A few days after arrival, once becoming accustomed to the
fast-paced life of a graduate student in Belize, Tobacco Caye had risen into
the horizon like a well-deserved break. Little did we know at the time that the
island contained twelve-plus hour days of snorkeling, IAP projects, and statistical analysis.
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| Photo by Saki Hashimoto |
The first night we were there, I started to explore my
surroundings, once the sun had set in the distance. Walking out to one of the
two docks on the caye, I looked up into the immense darkness and saw a sky dotted with
more stars than I thought possible. The full sky was littered with small stars,
bright stars, faint stars, shooting stars, and a brilliant Milky Way Galaxy. At
that point, I spent numerous hours, soaking in one of the most miraculous
wonders I have ever seen. Eventually, my friends and
classmates slowly wandered out onto the dock to appreciate the sight I was
taking in.
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| Photo by Saki Hashimoto |
Once a large percentage of the class made their way out to
the dock to look at the sky, we laid down on the dock to get a “better view.”
For a while none of us were saying anything except, “Wow”, “This is amazing”,
“Look at that shooting star”, etc.
Kellie, my Belize II classmate, summed up this experience in
just a few words, or lack there of. We heard muffled sobs and I noticed Kellie was
shedding a few, happy tears next to me. I said, “Are you ok?” She nodded and
said, “Yes, this is so freaking amazing.”
The experience was one I will never forget. It will always hold
a place in my heart as one of the most awe-inspiring glimpses of our natural
world I had the privilege of having. I walked away from the dock that evening more certain than ever that these displays of natural magic demand the salvation that my efforts in this program seek to ensure.
