Friday, April 4, 2014

Day 2: First Exposure to Higher Education in Belize

WOW! It is really hard to take it all in...

Dr. Parker , Jaime, Megan, and I started the day with a nice little run.  We got to see a little different part of town that we did not get to see yesterday.  There are a lot of small community parks for people to enjoy.  Just within the 30 minute run I saw 3 alone.
 

The cultural experience continued as we got ready to head out to Galen University experiencing Belizian public transportation for the first time.  While we waited on the bus, we tested out the local seaweed juice... yes, SEAWEED JUICE.  It wasn't bad.  Had more of a peanutty, coconut taste although it was definitely seaweed green.



Everyone at Galen University was extremely nice and very informative and very kindly answered any and all questions we had - from admissions, attrition, quality assessment, challenges, and finances.  Galen University is a private university.  The university does not do any fund raising but is able to provide scholarships to many students, either partial or full scholarships. The funding for these scholarships really come from the other paying students - I see it as kind of a pay it forward approach - I pay and someone else who needs some help can come too.

It is interesting to note that the administrators feel some the same challenges we do in states...being prepared and testing into college level course and the BIG ONE - lack of Student Engagement!

It was obvious from our conversations that the administration has an invested interest in their students from the time that they apply to college all the way through graduation and into the work force.  The person I found amazing was the Assistant Director of Student Affairs, Monica Chun.  Ms. Chun is young but she is also a current student at Galen University completing a bachelor degree in Marketing.  There is not a counselor at the university so she takes a lot of that role on as well and makes herself readily available to students pretty much round the clock as needed.  She said "At the end of the day, we are here to serve them". 



Monica is on the left






The university Vision & Mission hang right at the desk
for everyone to see as they walk in.


 

After about 2 1/2 hrs at the San Ignacio campus, we drove to the capital of Belize, Belmopan.  There we met with Dr. Alberto Luis August who spoke to us a little about how Galen University is able to successfully incorporate distance learning into their education curriculum. 
Now it is all about the food and the cuisine.  We visited a little market where they had stalls set up with clothes, shoes, produce and everything in between for sale.  The market had several little food areas set up with people cooking as you order.  Today, I tried the Salbutes....only because they ran out of tortilla shells for chicken tacos but I was very happy they ran out after I began eating my lunch.  It was WONDERFUL!
 
 

We ended the day back in San Ignacio on some intereting $1BZ (50 cents US) food cart snacks.... Salted Baby Mango - very interesting.... very salty and tart at the same time
Banana plantains with hot sauce.... hot bananas
Sour plums with peppers.... very sour and HOT
 
Dr. Parker  has the great photos of us eating these... they really are quite comical.
 
This really a great learning experience from delving ourselves into the local culture and seeing how all of that plays into the role of education here in Belize.
 
Tomorrow - no school so more culture.  Off to ATM Caves.  I can't wait!


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