Tinum activities

So while we were in Tinum, we did a lot of "hands-on" learning experiences. Corn has always been a big part of the Mayan people's lives- historically and today. Like the Señor I stayed with said, "Even when there is nothing else, there is corn." So naturally, we went to a milpa (cornfield) to learn about planting and harvesting corn. Today, other vegetables are planted along with the corn.

Our planting demonstration from a local farmer, Tsotsi. You use the large stick to make a small hole and then toss about 5 seeds into the hole and cover it up. Of course, he did this in a fast and fluid motion, but when any of us students tried, it was anything but successful.

We also learned about removing corn kernels from the cob to use as seeds. 
Us students awkwardly and slowly giving this a shot. (I'm in the purple)




After we learned about planting corn and other vegetables, we went into the field to learn about "harvesting." This consists of carrying a huge basket around your head and throwing in husks of corn. For the vegetables that grow on the ground, you pick them up with this large knife-like thing. 

I decided to give this a try. 
Me trying to get the vegetable thing off of the knife!



















Throwing it over my head into the basket- I actually made it.


























Later we went to an even more rural village called Lop Shul to learn about basket making. All 16 of us students entered a thatched-roof home and learned to remove the outer coating of vines to prepare them for making baskets. We watched as a few local people started weaving baskets in front of us, very cool.

Preparing the vines

Making the baskets. The woman on the left told us her mother taught her to make baskets when she was just 7 years old. 




















In Lop Shul, we took a walk to see how charcoal is made here. I was not particularly excited about the process- it is made by cutting down lots of trees:

(The red is the natural color of the sap)

Then the trees are stacked like this and burned...

to get this. 
Really not a big fan of chopping down trees and burning them to make another not particularly environmentally friendly product. Although in comparison to my lifestyle (I say from my cushy SUV) maybe it's minimal. They said the trees grow back quickly but...yikes..talk about environmental degradation. 

On a happier note we did see some banana trees which were pretty cool :)








All around, the trip was a great learning experience :)