When I was a student in the public schools in North Carolina, and even in college, it was always a treat to go outside for a class when the temperature was tolerable, and the sun was shining. The lessons didn’t always pertain to where we were, but it was pleasant to have no walls holding us in. Belize and CELA deliver a different kind of learning experience because the amazing environment and diversity of cultures here allow us to use the country as a classroom all year.
CELA is well known for the engaged learning opportunities we create for our students and faculty-led groups. Our classrooms are created from our deep connections to Belize; on medicinal trails, on farms and ranches, at the Belize Zoo, with nurses at the local hospitals and clinics, in villages, towns, and Belizean homes. The forests, the Mesoamerican barrier reef, and the Caribbean Sea, the local markets, rivers, and farms bring a variety of topics to life. Belize provides its own visual aids and presentations. Living a lesson is often the best way to take in new knowledge.
The variety of people a student or group meets in Belize is a great source of engaged learning, too. With lecturers and knowledge bearers providing new faces, accents and different ways of looking at the world, rich texture is offered. Meeting healthcare leaders and providers, seeing how domestic animals are cared for, listening to a Maya guide talk about his/her ancestors and their monumental, ceremonial sites are great educational components. Walking with a guide along the Belize River at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, viewing a Creole way of living and thriving, by sharing their space with the black howler monkeys, highlights a different way of existing and brings with it a lesson of how shared space and destinies can create a new way of being.
It’s not just the people and places that are part of the learning. The exuberance of life in Belize, from morning birdsongs to evening concerts presented by bugs, toads and frogs, and barking dogs, creates a different backdrop to life. The air and the fragrances carried on the wind, the humidity and the dusty, bumpy roads are teaching without students knowing they are learning. Even the length of the days is a lesson in global positioning! Many students see the vastness of the universe in the night sky for the first time.
One of the big takeaways for our students and their professors is encountering different ways of being. Stepping out of their comfort zone, students look at their lives and living spaces in a different way, from the outside in. They usually arrive at a place of appreciation for other ways of living and become thankful for their own. Recognizing an interconnectedness, from here to there, from me to them, and how the whole fits together to make us, is one of many very enlightening lessons learned in Belize. Belize is our classroom™ and the learning is engaging.
Author: Cynthia Reece, Communications and Enrollment Officer at C.E.L.A. Belize
Monday 10 June 2019
CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF TRADITION: MARIA GARCIA
Last year our Ethnomedicine students visited Maria Garcia as a part of this course, which introduces them to the world of traditional health as it is practiced and integrated into the daily lives of Maya and Garifuna people. This prompted us to want to get to know Maria a little bit more. Here's what we learned.
Maria Garcia, born and raised in the Yucatec Maya Village of San Antonio in the Cayo District of Belize is the niece, student, and heir of some of the work of the late Don Elijio Panti. Prior to his passing in 1996, Don Panti was renowned in Belize and in the world of herbal medicine as one of the best Maya herbalist and spiritual leaders around.
Having apprenticed with Don Elijio, Maria took her commitment to traditional healing, sustainable farming, art, and conservation very seriously. In her back yard, you will find a good variety of medicinal plants as well as local crops that make up much of her diet and which has been passed on from generation to generation.
Realizing the importance the rainforest played in her practice and passion, she helped establish the Nooj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park. Designated a National Protected Area in 2001, the 1,306 acres of pristine sacred rainforest that make up the park is home to hundreds of wildlife and plant species as well as sacred caves, temples, and waterfalls.
As the founder of the Itzamna Society, a non-profit and community-based organization, Maria shares with her community the importance of the conservation and sound management of natural resources, cultural patrimony (Yucatec Maya Dialect & traditional healing) and community development. She spends a lot of time in the village reminding people of the importance of preserving their native language which is known to them as Maya Ta’an. It is their mother tongue, surviving from their ancient Mayan ancestors. Its people are also renowned for their traditional abdominal massages, chiro-practice, and midwifery. It is a place where planting and harvesting are sacred, where prayer and thanksgiving have a great purpose, and where life is rich and whole.
Maria shared with us that people travel from all over the world to be treated by the herbal remedies of the rainforest and the traditional practices of the Tanah villagers. The knowledge of how to use hundreds of varieties of medicinal plants, prayers and secret stones known as "Sastuns" has been passed down from their ancestors.
According to Maria, she can’t stress enough the importance plants have to the way of life in her village. For example, the cohune palm nuts are used for jewelry or to extract oil for cooking. The young shoots when boiled or fried make a delicious snack. The roots can be used for a blood tonic.
In her back yard, a vine grows which quenches a day's thirst. Some of these very same plants provide the villagers with definite cures for asthma, arthritis, baldness, among others. It is through communion with nature, preservation of traditions, and a holistic lifestyle that the Maya herbal remedies, teas and spirituality can be shared.
Besides being well known for their cultural preservation efforts, Maria also discovered "art" after she and her sisters began carving slate years ago. She came to realize that something moved from within the depth of her soul which expressed itself through incredible energy and vision into action.
Designated as Prominent Artists by the official judges at Riverfest '95, Maria and her sisters are accomplished Yucatecan Maya artists. Their worldwide art gallery exhibits have been on display in England, Germany, Japan, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Dominica, and Belize's Bliss Institute.
Given her many accomplishments and unfaltering determination, we asked Maria what has kept her going all these years. According to her, when they decided to start carving slate, her father asked her, "Are you going to eat stone? Who is going to buy stone? People buy food, not stone." She shared that for the first few years he would not help his daughters as they pursued their new found passion. Still, they toiled over the stone for it was also their father who taught them, "When I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it."
And Maria is still doing it all!
Author: Misael Canto, ASK & Belize Consultant, C.E.L.A. Belize
Maria Garcia, born and raised in the Yucatec Maya Village of San Antonio in the Cayo District of Belize is the niece, student, and heir of some of the work of the late Don Elijio Panti. Prior to his passing in 1996, Don Panti was renowned in Belize and in the world of herbal medicine as one of the best Maya herbalist and spiritual leaders around.Having apprenticed with Don Elijio, Maria took her commitment to traditional healing, sustainable farming, art, and conservation very seriously. In her back yard, you will find a good variety of medicinal plants as well as local crops that make up much of her diet and which has been passed on from generation to generation.
Realizing the importance the rainforest played in her practice and passion, she helped establish the Nooj Kaax Meen Elijio Panti National Park. Designated a National Protected Area in 2001, the 1,306 acres of pristine sacred rainforest that make up the park is home to hundreds of wildlife and plant species as well as sacred caves, temples, and waterfalls.
As the founder of the Itzamna Society, a non-profit and community-based organization, Maria shares with her community the importance of the conservation and sound management of natural resources, cultural patrimony (Yucatec Maya Dialect & traditional healing) and community development. She spends a lot of time in the village reminding people of the importance of preserving their native language which is known to them as Maya Ta’an. It is their mother tongue, surviving from their ancient Mayan ancestors. Its people are also renowned for their traditional abdominal massages, chiro-practice, and midwifery. It is a place where planting and harvesting are sacred, where prayer and thanksgiving have a great purpose, and where life is rich and whole.
Maria shared with us that people travel from all over the world to be treated by the herbal remedies of the rainforest and the traditional practices of the Tanah villagers. The knowledge of how to use hundreds of varieties of medicinal plants, prayers and secret stones known as "Sastuns" has been passed down from their ancestors.
According to Maria, she can’t stress enough the importance plants have to the way of life in her village. For example, the cohune palm nuts are used for jewelry or to extract oil for cooking. The young shoots when boiled or fried make a delicious snack. The roots can be used for a blood tonic.
In her back yard, a vine grows which quenches a day's thirst. Some of these very same plants provide the villagers with definite cures for asthma, arthritis, baldness, among others. It is through communion with nature, preservation of traditions, and a holistic lifestyle that the Maya herbal remedies, teas and spirituality can be shared.
Besides being well known for their cultural preservation efforts, Maria also discovered "art" after she and her sisters began carving slate years ago. She came to realize that something moved from within the depth of her soul which expressed itself through incredible energy and vision into action.
Designated as Prominent Artists by the official judges at Riverfest '95, Maria and her sisters are accomplished Yucatecan Maya artists. Their worldwide art gallery exhibits have been on display in England, Germany, Japan, United States, Mexico, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Dominica, and Belize's Bliss Institute.
Given her many accomplishments and unfaltering determination, we asked Maria what has kept her going all these years. According to her, when they decided to start carving slate, her father asked her, "Are you going to eat stone? Who is going to buy stone? People buy food, not stone." She shared that for the first few years he would not help his daughters as they pursued their new found passion. Still, they toiled over the stone for it was also their father who taught them, "When I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it."
And Maria is still doing it all!
Author: Misael Canto, ASK & Belize Consultant, C.E.L.A. Belize
Our New Website & Location
There’s literally a world of opportunity out there if you are looking to expand your global perspective and your education to include studying abroad. As Mark Twain said, “Traveling is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness…”
At CELA, we continue to add to our learning opportunities and are reaching more students in colleges and universities all over North America in a variety of disciplines. Over the past eight years, we have created engaging learning experiences for over 1500 students. Our offerings for courses, faculty-led groups, and internships have expanded to meet the needs of students and professors in many fields of study. We look forward to sharing the engaging experiences in Belize to many more young people and their faculty.
To support our expanded offerings, we have a new and improved website design, making information easier to find and the application or planning process a breeze to start. We invite you to take a look and if you don’t find what you're looking for we may be able to create the perfect opportunity for you.
Apart from our new Website, C.E.L.A. Belize has changed locations. C.E.L.A. was able to move to a new location after months of searching for the right place for months. We outgrew our office in downtown San Ignacio in 2018 after only a year. We have moved to a large house on the La Loma Luz Blvd., right in front of the horseracing track near the river and the bypass bridge. The new office is a large four-bedroom house which gives the staff and management room to work, meet and collaborate. We have a conference room and spaces for classes in the comfort of air conditioning if needed. We now have plenty of room to grow.
We have plenty of space to park in the yard and we are suburban enough to have horses grazing, iguanas sunbathing and large birds stalking their next meal. When giving directions, we just say right in front of the horse racetrack in Santa Elena or across the street from the La Pasadita bar. Those are good location anchors for most anyone living in Cayo. A sign will be going up in May. We will host an Open House in June which is a great time to celebrate our new space, our growth and the community engagement we provide in many different ways.
Follow us on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page to keep up to date with all that we continue to improve on and offer at C.E.L.A. Belize.
At CELA, we continue to add to our learning opportunities and are reaching more students in colleges and universities all over North America in a variety of disciplines. Over the past eight years, we have created engaging learning experiences for over 1500 students. Our offerings for courses, faculty-led groups, and internships have expanded to meet the needs of students and professors in many fields of study. We look forward to sharing the engaging experiences in Belize to many more young people and their faculty.
To support our expanded offerings, we have a new and improved website design, making information easier to find and the application or planning process a breeze to start. We invite you to take a look and if you don’t find what you're looking for we may be able to create the perfect opportunity for you.
Apart from our new Website, C.E.L.A. Belize has changed locations. C.E.L.A. was able to move to a new location after months of searching for the right place for months. We outgrew our office in downtown San Ignacio in 2018 after only a year. We have moved to a large house on the La Loma Luz Blvd., right in front of the horseracing track near the river and the bypass bridge. The new office is a large four-bedroom house which gives the staff and management room to work, meet and collaborate. We have a conference room and spaces for classes in the comfort of air conditioning if needed. We now have plenty of room to grow.
We have plenty of space to park in the yard and we are suburban enough to have horses grazing, iguanas sunbathing and large birds stalking their next meal. When giving directions, we just say right in front of the horse racetrack in Santa Elena or across the street from the La Pasadita bar. Those are good location anchors for most anyone living in Cayo. A sign will be going up in May. We will host an Open House in June which is a great time to celebrate our new space, our growth and the community engagement we provide in many different ways.
Follow us on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter page to keep up to date with all that we continue to improve on and offer at C.E.L.A. Belize.
Meet the Team: Dr. Filiberto Penados
Dr. Penados shared his enthusiasm with us in a short interview at the C.E.L.A. office on his take on Studying Abroad in Belize. He has been a part of the C.E.L.A. Family from the very start as one of the founders of the establishment, to now being the Academic Director. He is also directly involved in several Faculty-Led Groups and aids in teaching Agriculture and Indigenous studies to several student groups every year.
Many students know Dr. Penados through his lectures, both locally and abroad at several universities in the USA and Canada. He expressed that many of his students are eager to come back or visit Belize for internships after listening in on some of his lectures.
Engaged Learning is something that Dr. P stresses very heavily in his work. While traditional methods for education are key, he believes that students learn best by entering the field and doing work here in Belize that they would not have been able to do back home. From working on farms, holding a cacao pod for the first time and even seeing the grand Maya sites of Belize, students get a real feel of what their studies are through getting their hands 'dirty'.
As a professor, he believes that Belize is a unique place to study abroad. "Apart from our official language being English, which gives us a hand over many other study abroad destination, Belize is also located close to where many of our students come from, The United States and Canada." He continues to say that " Belize is also a great destination for diversity. Students get to learn about many cultures, languages, foods, and destination in just this small little country. This helps students go back with a better sense of self and appreciation for the world outside of their comfort.
We asked Dr. P to describe Belize in his own words to potential students, to which he replied with our new slogan "Belize is Our Classroom"
To learn more about Dr. Penados and our other members of staff and faculty, visit us here.
Many students know Dr. Penados through his lectures, both locally and abroad at several universities in the USA and Canada. He expressed that many of his students are eager to come back or visit Belize for internships after listening in on some of his lectures.
Engaged Learning is something that Dr. P stresses very heavily in his work. While traditional methods for education are key, he believes that students learn best by entering the field and doing work here in Belize that they would not have been able to do back home. From working on farms, holding a cacao pod for the first time and even seeing the grand Maya sites of Belize, students get a real feel of what their studies are through getting their hands 'dirty'.
As a professor, he believes that Belize is a unique place to study abroad. "Apart from our official language being English, which gives us a hand over many other study abroad destination, Belize is also located close to where many of our students come from, The United States and Canada." He continues to say that " Belize is also a great destination for diversity. Students get to learn about many cultures, languages, foods, and destination in just this small little country. This helps students go back with a better sense of self and appreciation for the world outside of their comfort.
We asked Dr. P to describe Belize in his own words to potential students, to which he replied with our new slogan "Belize is Our Classroom"
To learn more about Dr. Penados and our other members of staff and faculty, visit us here.
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