| February 5, 1999 |
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Calvin College Chimes
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Students immersed in tropics of Belize By Nathan Lujan Is it possible to spend six days in the tropical rainforest, three days on a Caribbean island, and another six days in the mountains next to a trout stream, all under the guise of a Calvin education? "You better Belize it!" Although the interim trip itself began at Kent County airport at 5:30 a.m., January 7, my own journey began quite a bit earlier in Nashville, Tenn. I tried to maneuver around in the freshly fallen snow of my hometown. I gathered up last minute necessities like a new pair of fins, plenty of sun screen, and several rolls of film (so my snow-bound friends wouldnít have to miss out on any of my fun in the sun). The drive north took much longer than I expected due to the weather and I just barely got into Grand Rapids with a few hours to spare. After a 45-minute nap I was ready for anything and soon joined the group of zombies already milling about the airport lobby. Eight hours and thousands of miles later, one of my dreams was brought to life with one inhalation of the moist tropical air. The rainforest is near, and like Conradís Kurtz, it is drawing me in, calling to me. Upon arrival at Jaguar Creek, our jungle-enshrouded home for the next several days, we were relieved to find that we were surrounded by beauty and some pretty comfortable accommodations. In fact, a consistent theme of the trip was cozy accommodations and the beauty and grandeur that God alone would be justified in calling them His masterpieces. Even more exciting, however, was that we were not restricted to viewing. On a daily basis we interacted with and in a few instances worked, like good Calvinists, to restore this creation. Less than 20 paces out the door of my cabin at Jaguar Creek was primary rainforest where we regularly hiked. The situation was equally convenient at Monkey Bay with a pine savanna beginning at the end of the porch; and at Calabash Cay where a five-minute snorkel brought me eye-to-eye with an octopus in a hole at the base of a coral head. At Trogon Lodge in the Rio Savegre Valley we hiked in the clouds and worked to restore habitat essential to the resplendent, not to mention elusive, Quetzal (a Central American bird). While my predisposition towards natural history probably shines through in this, the trip was fun for bio-majors and non-majors alike. Believe me, if I could adequately convey my experience ó seeing Orion shining more brilliantly than ever, the wake of our boat through phosphorescent algae, a pair of manta rays just under the surface of the water ó I would try; but I think your mental image of my description would fall short. So, alas, youíll simply have to convince Professors Randall Van Dragt and David Warners to head south again and to include you in their number. |