Approximately half way through our drive, we stopped at a restaurant fittenly named "Amigos". The restaurant was literally on the side of the highway in the middle of no where! We ate outdoors and the weather couldn't have been more perfect! I order the grilled chicken breast and it was probably some of the best chicken I've ever had! I don't actually know if the chicken itself was that great or if it was just the fact that I was eating grilled chicken in Belize in a beautiful outdoor setting! Anyways, after lunch we got back on the road and headed towards the city of San Ignacio. We arrived at the "Log Cabins" which is where we will be staying for the majority of our trip. And the name of the hotel we are staying couldn't be more true. It is a group of dark brown wooden cabins located about 2 minutes outside of the city.
Day two is when it really hit me that I wasn't in America anymore. We woke up early and basically took over the town! Our professor gave us a list of things like the pharmacy, restaurants, post office, police station, medical clinics, and all kinds of stuff to find. We explored the city for about 3 hours and ate in the city market with the local people because they obviously know where the best food is! The city market was like nothing I've ever seen before... I instantly feel in love and wished Americans did things like it. The Belizean people had all kinds of tents and stands set up... From fresh fruit and veggies to clothes, jewelry, and music! We watched one woman make this meal that consisted of pork, rice, beans, and cheese all wrapped in a home-made tortilla then grilled on a flat top stove. I'm definitely going to try and mimic that meal when I get back home!
The second half of the day was spent exploring some ancient Mayan ruins. Climbing to the top was a better buns and thighs workout than the stair master! And the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking... You could see for miles and miles of nothing but beautiful forest and brightly painted little towns and communities. I'm not much of a history buff but this changed my view on history and just how amazing the Mayan empire was at architecture and precision.
Day three: the day where we got to put our health knowledge and skills to work! We set up a tent in city market and were immediately flooded by local people to take their measurements and readings. The community down here cannot afford to go to the doctor to get annual checkups so many civilians just wait for our study abroad program to come down each year for a free checkup. We tested blood glucose, blood pressure, and heart rate. We also recorded their gender, age, height, and weight. All this data we collected will be saved and compared to next years data in order to see if our trips down here are actually making a difference and improving the locals overall health and daily life.
Days 4 & 5 were definitely the most physical days while abroad and honestly probably ever. We volunteered at a developing orphanage to help build a root cellar. In short, a root cellar is a home or a clay hut that is built underground so the house can stay semi-cool in this hot environment (and obviously since majority of the people cannot afford air conditioning). To build the cellar, we had to move dirt down into the hole with a chute and then form huge dirt piles that we mixed with lime and water to form a thick and hard clay/concrete. The clay material was then shoveled in old flour sacks, sealed, then packed tightly around the hole to form the walls of the root cellar. All this work was done by hand, shovels, picks, hoes, and buckets so needless to say my whole body and especially my hands are super sore! Definitely the best workout I've ever had :) We worked each day from 7am to around 3-4pm and the weather was pretty and perfect for the beach but not trying to build a clay home! It was roughly 100 degrees each day and we would occasionally get lucky with a gust of wind. With all the hard work, everyone worked up a huge appetite which was easily satisfied by the woman who is starting the orphanage. She is the former Mrs. Belize winner and a darn good cook! The first day working out there, she cooked us delicious BBQ chicken, baked beans, and tortillas. On the second day, she served amazing chicken and pasta that was covered with a red and white sauce blend (homemade of course)!
But in conclusion, building this orphanage was such a rewarding experience. Just knowing that all my hardwork helped build some little child's home for the next couple of years is beyond exciting and fills me with joy.
But it wasn't always hard work at the orphanage... We took some time to tug against an all guys team and beat them first try! The guys were part of another volunteer organization from a local Belizean church. I also played "football" and volleyball with the guys because they didn't think I was any good... I proved them wrong again! There was also an older woman that was part of the church group and I talked to her for about 30-45 minutes during a break. It was interesting to have a conversation with her because she had to move to America for 6 months in order for her daughter to get a bone marrow transplant because her daughter relapsed with leukemia twice when she got treatment in Mexico City. We were comparing landscapes, air, food, religion, and everything about Belize and America. She said the happiest day of her life was landing back in Belize with her local people and family in addition to breathing the cleaner air and eating fresher food.
Day 6 was an easier and more relaxing day than the previous two. We got to sleep in... Well let me rephrase that... We got to sleep till 6:30am so that was nice! Breakfast was at 7:30am and we left the cabins around 8:30 and headed to the Cornerstone building in San Ignacio. Cornerstone is a health-based volunteer organization. Groups of 6 split up and set up a station in different parts of the town to hand out health flyers on hygiene, cholesterol, blood glucose, teen pregnancy, and others like blood pressure, exercise, and a healthy/nutritious diet. Tooth paste, tooth brushes, condoms, and a few more small things were also handed out at these stations. I was set up at the Belizean Welcome Center which is also a "park" and bus stop. I also took more blood pressure and heart rate screenings because many of the people wanted to know their numbers and where they stand health wise.
Later that day, me a few other girls went to Guava Limb Cafe. Needless to say, I found my favorite lunch spot in Belize! It is comparable to a Panera Bread because they serve paninis, soups, salads, coffee, smoothies, and don't forget about the mouth-watering pastries! I ordered the blackened chicken Mayan salad and it was extremely refreshing. It was made with fresh everything... Romain lettuce, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, beets, chicken, and balsamic dressing.
After lunch we went on a medical nature trail walk. Honestly this part wasn't as interesting as I thought because I was too paranoid about a spider or snake making an appearance! But overall, it was neat to hear what the Mayans used as medicine and why they believed it to work. Many of the ancient remedies were discovered through trail and error so it was kinda like a game of Russian Roulette! We also learned about the green iguana. I had no idea they were so treasured in this culture... There is a hunting season just like in America but the fees and penalties here in Belize are much worse than in America. For killing just one iguana out of season, it can result in up to a half of year in prison along with a $1,000 Belizean dollar fine (which equals $500 USD). And, the green iguana gets its name because it is a vegetarian.. Not because they usually have a green color. Just some cool facts about iguanas if ya were interested!
Day 7: the halfway mark of my study abroad trip :/ Like they say... Time flys when you're having fun! Today we visited the elderly home and private hospital in San Ignacio. At the nursing home, we helped the staff prepare snacks, lunch, clean the facility, as well as assist in some patients physical therapy. Oh and of course we played bingo! Around 12:45pm we left the nursing home and split up for lunch. I went to my favorite spot Guava Limb and apparently I'm a local now because the waitress already knows what I want to eat and drink! After lunch we went to the hospital known as La Loma Luz... And hospital isn't a good word to describe this place. Compared to America and our amazing healthcare providers and facilities, this place is a run-down shed. I honestly couldn't imagine getting treated or having an operation there. I want the hospital pictures to speak for themselves (I'll upload to Facebook once back in the states) so I'm not gonna say much in my blog. But some things that really stood out to me is that there was multiple trash bags randomly left in the hallways, there was dust and unused equipment blocking most all the hallways, there was no gloves or biohazard bags in any of the rooms, the tools and other surgical equipment was stored in a husky tool draw, and lastly I watch a cook in the cafeteria wash her hair in the sink that they used to prepare and hopefully wash off food (not to mention the thousands of dead bugs all over the place). Needless to say, America's healthcare in general can be compared to a roman deity while the healthcare system in Belize is comparable a to kindergarten's daycare.
Day 8 was really cool in the aspect that we got to do healthcare screenings on the more educated and well-kept Belizean population. They worked for Belize Natural Energy, or BNE, for short. These men were really cool and extremely hard workers. They are considered middle-upper class in this society and they dressed the part! These men treasure their job and therefore their health so we tested their glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate, and recorded their age, height, and weight to later separate them into risk stratification for different cardiovascular and metabolic dieases. For the most part, these men were extremely healthy. However, there were a few gentlemen that like their salt shaker and alcohol a little too much and therefore are at greater risk of developing hypertension, high cholesterol, and maybe even diabetes. We gathered those at risk individuals and helped educate them about reversing their chances of developing some major health issues. Our solutions were mainly changing the diet, reducing their daily sodium intake, drinking more water, cutting out fried foods, stop smoking/drinking often, exercise a little more, and other moderate lifestyle changes. All in all, these men were health-conscious and did enjoy exercising. I know this from personal experience because I schooled them all on the basketball court during the lunch break!
Side note: Ever since leaving the Atlanta airport, I have not seen the first McDonald's or other popular fast food chain restaurant while in Belize. Everything here is fresh fruit or veggies from the market or a street vendor selling snack size chip bags and fresh sliced fruit. But in all honesty, food here is fairly cheap/affordable and no one is ever in a rush so sitting down to grab a quick bite to eat is quite common. Things like nachos, smoothies, ice cream, and pizza are a quick go-to snack for people here. Not to mention the taste of the food is delicious and outstanding!
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Day 9: Started today off with some juicy and very sweet watermelon and delicious coffee. The coffee here isn't has strong as in the USA but it definitely has a more enjoyable taste and no bitter or harsh aftertaste. Today is like a "rest" day in the fact that we just go canoeing, a little hike, get ice cream, then chill back at the cabins. (And I put rest in quotation marks because we won't be resting exactly but we have an off day from testing, health screens, cleaning, and volunteering.) To get to the canoeing place, we had to drive to this gorgeous resort first. This resort was top-notch! They had nature trails, a spa, an outdoor bar and patio, in addition to an outdoor yoga place. We boraded the canoes there then paddled down stream back into the city of San Ignacio. We were going with the current but since it has not rained in days, the water level was low and the river was not flowing very fast. Needless to say, we paddled for a solid 3 hours straight! (Got my bi's, tri's, and shoulders workout in today!) But I can't complain because the surrounding scenry was breathtaking... It reminded me of the Jurassic park ride at Universal Studios in Orlando! We even saw a group of moneys, a colorful toucan, and many other pretty birds.
Day 10: The last official work day for me and my study abroad group!!! Today we set up a coaches clinic at a local junior college where we taught coaches, parents, and athletes proper CPR techniques as well as taping to help prevent or help heal a joint injury. We also taught a few dynamic workout strectches and agility drills for sports like volleyball, basketball, and soccer ("football" in Belizean terms!) My group and I then got to chill and play volleyball against the Belizean athletes... We won hands down! Around 12pm we all sat around a big table and ate BBQ chicken, baked beans, and don't forget the tortilla! We left the clinic around 1pm then went to the city for an hour so people can buy last minute items before we leave for the beach on Monday and get some delicious sweets and pastries. Myself and 3 others went to none other than Guava Limb. And I don't know if I should be proud of this or not but I have officially tried every dessert and cake they have to offer... Oops! We ordered 4 different slices of cake this time and just shared everything. One was the chocolate Oreo cake, the second was red velvet cake with a layer of cheesecake in the middle, the third slice was light and fluffy key lime pie with a homemade crumb crust, and lastly the fourth was probably my favorite of them all... It was banana bread with a layer of banana pudding in the middle and topped with Carmel flavored cream cheese icing. Saying I was in heaven might be an understatement! The rest of the day consists of relaxing and eating dinner before we go explore the ATM caves tomorrow... Hope I find some money :)
Day 11: Engaging my inner Indiana Jones to explore some more ancient Mayan sites. Today the site was known as the ATM caves. ATM is short for Actun Tunichil Muknal, also known locally to the Belizean's as Xibalba (the underworld). The Mayan religion has 3 worlds... The heavens, the earth, and the underworlds. In short, the underworld is a cave and the Mayans believe that is where life begins and therefore where life should also end. The Mayans built the tall ruin sites to communicate with the gods in the heaven and the earth is where common man lived and harvested crops and food. The ATM cave still consist of many Mayan remains that includes skeletons, skulls, clay pots and other ceramics, sacrifice alters, blood plates, stone tools, and more to be discovered. Also a popular tourist attraction, this cave is one of the most popular burial sites in all of Western Belize. The cave itself is several miles long with multiple different chambers... We only explored about half a mile worth. First to get to the cave, we had to hike approximately 45 minutes until we were at the actual cave entrance. The entrance is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking... It's something you can't explain... Someone has to see it for themselves and take to tour to understand how amazing it truly is. I thought just going on this trip was a once in a lifetime experience but exploring this cave is equally as unique and special.
Once in the cave, we spent about 3 hours swimming, climbing, and exploring everything the cave had to offer. The time completely flew by because I only remember being in there for like 30 minutes... Probably because I was in shock the entire time! Everyone that knows me knows that history puts me to sleep but now I'm debating about studying the ancient Mayan culture and beliefs because everything is somehow connected in their amazing circle of life and being. I wish I could have taken thousands of pictures to remember everything and show people but no cameras were allowed in the cave... Some moron ruined that opportunity for everyone when he dropped his camera on a 1,000 year old skull and cracked it. Anyway, I want to explain more in person but there are some pictures online that can give you an idea of how amazing this place is. Now off to the beach! I probably won't blog as much... Let's be real! Peace & Love, Nicole 😘
Once in the cave, we spent about 3 hours swimming, climbing, and exploring everything the cave had to offer. The time completely flew by because I only remember being in there for like 30 minutes... Probably because I was in shock the entire time! Everyone that knows me knows that history puts me to sleep but now I'm debating about studying the ancient Mayan culture and beliefs because everything is somehow connected in their amazing circle of life and being. I wish I could have taken thousands of pictures to remember everything and show people but no cameras were allowed in the cave... Some moron ruined that opportunity for everyone when he dropped his camera on a 1,000 year old skull and cracked it. Anyway, I want to explain more in person but there are some pictures online that can give you an idea of how amazing this place is. Now off to the beach! I probably won't blog as much... Let's be real! Peace & Love, Nicole 😘
Days 12-14: So now that I'm on beach time, all the days and time are running together. I'm no longer required to blog so I'm officially "off" and on vacation time! Therefore, I'm keeping this entry short, sweet, and to the point! We are at Almond Beach in the Hopkins district of Belize and staying at the Jaguar Reef Resort... you can say it is kinda like paradise! We've been zip lining thru the jungle, went sailing on a 40 foot catamaran, and today we are going on a hike to a water hole where you can cliff dive... Talk about the perfect vacation in my opinion! And sadly today is my last night here in this beautiful country but I'm excited to see my family and friends (and dogs!) and share all my awesome experiences! I thought I would miss American food but the Belizean diet did not disappoint by any means! Definitely putting Belize back on the travel destination list 😁 See y'all soon!