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North Carolina vs. Belize
How is the Belize
airport different from the Raleigh Durham airport? (2003)
The Belize airport is smaller
and much more open than RDU. There is no air-conditioning
on the arrival side and one revolving belt for luggage. You
board and disembark from planes directly from their stairs
via the tarmac.
Do you
see the same kinds of animals there that we see in North Carolina? —Kayla & Matthew B, elementary school students from North Carolina (2003)
Many of
the animals we see in Belize are like the ones in North Carolina,
such as the ruby-throated
hummingbird, jays, and deer. However, since the environment
is different — warmer and rainier — different kinds
of plants grow and therefore some different animals.
Belizean animals that we do not have in North
Carolina include the howler monkey (known in Belize as the
"baboon"), the red-eyed treefrog (pictured at the
bottom left of the page), and a very poisonous snake called
the fer-de-lance.
How are Belizean students and teachers similar to or different from North Carolina students and teachers? —a Wake County resident (2004)
Students attend school Monday to
Friday with similar hours to North Carolina schools. They
wear uniforms, which they have to purchase along with their
own books. This costs around $150.00/term. Punishment for
bad behavior includes cutting the grass with machetes and
cleaning the outhouses. The Belizean schools are not air-conditioned
and bathrooms are frequently outhouses. Students must go
to school at least through grade 8.Belizean teachers can
teach primary school after completing an associate degree,
and high school teachers must complete a bachelor's degree
in addition to an associate degree. If Belizean teachers
don't continue their education beyond an associate degree,
then their pay raises stop after five years.
What migratory birds
have you seen since arriving in Belize? And
have you seen any that we would recognize
here in North Carolina? —an 11th grader from Lincoln County (2004)
Today we saw
Sulphur-Bellied Flycatchers and Plumbeous
Kites; these bird species migrate from Belize
to South America. Many birds from North America
migrate to Belize for the winter, starting
in October and returning to North America
by the end of April. This means that right
now in North Carolina, you might be able to
see the same birds that will migrate here
later on this year!
Some bird species can
be found in both North Carolina and Belize.
Today we also saw hummingbirds, woodpeckers,
flycatchers, kites, tanagers, pigeons, egrets
and herons. In some cases these are the same
species of birds that are found in North Carolina,
and in others they are similar species of
birds.
Did any of the species that you encountered in Belize have similarities to North Carolina species, from bone structure to behavior? If so, could you give examples? (2005)
Throughout our trip we made many comparisons between North Carolina and Belize, especially the plant and animal life. The tropical climate and varied terrain of Belize enable a greater diversity of life than in North Carolina. For example in North Carolina our lizards are few and generally shorter than a foot, while in Belize we encountered at least 10 species of lizard ranging from a 1½ inch Sphaerodactylus gecko hiding in our rooms, to 6 foot long Green Iguana basking in the tree tops along the Macal River. Also many of the birds that nest in North Carolina in the summer are Neotropical migrants spending the winter in Belize, like Scarlet Tanagers, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Hooded Warblers and Northern Orioles. Yet even with the high species diversity in Belize, North Carolina is a center of diversity for salamanders. Over 50 species of salamander are native to North Carolina.
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.
How does the weather compare to North Carolina? (2005)
The summer weather in Belize is similar to the weather in North Carolina. The
temperature is in the high 80's to low 90's with a lot of humidity, rain and thunderstorms.
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