2009 Belize Study Tour. Academic Program. December 5, 2008. Dr. Sandra Faiman-Silva. Dr. Louise Badiane. Cultural Anthropology ...
2009 Belize Study Tour Academic Program December 5, 2008 Dr. Sandra Faiman-Silva Dr. Louise Badiane Cultural Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology and the Cross-Cultural Experience o Cross-culture study n Participant observation fieldwork method n Data-gathering n Social science, ‘objective’
o o o o
Cultural relativism ethnocentrism Stereotyping culture shock
Anthropology and service learning o Anthropology’s multiple perspectives n n n n
Cultural anthropology Archaeology Biological anthropology-primate study Applied anthropology
o Service Learning n What is it and what will we be doing?
Belize as a pluralistic society o Cultural pluralism n What is a pluralistic society? n In what ways is Belize a pluralistic society?
o What is a sub-culture? n Regional, ethnic, religious n How do we define ethnic, racial, religious, and other sub-cultures?
Mural, Punta Gorda, BZ What does this mural reveal about Belizeans?
Cultural Anthropology: Understanding Belize through a crosscultural lens o Belize’s ethnic and racial, groups— some definitions: o o o o
Creoles Garifunas Mayans Mestizos
o Belizean history society and culture o Nationhood: 1981 o Population: 300,000+/-
Belize’s ethnic groups: Ethnically complex and diverse o Mayas n K’ekchi n Yucatec n Mopan
o o o o o o
~11%
~ 24,500
~ 12,366 ~ 3,155 ~ 8,980
Mestizos: ~ 40% Creoles ~ 30% Garifunas: ~ 6.6% Chinese: ~ 6,000 Mennonites South Asians, Lebanese, etc.
~ 14,061
Belize: Modernization, Economic Development and Sustainability
o Economic vulnerabilities “smallness” geographic isolation weak infrastructure resource transport expenses small population/out-migration plantations/small farms—low productivity; unskilled jobs; o environmental vulnerabilities o o o o o o
Indigenous and/or modernizing trends n early populations o Creoles o Garifunas o Mayans
n new immigrants o Mennonites o East/South Asians
Belize: Modernization, Economic Development and Sustainability, cont.
o Major economic activities o Agriculture, fishing, tourism
o Economic and environmental sustainability o Ecotourism o Sustainable development o Cultural sustainability n Language and cultural traditions in a pluralistic society
Belize, cont. o Other cultural features to analyze: n education—public/private? Higher education? n health care—indigenous, modern? n women’s status; women’s roles; masculinity, femininity, gender n ‘expressive culture’ -- music, dance, drama, arts n political organization—local, regional, national n Local economic production n Local government n Local cultural traditions, practices
Academic expectations: syllabus o Readings o Requirements o Academic activities n Pre-departure video assignment o “Maya, Lords of the Jungle”
n Journal n Interviews n Final paper
In-country activities: Baboon Sanctuary
Service Project
o Pre-departure fund-raising: n est. cost: n $60 each
$700.00
o Items we will take with us: n n n n n n n n
Books—children’s, general Towels, sheets, rags, blankets Soap, disinfectant soaps, shampoos, tooth paste Antifungal creams, calomine lotion School supplies Rubber boots, kids and adult clothes Tools—saws, hammers, screw drivers, etc.
home stays o What is a ‘home stay’? n Expectations n activities
o participant-observation fieldwork n Note-taking n Using time wisely
Cross-Cultural Travel o
What/how to pack n n n n n n n n
o
Immunizations n
o
Soft roller duffel, backpack insect repellent, sun screen, medicines, camera, bathing suit, towel, imodium, aspirin/tylenol, notebook (journal), gifts (pens, small give-aways), comfortable walking shoes, hot weather clothes, wind breaker (light), hat, sun glasses, Pack light, wash/wear, less, not more!
Hepatitis A, B, tetanus, malaria, typhoid? recommended!
Sanitation in-country n n n
Bottled water Food taboos Bathrooms
Hep A and tetanus strongly
Meeting at the airport: n Where?
o American Airlines Check in area
n When?
o 5 AM! [you must be prompt!]
o Rules of the road n n n
Etiquette Language conduct
Trip itinerary: o
San Ignacio n
o
2 nights hotel
One night
hotel
San Jose Village n
o
home stay
Punta Gorda n
o
2 nights
Hopkins Village n
o
hotel
Bermundian Landing n
o
3 nights
academic program @ Galen U
Home stays
Belize City n
hotel
