CCSP Belize Begins!

The Spring 2010 semester of CCSP Belize is now in full swing as we came to a close on our orientation week Thursday. It's hard to believe that the students have already been here for over a week! This semester our student roster consists of seven girls. While many different backgrounds and interests are represented by these girls, they have quickly found themselves to be a close-knit group. It's been fun for us staff to hear them all in the dining room conversing, laughing, and really connecting.

It's been a full week in which they've learned a lot about Belize, Nabitunich (the campus), and each other. After a couple of days on campus we relaxed by tubing on the Macal River which allowed everyone time to slow down and take in their beautiful surroundings. Several days later they learned all about the Mayans at the nearby ruins called Xunantunich (which we can see from the campus). Students got to experience the vegetation of Belize at the botanical gardens on Wednesday and the local wildlife at the Belize Zoo just two days ago. There's no shortage of vegetation and wildlife right on campus, too. Students have already had the opportunity see toucans, aracaris, and other tropical birds right outside their doors (not to mention a few tropical insects right inside their doors)!

We also gave them an up-close look at the people and places of San Ignacio, Belize's second-largest city. Here they experienced the Saturday morning market, St. Andrew's Anglican church, and the general population. They also learned how to take the bus between the Nab (our nickname for Nabitunich) and San Ignacio, which is an important skill so they can get out on their own and explore.

Speaking of getting out on their own, the students are currently enjoying a travel weekend. We've closed the campus until Sunday dinner and sent them out to have a weekend to themselves before classes start on Monday. All seven girls decided to stick together and are having fun in the sun on Caye Caulker.

We as staff are excited for the students to start class because we know they're going to learn so much! And we, in turn, will get to have some great conversations with them about what they're learning.