Anthropology instructor Jason Shepard led a group of six students from MSU to Guatemala and Honduras for a three week study abroad course this summer. This is the fourth summer that students from the university traveled to Central America to study Spanish and Tzutujuil language while living with local Mayan families.

In the process of studying local subsistence, agriculture, and tourism and its various impacts in the region, students took weekend trips and morning excursions. In Honduras, students were exposed to the different culture of the neighboring country and explored the ruins of the Classic Mayan city and ceremonial center of Copan.

Students Alison Dalbom, Jill Fritter, Savannah Gomez, Jessie Kilbourne, Tami Logan-Franklin and Elizabeth Nowicki were all enrolled in the course. The group was lucky to be joined for some of our activities by Amy Huff and Elizabeth Haughey. Amy is currently in the accelerated master’s program in Anthropology at MSU. She previously spent several months in San Pedro and helped organize some of the group’s excursions after completing a study away program in Mexico. Elizabeth came with Shepard’s first study away group to Guatemala in 2012. She has been doing research with local weavers in the country every summer since, and often joins MSU groups while they are there.

Several students plan on presenting their experiences and research findings at the next student anthropology conference. The Mayan World course can be taken as either Anthropology: 490 or Spanish: 297. If you are interested in finding out more about the course, don’t hesitate to contact Jason Shepard at ozarksjason@gmail.com.

See more information at:  https://blogs.missouristate.edu/sociology