We had to paint all of the exposed wood in our constructions with oil to prevent termite damage. We applied oil to the chicken coops, raised garden beds, and high tunnel.

Author: Anna Mays | Major: Food Science

In high school I took an AP Human Geography class. The class explored the development of societies globally. I was especially fascinated with learning about how impactful education is in advancing a society and expanding the rights of underprivileged groups. I continued to be fascinated by societal development as I took more classes in high school. Coming into college, I knew that I wanted to study abroad and see some of the things I’d learned about in high school firsthand. I was thrilled to see that UARK offered community service-based programs that would give me the opportunity to get into communities less accessible than touristy destinations.

As a Food Science major, I am drawn to the idea of helping establish a stable food source for people in need. I chose the program in Belize because I read that we would be constructing chicken coops and garden structures for students at a local school, which aligned well with my degree curriculum and interests. I’m very proud to say we did exactly that, and our constructions will hopefully provide many nutritious meals for the growing, learning children of St. Matthew’s Anglican School.

I think one of my biggest takeaways from the trip was the power of listening and being open-minded. With some coursework under my belt and a loose idea of what we were doing in Belize, I thought I knew exactly how our projects would turn out. Once there, many of our plans changed based on the specific needs of the community. For example, our chicken coops were initially going to have concrete flooring. However, we ended up constructing the houses using wooden stilts and chicken wire flooring to protect the chickens from flooding. Had we not had conversations with local community members, our projects would likely not have been as successful long-term. I think that many Americans, myself included, possess a strong sense of independence and belief that our plan is the only way. Through my experience in Belize working with the community and in groups of students on our projects, I have come to value the power of listening and being flexible in everything that I do. After this program, I feel much more confident in my ability to work in groups as a better listener.

I also learned to be more comfortable working in a less-structured environment. In the US, everything is often carefully calculated and tightly structured. That was not the case in Belize, and there were some moments where I felt uncomfortable with the lack of organization. As the trip progressed though, I realized that is just the nature of the real world and something I had to come to terms with. One of the Peacework members we worked with noticed that some of us were struggling with the lack of organization and gave us a piece of advice, “Prepare like hell, but go with the flow.” We can prepare for a situation to the best of our abilities, but if something inevitably changes, you have to be comfortable with being patient and letting go.

The idea of “going with the flow” was evident in all of Belizean culture, not just in our projects. Meals often took two full hours, with service and food preparation being very slow. It was an adjustment at first, but I really came to value the slowness and laid back nature of Belizean culture. In America, we are always racing to get as much done as possible every day, taking sometimes less than 30 minutes to eat lunch. In Belize, people stopped to talk to you, as a stranger, for 20 minutes, in no rush at all. They wanted to get to know you and tell you stories about their home. In the US, you might get a “hi-how-are-you” but there is often no true reception of your answer or feedback. People in Belize seemed genuinely interested in who you are and how you’re doing, which was very refreshing and inspiring.

I would definitely recommend this trip to other students as I took away many valuable skills, learned much, and experienced immense self-growth. Also, Belize is just beautiful and vibrant with life. For a month, I was able to walk underneath swaying palm trees, alongside colorful homes and the bluest water I’ve ever seen. All of the food was so fresh and yummy, especially the fruit. The mangoes alone would convince me to fly back and do the program all over again. Also, if you enjoy burritos– Dangriga had the best burritos I’ve ever had. You could get a burrito as long as your forearm full of fresh pico de gallo for a mere $2.50. If I were to offer any advice, I would say to pack one more can of bug spray than you think you need. When the rain comes, the mosquitoes feast. You’ll definitely want to be prepared. As general advice, I’d say it’s very important to learn to let go and be optimistic. You’ll take away a lot more from your experience if you have a good attitude and trust the process. I’m so incredibly thankful for my experience in Belize and all the wonderful people I met within our program and the community of Dangriga. We were so warmly embraced by the community and I will always reflect back on my time there with fondness and appreciation.