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Summary Statement I believe I fulfilled all of the course objectives and requirements for Forestry 4493, International Forestry and Natural Resources. To be honest I learned more about life during eleven days in Honduras than a whole semester here in Stillwater, U.S.A. It is hard to imagine that for a place that is just a three-hour plane ride away; life can be so different. The lessons and things I learned and experienced through this trip can not be written about in a journal or even captured on video. They are in the memories of images stuck in my mind and the feelings I relive everyday when I think about them. In my mind I exceeded all of my expectations going into the trip. For example, I was worried about not being able to communicate well. What came to my surprise was how relatively easy it was to have a conversation with a person and know very little Spanish. After ordering aqua purificada a few times I felt confident, and by the end of the trip I felt right at home speaking to Hondurans. Going to Honduras as made me decide that I would like to take some Spanish courses and maybe even get a minor in Spanish. I am a shy person sometimes and I would say speaking in front of a group of people is not my forte, but culture night was a blast and after our performance I felt proud. I thought we all did a great job. Dancing with the Garifuna was a highlight for me because I don't dance much. I came out of my comfort zone and participated in activities that were new to me. I made a lot of friends on this trip and contacts as well. Several things have changed within me since our trip to Honduras. I no longer worry about money as much, and seeing the closeness of families in Honduras has brought me closer to my family, especially my Mother. We keep in closer contact now and send cards and letters regularly. This trip has helped me overcome some of my insecurities and my willingness to take everyday activities for granted. The old saying out of sight, out of mind no longer applies to me because I think about my experiences in Honduras. I would encourage anybody to go on this trip even if they are not forestry major. I hope this class and trip will continue so other can experience what I have experienced. A message I think sums up Honduras life in general is "The life of man comes from the life of trees."
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