top of page


Belize Day 13: Crusin’ and Reef Perusin’
I climbed back into the boat, seawater streaming off me in every direction. After taking a quick look around, I flopped over to reclaim...
Lily H
Jun 1, 20252 min read


Belize Day 12: Life in the Shallow End
We hopped straight into the seagrass, and with fuzzy moss tickling our shins, we began to dance the stingray shuffle, dragging our feet...
Lily H
Jun 1, 20252 min read


Belize Day 11: What’s Washing Up on Shore?
No contacts, vision blurred, sea breeze swaying you from one direction to the other. The urge to pee taking over. Stumbling blindly...
Lily H
Jun 1, 20253 min read


Belize Day 10: The Reef Life of BIOS 319
Staring contest – you versus Barracuda. Ready… go! I was snorkeling around the dock in the seagrass when I saw this noticeably long,...
Lily H
Jun 1, 20252 min read


Belize Day 9: Sun Rays and Coco Craze
Ever since the plane touched down in Belize, I’ve been craving a fresh coconut. Now at Glover’s Reef, I’m a tree’s length away from...
Lily H
May 31, 20252 min read


Day 8: Traveling with Ecologists
Life finds a way, even deep into the pitch-black, flooded cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal. This cave system is the most magnificent place...
Lily H
May 31, 20253 min read


Belize Day 7: Peace Found
We were on top of the world (or a hilltop in the Maya Mountains). We lay in peace and gratitude on the wooden platform at the top of the...
Lily H
May 31, 20252 min read


Belize Day 6: Monkey Madness
2:31 am Lily: ZZZzzzzZZZZZZZZzzzz Howler monkey: HUWAOOOO (the phonetic spelling of howler monkey calls) Lily: wakes up halfway 3:48 am...
Lily H
May 31, 20253 min read


Belize Day 5: Inspidering and Antastic
It’s pitch black outside. You look up, and the stars illuminate the tree silhouettes and snake-shaped vines surrounding you. You flick on...
Lily H
May 22, 20254 min read


Belize Day 4: Buggin' Around
This morning, Elise and I discovered that there was definitely maybe a jaguar (or some other feline-y mammal) strolling around our cabin....
Lily H
May 20, 20254 min read


Belize Day 3: Jungle Explorers or Fruit Ninjas?
Now that we’re all situated in our jungle abode, we are really able to maximize the rainforest surrounding us to do field work. After a...
Lily H
May 18, 20253 min read


Belize Day 2: Epiphytes and Stair Flights
Hi guys! Today felt like 3 crazy, wonderful days in one. Beginning with a nice 5:30 am shower, the day was filled with bird and critter...
Lily H
May 18, 20253 min read


Belize Day 1: From the Runway to the Rainforest
(Inside Crystal Lodge - 05/16/25) Here we are, winding down and typing up our day 1 recaps, appreciating the night’s breeze and tuning in...
Lily H
May 16, 20253 min read


Snorkel, Boots, and Bucket Hat in Hand
Hi! I'm Lily, and I'm an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major at Rice. I'm super excited to be heading out to Belize as a part of...
Lily H
May 15, 20253 min read


Urban Agriculture 101: Growing Communities (of Plants, People, and Ants)
Hi! It’s been a while; I hope everyone has been finding their way. I sure have, right back to the farm… deep within the city of Houston....
Lily H
Dec 12, 20244 min read


Week 9: Post-Internship Reflection
I have been home for over a week, but my mind is still returning from Costa Rica. Yesterday I found myself reminiscing to my dog (in...
Lily H
Aug 14, 20243 min read


Week 8: Adventures Outside of EARTH University
While I have endless memories from EARTH, my blog would be incomplete if I didn’t talk about the equally beautiful and chaotic memories...
Lily H
Aug 13, 20247 min read


Week 7: Worms should be friends, not food
Did you know - when using a dough press to make empanadas, you need to separate the dough from the press with a plastic covering, or else...
Lily H
Aug 3, 20245 min read


Week 6: Songs and Sentiments
We bustled into the Spanish room chomping on trail mix and plantain chips and expecting another subjunctive lecture. But instead, the...
Lily H
Jul 15, 20245 min read


Week 5: Work and Play
I used to think the tree pruning process involved a pair of cute hand-held clippers; baby branches; an oversized gardening hat; colorful...
Lily H
Jul 8, 20245 min read
bottom of page