University of Wisconsin–Madison

Belize: Amaliya Benjamin

Program: Ceiba Coral Reef Ecology in Belize, Summer

Amaliya’s Major: Nursing

Amaliya smiles for the camera while sitting on a boat, with a small, green island visible in the distant turquoise water.
Sitting on top of the boat to stop and look at dolphins on our boat ride out to Middle Caye Island in Glover’s Reef

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

I would say the most memorable experience I had was when my whole class was out on the dock when the sun was setting early as 7 pm and we all stayed out as long as possible to take in as much as the stars as we could because we had never seen that many. We listened to music and laughed and jumped into the ocean with our clothes on!

The places you stay are so sustainable and disconnected and feels amazing to experience the modern day on these islands and rainforests.

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

Doing fieldwork in Belize came with the unknown. Our class didn’t know if our prepared research proposal would be applicable until we reached the site. Unfortunately my plan would not work due to unknown circumstances of the coral I was researching there so me and my partner had to come up with a new project. Although under the time constraint this was stressful it was very fun to learn and discover things we would want to study right before our eyes. It was easy to work through barriers such as these when our class was small and close knit and our teachers were very passionate and helpful.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

Have fun and work hard. The things you see at Glover’s Reef and Belize are breathtaking and unbelievable. The people you are surrounded by, our giving you so much to have experience this, so be grateful and enjoy it! The places you stay are so sustainable and disconnected and feels amazing to experience the modern day on these islands and rainforests. Even if you are not interested in pursuing a career in these topics it is not something you will do often, if ever again so take advantage and get to know everyone!!