Saying Goodbye to Belize

On Saturday we are leaving Belize. We have been here for just over nine months and it is time for us to move on. We have had a wonderful time here and I know we are all going to miss this place in our own way, but we are definitley ready to return to our lives in Seattle.

We have had so many unforgettable experiences here--snorkeling with sharks, turtles, and eagle rays; watching an octopus change colors as it swims among the coral; climbing to the top of an ancient Mayan pyramid in the middle of the jungle at dusk while listening to the cries of howler monkeys; holding a wild crocodile; sailing on turquoise blue waters; making chocolate from scratch with the Mayan farmer who grew the beans; learning how to play drums from a Garifuna musician; marching in the Belizean independence day parade; exploring caves filled with the reamains of human sacrifices; watching toucans and parrots fly from tree to tree; catching lightning bugs in the empty field just down the road.

The boys have become excellent swimmers and snorkelers and are extremely confident cyclists. They've made friends with kids from all over the world and learned how to fit into a very different culture. We've all become more laid back and more patient, and have enjoyed having a lot less stuff but a lot more time to do new things and just be together.

But there have been frustrations. The same laid back attitude that we usually appreciate can be maddening at times, particularly when something actually really truly does need to happen at a specific time or in a particular way. Our rental house has been in a more or less constant state of repair since we moved in. We've dealt with giant black scorpions, cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes, sand fleas, and dozens of other species of insects in our house on a daily basis. I was stung by jellyfish pretty much everywhere on my body. At times it seems like everything we own has either rusted, rotted, molded, fallen apart, or been lost or stolen. And most of the time it is SO.FREAKING.HOT.

I love biodiversity. But not this particular manifestation of it, and especially not in my kitchen cabinets.

Jellyfish stings on my leg.

Baby, it's hot outside.

I am sure the frustrations will diminish in our memories over time and the many, many happy moments will stay with us. The day-to-day memories that I will cherish include the daily bike ride to school with the boys, hanging out with our friends at the beach, watching the fishing guides catch baitfish in the shallows early in the morning, and listening to the geckos chirp while I brush my teeth (eat more of those bugs, guys!).

After Lochlan's party, we invited all of our friends to join us at the Catamaran Beach Bar for a farewell drink. Not everyone could make it, and we didn't get pictures of everyone (so please don't be offended if you don't see yourself here!), but it was a wonderful opportunity to see most of our friends one last time and say goodbye.

Erik, Ana, and Lochlan

Kelly and Dawn

Randy (Liam's sailing coach)

Renita and Cindy

Anthony and Teacher Lisa

Robert, Oscar, and Jeffrey

Lochlan and Carlos

Sirwin and Lucy

Teacher Susan, Paul, Liam, and Lochlan

Rachel

Lochlan and Louke

So we are looking forward to going home. BUT FIRST--we are going to travel through Central America. Our first stop is Guatemala, then on to Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. We will fly back to Belize for a day to pick up our stuff and then north to Seattle!

To the new friends we've made here in Belize:  thank you for being part of our lives and making us feel so welcome here! To our friends in Seattle:  we will be home soon and we are looking forward to seeing your smiling faces!

Goodbye Belize!