This morning we woke up on a beautiful morning on the incredible island of Caye Caulker. After situating our belongings in Andrew and Doug's room we walked to the supermarket where we purchased our breakfast for the day as well as loaded up on Chiky cookies. Sufficiently fed, we walked to the sailing/snorkeling company Raggamuffin being greeted by various street vendors, golf cart taxis, and other locals along the way.

While chilling out in front of the headquarters, Lonny recounted a dream about -1 and 1 dueling while Doug and Alli found themselves swings, and the rest of us loaded up on the sunscreen. After we walked in and were fitted with flippers and snorkeling mask, we loaded up on our boat and our trusty captain Kevin and his assistant Jacob set sail. The sun beat down on us and the cool water lapped at our feet hanging over the edge of the boat.

It took us about 45 minutes to reach our first destination where we suited up with our newly attained snorkeling gear and jumped into the crystal blue water. We all swam around exploring the new territory and diving to catch closer looks at the various reef fish swimming nearby. Under a certain coral formation we spotted a nurse shark chilling on the ocean floor. Little did we know that that was not the only encounter with sharks that we would have that day.

After exhausting the reef we had been exploring Kevin set sail for our second destination, a place close to the reef where a few other boats were docked. Kevin and Jacob thew shrimp out and immediately a school of horse-eye jack swarmed the thrown food. Following them came the sting rays and even more nurse sharks. Kevin wrangled up a stingray and we all managed to feel his wings. There were some that had been covered by the ocean floor's sediment and we all were able to write our names on his back. Fearless Kevin also caught himself a baby nurse shark and everybody, including Alli, was able to touch him.

After moving on from this exciting stop, we had lunch and Kevin took us to the last and final location. Here, we were divided into two groups: those taken by Jacob including Alli, Doug, Andrew, Alec, Emma R. and I, and those taken by Kevin, Shannon, Maggie H., Maggie B., Emma L., Jordan and Lonny. Here we saw a multitude of sea creatures including a Moray Eel, parrotfish, angelfish, different snappers and groupers, Tarpon, and Sea Turtles (much to the delight of Shannon). At one point there was an underwater cave 15 feet down which Maggie B, Alli, Jordan, and I all swam down and through. After getting back Doug, Andrew, Alec, Alli, and I did a group cannonball then loaded up our gear and headed home. On the way home some of us opted for a nap under the warm Belizean sun and the salty air while others enjoyed the ceviche provided courtesy of our wonderful captains.

We arrived back at our port safe and sound, except for the sunburns received by Maggie H., Maggie B., and Doug and the other mild color received by all the rest of us. We went back to the hotel, retrieved our baggage and dropped it off at the water taxi station and had one last look at the beautiful bugless island. At 4 we loaded up on the boat at began our journey back to Belize City. Maggie B, Maggie H, Emma, Shannon and Alli sat atop and had a lovely conversation with a man named Bambino while Alec, Jordan, Doug, Andrew and I sat on the bottom taking pictures of Jordan asleep. We arrived about an hour later in the city and got into our taxis and headed to Hotel Mopan. We all chilled on the roof for a bit until our the pizza delivery where we all chowed down at our last dinner together in Belize. We are all planning on staying up all night for our last night and recap our amazing trip with a photo montage created using Emma, Lonny, and Andrews pictures as well as compile a list of overall Glows for the trip. Even though it was sad going through the day knowing that we will all be going home tomorrow, we had an amazing time, not only today but in the entirety of trip as well.

So many amazing friendships have been forged and memories created. All of us have been touched by this trip and I know that I for one will never forget it. Hopefully all of us on the WTM12 trip will all follow the quote of the day, “Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened.”

 

 

 

Emma R: This trip was, as you say, “legit.” A super intense emergency medicine course combined with challenging field work in public health...this trip is not for the faint of heart. My glows were slipping and swimming through caves with you, seeing your stingray signatures, and calculating your rockin' WFR grades. The overall glow though was how intelligent and funny you all are. Thanks for sharing yourselves.

 

Lonny B: If I could count how many times I heard or read that my mind was blown, then I would say that just a few worlds were blown on this trip. We saw and did so many things in a short three weeks that I'll keep this to my main glow, which was your seeming bottomless enthusiasm and seeing all your faces light up with learning.

 

Shannon: This trip was absolutely amazing. Overall trip glows... Kevin's crazy simulations, ATM cave, DOUG every single day, sailing and swimming with nurse sharks and green sea turtles, crazy ninja/toe tag/finger-fencing study breaks during WFR, speaking Spanish in the marketplace, and singing Nightshift on the water taxi. There are really too many glows to count. I loved every minute I spent with all of you.

 

Maggie H: The trip was so incredible, I couldn't have asked for more. Glows; being in a jungle, a real jungle, ninja!! hardcore studying with strangers, fry jacks, mangoes, surprise nighttime zoo trip. Alex the Geico Gecko. Andrew during Sims. Buying speakers, swimming in waterfalls, Louis the really cool old dude. Doog, the amazingness of my first shower in San Ignacio with pressure and heat, ATM, Parasite talks, practicing Spanish, 11 new great friends. I love you all so much and the summer was so so good I am going to miss you all !!

 

Jordan L: This trip has been awesome and exciting from the very first day where we waited in the scorching airport while snacking on weird fruit treat. Glows: Truly experiencing Belize, which includes but is not limited to: ATM, Canoeing, WFR, Public Health Lectures, Mayan Ruins, sleeping in tents surrounded by 4 inch cockroaches, spiders at every turn, obscene amounts of mosquitoes and much much more. The trip wouldn't have been 1/10 of what it was without my new incredible friends, all of which I'm already beginning to miss. I will never forget this time in my life.

 

Doug H: In the words of Alec, this trip was SUPER-FUN! The balance of academics and activities that can only be described as pure awesomeness was incredible. Glows: ATM, Snorkeling with sea turtles, sting rays, and sharks, Mayan Ruins, Canoeing through rapids, Petting jaguars at the zoo, Exposure to creepy things (scorpions, tarantulas, bats, assortments of large cockroaches and centipedes..., Interesting academics (WFR and Public health lectures). I have no doubt in my mind that this was the most exciting, incredible, and fun trip I have ever been on. I will never forget the experiences I had and all of the great friends I shared them with.

 

Andrew K: This trip could not have been better! It was a perfect combination of adventurous activities and learning. There truly was never a dull moment in the entire three weeks. Glows: Stargazing, birding, mountain climbing to the waterfalls, ATM, river tubing, bus rides, Ninja, all of the WFR PAS drills and Sims, encounters with wild creatures (bats, spiders, flying cockroaches, and Fer-de-Lances), snorkeling, Nighttime Doug, Alec's crazy voices and jokes, and the Hospital. This trip had a stellar itinerary and was set in one of the most unique places on Earth, yet the trip was so special because of the 11 amazing friends with whom I shared it. I know that these friendships will last for a long time to come, as will the great memories and life lessons I have learned from this great experience.

 

Emma L.: This trip was one of the most amazing times that I have ever had in my life, mostly because of all of the wonderful friends that I have made on this trip. All time glows are: Ninja at Mayawalk, ATM cave exploration, Bus rides listening to the perfect music, Jaguar creek mosquito nets, Dude 67 and rabies paranoia, late night Doug, waterfall swimming, Canoeing on intense rapids, forming a chain hanging onto one little shrub in the river using our top notch woofer judgment, SIM's, scary stories around the campfire, snorkeling and petting sharks and sting rays...basically every single moment of this trip was something to remember, I'm so thankful for all of the experiences that this trip provided!!

 

Maggie B. ~ This trip was so much more amazing than I ever could have imagined. I loved being thrown miles away from my comfort zone and everything I am used to every single day of the trip. Glows included: Swimming in the ATM cave, the roof at Mayawalk, picking mangoes whenever I wanted one, looking down from the top of Xunantunich, seeing Maggie H. covered in blood and half in the water during simulation number one, the late night thunder and lightning at Jaguar Creek, being in the fighting siblings PAS drill, the flat tire on the way to Belize City, fresh corn tortillas with almost every meal, seeing Portuguese man-o-war, petting a jaguar, free diving through an underwater cave, and everything else, good or bad, that added to this amazing experience in Belize.

 

Alli ~ This trip has been unlike any other trip I have been on. It truly was the most amazing experience a person who is scared of almost everything can have. It brought me out of my comfort zone and really challenged me to do my best. Most of all, I surprised myself with what I am capable of doing. I slept in tent, ate rice and beans for every meal, held a tarantula, went through tight spaces in the ATM cave, swam with/touched a nurse shark, challenged myself to pass the WFR course, and got over my fear of all insects. These past three weeks have been incredible, and filled with so many awesome times like, the two Mayan ruins, the two waterfalls, the two caves, and the canoeing trip with a few rapids,the WFR course with all the insane PAS drills and sims, and Doug being Doug EVERY day. Over all this entire trip has just been amazing and I will miss all 11 of you and all of our fun times together!!

 

Alexander- I'm super stoked to have done this. It's been a great trip. I know that all of us have learned a lot and become ninjas together. My favorite part has been getting to know you all throughout all the awesome experiences and lessons. The activities have been fantastic, but it's all of you that made it what it was. So thank you Maggie B, Maggie H, Hawaii, Doug, Andrew, Emma L, Shannon, Alli, Xandra, Lonny, and Emma R. You guys have been the best. Boys.