A vital part of orientation week is an introduction to the surrounding Belizean cultures. At CCSP, we dig into the past and the present all in a day's work. Overlooking San Ignacio is Cahal Pech, an ancient Mayan ruin site complete with a museum that allowed us to glimpse the ancient Maya world. We observed how the ancient design of the Mayan cities were symbolic with Maya worldviews. The Maya levels of heaven (13) and hell (9) were represented with precision on their buildings and temples, indicated by the number of entrances along with their proximity to the sun and stars. What would it look like if our cities today included such planning and precision?
Standing in the ruin of the Pok-a-Tok ball court, we imagined this game being played around us on this very ground before the first Olympic torch was even lit. Was it the winners or the losers of this game that were sacrificed to the Mayan gods? The world of Anthropology is still discussing this and much more on these ancient civilizations. Steps and passages up and down showed us what was once truly a great and powerful civilization of politics, religion, business, and everyday life.
Mestizo is a culture of mixed Spanish and Maya ancestry. Today, Mestizo culture is alive and well in the Benque House of Culture just down the road from CCSP campus. To transition us from the ancient world to today, CCSP held it’s first Mestizo marimba dance.
Some of Benque’s most renowned dancers showed us how to move along with the marimba, especially noting the bass line (Pun intended). We even managed to squeeze in some community bonding as a result of a new and shared experience! Once dance is involved, who could ever look at the Marimba the same again?
And whats more, orientation week included visits to the Blue Morpho butterfly house, and the Belize Botanical Gardens. How real the world gets when seen up close. Life, fellowship, and service projects in the garden... establishing and reestablishing the links between people and the Creation.
Potting up young'n seedlings for the nursery
Tidying up the Nursery
Unveiling new plant species labels
Crafting butterfly species labels
Composing anew in the orchid house
And whats more, orientation week included visits to the Blue Morpho butterfly house, and the Belize Botanical Gardens. How real the world gets when seen up close. Life, fellowship, and service projects in the garden... establishing and reestablishing the links between people and the Creation.
Potting up young'n seedlings for the nursery
Tidying up the Nursery
Unveiling new plant species labels
Crafting butterfly species labels
Composing anew in the orchid house
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