Day 8: Banana Trees? No Way! (Olivia)

On our final day in the beautiful country of Belize, we concluded with an exciting tour of Bunches of Fun banana farm, which was something that I was particularly interested in considering my academic emphasis on plant sciences. I went into the tour unsure of how I would be able to connect tropical fruit agriculture with American farming practices; however, I quickly realized that there were far more similarities than differences.

First, our tour guide Evin was an Oklahoma native who did her undergraduate in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University. Clad in her Twisted X moccasins and bright blonde hair, I couldn't help but see a little bit of myself in her. The Belizean transplant found her way to the Caribbean country through an internship, similar to my recent international internship experience in Norway this past summer. 

Throughout the tour, Evin taught us about the morphology of banana plants, common production practices, and environmental stewardship efforts. The first thing that I learned is that bananas are a member of the grass family, so technically there is no such thing as a banana tree because it lacks a woody stem. This is similar to American grains, such as corn and wheat, which are also members of the grass family. 

She also taught us that field waste is composted for six months and then reapplied to banana plants in the field so that nutrients that are taken from the plant can be reintroduced to the soil. I know that all of the students on the trip are interested in environmental conservation and stewardship so this particular aspect of the tour really resonated with my fellow students and me. 

Belize has been an incredible opportunity for me to expand upon my appreciation of global agricultural systems. Agriculture has played a vital role in the development of each and every society, but this trip has taught me that agriculture doesn't necessarily have to look "American" in order for it to be productive. Previously, I never would have considered bananas as a critical part of the global agricultural systems. However, I have now realized that agriculture takes many shapes and sizes. Many thanks to my new friend Evin for teaching me that valuable lesson. Go Pokes!

Olivia is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Sciences at Penn State 

Day 4: An UnBELIZEable Classroom Visit! (Olivia)

Picture livestock milling about in a lush green courtyard, children happily bantering in crisp, pressed uniforms, and passionate instructors with a passion for bettering their county and you’ll have pictured Mopan Technical High School, a trade school situated a few miles from the Guatemalan border.

Today my friends and I make the trek to MTHS to tour their facilities and interact with Belizean agriculture students. I was particularly excited for this opportunity because just like the Belizean students at Mopan Tech, I also attended trade school prior to coming to college.

During my time at MTHS, we learned about the hands-on opportunities that the school had to offer. For example, the agricultural students slaughtered their flock of chickens the day before we came to tour, they sell all of the produce that they grow, and even had a pond full of tilapia. This was strikingly similar to the goal of self-sufficiency that my own trade school had back home in the states.

Another similarity that I saw between Belizean vocational school and American vocational school was the passion that the instructors had for their students. Each classroom that we visited, regardless of the trade that was involved, was focused on innovation. And even though in the American context we tend to emphasize technological innovation over more traditional knowledge, innovation was nonetheless a crucial portion of their curriculum.

Finally, the highlight of my day had to have been my opportunity to speak with students. A particularly memorable conversation that I had was with one of our student tour guides. When I asked her why she chose agriculture, she told me that she enjoyed the challenge, loved to work the earth, and didn’t mind getting sweaty with the boys. She aspires to continue her education either in Honduras or the United States so that she can “make a big impact on her country someday.” It was in this moment that I truly saw a lot of myself in this young pupil, from her sheer grit to her passion for the industry. I have no doubt that she will accomplish many great, impactful things.

I have learned numerous important life lessons during my time in Belize, but so far my time at Mopan Technical High School has taken the cake. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to compare and contrast the Belizean and American education system than in a context that I have personally participated in myself. From the facilities, to the instructors, to the students themselves, I have no doubt that the future of Belizean agriculturalists are cultivated in the soil at Mopan Tech.

Olivia Richart is a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Sciences at Penn State. 

Gearing Up For Tropical Travel: Olivia Richart

A snapshot from my last international experience in Tynset, Norway

In just two short weeks, I will be sitting in a southbound plane heading for a tropical paradise called Belize, which has long been regarded for its astounding diversity in numerous cultural aspects, from ethnicity, to food, to wildlife. And even though I am incredibly excited for my first tropical experience, I would like to take my time throughout this blog post to reflect on the journey that I’ve taken since enrolling in this class.

The first lesson that I learned was the importance of research prior to going abroad. Throughout the duration of our course, my classmates and I have delved into Belizean history, which is surprisingly extensive considering that Belize is a relatively young country. This history has laid the foundation for the cultural climate of Belize today. For example, Belize had comparatively “relaxed” relations between slaves and slave masters. This has ultimately contributed to incredibly ethnic and racial diversity of Belize. Researching the area or country that you plan to visit prior to leaving the United State is critical for the prevention of culture shock.

The second lesson that I have learned is the intriguing history of the Mayan people and their dynamic society. We had an extensively accomplished retired Penn State professor come to a recent class meeting to discuss ancient Mayan history with us. Dr. Webster was a truly remarkable man with an admirable passion for his field. One of the most interesting and impactful aspects of ancient Mayan culture that we learned about from Dr. Webster was the overarching importance of maize to the Mayan people. It was simply fascinating how much the Mayan people relied upon maize for spiritual, economic, and nutritional reasons. Maize truly was their staple crop, even though it wasn’t the most substantial when referring to nutritional content. Maize was so important to them, that their kings would include it as part of their official titles, and they worshipped maize gods. As an agriculture major, especially someone who is considering a minor in agronomy, I find it fascinating to see the role that staple crops have served in the development of ancient societies such as the Maya.

The last lesson that I have learned is sincerity. Be sincere in your intentions, be sincere in your interactions, and be sincere with your curiosity. I learned this critical lesson from our first guest speaker, Abdir, who spoke about always keeping an attitude of “sincere, authentic curiosity.” Even though my classmates and I will be immersed in a completely new culture, our genuine quest for knowledge and understanding of Belizean society will foster a positive learning environment during our time in Belize.

I truly can’t wait to partake in such a life changing experience. One of the aspects of the trip that I have been looking forward to the most is the on-farm visits that are scheduled during the trip. I plan to ask many questions to the Belizean farmers, because I’m curious to see how Belizean production methods differ from American production methods. I know that when I leave the States, my “Global Citizen Toolbox” will be well-equipped, complete with historical knowledge, prior research, and absolute sincerity. Belize here I come!

Introduction: Olivia Richart

Spring Break 2018: I Can’t Belize It!

 

Spring break is nothing short of the most exciting week for college students.

 

Some students choose to go home, sleep in, and treat themselves to some quality rest and relaxation that they deserve after a stressful start to a packed spring semester.

 

Some students choose to go on vacation to somewhere that’s sunny and 75, like a beautiful beach or exotic island resort.

 

But I get to do something just a little different. Not only do I get the opportunity to break up the monotony of my college classes for a week and travel to somewhere tropical and exotic, I will be able to combine my passion for agriculture and my interest in international development during a weeklong, once-in-a-lifetime experience in Belize!

 

My name is Olivia Richart, and I’m currently a sophomore attending Penn State. I’m majoring in agricultural sciences and minoring in international agriculture with hopes to work in international development someday, either as a civilian or during my service obligation with the Army. I am excited to say that Belize, which is a small country in Central America that has long been known for its barrier reefs, white sandy beaches, exotic tropical wildlife, and the Blue Hole scuba diving site, will be the second destination chronicled between the pages of my passport after an excursion to Norway in the summer of 2017.

 

Many people travel to Belize for the typical tourist sights, like the Belize Zoo, the lush cascading rainforest or delicious food options . Trust me, I love sightseeing and food-tasting as much as the next clueless-looking tourist girl, but what really puts me on the edge of my seat in excitement is the opportunity I have to visit numerous farms throughout this beautiful country and learn about a completely different production system and climate.

 

Soil, rainfall, water availability, climate; all of these are pivotal factors in a country’s ability to produce quality food for its people. After traveling to Norway, I was able cultivate a more contextual understanding of the critical role that the environment plays in a country’s food system and security. Norway has a staunchly different climate than Belize, with almost year-round permafrost, fairly infertile, rocky soil, and temperatures that rarely exceed 65 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, all of which were huge obstacles that their agricultural system was able to successfully adapt to. I can’t wait to experience the tropics and delve deeper into the impact that this exotic climate has on Belizean agriculture!

 

When I came to Penn State, I was shocked at how well traveled many of my friends were. Italy, France, England; you name it, my peers had been there. I felt behind the learning curve my first semester; no fun foods I’ve taste tested, awkward language barrier encounters, or tales of cultural differences from faraway lands. I was just a simple girl from rural America with blue collar parents and a travel log of four, maybe five states.

 

But now, as a sophomore in college, I can safely navigate an airport, (domestic or foreign!) hop on public transportation, (nervously) break though a language barrier, (sometimes very badly) and proudly say that I not only have 20 states and one country under my belt, but also that I have managed to incorporate my love of agriculture into every destination!

 

Belize is a popular destination for good reason: tropical climate, delectable food, exotic wildlife, and intriguing culture. While I am undoubtably excited for all of those and more, I am most excited for the opportunity to immerse myself in Belizean agriculture.

 

College has undoubtably been the most impactful experience in my life, and it is a privilege that I am thankful for every day of my life. Now, I will be able to combine newfound intercultural literacy and global citizenship with my passion for agriculture. I really can’t Belize it!