When I came here that first, faithful night in Belize, I
promised myself one thing; I would not come here again...ever. Demasiado
peligroso(Too dangerous) Now, I was hitching a ride in with a group of
missionaries, to be picked up by people I’d never met, to go on an elective of
some kind, somewhere with some people and staying in this crazy city for a
week! I was also losing all the money I’d payed the useless kayavolunteer
people and would have to fend for myself. Seems crazy but the moment I got in
that van it was like a weight had lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t like the
situation I was in with kaya in Cayo. The sooner I got away from them, the less
stress, drama and disappointment I would have because that’s what kaya are-a
disorganised mess that can’t organize anything right but refuse to refund you
when you complain. I had $30 USD to get me through the week and across the border: challenge accepted!
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| The room I left in San Ignacio |
The trip up was fun, we stopped at the zoo and got close and
personal with the Jaguars. The Belize zoo is the best zoo in central America and the entrance cost me around $30 USD...never mind, there's always a way to survive! No animal is captured there, they are all injured or ex-pet animals that failed
rehabilitation. If the animals are hiding,
the keepers get out food and they all come running. It is the most interactive
zoo I’ve ever been to and I loved it! My favourites were the crazy Tapirs,
related to the rhino they look like an anteater mixed with a rat. Fantastic!
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| One Crazy Tapir |
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| The ex-pet Jaguar |
Finally we arrived and the
missionaries hopped onto the boat for a holiday in Caye Caulker. I was waiting
nervously when Milagro and Khandyce came. Milagro is a little hispanic woman
with killer Belizean wedges and amazing nails. She likes health food and
exercise. She is the Belize World Paediatric Project administrator and informed
me jokingly that I could stay at her house and eat her food in exchange for my
work on the project. Khandyce is her personal assistant and newly married last
week. She was meant to be on her honey moon but got called back to travel down the river with us-tough break. Both are intelligent, quick women
with a good sense of humour. Milagro lives in a beautiful, pink concrete house with
vines growing up it. Everything is tasteful and matching. I have been given her
daughters old room, who is studying in the states. After a lunch of lamb, rice,
salad and fruit while listening to the banter of the two ladies, and the
afternoon to chill out and write I realised that no matter what happens, this
opportunity feels like the right one to take.
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| My new home town |
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