Josephine Luu-Hope-Brown - Trent Study Abroad Program

Why did you decide to travel abroad?: I decided to travel abroad to gain more archaeological experience and learn more about Maya archaeology.

Why did you choose to study in Belize? How did you learn about it?: I choose to study abroad in Belize due to having an interest in Maya archaeology. I learned about the Belize field school through my professor, Dr. Helen Haines who taught the course called “The Maya” as well as through my job as social media coordinator for the Trent Anthropology Department where there was a posting about the Belize field school.

What did you find was the most challenging/difficult while abroad? : The most challenging aspect of my time abroad was the climate as it was very hot and humid.

Were you able to travel?: During my study abroad in Belize we visited ruins such as Lamanai and La Milpa which were really fun and amazing to learn about.

In your opinion, what would you say are the benefits of studying abroad? : The benefits of studying abroad are that you get to travel to different countries, experience and learn about different cultures, meet new people, make new friends, learn from others and gain an overall appreciation.

What was one of your favourite memories from your time abroad? : One of my favourite memories was visiting the Lamanai Ruins and being able to learn how to do preliminary sorting with some of the ceramics in the lab.

If someone told you they were thinking about studying abroad but weren’t convinced they should, what would you tell them? : I would say that studying abroad is an amazing opportunity that will allow you to make unforgettable experiences by meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, food and places, as well as learning new skills that will ultimately help you grow and better connect to your studies. My experience abroad in Belize has provided me with the opportunity to deepen my knowledge about Maya history and culture. From my time abroad, participating in KARP, it has led me to gaining a deeper interest in Maya archaeology, leading me to want to potentially pursue a career focusing on Maya archaeology. Most notably, from time spent in the lab learning about ceramics, it has further sparked my interest in Maya ceramics, making me realize that I really enjoy learning about Maya ceramics and would like to work more closely with it.