To See, Hear, and Connect with the Belizean Culture: A Reflection.
A letter from working archeologist and Stone Language, Linguistics, and Social Science’s Instructor Maribel Pérez-Arias to parents and guardians (and Stone faculty) as she reflected on her experience in Belize with Stone students this past summer.
Maribel, alongside her partner, Scott Smith (Professor of Anthropology, Program Chair of Latin American and LatinX Studies at Franklin and Marshall College), Dr. Drew Hermeling, Humanities Instructor, and Alex Funnell, Dean of Students, led a cohort of students to Belize and Guatemala this past June.
The intentions of this travel experience were to:
Invite students to use an archeological lens to think about ancient communities (like an anthropologist) as they observed, analyzed, and explored Mayan buildings, temples, and material culture.
Break stereotypes and help students to understand that there are Mayan communities actively living in those areas and acknowledge that these communities — like any other indigenous communities — have significant contributions to offer our globalized and modern world.
Connect theories and concepts discussed during classes here at Stone to practice and experiences in the real world. For example: Open discussion of immigration (descendants of these ancient civilizations) and colonialism in Mayan communities — they witnessed the impact of (Stone Humanities Instructor) Drew’s “Post-Colonialism” course encapsulated in real time.
Hi everyone!
I just want to make sure I share with you details and special moments we had during this trip.
Like many other countries, Belize is a challenging and magical place, not only archaeologically but also socially. In my opinion, the beauty of Belize is reflected in the way people relate to one another: different ethnic groups, different languages, different accents, but living with the same care, love, and respect, no matter how you look on the outside.
If you ask your students, they will tell you that there is significant social diversity, a product of Belize’s complex history, which includes initial Spanish claims, subsequent British settlement and control, and eventual independence. But that’s just a small part of its history. Long before that, Belize was one of the epicenters of some of the world’s most complex social structures and institutions. This is clearly reflected in the organization, magnitude, and sophistication of the monumental and non-monumental sites we visited during this trip.
As a teacher, there were two especially memorable moments during this trip I want to share with you all.
One / Replica of a massive Maya stela in situ
Who owns the past and other peoples’ idenities?
While the original is housed at the Penn Museum, an institution some of my students had previously visited as part of my other classes, this moment led to meaningful reflection on the ethics of museum collections and the ownership of other people’s pasts and identities, particularly when fragmented pieces of those worlds remain in our institutions.
Two / Atop one of the temple-pyramids at Xunantunich
How do we see and relate to immigrants in America?
As we paused to catch our breath and admire the sophistication and technological expertise of ancient architects, rulers, and communities, we reflected on how these past societies and their descendants are portrayed today. Some of my students pointed out how we often see immigrants (especially coming from Central and South America) only as workers: picking our vegetables, cleaning our homes, or caring for our children. This narrow view simplifies and erases the deep, complex histories and cultural legacies that modern Indigenous communities carry with them. One of the greatest effects of colonialism is the fragmentation and disconnection of people from their pasts, ultimately denying the legitimacy of their lands, cultural practices, and worldviews. I saw the impact of Drew’s amazing post-colonialism class encapsulated in this moment.
Photography by Maribel Pérez-Arias and Scott Smith
Our students understood that seven days or even seven years isn’t enough to fully understand these pre-Hispanic and modern societies. But we tried to absorb as much as we could.
I have to say, our students used every bit of their energy to truly see, hear, and connect with Belizean culture.
I couldn’t be prouder of them. They got exhausted, hungry, and thirsty. Sometimes they were nervous or even scared, especially when exploring dark spaces, such as the cave, but they quickly faced and overcame their fears, knowing they weren’t alone. They knew they had each other’s backs. Here, I want to take a moment to thank Alex for his amazing coaching. It was the first time I saw Alex in action (outside the classroom), encouraging students to overcome their fears while making them feel safe. Truly amazing.
I’ve worked with this group of students for a couple of years in the classroom, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with them outside of it. I saw them face new challenges every single day, from forgetting backpacks atop the tallest Mayan temple to dealing with flight delays. As an immigrant myself, my students' perseverance, gratitude, empathy, sense of humor, and open-mindedness give me even more reason to keep believing in the next generation.
Thank you, parents, for your trust and for giving me and Scott (who was shocked by our students' engagement and intrinsic curiosity) the chance to care for and guide your students on this unforgettable trip, alongside our amazing faculty who supported me every second during this experience.
Maribel Pérez-Arias
Spanish Language & Humanities Instructor
perezm@stoneindependent.org