Science Trip Day 1

Sleeping Giant

Wednesday, Ashton and I departed with the classes of 3A and 4A from San Pedro on their annual science trip.  Once we got to Belize City, 3A and 4A parted ways.  We went with 4A (some of the best students ever).  Every year, the academic classes take a science field trip in order to expose students to how science is being used in the country of Belize.  The first day we went to the citrus factory where they make fresh orange juice as well as orange juice concentrate.  It was quite hot but we had to wear pants into the facility.  While there, we entered the freezer and boy did if feel good to cool down.  The student reactions were quite entertaining.  Most of them have never felt air that cold in their lives.  It just felt like home to me.

Waiting for the bus..Belize time.

  I have never seen so many oranges in my life.  On the way there, through the hills and valleys, I saw several citrus farms with thousands of orange trees.  Not to mention the scenery was beautiful.  I got to see a whole new side of Belize, the mountains.  From a distance, you can see a mountain nicknamed "The Sleeping Giant."  It is quite similar to our Grandfather Mountain in North Carolina.

Dr. Petters

Dangriga Coast

After our time at the citrus factory, we went to Petter's Research Institute (PRI).  This organization, started by Dr. Airlie Petter's, seeks to create student-catalysts to synergize the scientific community around the globe.  It is located in Dangriga which is the cultural capital of Belize.  It is predominantly Garifuna population located right on the Caribbean.  Dr. Petter's currently works as a professor of physics in the physics department at Duke University.  It was truly an honor to meet such a respected physicist.  He gave our students a lesson on vectors which he explained the same way I explained to my students back in the states before I left to come to Belize.  It was quite an honor.