Author: Naomi Rico

Coming into the program I was excited to be joining and felt that it would be the best fit for my degree plan but also wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Having reached the end of the program I am certain that everything I have seen and done has far exceeded any expectations I could have had. We came to see first hand the ancient Maya history we had studied in class and observe the present of the Maya descendants. Guatemala and Belize became our classroom and the hands-on and in-person experience cannot be rivaled.

As a group we were able to experience so much in such a relatively short amount of time. We ate the local foods and sometimes were able to participate in the making of it. There was a lot of walking and climbing on our excursions that definitely payed off. We were able to see and hear a number of cultures coming together, both in Guatemala and Belize. Like the Maya, we were able to witness the Earth as a living thing. For me personally, even the smallest interactions with the people made for great memories.

Leaving was bittersweet, having come to think of these people and places as family and home while also looking forward to being back to my actual home. There was comfort in thinking that it can be I would come back someday and it will not be a permanent goodbye. I am thankful to the many people who welcomed us into their homes and work spaces and allowed us to see and participate in their way of life while sharing their knowledge. I am also grateful to Astrid, Alex, Catherine, and Mily for making this trip possible and enjoyable for everyone and having so much patience with these excited college students. The program was a life-changing and eye-opening experience that I could not recommend enough.

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For me this trip has also been about a series of “firsts”, conquering fears, and getting out of my comfort zone. Starting with my flight to Guatemala I was alone and making my first real international trip. I was surprisingly calm but the journey was surreal and even when I was in settled in my homestay I couldn’t fully process the idea of being in a new country. I am typically reserved and introverted but being at my homestay and translating for my peers meant that I was doing a lot more talking than usual, at home and occasionally out around town. People were generally very friendly and I would ask people on the street for directions or recommendations. Sometimes people would stop and ask me for the same advice although I had no idea what I was doing either so we would try to figure it out together.

I went on enough boat rides to last a lifetime and enjoyed every single one of them (sorry Scilla!). I saw a few of my first -but hopefully not last- Maya sites where we climbed pyramids. At Tikal and Lamanai we had a spectacular view above the jungle canopy. At our stop at the Belize Zoo I saw a number of animals that I’d never thought I’d get to see up close. On Caye Caulker I was convinced to go snorkeling even though I do not know how to swim and I have no regrets! At one point on this trip I also had to boost myself over a balcony and climb down a ladder with my relatively short legs when we had an evacuation at our hotel.

I was even fortunate enough to have celebrated my birthday during this program with such a great group of people and all my future travels will have a lot to live up to. The past few weeks felt like they went by in the blink of an eye but I look forward to what these last few days have in store.