Diving Update

Good Morning! People talk about diving and the great things they see, well our students got to experience it yesterday! The certified group wound up diving two sites (White Sands and the Garden). Coral of all colors, fish of all shapes/sizes/colors surrounded the divers. The highlight by far was the three turtles seen on the second dive, followed by a close second of diving through a coral reef cave. The group, who is finishing their certification, has tripled in their confidence. They were beyond scared initially, and after their second dive had smiles from ear to ear! They hope to be diving White Sands for their final open water dive to see the great things diving has to offer!

Yesterday, besides the diving, we spent the day snorkling, relaxing in hammocks, kayaking, and running around having fun. Today will be much of the same!!

The group has loved the sunrises and sunsets here. The sunrise this morning was unreal as they looked out their doors to see ocean, the sun, and sky. I often feel like we are sitting on the beach of one of those Corona commercials of two people sitting on their beach chairs without a concern in the world. This is the life we are living here. It saddens all of us that we are on our final day here!

Glovers Atoll

Good Morning from Belize! This is the first chance I have had to get in front of a computer to give you an update on the trip. Over the past few days, we were at the Manatee Lodge on Gales Point. Gales Point is a 5 mile long finger on land no wider than 50 yards wide, and often just wide enough for the road. At the very tip of the point was the Manatee Lodge. We had a great three days there learning about Creol culture through their dance, food, culture, and interacting with the children and adults. On our last night at the Lodge, we were involved in a custom dance, called a ponta. Kids from the village were drumming and chanting as we mixed with the villagers and danced around a fire. In this custom, all of the attention is focused on the one individual in the center of the circle dancing. Everyone from Madyln to Ford participated and really got involved in the dance. The kids insight to the village and culture was really something special. Just hearing them talk, you could sense they just wanted more.

Yesterday, was a travel day that was supposed to be a quick 2 hour drive, which turned into an ALL day adventure. Over the past few days prior to departing, we were in a tropical depression with rain dumping down on us at times. As we left Gales point on the Coastal highway, which is more like a bumpy dirtroad that floods easily, we wound up driving through knee high water. But things were going well for 45minutes until we got to the river that washed out the bridge. Absolutely no way to get through. We wound up turning around, and going out the other way, again driving through knee high deep water. After the 2 hour drive on bumpy roads, which in places was like driving through a lake, we eventually made it out. We were making up a lot of lost time until two of our tires blew out from rocks being in the tires from our lake drives.

This unfortunate event, may have turned into one of the highlights of the trip. We ended up making it to a village consisting of Guatamalans and Salvadorians who were refugees from their native countries. They lived as farmers, had a plot of land, and became a self sustaining community. As we waited for the tire to be fixed, local kids came out and started playing with our students. In an situation that was gray, the kids made the best out of the situation. In fact, they did better than that. We were there close to 2 hours getting the tire fixed, and not one kid complained the entire time. The kids appreciated where they were and made the best out of the situation.

We made it to the boat doc just as the boat was pulling away to Glovers Atoll! We are here and had a great conversation about culture that night!

Overall, these kids are amazing! I am so proud of how much they support eachother and have come together as a group!

Belize

Talked to Mr. Gray last night. The kids had a great day exploring ancient Mayan ruins and learning about their culture and history. Everyone is having a blast and in high spirits.

I will be meeting them on Sunday to help with the dive portion of the trip. Please contact Mrs. Fluharty at 965-2173 home or 715-0962 cell if you need to contact us.

Belize

Mr. Gray says the kids had an active day paddling through the jungle river of Macal. Presently, they are in a village for lunch and playing soccer with some local students. He says the food is superb and everyone is adjusting to Belizean culture and lifestyle. Tomorrow they visit the Mayan ruins and then off to work with Manatees.