Un-Belize-able Life Experience Past Review
By Erica G (Elementary Education, New Mexico State University) for
Study Abroad Programs in Belize
My Belizean experience was wonderful. It helped me to see how Americanized I am, now I am proud to be American...but traveling to a different country and immersing myself in a different culture has only helped me to become a better citizen of the globe. Were there incidents or situations that I could have done without, sure, there always will be. The only reason I did not give 5 out of 5 is that i didn't experience the country as i would have liked, i let others i traveled with influence limitations...Belize is definitely a hidden treasure and should be explored. The varieties of culture will open your eyes to a new world of wonderment and leave you wanting to learn more. I plan on staying in contact with host family, friends and colleagues and look forward to learning more about Belize in the future and helping students in Belize learn more about the US. I might even return to Belize for professional reasons should everything fall into place as planned.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The administrative cohort was AMAZING! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Weakness of the program=although student teachers are supported well...the consistency of the student teachers having the same authority as primary teacher is a bit inconsistent. The strength of the program= the administration team is beyond wonderful. They are very supportive and willing to really help the student teacher understand and grow. The administrators at the placement i was placed at, were part of the entire student teaching process. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing arrangements were made by the program. Some of the family was more welcoming than others and because it is a "family" situation some lines get blurred. At times it is very family-like at others it is very much like you are solely a renter. The neighborhood is as safe as any neighborhood and as unsafe as any neighborhood, common sense precautions must be taken. Proximity to class life is extremely close, well within walking distance (albeit in sweltering humidity). Nightlife is also close in proximity. My host "mom" was wonderful and tried to be accommodating in different aspects. |
| * Food: |
I do not have dietary restrictions personally...i could see however that it might be a bit difficult for someone who doesn't eat meat (especially pork which is abundant in this country). The food made by my host 'mom' was delectable. There are various places to eat outside of the house. Some extremely WONDERFUL places...Natural Balance, Luda's, Panificadora Bakery, and the best=Nahil Mayab! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I was not able to experience nearly as many events and attractions as i liked. The wonderful Maya ruins of Lamanai is quite an experience and should definitely be taken advantage of, especially getting there by boat. Baboon Sanctuary is also wonderful. Banquitas House of Culture has numerous events. The school provided different events that were also wonderful. Visiting the cauyes (Caye Caulker and San Pedro) were fantastic! Corozal and Honeycamp Lagoon were both very relaxing with the water. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The developing country that Belize is there are many homeopathic type remedies. There are pharmacies very accessible. I had to take various vaccines before coming to the country but it seems that maybe not all of them were necessary. No one knows their own body better than themselves...so if you know you feel less than 100% when the weather changes then i would suggest taking precautions and taking meds with you to the country (Benadryl, Nyquil/Dayquil, vitamin C, etc.) or be ready to use an international substitute. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you are traveling alone it might be more possible to stick to your budget. If you are traveling with others then you might incur more money because you want to do more! The food and snacks can run high...if you do not eat out a lot of snack then this is where you will save the most money! Housing was more expensive because the host family asked for more money (electric bill). Social activities/excursions were a bit more because people i traveled with people who refused to ride on buses because they were afraid of the bus)---the bus should be utilized as much as possible (it is safe and sufficiently efficient). A lot of things were purchased for my classroom and that also lead to spending more (supplies are more expensive, available but more expensive). Souvenirs can be quite an expense too. |
Language
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I always believe that adversity brings growth...this experience is not for a student who has never felt uncomfortable nor is it for a any student who does not wish to step outside their comfort zone and learn about a different culture with an open mind. This experience is for the type of student who hungers for growth. A student who can humble themselves and be open to seeing some of the most beautiful things that nature has to offer that might be different from the type of beauty they are used to. Whether you study here in Belize or ANYWHERE complete immerse yourself in the experience. Try all the food you can, see all the sites that you can, talk to as many people as you can, shop locally, don't stay in a fancy resort when you have free time, do as much as you can as often as you can and enjoy it. Look for the beauty and wonder in the country you visit, fall in love with the country and its people! |
