8th 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.
Add caption |
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.
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