I was at a bible study of mine the other day and we were talking away after the study. We had
talked about everything under the sun and were generally have a great time.
She explains to me how she is having some people around for dinner in a few weeks and that she is going to make them some traditional Belizean food as they are from Nicaragua.
She asks me if I have ever tried Cows foot soup. I tell her yes I have, it was the very first thing I had for dinner in Belize. She was delighted to hear this.
Then to my absolute horror, she excitedly informs me that she is going to make some extra and save it just for me!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just smiled and said how lovely that would be, but she really didn’t have to go to so much trouble. That it would be difficult for me to get it home without spilling it, bla bla bla bla. I tactfully managed to get out of that one, phew!
Oh man I got the fright of my life that day and no spider or scorpion was involved!
Friday, November 6, 2009
FUNNY THINGS THAT GO BY
I have to tell you all of some of the funny things we see here. These things are all very common to us now and we often don’t even notice them anymore.
You can be sitting down in an area surrounded by concrete and then suddenly a huge crab will just wander sideways past your feet. Or you ride down the road and have to swerve around the giant crab that is crossing the road. At first we would grab each other and say, check this out, and watch for ages, now we just say, there goes a crab.
Driving home on the bus, we had to stop while a bunch of horses crossed the road. We were on the main highway at the time, but the horses have right of way. Or while in the middle of Belize City we see a horse walking along, all by itself. While driving home from Belize City we pass 5 horses asleep on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Again now we just say, there goes a horse.
The scorpions that walk through the house. I remember the first time I saw one I nearly died right there on the spot. My heart jumping out of my chest, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Now one will walk past centimeters from my foot and I just say to Dave, there goes a scorpion.
Massive bread and butter sized spiders that pop unexpectedly out from nowhere and run across you toes as you sit outside, even inside sometimes. Now we just say, there goes a spider.
The people constantly trying to break into our house in the night, even three guys at one time. Now we hear a noise and go to see what it is and say there goes a burglar.
These are just a few of the things that at first amazed us as to us it was rare to see if ever, but now we are so used to seeing the unusual we don’t even notice.
You can be sitting down in an area surrounded by concrete and then suddenly a huge crab will just wander sideways past your feet. Or you ride down the road and have to swerve around the giant crab that is crossing the road. At first we would grab each other and say, check this out, and watch for ages, now we just say, there goes a crab.
Driving home on the bus, we had to stop while a bunch of horses crossed the road. We were on the main highway at the time, but the horses have right of way. Or while in the middle of Belize City we see a horse walking along, all by itself. While driving home from Belize City we pass 5 horses asleep on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. Again now we just say, there goes a horse.
The scorpions that walk through the house. I remember the first time I saw one I nearly died right there on the spot. My heart jumping out of my chest, adrenaline pumping through my veins. Now one will walk past centimeters from my foot and I just say to Dave, there goes a scorpion.
Massive bread and butter sized spiders that pop unexpectedly out from nowhere and run across you toes as you sit outside, even inside sometimes. Now we just say, there goes a spider.
The people constantly trying to break into our house in the night, even three guys at one time. Now we hear a noise and go to see what it is and say there goes a burglar.
These are just a few of the things that at first amazed us as to us it was rare to see if ever, but now we are so used to seeing the unusual we don’t even notice.
THE BARKING SPIDER!
Today we were wandering along the street and we heard this very strange noise. It sounded very similar to a dogs bark. We listened again and then there it was. This spider ran across in front of us making this weird barking kind of noise. It was running so fast unless you heard it coming you would have missed it.
So it turns out that we got to see and hear a very rear spider. Its called an African Barking Spider. Its only around at certain times and they are very rare here in Belize. In some countries they abound, but not here.
We are very proud to say we have been graced by their presence. If only we had the camera we could have take a picture of one. They say there aren’t many pictures of them because they are so fast. They sometimes sound as though they are in two places at once, kind of like throwing your voice. Amazing!
I will keep an ear for them again, you just never know when you might hear a Barking Spider.
So it turns out that we got to see and hear a very rear spider. Its called an African Barking Spider. Its only around at certain times and they are very rare here in Belize. In some countries they abound, but not here.
We are very proud to say we have been graced by their presence. If only we had the camera we could have take a picture of one. They say there aren’t many pictures of them because they are so fast. They sometimes sound as though they are in two places at once, kind of like throwing your voice. Amazing!
I will keep an ear for them again, you just never know when you might hear a Barking Spider.
Monday, October 26, 2009
THE WEATHER IS CHANGING
Its now mid to late October and we have been here for 5 months, man time flys! The locals have been saying that the weather starts to get cooler toward the end of the year and with this in mind we have been wondering if we would notice the change.
Well I have, not sure about Dave, he thinks the current temp is just perfect. I though am starting to get very cool and have been wearing long pants and occasionally breaking out a long sleeve t-shirt too!
While on the internet the other day we looked at the current temp and saw that it was 32 degrees, this was at 8pm and there I was with my long pants on and goose bumps on my arms! (true story)
Still not that much rain considering it’s the rainy season, which when it comes is quite refreshing. The days are normally long and extremely hot. Top it off with the fact that we bike everywhere from dawn till dusk, we arrive home covered in sweat, quite delightful really, NOT!
When there is no rain for weeks on end the roads which are mostly dirt get very dusty and when a car goes by it showers you not with water but clouds of dust. This is also delightful, NOT! So its after periods with no rain for weeks that we all start hanging out for the rain, even just a little would be nice. Even me with my polar bear exterior cant wait to be cooled down a little.
So yes the cooler weather is approaching and soon it will be cold. We are adapting to the weather very well and now don’t think its that hot now at all. Even on days when the locals are dying from the heat we aren’t doing too badly, that’s good, but not good when it gets cooler as we then think we are dying of frost bite, well okay its not that bad. Funny how quickly the body can adapt to new surroundings.
Well I have, not sure about Dave, he thinks the current temp is just perfect. I though am starting to get very cool and have been wearing long pants and occasionally breaking out a long sleeve t-shirt too!
While on the internet the other day we looked at the current temp and saw that it was 32 degrees, this was at 8pm and there I was with my long pants on and goose bumps on my arms! (true story)
Still not that much rain considering it’s the rainy season, which when it comes is quite refreshing. The days are normally long and extremely hot. Top it off with the fact that we bike everywhere from dawn till dusk, we arrive home covered in sweat, quite delightful really, NOT!
When there is no rain for weeks on end the roads which are mostly dirt get very dusty and when a car goes by it showers you not with water but clouds of dust. This is also delightful, NOT! So its after periods with no rain for weeks that we all start hanging out for the rain, even just a little would be nice. Even me with my polar bear exterior cant wait to be cooled down a little.
So yes the cooler weather is approaching and soon it will be cold. We are adapting to the weather very well and now don’t think its that hot now at all. Even on days when the locals are dying from the heat we aren’t doing too badly, that’s good, but not good when it gets cooler as we then think we are dying of frost bite, well okay its not that bad. Funny how quickly the body can adapt to new surroundings.
THE BURNING BOAT!
So we are sitting at the “café” (where we get internet) and suddenly Dave says “look at that, what it is?” We both sit there looking at what looks like flames way out on the horizon.
Slowly its getting bigger and Dave exclaims that it must be a boat on fire.
Then it all becomes clear. What we can see “burning” was in fact the moon rising! It was bright orange at first glimpse and huge and as it rose it slowly morphed from orange to gold to light yellow to cream and then finally to its brilliant white, taking on its normal size along the way.
The moon was full and a gem hanging upon nothing. The light from it glistened across the surface of the Caribbean as though guiding us. I couldn’t help but think of PS119:105.
Since we have been here we have been hoping that we will be at the beach at the right time to see the moon rise and there it was before us. Stunning!!
Slowly its getting bigger and Dave exclaims that it must be a boat on fire.
Then it all becomes clear. What we can see “burning” was in fact the moon rising! It was bright orange at first glimpse and huge and as it rose it slowly morphed from orange to gold to light yellow to cream and then finally to its brilliant white, taking on its normal size along the way.
The moon was full and a gem hanging upon nothing. The light from it glistened across the surface of the Caribbean as though guiding us. I couldn’t help but think of PS119:105.
Since we have been here we have been hoping that we will be at the beach at the right time to see the moon rise and there it was before us. Stunning!!
Friday, October 23, 2009
A VERY FULL MOON
As we were biking toward Pelican Beach to sit on the pier and eat our dinner we realized how full the moon was and wondered what it would look like from the beach. This we were soon to find out.
On approaching the beach we could see the moon sneaking a peak at us through the fronds of the palms. Full and bright it was, sending beams of light toward us. Our view changed with each step, giving only more appreciation.
We sat with our feet dangling in the water, surrounded by towering palm trees swaying softly in the breeze. The sound of the Caribbean waters gently lapping the sandy shore tickling our ears.
For ages we sat there just staring up at the bright night sky. The stars gleaming, the bright moon standing resolute among them. Awe inspiring you might say, I definitely would!
Photos were taken but, they really do the sight no justice, neither do words really. We only hope our memories can contain such delights.
As we left we hoped that we would be there one night to see the moon rise from behind the vast sea. One can only hope.
On approaching the beach we could see the moon sneaking a peak at us through the fronds of the palms. Full and bright it was, sending beams of light toward us. Our view changed with each step, giving only more appreciation.
We sat with our feet dangling in the water, surrounded by towering palm trees swaying softly in the breeze. The sound of the Caribbean waters gently lapping the sandy shore tickling our ears.
For ages we sat there just staring up at the bright night sky. The stars gleaming, the bright moon standing resolute among them. Awe inspiring you might say, I definitely would!
Photos were taken but, they really do the sight no justice, neither do words really. We only hope our memories can contain such delights.
As we left we hoped that we would be there one night to see the moon rise from behind the vast sea. One can only hope.
TRANSLATOR PLEASE!
Check this out, its funny.
Dave was talking to a group of sister at the hall the other day. The sisters were all Belizean. Dave says to one “Hi Sister Lewis, how are you?” she says “what?” so Dave repeats himself, to which she said “what?” again. He slows down his speech and says the same thing again at which point she leans over to her daughter and asks her “what did he say” the daughter explains and then the lady answers Dave, everyone is laughing. Dave then jokingly says to her “you need a translator ha!” To this the lady again says “what?” Dave just looks at the daughter smiling. The lady leans over to her daughter asking what Dave had just said. The daughter repeats to her that Dave asked if she needed a translator,
at which point everyone in the room erupts into laughter including the sister who now finally understands.
This sister is not deaf or old, she just simply couldn’t understand a word that was coming out of his mouth!
Poor Dave, this sort of thing happens quite often to him, but he and all of us have seen the light side of life and we all just laugh at each other.
Hmm on reading this, it doesn’t really sound that funny, “I guess you just had to be there!”
Dave was talking to a group of sister at the hall the other day. The sisters were all Belizean. Dave says to one “Hi Sister Lewis, how are you?” she says “what?” so Dave repeats himself, to which she said “what?” again. He slows down his speech and says the same thing again at which point she leans over to her daughter and asks her “what did he say” the daughter explains and then the lady answers Dave, everyone is laughing. Dave then jokingly says to her “you need a translator ha!” To this the lady again says “what?” Dave just looks at the daughter smiling. The lady leans over to her daughter asking what Dave had just said. The daughter repeats to her that Dave asked if she needed a translator,
at which point everyone in the room erupts into laughter including the sister who now finally understands.
This sister is not deaf or old, she just simply couldn’t understand a word that was coming out of his mouth!
Poor Dave, this sort of thing happens quite often to him, but he and all of us have seen the light side of life and we all just laugh at each other.
Hmm on reading this, it doesn’t really sound that funny, “I guess you just had to be there!”
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