Hello everyone! I’m McKenna, and I can’t wait to leave for Belize tomorrow! I’ve done very little traveling in my life, so I have been feeling some nerves for the past few days. However, I expect all of my worries to subside once the trip has started and I am overcome with excitement!

The preparations for this trip have filled my time over the past few weeks. One practical and slightly embarrassing preparation was breaking in my rubber boots. More than once, I went to the gym and walked on a treadmill in my boots and hiking socks for an hour. I’m so glad I put my dignity aside and dealt with the blisters beforehand rather than in the field. Additionally, the assignments and readings for this class have prepared me with background knowledge about Belizean reefs, tropical forests, and cultural history. Through the upcoming trip, I hope to expand on this foundation through in-the-field studies and build a more in-depth understanding of the ecosystems and landmarks we visit. I look forward to treating each day as a day-in-the-life experience as a tropical field biologist, and I hope this trip will help to enlighten me of my interests and passions to possibly put toward my future career.

As someone who finds comfort in routine, I am a bit uneasy about the plethora of unknowns that these two weeks present. However, my nervousness is outweighed by my enthusiasm to see and do things completely new to me. After having taken Dr. Correa’s lecture course on coral reefs, I am especially excited to snorkel at Glover’s Reef! And after taking Cin-Ty’s birding class, I am also excited to visit the rainforest and see and hear tropical birds! I have zero prior experience in the tropics, and my little experience with fieldwork has either been on or around the Rice campus or with Dr. Solomon in Brazos Bend State Park. Despite my little experience, I feel prepared and am more than ready to gain some real experience through BIOS 319!

In less than 24 hours, I will be on a plane headed to Belize. Here’s to my awaiting travels!