Intercultural Exchange: Grossmont College & the University of Belize

INTERCULTURAL EXCHANGE: GROSSMONT COLLEGE & THE UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE

POSTS BY GROSSMONT STUDENTS

SPRING 2014

PROFESSOR’S CODE: Stefani2US14 [Lisa Stefani]

RESPONSES BY UNIVERSITY OF BELIZE STUDENTS

ENGL 2105: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

LECTURER’s CODE: Stefani2USQ14 [Corinth Lewis]

Post by Lauren L

Grossmont College

2. When searching many websites and asking many travel agents, I came to find out that there is NO night life in Belize. Do the younger crowds ever get to experience clubbing or any type of extensive party other than happy hour?

Response by Camille Ferguson of UB:

“When searching many websites and asking many travel agents, I came to find out that there is NO night life in Belize.”

It was upsetting to read the sentence above. As a 19-year-old young woman, night life is the most dominant part of my weekend. Be reasonable, which Country have you ever been to which has absolutely NO night life? Belize, being a tourist destination is not left behind. Tourism, aside from the sugar and citrus industries, is the major source of revenue in our country. The younger tourists who travel to Belize look for the clubs and sure enough, you’ll be able to find a few in each district. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, also named the number one island in the world two years in a row by – is a party motivated island; it is completely dedicated to having fun. Belize City, Orange walk, Cayo, the list goes on; every single district contains AT LEAST one club and/or pub.

The younger crowds do in fact get the club experience in Belize, most at an age younger than they should. Happy hour and its four dollar drinks is only the beginning of it all.

Post by Sabrina

Grossmont College

1. According to a few travel websites, visitors to Belize should be cautious visiting the southern parts of Belize.

Why do you think we should avoid the southern parts of Belize?

Response by Camille Ferguson of UB:

Unless you feel the need to be cautious of the beautiful green forests, waterfalls, exotic plants and animals and other natural beauties, then I suggest you avoid the southern parts of Belize. Belize, just like every other country, has its areas where you need to be cautious but the southern region of Belize is the most tranquil with its occasional extremely minor crimes every few months of so; maybe once a year. The southern parts of Belize contain the most beautiful flora and fauna that you will ever set your eyes upon; the tallest mountain in Belize, which you would be able to climb with assistance; forests you will be able to take tours through; crystal clear waters at every corner. Southern Belize holds the heart of both the Maya and Garifuna cultures in the Toledo, Punta Gorda and Dangriga Districts, all of which are properly drowned in culture, you’ll feel it everywhere.

Placencia which is one of the most beautiful places in the world, where celebrities purchase vacation homes, where retirees come to rest and which the discovery channel celebrates, lies in southern Belize. I can assure you that the southern region of Belize is anything but a place where you should express caution; Beautiful, but not dangerous.

Post by Chelsea Texeira

Grossmont College

Stefani2US14 Sender：Chelsea Texeira Date：2014/03/11 13:29
I have observed that Belizeans have a very relaxed view of punctuality. Is arriving late acceptable in all settings? For example, arriving casually late to commitments such as work, school, or business meetings?

Response by Fatima Morris of the University of Belize

In Belize the normal working hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00pm with an hour lunch break.

Arriving late is definitely unacceptable however there are some individuals who consider that when they arrive ten minutes after the commencement of work they are still on time. In the Public Service there is no penalty levied on offenders for this practice. Many events such as business meetings, the start of school and public events do not start on time due to challenges such as lack of punctuality when participants use public transportation with unreliable schedules, often late, issues such as unexpected and unannounced road delays caused by construction; the late arrival of key participants, and an unwritten rule that weather events such as an unexpected or a heavy downpour before such events, are acceptable reasons to be late. This accommodation of lateness has, over the years, become endemic and a part of our cultural landscape. Of note is the exception of events where the Governor General is the guest of honour, invitees to such events are required to be seated “fifteen minutes before the start”; for the most part such events start on time. Senior citizens tell us about a Belize of long ago, under British rule, when British Hondurans [the then name of citizens of this country] were punctual to all their events.

The old adage of “a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work” is still the governing principle in Belize since employees are paid for the number of hours actually worked. Most employers’ use their discretion and do not deduct from employees’ salary although the labour laws provides for deduction for late arrival. Therefore, employees do not take punctuality as a serious issue.

Late arrival is definitely not acceptable. Professionalism dictates and as the adage claims: ‘punctuality is the policy of princes’; there should, therefore, be few and limited excuses for arriving at scheduled events and appointments late. It is a stereotype about Belize that is grounded in fact and needs to be addressed.

Stefani2US14 Sender：Torey RomeroDate：2014/03/11 05:28
4. Does everyone in Belize believe in Obeah?
Rationale: I ask this because I came across an article that gave the impressions that Obeah (black magic) is common in everyday life in Belize and all people are welcome to use it for both good and evil. It said it stemmed from the Mayan culture, which leads me to a side question; are almost all Belizeans of Mayan decent? The article also gave off the impression that only certain people had the ability to practice Obeah and make the spells. I am asking this question assuming Obeah is common knowledgethroughout the country. I got my information from
Also: Regarding my other post under the thread Stefani2US14: there is one more reference I failed to mention. It is an online article by a Belize news station:

Post by Torey Romero

Grossmont College

Does everyone in Belize believe in Obeah?” – NO
Are almost all Belizeans of Mayan decent? – NO

Response by Fatima Morris of the University of Belize

Response 1:

To respond to this question “Does everyone in Belize believe in Obeah?” requires an understanding of the various ethnic groups in Belize. Belize boasts of being a cosmopolitan country with a varied and strong cultural heritage.

Of the seven (7) ethnic groups the belief in obeah, or witchcraft is more pronounced in the Creoles and Garifuna culture. For those who believe, the following are some of the calamities that can befall those who are targeted:

(a)“If a doll is made from a black sock and then buried under the doorstep of the targeted victim, great harm will come to that person.

(b) Shoes are frequently crossed at bedtime to keep evil spirits away from the owners of the shoes during the night.

(d) To ward off the evil eye, the Garifuna paint an indigo cross on the forehead of an infant. Read more:

The laws of Belize make the practice of obeah a criminal offence hence any practice is an underground activity by those who practice or believe in it, but it is likely a very small majority of the two ethnic groups who are known to engage in it. A first offence on such a charge (obeah, or witchcraft) carries a fine of up to three hundred dollars or six months in prison. A second offence can cost as high as five hundred dollars or one-year imprisonment. Obeah man busted in Cayo | Channel5Belize.com

edition.channel5belize.com › Crime - Jul 19, 2004

The powers of the obeah man or obeah woman is considered to be evil if he or she uses it to make a spell against somebody else in order to hurt that person. If someone asks him/her to make a spell so that his sick child will live, the power becomes good, because it will result in a positive outcome. Among the Maya, in their ancient, oral traditions of witchcraft and sorcery, obeah is almost always used for evil.

The word obeah makes most Belizean’s uncomfortable, even fearful. If individuals are threatened with the words ‘I will obeah you’, that is seen as a sure threat of evil against that individual, in whatever form it may come.

In my personal opinion there is no such thing as “obeah”, but if you believe that anything abnormal that happens to you is as a result of obeah, then it is the mind controlling the body. Having the read the Good Book (Bible) there is evil, but good conquers ALL evil.

Response by Fatima Morris of the University of Belize

Response 2

Are almost all Belizeans of Mayan decent?

NO!

The first to inhabit Belize was the Maya; the Maya civilizations are indigenous to the lands of Belize since 2500 B.C. Then the Garifuna migrated to Belize around 1802 after running from British invaders. Shortly after, in 1847, the Mestizo fled from the Caste War of Yucatan to the northern regions of Belize. At about the same time, in the 1800's, the Creoles were being brought into Belize as slaves and sold. With indentured labor, the East Indian, Syrian, Lebanese and East Asians (Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean) were brought to Belize in 1858 and 1865 respectively. They were followed by the Mennonites who came into Belize in 1958 pursuing a life free of religious persecution and the pressures of modern society.

Post by Torey Romero

Spring 2014

Grossmont College

Does everyone in Belize believe in Obeah?

Rationale: I ask this because I came across an article that gave the impressions that Obeah (black magic) is common in everyday life in Belize and all people are welcome to use it for both good and evil. It said it stemmed from the Mayan culture, which leads me to a side question; are almost all Belizeans of Mayan decent? The article also gave off the impression that only certain people had the ability to practice Obeah and make the spells. I am asking this question assuming Obeah is common knowledge throughout the country. I got my information from

Response by Angelica Vasquez

University of Belize

Comm. Skills 2105

The current Belizean culture that’s prevailing in the country borrows lots of influences from the British, who were the first settlers, the Spanish Mestizo, who came in as refugees in the mid-1800s, the African slaves, who worked in the flourishing timber industry and the natives who also have an established culture that dates back from the Maya civilization.

The African slaves have a culture of their own. In Belize, there is term called “obeah” which refers to folk magic. However; it is not entirely African as the native people prior to the settling of the Europeans had their own rituals as well. A lot of Belizeans when engaged in idle talk, the usual topic would be about obeah and the people who are practicing obeah. Obeah mostly would refer to the art of foretelling the future and the making of magic charms and talismans.

As of today, I don’t think everyone in Belize believe in Obeah. However, they are stories that can be heard and told about others experiences that may or may not persuade other individuals into believing about such magic/superstition. People who can be found practice “obeah” today are the older Garinagu which is plural for Garifuna; who are descendants of African and Carib Indians from the island of St. Vincent that arrived in the south of Belize in 1832.

Post by Madison J of Grossmont College

I have read that Belize is a very diverse country, made up of people from all over the world from Asia to Europe, and are intermixed greatly. Do you find that the diversity enhances relations among the different races/cultures or does it create conflict? Do you feel that the diversity is beneficial to your country?

Rationale: Depending on where you are in the U.S. the diversity varies greatly. I went to a very diverse high school and there were many fights throughout the school year because of it. Although it was probably due to the immaturity and age of the high school students, the mixed cultures had a negative effect in my high school. I was just curious how the diversity affects people in Belize.

Response by Angelica Vasquez of the University of Belize

Belize is made of a vast amount of cultures such as the Garifuna (1802), Mestizo (1847), Yucatec Maya (1847), East Indian (1857), Chinese (1865), Mopan Maya (1886), Mennonites (1958) and much more. I find that the diversity enhances relations among the different races/ cultures. I don’t think it creates a conflict today because all the different cultures interact with one another. No culture is superior over the other.

I do feel that the diversity is beneficial to Belize. This is because with all the cultures combine together makes Belize a more eye-catching tourist attraction. The Garinagu have contributed to Belize’s timber extraction of Mahogany and logwood. The Mestizo has contributed to Belize’s farming and its sugar cane industry. The East Indians have contributed by developing merchandize stores. Today the Chinese community control most of the economy and became dominant in the grocery, restaurant, fast food, and lottery trades. The Mennonites have contributed by using their skill to manufacture furniture and agriculture industries by producing milk, eggs, cheese, beans, and honey. All the cultures contribute to Belize’s economy.

With all the different cultures coming together is what makes Belize a unique and beautiful place to visit and experience. To see a variety of ethnic groups and the different cultural food, music, religion and practices first hand is one of the greatest experiences one can receive.

Post by Torey Romero

Spring 2014

Grossmont College

Does everyone in Belize believe in Obeah?

Rationale: I ask this because I came across an article that gave the impressions that Obeah (black magic) is common in everyday life in Belize and all people are welcome to use it for both good and evil. It said it stemmed from the Mayan culture, which leads me to a side question:Are almost all Belizeans of Mayan decent? The article also gave off the impression that only certain people had the ability to practice Obeah and make the spells. I am asking this question assuming Obeah is common knowledge throughout the country. I got my information from

Response by Dominique Gentle of the University of Belize

To answer your question, No! Most Belizeans are not of Mayan decent. Those of this decent live mostly in the Southern part of Belize. Belize is a “melting pot”, as they say here, very cosmopolitan. Our country is comprised of Mestizos, Creoles, Mennonites, Garifunas and the Mayan of which there are three distinct groups: the Mopan Mayas, Kekchi Mayas and Yucatec Mayas. In our country it doesn’t really matter from which ethnic group you come, individuals date each other, create relationships and even marry. Like I said our country is a melting pot of different races; many of us of mixed cultures. Maybe the Obeah stemmed from the Mayan culture but now it has spread to different types of cultures and many people use it today and mostly for evil.

Post by Madison J.

StefaniUS14:

I have learned that Belize's birth rate is declining, therefore creating a larger population of aging citizens. Do you think the birth rate is declining? If so, what may be causing it?

Response by Dominique Gentle of the University of Belize

To answer your question, I personally believe that the birth rate is not declining. In my everyday life I see many pregnant women and majority of them are teen girls. I see that the rate in teen pregnancy is increasing in Belize. Many young girls are becoming pregnant and majorities are single mothers. There is no actual percentage of the rate of teen pregnancy in Belize but I see that the rate in teen pregnancy is increasing in Belize. I don’t believe the lack of education may be the cause of many unplanned pregnancy because from an early age schools teach young girls and boys to protect themselves and there is the availability of contraceptives. So, for me, the birth rate in Belize is not declining instead its increasing and many are unplanned births.

Post by Madison J.

StefaniUS14:

Does everyone in Belize believe in Obeah?