Student Trip to Guatemala
In May, 2009, twenty Onondaga students, of various age groups and from diverse backgrounds, got to climb pyramids, explore ancient temples and discover new cultures in Guatemala and Honduras, on a College-sponsored history trip. These students were able to enjoy this unique nine day long learning experience at the low cost of $1000 (thanks to grants from the Student Association and the Teaching Center)! Two faculty members, Drs. Rick McLain and Hiram Smith, organized the trip and led the group. "Words cannot describe the expressions on the faces of students when they first heard the loud cry of the howler monkeys swinging wildly in the trees, or when they reached the top of a pyramid at Tikal and saw rainforest as far as the horizon," says Dr. McLain. "It was an eye-opening and enrichening experience for many of the students to witness first-hand two cultures so very different from their own - the remains of the pre-Columbian Maya societies of Copan and Tikal, and the contemporary Central American societies they saw elsewhere in Guatemala and Honduras," adds Dr. Smith. Many of the participating students saw their awareness and understanding of the world increase dramatically as a result.
The nine day trip included visits to famous Mayan sites Copan and Tikal (containing many pyramids and over 3,000 structures); staying in elevated huts in a mangrove swamp next to a pool surrounded by lush tropical plants, waterfalls and flowers; and kayaking in the early morning hours to see the sun rise in verdant surroundings. Students learned about the history of the classic Maya who built all these structures without metal tools or the aid of horses or oxen, and how the Spanish conquered the indigenous population. Yet, today there is still a rich and fascinating mix of European and native cultures. Sunday market in the Mayan town of Chichicastenango is filled with smells of sweet incense, fresh roasted coffee picked not long before from the surrounding hills, and the sight of tapestries which compliment the rainbow colors of clusters of tropical flowers for sale.
In May, McLain and Smith will once again take students, along with Professors Lambert and VanArsdale, on a third trip—this time to explore the majestic ruins of Mexico’s Aztec, Olmec, Mayan and Spanish cultures. Mexico trip information
