DANGRIGA - Hi guys! Well, Tom is doing such a terrific job storytelling that I have been content to just let him do his thing! However, I thought Id throw in a random anecdote every now and again just to feel like Im contributing something. Im a little nerdy and like this sort of stuff, but if you get bored, just skip on to Toms entries, which will keep you in stitches!
So here goes! Todays contribution will be a mini social commentary on Belize. A typical American, I had lumped Belize together with its neighboring Central American countries. But its a pretty remarkable place in many respects. Ive learned that Belize is quite the melting pot. The original inhabitants of the country were Mayans... theres tons of pyramids hidden in the jungle here. English loggers came here early, and were often robbed by Spanish pirates who hid in the reefs off the Carribean coast.
More recently, Belize is inhabited by a mix of other groups. Black people arrived from the Carribean and Africa, mixing with the white population, and created the country's Creole culture. People here speak English, but the Creole dialects make it really tough to understand. Reggae is the order of the day here on the coast.
In the 70s, the government allowed some Asian peoples (including China, Hong Kong and Taiwan) to immigrate, and now there are Chinese restaurants and Chinese grocery stores everywhere! We cant seem to find regular M&Ms here in Dangriga, but if you care for some pickled mustard greens, no problem.
And perhaps most suprisingly, the Mennonites (Dutch/German farmers) arrived from the states and Canada due to persecution there (ahem). In fact, theres a town in Belize that looks like a small farmtown in Iowa, all hardware stores and John Deere tractors. We see Mennonites all the time, as they wear suspenders and straw hats, or sweet floral dresses. Even saw a horse drawn carriage the other day, complete with the red triangle reflector!
Oh, and I nearly forgot. The English colonists arrived with their servants, who were typically Indian. Some stayed, and delicious curries can be found all over Belize! Hooray! Oh, and theres also tons of American and European expats, who were attracted to the Belizean slower pace of life and mild climate. Many are crazy hippies, but all are pretty cool peeps.
All this in a country the size of Massachusetts and a population of 300,000 (no, I didnt forget a zero!). Tiny, indeed!
Anyhoo, Ill stop there before anyone passes out and drools on their desk. Ill leave y'all to get back to Toms stories! I miss you guys!
