Home

HOME-this word came to mean many things over our trip. There were times where Shawnee exclaimed "We're Home!" Once when we reached the van from our caving experience and again when we reached Monkey Bay later that day. What makes up a home? The first definition of home given is "a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household." Our major place of residence on the trip was Monkey Bay (3 nights out of the 9). But Monkey Bay was not the only place we considered home on our trip.

Home came to mean the place where I was going to lay my head at night, where I ate dinner and could take a shower (a cold one, but a shower nonetheless). Home became relative, it didn't matter where it was. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Belize, but on day 10 I was ready to go "Home" to my dorm on campus at Shenandoah University (mainly because I had gotten sunburned finally and it hurt to move).

Now that I'm "home" I find myself missing Belize. I miss hanging out with Billy, Trinidad, Malito, Michelle and Matt. I miss Pine Ridge, my Mayan host family, the rich culture of the Creole and Garifunas. I even miss my group I traveled with! Belize feels like home in ways that I can't even explain. Being back at Shenandoah I realize that I became a different person in Belize. I became bolder, more daring, I got in better shape and I got better at interacting with people. I will carry the many memories and experiences I had with me for the rest of my life. Now when I think of Belize it is like my home away from home.

This is why I feel I am truly a global citizen now.

To all of The Kahuna Cliques guides and friends in Belize, I hope you are doing well and taking care.
To The Kahuna Clique, I hope everybody is transitioning well and I miss you guys!

Love,
Leah Hawkins

Tobacco Caye Misses Shenandoah!

Michelle and Matt here,

Almost a week has passed since Shenandoah has left, and we are still energized by the group's stay with us at Tobacco Caye Marine Station. We could see from the get-go that the entire group was devoted to learning about the many cultures of Belize, experiencing those cultures in the various environments and ecosystems in which this country is blessed with, and effectively taking that education with them for the rest of their lives. We cannot express enough how wonderful it was to have such an infectiously eager group to work with in the water and on land. Thank you for putting such a good effort forth and thank you for having fun!

On the final day of their too-short stay, we were very sad to see them go, but were very thankful for the show that a pod of seven dolphins put on for the group (thank goodness they got the underwater morse code memo). We couldn't imagine a better sendoff for a very deserving bunch of young global citizens.

Thank you Shenandoah, and hope to see you again! :)

Billi & Trini

We truly enjoyed the time we spent with you..enjoyed your enthusiasm for everything planned...and for the unplanned!!! You have an effervescent contagouse love for all that is Belize...and it infected everyone around you...You all remained so very positive when faced with awkward or uncomfortable situations; such as facing the possibility of finding a scorpion in your shoe!!!!!You rose to every challenge and supported those who were not so adventures, helping to instill confidence....

Billi: Loved you all and hope to see you again some day..
Trinidad ; hey was grate to be with you to all the trip you went in Belize I enjoy it to I hope you guys enjoy to hope one day we see each other again peace and love
trini v.

I'm a global citizen!

Why do I feel I am now a global citizen, and how do I feel I am going to pass on this experience to my community?

A citizen is a member of a community or nation, with both rights and responsibilities (thank you, Wikipedia!). I am an official citizen of the United States of America. In a broader sense, though, I have exercised my rights and responsibilities to become a global citizen as I have invested time, energy, and my heart in the country of Belize. My passport and my school have enabled me to be a responsible traveler and get to know the country of Belize through ten days of absolute saturation in the environment and culture. I had the close company and resource of my wonderful traveling group, so I had a sense of cultural familiarity in the presence of other Americans, but Belize became more and more transparent the more we experienced it as a team.

Belize made it easy for this American to adjust to cultural differences by providing some buffers of what I already know. Communicating in Belize was no problem at all - although the flavor of other languages - like Creole, Spanish, and Mayan - was all around, everyone we worked with spoke English (and if they didn't, a kindly translator was close at hand.) The strong sun did require me to wear more sunscreen and drink more water than I do at home in March, but I know how to protect myself from more extreme environments - and we had good reminders from all our guides to take all precautions. I love outdoor activity, and so many things we did - hiking, caving the mind-blowing ATL caves, climbing up the Caracol Mayan ruins, zip-lining through the rainforest, observing animals in the Belize zoo, and snorkeling through an incredibly beautiful barrier reef till I had goosebumps - were outdoors.

What makes my cultural experience different is the expanse of foreign nature and culture I was able to see. I got to spend time with colorful, unfamiliar wildlife I had never seen before, on land, air, and on sea. My group breathed the air of the underworld as we swam through the dark ATL caves and saw amazing Mayan artifacts, thousands of years old - and stood in the sunlight with complex Mayan ruins dating from 500 BC. Bumping by bus over unpaved roads, our destinations never took more than two or three hours - Belize is about 8,500 square miles, smaller than the state of Massachusetts, so experiencing a good chunk of this country was possible for our group to accomplish in a relatively small timespan.

It's significant to me that our group was treated so humanly by our guides. Monkey Bay, a wildlife refuge and our home base, allowed us guides who traveled with us to every strenuous, all-day activity, and provided us with some new ones, too. Our guides Trinidad and Malito drove us for hours, ate with us, talked to us, gave us advice, and joked with us. I think everyone in my group felt loved and intellectually enriched by Billi, our adventurous guide from Canada and a world traveler. Our home stays in the Mayan households gave us a clear picture of a couple days in a Mayan life. We ate and conversed daily with our families - the food was so amazing! - and I know I miss my host family already and can see their faces in my mind. This trip and experience was personal, not just academic or professional.

When I return to the United States, I'm foreseeing talking the ears off of my family, my friends, and the poor souls that happen to be in my company all about Belize and why they need to know about it. Though I hope my wanderlust-induced enthusiasm is infectious, I plan to do more to pass on the experience to my community. I would like to use the Kriol drum circle techniques in my music therapy sessions, and further discussion on the subject with my professor Dr. Rohrbacher, who is experienced in ethnomusicology. I would like to discuss the availability of priests in Catholic churches in Belize, as I'm now aware there's a shortage in some areas. I also want to be a resource towards those who wish to experience Belizian culture, so I plan on acquiring more knowledge through reading, research, cooking, listening to punta rock, showing my pictures, and general love for this beautiful culture which is, now, all I can think about.

Trip to Belize

I went to Belize on the GCP trip. Though there were meetings, emails, and literature, I still didn't know exactly what to expect. The unexpected is scary. The group I went with were a great group. We came together not knowing each other, but as time went on, we became close. I consider them my brothers and sisters - except we all get along.

I consider my self a global citizen because of my experiences. Sure, we did a lot of fun stuff, and saw a beautiful country, but we had a home family we stayed with in the Mayan village. That experience really opened my eyes and mind. My family had 9 children, a mother, father, 3 of their children. All of these people lived in one house that consists of 3 rooms. I have never seen poverty, let alone lived in it. These people cooked for us, and any food left over went to the chickens and roosters and dog and cat. This family shares one room to sleep in - everyone is sleeping on the floor, on mattresses or just blankets. They have broken down appliances, but didn't seem to care. The one grandson wants to move to a "big city". He had a lot of questions for us, and we had just as many for him.

I want to share my experiences in pictures, and telling anyone who will listen about my experiences. I also kept a journal, and after a few days to let this experience sink in, I want to write more in the journal. I think you can write what you see, feel and hear at the moment, but some times it takes a bit more time to really realize what you have experienced.

Jeanne Traylor
Division of Physical Therapy = Staff

Global Citizen

What does being a global citizen really mean??? Visiting another country for the first time, I had no idea what to expect, what to feel, what to learn. But after the first day, after talking to the people of this land and culture, who soon became some of the many friends I've made down here, I felt "right at home." I realized that this feeling got stronger and stronger as the days went by. That's what a "Global Citizen" must feel wherever he is.
When arriving to Belize, I promised myself to hold no expectations and no limitations. By doing so, I felt that I have achieved the greatest experience possible. I have learned as much as I can, I have met some of the greatest people here, and I was able to be apart of such a great group, whom I have considered as a family during this amazing week. Even though it has just been one week, our departure tomarrow, rather than feeling like we're returning home, I am having that second-thought, nervous feeling that is commonly experienced right before leaving home. I feel that I have finally achieved the experience and role of a "Global Citizen."

-Nadir
(Biology/Pre-Med, Undergraduate)

Unbelizeable!

I believe I became a Global Citizen when I experienced the song and dance of the Creole culture of Belize. A Creole drumming group came to entertain us one night at Monkey Bay around the bonfire. Earlier that evening, the head drummer talked to our whole group about this history of music and drumming in the Creole culture and from his native tribe in Nigeria. He then taught the group the three different types of sounds the drum makes and a few easy rhythms. That night around the bonfire, two young girls did traditional and ceremonial dances to the rhythms of the drumming group. They made sure they got everyone up to dance and even taught me some of the moves to one of the songs. The group played different songs from many different African countries and tribes. I wish that I could experience the song and dance of every nation and culture the way I was given the opportunity to experience them through this GCP trip. This trip and experience has inspired me to learn more about global music and dance to broaden my perspective of my craft.

I am planning on sustaining this amazing experience in many ways. First and foremost, I will be using my journal where I have been recording the many adventures and excursions of the trip. The journal entries are not just sequences of events, but a record of the many things I've learned about Belize culture and more. I will also be using the many photos I've taken to share with friends and family through prints and Internet resources like Facebook. I not only want to share my experience orally but through visual aids as well. Another visual aid I'll use to sustain my experience are the souvenirs that I will be bringing back for myself as well as gifts for others. However, of all these great resources to sustain my experience, nothing will be as fulfilling and satisfying to me as keeping in touch with my Mayan host family. I hope to keep in contact with them through letters and email as often as possible. They let me into their home and into their lives and I can only thank them by doing the same. There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about them since we left Maya Centre. I hope to do anything I am able to do to help them in times of need through encouragement and more tangible things like care packages. I don't believe that this trip will be hard to sustain in my memory. An experience like this stays with people for a very long time.

-Shawnee Baird
Sophomore Musical Theater Major
Kahunah Clique

Kahuna Clique

I have learned a lot about how to become an active global citizen through this trip. It was so important that the group did research before going on the trip , such looking into the different cultures and places of interest that Belize had to offer. Without this knowledge, I would not have been as prepare to experience Belize. Also, the theme of sustainability is something that I want to carry with me in my future travels. It was amazing to see the different ways that Belize is sustaining itself, whether this is through maintaining its numerous cultures or being mindful of the environment. As global citizens, we should take the responsibility of sustaining the places that we visit. One way that I am taking back my experience, is through my journal. I purposely kept a very detailed journal of our adventure in order that I might share my experiences with my family and friends. This has been a very rewarding activity because it has caused my to think deeply about all the things we have experienced here in Belize. I do not think I would have gotten as much out of the trip if I did not keep a journal. Belize has been amazing, and I look forward to future travels as a global citizen.
Alisha Huffman, Physician Assistant, graduate student

From Tobacco Caye

First time blogger.
This being my first time out of the states I feel now I am a global citizen. Ten days in Belize introduced me to new cultures. It has been a great experience. I now have the confidence to travel abroad in the future. I look forward to my next trip outside of the States.
I will sustain this experience by sharing with others what I observed on this trip to Belize. When I return to the states I will be more aware of what is going in the world outside of Winchester.

-M.N.

Kahuna Clique

I am more of a global citizen now because I learned about several new cultures in Belize. I experienced many different customs and realized that people are not very different even though they may live thousands of miles away. The 9 day experience taught me that we have to live together peacefully if we want the world to be a better place for the future.

I will sustain this experience by changing my lifestyle a little bit. I'll try to conserve water and electricity more now that I experience what it was like to not have that much of it. The Belizean diet which contained a lot of carbs had made many of their citizens malnurished and short in nature. I will probably try to change my diet to be more balanced to optimize growth and health. Finally I will appreciate hot water and consistent internet so much more now that because I have not had a hot shower in over a week.

-Vincent Ngai

Global Citizen

I feel that I've become a global citizen on this trip by becoming more aware of the many opportunities that are offered around the world. I would never have thought to do a home stay with a Mayan family if R.T. hadn't set it up for us.
I've been keeping a journal of my experiences and taking tons of pictures, which I plan to share as soon as I get back. I will always carry this great experience with me and plan to share it with future students. There have been a few opportunities to observe the drumming of the Creole, the Mayan village we've stayed at and there are drummers here on Tobacco Caye of which I have been soaking as much information as I can in so that I can share/incorporate it in future lesson plans on music around the world.
~Leah Hawkins
Sophomore Music Education Major

"The Kahunah Clique"

The tree that mayans refer to as the "Kahun" palm is a resource of many things. Since the time of their ancestors, this tree was used to make tools, shelter, decorations, as it was also a source of food. The kahun palm brings much variety and effects those around them in such a positive and resourceful way. This group of 11, filled with variety, intellect, comfort, and (more importantly) trust, also brings such a positive vibe to those around them. Sharing such traits of the great plant itself, we, as a group, have determined that "The Kahunah Clique" is a name that best suits this family, which has grown over a week of adventure, excitement, and new experience.

Tobacco Caye

The eight's day of our Global Citizen Trip to Belize.

What a place to be. We arrived this morning at the Island of Tobacco Caye and are stunned by the beauty and simplicity of this Island. After a short break and a delicious lunch, we have participated in a workshop on snorkeling. Shortly after this introduction, eleven of us snorkeled through the ocean as the 'Ocean Eleven' to be prepared for tomorrow's day trip out in the ocean.

We are so excited about the last days of our journey.

Petra

Paradise

Hello All,

We are currently on Tobacco Caye and enjoying a change in natural surroundings. We have left the bush and are now on the barrier reef--second largest in the world. We had a good lesson in snorkeling today and saw many many species of marine life. We are told that what we saw today is nothing compared to the biodiversity that we are supposed to witness tomorrow during our full-day snorkeling tour--including a night trip as well!

I can't believe we've made it to day eight. This is a wonderful group that truly works well together. We are fortunate to be here and have each other. We look forward to sharing our experiences with you all when we return . . . but not ready to leave it all behind yet! :-)
-Cliff

julia's post

Hello!
Day 7 of our experience here in Belize. Today we went on a caving adventure to the ATL caves. It was my first caving experience and I wasn't sure what to expect. After a two-hour bumpy bus ride amidst palm and pine trees, colorful houses, and citrus fields, we made it to the hiking entrance where the caves began. I can't fully flesh out how incredible the caving was in this blog entry because other people need to check their e-mail - BUT I will go over some of the highlights! After hiking about 4o minutes to the cave entrance, we climbed down slippery rocks and swam into the entrance of the caves. We shone our headlamps into two hours of an amazing adventure of rock climbing, swimming, and padding barefoot alongside Mayan artifacts, including a calcified skeleton of a human sacrifice! The whole experience affected me deeply, and I consider myself really lucky to have been caving in the ATL, particularly with my great group. What a cultural treasure!

belize

The Mayan cultural center was an eye opener. I'll always appreciate flushing toilets now. Belize is a young country with a lot of room for expansion. The people are very friendly!!

Can You Belize It???

I've done things on this trip that I probably will never be able to do again in my life. I feel like I am truly living while I'm young. Everyday I wake up to new exciting adventures (and FOOD!) and go to bed with a good kind of exhausted feeling. If I had a chance to ever come back to this country again I would definitely do it. I would want to try other activities, explore new places, and check in on my Mayan host family. I'll be coming back to the States soon with bug bites, sunburns, and many stories to tell but I feel I will be leaving a piece of my heart somewhere in the Belize jungles.

-Shawnee Baird
Sophomore Musical Theater Major

Youe better Belize It

A quick word as internet at the Monkey Bay Wildlife Reserve is limited . . . The GCP Belize participants can virtually recreate the entire production of BBC's Planet Earth Series. We have hiked through jungle, zip-lined through the rainforest, swam through caves, and floated on rivers. Sustainability seeps into every experience. We shall return with stories to last a lifetime.
Safe travels to all!
-Cliff

Japi Japa

We are now in a space to write blogs. The first one is to say that we are so excited about our trip and do not want to come home.

We could not have a better group. I am making space for Cliff to write the second blog.
Petra

Greetings from GCP OMAN!

From: Moore, Mitch
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 3:41 PM

Oman trip is going very well! Dr. Cal Allen has used his 35 years of contacts to put us in contact with many high ranking educational and governmental officials. Day trip to Muscat, Sohar and Sur have kept the group very busy. Touring a lot and sampling food from all over the middle east. We look forward to sharing our adventures when we get home!

The Oman Group

Greetings and updates from GCP Peru Mar. 10&11

From: Kittlaus, Mark D.
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 7:49 AM

We are having an amazing visit in Peru. We quickly became a fun traveling family and have enjoyed the tours, the people, the sights, the shopping and the food. Today we travel from Cuzco to Lima for more adventures. We are all very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to sharing everything we have seen and experienced. We have taken thousands of pictures and hours of video, so will return with plenty to transform into interesting presentations.

Thank you for everything,

Mark and the Peru crew




Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 10:11 PM

From: Jessica Liskey

Hello Jean,
Everything is going well in Peru. We have enjoyed every minute!

Sent from my iPod

GCP Peru Update 03/09

Another great day in Peru. Everyone is safe and well, we will be off to dinner soon.
Andrea

GCP Myanmar Update March 8

Group is doing well and having lots of fun!

GCP Peru Update

An update from the GCP Peru leader:
Everyone is safe and well in Peru, we had an absolutely wonderful day today, once we all finally got some sleep. Saw some great places, talked a lot about sustainability, and ate some incredible food. You would not believe how grateful the travel company is to us for not canceling, and how well they are treating us. We are giving out SU stuff everywhere. All is well.
Andrea

GCP Belize Update

Update from GCP Belize:

All continues to go fantastic! Very consuming schedule but powerful experiences!

Be well,
RT

GCP Egypt

We received word from Dr. England, the leader of the GCP Egypt group:
Hi from Cairo! All well.

GCP Myanmar

The GCP Myanmar group have arrived in Bangkok after a night's sleep on to Rangon. All is well!

GCP Peru

The GCP Peru group has arrived safely in Cuzco!

GCP Belize

This morning we received word from Dr. Good that the GCP BELIZE group arrived safely and all is well!