My experience in Belize was absolutely phenomenal. From the rich culture and history of the grandiose Mayan Ruins and preserved bones in sacrificial caves to the fresh, healthy, and mouth-watering food, Belize gave me such a wonderful taste (pun intended) for culture writing. The wonderful things I got to experience were perfect for my career future. I gained a new dose of inspiration every day we did something new. I was able to use inspiration from the Mayan Ruins as a topic for writing fictional stories for a class project. This experience had a profound impact on me, as travel has always been something I have adored, and travel writing is a career I’ve thought strongly about. I remember waking up every morning, tremendously excited for each new excursion and adventure. I’ve found a deep respect for learning about new cultures and their history.

My experience in Belize helped me learn to communicate in a non-English speaking environment wonderfully because, despite the area being a tourist destination, there were opportunities for me to practice Spanish. The country speaks English in most cities, but especially in San Ignacio where we were placed. This was helpful because there was much to fall back on if the language barrier would get too complicated, but everyone speaks Spanish there as well. This gave me an opportunity to practice, as I speak a decent amount of Spanish. I was able to translate what some people were saying for my groupmates and best friend when people spoke Spanish. This was exciting for me because I felt immersed in the language sometimes. I learned a lot from my host culture in Belize. They taught us much about how the Mayan women want to keep their cultures and traditions alive. We learned about how to make chocolate from the cacao fruit, and we learned about the old gods that used to be worshiped in temples.

A myth I would bust about education abroad is that it is not as scary as you think. Travelling around the world, especially if this is your first time leaving the country, may seem terribly daunting. However, it is inexplicably worth it in so many different ways, and it is an experience you do not ever forget. It is not scary when there are well-prepared staff to help you at all times with anything you need. This was very relieving and settled my nerves. It’s something that absolutely any student should be able to do and can do. I’d like to think that many people could relate to this, and I think everyone should strive to take advantage of the education abroad opportunities while they are in college. This is your time to explore and learn! I am a first-generation, low-income Arab American woman with a disability. This scholarship helped me do something I never thought I could. My experience will never be exactly the same as anyone else’s, but I encourage everyone to test it and experience it for themselves.

Name: Seraphina Sinn
Status: Junior
Majors: English (Creative Writing) and Psychology
Hometown: Gaylord, Michigan
Program: Culture, Food and Society in Belize