So pictures/videos will have to wait until I manage to get ahold of all the ones I took, but no worries it wont be much longer (I hope). But I can write my itinerary and days of what I did until then (:
First though, let me explain the beginning to the new followers I gained while I was away. I love volunteering, I make an effort to do something big during the summer, as well as volunteer in my community. I also want to be a kindergarten/early special education teacher and want to travel the world… So when I found out about a group called rowkids that travels to different 3rd world countries and places that mainly works with the children of that country, lets just say I was more than a little happy. Though there were two problems. One, financially I couldnt afford it… though luckily I was blessed with people who donated to it, and many fundraising opprotunites. The second one was rowkids was a mission trip organization, as in it was christian. And for the newbies that dont know yet, my religion is very complicated, and like to think no religion is wrong… ( I go in more detail in other placesis my blog.) To sum it up , ” my religion is simple,my religion is kindness” (-dalai lama)… and one of the ways I try to live by that is through volunteering. But back to the point, I go on mission trips because they are ways that I can volunteer… and instead of spreading the word of Jesus, I try to spread the word of love.
(this would be much cooler if I could include pictures, but in good time)
Day One:
Saturday
We flew from Savannah to Miami, then Miami to Belize City. From Belize city we were picked up by our driver from the trip JUICE (hugo) (: We then grabbed a bite to eat at this little restaurant not too far from the airport. And let me tell you, it was gorgeous, it was right next to the beach in its own little bungalow… Though I was a little worried that I was volunteering in the wrong country, until John(the director of rowkids) told us this will probably be the nicest place we will eat at, and say goodbye to this tourist destination, where we were going was way up in the mountains. So we finished our fresh squeezed juices (watermelon, oh my god, so good) and headed up to San Ignacio. It was a very bumpy ride. Many of the roads arentpaved and up big winding hills adjacent lush forests. The few roads though that were paved were because those communities had supported who ever was in office. But those roads were scarce. When we finally got to our hotel, it wasnt much to look at from the outside, but the inside was something else. It was gorgeous. And being on the top of the hill we could see everything, the view was just great… and guess what room I got assigned to? It wasnt even a room at all. it was a CABANA. A little hutch roof, with a patio with a hammock.
Though I was very conflicted. You see, every time I volunteered somewhere, I was staying in somewhere less than great. Makeshift homes out of trailers, tents, classrooms… accompanied by 15 other girls and guys, no air conditioning, hot water(or any at times), and every species of bug… This, was nothing like that. I felt guilty. By being in these rough rooms, I feel 110 % apart of my cause, living the way that many of the people I was trying to live were living, sort of like studying abroad, youre forced to learn the culture and lessons by living in that enviorment.and here, I was staying in a beautiful place, although every species of bug was still present. It just didnt seem right. I kept telling my self by getting a good night sleep, would make it so that I could give more of myself to the kids I was going to be helping….
