This blog is where you will post your thoughts and comments about the class.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Blog Entry 1
What are your expectations for this class? The trip? What concerns or questions do you have regarding travel to Belize? What will you contribute to Team Belize this yar and what do you hope others to bring to the table?
Post from Kristalyn: To start off my blog, I would like to give a definition of what I think alternative medicine is. In my opinion, alternative medicine is any healing practice that does not fall within the category of conventional medicine. Others have also considered alternative medicine to be something that has not shown to be consistent in its effectiveness. I hope to gain a greater understanding for the use of alternative medicine, especially in the culture of the Belizeans. I think it will be interesting to discover what people have used in other countries to treat illnesses in comparison to what we use mainly in the USA. After having the chance to think about alternative medicine, it makes me wonder why we don’t use it and why it isn’t considered very often in the USA. I feel like doctors are too focused on “fixing” the person’s one problem, instead of “fixing” the person as a whole. It seems like people are a bunch of parts and not one whole entity. I think our focus on healing people needs to change some. These are some of the thoughts that pop into my head and, hopefully, they will be answered in this class!
I am really eager to get to Belize and I can’t wait to jump into another culture and experience how they live and how they use alternative medicine in their everyday life. Since I have been to China and learned about their culture, I have been interested in going to as many countries as possible! I expect to be able to apply what we have learned so far in class to what we learn in Belize, to enjoy some fun at the tourist sites/activities, and to speak with actual people who use alternative medicine!
I will have already traveled to another country prior to going to Belize, so as far as going out of the country I am not worried or nervous. I am somewhat nervous about going snorkeling, because I have trouble breathing through my mouth! It will be interesting to see how I adjust to that. I am also a little bit nervous about the food, since I have heard of gibnot!
I will contribute everything I possibly can to Team Belize whether that is being prepared for class or helping someone out while we are in Belize! I hope others will bring their ideas and thoughts into discussion, even if they’re worried it is wrong! I also hope others will come prepared for class, participate in class discussion (as well as when we are in Belize), have an open mind, and be ready to have a blast while we are in the beautiful country of Belize!
My expectations of this class is to get to see a side of medicine that much of the American healthcare field tends to overlook. I expect to learn how people in Belize view medical care and the similarities and differences that come into play in medicine.
I expect to have a great time on the trip. I am most excited to go to the reef and snorkel!! But all in all I am expecting to get a better grasp on another culture, and learn to implement that into how I deal with those of other cultures.
I do not really have any concerns or questions at the moment, other than why cant we be in Belieze now, since it is supposed to be cold and snowy here this week. I am so looking forward to the sunshine.
I think I will be someone to get our group to try new things. Or at least I will attempt to. I would be willing to try the rodent dish, and I would probably bet someone to try it with me. I think this whole experience will be more rewarding if we step outside our comfort zones and immerce ourselves in the cultrue while we are there.
As for others, I just hope to all have a good time together on this once in a lifetime opportunity!
As a nursing major, I continue learn all about the medications used in hospitals. I believe that our American culture has become dependent on these medications because they are readily available. I am really excited to learn about alternative methods of healing and I hope to be able to apply them to my job as a nurse! It would be wonderful to offer the choice of a complimentary medicine when caring for patients in the future!
My biggest expectation of the trip is to have a great time by really digging deep into the Belizean culture! My dad has always taught me to appreciate other cultures and Belieze is a country that I know very little about so I am ready to learn everything there is to know! I am really looking forward to the tubing through the caves. I saw pictures from last year and this looks like so much fun! I am also interested in the possibility of meeting a medicine woman!
I can't think of any questions that I haven't already asked in class but I'm sure I'll think of some as we start the course work.
I am definitely going to be trying out all of the authentic restaurants (while hopefully remaining sesame free!)and getting to know the people of Belize! I'm not interested in the commercial side or trying to find "Americanized" comforts. I want the real, authentic thing! I think I will bring a fresh, positive attitude to the group! I hope that everyone brings an open mind to the table and I am excited to get to know the rest of the group on a deeper level as we share the bond of traveling together!
In this class, I expect to learn more about alternative medicine and also believe in it more as well. Coming from Cuba, my family has strong beliefs in alternative medicine and some of them completely rely on it while others consider it myths. I want to know more about it in order to know the options out there not only for me but for the patients I will care for in the future. I hope to see some scientific proof behind well-known alternative medicines. Most of all, I hope to enjoy this class and have fun in Belize.
Since I grew up in this country I have not seen as much alternative medicine as some of my family members have. I have a vague understanding of many of the practices for alternative medicine from my own country, but I am hoping to learn as I grow and I have better understanding the world and people. There are people in my family that believe that if you walk barefoot you can get sick through your feet, and that if you don’t do good deeds and wear religious necklaces and bracelets, you can get sick too. I want to know what others believe in and what they think makes them sick and can cure them.
When I go to Belize for spring break I want to enjoy myself and learn at the same time. I’m really looking forward to meeting interesting people, especially the person that will teach us to make potions. I don’t expect to do a lot of schoolwork on this trip since it will be my spring break. I hope to learn about the Belizean people as much as I can. The country looks a lot like Cuba; I expect to feel right at home when I am there. I don’t have any concerns regarding my travel to Belize. I am not a picky eater, I can fall asleep anywhere. My only worry is packing; I want to make sure I take everything I need when I go.
The things I can bring to Team Belize this year is my perspective on alternative medicine and the things I learn while researching for the class. I can also share other things from my country and my family if I am allowed to do so. I hope others will do the same. I like learning about cultures, anything others can bring will be welcomed and learned from by me.
My expectations for this class are to learn a ton about alternative medicine! I am really excited to be educated on what alternative medicine really is. I do not feel that I have a clear idea about what it entails. When I think of alternative medicine I think that it means anything other than care provided by a healthcare system such as grandma's remedies and herbs.I am ready to be confident that I know a great deal about alternative medicine.
I feel that the trip will be everything that I have already imagined and much more. I have never left the united states or even been on a plane, so I am already stepping out of my comfort zone. However, this does not seem scary or make me nervous it makes me really excited. I am ready to embrace what makes Belize and it's people who they are and learn as much as I can while having a good time with everyone involved with the course.
I do not have any questions or concerns for the trip. I only wish the days do not pass to slowly until we leave!
I will contribute as much as I can to team Belize I do not have anything in particular that I plan to contribute, I will just go with the flow and try to make everyone's trip/semester as interesting, entertaining and eventful as possible and I hope they all do the same.
I am not sure what to expect for this class. I hope to learn about the Belizean culture and what their daily routine or activities are like; if they are similar to ours or completely different. I am most excited to learn about their different types of medicine and what the hospitals are like there. Considering all the rules and regulations that are in the U.S. hospitals, I would like to know what kind of rules they have to follow. As a Respiratory Therapy major I spend a lot of my time in the hospitals, especially in critical care, learning the different ways medicine is used on different kinds of patients and at different facilities as well. You would not think of it, but it is very different depending on what hospital you are at. Also, as Christy said they only have one person in the whole country who knows how to work a ventilator, therefore, I’m sure their way of treating patients would be different.
I do not have that many concerns or questions about going to Belize. I went to Europe this summer and experienced the many different cultures over there. I suppose my main concern is the religion and what the everyday demeanor is like. Is it impolite to make eye conduct? Or is unusually to say please or thank? Will asking for directions make me look odd?
I am not sure what I hope to contribute to team Belize. I hope I will be helpful when we go to hospitals, but I’m sure everyone will have questions when we go there. I hope I can make it a fun trip for other people who are going. What I think they should bring to the table is an attitude to experience whatever comes our way. Also, the different majors and backgrounds of the other students will help when we are working together.
I am very excited for this class for a few reasons. First, I am really looking forward to the trip. Second, I expect to gain a better understanding of alternative medicine and Belizean culture. And third, I'm interested to learn how alternative medicine practices compare to traditional medicinal practices. In regards to the trip, I have no worries or questions, but I'm looking forward to just jumping in and seeing what happens. I'm excited for the cave tubing, snorkling, and touring, as well as meeting the people and becoming familiar with the culture. I hope to gain a better understanding of a different way of life, as well as a greater appreciation for alternative medicine. This semester I will bring a cooperative, productive, and fun-loving attitude to the group, and I hope everyone will do likewise. I think this semester and this class will be great!
For the most part, I want to experience the study abroad trip in Belize. In high school, I studied in Greece and Turkey. The experiences I took away from that trip could never have been encountered in America. It feels amazing to escape everything you know and to be thrown into a completely different culture. I love the fact that you don’t see chain stores and restaurants in Belize. Unindustrialized countries, like Belize, make things seem more real and natural. It’s nice to go through cites where you don’t see big parking lots for supercenters everywhere. Furthermore, the study of alternative medicine goes right along with the country’s idea of simplicity. I am really excited to see how the natural remedies work on the treatment of ailments and diseases. I never looked into that type of medicine, but if you can effectively treat something naturally as you would scientifically, why not go with the natural way? I think it will help me better assist my patients in respiratory care. Most of the patients have long term conditions and may be looking for alternative treatments; I hope to assist them in finding natural remedies to help relieve some of the effects of their disease.
The same things that are exciting me about the trip, also, are making me nervous at the same time. I’ll be the outsider to a culture; I’ve never come in contact with before. The people in Belize do seem very friendly, but I don’t really know what normal habits of Americans might offend them. I’ve never been snorkeling or even that deep in the ocean before. What if someone gets hurt? The hospitals in Belize don’t seem to match the ones we’re accustomed to in America. I don’t really know many other people in the group except one, but I hope that I can bring a friendly and open person to the group. Even though our trip is only for a week, I still think this experience can bring a great bound to the people in our group. As far as what I hope the others can bring to the table, would just be the same thing that I want myself to bring.
Post from Erika: My expectations for this class are to further my education on different cultures other than in the United States. Different religions, customs, and daily routines have always fascinated me. I would like to also learn more about alternative medicines and the ways they are used because I have never been exposed to them. So, this will be a once in a life time experience that can further my knowledge as well as having an amazing spring break. This will be my first time outside of the country so I am very nervous. I am concerned that I will not like any of the food or snorkeling. I have only been snorkeling once in my life, when I was ten. I lasted about 2 minutes in the water before I got scared and swam back to shore. Motion sickness is also something I worry about when it comes to traveling by plane and boat. I’m not sure what I will contribute to the group but I hope we all have a wonderful time together. I’m really excited to get to know everyone and travel over spring break.
Post By: Elaine SchlageterPersonal growth is my main expectation for this class. I hope to be able to become more educated in alternative medicine where I am able to keep an open mind for the possibilities of the future for the care of my children and myself. I believe there is something to treating a whole person and not just a symptom. For the Spring Break trip to Belize, I hope to open myself to other cultures, learn some things, and have a little fun. I look forward to bonding with other classmates that may have some of the same interest that I have. I have a few fears, but am thoroughly looking forward to this adventure. Being a senior at my age, this class and to me is truly an opportunity a lifetime. I hope to be able to bring personal experience to the class/team. I have some knowledge of alternative medicine through work with the Navajo Nation and with a local herbologist. I look to others to bring to the table more medical knowledge than I personally have. I hope that my fellow team can be open in experiences and thoughts so I can gain a better learning experience.
Jonathon Cotton: My expectations for this class are to gain knowledge on other cultures and their approach to alternative medicines. My main focus is learning about the culture of Belize and their history because I have always loved history and learning about other cultures.
As far as the trip goes I really want to see the ruins, thats my biggest anticipation, but I really want to immerse myself in the culture of Belize and see how they might look at things differently or even do everyday tasks in a different way. I CANNOT wait until we are in the warm weather of Belize! But, overall I know the trip will be a blast and a great experience for everyone. I love to travel and explore new places so this is another great chapter in my book.
For my contributions to Team Belize this year I hope to bring a smile, great attitude, and some testosterone haha! I am usually a pretty shy guy so I hope to break out of my comfort zones and try new things and meet new people. I know that I will be working my hardest to make this class and trip a success and I am confident everyone will do the same. Being the only guy in the class will be a bit of a struggle for me because of my shy personality. But I know that with the people around me this trip and class will be a lifetime experience.
Lastly, I would just like to say hello to everyone and lets have a great semester! (Dueces)
Elisa Archer: Simply put- I think this class is going to be fun:) I love the beach more than anything, literally, so going to Belize sounds more then appetizing to me. When I first met my boyfriend a little over a year ago we were talking about neat places each of us have traveled to and one of his favorite memories was cave tubing and walking through the forests of Belize. Never did I consider the odds very favorable that I would maybe get to partake in the same experience, much less within a year of hearing about it. My best friend’s sister also loves Belize and has done mission trips in Belize City for the past three consecutive years and can not seem to tell me enough how excited I should be and how beautiful the land and people are. I’m really excited to be taking this class because I definitely liked the idea of going abroad, but making myself actually do something by myself for a whole semester is rather frightening to me. I love to travel and be immersed in different cultures and the outdoors, but can also be a bit of a “home-body.” Thus, getting to venture to somewhere new and interesting and be home in a week sounds perfect to me. I also probably would have chosen this class as my IDC even without the Belize trip component. Growing up my mom has always been very in tune with homeopathic and alternative medicinal remedies. When I looked at our schedule I couldn’t help but think how much my mom would love this class. Whenever I talk to her about our class she wishes she could be in it, ha. So I’m also excited to much further enhance my alternative medicine knowledge and pass along new information to her. Also, being a nursing student I thought this course was a great supplement for both my future patients and myself. As for team Belize, I’m excited to see a few non-nursing faces, love them, but it’s nice to see new faces also ha. As for my nursing friends, I’m excited to do something fun with them- an opportunity we seem to find few and far between the studies ha. If anyone has any questions while snorkeling, I used to be more than obsessed with marine life throughout middle school and some of high school so perhaps I can assist in specie identification if any one is interested ha. I’m hoping others may have or have had some strange interest also and looking forward to story swapping!
During this class I hope to learn about the herbs, practices, and approaches to medicine in the Belize culture. As we study various methods of alternative medicine, I hope we encounter practioners within our community. Further more I would like to have a critical discussion about our health care system, and learn about this people working at both the grassroots level and within organizations to shift to a more holistic approach.
I am extremely excited about our trip to Belize. I hope to spend time talking with the people of Belize. While we are studying medicine at the university, I hope we will have to opportunity to work with the herbs and the practioners in a hands on learning experience.
My only concern in traveling to Belize is that our time exploring the Mayan Ruins, walking in the jungle, and snorkling will be too short. I also wish we could experience a tradition Belize ceremony of prayer and medicine.
I have studied various forms of alternative medicine for the past five years. My journey began after finding out about a bingn tumor on my pituitary gland and the resulting loss of my menstral cycle. Since this time I have been involved in everything from traditional chinese medicine, to juicing and raw veganism, to yoga and north american herbal medicine. I hope to share my experiences, and what I have learned about listening to yourself and your body. I hope that my classmates will share their experiences with alternative medicine and their perspectives on its place in healthcare.
Post from Christy: Thank you so much for your thoughtful posts. Reading the posts are making even more excited about our trip. I am "grading" your first blog post. You will each get an indvidual email from me in the next day or two (with comments about your blog post). Thanks again for being a part of this class.
Post from Kristalyn: To start off my blog, I would like to give a definition of what I think alternative medicine is. In my opinion, alternative medicine is any healing practice that does not fall within the category of conventional medicine. Others have also considered alternative medicine to be something that has not shown to be consistent in its effectiveness. I hope to gain a greater understanding for the use of alternative medicine, especially in the culture of the Belizeans. I think it will be interesting to discover what people have used in other countries to treat illnesses in comparison to what we use mainly in the USA. After having the chance to think about alternative medicine, it makes me wonder why we don’t use it and why it isn’t considered very often in the USA. I feel like doctors are too focused on “fixing” the person’s one problem, instead of “fixing” the person as a whole. It seems like people are a bunch of parts and not one whole entity. I think our focus on healing people needs to change some. These are some of the thoughts that pop into my head and, hopefully, they will be answered in this class!
ReplyDeleteI am really eager to get to Belize and I can’t wait to jump into another culture and experience how they live and how they use alternative medicine in their everyday life. Since I have been to China and learned about their culture, I have been interested in going to as many countries as possible! I expect to be able to apply what we have learned so far in class to what we learn in Belize, to enjoy some fun at the tourist sites/activities, and to speak with actual people who use alternative medicine!
I will have already traveled to another country prior to going to Belize, so as far as going out of the country I am not worried or nervous. I am somewhat nervous about going snorkeling, because I have trouble breathing through my mouth! It will be interesting to see how I adjust to that. I am also a little bit nervous about the food, since I have heard of gibnot!
I will contribute everything I possibly can to Team Belize whether that is being prepared for class or helping someone out while we are in Belize! I hope others will bring their ideas and thoughts into discussion, even if they’re worried it is wrong! I also hope others will come prepared for class, participate in class discussion (as well as when we are in Belize), have an open mind, and be ready to have a blast while we are in the beautiful country of Belize!
My expectations of this class is to get to see a side of medicine that much of the American healthcare field tends to overlook. I expect to learn how people in Belize view medical care and the similarities and differences that come into play in medicine.
ReplyDeleteI expect to have a great time on the trip. I am most excited to go to the reef and snorkel!! But all in all I am expecting to get a better grasp on another culture, and learn to implement that into how I deal with those of other cultures.
I do not really have any concerns or questions at the moment, other than why cant we be in Belieze now, since it is supposed to be cold and snowy here this week. I am so looking forward to the sunshine.
I think I will be someone to get our group to try new things. Or at least I will attempt to. I would be willing to try the rodent dish, and I would probably bet someone to try it with me. I think this whole experience will be more rewarding if we step outside our comfort zones and immerce ourselves in the cultrue while we are there.
As for others, I just hope to all have a good time together on this once in a lifetime opportunity!
As a nursing major, I continue learn all about the medications used in hospitals. I believe that our American culture has become dependent on these medications because they are readily available. I am really excited to learn about alternative methods of healing and I hope to be able to apply them to my job as a nurse! It would be wonderful to offer the choice of a complimentary medicine when caring for patients in the future!
ReplyDeleteMy biggest expectation of the trip is to have a great time by really digging deep into the Belizean culture! My dad has always taught me to appreciate other cultures and Belieze is a country that I know very little about so I am ready to learn everything there is to know! I am really looking forward to the tubing through the caves. I saw pictures from last year and this looks like so much fun! I am also interested in the possibility of meeting a medicine woman!
I can't think of any questions that I haven't already asked in class but I'm sure I'll think of some as we start the course work.
I am definitely going to be trying out all of the authentic restaurants (while hopefully remaining sesame free!)and getting to know the people of Belize! I'm not interested in the commercial side or trying to find "Americanized" comforts. I want the real, authentic thing! I think I will bring a fresh, positive attitude to the group! I hope that everyone brings an open mind to the table and I am excited to get to know the rest of the group on a deeper level as we share the bond of traveling together!
In this class, I expect to learn more about alternative medicine and also believe in it more as well. Coming from Cuba, my family has strong beliefs in alternative medicine and some of them completely rely on it while others consider it myths. I want to know more about it in order to know the options out there not only for me but for the patients I will care for in the future. I hope to see some scientific proof behind well-known alternative medicines. Most of all, I hope to enjoy this class and have fun in Belize.
ReplyDeleteSince I grew up in this country I have not seen as much alternative medicine as some of my family members have. I have a vague understanding of many of the practices for alternative medicine from my own country, but I am hoping to learn as I grow and I have better understanding the world and people. There are people in my family that believe that if you walk barefoot you can get sick through your feet, and that if you don’t do good deeds and wear religious necklaces and bracelets, you can get sick too. I want to know what others believe in and what they think makes them sick and can cure them.
When I go to Belize for spring break I want to enjoy myself and learn at the same time. I’m really looking forward to meeting interesting people, especially the person that will teach us to make potions. I don’t expect to do a lot of schoolwork on this trip since it will be my spring break. I hope to learn about the Belizean people as much as I can. The country looks a lot like Cuba; I expect to feel right at home when I am there. I don’t have any concerns regarding my travel to Belize. I am not a picky eater, I can fall asleep anywhere. My only worry is packing; I want to make sure I take everything I need when I go.
The things I can bring to Team Belize this year is my perspective on alternative medicine and the things I learn while researching for the class. I can also share other things from my country and my family if I am allowed to do so. I hope others will do the same. I like learning about cultures, anything others can bring will be welcomed and learned from by me.
My expectations for this class are to learn a ton about alternative medicine! I am really excited to be educated on what alternative medicine really is. I do not feel that I have a clear idea about what it entails. When I think of alternative medicine I think that it means anything other than care provided by a healthcare system such as grandma's remedies and herbs.I am ready to be confident that I know a great deal about alternative medicine.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the trip will be everything that I have already imagined and much more. I have never left the united states or even been on a plane, so I am already stepping out of my comfort zone. However, this does not seem scary or make me nervous it makes me really excited. I am ready to embrace what makes Belize and it's people who they are and learn as much as I can while having a good time with everyone involved with the course.
I do not have any questions or concerns for the trip. I only wish the days do not pass to slowly until we leave!
I will contribute as much as I can to team Belize I do not have anything in particular that I plan to contribute, I will just go with the flow and try to make everyone's trip/semester as interesting, entertaining and eventful as possible and I hope they all do the same.
I am not sure what to expect for this class. I hope to learn about the Belizean culture and what their daily routine or activities are like; if they are similar to ours or completely different. I am most excited to learn about their different types of medicine and what the hospitals are like there. Considering all the rules and regulations that are in the U.S. hospitals, I would like to know what kind of rules they have to follow. As a Respiratory Therapy major I spend a lot of my time in the hospitals, especially in critical care, learning the different ways medicine is used on different kinds of patients and at different facilities as well. You would not think of it, but it is very different depending on what hospital you are at. Also, as Christy said they only have one person in the whole country who knows how to work a ventilator, therefore, I’m sure their way of treating patients would be different.
ReplyDeleteI do not have that many concerns or questions about going to Belize. I went to Europe this summer and experienced the many different cultures over there. I suppose my main concern is the religion and what the everyday demeanor is like. Is it impolite to make eye conduct? Or is unusually to say please or thank? Will asking for directions make me look odd?
I am not sure what I hope to contribute to team Belize. I hope I will be helpful when we go to hospitals, but I’m sure everyone will have questions when we go there. I hope I can make it a fun trip for other people who are going. What I think they should bring to the table is an attitude to experience whatever comes our way. Also, the different majors and backgrounds of the other students will help when we are working together.
Post From Lindsay Heister:
ReplyDeleteI am very excited for this class for a few reasons. First, I am really looking forward to the trip. Second, I expect to gain a better understanding of alternative medicine and Belizean culture. And third, I'm interested to learn how alternative medicine practices compare to traditional medicinal practices.
In regards to the trip, I have no worries or questions, but I'm looking forward to just jumping in and seeing what happens. I'm excited for the cave tubing, snorkling, and touring, as well as meeting the people and becoming familiar with the culture. I hope to gain a better understanding of a different way of life, as well as a greater appreciation for alternative medicine.
This semester I will bring a cooperative, productive, and fun-loving attitude to the group, and I hope everyone will do likewise. I think this semester and this class will be great!
For the most part, I want to experience the study abroad trip in Belize. In high school, I studied in Greece and Turkey. The experiences I took away from that trip could never have been encountered in America. It feels amazing to escape everything you know and to be thrown into a completely different culture. I love the fact that you don’t see chain stores and restaurants in Belize. Unindustrialized countries, like Belize, make things seem more real and natural. It’s nice to go through cites where you don’t see big parking lots for supercenters everywhere. Furthermore, the study of alternative medicine goes right along with the country’s idea of simplicity. I am really excited to see how the natural remedies work on the treatment of ailments and diseases. I never looked into that type of medicine, but if you can effectively treat something naturally as you would scientifically, why not go with the natural way? I think it will help me better assist my patients in respiratory care. Most of the patients have long term conditions and may be looking for alternative treatments; I hope to assist them in finding natural remedies to help relieve some of the effects of their disease.
ReplyDeleteThe same things that are exciting me about the trip, also, are making me nervous at the same time. I’ll be the outsider to a culture; I’ve never come in contact with before. The people in Belize do seem very friendly, but I don’t really know what normal habits of Americans might offend them. I’ve never been snorkeling or even that deep in the ocean before. What if someone gets hurt? The hospitals in Belize don’t seem to match the ones we’re accustomed to in America.
I don’t really know many other people in the group except one, but I hope that I can bring a friendly and open person to the group. Even though our trip is only for a week, I still think this experience can bring a great bound to the people in our group. As far as what I hope the others can bring to the table, would just be the same thing that I want myself to bring.
Post from Erika: My expectations for this class are to further my education on different cultures other than in the United States. Different religions, customs, and daily routines have always fascinated me. I would like to also learn more about alternative medicines and the ways they are used because I have never been exposed to them. So, this will be a once in a life time experience that can further my knowledge as well as having an amazing spring break.
ReplyDeleteThis will be my first time outside of the country so I am very nervous. I am concerned that I will not like any of the food or snorkeling. I have only been snorkeling once in my life, when I was ten. I lasted about 2 minutes in the water before I got scared and swam back to shore. Motion sickness is also something I worry about when it comes to traveling by plane and boat.
I’m not sure what I will contribute to the group but I hope we all have a wonderful time together. I’m really excited to get to know everyone and travel over spring break.
Post By: Elaine SchlageterPersonal growth is my main expectation for this class. I hope to be able to become more educated in alternative medicine where I am able to keep an open mind for the possibilities of the future for the care of my children and myself. I believe there is something to treating a whole person and not just a symptom.
ReplyDeleteFor the Spring Break trip to Belize, I hope to open myself to other cultures, learn some things, and have a little fun. I look forward to bonding with other classmates that may have some of the same interest that I have. I have a few fears, but am thoroughly looking forward to this adventure. Being a senior at my age, this class and to me is truly an opportunity a lifetime.
I hope to be able to bring personal experience to the class/team. I have some knowledge of alternative medicine through work with the Navajo Nation and with a local herbologist. I look to others to bring to the table more medical knowledge than I personally have. I hope that my fellow team can be open in experiences and thoughts so I can gain a better learning experience.
Jonathon Cotton: My expectations for this class are to gain knowledge on other cultures and their approach to alternative medicines. My main focus is learning about the culture of Belize and their history because I have always loved history and learning about other cultures.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the trip goes I really want to see the ruins, thats my biggest anticipation, but I really want to immerse myself in the culture of Belize and see how they might look at things differently or even do everyday tasks in a different way. I CANNOT wait until we are in the warm weather of Belize! But, overall I know the trip will be a blast and a great experience for everyone. I love to travel and explore new places so this is another great chapter in my book.
For my contributions to Team Belize this year I hope to bring a smile, great attitude, and some testosterone haha! I am usually a pretty shy guy so I hope to break out of my comfort zones and try new things and meet new people. I know that I will be working my hardest to make this class and trip a success and I am confident everyone will do the same. Being the only guy in the class will be a bit of a struggle for me because of my shy personality. But I know that with the people around me this trip and class will be a lifetime experience.
Lastly, I would just like to say hello to everyone and lets have a great semester! (Dueces)
Elisa Archer: Simply put- I think this class is going to be fun:) I love the beach more than anything, literally, so going to Belize sounds more then appetizing to me. When I first met my boyfriend a little over a year ago we were talking about neat places each of us have traveled to and one of his favorite memories was cave tubing and walking through the forests of Belize. Never did I consider the odds very favorable that I would maybe get to partake in the same experience, much less within a year of hearing about it.
ReplyDeleteMy best friend’s sister also loves Belize and has done mission trips in Belize City for the past three consecutive years and can not seem to tell me enough how excited I should be and how beautiful the land and people are.
I’m really excited to be taking this class because I definitely liked the idea of going abroad, but making myself actually do something by myself for a whole semester is rather frightening to me. I love to travel and be immersed in different cultures and the outdoors, but can also be a bit of a “home-body.” Thus, getting to venture to somewhere new and interesting and be home in a week sounds perfect to me.
I also probably would have chosen this class as my IDC even without the Belize trip component. Growing up my mom has always been very in tune with homeopathic and alternative medicinal remedies. When I looked at our schedule I couldn’t help but think how much my mom would love this class. Whenever I talk to her about our class she wishes she could be in it, ha. So I’m also excited to much further enhance my alternative medicine knowledge and pass along new information to her. Also, being a nursing student I thought this course was a great supplement for both my future patients and myself.
As for team Belize, I’m excited to see a few non-nursing faces, love them, but it’s nice to see new faces also ha. As for my nursing friends, I’m excited to do something fun with them- an opportunity we seem to find few and far between the studies ha. If anyone has any questions while snorkeling, I used to be more than obsessed with marine life throughout middle school and some of high school so perhaps I can assist in specie identification if any one is interested ha. I’m hoping others may have or have had some strange interest also and looking forward to story swapping!
from hannah neumann:
ReplyDeleteDuring this class I hope to learn about the herbs, practices, and approaches to medicine in the Belize culture. As we study various methods of alternative medicine, I hope we encounter practioners within our community. Further more I would like to have a critical discussion about our health care system, and learn about this people working at both the grassroots level and within organizations to shift to a more holistic approach.
I am extremely excited about our trip to Belize. I hope to spend time talking with the people of Belize. While we are studying medicine at the university, I hope we will have to opportunity to work with the herbs and the practioners in a hands on learning experience.
My only concern in traveling to Belize is that our time exploring the Mayan Ruins, walking in the jungle, and snorkling will be too short. I also wish we could experience a tradition Belize ceremony of prayer and medicine.
I have studied various forms of alternative medicine for the past five years. My journey began after finding out about a bingn tumor on my pituitary gland and the resulting loss of my menstral cycle. Since this time I have been involved in everything from traditional chinese medicine, to juicing and raw veganism, to yoga and north american herbal medicine. I hope to share my experiences, and what I have learned about listening to yourself and your body. I hope that my classmates will share their experiences with alternative medicine and their perspectives on its place in healthcare.
Post from Christy: Thank you so much for your thoughtful posts. Reading the posts are making even more excited about our trip. I am "grading" your first blog post. You will each get an indvidual email from me in the next day or two (with comments about your blog post). Thanks again for being a part of this class.
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