Debrief week: We all knew it was coming, but a shock none the less

Just when our time in Belize seemed it would never end, when were all settled in and when the locals around town would consider us a familiar friendly face, debrief week snuck up on us. We all knew it was coming. While mixtures of nervousness and excitement swirled in our conversations, we began to prepare for our homecomings. But there was still so much to do! Savoring our last moments in Belize, students visited their internships, stopped by their home stays for dinner, took early morning canoe trips, and even hopped on some horses for a final evening ride. Not to mention pack!

Truly a team effort in planting, a final watering nestles the Hibiscus into the Nabitunich soil.

The CCSP staff also facilitated debrief sessions to get everyone in a mindset of re-entry. Though difficult while still being in Belize at the time, debrief discussions reach their pinnacle when re-entry is real, when students exit the airplane. Discussions, journaling, as well as real-life simulation acting skills were utilized to help get a jump-start into the big question we knew we’d all face: “So, how was Belize”? Visiting the Rio Ohn pools in Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, as well as Tubing down the Macal River at Black Rock River Resort were great ways to still encounter new breathtaking places in Belize up until the very end. These trips also provided some final fun times for the community. Singing in the van, chatting, and just plain catching up on sleep were all crucial parts of our van sub-culture.

Strappin' up those helmets for some tubing!

Last but definitely not least, a final celebration packed with very talented performances, skits, video clips, award ceremonies, slide shows, and cake topped off our week. It was the kind of night that you just didn’t want to end, the gut-wrenching laughs just kept dishing out, dances abounded, and the songs just kept pouring into our ears in celebration. Wishing the students Shalom and blessings on their work to come after CCSP, the CCSP alumni spread their newly grown Belizean wings off to their homes and schools. What new adventures, challenges, and joys await them we can only eagerly wait to see. And as for the staff’s last aspiring plea, we hope they, truly succeed in the journey beyond the Caribbean Sea… triumphantly.