Ryan Burton

I am lucky enough to know several very talented musicians, one of which is the wonderful Ryan Burton. Ryan is a very dear friend of mine with an incredible talent, and I always enjoy listening to his music. His music is honest and encouraging, and his voice has a uniqueness to it that sets him apart from other musicians. It's always a joy to listen to him play, but I think he really stands out when he plays acoustically, as in his version of "I Stand Amazed" from his first album, I Am the Dog Man. His southern twang and guitar are irresistible, and I am so proud of everything he has accomplished in the past few years. You can buy his music on iTunes, and not only will you be investing in some good music, but you'll be supporting someone who I love and admire. So enjoy!

"Green and Blue" by Ryan Burton from the album The Lower Road

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"To laugh often and much; to respect the intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

small things

I know, I know, I've horribly negligent the past few weeks, and I have no satisfying excuse. So let me begin this entry with a sincere apology for being so absent lately, and hopefully you'll forgive me enough to continue reading (please!). 

With that being said, let's move on to the good stuff. Since it's been so long since I've written any updates on my life, I'll begin two weekends ago and move forward from there. For the record, not a whole lot has happened in the past couple of weeks, so you really haven't missed much. I did however take another little road trip with Angela two weeks ago, which was a joy, as always. She made it into Belmopan on Friday evening, and on Saturday morning we loaded up and headed south towards the coast and a small community called Gale's Point, which is known for it's manatee lookout. Even though I had no idea what to expect from Gale's Point, I was still taken aback by the tiny (and I mean tiny) community. I swear, for such a small country, Belize never fails to surprise me, and the manatee lookout turned out to be awesome. We took a small boat (that traveled around 5 mph) with a couple of guides, Ramon and Esau (who were both at least 70 years old and wonderful in every way), into the middle of a lagoon, and were able to observe the manatees from the boat. I've never really had much of an opinion about manatees, but watching them in the wild, literally surrounding our boat, was one of the cooler things I've witnessed in awhile. It was so calm and peaceful out on the water, and the animals were so trusting, it was an impressive experience.

Ramon with the boat we took to see the manatees

After the manatees, we had basically conquered Gale's Point, so we traveled on a little further south and spent the night on the beach in a town called Dangriga. Then on Sunday we visited a national park that was absolutely beautiful, and so far in the jungle that I felt like Mogli in The Jungle Book. Then we visited a few other small beach communities before heading back Sunday evening. Successful weekend.

Since our weekend getaway, I haven't had too many exciting experiences. Work has been going really well, and I've started picking up the youngest kids at King's Home from school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which I really enjoy because it means I am able to spend more time just hanging out with them, rather than forcing them to complete homework. Also, one of my little ones at Marla's, Mercedes (she's 4 years old), just learned to spell and write her name for the first time, and I can't explain how happy I was to watch her run down the hall and show everyone her new skill. That girl soaks up information like a sponge, and I am so proud of the progress she's made in the last few months. It's truly amazing. Last week I also had several letters and a package waiting for me after work, and while mail sounds pretty commonplace, it's actually incredibly exciting. I think it's so thrilling because not only do I love receiving mail and hearing from people back home, but it's somewhat of a gamble on whether or not mail will actually make it here, so it's a small yet powerful victory when it arrives.

One of the letters I received was a an extremely unexpected but wonderful surprise from a good friend from college, and reading it made my entire week. The thoughtfulness and care behind small gestures like sending that letter never fails to affect me, and I honestly don't remember the last time I was so touched. It was such a classic reminder of how blessed I am to have such incredible and considerate people in my life, and how even the simplest actions make a difference in someone's day. It's so important to let people know that you love and care about them, and it is so easy to do (shoot, just send a text), yet we forget or avoid it far too often. So if you're thinking about someone, let them know. If you are wondering how someone is doing, pick up the phone and ask. It's the easiest thing in the world, and will make the sun shine a little brighter for someone that day. Maybe it's just me, but I am a firm believer that the small gestures are what create the big moments, and you remember the big moments most. 

the driving

#10. Driving in Belize is like a game of Mario Kart. No one stays on their side of the road, you must constantly dodge various obstacles like potholes, speed bumps, dogs, children, and bicycles, there is no clear speed limit anywhere, someone is always honking, and everyone is in a giant rush to get somewhere (which is interesting because it's the only time Belizeans are in a hurry to do anything). And as dramatic as that description sounds, it's 100% accurate. Most residential roads are dirt and completely covered with massive potholes that you try to swerve around and avoid if possible. Even the highway roads are poorly maintained and have no lane division, so drivers often pass on hills, blind curves, and even pass multiple cars at a time. It can be terrifying, and I find myself holding my breath every few minutes, preparing to either witness or be part of a terrible collision. But the worst of it is that no one wears seat belts, and many cars don't even have belts that work properly. For a seat belt fanatic like me, it's one aspect of the culture I have a very difficult time adapting to, and I tend to avoid cars as often as possible. To their credit however, I have yet to come across any wrecks or accidents, despite the chaotic nature of the roads, and most people are completely at ease with driving. As for me, I think I'll be perfectly content sticking with my trusty bicycle. 

Boombox

For a little change of pace, I thought I'd throw in a different musical category that I'm a big fan of: dubstep. And while most people are pretty familiar with the bigger names such as STS9 or Bassnectar, a band that I've seen a couple of times and always enjoyed is the lovely Boombox. If you are ever in the mood to lose yourself for awhile, this is the music to make that dream a reality. It will get your feet moving and put a smile on your face, guaranteed. It's a smooth sound with a great beat and a hint of old school funk, and if you enjoy dubstep at all, then you should add Boombox to your collection of music immediately. 

"Showboat" by Boombox from the album Downriverelectric

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

simplicity

Since I know that you are all dying of curiosity, the answer is yes, I did in fact see the one and only Prince Harry. In fact I did not only see him, but I also shook his hand and made eye contact with him...pretty big deal. But if you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll explain the situation a little better. Last Friday, Prince Harry was in Belize during his tour of Central America, in honor of Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne. I live in the country's capital, which was the location of Prince Harry's big arrival, and they arranged a presentation and block party in his honor. For the presentation, tents were aligned all along the street with various cultural aspects of Belize for Harry to interact with, and in between the tents were areas for the public to stand and observe his royal highness. Well as luck would have it, my 2 roommates and I found a front and center spot along the street, and as Prince Harry walked by, he stopped to give his hellos, and he happened to do so right where we were standing. Thus I got to meet the youngest prince of Wales. Pretty successful for a Friday night. 

people waiting for the prince to arrive

There he is! It was difficult to get a satisfactory photo

On a not so exciting note, things have been pretty routine around here the past week (aside from Harry of course), but last night a very unseasonal cold front moved in, and it hasn't stopped raining since. So instead of my usual tank top and shorts ensemble, I am layered up today, enjoying the drizzling, dreary, dismal Monday. However, as I believe I've mentioned before, this is some of my absolute favorite weather, so I am having a pretty enjoyable day. In fact, earlier I was sitting on the porch with a cup of hot tea, watching the rain fall, and I realized just how content I was in that moment.


Being in Belize has taught me a lot, especially about myself, and one of the greatest lessons I've learned is how to find joy in simplicity. My lifestyle here is generally very quiet and uncomplicated, which is a complete one-eighty from my life up until this point. Yet it has been a huge blessing for me, as I've removed all of the noise and clutter and chaos from my life and learned to create happiness in the simplest things. It's also allowed me to focus on myself: the person that I am and the one that I want to be. With so many of the distractions from my life removed, all that is left are the most basic elements, which requires me to redefine my wants and needs in a very positive way. It's almost as if Belize was a mental and emotional detox for me, and has provided me with a fresh start. And even though it can get difficult at times, especially when I endure bouts of homesickness, it's taught me to prepare for the future by living for today. Take in every moment, and discover what truly brings you happiness in life, and you'll be ready to tackle whatever lies ahead. It's that simple.

the elections

#9: I happen to be fortunate enough to live in Belize during an election year, and it is quite exciting. They don't handle elections exactly like the states, but they do go for a bold approach. In the past couple of weeks I have seen the streets receive a massive makeover in the colors of both political parties, watched tractors level out dirt roads that previously resembled snow moguls, and watched trucks dump giant mounds of dirt and gravel around town as "gifts" to the neighborhoods. Just this week I've witnessed giant buses and trucks drive through the streets blaring music and political promises at a volume that must seriously damage the eardrums of the drivers. And as I write this at 9:15pm on a Thursday evening, I am listening to some political candidate give his "pick me" speech. He's probably a couple of miles away, but the speakers are so loud that I can still hear him clear as day, and I'll have you know that he is getting very worked up about something that must be important.


So how does the political system work in Belize? Good question, and I'm about to give a terribly unsatisfactory answer, but here is the gist of it. Belize is run by Parliament with an elected president, who they elect every 4 years. There are two political parties, the UDP and the PUP, but both are corrupt and unreliable. My theory for electing one of them into power is to switch the party every election, which prevents either one from gaining too much power. The government is one of the largest (and possibly the worst) problems for the country, and a major reason that Belize hasn't been able to develop. But to their credit, they really know how to put on a show for election day.