We’re going to Mexico! Michel has to go for work to Orange Walk and Corozal, two cities in the sugar belt of Belize close to the Mexican border. We’re going to do some shopping in Chetumal, where many Belizians go because it is much cheaper. Belize is an expensive country…a small bottle of beer in the supermarket costs 3,50 Belizian dollars (or 1,75 USD) and a loaf of brown bread is 2,50 USD. Buy anything slightly luxurious and we pay through the nose like 5,50 USD for 10 slices of turkey ham, 6 American dollars for half a liter of plain yoghurt or for a bottle of shampoo.
I am excited to see Mexico and am even wearing a dress for the occasion. And a pair of high heels! I imagine Mexico to be a little more urbanized and stylish than Belmopan, where everyone always wears jeans and plastic slippers. Belmopan is very dusty and low-key and nobody seems to care much about looks. In a way that’s cool, but sometimes I just miss dressing up and hearing the clickety-clack of my heels on the street.
Upon exiting Belize we have to pay an exit tax. Ridiculous. Arriving at the Mexican border the border officers just keep waiving us through. Before we know it we have crossed the border and are on a 4-lane high way to Chetumal. Shouldn’t we have registered ourselves to get an entry stamp in our passports? Too late. Around 6 pm on Friday we drive into Chetumal, and because I am expecting (or hoping) to see Latin or Spanish looking buildings with white verandahs and lovely small plaza’s with orange trees, I am disappointed. It is not pretty… just like Belize's towns…low, square shoe-box type houses, electricity cables hanging everywhere and plenty of Chinese shops with cheap clothes. The city centre is comprisesd of one street and the beach boulevard is dark and deserted. The first thing I do at the hotel is exchange my dress for a pair of jeans. We find a restaurant that serves excellent steak and Margaritas so at least we feel a bit like being abroad.
The next morning we go the shopping mall where shops are good (especially the Liverpool department store) and prices are cheap, compared to Belize. We resist Soleine’s begging to go to MacDonalds and enjoy a small restaurant with local food. Then I start feeling sick, my stomach is upset and I am weak in the knees.
On the way out of Mexico we have to pay tourist tax which we did not pay when entering, and we have a car accident because some Rasta-man, totally stoned and wasted, decides to pull up out right in front of us on the high way in his jeep. We damage our car and the man is very apologetic: he tells us at least 25 times how sorry he is and that he loves us. The police arrive, surprisingly fast, and they ask us if we want the Rasta man (who introduces himself as Mr. Too Tall from Crooked Tree, can you believe it) to be taken to station for alcohol testing. We just want to get a police report for the insurance and get out of there. Back home the swine-flu thing is all over the news and I am even thinking I might have caught something as my body feels weird returning from Mexico. What a trip! I don’t think we’ll go back to Chetumal again. Okay, shopping may be much cheaper but add up the cost of the trip, the exit tax, the entry tax, the hotel and the car accident and the Swine flu stress and I don’t think we have saved any money on turkey ham or beer. And what is the point if nobody wears a dress and clickety-clack shoes anyway?
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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
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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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