Culture Questions • Tropical Ecology Institute • NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Yes, we heard some Maya in the Maya Center. The Maya language has several dialects and does not sound like Spanish.

What is Belizean money called? —a 4th grader from Oregon (2004)

Belizean money is also called dollars, but the currency looks different and every $2 Belizean is worth $1 American. (Point coin to see other side.)

Your July 20, 2004 journal entry stated that you were able to see some Mayan pottery shards in the cave. Have you seen any other native pottery and have you learned much about the pottery in Belize? —an 11th grader from Lincoln County (2004)

A few ceramic artifacts are sold as souvenirs, but pottery is not a major industry in Belize. We saw one ceramic brick factory along the Hummingbird Highway and there is a small population of potters in the town of Cayo. One interesting thing is that most of the vessels that would be handmade from clay in the U.S. (like pots) are crafted from wood here in Belize.

What are the houses like in Belize? Do they have a lot of trees? —a 5th grade student from North Carolina (2004)

The houses in Belize are quite variable, just like houses on the North Carolina beach differ from the ones found in the mountains. Many Belizean houses are built up on stilts to help keep them safe from floods and to take advantage of cool breezes. Others are made with cement blocks that help insulate the inside of the house from the hot sun. The roofs are made of tin or covered with thatch (palm fronds). Not all houses have electricity, and air conditioning is very rare.

What happened to the Mayan population in Xunantunich? (2005)

Archaeologists really do not know. There are two theories. One theory was explained by our Xunantunich guide, Nathan Forbes. He said there was a drought for over 30 years, and they died or left because there wasn’t enough food for survival. Another theory was explained by one of our Belizean teachers, Elsa. She said that the Spaniards brought over new diseases such as smallpox and influenza, against which the Mayas did not have any immunity.

What is school like in Belize? (2005)

According to our Belizean teacher, Elsa, children attend school for 39 weeks. The school day is 8:30–11:30 a.m. and 1:00–3:30 p.m. Children in 1st and 2nd grade are dismissed at 2:30 p.m. The long lunch break is from 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. because most children (75%) walk home to eat. The other 25% eat lunch at school for $1.00 or bring a bagged lunch from home. In the morning, they have a 20 minute recess and in the afternoon, they have a 10 minute recess.

Our other Belizean teacher, Germaine, contributed the following information about their schools. Students study social studies, math, science, language arts, P.E., music and art. He said, "We do not have a lot of private schools". A private school is considered a school in which the government does not have any involvement. There is only one private school in Belize City which is a very rich elementary school. Even in Catholic and other religious schools, the government pays the teachers’ salaries. The Ministry of Education controls the curriculum and licensing of teachers in these schools. The government strives to provide an education for every child, but due to economics some children have to go to work early instead of attending school.

What language is spoken in Belize? (2005)

English is the official language and is taught in all schools. The children learn to read and write English, but often speak other languages in conversation. Other languages spoken include, Spanish, Creole, Maya, Mopan Maya and Yucatec.

Are other products in Belize as expensive as gas? (2005)

Our Belizean teacher, Germaine, said, "We just had an increase in income tax on certain goods, including alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and cigarettes." Cigarettes went from $2.75 BZ ($1.40 US) to $5.50 BZ ($2.75 US). According to the North Carolina teachers' observations prices are pretty comparable to the US, however salaries and incomes are lower and unemployment is high.

Are there any really big cultural differences between Belize and the USA? (2005)

The culture of Belize in major cities is similar to that of the U.S., but outside major cities, traditional cultures and lifestyles are still maintained. Mayans were the original inhabitants of the country, and still comprise 12% of the population. Other sizeable ethnic groups include the Creoles and Garifuna. Traditional foods in Belize are rice and beans with almost every meal along with fried plantains, which are similar to bananas. The official language is English, but many other languages are spoken, and most people speak Creole, which is a mix of Spanish and English. You can find out more on the Belize Tourist Bureau's website.

What is it like in Belize? (2005)

The weather in Belize is hot and humid with frequent short rain showers. The climate is very similar to that of North Carolina’s but Belize sees much more rain, especially now, which is the rainy season for the country. There is a wide variety of plants, animals, ethnic groups, and languages. The national language is English, although most people speak Spanish or Creole, which is a blend of languages. Most people use public transportation which is a bus, but it comes very infrequently. Most of the houses here are built on stilts because of the huge amount of termites.

How old is Belize and what is its government like? (2005)

The country of Belize is only 24 years old. Its Independence Day is September 21, 1981, before then the country was a British colony. The country is ruled by a prime minister who is elected by a simple majority, giving the country a democratic government. The country is divided into 6 districts and each district has a mayor that is in charge of that area. These mayors then report back to the Prime Minister.

How did the ancient Mayans keep their water? (2006)

Mayans relied on reservoirs, converted from old limestone quarries, to provide water. When enough rock was excavated to supply their building needs, the Mayans would seal the walls of the quarry with clay. Once the walls were sealed, the former quarry was used to collect and store water.

Why do the Mayan buildings look like they do? (2006)

The Mayans were a very spiritual people who built according to religious beliefs. They adorned the walls and entranceways of their buildings with carvings and glyphs of animals and gods. The Mayans used mathematics to strengthen the connection between their buildings and their spirituality. For example, the number of stairs, tombs, doorways and rooms revolve around the numbers 3, 9 and 13, also on combinations of these numbers. The number 3 represents the 3 worlds (underworld, earth and heaven); the number 9 represents the 9 levels of the underworld; and the number 13 represents the 13 levels to heaven.

What languages are spoken in Belize? (2006)

The official language is English and everyone speaks it. However there are several other languages that are commonly spoken, including Creole, Garifuna, Spanish and Mayan dialects. We have enjoyed learning some Creole from our Belizean friends, but it is still difficult for us to speak.

We learned many things from our friends traveling with us about the influence of American culture on Belizeans. Many young people listen to American music, watch American TV and adopt American styles of dress. For some of these young people, this means that they don’t know as much about their Belizean culture as their parents and grandparents. We have also seen that there are many American products in Belizean stores, but they cost much more than in the US.

Our Belizean friends were very helpful in answering this question, too — we are very glad they are with us to help us understand their culture better! Many Belizeans do move to the US. Often parents move first while their children finish school in Belize, then the children move to the US. They move in search of better jobs and better schooling, but many Belizeans feel that emigrants lose touch with their cultural identity when they leave Belize.