Coming Home

Hello parents
We heard from Alecia that the kids did make their flight, just barely, but they all made it. They are now on their way home. CO 426 from Houston, according to the website, is on time for an arrival at BWI at 11:32 p.m. Great news!

This will probably be the last blog update so we want to say thank you to all parents for supporting this wonderful program. Once again the kids did wonderfully and thrived under the care and leadership of Alecia and Jean.

Thanks, do not hesitate to call with questions.

Ross Wehner
World Leadership School

Students have arrived in Houston

Hello parents!

We just received a message from Alecia that said the students flight was 2.5 hours delayed leaving Belize City. They are rushing to get through customs to make their next flight that leaves at 7:25pm CST. We will update the blog with information as soon as we receive it. Please call 303-679-3412 with any questions.

Erin Lasky
Program Director

Day Nine

hi everyone. Hopefully this blog post won't be erased. Today we started out early in the morning with some toast and eggs for breakfast. Right after that we put on sunscreen and prepared for snorkeling all day. The stops showed large brain coral and purple sea fans, as well as a wide variety of Parrot fish and other tropical fish. Belize is legendary for its assortment of tropical fish. Our first stop lasted half an hour and after we went to see a bird sanctuary island with frigates nesting. The mating season was currently being undergone as the males displayed their large red throats to attract females. Frigates turn off 1 half of their brain while the other is active. After the bird island we went to the mangrove trees, which are extremely important to the ecosystem in Belize. They serve as a buffer for tropical storms and a hatchery for small fish. When these trees are torn down, fish don't have places to safely grow up and there is no buffer for the islands. We also went to a mangrove swamp later in the day where we examined peat (decomposed material by the mangroves) and took soil samples. We hit a few more snorkeling spots and went to the Smithsonian research lab and talked to scientists who were researching parrot fish feeding. As we returned to the Island, we talked about the night snorkel and got prepared. Excited to be back tomorrow.

Final Day of Service

Today, day seven, was our final and most challenging day. We made a lot of concrete today by hand, and spread it by hand as well. What does this really mean, you may ask? First, you must make a pile of gravel. Then, you add concrete powder and mix it. From there you make a center in the middle--much like a well. I do this when baking biscuits (my only previous reference). Next you add six buckets of the water that must be brought from behind the school and start turning it over. And over and over. And over more until Luis tells you it is ready. Or maybe Trinidad. From there, you load it into a wheelbarrow and slide over to where it belongs and dump it. Then, you smooth it out in 5 different stages. Every single student did this today, for hours. Some community children also chipped in! All I kept thinking was that their mothers would be so mad when they saw their uniforms all messed up.

In addition to laying concrete, we finished a sink, finished painting and laid some linoleum.

For several hours, I (Mrs. Berman-Dry) was in the school's technology lab. Almost all of the computers were nonfunctioning. So, I provided technical support and got them ALL working, as well as installed four new software pieces that I had brought for them. The teachers had asked for reading software and keyboarding software. We obliged! Later today, I invited all the teachers to come to the lab for lunch break and four students helped me to show then how to use it all. They also had a new printer that I installed for them, as well as three laptops that needed to be fixed. Part of me felt bad that I was not shoveling gravel, but the other realized that they NEVER get someone to fix things at the school. So, I should use my real gifts in the best possible way.

Now, we are done. I feel a bit sad. As I was fixing the computers, students would randomly come visit me and inquire about my work. They would play with my hair and lean against me--so full of love. I'll be sad to leave them, even though we are headed for the sandy beaches of Tobacco Caye in the morning. Only three days left!

Day Six

In the morning, we went and ate some breakfast and then got dressed, put on our sunscreen and bug spray, and headed out for La Democracia. Different people had different jobs. Some people had to finish cementing up the back wall and others had to make the floor even. After a hard couple of hours of work, we sat down in one of the classrooms and had lunch. After everyone finished eating we went back and finished up our work for the day. Then, we went back to Monkey Bay and had some free time before we went to the zoo.

Our first stop at the zoo was at the Tapir enclosure. Some people got to feed them and others stood far away because they can pee backwards 10 feet. Then we stopped by a couple of other animals. Then we came up to the jaguar, Junior Buddy. When he was a baby, his mom rejected him, so the zoo took him and hand raised him with a bottle. The trainers taught him a couple of tricks, such as doing a somersault or walking around a tree obstacle for how old he was. Everyone got to touch his huge paw. One of my favorite animals at the zoo was the Speckled Owl. There were two in the enclosure. They made a sound that sounded like an old man laughing. Back forth they were talking or “laughing.” Towards the end of the trip, Mrs. Smedira made up a joke saying, “And here in front of us, we have the rare Buses domesticus. Make sure your careful not to upset it so you get bitten.” Then everyone got on the bus and we went back to Monkey bay.
---by Halle

After breakfast we went to La Democracia to work on the kitchen and dinning hall. While there I helped work on plastering the back wall of the dinning hall. It was very hard at first, but now it looks great. Before we left, we distributed the gifts to the students at the school. They were all really happy! After we had dinner we went to the zoo.

At the zoo, we went saw many cool animals. One was the tapir which is the national animal of Belize. We also saw Howler monkeys. They are really small animals that can be heard from two miles away! The zookeeper would make a noise, and then the monkeys would respond with a howl. We next saw the jaguar. The jaguar’s name is Junior Buddy. It was rejected by its mother, so they took it in and bottle fed it. They were able to train it, and it can somersault, roll over, and it can kiss you on the forehead! He would have it jump on the fence and we all could pet its paws. Next, we saw the kinkajou exhibit. It was really cute! The zookeeper would stick bananas through the cage and they would climb around and eat the banana. We had a great time and we were really sad to have to leave the amazing animals in the zoo.

--by Kendall

Day Six

Today was our first all-day work day. The students started off by finishing the paint on the trim of the dining hall, and putting up the remaining strips as well. Not long after, two of the boys assisted the carpenter, Louis, as he built a roof onto the kitchen to protect the children when they get their food. Not to worry, they were not on ladders! The next job was to mix cement, in order to finish off the outside back wall of the dining hall--this has to be done by hand and the children were amazed at how difficult this task was. The groundwork was also laid for a sink in the dining hall, which will be finished tomorrow.

We have both been so very impressed with the persistence and dedication our students have shown in the face of real, physical labor that would stymie even seasoned American laborers. Here, there are no cement mixers--it's done by hand! Not single person complained about their jobs and we worked through hot weather!

We hear the dinner bell ringing and are very hungry, so we're signing off here. Tonight is the Belize zoo tour at night. More tomorrow.
Mrs. Smedira and Ms. Berman-Dry

Day Five

Jake = Today, Sunday of the 21st we did many things. First, we went to the school to work on the school to paint and nail wood strips to the sides of the cafeteria it was quite hot. Then we had lunch with empanadas (sorry about the spelling). After, went canoeing where it started to pour on us. We also had coconuts to eat right after (they were really good). Then, we came back had a book discussion.

Katie = Today was a fun day. Early in the morning we went to the school in La Democracia and painted and repaired the dining hall. Soon after, we took a trip down the river in our canoes. As we entered the Monkey Bay facility, we were greeted by another surprise. A kind man working there had gotten 8 coconuts down from a tree and was cracking them open for us. Later we had dinner and a book discussion with an activity too.

Photos From Days Four and Five

We were able to go into a new cave this year, "Closing Jaw," which is a bit scary to enter. Once inside it's majestic because it is not a "touristy cave."

This is how you get in and out.

The next day, we got some amazing photos and saw an incredible view all the way to Guatemala from the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich.

Today, we started day one of service to La Democracia Government School. This is the before photo of the dining hall.

Halle working on rescreening the doors.

Jamie and Jake applying strips of wood to keep the wall screening in place.

Stephanie, Tricia and Katie painted the bottom half of the building inside and out a tropical shade of greenish blue. Ms. Smedira also worked hard along side them.

Several community children also came out to help.

Quinn was quite talented with the hammer!

Kendall and Jake worked together to place the very last stripping.

Here we are at the end of day one. What a big difference already!

Some Photos From the First Three Days

Hello everyone. We did not have internet access until today, the fourth day, as we were in the Mountain Pine Ridge. This very remote area does not offer many of the modern ammenities we expect in the suburbs, and you can read more about our adventures here below, with blog posts written by Stephanie and Tricia. We will have internet access from here on. Here are some photos:

The group in front of the cabins at the Mountain Pine Ridge

Quinn and Tricia, about to drop their creation for the Egg Drop Challenge, a leadership styles activity.

The hike involved some tricky rock climbing. Luckily, we had Brittany and Trinidad to help us navigate.

Big Rock Falls, the reward after a long and challenging hike.

Very excited to get in!

Just before leaving for our host community of La Democracia, near Belmopan.

Days One through Three

WOW!!! It has been an amazing journey since we got to Belize on March 17th, 2010. So many things have happened that have only been in my wildest dreams. We seen things and done things that some elderly people have never ever done in their entire life.
The first day we got here was a little bit of a rough one, but none the less it was just as enjoyable. As we woke up at 4:00 in the morning, or some of us earlier or later, all of us or at least me were thing that we were having a dream because no one in their right mind would wake up at 4:00 in the morning. Well, it turns out that it wasn’t a dream after all. When we got up in the morning I got right to business. Frantically searching and finding everything the that we needed to head to the airport. We got to the airport and that’s when our first conflict happened. The flight checker person wouldn’t let us go through with out both parents consent. Luckily, with the help of our amazingly smart teachers, they found a way to get us on board the plane. From there, we took a 4 hour flight to Houston, Texas where we waited for 2 and ½ hours for our next flight to Belize. The flight down to Belize to a total of another 2 and ½ hours. Once we got to the Belizean airport we already had people waiting for us to take us to our destination at Mountain Pine Ridge. Then we had a 3 hour car/bus ride down to Mountain Pine Ridge. Our bus driver and tourist name is Trinidad. Our other tourist name was Brittney. We got there our dinner was already prepared. It was tacos or burritos, depending who you talk to. We were all tired after the long day of travel and we went to bed at 8:30.
On our second day we did many things. Our breakfast was eggs and johnny cake or biscuits. We played a fun game to test our personalities and then headed to our cabin to get ready for our 3 hour hike. The hike was very demanding and then after our hike as a reward we got to go swim in a really cool waterfall. Then we hiked back down and took a 1hour rest. We had a lunch and it was awesome cause it was stirfry. Then we took a tour of an ecofrindly lodge that grows all of their plants and vegetables called Blancaneaux Lodge. Then we have a break and the kids/students all played BS with everyone. We happily marched to dinner which was spicy chicken and plantains which were fried. After dinner we played and awesome game call mafia. Everyone enjoyed it. Then we had a quiet time with every one and wrote in oiur journals and when to bed just a little bit later than last night.
Our third day at Belize was been amazing. We woke up and had home made pancakes. Then we got dressed to go into 2 caves. The first cave was very short, but a very high cave. Our second cave was very long and seemed like it never ended. Then we went swinming in the Rio Frio Pool where we rock sled. We got back to camp and we had lunch which was rice and split pea soup.
--by Tricia

Days One-Three Mountain Pine Ridge

The airport in Belize was really small compared to our airports. When we finally got to Belize, after 6 hours of being on a plane, we grabbed our bags and got on a bus. Our bus driver and Belizean expert, Trinidad, was very kind. Trinidad put our bags in the back as we got on the bus. Then, Brittany introduced herself. She is originally from Canada and is studying primates. After 3 hours of riding on the bus on a very bumpy road, we finally arrived at Mountain Pine Ridge. There is a great view of the mountain and the food here is awesome. On Thursday, we ate an amazing breakfast then headed off for our hike to the waterfall. It was long and we had to cross very slippery rocks. As we were crossing, Tricia slipped and got her boot wet. Luckily, she was not hurt. Kendal dropped her water bottle in the stream and it started to float away, but Jake grabbed it before it got too far. When we got to he hard part of the rocks, Jake and Jamie stayed behind to help people get across. We hiked up steep ridges and down some hills to get to Big Rock Falls. The waterfall was very beautiful. It is like 80 degrees in Belize and when we got to the falls, it felt nice. Then, we took a shorter walk back. We ate lunch and then had free time. Then we went to Blancaneux Lodge. It is very ecofriendly because it is at the headwater of the river. We toured through the garden and tried some of the herbs. Then, we saw the stables and went into the lobby of Blancaneux. Some people got cokes. We got back and played Mafia. The next day, we went caving in the morning. We went to two caves and one had a very small opening. We sat in the dark for a while just so we could hear the water dripping. Then we went swimming at Rio On Pools. There were natural rockslides that were like waterslide. We came back to Mountain Pine Ridge and played egg drop. We were put in groups and told to use 25 straws and 3 feet of tape to keep an egg from cracking or breaking. There was only 1 group whose didn’t; Stephanie, Jamie and Halle. We played another game where we had to all stand on a line and couldn’t talk. We had to first get in order of birthdays then middle name and finally how many pets you have.

--by Stephanie

Students are at Mountain Pine Ridge

Hello parents!

I just spoke to Alecia and she said that things are going fantastic! The group had a wonderful hike to Big Falls yesterday and also started the leadership curriculum. They also had a chance to visit an organic farm which the students really enjoyed. After a hard day of hiking and curriculum they still had enough energy to play 3 hours of the camp game "mafia"!!!

The group will be arriving at Monkey Bay tomorrow and will update the blog with student written blogs.

Please call 303.679.3412 with any questions!

Erin Lasky
Program Directo

Arrival in Belize

Hello parents,
I just spoke with our country coordinator in Belize, who confirmed the students arrived without incident this afternoon. They are now headed to the Mountain Pine Ridge, where they should be arriving shortly. Hopefully we'll get a blog update tomorrow -- call our office at 303-679-3412 if you have any questions.
Thanks
Ross Wehner

St. John's students are in Houston!

Hello parents!

The students have arrived safely in Houston without incident. They will be departing on CO flight 1628 at 1:30pm CST and arriving in Belize at 2:55pm. We will update the blog as soon as they arrive in Belize. Please don't hesitate to call 303.679.3412 with any questions!

Erin Lasky
Program Director