Monuments at Lamanai

Monuments have played an important role in recognizing leaders, commemorating tragedy, glorifying war and leaders of war, and they have pointed to acts of courage or endurance not played out on the battlefields. They have also helped to shape the American identity as well (Levinson, 1998). Monuments tell a story through their sculpture. The temples at Lamanai would be considered allegorical sculpture, as the figures of the mask and jaguar on the temples represented an idea (Uhrmacher & Tinkler, 2007). 

Monuments reflect historical perspectives of that time, but as time goes on, the perspectives can

change. Monuments provide a window to the time when it was erected. They are created to help future generations remember and commemorate events or people. Monuments hold a unique meaning to different audiences. No two people will take away the same exact meaning. As our tour guide Randy told us, the history of the Mayan Ruins depends on who you ask. He did a great job of offering information so that we are able to draw our own conclusions. 

According to James Percoco, a retired history teacher, conversation about controversial monuments is necessary. It’s not about finding the answer; its discussion, conversation and dialogue about eternal questions. These issues are central to who we are as Americans (Willoughby, 2013). A great discussion surrounding the Mask temple would be, who were the first inhabitants of the earth? Looking at the facial features displayed on the mask, they are features that are more dominant with the African American ethnic group. Does this similarity clearly show that this group were the first group on earth? Or do we take or own conclusions away from examining the monument?

Levinson, S. (1998). Written in Stone: Public Monuments in Changing Societies (Public Planet         

     Books).

Uhrmacher, P. B., & Tinkler, B. (2007). A Monumental Curriculum. Educational Leadership, 64.

Willoughby, B. (2013, May 15). Set in Stone. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from 

     http://www.tolerance.org 

On the road to Lamanai

     After a day of rest and reflection, I have decided to write about the experience at Lamanai. After

arriving at the village to board the bus, I immediately felt a sense of being blessed! When we were talking to the lady who was getting our breakfast items out, she jokingly told us that her very adorable daughter was for sale, but that the other two girls (ages 12 and 13) were old enough to work so she would keep them. One of the daughters was working in the stand where carvings were being sold. I gather that kids are part of the "working class" when they are old enough in order to contribute. I guess everyone pulls their own weight to get the tasks accomplished. In the US, many kids are not expected to pitch in with simple household tasks, let alone working in the family business. Many are handed everything and never learn work ethic or learn how to work for something they really want.
     Once we boarded the bus and began on our hour long ride, Leon did an awesome job of providing

information along the way. To learn that the village just got electricity for the first time EVER was just something I could not even imagine. I thought to myself, what were the people's reactions when they learned that they had electricity? Something they had functioned without forever? I'm still baffled by this. Again, a feeling of being blessed was bestowed upon me, because before I left home, a part on my AC went out and my husband and son had to wait several days and be without air until the part could be fixed. We even had a window unit in our shed that they were able to improvise with to stay cool. The people that lived in those villages live without air on a daily basis. Besides being blessed, I can say that we have NO reason to complain. I think about the many times we are in school and students AND teachers complain when they can't get connected to the wi-fi or being out in restaurants or checking into a hotel and the first thing we want before ordering our food or going to our rooms is the wi-fi password. As we were riding along, especially on the way back, I saw kids riding bikes on the bumpy roads. Being on the bus, I don't remember seeing houses or anything else that are close together, so I wondered where they were off to by themselves. It shows me how persistent they are in this culture. They will not let things stop them from getting to where they need to be or getting what they need.....even without shoes.

     I feel that education is certainly valued here and it makes families set their priorities in different ways than we do in the US. Passing by the government school in the village and working at New Horizons, and seeing the conditions in which families are paying for their kids to learn speaks volumes! It's not about what the outside looks like, even though at New Horizons they want everyone to keep their school clean as noted by the signs hanging up, but about the learning that is taking place within the four walls. Knowing that it is mandatory for kids to go to school or parents could go to jail, I feel that when they work, they focus on making sure they have tuition for their kids, money to buy books, school supplies and clothes. What happens when the families truly can't afford to send their children to school? When talking to one of the employees at Pedro's Inn, she said that some schools set up payment plans beginning in April where families can begin paying in advance for the upcoming school year. This could be quite a hardship when you have 2-3 kids in school at the same time, but again their persistence pays off....making things work, like the grandmother at New Horizons who barters tuition payments by working at the school.
     The people of Belize are also very resourceful! They can't always go to the store and buy things that they want which is conveniently packaged for them. They make use of what Mother Nature provides by way of using the trees, leaves, berries, nuts, and more as daily resources. As Americans, I think we are too wasteful and could learn a lot from the culture here.
     Lastly, it made me feel very appreciated when it was asked of Leon about the weather and storms that pass by/through the island. He explained that all the tourists would be evacuated first and put up far inland. I know this doesn't happen in the US as it is every man for himself. The appreciation they have for tourists who are pouring into their economy demonstrates their sense of compassion. To me it reminds me of the saying, "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours".

Day 2 of enrichment camp

Today was a GREAT day at camp! I felt so much better about the flow and being able to rotate teachers from one class to another to do activities. Having two adults in each room was very beneficial. Yesterday I felt a lot of anxiety, because I'm so used to following a "plan"and not being able to flow from one activity to the next was driving me crazy!

Today we were able to move the older kids into 3 groups and move them to actual classrooms. When the classroom doors were first opened for us, it was explained that we couldn't use certain classrooms because there were no chairs. On the last day of school, students take their chairs home with them until school opens again in the fall. This was VERY different for me, since we walk into classrooms where tables, chairs, and desks are a plenty for our students in the US; and if not we order more from the warehouse. It makes me wonder what happens if students are not able to provide their own chairs to sit in while attending school.......especially if there are 3 or more siblings attending at the same time and each needs to bring their own chair. Another thing I observed in the classrooms is the learning environment in which the students have to learn. In many of the rooms were broken windows that were taped back together or were not doctored up at all.

I can only imagine what that's like on rainy days when the water would come in the room. In one of the rooms, the bottom window pane was just out. I'm not sure if these things would be repaired over the summer or not, but by looking at some of the cracks.....it seemed like they had been there for a while.






In one of the classrooms used by older students was a daily schedule and from it I could see that there is 30 minutes a day devoted to devotion and bible. I even saw one sign on a classroom door reminding students that memorizing two bible verse would give them extra points on their exam. Even at the public library, the camp was closed with prayer. Religion

is a very important piece of their culture wherever they may be.

The people we pass on the streets on our daily bike rides are very friendly and when you speak, they quickly respond with a smile. There is no "road rage" with people cutting you off or running into the back of you on the streets. LOL! It there were, I would have probably been hit a few times. We happened to be at a small eating place near the school today and some of the students came over to buy something form the store and they were all smiles coming up the steps when they saw us as a group. We spoke and told them we would see them tomorrow and the smiles were heartwarming. I have always "preached" about building meaningful relationships with students when I was an elementary administrator and it doesn't matter where you go, relationships have to be established. At the camp we see many of the older siblings being protective over their smaller siblings. They may want to be together for snack, but if not, you can rest assured they are waiting for them at the end of the camp session. This is similar to what I see in other cultures as well, especially with kids who's parents are working early in the morning or still at work when the kids get out of school. The older sibling takes on that caregiver role.

My struggle is one kid in the 6-7 group who only wants to do a puzzle. I was only in the class for 30 minutes today during the rotation, but he only wanted to get water (even though they just had snack and bathroom prior to us coming in the room). Trying to find a way to keep him engaged throughout the camp will be a task or I foresee it going the wrong way and him turning into a behavior problem. I know we will have to differentiate in some way, so that is what's on my mind.

I have to say I am loving this pineapple juice that is served all over the island!