Tikal Entry – Siri / Emilia

“The Lost City of Tikal wasn’t exactly like the movies – it was even better. The looming ruins left the feeling of amazement running through my veins. Ancient cultures have always interested me, and actually being there and seeing them was so breathtaking. The entire time I couldn’t help but imagine living back when the buildings were new.

Climbing up the ruins was tiring. We got up at 4am and the heat was as if we were moving through liquid. Even so, seeing the canopy of trees from above the ruins reminded me that years ago people were atop these pyramids as well. In the end, it was all worth it.”

-Siri / Emilia

Spring Street Trips – Like A Tsunami – Faith’s Entry

Faith’s beautiful blog post that she gave me before the end of the trip, that I forgot to post … sorry Faith. This is a powerful entry and not to be missed.

“Over the past three years, Spring Street trips have had an impact akin to a tsunami on my life. In the beginning, I found myself capsizing and being washed back to shore more times than I could count. The water intimidated and even frightened me because I gave it the power to.

It’s easier to stay afloat amidst the current now. I’ve gained a crew of teachers and students alike who row at my back, and I no longer fear the tides, which have forced me to grow as a human being.

If you ask me for advice on how to survive Spring Street trips, I will tell you that it’s impossible because it’s never a matter of survival. It’s a matter of testing each new wave and flinging yourself into the riptide of new experiences, relationships, and oceans. Everyone should come on in; the water’s warm.” -Faith

We’re in Houston!

From Caye Caulker to Belize City to Houston, we’re back in the U.S.! Everyone is off eating & exploring during this 3-hrs layover. You can flush your toilet paper down the toilet and drink directly from the cold water-fountains. Two big changes from our last three weeks abroad. Everyone is in good spirits. We get into Vancouver tonight at 9:25pm.

-Elena

Despedida/Goodbye Ceremony – San Juan La Laguna – Mei

“Before leaving for Belize we put together a gathering to say goodbye to our host-families. Spending two weeks of your life with someone and seeing how they perceive the world and how they use their time really opens your heart up. Especially when you realize that back home, wherever home is, there is so much that you take for granted. Every minute, of everyday, there is always something that we take for granted; even time. So, we got all of our host-families together as well as our teachers at Eco Spanish School. We then presented one adjective that symbolized our Spanish teacher. Some were described as generosos, bien dichos, relacionables, and sabias. Afterwards, we sang a group song together: “Stand By Me”. Then, we sang individual songs of choice, if we chose to do so. Before we ended our night of goodbyes, we read thank you letters that we had prepared for our families. After we had all contributed we celebrated together and ate some traditional Guatemalan dishes that we had prepared as a group prior to the despedida ceremony. It was harder to say goodbye than we had thought. It was a lovely way to end two wonderful weeks together.”

-Mayo / Mei

Hol Chan, Shark Alley, Coral Gardens – Snorkeling Caye Caulker

“The gentle taste of saltwater brushed across our mouths while being immersed in a place of pure beauty. Hol Chan, meaning little channel, is the second largest barrier reef in the world. A place with unmatched beauty and marine diversity; Hol Chan is raw. Raw as any place can get. With a 35-minute boat ride from our caye in the middle of the Belizean coast line, Hol Chan marine reserve is open. Up arrival we immediately witnessed what looked liked to be a shark swimming amongst the crashing coral wave break (which later turned out to be a piece of coral sticking out of the water). Grasped by the waves and the pull of the turquoise blue water we dived in. Below the surface we witnessed nurse sharks, schools of Cubera snappers the size of toddlers, and a few manta rays. Swimming amongst the fish and turtles made you forget everything and just live in the beautiful moment. In short the Hol Chan marine reserve was a place to destress, relax, reflect, and most importantly embrace the beauty of Mother Nature.”

-Tacito / Wyatt

Kayaking – San Pedro to San Marcos – 5/26/19

“We spent the majority of our first weekend in San Juan on the water. After spending Saturday fishing, we left midmorning Sunday to go kayaking. We left the neighboring town of San Pedro in ten small kayaks under clouds and a benevolent sun. Once we started to reach our destination, San Marcos, the wind and waves started to pick up a bit, and the ensuing swells made sure that everyone was at least a little wet.  After the next four hours, which we mostly spent swimming and jumping off a 40-ft cliff, we decided to head back before the weather turned. As we started back we knew them journey back would be harder than the one there. We made our way cautiously over the 5-foot swells, fighting against the wind to stay on course. The first group to capsize was Tawan and Wyatt, soon after Julian and Siri fell in too. We managed to loose a shoe, a watch, a towel, two t-shirts and half a paddle. It was an exciting journey.”

-Nacho / Hans

Gratitude Check In – Marcia/Hannah

Gratitude Check In – Marcia/Hannah

“Out of all the things my 5th grade class surprised me with, their gratitude, hugs and letters surprised me the most. I had no idea the games, songs, and activities Emma and I taught them everyday meant that much to them. Going into teaching for the first time two weeks ago, I had expected nothing but enthusiasm, engagement, and respect from my kids, but I quickly learned that was an unrealistic expectation. The first day of teaching started off rough, but by last Thursday (May 30th), I was sad to leave them, and it was hard to pry a couple of my girls from around my chest. I hope each of them keeps some of that joyous energy wherever they go, because that was the most valuable gift I could every give them.”

-Marcia/Hannah