Day 7—Island Life and School

Ambergris Caye's beach is like a Condé Nast cover.

Just like a magazine cover.

Cooler, breezy weather today, and I am definitely more clear-headed and productive. 

With the only ways of getting to Ambergris Caye (the island San Pedro is on) being boat (water taxi or private boat) or plane, I am wondering how so many cars and trucks got here.  There are lots of golf carts and bikes people ride around on, but there are also cars and trucks which I assume arrived via ferry or cargo boat.

There are a lot of dogs frolicking here—many breeds and off the leash.  I have observed many German Shepherds, and dogs even on rooftops as I have seen in other countries but never in the U.S.

Security seems to be a priority in Belize, as the majority of structures have perhaps one or more security measures such as bars on the windows; roll-down shutters; fences; walls, including those with embedded broken glass on the top—something I have also observed in countries such as Mexico and Russia where people are resourceful, but rarely in the U.S.  While at Big Rock, there was another low-tech example of resourcefulness in the non-slip steps which had metal bottle caps nailed onto the steps for a more grippy surface.

The beach is just like something out of Condé Nast magazine—white sand, palm trees, docks with palapas, and so forth.  I was saddened to see so much trash in the bay near the dock.  Most of it looked like it had been floating there for awhile.

San Pedro Junior College.

There are subtle differences in small details between Belize and the U.S. which I keep noticing.  For example washers are wider but lower and have two compartments—one for spinning I guess.  The powdered laundry detergent is all sold in bags as opposed to boxes.  I think that is more compact, but Diane pointed out that the cardboard will biodegrade.  One detail that I think we could benefit from in my work, is a holder for a remote which they had at San Pedro Junior College in the library when we visited a class held there.

San Pedro Junior College:  classrooms on left and outdoor gym on right.

In meeting with representatives from San Pedro Junior College again today, it became clear that we—who may not be experts by any means back home—are all very knowledgeable in our positions and have much to share.  Ideas surfaced as we spoke in the office, and then were later solidified with our group into the outlining of a six-part strategic plan which we will work on more tomorrow.  Greg and I will also try to contact students who graduated last year to determine what they are doing now with their degree.

In congregating at the school, I noticed just how much trash there is around the campus that is neither picked up by students or custodial employees.

We observed one online class being facilitated, an ethics course, and a class to prepare students for tour guide certification.  Student engagement was lacking in all three. 

We rode bikes back to the hotel with just the street lights to light our way.