Cheers To The Many First Times!

Studying abroad is the best decision you will ever make! If you ever see yourself with the opportunity to study abroad anywhere in the world, especially Guatemala/Belize, do not think it twice! Believe me, you will never regret it.

Be flexible and willing to take yourself out of your comfort zone. Do not be afraid to try new things, such as hiking a volcano, snorkeling in the Caribbean, or swimming with sharks, because even if it’s the first time that you’re doing such things or if it scares you to death, those experiences will end up giving you the best memories ever along the people that you will get to call friends forever!

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Myself, a person who finds hard to open up to people and get comfortable with the uncomfortable, found the way to make the best out of this study abroad experience. I met awesome people that I now have the privilege to call friends, and along them I created the best memories of the many first times we had together. Along my friends, I got to swim/snorkel with sharks, sting rays, an eel and a manatee! We also got to hike a volcano and climb one of the highest temples in the Maya world, never giving up, always together and supporting each other.

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This study abroad experience in Guatemala and Belize will always live in my memory and in my heart, and even though it came to an end I know that it is just the beginning of many more first times to come and everlasting friendships. No matter where you go study abroad make sure to make the best out of it, give it your all and remember to always include your peers on anything that you do because those experiences will make a difference and will live with you forever!

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Wildlife!

June 30, 2017

It’s day three of being home, and I still feel strange. Honestly, even being in Belize for a while felt a bit odd. Guatemala took a part of me that I’ll never get back. But Belize brought its own pleasures too. In fact, in the 7 days we spent there, I had an array of incredible experiences paralleling those I spent nearly a month accumulating in Guatemala 🙂

If you know me, you know I LOVE animals. Discovering nature in a new environment is fun and exciting to me. That’s why visiting the Belize Zoo and snorkeling in the Caribbean were two of the highlights of my trip, and are definitely on my list of must-dos in Belize!

Before we visited the zoo, I was skeptical. I’ve seen some pretty sad situations at zoos in other countries (and even at home!) before. However, I’m pleased to say that I had a very positive experience! All of the animals at the zoo have been rehabilitated or taken from unsuitable owners, and all are native to Belize. They are provided the most natural environment I have ever seen at a zoo (the habitats are literally carved out of the jungle), and it is clear that all the animals are accustomed to humans and seem happily adjusted. This is really a fantastic way to get up close and personal with the animals while supporting a good cause.

I was especially excited when I saw some of the animals they housed. I am from the Rio Grande Valley, the south most part of Texas bordering Mexico. Due to its proximity to the border, the RGV is known for its semi-tropical wildlife (it’s a popular birding destination). I grew up learning about the animals in my region, and two species of wild cat always particularly interested me due to their rarity: the ocelot and the jaguarundi.

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These endangered cats are extremely scarce in the RGV (there are only estimated to be 50 ocelots living in South Texas) and I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing one. I was elated, then, to find myself face-to-face with two jaguarundi kittens when I was least expecting it (a worker was transporting them in a wheelbarrow to their enclosure). I also got quite close to an adult, along with great views of the resident ocelot! I was over the moon!

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These cats, along with a gorgeous jaguar, tapirs, an assortment of tropical birds (especially one very amicable and showy toucan), a fox, deer, coatimundis (including an assortment of feisty babies), monkeys, and more, are just part of what makes up this wonderful sanctuary (a more fitting term than zoo, I think).

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Snorkeling in the Caribbean (off of Caye Caulker) was also an incredible experience. I’m a little obsessed with ocean documentaries because I LOVE the beautiful colors and delicate intricacies of creatures under the sea. I was fortunate enough to see a moray eel, an enormous lobster, and fishes of all colors! We even got to swim with nurse sharks and rays! It was a bit scary at first, but they were gentle creatures that were all but oblivious to our presence. Or well, they were a bit occupied with the fish our guide was throwing from the boat. I have to say that is my only regret. There were many snorkeling companies on the island that advertised they did not feed marine life (a more natural, ethical approach). I had assumed our chosen tour company followed these same practices but it did not. I should have done my research. Nevertheless, it was an unforgettable experience! Also, live and learn ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Other noteworthy experiences:

After we visited Tikal, I doubted any other Maya site on our list could leave a significant impression on me. I was dead wrong! The temples at Lamanai left me speechless, and wondering why they hadn’t been covered in more detail in previous classes. The architecture is absolutely astounding, unlike anything I’d ever seen before. It looked almost as if they were modern constructions, which was strange but impressive. The views of the New River and tropical forest from the tops of the temples were stunning as well. Equally thrilling was the fact that there were pieces of history everywhere; we couldn’t go far without finding bits of ancient pottery and obsidian fragments! I would highly suggest visiting this epic site!

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It was really interesting to see the traces of Mayan influence throughout different countries and regions; from Honduras (which I visited shortly prior to this program) to Guatemala and from Guatemala to Belize, Maya traditions, architecture, and identity took a variety of forms and molded themselves to fit evolving sociopolitical climates in each environment.

This program was an invaluable opportunity to familiarize ourselves with an array of aspects that contribute to an overarching Maya experience, even in places where it seemed like there was none. It taught me to think more critically about the often not-so-distant past of many of the places we visited and brought to light the beautiful resiliency of Mayan culture still alive today. I am privileged to have been a part of this adventure and both Guatemala and Belize own a piece of my heart now. This was truly an unforgettable summer <3

I hope you enjoy my photo album of these experiences posted below!

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Jaws in the Caribbean

This Maymester trip has witnessed many of my “firsts”, so today, I am here to share with you my first snorkeling experience. Due to my time constraint on the island, none of my activities were planned thoroughly. They were merely opportunities that my friends had told me about, to which I immediately said yes without giving much thought. This snorkeling trip was not an exception. There was at most an interval of twenty minutes between my hearing of the trip and my payment for it.

In the very next morning, my friends and I gathered around a bench in front of the “Caveman Travel Agency”, where we picked up our snorkeling gear. While dousing myself in sun screen, I listened to the head guide go through some cautionary items. The guide exuded an atmosphere so calm and relaxed, there was no room for any nervousness. Moments later, we began boarding our boat.

The intense turquoise of the sea was only accentuated by the water’s clarity. Even while the boat was in motion, we could see the reefs hidden below. The boat went about a mile out from the shore to a location where we could see the barrier reefs that tirelessly guard the coast of Belize. Our first spot was called Coral Garden. The five- to six-foot deep water of the region would help us familiarize ourselves with snorkeling. The process was not difficult at all. I made the occasional mistake of breathing through my nose, but I soon learned to suppress the instinct. I turned my full attention to the scenery after quickly learning the process. The underwater view was breathtaking. In between the circular- or branch-shaped reefs were fish of every color, size, and shape imaginable. And this was only the beginning.

Our next stop was Shark Ray Alley. As the name suggested, we swam with sharks and sting rays at this stop. I am tempted to let your imagination run wild and think that we survived a casual swim with great whites and lethal species of sting rays, but truth is an obligation in this blog post. When we arrived, the gentle, grey-skinned Nurse Sharks—about three to four feet long on average—crowded the side of the boat, as one of our guides dangled a lifeless sardine a foot above water. We quietly slipped down the opposite side of the boat and snuck around to the side where the sharks were still bunched one on top of the other, hoping to get an afternoon snack. We made sure not to scare any of the sharks off by approaching too closely. As we looked underwater, we also saw the harmless species of rays (I’ve forgotten the exact name) gracefully flapping their sides in the water. It was at first a little nerve-wrecking when they grazed against my skin, but my fear soon went away. I actually started to like feeling their slimy skins on my body, as weird as that sounds. I learned from my guide that if I balled my fist in front of a ray, it would start following me, thinking I had food. Unfortunately, our play date with the sharks and stingrays ended quickly, and we re-boarded our boats.

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Before the trip concluded, we continued to spot amazing creatures, including a manatee. The sight of them makes me all the more grateful to immense conservation efforts that strive to protect natural life in the Caribbean. Overall, my first snorkeling trip was a success. But more importantly, I am extremely fortunate to have found a close group of friends, with whom I was able share this once-in-a-life-time experience. Of course, none of this would have been possible without this phenomenal study abroad program.