Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Moray Eel
An eel like this came swimming out of the coral while I was diving. He opened his mouth just like this and then swam back into the coral.
March 16-20, 2011
We have been here a week and this is my first blog posting! So much going on. We struggled to get internet the first few days. Peter-hostel owner-purchased high-speed internet for us beginning Monday. It has made a huge difference. I spent most of Wednesday-Sunday trying to get online and then being thrown off the minute I thought it was finally going to work!
Arrival on Wednesday was uneventful. The flights here arrive early--so different from flying anywhere in the States. We got in in mid-afternoon and got settled in. No TV remote for my room--back in the dark ages. Just glad there is air conditioner and a TV that works. Everytime a plane takes off I hear the pilots through my TV--we are next to the airstrip.
Thursday we did our walking tour of San Pedro and stopped in the schools to say hi. Everyone was happy to see us.
Friday was our first offical day to stop in the schools in anticipation of students starting to teach on Monday. It was the end of the quarter for all three schools. The high school had a special day of exhibits for parents and the students were on hand to describe their posters. See the young man below in the white uniform. He was very articulate about his math poster. The secondary students spent several hours touring the posters and talking to the students. The elementary students at Isla Bonita Elementary met their teachers and got some assignments for Monday. The elementary students at RC Elementary did not get to meet their teachers--it was exam day and they will meet everyone on Monday.
RC is a new school for us so we really don't know what to expect. The RC (Roman Catholic) elementary is the public school. Classrooms have 30-40 children and no air conditioning. Ms. Kay, the principal, is very nice, but very strict. I think our students are nervous about Monday.
The weekend was a time to relax. We found a great new spot to eat--Latitudes. Great wraps and smoothies. I went twice and enjoyed a creme-cicle milk shake and a turkey wrap with avocado, cranberry sauce, and cheese. We have been back several times and it is everyone's favorite spot on the beach.
Saturday, five of us took a diving lesson and went out to the reef. We saw an eel and swam with a sea turtle. My problem was staying on the bottom--I kept floating to the surface. The instructor said it takes time. I hope to get a copy of the eel picture from one of the students. The eel came out, opened his mouth and startled all of us.
Sunday was a great brunch by one of the restaurants in our honor and then we all rested
Arrival on Wednesday was uneventful. The flights here arrive early--so different from flying anywhere in the States. We got in in mid-afternoon and got settled in. No TV remote for my room--back in the dark ages. Just glad there is air conditioner and a TV that works. Everytime a plane takes off I hear the pilots through my TV--we are next to the airstrip.
Thursday we did our walking tour of San Pedro and stopped in the schools to say hi. Everyone was happy to see us.
Friday was our first offical day to stop in the schools in anticipation of students starting to teach on Monday. It was the end of the quarter for all three schools. The high school had a special day of exhibits for parents and the students were on hand to describe their posters. See the young man below in the white uniform. He was very articulate about his math poster. The secondary students spent several hours touring the posters and talking to the students. The elementary students at Isla Bonita Elementary met their teachers and got some assignments for Monday. The elementary students at RC Elementary did not get to meet their teachers--it was exam day and they will meet everyone on Monday.
RC is a new school for us so we really don't know what to expect. The RC (Roman Catholic) elementary is the public school. Classrooms have 30-40 children and no air conditioning. Ms. Kay, the principal, is very nice, but very strict. I think our students are nervous about Monday.
The weekend was a time to relax. We found a great new spot to eat--Latitudes. Great wraps and smoothies. I went twice and enjoyed a creme-cicle milk shake and a turkey wrap with avocado, cranberry sauce, and cheese. We have been back several times and it is everyone's favorite spot on the beach.
Saturday, five of us took a diving lesson and went out to the reef. We saw an eel and swam with a sea turtle. My problem was staying on the bottom--I kept floating to the surface. The instructor said it takes time. I hope to get a copy of the eel picture from one of the students. The eel came out, opened his mouth and startled all of us.
Sunday was a great brunch by one of the restaurants in our honor and then we all rested
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Countdown to Belize
One week to go and we will be in San Pedro Town again! Can't wait. We have two additional graduate students going with us. Somebody asked me today if I was ready to go--are you ever?
Last minute details--getting shirts ordered, finding out everyone's flight information, do they want to rent bikes, etc. Can't believe it is that time again.
Last minute details--getting shirts ordered, finding out everyone's flight information, do they want to rent bikes, etc. Can't believe it is that time again.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Getting Ready for Belize 2011
I can't believe we are getting ready to leave to go to Belize again! It seems like we just got back. We have 18 undergrads and 6 graduate students going this year. Dennis and I have another faculty member joining us as a trip leader--Brianne Reck. She will come down around April 9 with the grad students. Their mission will be to offer professional development to the teachers in San Pedro. We are also anticipating visitors from UNCW's Office of International Programs and Wilmington's Sister-City group. It should be a busy time.
I finally got the ABC's of Belize book published that our students wrote last year. Check it out on http://www.lulu.com/.
When the semester starts again (January) we will begin our monthly meetings to prepare for our work in San Pedro. This year we hope to use a new elementary school for our students. The Roman Catholic School is a public school and we will place at least half the elementary interns there.
I finally got the ABC's of Belize book published that our students wrote last year. Check it out on http://www.lulu.com/.
When the semester starts again (January) we will begin our monthly meetings to prepare for our work in San Pedro. This year we hope to use a new elementary school for our students. The Roman Catholic School is a public school and we will place at least half the elementary interns there.
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