Symbiotic Relationships

8^th May 2013 

• ·      Breakfast at Las Cuevas
• ·      Bus ride to Belize City
• ·      Boat ride to Caye Caulker
• ·      Lunch
• ·      Explore the island
• ·      Dinner

Today we left Las Cuevas Reasearch Station (LCRS). The work that LCRS is doing is rather motivating. As humans, we are only limited by ourselves. As Boris says, we need to leave our comfort zone to make a change. My week at the station showed me that anything could be done; humans are capable of being selfless and can create their own change in the world. The people at LCRS are keepers of the Chiquibul, protecting nature in an admirable fashion. They recognize that Homo sapiens are the intruders and the forest fauna and flora are at home. Not many people can step outside of themselves and be so altruistic.

All packed and hesitantly ready to leave

Abby and I 

Jonathon and Ranger, best pup ever

Saying goodbye to our favorite chef, Angi

Alex trying to take a final group picture, but the pups were getting in the way

I want to become an educator similar to Boris. When I graduate in December I plan too continue my education and receive a masters.  Children need to be informed of their capabilities of making change within the world.  I live by a quote by Albert Paine, “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, is and remains immortal.” What Boris has done for us and the Chiquibul Forest will be everlasting.

Boris also mentioned something I believe we all learned most from the trip, our symbiotic relationships with one another. Everyone learned to work as a team. We learned when to step back and let others be leaders, and step up when no one felt comfortable. The most important of all though, we all learned how to be humble; sometimes one person has to let go and let others prevail.

Albert and Boris tricked us on our way to Caye Caulker. They said the bus ride would be five hours, but it was only three! I was relived though, because a 1990’s school bus isn’t so comfortable. The group then had to wait for the boat to transport us to Caye Caulker, it was not accessible by car. Being in isolation for a week was lovely, but it was nice to be surrounded by other people.

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In Belize City!

Once we arrived in Caye Caulker, we put our stuff in our hotel rooms then set off for lunch. I love the hotel; it has a balcony accompanied with a hammock. Wish Willys will provide our lunches three times a day. Willy himself runs the restaurant with a laid back attitude. In Caye Caulker their motto is, “go slow.” I could get used to this lifestyle.

Experiencing slight cabin fever, we all set forth to grab a beer, jump in the ocean, and sun bathe. Belikin beer is the beer of Belize. It is phenomenal. In Belize the glass bottles are all reused. Everyone gets a certain amount of money for the bottles returned. I need to look more into their program. The States could benefit from a program similar to this one, for every thing we drink from now is made out of plastic. And we all know the detrimental affects if plastic.

My main observation about the island though is the amount of debris. There is one area called the spilt and in the back corner, there were mountains of trash, plastic, glass, and all. I wonder how it negatively affects the reefs, the fish’s main habitat. I am rather excited to learn about the marine world and the anthropogenic affects.