Tracking No:

3020
UWI

St Augustine

Foun1101

CARIBBEAN CIVILISATION

Book Report
Student Name:

Julio Cortez

ID Number: 815006823

Faculty:

Science and Techonology

Degree Prog.:

Caribbean Civilization

Title of Book
I certify that this is my own work and by attaching this cover
sheet certify further that there are no instances of plagiarism
contained herein. I submit to any penalty that the Faculty deems
appropriate for any instance of plagiarism discovered in this work
howsoever caused

Signed:

Julio Cortez
Tracki
ng no

Angel creek where the river meets the sea is based on a promise to return to a place that had changed
three women. According to GAIL PORTER MANDELL Three young American white women in a
colonial Catholic setting where they are both isolated and privileged, it also offers images of Belize
toward the end of its colonial period and the beginning of the drive toward independence
These young women arrived in British Honduras (Belize) as the soon came to know it as (BH) in
early June, 1962.Abby, Molly and Kate volunteered for PAVAL (Papal Volunteers to Latin America)
which was established Roman Catholic Church, Pope John XXIII because it filled the idealism of the
early days of the John F. Kennedy and was similar to Kennedys Peace corps. They had discovered a
whole new world from the one they grew up in because in British Honduras (BH) Belize most of the
buildings they saw were on stilts ten feet off the ground which were either wooden or concrete post.
Abby could have recalled1that she saw that more than a few of these cottages looked unsteady on
their perches, sagging and tilting at odd angles. The most dilapidated had been abandoned. The
reason for the dilapidation of the building was due to Hurricane Hattie which had pass through the
countryside in Angel Creek a year before they had arrived .On Abby and Mollys first night in the
country they picked up a friendship and they were glad to hear that they were far away from the nuns
who would certainly curtail their activities. They listened to a first-hand account from a other
PAVAL volunteer of Hurricane Hattie which had swept through and severely damaged the
countryside. Although the three women came to Belize to teach in the Catholic Volunteer for Latin
America the priests and nuns overseeing the volunteers to be cautious of certain types of behaviour
would be expected of them and that included everything interesting so molly hide and took pictures of
their yearlong experiences and people the met .Although they didnt fraternize with member of the
local population especial the indigenous Garifuna people, the British, the Creoles and men who aren't
priests but it seem as if they limited them self to getting to know the children they taught and met on
the creek or street. In British Honduras there was a mixture of different cultures, languages and races
according to Molly and Abby but it was subjected to prejudice from the British, Creoles and the
indigenous Garifuna people .There were the Garifuna which were black Caribs, Creoles, Mestizos,
Mayans and East Indians. British Honduras was not a colour blind society and due to British rule and
the influence of Americas culture especially movies, fair skin carried a privilege, because in British
Honduras as a whole fairer-skinned Creoles in Angel Creek, had more money and status than darkshinned Creoles,. To continue to support the point even within the society of British Honduras plural
society and intermarriage was rare among the different ethnics because colour, along with class and
ethnicity was one of the many factors in British Honduras society. Even the interpretation of the
origins of angel creeks names is different in each ethnic and culture. The British would say that it got
its name from an English pirates whom used to hide in the creek and the creoles however maintained
that the pirate surname was angel and he was pale compared to the natives others said the pirates ship
had angels wings and the Garifuna and mestizos stories different completely .
In British Honduras (Belize) there are different cultures and ethnic diversity which reflect different
customs and traditions, languages, religions and food. Although different groups speak their own
language they unit by a common language called pidgin English which comprised of creole patois and
standard English taught in the school. Accounting to2 Godfrey Mwakikagil during the colonial rules
which Belize was now emerging from towards independents but at this point the country was socially
1 Mandell, Gail Porter. Angel Creek: Where the River Meets the Sea. 7A Gibraltar
Hall Road, Mona Kingston 7 Jamaica: Unviersity of West Indies, 2014. N. pag.
Print.
2Mwakikagile,

Godfrey. British Honduras to Belize: Transformation of a

Nation. First Edition ed. N.p.: New Afrian, 2014.

stratified to reflect ethnic and racial identities with dark skinned people of African origin being one of
the most disadvantaged groups. Although there are distinct ethnic communities in Angel Creek
people mingle very easily in many area in the book but there is some instants of prejudice. Some of
the dark-skinned character did feel as privileged and attractive as their lighter skin counterparts which
formed a prime determination in the construct of social and racial hierarchy. Garifuna which were
black Caribs, Creoles, Mestizos, and Mayans were also poorer than the British and they were pay
less. Even some the nuns that were part of PAVAL give a since of prejudice against some of the
children been taught in the school and molly assumes it could of been how she was treated then the
black nun was taught here.
Abby,Molly and Kate were all close friend while they stayed in Belize and they were certainly not
children but its clear as day that their experience and encounter with people in Belize ,Angel Creek
had impacted their lives and opened it in ways staying home having a privilege life would never done.
Angel creek would be an experience and memory theyll never forget because of their location at the
point in time they were witnesses to the Cuban missiles Crisis in October, 1962.Although the missles
were aim at much more strategic targets they were within the range of those missiles. 3Accounting to
Judy King s review of abbys ,molly and kate experience around that time was a matter-of-fact
acceptance of the situation by the people they were around every day served as a reminder that
worrying wouldn't change something they had no control over, though it did little to diminish
that worry.Coming to near the end of the year Molly ,Abby, Kate and Father Weaver the Priest
Make a pact to return to Angel Creek someday as they shared their yearlong experiences and
adventures .After they left Angel Creek and return to their respective places after many years of
mostly staying in touch with each other ,they re-united in a town that seem familiar but had
changed over time after they left
Abby was actually Gail Porter Mandell the author of the book,and she spent many years assbling
the memoir out of her journals,letter that she wrote to her mother and grandm0ther ha save
about her experience their and a dairy that kate kept duing her year there and personal
recollection of people she met their . Although the PAVAL was a missionary ogranisation and
comprised of volunteers ,nuns and priest education was one of the organisation priorities . Education
was complusary and in teaching student they would place parts of the bible in thier teaching .

Abby Gail mamdell porter also know as the author would not be a precise in recollection of what
happened in angel creek in 1962 because her perspective maybe subject to ethnocentrism because she
wasnt native to angel creek Belize . The memoir is subjected to different perspective and as the
contents Gail Porter collect maybe bias due to her collection and perception of what she saw and
experience along with Molly and Kate. Although the PAVAL was a missionary ogranisation and
comprised of volunteers ,nuns and priest education was one of the organisation priorities . Education
was compulsory and in teaching student they would place parts of the bible in their teaching of the
holy bible .
Abby Gail mamdell porter also know as the author would not be a precise in recollection of what
happened in angel creek in 1962 because her perspective maybe subject to ethnocentrism because she
wasnt native to angel creek Belize . The memoir is subjected to different perspective and as the
contents Gail Porter collect maybe bias due to her collection and perception of what she saw and
experience along with Molly and Kate. They all evaluation the other cultures according to
preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture and then
3 "Angel Creek." Goodreads. Ed. Judy King. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24030879-angel-creek>. for Story Circle Book
Reviews

noticed it was different from the one's they grew up with but it was clear that thier was a
racial hierarchy in angel creek where darker skinned people lived in dilapidated house and
light skin native were see as a higher start and much more attractive .
Their were gender identity problems where in the memoir a girl in the school Abby taught
was raped and she believed it was her fault and it was see that men were in a dominant role
and we n this time Belize wasnt independent so the step father did face any
coconsequencs.
It could be concluded that although the memoir was subjected to ethnocentrism
of the different perspectives of Addy, molly and Kate consists of prejudice , racial
hierarchism and gender identity roles of men being the dominant figure was read
in each of the different characters recreations of what the preceived and wrote

Bibliography
"Angel Creek." Goodreads. Ed. Judy King. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24030879-angel-creek>. for Story Circle Book
Reviews
Mandell, Gail Porter. Angel Creek: Where the River Meets the Sea. 7A Gibraltar Hall Road,
Mona Kingston 7 Jamaica: Unviersity of West Indies, 2014. N. pag. Print.

Mwakikagile, Godfrey. British Honduras to Belize: Transformation of a

Nation. First Edition ed. N.p.: New Afrian, 2014.