 |
Annual Belize Trip |
| Your Guides: Carole and Clay
Robarchek |
|
Professor
Clayton Robarchek, (316) 978-7192
Department
of Anthropology, WSU; clayton.robarchek@wichita.edu |
|
Carole
Robarchek, Research Development Specialist (316) 978-6806
Research
Administration, WSU; carole.robarchek@wichita.edu |
About the Course
"Archaeology and Ethnography in Belize" (Anthropology 597T) is
offered in the Spring semester; it includes a field-trip component in
Belize over Spring Break. The
trip consists of 7 days in the field and two travel days.
Students will be introduced to the cultures of the Mayan Indians,
the Garifuna (Black Caribs) and the Creoles.
We will also visit and explore several unexcavated and
partially-excavated Maya archaeological sites.
Since we are traveling in remote areas, our schedule and the
places we visit may vary. During the final two days in a beachfront Creole community on
Placencia Peninsula, swimming and snorkeling will be possible.
There are no prerequisites.
The course may be taken for either graduate or undergraduate
credit. Entry is limited to
14 participants, however, and entry is on a first-come basis.
In this course, the field settings are both classroom and laboratory.
Students will participate in an informational meeting in November and
receive the latest recommendations from the Center for Disease Control for
immunizations. Attendance at a
three-hour lecture and two more meetings on campus is required prior to
departure for Belize. A field
manual will be provided before Christmas break that will include introductory
readings, maps, a bibliography of preparatory readings, and suggested topics for
study in the field. Two more
meetings will take place before departure on the field trip including a quiz on
the readings in February.
During the ethnography portion of the course, days in the field will be
intensive (14-16 hours). These days
will be spent in native settlements, observing and recording the details of
daily life--gardening, food preparation, recreation and so on.
While we expect students to enjoy themselves on this field trip, this is
a serious course in anthropology. After
returning from Belize, students will have two weeks to type their journals and
submit a paper topic; the paper is
due at the end of the semester. Graduate
students will complete a graduate-level paper on their project. Grades are based on both participation and performance in the
field and on the final papers.
About
Belize
Belize, known prior to independence as British Honduras, is
located south of the Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean coast of Central
America. Temperatures at
the coast vary from 75 degrees (night) to 85 degrees (day).
In the Maya mountains, nighttime temperatures will fall a bit
lower. Most of our trip will be spent in the
southernmost district, Toledo.
Since we will be living (and eating) in
native settlements. We strongly suggest that all participants in the course begin
the series of shots for Hepatitis A and B as soon as possible.
Consult your doctor about the advisability of getting a gamma
globulin shot as well. Although
we will be sleeping under mosquito nets, we also recommend that
participants get a prescription for an anti-malarial drug.
Belize is a democracy, is politically stable, and has strong ties
to Britain, the U.S. and Canada. English
is the official language, although Spanish, Maya, and Creole are also
widely spoken. Currency is
the Belize dollar, which is permanently pegged at $2 Belize=$1 U.S.
All merchants accept U.S. dollars.
In Maya and Garifuna communities, we will be staying in
native-style houses, but equipped with foam mattresses and mosquito
nets. Food, prepared by local women, will be provided and is
included in the cost of the trip. In
the Creole community on Placencia Peninsula, we will have accommodations
in that are clean and secure, but basic: shower/bath, toilet, and fans,
but no TV, radio, alarm clocks, telephone, air conditioning
(unnecessary), or room service. This
is both to keep costs low so that you can afford the trip, and to keep
you in contact with the local people.
There is only one road in Placencia village, much travel is along a mile-long
concrete sidewalk that threads its way through the coconut palms. Food, both Belizean and American, is available at reasonable
cost in local cafes. Dress
in Placencia is casual; "no shirt, no shoes---no problem" is
the motto in most eating and drinking establishments, and bathing suits
are common attire. In the
Maya and Garifuna villages, however, more modest--but still casual and
comfortable--clothes are appropriate.
Costs
and Registration Procedures
Cost of the trip is $1,650 (cost increases may alter the charge) per participant.
This includes round-trip airfare from Wichita, entry and
departure taxes, air, ground and water transportation in Belize, lodging
(double or triple occupancy), and food in Maya and Garifuna settlements.
The fee does not include tuition and fees for those taking
the trip as a course, beverages or other meals.
A deposit of $1,000 is required no later than November 1, because
airline tickets must be purchased early.
For that reason, the deposit is not refundable (but it is
transferable). The balance
of $650 is due no later than January 10th.
The total fee of $1,650 must be paid (in cash or by money order
only) directly to Dr. Clayton A. Robarchek (978-7192) at the Department
of Anthropology, or to Carole Robarchek (978-6806) in the Office of
Research Administration in Room 319 of the NIAR Building, Wichita State
University. Participants
must be at least 18 years old.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you are planning to
participate: spaces fill up fast!!
Students registering for college credit must enroll through
normal channels at WSU, paying tuition and fees to the registrar, but
November pre-registration for the course is required.
Prior approval to enroll in this course is required for all
participants. All
participants must have a valid passport. A
valid passport is required to enter and exit Belize.
Passport applications may take six or more weeks to process so,
if you do not have a valid passport, apply early.
Application forms are available at the downtown Post Office.
No visa is required of US
citizens; non US citizens are responsible for obtaining a visa for
Belize prior to departure.
Packing,
Getting There and Punta Gorda
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