May 16th, 2025

Today was all about transitions: from city to canopy, airport rush to forest stillness. I woke up in Houston at 5:30 a.m., and by noon, I was in Belize, squinting into the sunlight and already sweating in a totally different ecosystem. It didn’t feel real until we stopped for lunch at a cheerful roadside spot called Cheery’s (fitting name), where I saw my first Belizean iguana and a surprisingly dramatic parade of ants. It felt like a gentle “hello” from the local wildlife. Subtle, but enough to remind me I’m definitely not in Texas anymore.

After lunch, we made our way to the ecolodge we’ll be staying at. It’s tucked into the forest in the most charming, quietly alive way, vines spilling over walkways, trees creaking in the wind, and birds calling constantly from above. Once we got settled, we hiked down to the river, where I finally felt that first moment of awe hit. The trail was muddy and steep, but the river view at the bottom was worth it. It’s one thing to read about tropical ecosystems, but another entirely to stand inside one.

Later, we had our first lecture on canopy life, and honestly? It was pretty fascinating. I didn’t know much about epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants) or lianas (those thick jungle vines you picture in every rainforest movie), but they’re foundational to how the whole upper forest works. I’m already rethinking how I look at trees.

So far, no cockroaches, which is both a relief and a minor letdown, since they’re my assigned taxon for the rainforest. I’m sure they’ll turn up soon enough (hopefully not in my bed). For now, I’m soaking in the calm before the real jungle immersion begins. Today felt like a soft launch: a little surreal, a little sleepy, and totally promising.

Emily S