August 10, 2006
Heading Home
The Belize Watershed Ecology ECO Journey came full circle today as our students finished the program at the same place we started - Monkey Bay. They had followed the watershed of the Sibun River from the headwaters to the entry to the sea. The students learned much as we canoed, swam, hiked, and explored the river and broadleaf forest (rainforest) of mainland Belize before we headed to the crystal blue waters of the reef and Tobacco Caye. On the caye, we explored the underwater world of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds all the while relating our new underwater world to the larger ecology of Belize.
Some of the most important lessons of our journey were the human aspects. We made many friends along our journey. Our teachers Lori, Kimo, and Matt taught us more than lessons. Each teacher, in their own way, inspired students to want to learn more, to ask questions, to try new things, to explore and discover the joys of nature, and to learn how the culture, politics, and economics of a people are intricatly related to their environment. We made friends with Oswald, our 11 yr. old Belizean friend, who traveled with us throughout our journey and taught us how to play, work, smile, dance, and explore. We made friends with Kimo's wife, son, and daughter, whom we met and ate with in San Ignacio. We made friends with our Armenian families, who welcomed us into their culture as guests in their homes. We made friends with our boat captains, Captain Fermin, Michael and Loyd, who also played volleyball, soccer, and looked for creatures at night with us. We made friends with Manolo and Mercedes who fed us so well and Trinidad who helped us travel from place to place. Our students also made better friends with each other as they worked as a team to do activities, travel, and explore new places.
We had one final swim in the Sibun River this morning, before we were to head for the airport. The students had made much more than a physical journey around Belize. You could see it in their eyes. They felt differently about this place, the people, the water that fed the system than when they had arrived. When we said goodbye to Oswald today there were many tears, and everyone invited him to California to visit us one day. He is part of our group and we will miss him.
My hope is that the students will remember this journey and want to ask more questions, explore new environments and cultures, meet new people, and be excited about learning. I hope they will want to learn more about their own watershed, neighbors, environment, and management issues in California. Many thanks to our program leaders, administration and parents who supported the program.
I'll finish my entry with two quotes. One which reflects the goal of the program and one that is on our ECOJourney t-shirt.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift". - Albert Einstein
Christine
The Belize Watershed Ecology ECO Journey came full circle today as our students finished the program at the same place we started - Monkey Bay. They had followed the watershed of the Sibun River from the headwaters to the entry to the sea. The students learned much as we canoed, swam, hiked, and explored the river and broadleaf forest (rainforest) of mainland Belize before we headed to the crystal blue waters of the reef and Tobacco Caye. On the caye, we explored the underwater world of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds all the while relating our new underwater world to the larger ecology of Belize.
Some of the most important lessons of our journey were the human aspects. We made many friends along our journey. Our teachers Lori, Kimo, and Matt taught us more than lessons. Each teacher, in their own way, inspired students to want to learn more, to ask questions, to try new things, to explore and discover the joys of nature, and to learn how the culture, politics, and economics of a people are intricatly related to their environment. We made friends with Oswald, our 11 yr. old Belizean friend, who traveled with us throughout our journey and taught us how to play, work, smile, dance, and explore. We made friends with Kimo's wife, son, and daughter, whom we met and ate with in San Ignacio. We made friends with our Armenian families, who welcomed us into their culture as guests in their homes. We made friends with our boat captains, Captain Fermin, Michael and Loyd, who also played volleyball, soccer, and looked for creatures at night with us. We made friends with Manolo and Mercedes who fed us so well and Trinidad who helped us travel from place to place. Our students also made better friends with each other as they worked as a team to do activities, travel, and explore new places.
We had one final swim in the Sibun River this morning, before we were to head for the airport. The students had made much more than a physical journey around Belize. You could see it in their eyes. They felt differently about this place, the people, the water that fed the system than when they had arrived. When we said goodbye to Oswald today there were many tears, and everyone invited him to California to visit us one day. He is part of our group and we will miss him.
My hope is that the students will remember this journey and want to ask more questions, explore new environments and cultures, meet new people, and be excited about learning. I hope they will want to learn more about their own watershed, neighbors, environment, and management issues in California. Many thanks to our program leaders, administration and parents who supported the program.
I'll finish my entry with two quotes. One which reflects the goal of the program and one that is on our ECOJourney t-shirt.
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift". - Albert Einstein
Christine
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