Day 4: Climb at your Own Risk (Kryslynne)

This afternoon we got the opportunity to explore some mayan ruins. The site we went to was Xuantunich where Giselle our driver also became our tour guide. She took up on a quick hike through the woods where we came across some howler monkeys. As we went along, I couldn't help but wonder if the path we were using was once used by the ancient mayans themselves. When we arrived at the plaza the site before my eyes was breathtaking.

As you may know as sometimes I nerd out over mesoamerican ruins/information/artwork/artifacts/etc.  So needless to say, I was completely in my element today. The first ruin we got to climb was huge! And I've seen it in many pictures, but being able to see it in person was awe-inspiring. Just getting the chance to actually be there and touch the limestone made me feel more connected to the Belizean culture. Giselle also told us many fun stories about the structure. For example on the sides of the structure there were fiberglass replicas of the original carvings. The reason it is a replica is because the original stonework was uncovered around the 1950s and the elements quickly began to erode it. So as a way to preserve the structure and the artwork, the archaeologists filled it back in with rocks and put the fiberglass in its place.

In the replicas, you can see some of the Mayan gods. One of the gods she pointed out was the sun god. The mayans had a high appreciation for jaguars. Some believe man came from a jaguar mating with a human. So as as way of linking the sun god back to jaguars, he can be seen with a feline nose. Also the yellow and black spots represent day and night for the sun god rising and setting. Another feature the sun god has was crosses inside of his eyes. For the maya to have crossed eyes it was seen to be a sign of one of the elite. So when the children were young, a bead was placed between their eyes so they would constantly look at it. This caused their eyes to turn inward and give the crossed eye effect.  At the age of one or two the bead would be removed but the child's eyes would remain crossed. This practice became so common that everyone in the community started doing it to get the desired feature, which then in turn caused the elite to stop doing it because they didn't want to look like everybody else.
Just hearing these intricate stories of only one god made me realize how invested the ancient Maya were in their religion and communities. Additionally, learning how they modified their bodies in such a way to seem more powerful made me realize it's something we still do today.

For the people of Belize, this is just their history. I find it interesting how sometimes I take my own history and culture for granted and find it boring, but find theirs so fascinating. This makes me wonder if they find their own history as boring as I find mine. To say the least, today was by far my favorite day of the trip. I got the chance to hear stories of the Mayan people while actually being in the areas we were talking about.

Kryslynne Vroman is a sophomore studying Agriculture and Extension Education at Penn State.

Day 3: A Breath of Fresh Air (Erin)

Belize is truly a place that can take your breath away.

In my case, it literally did just that as we walked up steep terrain during out first farm visit of the day. With each step I found it increasingly more difficult to catch my breath, and mixed with the panic that caused, and the intense heat, I definitely wasn't feeling confident in my ability to reach the top. I looked up at the path ahead of me, fearful of being unable to make it. One step, two steps, breathe; over and over again. But in the end, I simply couldn't do it.

Sometimes, it's frustrating to know your limits. It's frustrating to want to extend yourself farther than you're able to go. It's frustrating to realize that sometimes you can't do something, regardless of how badly you want to. When I decided to turn around, I felt (and still feel) that frustration. I knew that the top of that pathway, was a beautiful view, and all I wanted to do was see it. But in a way,  that frustration distracted me from seeing the beauty around me in the present moment. 

Our bracelets from CELA Belize. 

Yesterday, our first full day in the country, we received bracelets from CELA Belize, who has played a major role in the planning of this trip. Each seed represents a different sentiment, but overall, the bracelet is there to serve as a reminder to stay anchored in the present moment. Throughout the day, I kept thinking about the bracelet and it's significance. Yes, I was frustrated, but I was also standing in the middle of a field filled with plants I had never tasted, or seen before. I was watching monarch butterflies fly around coconut trees, and I saw iguanas resting on branches. I was taking it in, all in real time, but not fully appreciating it. 

We only have a finite amount of time here in Belize, and as the days pass in what feels like seconds, I'm learning to appreciate it all. The good, the bad, and everything in between. I'm coming to terms with the fact that not everything will be perfect, and realizing that it's imperfect moments where we learn and grow the most.

Honestly, the pictures don't do it justice. 

One of the most beautiful parts of our day today, stemmed from an imperfect moment. We had left our first farm tour, and traveled to a second farm for lunch. When we got there, lunch was just starting to be made. As a group, we passed the time by sitting by a nearby river. The view was like something out of a children's story book. It was wide open, and beautiful. A breeze that took the heat off our minds, and let us really appreciate the moment. It really was like a breath of fresh air. A refresher from the heat of the morning before. 

All in all, Belize is beautiful. The people here have been nothing but kind, and welcoming, and the raw beauty is fascinating.  I'm excited to experience more of the perfectly, imperfect. I'm honestly thankful for the ups and downs throughout this experience, because I firmly believe that I'm learning more than I would without them. Here's to more adventures! 





Erin Langdale is a Sophomore studying Agricultural and Extension Education at Penn State. 

Day 3: Satisfaction is enjoyable! (Britton)

Today in Belize myself as well as the other members of the team traveled/ toured two different farms, they were both AMAZING.

BUT as a beef farmer, I was able to relate more to the second farm that we toured (beef cattle farm). I was able to talk one on one with Rudolpho, and to have a genuine conversation with him as we were touring. As we were hiking up the side of a hill in one of his many pasture fields, I asked him "do you enjoy farming" And he looked at me and said "yes" But he went on to explain that he would love to be able to sometime be a full-time farmer, but right now he financially can not. Rudolpho went on to tell me that he actually enjoys the cattle and being a producer, that these things give him satisfaction. 

He kept explaining how important it is to enjoy your career, especially farming. If you do not enjoy it your career, your products will suffer. It was so interesting to listen to him tell me about how important it is to find something that I enjoy and to pursue it. This made me realize how important it is to go to bed at night being satisfied with what you have accomplished during the day. Rudolpho made it so easy to realize that satisfaction is important and enjoyable for not only myself but for the others that are around me.

Rudolpho explained that some people here "Just keep hold of it" and I personally can relate to that from back home, I see farms that are so run down and or not being used, because the owners are just keeping it to keep the heritage, instead of letting someone else farm the land. Rudolpho made me realize that it is not only important in the USA to enjoy and to be satisfied in your career, but it is important to OTHER cultures as well.

I know in my heart that teaching agriculture is what will give me satisfaction. Taking part on my family farm gives me satisfaction,and sharing my love with other is the most satisfying thing to me. I also think it is really important to notice that every person finds their own satisfaction out of different things. I am looking forward to the rest of the trip, and being able to make more connections about myself and about my future.


Britton is a Sophomore in Agriculture and Extension Education at Penn State 

Day 2: Ag, People, and the Environment: Welcome to Belize (Gillian)

Welcome to Belize!

What a great view
to start the day!

I am so excited to be posting for the first time in Belize! The sun, blue sky, and warm weather has definitely been a welcome break from winter for me and I'm looking forward to more sunny adventures this week.

Today was a great day to recover from the long trip yesterday, explore San Ignacio, and start our in-country learning to set us up for success later this week. We had two discussions today, focusing on agriculture in Belize and the education system in Belize. Andrew Harrison, the Chief Ag Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture came to talk to us and left me with some great information to draw connections to what we are learning about in Belize, what I have learned about in classes, and what I hope to explore further in my career.

In the discussion, we looked at agricultural extension in rural development and considered the many key factors, including per capital income, poverty, land tenure, food security, level of technology, and organization. After taking Community, Environment, and Development classes last semester, I thought it was especially interesting when Mr. Harrison mentioned the meaning of true development: when all members of a society have equal access to essential and basic needs, education, recreation, food, health care, and more.

I think this is a very important idea to consider in agricultural extension in rural and developing areas. With the development of new technologies and education, those ideas need to be extended to people in different areas to offer the same opportunities and access. This can present a challenge in rural areas due to the lack of access to technology, a barrier we see in the United States as well.

Considering the relationship between ag extension and rural development and the definition of true development, I find the connection between people and the natural world and agriculture fascinating. Ag extension can help rural areas develop through new technology and education while rural areas help ag extension grow by challenging the process in order to find ways to give equal access to everyone.

We discussed another connection between the environment and people in climate change. Climate change is also pushing for new technologies to better prepare for farmers for even more extreme weather and disasters. While the farmers have been adapting and coping with the changes, the dry and wet seasons already present difficulties through long and intense droughts or rainfall that drowns crops. As climate change continues to present new challenges, efforts through the Ministry of Ag will continue to create climate change awareness and bring new technologies to Belize as other places around the world work to adjust as well.

Cooling off from the
afternoon heat together?

I love learning about connections between humans and the natural world. I believe human/environment and human/animal interactions are important, especially moving forward in development in a world that we're finding new ways to live in. I am thrilled that we were able to discuss some of these connections today and even see some in action as I passed by horses tied in yards, stray dogs sun bathing through the warm day, and a man and a horse swimming together in the Macal River.

I'm curious to continue to make connections between human/environment and human/animal interactions between Belize and the United States as well as the role of agricultural extension in rural development. Ag, people, and the environment all have a direct influence on each other and I am looking forward to exploring those connections even more to best benefit all systems involved.

Gillian Warner is a freshmen majoring in an interdisciplinary major in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

Day 2: 24 Hours in and Loving it!!! (Kurt)

It's hard to BELIZE that we've already been here for an entire day already. (I'm so happy to be the first student to use this pun in-country.) The first day (of travel) was rough - having to meet on campus to leave at 2am Saturday morning, with two flights and a two hour drive from Belize City to San Ignacio. But I have a lot of thoughts to unpack from just the short time we've been in this country.
One of my first thoughts on the drive to San Ignacio was the sub-tropical plants. Obviously there are palm trees. I've seen palm trees before. But on the highway, there were palm trees growing in such a way that reminded me distantly of LA. Driving through Belize gave me an appreciation of the different terrains and topography of this country.

Earlier today, we had the opportunity to listen to two experts in Belize agriculture and agricultural education speak on their experiences. One of these people was Andrew Harrison, the Chief Agriculture Officer of Belize. He spoke on the history of agriculture in Belize - which I found incredibly interesting - the current structure of the industry, and how the government is working to develop rural communities, among other things. After Mr. Harrison was done, we were able to ask questions. I was curious about Belize's papaya industry and if they use GM papaya. This led him into a conversation about how Belize doesn't use any GM crops in an effort to err on the side of caution. I found this very interesting, because most research I have read has supported GMOs in all aspects of production - safety, environmental, and efficiency. To me, it is very interesting that a developing country wouldn't want to utilize GM technology to increase yields. Then, I thought deeper and realized that because there is an assurance that their crops are "GMO free" this could open up markets in countries which severely oppose GM technology. Belize, being a former colony of England, likely has a steady market to that country. I'm not sure if this is a reason they still refuse to cultivate GM crops, but I think it could be part of the reason.

As we walked around San Ignacio today, I realized how there were aspects of the town that reminded me of my time in Port au Prince, Haiti. Something that I noticed as a parallel was the irregularity in the cities' designs. Another similarity I noticed was the pervasiveness of street vendors selling various types of foods. The biggest difference I noted, which I'm thankful for, was that the traffic was both reduced and more orderly in Belize compared to Haiti.

After all of this reflection, I want to say that I'm looking forward to the rest of the trip sooooo much!

Kurt Miller is Senior in  Animal Science Major at Penn State. 

Day 1: #TeachAgBelize and Hot Sauce Selections (John)

When I was reminded that I was on deck to provide a blog (thanks Dr. Foster) for our first day in Belize, I had mixed emotions. I knew that it was important for me to contribute to the blog, since we were asking our students to do the same throughout the week. Also, I was glad that I would be able to share that we made it to our destination without any trouble and that we even made our connection with our colleague from Tennessee Technical University at the airport right on time. However, I was also a bit worried about what else I could share that would be of interest to those that are following us for the week. That question was answered with our first meal in Belize!

Our restaurant, Hode's Place, was a short walk from our hotel and the food was great! I enjoyed my fresh squeezed orange juice, and even tried a bit of Sour Sop. The main options for the evening were burritos or quesadillas. With these two options (really any options), we all knew Dr. Foster would be having hot sauce with his dinner, but the question he had to ask himself was, "which one"? Well, as we all knew (again), he could not just sample one. I'll be honest... I wasn't sure which one to try. I watched a few others at the table give their feedback on hotness, and then I settled on trying two of the "medium" selections. They were perfect for me, and I think that dinner and the hot sauces may set the tone for the week.

You may be saying, really, Ewing "hot sauce" and an embedded trip to Belize. Where is this headed? Well, I see it this way... when we are not sure of something it is o.k. to see what others do, and how they handle the situation; especially when you know that they have more experience than you. Then it is time for you to take action with this new knowledge.

So, don't be afraid to try new things and learn from others... you may just be very glad you did when you take that first bite of your burrito (or experience your first embedded course with 8 amazing students and 2 great colleagues)!

John Ewing is an agricultural teacher educator at Penn State University. He can be reached via email at jce122@psu.edu

Day 1: Really though, why??? (Foster)

We made it! I am very excited to be with 8 wonderful students and two great colleagues in Belize to learn about indigenous knowledge through agricultural education, formal, non-formal or informal! As a reminder, you can follow along on our adventure with the hashtag "#TeachAgBelize" and on this blog where two posts will be shared daily during our experience.


But why? As many of you know, Melanie and I are not exactly loaded with free time. I have to acknowledge when I make a choice for a learning adventure (no matter how awesome) some other part of my life is "losing" time (Luckily, Melanie is in Mexico with her INTAD 820 students).

I see the why already, I see it:

• In the eyes of our students as they see how much there is to learn and the excitement to engage!
• In the actions and words of my colleagues, John (@jce122) and O.P.(@OPMcubbins) who build enthusiasm through their genuine, sincere actions.
• In the reactions already of our incredible hosts, @CELABelize (http://www.celabelize.com/),  who are so proud to share the amazing things about their country with us!

It is so much for fun for me to able to take students and see the impact agricultural education can have on the lives of individuals AND communities. This is not dependent on context!!! I am so excited that we will be exploring agricultural education delivered in formal settings (public schools); non-formal settings (like 4-H and Extension programming!) and informal settings (like zoos, and community work).

All of this work in teaching and learning....all of it....help us advance our dream of making a positive difference in the lives of students through food, fiber, and natural resource education.

I know we will have great things to share after our daily impactful learning activities followed by great daily reflection sessions!

Happy Spring Break y'all!

Daniel

@FosterDanielD 

Daniel Foster is an agricultural teacher educator at Penn State University. He can be reached via email at foster@psu.edu