I had the best experience studying abroad in Belize for 10 days. I was able to learn about the country and culture of Belize while also making memories of a lifetime. It was well planned out between having time for excursions and also having time to provide speech therapy services. It was also nice to have some downtime throughout the stay. I would recommend this trip to anyone willing to go out of their comfort zone to travel to a new place and provide a community support services they need. Studying in Belize was a unique experience that I will cherish forever.

This is one of the best experiences I've had in a long time. As an older student with a family of my own, I wasn't too sure that I would fit in with a predominately undergraduate crowd. However, I got to experience an amazing country and culture while branching out my developing clinical (SLP) skills. The excursions were absolutely amazing, informative, gorgeous, and fun! The accommodations and extended staff are an absolute delight and have absolutely wonderful food. Internet access is available, but spotty at best. My only complaint would be the tempo of the schedule. There were certainly some overwhelming days after evaluations that I didn't know when I would be able to complete all of my report writing.

This was the most amazing learning experience for me. Although this program was geared towards Health and Sports Science, I have to say there were so many opportunities for individual growth. I completely enjoyed it when locals were excited to showcase their traditional healing methods and culture. Of course, I had to see some of the beautiful temples in Chiang Mai. I also did some trekking through the mountains and caving which had some challenging moments, but I had such an awesome time. I felt so proud of myself for overcoming those obstacles. From learning how to cook Thai food, Muay Thai Boxing, and Nuad Thai Massage my days were constantly filled with hands-on learning experiences that I would never forget.
Chad and David were able to provide some of the best Thailand experiences during a global pandemic while keeping everyone safe and healthy at all times! This experience opened up many avenues for career and personal development. This Therapy Abroad program helped and touched so many people and their families during these hard times and I am so grateful and thankful for the opportunity to take part. There is something very special about Thailand and its people that has humbled me and made me a better person going forward. I could not have asked for a better experience, better staff, or accommodations and the people I encountered have touched my heart forever. Thank you to Chad, David, P, and everyone else that made this trip memorable and kept us all safe!

P.S. The Progression Group experience is a must for this and any other education or leadership program! If you have never heard of it, google it!

What an adventure! This is going on vacation with a purpose! Where you can contribute so much to the people you visit. We were welcomed into the lives and homes of this hospitable nation. From shy smiles to big hugs and thank you speeches from Belizians, they touched our hearts forever.
Our hosts Chad and Ellen from therapy abroad were amazing! Their knowledge of the country and programs made it a rich experience, not to mention all the cultural hotspots we visited. It was a perfect balance between therapy and fun!

Therapy Abroad provided a safe, humbling, and fun academic experience! Belize is a beautiful country that unfortunately lacks resources and access to care. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to treat the underserved populations in different settings. Therapy Abroad made home visits possible! Every clinical experience elicited creative juices and teamwork. There was always an opportunity for the exchange of ideas. I strongly believe we grew as clinicians as we learned from each other and our clients. Chad and Ellen were knowledgeable leaders and amazing tours. They both did a great job in introducing us to all the wonderful aspects of the cultures in Belize. Thank you, Therapy Abroad.

Words don't do this trip justice. The itinerary was spot on with great places to stay, delicious local restaurants, various cultures, breathtaking scenery, awesome group leaders (Chad & Ellen, hey!) , and beautiful people. This trip was nothing short of amazing. This opportunity really served as an eye opener to me. I am even more grateful for all I have and the fact that I am earning my masters in a field that does great things for great people who are so deserving. I wish I never left Belize. I will be back.....SUMMER 2021 I'm coming for ya! If you have the opportunity to study abroad with therapy abroad...YOU MUST DO IT! You won't regret it! :-)

Throughout this experience, I was able to learn in an interactive educational environment and enhance core competencies in the field of speech language pathology, as well as enjoy the richness and challenges of service learning and traveling abroad. I was given the opportunity to work directly with clients, receive specialized training, and learn from experts in the field while also contributing to a unique cultural exchange experience.

Housing:
For the first few days of the trip, I stayed in Monkey Bay. It was dorm style housing. I stayed in a room with 8 other girls in the program. It was charming and SO much fun. Ellen was there every step of the way to make sure we had everything we needed. As a whole, I can't say enough nice things about Ellen! Monkey bay was great. The only downside of this place was the WiFi never worked. It made report writing and sharing very challenging. We tried to overcome this challenge by using and sharing flash drives. Also, the bugs at this location were pesky so don't skimp on bug spray!

Next, we stayed at Martha's Guesthouse in San Ignacio. This was another awesome accommodation. The WiFi and AC was a significant upgrade. There was plenty of room to complete our reports. The staff was friendly and the food was amazing.

Therapy Experience:
The therapy experience was amazing. We were able to see a wide variety of clients. We were not given much information on the clients before seeing them. This forced us to be extremely flexible. Prior to seeing the clients, we were only given their name and a possible date of birth. If you are a student clinician, here is a list of things I wish I had brought: nasal mirror, PECS to leave with families, latex free gloves, English and Spanish visuals with Belizean pictures, a tongue depressor, and ASL visuals.

Overall, this experience was incredible. If you are given the opportunity, GO! You will not be sorry.

Belize was an unbelievable experience. I gained clinical knowledge and traveled while doing it! I loved the variety of clinical settings that we experienced (villages, nursing home, schools). The food and juices were amazing.
If you have the opportunity, bring items that you can leave for the villages and/or schools. Stickers were a big hit! I would also recommend bringing a whiteboard and markers as they can be a great therapy tool!
I would highly recommend coming on this trip if you have the opportunity.