September 2013

Celebrate September

9/30/2013

We discovered an added bonus when we moved to Belize. Something that fits in just right with our lifestyle. People go to bed early! Now, this only applies to the expat crowd. A 'real' Belizean can party like nobody's business. But when our expat friends get together we meet early and the evening usually wraps up by about 9pm. That's perfect.

A couple of weeks ago we had our first 'multi-person gathering'. Some might even say it was a party. But I hesitate to use the 'P' word because we started in the afternoon and were all packed up by 9pm. Are you allowed to call that a party? We had over a dozen people? Still not sure. Anyway, it was a whole lot of fun.

We went the potluck route. Certainly the way to go. Made it so much easier for us, although Adam still took the reins at the BBQ. The BBQ is always Adam's domain.

A couple things about the evening really struck me. First off was the diversity of the people we had invited. We had seven different countries represented. Conversations were popping up in Thai, German, Dutch and of course, English. That's totally cool. And as unique as all of our backgrounds are, we can still come together as friends.

Second fun thing about the evening...we had an uninvited guest show up at the end of the night. A huge tarantula wandered right into the middle of a group of about eight people standing on the patio. First thing that I wondered about is why a tarantula would wander into a group of loud and moving people. Second thing that I noticed is that nobody really reacted. It was pointed out, a few people took a couple of steps back and that was about it. The spider continued on it's way and the conversation picked up again hardly missing a beat. We may have come from many corners of the world but I also think we are also (at least a little bit) pretty comfortable in our Belizean home.

Downtown San Ignacio all dressed up for the September Independence celebrations. So pretty!

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Lil' Red Bird

9/16/2013

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Vermilion Flycatcher. Not Lil' Red Bird but this picture is much better than any I have.

This is our third summer in our Belize home so we are starting to recognize patterns. Patterns with the weather, the plants, the animals and such. I'm even finding that we can insert our opinions into the odd conversation with friends who have been here longer and we have a little credibility...just a little!

On that note, here is my story of Lil' Red Bird. And yes, no question about it, I am romanticizing nature. Or 'Disney-fying' it, as I like to say! Lil' Red Bird came to live with us during our first summer here. Officially he is a Vermilion Flycatcher but that doesn't roll off the tongue like Lil' Red Bird. He's a tiny little thing but his vibrant colour makes him easy to spot all over the yard. He has a favourite place on the fence just across from the patio so it's easy for us to keep an eye on him.

During our first year here he had a mate. She was a much paler shade of grey and red and they were always together. Pretty much everyday from mid-September to March or April we could spot them on their favourite spot on the fence. And then they were gone. March through to April seem to be a transition time for birds. I guess that's when they take off for the summer in the north. We still have lots of birds here but less variety than the in the cooler months.

Lil' Angry Red Bird.

Well on schedule, Lil' Red Bird came back last year but with no sign of his mate. Now, this is where I get all Disney but it made me so sad to see him alone all the time. I kept holding out hope that his mate would show up. You know, maybe she was just closing up the nest up north and she'd follow soon. But no...she never came. It could very well be that this is completely normal for this breed of bird. I really know next to nothing about birds but it seemed sad to me. Hardly a day would go by that I didn't see him on his usual perch. I'd even find myself a little worried if I couldn't spot him right away but then I'd see that little flash of red and all would be fine.

Right about here is where Adam will be rolling his eyes. But I can't help it. I've always been that way. The kid who brings home orphans and strays...I don't know how my parents put up with it. At least now I'm not trying to make a pet of everything!

For the last few months I've anxiously awaited Lil' Red Bird's return and he's back. I know, I know! I really have no proof what-so-ever that this is the same bird but this is where I play my Disney card. I can envision him flapping his little grey wings for hundreds (maybe thousands!) of miles to get back to his human family and the familiar perch on our fence. Yah...I'm sure that's how it happened. So, Lil' Red Bird is back with us again hopefully for the whole winter. Still no mate but I like to think that we are his family (sort of)!

And just for the record...no, I haven't been drinking!!

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A week of interesting lunches

9/7/2013

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The Guava Limb Cafe

I can't help but feel that our little town of San Ignacio is growing up. I know...we've only been here a couple of years so I haven't really earned the right to say that. But I can say that we have seen so many positive changes in the time that we've called this home. Recently, we have a run on new and considerable upscale restaurants and we are having trouble keeping up with trying them out! A good problem to have!

This afternoon Adam and I had early dinner at one of the newest cafes...the Guava Limb. The Guava Limb is located in a renovated house that backs onto a park and it's so cute! I couldn't help but think how nice the whole town would look if more of the houses were painted and cleaned up like this. I'm a big believer in the magic of a can of paint and a little creativity.

This was my second time at the Guava Limb. A few days ago it was lunch with the girls. I had a ham and cheese panini (first panini in Belize for me), fresh watermelon juice, and tiramisu for dessert. All delicious and it came to just $22BZD. That's a great value. Add in the beautiful decor and setting, friendly and attentive service and the company of friends and it was a winning afternoon!

So happy to see additions like these to San Ignacio. They help to reassure us about our choice of location in Belize. I know that I'm biased but I really believe that this is the nicest part of the country to call home. There is vibrancy and diversity here with some really positive growth happening. It's fun to be a part of. I have a feeling that I will be able to look back at this blog over the years and I will be blown away by the changes in our community.

Country of contrasts. Amish selling watermelons by the roadside.

On a completely different note, we met with a couple of friends from Corozal for lunch a few days ago. Rick and Linda had to make the trip from Corozal to Belmopan to get some paperwork done at the embassy. That put them only 45 minutes away so it was a great chance to get together. We haven't seen them for over a year.

We met at a nice little restaurant in Belmopan called Corkers. It's located right beside all the government and parliament buildings. Belmopan is the capital of Belize so it is also the centre for government operations. Lunch took an interesting turn when suddenly three BlackHawk helicopters passed right over the restaurant at low altitude and landed in the field across the street. The helicopters were met by a long motorcade of SUV's and a whole bunch of armed soldiers. OK...that was interesting!

And later in the day...BlackHawk helicopters in the sky.

The next day we watched the local news. It turns out that the choppers were transport and escort for an American four-star general. He is the commander for all US military operations in Central and South America. That makes him fairly important. He was here to visit Belize for the first time and confirm the positive relationship between the US and Belize.

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A Day at the Races

9/2/2013

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We finally, finally made it to the motocross races. It was the start of the season for the Belize Motocross Association a couple of weeks ago. They have several races each year in our area and I've been wanting to go so we finally made it. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The forecast was sunny and 86F but with a little note below that said it would feel like 116F! That's what the humidity will do. It was pretty crazy but I brought my umbrella and we created our own shade. Not too bad at all.

I thought this starting line picture was kind of funny. It shows the race helpers holding umbrellas over the riders at the starting line. It wasn't raining...this is to give them some shade. I can only imagine how hot it must have been with all that gear on!

A good number of the racers are Mennonites from Spanish Lookout. That's a town about ten miles from us. I didn't really have a defined idea of what a Mennonite was until we moved to Belize and honestly, I still don't. Diversity is a key to what makes Belize special and the Mennonites are no exception. So, I can tell you that we regularly see the Amish-Mennonites in their plain clothes and horse driven wagons. And then we see the Spanish Lookout Mennonites with their Dodge dually pickups pulling motocross race bikes on trailers in the back!

Life in Belize has taught me to leave many of my preconceived notions behind. Take nothing for granted.

So, back to the races. We made an afternoon of it with the neighbours...Felipe and Debbie and their two boys, CJ and Dylan. We climbed up to the top of the grandstand and settled in to watch. I brought cushions to sit on and an umbrella to block the sun...not my first time as a spectator!

I love events like this. I can't help but think how similar we all are. In some ways Central America is so far from Northern Canada but a Sunday afternoon on the bleachers watching motocross racing is so much the same! I looked across the stands at the mix of faces and I saw families and couples out enjoying themselves with a shaved ice treat and cheering for their favourite rider. Pretty much the same wherever you are!

Oh, you may have noticed that I changed my blog format. No reason just wanted to try a different look. You like??

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Celebrate September

Lil' Red Bird

A week of interesting lunches

A Day at the Races

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