High School Winners

The amazing thing about Belize is that we are a multicultural society that can coexist, respecting each other as humans. The kitchen is the heart of a home. My painting depicts the different cultures enjoying food in a Belizean home and the different ethnicities trying each other’s dishes. Belizeans enjoy many different foods daily, Ducunu, Curry Chicken, Hudut, Tamales, Fry Jacks, Rice and Beans and Chow Mein. Chocolate, made by the Maya lady, will be the dessert.

My painting has an array of Belizean items. A typical and deep cultural instrument enjoyed by Belize as a whole, the Garifuna drum, stands proudly in a corner. I also chose to showcase some ancient Maya tools on a table at the far end. We should be thankful for God’s blessings in our Belizean cultures, which should be preserved and shared.

The beautiful song written by Philip Campbell, “God’s goodness gave this land to me”, reminds us about the unimaginable features in our country with which the Almighty has blessed us. God’s greatness granted us diversity in cultures and ethnicities, each having a unique difference in interests and characteristics. Belize is a jewel gifted by mother nature; the flora, fauna, beautiful blue hole, and beautiful plants make us the best tourist destination to visit. For this, I adore my unique Belize.

A beautiful underwater oyster reveals a pearl in our country Belize, which possesses many unimaginable beauties. Within the oyster, you can see lovely creatures here in our country. Our national bird, the Toucan whose colours, represents the beauty of all our cultures alongside our wings of freedom. The Jaguar represents how fierce and strong-willed we all are. Along with all these precious beauties, we have the Black Orchid, our national flower representing love and peace. Lastly, we have the Maya Temples, proof of how hard our ancestors worked and our jaw-dropping marine life, which is touched with many of mother nature’s blessings.

The amazing thing about Belize is our Barrier Reef. The Caribbean Sea borders our country in the east. All along our shores lies the unique and unexplored coral reef, home to all kinds of marine life, such as, fishes, crabs, shrimps, turtles, and manatees. Our reef is the largest living coral reef in the world. We come second to no one. Belize is the only country blessed this much; our Caribbean country has a blue hole, four atolls and many caves and islands.

Belize is a paradise in Central America and the “Jewel in the Heart of the Caribbean Basin.” There are so many amazing things that make Belize one of the most beautiful countries in the world. We are blessed with many ethnic groups with rich cultures, such as the Mayas, the Garifuna, Creoles, and Mestizo, among others. These make the Belizean diet one of a kind in the world. The misty mountains, the second largest barrier reef in the world, untouched beaches, the deep blue crystal-clear sea, the lush green jungle, top nature reserves, and the country’s only jaguar reserve on Earth are blessings. Our exotic wildlife and gorgeous flowering and non-flowering plants enhance our beauty.

Belize is a small paradise located by the Caribbean Sea. I love my beautiful country, I mostly enjoy the sites, views, food, and people. The Maya Mountains and Maya Ruins are breathtakingly beautiful. You will most likely catch the scent of citrus and bananas on your way. Another favoured tourist site is the Belize Blue Hole; its warm waters and colourful corals around it shine beautifully under the sun. Though the sites and views are beautiful, the people and national symbols are also important to my heart. Even though our distinctive cultures are different in many ways, we can all be kind and respectful to one another and care about our country and its treasures. This is what I believe the amazing thing about Belize is.

The amazing thing about Belize is its location. We are located between the Spanish-speaking countries, Mexico and Guatemala, yet we are an English-speaking country. We are on the mainland but still a part of the Caribbean. Belize is a beautiful country. What makes us so unique and rich is our intrinsic nature. Our wild-growing coconut trees, beautiful flowing rivers, creeks, and the sea are lovely and dazzling. In one day, we can go from the beautiful cayes to the historic Maya Mountains to the magnificent waterfalls, and Mountain Pine Ridges, and back to the unexplored coral reefs all in one day’s tour.

Our earth is the definition of perfectly imperfect. Although there is plenty of wrong with it, there is also good in it. All its natural resources assemble to form the most captivating places, and I would consider Belize one of them. It is magnificently ravishing for everything that is has to offer, from the most verdant forests to the bluest of waters. Also, the enigmatic stoned temples which ancestors left behind make Belize a fascinating place to dwell. The National Symbols, Tapir, Toucan, Mahogany Tree, Black Orchid and our Belizean Flag would show the world how much diversity can be found within the nation’s borders.

Belize is a beautiful and colourful place with many things to offer. From its hardworking, cheerful, and beautiful people of different ethnicities who share all the amazing things in Belize, to the mesmerizing scenery it possesses. Flora and fauna are just too wonderful to describe in-depth, but we all can agree that it is so diverse that one cannot get enough of them. Also let us not forget the iconic and colourful houses and historical places like the Maya Ruins.

In this painting, I intended to portray all the amazing things our country has in store for us. To depict the feeling of happiness and peace, I feel, as I look around and see that we are surrounded by amazing, and colourful things in Belize.

In my artwork, I included several different pictures to make one. The “B” depicts the various beaches of Belize, where a person can relax and be at peace. The letter “E” drawing shows Belize’s national bird in its natural habitat. The “L” illustrates the beautiful Blue Hole of Belize and our Barrier Reef, one of the many wonders of Belize. The “I” represents the plants of Belize, and I chose to use the Black Orchid, the national plant of Belize, to portray this. The “Z” represents the animals of Belize, and I decided to use the Jaguar to depict this as it is one of my favourite animals. The “E” means tourism which is vital to the growth of Belize’s economy. Lastly, we have the flag of Belize, which represents the diverse cultures of Belize co-existing in peace, freedom, and love.

My drawing represents the relationship between our cultures and our different symbols. The Black Orchid leaves represent the strength of the bond between the life of the animals and people. The Mahogany Tree means how long the bond between the animals and people will last. This drawing shows how everything comes together to create our wonderful country Belize. This is what makes Belize amazing.

There is this phase in Spanish that says when there is something ugly on the outside, there is always something pretty on the inside, and when there is something pretty on the outside, there is something ugly on the inside. This means that when you look at Belize, we can say it is small or ugly, but when we enter, there is beauty in this country. The coral reef, the forest, the national symbols of Belize and the blue hole helps with eco-tourism, where tourists can come and spend their time. However, when you see the outside of other countries, we can say it is beautiful and big, but when you visit, there is much violence and destruction. At the same time, Belize has less violence and less destruction. The other countries can have their beauty too, but if you see Belize, it has been free from the hand of so many natural disasters.

The amazing thing about Belize, displayed in my art piece, is the multiculturalism which can be seen in their clothing. The Belize Barrier Reef is known to be the second largest in the world and holds diverse marine life. Our food, whereby our rich flavours, emerges from various ethnic groups is delicious. The great and historic structures of the Mayas are found all around Belize. The divine flora and fauna form a heavenly place called Belize.

There is nothing more to describe Belize than a sublime melting pot. A melting pot of people, culture, language, and tradition allows Belize to be a country like no other. Within this art piece, the melting pot illustrates Belize, and the overflowing honey represents the abundance of Belize’s beauty. Some of Belize’s ethnic groups, such as Mennonites, Creoles, Garifuna, and Asians, are emerging from the pool, and contribute their unique and rich heritage. Finally, the gorgeous Belizean flag flying ever so high is tying all the different cultures together as we all proudly and wholly identify as true Belizeans.

My drawing shows the wonders of Belize, where nature talks for itself. Wherever you go in Belize, nature will be waiting for you. The reef has splendid colours and creatures; the land is the best and not only for food. You find yourself in an overflowing peace, and get to know more about our National Symbols, the Toucan, Tapir, Mahogany Tree, and the Black Orchid flower. I am thankful to God for my country and its people.