Adventure provides new perspective for AC students
Posted Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Visiting Mayan archaeological sites, cave tubing, snorkeling in coral reefs and camping in the jungle have all been on the itinerary for Adrian College Political Science Associate Professor James Hanley’s student trips to Belize. While it sounds like a great vacation, the spring break trips are aimed at studying the historical and political culture of English-speaking Belize, from Mayan civilization through colonialism to a multicultural nation linking Central America with the Caribbean.
Dr. Hanley said gaining a new perspective on life is really what the trips are about. Students experience a unique multi-ethnic culture during the nine-day adventure. His primary interest is to get students out of the United States for an entirely new experience. Some of them have been out of America but most have not. Dr. Hanley said taking the students someplace completely different and immersing them in that environment opens their eyes.
“There is really no better teacher than travel, in my view,” he said.
Before leading his fourth AC student trip last year, Dr. Hanley decided to do a fundraiser to help elementary students in Belize by taking along much needed school supplies. He and his students raised approximately $1,300, which paid for hole punches, staplers, children’s books, crayons, scissors, dry eraser markers and lots of eraser boards.
“They needed everything,” Dr. Hanley said. The group also gave some sports equipment to the locals, including soccer balls and volleyballs.
Most people in Belize finish elementary school, but Dr. Hanley said not everyone goes on to high school because of the cost to enroll. “Some of these kids are so poor they not only don’t have flush toilets, they have pit toilets, but they don’t have toilet paper so they carry around pebbles in their pockets so they can wipe themselves.”
The students usually bring back souvenirs, but Dr. Hanley said the most valuable thing they return with is a new awareness of how very fortunate they are. He added visiting students also learn “people are people,” even three thousand miles away from home sweet home. “You see people doing with less but they are good people. It’s a very friendly country,” he said.
Student group sizes have ranged from four to nine. Dr. Hanley said he would add a few more students, but wants to keep the groups limited so they are easily managed.
Another valuable lesson students learn is to be aware of their surroundings. A bite from one of Belize’s most venomous snakes, a fer-de-lance, is rare but can be fatal. An AC student had an encounter with one of them when relieving herself in the jungle. The student dropped her phone and, when picking it up, spotted the snake right by her. They both quickly retreated in opposite directions.
According to Dr. Hanley, the areas they visit are very safe, including
the cave tubing adventure.
The student group also stays on a private island with a local family where they go snorkeling and learn traditional drumming and dancing. They go fishing as well and make a meal of their fresh catch. “It’s a really great experience,” Dr. Hanley said. “We have a great guide. His family also does the cooking for us.”
Dr. Hanley said the trip to Belize is not just for students. He would welcome a helping hand. “If someone wants to pay the fee, I’d take them along too,” he said.
Instead of taking the trip to Belize this year, Dr. Hanley will be taking students to the American Southwest in May. He is planning for another trip to Belize the following year. The additional time between trips to Belize will allow students to save and collect funds for the approximately $3,000 cost, which covers all expenses. In addition to having an experience of a lifetime, Dr. Hanley’s students earn three credit hours for participating.
To register for the 2020 Belize trip or for more information, email Dr. Hanley at jhanley@adrian.edu.
