MANSFIELD, PA—Fourteen Mansfield University students, accompanied by Political Science Professors Jeff Bosworth and Jonathan C. Rothermel, traveled to Belize in June as part of a six-credit summer course, PSC 3385 Field Research Abroad.
This is the second straight year for the two-week trip to the Central American country for MU students, who represented a wide range of majors including criminal justice, environmental science, psychology, radiology, biology, computer science, history, sociology, social work and political science.
The course focused on the politics, culture and economy of Belize a country about the size of Massachusetts with a population of just over 300,000 that markets itself as an ecotourism and cruise ship passenger destination.
Students learned about how Belize, a developing country, is trying to balance the need for economic development with environmental and historical conservation. Tourism is an important source of income for Belize, but there is concern by some that tourism, foreign investment, and even oil drilling, which are fueled by global forces, are threatening Belizean sovereignty. Although sustainable economic development is desired, a government faced with a 40% poverty rate is pressured to produce immediate short-term gains for its people.
The exposure to a developing country had a profound impact on our students.
“They are grateful for what they have and are able to enjoy life with simple necessities,” Madisen Slagle, Political Science major from McSherrytown, PA said. “I think our country and a majority of the world could learn a few things from visiting Belize.”
“Being in Belize made me realize what we consider poor is not even close to the real thing,” Danielle Cole, Radiology major from Athens, PA said.
As part of their fieldwork, students had the opportunity to interview several government officials, including the mayor of Orange Walk, a National Assembly representative, a member of the Elections and Boundaries Commission and an official from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation. The MU professors also facilitated several other presentations by Belizeans, including a hotel owner, two University of Belize professors, a veterinarian, and a citrus plantation owner, to name a few. Additionally, the US Embassy in Belmopan, the capital of Belize, formally briefed students about its mission.
Students visited several beautiful Mayan ruins, including Altun Ha, Lamanai, and Xunantunich. These archaeological treasures are some of the attractions that entice over a million tourists a year to Belize. One of the highlights of their trip was a challenging journey into a cave, the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, which was recently named by National Geographic as the most sacred cave in the world.
The guides explained how some tourists have damaged ancient artifacts by dropping their cameras on them. Cameras are no longer allowed in the cave. Simple plastic tape on the ground demarcating restricted areas of the cave is the only thing that separates tourists from ancient Mayan pottery and skeletal remains. The area of the mostly intact skeletal remains of the Crystal Maiden was recently wired off because a tourist lay down next to it and posted the photograph on the Internet. Students were able to see firsthand the need to properly manage the influx of tourists.
Interestingly, private initiatives in Belize have been successful in promoting environmental conservation among its people. The bottom-up approach to environmentalism empowers communities to take charge of protecting their natural resources. For example, students visited the Community Baboon Sanctuary, where landowners have voluntarily pledged to keep habitat on their land for the black howler monkey. Their efforts have resulted in a sizable increase in the black howler monkey population. The Belize Zoo, the Iguana Project, and the Belize Wildlife and Referral Clinic are other examples.
The diversity and hospitality of Belizeans is a major reason why Bosworth and Rothermel returned to Belize.
“Our friend, Landy Espat, who we met last year, gave us an insightful political talk. Later in the trip, on his own volition, he made arrangements to host a private reception and dinner for our students,” Rothermel said, “This is the way things happen in Belize.”
The students capped off their trip by traveling to Caye Caulker, an island off the coast of Belize, for three nights. The go-slow attitude on the island was a good way for the students to decompress and observe the “surf” side of Belize’s so-called surf and turf attractions.
The field research in Belize is the basis for a 12-15 page research paper that was due two weeks after the students returned home. Prior to the trip, students chose to focus on one of four research questions relating to globalization, culture, ecotourism, or politics. The course is rigorous but rewarding.
“Our hosts are actually impressed that our students know a thing or two about Belize before they get there, which mutually enriches the experience,” Bosworth said.
In the end, the ultimate purpose of the course is to expose students to the world beyond the United States. For many, it is a transformative experience.
“Although my time in Belize was relatively short, the experiences I had will last a lifetime,” Biology major Tracey LaFrance of Wyalusing, PA said. “Everywhere I turned during my time there made me take pause to think about how different the country was from anything I have experienced.”
Bosworth and Rothermel are already planning to return to Belize next summer with a fresh crop of Mansfield students.
To see more photos and get more information on the Belize Study Abroad program, go to their Facebook page at facebook.com/MUBelizeStudyAbroad