Our container has arrived in the port of Belize city. Yeah yeah yeah! After traveling at sea for almost three months - from Colombo to Singapore to Hongkong to Panama to Jamaica – our 88 boxes should arrive in our new house in Belmopan TODAY!
Everyone who has ever shipped stuff must know this feeling… I always consider it the best day since arriving the new country. Knowing Belize as an easy-going country, we’re expecting the container to be released and brought to our house the same day. But, from experience we also know not have expectations and to apply the ‘first see then believe’ principle.
Funny enough, I have half forgotten what’s in it. Apart from two princess dresses of which my daughter constantly reminds me, my newly acquired mega-painting from Sanjeewa Kumara and my salad spinner I can’t say I miss much. Having been here for three months, I have bought all there is to buy in Belmopan, which includes essentials such as beds and plates but of course not books, CDs, toys nor pictures, just to name a few items.
But, I must say it is actually kind of nice to have a tidy house without clutter. For the first time in my expat life I wonder if it is worth it to constantly travel with all your stuff and to pay large sums of money for the shipments (which, mind you, we have to pay ourselves).
Eventually, the container came four days after its arrival in the country. A customs officer was present at our house when we unsealed it. Out came our 88 boxes with the forgotten items – according to what the Sri Lankan packers had written on them, such as: cresmas deceracion, helmuts, ormanents, pientings and ladies axeceseres. Add to that Soleine’s books in three languages, family photos, pretty bed sheets and my Abba CDs and the answer to the question: is it worth the time and money to take your personal stuff when you regularly travel half the world, becomes easy:- without a doubt!
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Expats in Belize! There is a new initiative for all of us to connect quickly and easily. It's called InterNations and over a 180 nationalities are already gathered in 250 local communities. Belize can be part of it. Request your personal invitation at www.internations.org
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Who is 'Dutch in Belize'
Hi! I am Susanne. In 1998 I left my country the Netherlands to live and work abroad. I have lived in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Trinidad&Tobago, Morocco and Sri Lanka. I am working in development. Since February 2009, I am living in Belize with my husband Michel, who works as a consultant for EU and daughter Soleine (5). We live in the capital Belmopan. You can e-mail me at svanlieshout@yahoo.com
Our Life in a Nutshell
Dutch version
I'm on Expat Blog
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I am on Expat Women.Com
The Curse of Belize
Belize is a stunningly beautiful country, but it has one curse. Can you guess?
◘ Mosquitos
◘ Humidity
◘ Traffic Jams
◘ Greenhouse gasses
◘ Botlas
American Botlas Victim
Iguana crawling up my arm
Butterfly on Soleine's hand
Blooming flower but what is it?
And what are these in heaven's name?
Hello Inchy Winchy...
Serial Expat
Belize is my 7th country since I left the Netherlands in 1998. That makes me a Serial Expat. Woohoo, that sounds scary hey?
Skype Aid in Belize
Skype is not working in Belize. The national telecom company, BTL, has a monopoly on both the regular and mobile telephone network. Belize is therefor in the same category as China, Cuba, Kuwait and other unfree countries. Such a shame for a country as nice as Belize. They don't want us to use skype because they'll lose money if we do. They also charge ridiculous rates for internet in return for a pretty slow connection and poor service. After months of investigating and trying, I found there are ways to circumvent the blockage of Skype. You have to download some sort of software and then connect to a so-called VPN server. There is Witopia, UltraSurf, and there is Hotspot Shield. After many frustrating days I finally managed through HotspotShield.com. It is not perfect (dropped calls, other party can not hear me) but at least I can chat on Skype. Good luck to all who are trying to use Skype in Belize...
Belgium vs Belize
Do you know what Belize and Belgium have in common? Belize is about two-thirds the size of Belgium, but has only 3% of Belgium's 10 million inhabitants. Not much in common you reckon? Wrong...Belize and Belgium are neighbors. Not geographically but virtually!
Pinky House
As any 4-year old, Soleine gets pretty bored when we travel long hours in the car. But now we have a game. The first one to spot a specific object gets points. As follows:
- a pink house = 10 points
- a horse = 5 points
- a tractor = 10 points
- a pair of shoes hanging from power line = 20 points
A regular trip from Belmopan to Belize can score about 100 points, to San Ignacio 150 points because more horses and tractors. Soleine usually wins. When we'll be in Belgium or Holland this summer we'll have to change the rules, There aren't many pinky houses (as Soleine calls them) there, right?
- a pink house = 10 points
- a horse = 5 points
- a tractor = 10 points
- a pair of shoes hanging from power line = 20 points
A regular trip from Belmopan to Belize can score about 100 points, to San Ignacio 150 points because more horses and tractors. Soleine usually wins. When we'll be in Belgium or Holland this summer we'll have to change the rules, There aren't many pinky houses (as Soleine calls them) there, right?
80 points!
Belmopan Humane Society
I went to a tea party organized by the Belmopan Humane Society. Had no idea what that was but it turns out to be a charity organization promoting animal health. They promote sterilization (of animals only I suppose!!) and have a shelter for street animals. Here in Belize this includes not only cats and dogs, but parrots and monkeys as well!
Where on Earth is Belmopan?
Can't remember exactly where Belize is? Well, you're not the only one. And its capital, the world famous city of Belmopan? They say it is the smallest in the world, I am not sure but small it is! Here you can read my stories about moving to this tiny, dusty but cute little capital, where you have to make the fun yourself.
Under water
Belize is surely a pretty country. And under water it is at least as striking as above. Belize has the largest coral reef of the western hemisphere. You can find fish in all sizes, colors and patterns.
Or under ground?
Belize is the only country in the world, I believe, where you can do 'cave-tubing'. You discover ancient Maya caves while floating on an inner tube from a truck.
Or high up in the tree tops?
If you don't feel comfortable under ground, try zip-lining....floating in the tree tops at least 25 meters above the ground. You Tarzan, me Jane... Or try Jungle Tumbling (see www.jaguarpaw.com)
Goodbye dust...hello mud!
Rainy season has started. No more dust but lots of mud in stead. The rainy season can last up to six months. Mud is everywhere; mud splatters on the car, on my pants and between my toes. I wish I had brought my rubber boots. Fortunately, Soleine has her little lady bug boots!
Our House
Michel and Soleine
Rice 'n Beans or Beans 'n Rice?
Rice and beans is the national dish here in Belize. Not to be confused with beans and rice. Serious! It is not the same thing. Rice and beans is when it's all mixed together, so you can not take out the beans if you're a non-bean lover like I am. Beans and rice is served separately, white rice and brown bean stew, usually eaten with barbecued chicken and coleslaw. For me as a thoroughbred Dutch potato-eater (Yes Vincent Van Gogh was Dutch too), I don't care much for any of it..
Anthem
In Belize, like most other Caribbean countries, people like to sing their national anthem. Every Friday at school, when raising the flag they sing it. After 4 weeks Soleine knew the lyrics by heart. Quite impressive that is, if you consider the text below.
Raising the Belize Flag
Another One Bites the Dust
It is incredibly dusty in Belmopan. In fact, in the whole country many roads are untarred. The first time I took a shower at home I found the bottom of my bath tub covered in grey dust. I was in shock, I didn't know I had been so dirty! Cars cause huge dust clouds; the faster and bigger the vehicle, the bigger the dust cloud. So, beware of trucks and busses because when they pass it is always someone else who bites the dust...
Maya Temple Head
A Dollar if you can Spot the Snake
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