog at this website:
http://rareplanet.org/en/campaign-blog/chiquibul-maya-mountains

My First Week in Pictures

2009-06-04T07:48:00.001-07:00

Here you can see pictures of the zoo, landscape, Xunantunich, my first school visit, and Succotz.

Week One in Belize

2009-05-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

This past week has been a week of firsts for sure. I traveled to a foreign country further than Mexico, experienced an earthquake, learned the importance of an electric fan, and how much nature and the environment means to Belizeans.

I arrived in Belize in the early afternoon and was met by Rafael, my supervisor, Kristi and Charles, two people who really encouraged me to take this opportunity. We discussed some of the logistics of FCD while driving towards San Jose Succotz, my home for the next two months. We stopped at the Belize Zoo to see some its National Treasures, such as the Scarlet McCaw and the Tapir. I was amazed by how the zoo was designed to replicate the animal’s natural habitat. I thought it was pretty awesome that Rafael has his roots for Environment from working at the Belize Zoo. After our short stop I made it to Succotz, where I met my host family. Ms. Olivia, her daughter Tanya, and son Emile will be my family for this summer. I live in a house across from the Catholic primary school in the village.

The next day I went with Kristi and Charles to see the area a little bit. We made a special trip to Clarissa Falls for a swim. The river seems to be the only escape from the heat, plus a frozen ideal. (an ideal is similar to an otter-pop, just jumbo sized)I was also able to try ceviche for the first time while there, it was very tasty. Following the visit to Clarissa Falls we made a special trip to see Xunantunich. I help crank the car-ferry across the river. I was amazed at how extraordinary the ruins are. Unfortunately I realized that I have a fear of heights once I was at the top. The view was definitely worth it though.

After playing for my first three days and getting accustomed to the way things work, I began work on Wednesday. I attended a workshop, Wednesday and Thursday, which was held to strengthen the bond between Belizean's and Guatemalans. The Chiquibul runs on both sides of the border and it takes dual effort in order for its preservation to take place. The workshop went quite well, as we learned techniques a community facilitator should use and different ways to run a program such as FCD.

Thursday began early in the morning after being shaken awake by the earthquake from Honduras. I’ve been teased for barely noticing what was going on and just going back to sleep. After work on Thursday I went to see Miss Olivia’s Library, The Succotz Learning Center. It is piled high with books with a wide variety of subjects. Students can be found there working on their projects for school in the early evening.

Friday brought to light another aspect of FCD, the environmental education side. I shadowed Pedro Chan as he made a trip to Tea Kettle village to promote the Green Wave Project. This month FCD is completing a promotional event called Re-Greening Belize. FCD is planting trees at area schools and teaching the importance that they hold. The students at Tea Kettle were very receptive and excited to assist in the planting of the trees. That evening I was asked to assist with the 2009-2010 Miss Succotz pageant. It was a lot of fun and all the proceeds for the event go toward fixing up the school.

My first week in Belize has been both insightful and exciting. I really enjoy the people of Belize; they are very kind and extremely generous. They are also some of the happiest people I have met. I look forward to the weekend as I prepare to enjoy some downtime in front of my fan. I pray that everyone back home is doing well and staying busy. Thank you so much for your continued support.I am having some difficulty uploading pictures from my first week so I will be emailing them to my mom, Dr. Seevers and Morgan Nelson. If you wish to see them please contact one of them or check my facebook. I hope to have this problem resolved by Tuesday of next week.

Whats the Deal?

2009-05-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

For everyone following my journey this summer, I have prepared a brief description of the organization I will be working with this summer. I am extremely grateful for all the support I have received regarding my internship and I look forward to sharing my experiences with you along the way.

This summer I am embarking on an internship in the heart of Belize where I will be working directly with the organization “Friends for Conservation and Development” or “FCD”. According to their website “FCD is a non-profit, non-governmental organization in Belize, dedicated to motivate the public to protect the environment through conservation awareness while enhancing the development of the human resource.”

The FCD headquarters reside in San Jose Succotz, a community located not far from the Guatemalan-Belize border. The organization has been in existence since 1989 and conducting environmental conservation activities. They also strive to promote civic pride among Belizeans.

In addition, FCD is part of a co-management program with the Forest Department for the protection of the Chiquibul National Park. The Chiquibul National Park is comprised of 264,003 acres of tropical rainforest. They are also responsible for the co-management of the Chiquibul Cave system, the longest cave system in Central America. FCD also plays a large role in the integration and comprehensive management program of the Chiquibul-Maya Mountain Massif which is comprised of 14 protected areas.

The motto FCD follows is Promoting Core Conservation.

The Main Objectives of FCD include:
• To foster environmental conservation action
• To promote civic pride and respect for our natural heritage
• To promote an understanding of the natural world
• To improve management of protected areas
• To develop the human potential through conservation work
• To integrate local community participation
• To develop collaborative networking

To find out more about Friends for Conservation Development click on the link below.
http://www.fcdbelize.org