Returning home from Belize has been an eye-opening experience. Immediately missed were the warm sunshine, constant sea breeze, and most of all the friends I made there. As I went on a fishing trip with my family, I even missed the Belizean heat that I had grown accustomed to and felt cold in what I would have otherwise considered perfect weather.
As I reflect on my experience in Belize, I am reminded of the beautiful simplicity found by focusing on nature and spending quality time with those around me. There was limited cell reception and no wifi for the first half of the trip, so I made it a point to use my phone as little as possible and carried that habit through the trip. While I don’t typically spend a lot of time on my phone, this allowed me to almost completely unplug and live life on a deeper level than normal. I was more aware of my surroundings and learned to find joy in things like the stunning island settings around me and the company of my classmates. Many nights were spent looking for crabs, tarantulas, and other critters followed by easy conversation with my new friends, without the distraction of devices constantly pressing on our minds. Now that I am back in the United States with wifi and cell reception nearly everywhere, I don’t want to lose this habit. Life is so much better when you are engaged with it.
The memories, experiences, and friendships forged in Belize will always hold a special place in my heart. The opportunity to spend several weeks in a new country with strangers observing the complexities of the second largest barrier reef in the world is one that I will likely never get to experience again – but will certainly never forget.
