Blog Feed: Letters to My Friends back home

I hope this works- I still don't know if posts from my iPod ever make it to all of you out there in cyber world, and ever since I busted up two of my fingers OVER A MONTH AGO, my laptop has just been sitting around, collecting dust.Wait... I didn't t

Just the moon, hangin out

Published on 2013-04-24 20:27:00

I'm just seeing if I can actually post a blog- with pics- from my new iPod...

I get around - Part 4

Published on 2013-04-17 17:00:00

From Belize City to Cayo.... and some stuff in between.I haven't spent any "real" time in Belize City, I've always just been passing through on my way to somewhere else, but here's what you see when you show up there on the water taxi:the Baron Bliss

The Barrel Bar...

Published on 2013-04-17 15:32:00

It's really, really hard to pick a "favorite" bar in San Pedro...Average Joe's has a staff that I love, and awesome bar food (wings, dogs, mac n cheese...)Luna Loca also has great bartenders, along with the sea view and comfy pillows to sink into.Jol

Punta Gorda... Waaaaaaay Down South

Published on 2013-04-06 23:42:00

Ok, I still can't do fancy things like circle something specific on a map - but if you look under the most eastern part of Mexico, you'll see Ambergris Caye/San Pedro (where I live)Ok, look over at the mainland of Belize and follow it south down the

I get around - Part 3

Published on 2013-03-20 14:46:00

Clearly, you've already read I get around Part 1, where I focus on my time in the Mountain Pine Ridge area, and I get around Part 2, where I focus on the ruins of Altun Ha and Lamanai, as well as the Coastal Highway and some stops along the Hummingbi

I get around, Part 2

Published on 2013-03-17 00:13:00

Working on these posts totally, totally makes me miss living on the mainland, but here's the follow up to I get around - Part 1...Ok.... starting with more ruins -I've been to Altun Ha twice (the last time was when my parents were here -

I get around - Part 1

Published on 2013-03-13 16:42:00

It's funny to me how many people have lived here (in San Pedro) for a while, but have never really explored the rest of the country.And it's super annoying when it's implied that, since I haven't lived here as long as them, I must not know as much ab

Poker Run Déjà vu

Published on 2013-03-03 23:34:00

I've only been on two poker runs in the (almost) two years that I've been living down here...I don't know a damn thing about poker, but that doesn't matter on a poker run, because all you have to do is hop from bar to bar (5 bars altogether) and coll

Do you know my spot?

Published on 2013-02-22 15:39:00

This is where I go to chill out and enjoy being outside for a few minutes whenever I pop out of "the office" for a break....It's a good spot to hang out with some locals, do some people watching, and start planning your best friends birthday adventur

A Day on the Dock

Published on 2013-02-20 12:29:00

Every day (ok...4 or 5 days a week ) I sit at the desk in the spa and look out the window and think, "Damn... what a nice day.... I wish I was outside..."(I also think, "When are people going to start sending me money just for being awesome so I don'

My Big Score on Valentine's Day

Published on 2013-02-15 14:45:00

Do you remember how I was telling you that I've never won anything?

Oil Pulling Therapy.... Day 1.

Published on 2013-02-15 14:08:00

If you've read my post about How I spent my week and my Saturday night - you know that I only use "kitchen" products for my skin, hair, and teeth - and that I love to use coconut oil for everything.Well... I found another use for it.......Has anyone

A Long, Long Day... yawn

Published on 2013-02-13 14:36:00

I didn't get much sleep last night... and, no lie, it's now taking every ounce of energy that I have in me to stay awake. I haven't even turned on the "spa music" at work today because it'll probably lure me onto the couch for a nap... and when I nap

San Pedro - Carnaval 2013!

Published on 2013-02-12 13:29:00

Last night was another one of those No plans, No problems kind of nights....Actually, that isn't completely true - I was supposed to work at Pedro's last night, but the other bartender got our schedules mixed up, so, long story short, she ended up wo

No Plans..... No Problem

Published on 2013-02-11 11:23:00

You can always find something to do here in San Pedro, even if you aren't looking for anything to do...All I knew about this past Friday was that I was going to go to work at 10am.

How I spent my week... and my Saturday night

Published on 2013-02-03 00:44:00

This week started out pretty friggin sweet...There were a few post cards waiting for me when I stopped at the post office on Monday (so there will be another post card blog soon, for those of you who are into it) and - even more exciting - my flip-fl

MORE Signs in Belize

Published on 2013-01-31 13:46:00

This is a continuation of one of my most popular posts - Signs in BelizeCaye CaulkerAttack Conch!!A reminder that it's better to arrive late than "DEAD on time..."Woops.... a few too many letters in "Xunantunich"No car baths in the river, pleaseTapir

Help a Girl Out....

Published on 2013-01-31 13:28:00

I never win anything.Really - never.I can't think of one thing I've ever won in my life - except for some ribbons when I used to enter horse shows and riding competitions, and maybe some sort of swimming awards at camp.... So... I guess I'm a liar. I

What's Been Hiding in my Folders

Published on 2013-01-25 08:52:00

Sometimes I take a shit ton of pictures and do nothing with them... they just sit around in a folder in my computer, being bored and getting forgotten about.It's sad, really - so I'm going to give some of them a life here on my blog today.Enjoy.Stuff

Another Lesson Learned

Published on 2013-01-16 14:10:00

When riding a bike with no front brakes and back brakes that aren't tight enough, don't go flying down the bridge and onto a road filled with potholes - you'll scare the crap out of tourists that think you're going to crash into them as they go for a

A week with the 'rents - Belize Zoo and Altun Ha

Published on 2013-01-16 12:56:00

As I mentioned in my last post, my parents and I went to the mainland one day to check out the Belize Zoo and the ruins at Altun Ha.We woke up early (err... I woke up early, Bob and Ruthie got up at their normal time) and caught a 6:30am water taxi o

A week with the 'rents

Published on 2013-01-13 13:35:00

I know Ive been a total slacker about blogging lately - but I just spent a week hanging out with my parents, so you can forgive me, right?

I just thought this was nice...

Published on 2013-01-03 09:19:00

The following is a reply from new friends of mine to their family back home in the States.They, too, have relocated to Belize, and gave me permission to share this email on my blog so that you can read a little bit about their experience so far, and

The Obligatory New Years Post

Published on 2013-01-03 02:33:00

Forgive me for not doing a public reflection on 2012 - but some things just aren't meant to be shared with the world.... and New Year's Resolutions? Never been into them.I will, however, share with you a fun encounter I had with a super drunk tourist

A small stash of Postcard Love

Published on 2012-12-28 14:53:00

It's been at least 2 months since I've gone to pick up any mail... but here's what I found when I finally got my stash.A "Hug from Home," a postcard sent by my dad from the town where his mountain house is..."Under the Red Light" is a great landmark.

My New Dream Job

Published on 2012-12-27 15:26:00

After writing my last post and going off on a small rant about companies using planned obsolescence to control the flip-flop industry and keep raking in money, I did a search for "Sturdy Flip-Flops" and found

What to do, What to do....

Published on 2012-12-27 13:37:00

I was allowed to borrow a golf cart from Pedro's to get myself home safely after work on Tuesday night, so I found myself out and about "early" yesterday morning after returning it and picking up my bicycle. (Early, to me, is still anything before 10

Santa was a No-Show... I mean, Merry Christmas!!!!

Published on 2012-12-25 08:59:00

I knew I should have registered my new address with the North Pole - the fat man didn't leave one single present for me under the tree!presentless!!I didn't have a lot of things on my list....A new pair of flip-flops because one of mine had a blow-ou

It's Official!

Published on 2012-12-21 18:53:00

After walking just over a mile to get to the immigration office at 9:30 this morning to pick up my passport and being told to come back between 2 and 3 because they were busy swearing people in for their Nationality, and after walking just over a mil

12-21-12, The Beginning

Published on 2012-12-21 09:29:00

Well.... It looks like we're all still here!http://perelman-student-life.blogspot.com/I wonder how many people really thought the world was going to end today... and how many people signed up for After the Rapture Pet Care servicesthis has been ALL o

Belize Yoga Retreat - The Best Parts (continued)

Published on 2012-12-19 23:26:00

My absolute favorite night of the retreat was our final night together on Ambergris Caye before the rest of the group moved on to the Mountain Pine Ridge area for the rain forest portion of their stay here in Belize.We were taken to a private sandbar

Belize Yoga Retreat - The Best Parts

Published on 2012-12-19 22:11:00

I had never been to a yoga retreat before, so I don't know if my expectations were way off or what... I guess I just expected more yoga at a yoga retreat - maybe even a little tai chi, meditation, or discussion about the theory and philosophy about y

Belize Yoga Retreat. Part 1 - The Resort

Published on 2012-12-16 16:22:00

If you like my Facebook page, then you know from my status update yesterday that I was getting myself all stressed out while packing for the yoga retreat...Everything is cool now, though - I found somewhat decent clothes to wear, it looks like I have

Catching you up on the past few days....

Published on 2012-12-13 15:24:00

I was never a big, huge fan of living in San Pedro because of all the noise, traffic, and high energy of the town - but I have to say - where I'm staying now (south of San Pedro town) is very comfortable and quiet.Lara's house, too - is super cute an

Not a bad day....Not a bad day at all.

Published on 2012-12-06 18:25:00

Today I did two things that I'm afraid of, and I'm feeling quite awesome about it...I rode a bike and went swimming in the sea by myself.Yeah - I know that might sound a little weird and boring, coming from someone who's already lived here in San Ped

Pictures from the past few days....

Published on 2012-12-05 13:29:00

Nothin here except some pictures.... my brain hasn't woken up all day today, so I'm short on words.Just...prettyPalm trees are impressive...Look at this guy - got knocked down, but kept on growingFried bacon at the Palapa Bar - friggin awesome.Doggy

Better Late than Never....

Published on 2012-12-03 15:22:00

Thanksgiving was almost two weeks ago, and, other than calling to say hello to my family when I knew they'd all be at my parents house for an amazingly delicious dinner, I pretty much let it go by unnoticed. I don't even think I said, "Happy Turkey D

Temporary change of location...

Published on 2012-12-02 11:32:00

Letterstomyfriendsbackhome.com will be posting from San Pedro for the next couple of weeks... so if there's anywhere you want me to check out or take pictures of for you while I'm here, just let me know. I have lots of time to kill.Also - donations f

"A time for Great Change"

Published on 2012-11-28 09:52:00

Back in "Business"

Published on 2012-11-26 12:24:00

Heeeyyyy.... long time no see!The past week and a half has been ridiculously busy and exhausting - what, with traveling to SEVEN different areas of Belize in only NINE days and catching up on six months worth of drama and life changing events in each

A Quickie

Published on 2012-11-20 10:25:00

Ok, so, I haven't been able to get my laptop online the whole time Kathy's been here - but I finally got some "tech support," and now we're good to go.Here are a few pictures that I took while waiting for her plane to get here to hold you all over un

Feeling pretty Rich and Famous....

Published on 2012-11-13 13:43:00

My blog got it's first donation today... I just wanted to say THANK YOU, publicly, to Mark in Maryland for being so supportive and sending some cash my way to spend while Kathy is down here.(Yes, that's what it's for - he told me!)

The Countdown Continues

Published on 2012-11-11 10:33:00

Only 5 more days until Kathy gets here!!The itinerary that I was playing with is no longer useful to us because Kathy decided that we're getting tattooed while she's here - so now we're going to do the islands and coastal towns first so that we don't

I haven't heard THAT sound in a while...

Published on 2012-11-04 17:14:00

Ahhh... the buzzing of a tattoo machine. That sound can instantly make me think of ten designs I'd like permanently inked on my body.It's been at least two years since I've had any work added, and I'm itching for a new one!Today isn't my day, however

In My Own Little World...

Published on 2012-11-02 15:49:00

I've barely been online at all this week, and if you're one of the (few) people who check frequently to see if I have anything new posted.... I'm sorry for the delay!I haven't been doing anything fun or exciting, so I'm definitely not holding out on

Work and Homemade Health Care

Published on 2012-10-26 12:56:00

The rain has finally moved out (for now, anyway) and the guys have gotten back to work on building the goat barn and fencing in the yard for the dogsthe goats do whatever they want - they roam around all day and sleep under the house at night.

Playing with an Itinerary...

Published on 2012-10-23 20:58:00

Keep 'em Comin!

Published on 2012-10-22 16:46:00

I picked up another batch of postcards on Friday, along with two issues of Mother Earth News that my dad hooked me up with up a subscription for :) Thanks dad - love you!!I also want to take a second to thank all of you who have sent cards and read my blog - I'm almost at 25,000 views!

I couldn't think of a Title....

Published on 2012-10-20 14:02:00

I just got off the phone with the most helpful TD Bank customer service agent ever! He refunded my overdraft fee without me even asking, and he's setting me up a new account so I can try to keep better track of all of the stupid automatic deductions that come out of the one I have now.

Where I am right now.... I don't want to leave!

Published on 2012-10-17 21:25:00

I've only been to Hopkins once before... maybe about 3 years ago. All I really remember from that trip is getting our rental truck stuck in the sand and spending hours and hours digging it out, and meeting a woman named Barabara who lived in her old school bus on the beach and sold homemade lotions and clothes.

MORE things that I miss...

Published on 2012-10-16 15:17:00

I answered some FAQ's I get asked about moving to Belize back in April, and my response to things that I miss was pretty simple - I miss my friends and family, Philly cheese steaks, and beer options.I've thought of a few more to add to my list...1.Concerts - There is always live music somewhere in Belize, so that isn't the issue.... but there's none of "my" music in Belize. On the islands and in the touristy mainland areas you can catch some of the expat musicians doing covers of Led Zeppelin, T [..]

Looking for a Yoga Buddy

Published on 2012-10-13 15:14:00

Ok... for me to be able to go to this amazing yoga retreat in December, I need one more person to sign up and share a room with me. (I'm an excellent roommate, I promise!!)Yoga renewal-retreat Belize December 15-21We will be staying at La Perla del Caribe for the island portion of the retreat..."This Luxury Ambergris Caye Resort is located on the north end of Ambergris Caye, the most popular vacation destination in Belize. La Perla Del Caribe captures the Caribbean ambiance of Belize in elegan [..]

More rain, and Shopping for food in Belize

Published on 2012-10-12 13:20:00

Ok, so it isn't raining right this second, but I hear thunder in the distance and the sky is thick with dark clouds rolling by.... From earlier this morning, not quite as foggy right now No one's working today, because of the weather, so the goat's barn is at a stand still: a second pasture area Higby I'm still thinking about trying to get down the driveway so I can get to

World Post Day!

Published on 2012-10-09 16:20:00

Today is World Post Day - "celebrated each year on 9 October, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in 1874 in the Swiss capital, Bern. It was declared World Post Day by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan, in 1969" It seems fitting to show you the 16 postcards that I picked up from the post office on Friday... Andrew, a fellow Council Rock graduate,

All I've done since Saturday....

Published on 2012-10-09 14:08:00

The only semi-interesting thing I've done since Saturday is come home in the rain. Sounds exciting, right?! I thought that stopping at Windell's cafe in Steadfast would give everything a chance to dry up a little bit before I started climbing up the hill.... but my luck brought more rain instead of sunshine while I waited. Walking barefoot down the Hummingbird Highway in the rain. I

Changes coming to the bus system?

Published on 2012-10-04 23:21:00

It's been on the news a lot lately that there's going to be some changes coming to the bus system here in Belize - and I know a lot of people will be happy when they start to take effect. Prices have already gone up Bus fare Belize City - Belmopan up by $1 and I noticed this new sign in the Belmopan terminal today: There wasn't anyone around enforcing this new rule... but I did notice a

Requests for the People of Belize

Published on 2012-10-03 10:52:00

I have two main complaints about the people here in Belize - and obviously not everyone behaves this way, but the majority do.... BE NICE TO YOUR ANIMALS!!! I'm so sick of seeing dogs chained up in yards with no shade, or on a rope that's barely long enough for them to move. I hate seeing dogs that are ALWAYS tied up, never allowed to run free. I hate seeing dogs that should be big and

Placencia and Laughing Bird Caye - Part 2

Published on 2012-10-02 11:32:00

Do you remember this Disney commercial from a few years ago... I'm too excited to sleep! That's totally how I felt on Saturday night I woke up way too early on Sunday morning and had about four hours to kill before finally meeting up with Captain Bobo to go out to the island... but at least I got to see a good sunrise! We stopped at Above Grounds Coffee - a cute little shop that

Placencia and Laughing Bird Caye - Part 1

Published on 2012-10-01 16:54:00

For those of you who don't know, Placencia is the last village at the end of a skinny peninsula in southern Belize. If you look at this map right here you can see the area that I live near - Pomona - on the Hummingbird Highway. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get down to Placencia. Once you turn off of the Southern Highway and start making your way down the peninsula, it feels like

I hate waiting!

Published on 2012-09-29 10:15:00

Me and sleep haven't been getting along very well lately - so I've been up since 2:30 this morning. It's now almost 9 o'clock and Trip is still in bed.... and I want to get on the road!!! I've been waiting for a nice, sunny day to go to Placencia all week, and now that it's here - I want to go, NOW!!! We could have gone yesterday, since it didn't rain at all, but Trip wanted to give the

Now on Youtube

Published on 2012-09-28 15:05:00

I started a channel on youtube today - Belize Adventures I only have two videos up so far.... but maybe I'll start filming more while I'm out and about. Tomorrow, weather permitting, of course, I have plans to go to Placencia and Laughing Bird Caye.... I found this map from Friends of Nature Belize Would my readers like video of anything specific, or are you happy with pictures? It's all

Well crap, I guess I can go to bed now...

Published on 2012-09-27 05:48:00

It's 4:30 in the morning, and I've been up all night. (Good morning to friends in PA, it's 6:30 there, rise and shine!) We're supposed to go to Placencia this morning and, from there, we're supposed to find a boat captain to take us to another island that I've not yet been to.... but I think the reason I haven't been able to sleep is that I keep waiting to see if it rains again or not. Rain will

Sayings that make sense now....

Published on 2012-09-26 14:26:00

Every now and then I have a small revelation when I see something happening on the farm and I think, "Oh, that's what that means!" Let sleeping dogs lie It means - Don't instigate trouble; leave something along if it might cause trouble. Here on the farm it means, "Don't open the door after dark because the dogs will wake up and start barking like lunatics." Flew the Coop It means - To

On the radio, every single day

Published on 2012-09-25 16:37:00

Do you ever find yourself singing along to a song that you had no idea you knew the words to? I've been singing along to this song - the Four Way Test - for months now... and I don't think I ever heard it before I moved here.... very catchy tune. It's played on LoveFM constantly - we'll have the radio on for 8 hours and hear this song, literally, a dozen times. At least. The Four Way Test is a

The Stars here are so.... Freaky!

Published on 2012-09-23 17:09:00

About three and a half years ago, Trip and I went up to the Pine Ridge Mountain area for the first time and spent a few nights at the Pine Ridge Lodge. "In the forest, next to the jungle" Last cold beer on the way to Caracol?? We're in. The lodge is a great place to stay if you want to spend a few days up there to check out Caracol, the Rio Frio Cave, Rio on Pools, Big Rock Falls, and the

Independence Day means..... cookies.

Published on 2012-09-22 17:34:00

Belize celebrated their 31st year of independence yesterday, and there were parade and parties all over the country - from Corozal to Toledo and everywhere in between. I, of course, didn't go to any of them.... All of our workers have the weekend off, obviously, so Trip and I stayed home and listened to some of the events on the radio. (What decade are we in again?) I searched for a good

The motherload of Postcards, and an Invitation that makes me want to cry!!

Published on 2012-09-20 16:52:00

I got a BUNCH of postcards today!!! And, of course, my battery is running low so I have to hurry up and get this published before it craps out on me, so I won't be commenting on all of them.... From my friends Melissa and Jason, and their fur babies - Apollo, Winston, Rocco, Iroc, Sierra, Gemini, Prowler, Denali, and Tonka - back in my home state! (I love the Aloha stamp, Meliss)

The Belize Zoo, Part 2

Published on 2012-09-17 01:50:00

Sounds good to me. I'm going to add the link to my Flickr account so you can go through ALL of the pictures from my day at the zoo if you want to - but here are some of my favorites... The King Vulture enclosure Looking for Zorro two tiny Zorro's! The pond for the smaller crocs, and LOTS of turtles the BIG crocs I was happy to learn that all

The Belize Zoo... So much cooler than I expected

Published on 2012-09-16 20:36:00

Ya know, I must meet a lot of glass-half-empty people because I've asked everyone who I know that's been to the Belize Zoo what they thought about it and most of the replies were along the lines of, "It's small... but I guess it's ok." What do you mean it's "ok??" This zoo is friggin awesome!! The Huffington Post knows what I'm talking about, they have it listed as number five on their top ten

So I stumbled upon a parade today....

Published on 2012-09-15 20:55:00

I originally planned to go to check out the Belize Expo 2012 in Belize city today- but plans changed and I found myself going to Cayo for a little bit instead, and ended up almost walking right into a parade. There are a lot of different celebrations in Belize every September - the most important two being The Battle of St. George's Caye day on the 10, and Independence Day on the 21st (

Farmin' ain't easy.

Published on 2012-09-11 10:01:00

I always wanted to live on a farm.... taking care of animals all day, hiding out in the hayloft for an afternoon nap, picking dinner right from the garden, sitting on a rocking chair and drinking pink lemon aid (with vodka) while watching the sunset.... I never gave much thought to the death part of farm life. My baby chicken Camilla, aka Turkey, died sometime last night or this morning. I

My wishlist..... In case you're feeling generous.

Published on 2012-09-09 01:50:00

It's tough sometimes, living off the grid in the jungle of Central America... Here are some things that would make my life easier or help me get started with some of the many plans and ideas I have for the future.... A Samsung solar powered laptop How handy would this be on days that we can't charge the battery, or if another inverter breaks? The next best thing - solar chargers

A Cat, Turtle, and Chicken Garden... and a closet!

Published on 2012-09-08 17:24:00

The plans to build a little enclosed area for the cats had to be pushed back a couple of weeks since we ended up getting goats unexpectedly and had to take care of them first, but Don George, Richard, Loca and Jaime (pronounced Hi-mey) started working on it this week, and it's looking good! Loca chopping gumbo limbo for fence posts Don George - this 64 year old man can do five times more

Enjoy the Sunset with me....

Published on 2012-09-06 15:28:00

This post is nothing but sunset pictures over the Maya Mountains from the past few days. Enjoy.

Belmopan, Dangriga, Cafe's, Postcards, Shooting update... it's all just shoved in here

Published on 2012-09-05 14:30:00

This past week has been pretty crazy - between picking up the slack on the farm after losing two employees to gunshot wounds, not getting much sleep, worrying about everyone, and a busy day out and about yesterday - I needed a morning to sleep in. I didn't sleep the whole time, thanks to barking dogs, squawking birds and the weed wacker, but I stayed in bed until about 10:30 this morning, and

Random Belize info (that I've never seen in a guide book)

Published on 2012-09-03 11:17:00

I found out recently, while I was waiting for the bus, that a lot of services are offered in the village that I miss out on by living a mile above the highway. Here are some things you can get done without ever having to go to town: Get your 5 gallon water bottles filled - People will just leave their empty bottles in front of their house and a guy will come buy and swap them for a full one.

Productive Sunday

Published on 2012-09-03 00:07:00

Considering that there were only two of us working on the farm today, we got quite a bit done. Robert and Bolo are out of commission for a while since they were both friggin shot three days ago**, and it's Sunday, so everyone else has the day off. Trip started by making sure the goats had plenty of water this morning and feeding the chickens while I did some of the normal, every day morning

Doing this for the distraction, mostly

Published on 2012-08-31 13:28:00

I'm not sure how great this post will be - but I'm trying to take my mind off of my sick puppy and my two workers who were shot BY THE POLICE last night. (I have no solid details yet, so that's not what the post is about) Ummm.... I guess we'll just start with the new waffle joint and swimming hole in Belmopan: Casa Cafe - 43 Forest Drive, Belmopan Free wifi is always a plus!! I'm a

TRYING to catch up...

Published on 2012-08-30 14:06:00

I have so many things to post about - but I haven't had even an hour of good "alone time" to work in the past two or three weeks. I tried, I really really tried last night, I swear. I went to Cayo yesterday, after stopping in Belmopan to try out the new waffle place and finding a good swimming hole (post on that later, I hope) and found a place to stay for the night. The plan was to have a drink

"What do you do?"

Published on 2012-08-26 16:21:00

A lot of people have been asking lately, "What do you DO all day when you're 'stuck' at home?" and, "What do you do without electricity?" Well.... I'm actually not too sure, to be honest, so I've been keeping track of how I kill time in order to answer your questions. I usually wake up, for the first time, around 4:30-5:00, when the roosters start their crowing... or yelling, whatever it is

The International Postcard Swap continues

Published on 2012-08-25 13:28:00

I just LOVE going to the post office these days! Today I got THE best card ever, sent from my sister Shannon, along with 17 other cards from around the world.... Hahahahaaa.... my sister knows how to make my day! From David in France - the Grand Prix De Monaco - these old race cars are so cool. I want one. Stamp from Monaco, December 2000 The stamp from France - Chateau De

Dukunu....What to do with all that corn!

Published on 2012-08-22 17:25:00

We have about an acre of corn growing down by the plantains - along with this one, random stalk next to the stairs off of the back verandah - Robert chopped it all last week and he and Bolo mashed up a bunch of it in the grinder and send it down to Bolo's sister to make some Dukunu for us. Dukunu is the young corn ground and wrapped in the corn husks and cooked in an open hearth

To Cave's Branch... For goats!!

Published on 2012-08-21 09:19:00

It's so awesome how things work out sometimes. We've been wanting goats for a while now but haven't had the money to buy any, so the idea was kind of pushed to the back burner for a bit.... until yesterday. Our friend and neighbor, Ian (from Ian Anderson's Cave's Branch adventure company and jungle lodge) messaged me and asked if we were interested in taking a few of his goats off his hands -

Perfect weather today = Pictures!

Published on 2012-08-18 15:23:00

Weather.com says that it's 88 degrees here today, but it feels like 101. I don't think it feels THAT hot, though - we have a nice breeze bowing through and it's totally comfortable outside. Nice and sunny with only a few clouds - a perfect day for pictures! I tried to get a photo of the islands, but we all know that my camera kind of stinks for far shots... Far away view of Macaroni Hill,

Day trip - Tobacco Caye!

Published on 2012-08-15 19:35:00

I haven't been able to post in a few days because I'm unable to keep my laptop charged here at home, and when I went to town on Monday, I ended up waiting two and a half hours for a bus and lost a lot of time. Man, I miss electricity. If I'm feeling better tomorrow I might try to get to Belmopan to charge up and maybe catch you up on what I did while I was stuck at home for 6 days last week when

And the collection grows....

Published on 2012-08-11 12:51:00

More postcards!! (And a LOT more rain today!) I love this one - with the mountains and the whales.... Unfortunately, it isn't for me. Ava in Dangriga, this one was meant for you, and if you happen to see this post, I'll be returning it to the post office next week. Moving on to the ones that DO belong to me, here's a card from a girl in China, who let me know that she likes trees very

Sounds of the Jungle - the Howler Monkey

Published on 2012-08-10 16:52:00

I guess this is kind of a teaser post, since you can't hear the monkey... I'm sorry! I wasn't able to upload the video here on Blogger, so if you want to check it out you'll have to view it on my Facebook page, here. While you're there, go ahead and "like" my page, eh? Thank you, people! :) Carrie

The "Chinch" and Chagas Disease.... Holy crap!

Published on 2012-08-10 13:39:00

I've been noticing these signs on the buses and in the post office lately: I finally looked it up - chinch and chagas... are you ready for this? "A life-threatening parasite transmitted by a biting beetle can cause a person's heart and intestines to swell and burst — but early symptoms are hard to detect.... It's being dubbed the "new AIDS of the Americas." So, this gross little beetle

A few new things on the farm

Published on 2012-08-09 17:58:00

Our first bunch of Sunflowers Because Mama and the puppies enjoy chasing the chickens, and because they sometimes catch them and it isn't pretty, the guys are now building a special chickens-only grazing area to protect them from the dogs: My gimpy chicken, Camilla, has been temporarily moved into the greenhouse until her own private section of land is fenced off. The rest of the

That was NOT Guatemala!

Published on 2012-08-09 15:02:00

So, in my last post - 40 minutes in Benque Viejo del Carmen - I told you that the cute little resort across the river from Benque was in Guatemala - it turns out that I was totally misinformed. (I did ask someone, I didn't just guess on my own that it was Guatemala. I was actually thinking, "there's too many trees over there for that to be Guatemala.") Anyway, I was trying to find out more about

40 minutes in Benque Viejo del Carmen

Published on 2012-08-07 18:38:00

Luckily for us here in Belize, Tropical Storm Ernesto has, for the most part, completely passed us by.... for now, anyway. I guess I was prepared to be hanging out in our temporary, makeshift hurricane shelter (our bathroom) all afternoon, but now I get to post stuff and not be in fear that my house is going to blow away, and I can use the truck battery to charge my things! Before I came home to

Tropical Strom Ernesto 2012!

Published on 2012-08-07 07:47:00

I don't know how the rest of the country is doing - but it's been raining like crazy here in Stann Creek all morning. (It's 6:30am right now - started raining around 9 last night) Anyway - according to this latest tracking map, Stann Creek will just get the edge of the storm, which is super good for us because we are not prepared for a hurricane here at all.... we might not even be prepared

A good weekend before Ernesto shows up

Published on 2012-08-05 21:16:00

Ok, so this is the latest update from Weather Underground The country that has "8am Wed" printed in it is Belize, for those of you struggling with geography. I just watched The Weather Channel's Tropical Storm Update and they say that Ernie has been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm - so that's good news, I think. I'm guessing a tropical storm can still do some damage....

Dangriga Market gets an upgrade

Published on 2012-08-04 08:36:00

The produce and fish section of the market - shut down! The Market in Dangriga is always one of my go-to places when I'm in town. There you can find the freshest fruits and veggies for great prices - I usually spend less than $20bz and get enough food to last a week. (Potatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, etc) My favorite vendor I walked over to the market area when I was in town and

Another batch of cards

Published on 2012-08-04 08:06:00

The Dangriga Post Office, where all the magic happens From Ye-jin in Seoul, South Korea. "Korean traditional wedding" I think it's cute, they remind me of South Park characters! the stamps From Alexandr in Syktyvkar, Russia - KAMCHATKA, The Kamchatka Peninsula is located in the far east of Russia - and the Volcanoes of Kamchatka, 160 total, 29

A lil bit a-this, a lil bit a-that

Published on 2012-08-02 15:45:00

Camilla somehow got out of her cage this morning and made her way to a sunny spot near our pile of sand, where the dogs often nap. look who's snuggling! The pups got their first at-home bath yesterday because it looks like their getting a touch of the mange: Mangy doggy I scrubbed them down with a citronella and tea tree shampoo, then doused them with some boiled Neem from Lilly,

"Belizean" Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Published on 2012-08-01 16:48:00

I'm calling these pancakes Belizean only because they contain some ingredients made here in Belize - Organic, 85% extra dark Goss chocolate from Placencia, cinnamon from Bel Cuisine condiments in Altamira, Corozal, farm fresh eggs from our Belizean chickens, and locally bought CocoNut Oil (replaced in the picture with a labeled bottle of coconut oil made in Bermuda) You know how to make

Postcards, postcards, postcards!

Published on 2012-08-01 16:27:00

Yesterday was another good stop at the Post Office... even though I forgot to bring everything that I wanted to mail with me. I can't ever leave the house without forgetting something. This round of postcards come from The Philippines, Belgium, Poland, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Sweden and the U.S.A. ***this layout looks PERFECT in the draft, I cannot for the life of me figure out

Todays forecast: Gloomy enough to ruin plans.

Published on 2012-07-29 14:19:00

I was planning on walking to Steadfast around 7 o'clock so I could have breakfast at my favorite neighborhood cafe before catching the bus from there at 9:15 and making my way to the Bacab Eco Park near Belize City. Casita de Amor Cafe, it's been too long. I woke up to thunder and rain though, and even when the storm passed, the sky stayed dark and cloudy. I tried to make it down the

The problem with making plans....

Published on 2012-07-28 19:34:00

I finally convinced Trip to go out and DO something with me today - lunch at Mama Noots and a hike up Lower Bocawina Falls. We went to Dangriga first to pick up the fuel injector pump switch thingy that he needed for the truck, but it hadn't come in yet. Yeah, it should've been in on Tuesday or Wednesday... but this is Belize. We were told it would be there at 1:30. On our way to lunch, down

Spending time with the locals

Published on 2012-07-28 08:37:00

I went back to Santa Elena on Wednesday to see Marley and get my dreads tightened again. I didn't get to soak them in the sea before my appointment because of the rainy weather we've been having all week, but I did finally wash them and it felt so, so good. (Pictures soon, I promise) When I was done at her house I started walking down the back streets to get to the wooden bridge that crosses

Bugs, Yuck!

Published on 2012-07-23 10:38:00

I started saving all of our empty glass and plastic bottles, thinking I could use them for future craft projects or storage or something... but Trip has another idea. Bug collecting. Gross. He has two beetles, a super tiny scorpion, and three normal sized scorpions so far. And they're sitting on my kitchen counter. the big one The tiny guy - I'm clearly not about to take the top

A quick run to town & Medicinal Herbs of Belize

Published on 2012-07-21 17:02:00

We were stuck on the hill for the majority of the week again because of the random afternoon rain storms and the mud that comes from those storms - but we took advantage of the few hours of sunshine yesterday morning and went into town for a few things. I don't know which is scarier - sliding down the driveway and praying we don't slip right off and careen to our deaths, or trying to make it

A little free time

Published on 2012-07-21 14:32:00

You'd think that, since I have no kids and no job, I'd have a ton of free time to dedicate to my blog and school work, right? Yeah, I'd think so too... but it hasn't been turning out that way lately... which leads me to this question (specifically for other bloggers or writers who work from home, but don't live alone) How do you get the other people in your home to understand that you need some

Postcards and presents!!

Published on 2012-07-21 13:56:00

Yesterday was the best post office visit for me yet - 12 postcards, a magazine from my dad, and a little care package from Uzbekistan that included two more postcards, a stamp, and a bunch of little stickers! From Georgy in India: A Vallam (houseboat) in Kerala, India, complete with bio-toilet and on-board chef! The stamps - I can't get good pictures of them unless my camera is on

The Return of Miss Muffin... and other stuff.

Published on 2012-07-18 15:55:00

Muffin I didn't say anything to anyone when Muffin went missing about a week ago because I had a feeling she'd show up sooner or later. A couple of years ago, when we were still living in Southampton, PA, she was gone for just over 6 weeks! There had been construction work going on in one of the condos in the complex that we lived in and we think she may have snuck into the work truck

Lazy Sunday at the River...er, Creek.

Published on 2012-07-16 16:36:00

Roaring Creek, Cayo District We took Mama, Clem and Lopey to the veterinarian in Roaring Creek village yesterday morning. Clem and Lopey needed their puppy vaccinations, and Mama got fixed - courtesy of the Belmopan Humane Society and Dr. Baptist. (I forgot to ask him if he works on chickens! Damnit!) Leon and Jenny (the Australian guy who originally found Mama and the pups, and his

A horseback ride to Maya Ruins - one of my favorite Belize experiences

Published on 2012-07-14 14:27:00

My original plan for yesterday was to go and get my Belize Maya 2012 Passport stamped at Xunantunich and walk around the ruins again. 2012 Maya Passport The passport cost $50bz and it gets you free admission to the ruins of Cerro Maya, Lamanai, Altun Ha, Caracol, Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, Barton Creek Cave, Nohoch Che'en, El Pilar, Serpon Sugar Mill, Nim Li Punit, and Lubaantun. My

Rumors Resort in San Ignacio

Published on 2012-07-12 23:29:00

On mile 2 1/2 on Benque Viejo Road in the Cayo District, sitting on top of a hill surrounded by views of the Maya Mountains, is Rumors Resort Hotel. Gorgeous views and beautiful landscaping? Yes Free wifi? Yes Air conditioning? Yes (optional) Fair rates? Yes (VERY fair, I think) Nice rooms? Yes Bar/Restaurant? Yes Outdoor dining? Yes Friendly staff? Yes Quickly reply to emails? Yes

New Friends and New Fruits

Published on 2012-07-12 21:19:00

I made it out of the house today!! Trip and Robert were taking the truck into town so I bummed a ride down to the highway and headed towards Belmopan on the 8 o'clock bus. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep on the way there for at least a little while because I felt like I desperately needed some coffee when I got to the bus terminal. Instead of getting on the next bus out towards Cayo I went across

Me VS The Hill

Published on 2012-07-12 02:48:00

I was really looking forward to going out today - I haven't left the hill since Friday, and I'm getting a touch of cabin fever, I think. When I woke up at 6:30 it was pouring outside, but by 7:30 the sky was clearing up a bit and I planned to make my way down the driveway in time to catch the 9 o'clock bus. I started walking around 8:15, but I had to turn around before I even lost sight of the

Tobacco Caye... I'll be back soon!

Published on 2012-07-10 14:54:00

One of my favorite islands here in Belize, so far, is Tobacco Caye. This place actually FEELS like an island - quiet, mellow, slow-paced, and surrounded by the most gorgeous, clear blue water. Another huge plus is that there's almost NO sea grass along the coastline, just some roclks and shells to walk over. It only takes about 10 minutes to walk around the entire perimeter of the island.

Postcards, Crappy Weather and Week-day Plans

Published on 2012-07-08 14:14:00

I picked up two more postcards from Bob when I stopped in the Dangriga Post Office on Friday! San Francisco Colorado It was difficult to get a decent picture of them because it's so dark and dreary today. All weekend has been wet and soggy I still have to throw on my mud boots and go outside to spend time with the chicken, though.... and the bugs are 10 times worse when it's

Fruits and Trees in Belize

Published on 2012-07-07 16:53:00

enormous green caterpillar I wasn't aware that Belize has it's own type of apple.... Small, red, slightly squishy, and imperfectly round I was hesitant to try it because it reminded me of the Cashew Fruit, which I find disgusting, but I was happily surprised to find sweet deliciousness inside! The texture is different than any apple I've ever tried before - it feels more like

Signs in Belize

Published on 2012-07-07 16:09:00

I was going through some of my old albums on Facebook and decided to put together this post about some of the signs I've seen here in Belize. I wonder if he always wears the hat when he's in the road.... No Molesting the Wildlife! yuck Anything that suggests a nap is fine with me The employees at the Palapa Bar love their jobs! I'm pretty sure all of the pics so

Lunchtime at Mama Noots

Published on 2012-07-06 18:01:00

About 6 miles down the Southern Highway, off of the Hummingbird Highway, you come to a dirt road that leads you to the Mayflower Bocawina National Park and Mama Noots Eco Resort. (You may recognize the names from The Traveling Baby Chicken Part 2) Once you turn off the Southern Highway, you drive another 3 or 4 miles west, into the foothills.... Past Teak Trees, orange orchards, raw

Lunchtime at Mama Noots

Published on 2012-07-06 18:01:00

A reader from Mauritius!

Published on 2012-07-05 16:14:00

I noticed that I had a reader from Mauritius checking out my blog - somewhere I've never heard of before today! Of course, I had to look it up..... as well as residency requirements once I saw how frikkin beautiful it is! Reader - who ARE you and how did you find me? Will you PLEASE send me a postcard? I have a million questions about your country if you decide to respond! I don't

A reader from Mauritius!

Published on 2012-07-05 16:14:00

Rough morning.

Published on 2012-07-05 12:30:00

It's been a busy morning on the farm today. By 7 o'clock I had already fed the pups and gone out for a little walk with them so they could do their business. I then started the laundry while simultaneously dusting and reorganizing the kitchen cabinets. By 9 o'clock the laundry was done, the kitchen was clean, the dogs all got doused with flea spray, the chicken was fed, the floors were swept

Rough morning.

Published on 2012-07-05 12:30:00

Sex sells, eh?

Published on 2012-07-04 13:41:00

Ok, so I've been wracking my brain for ways to make money.... What can I do? I can't legally work here in Belize until I become a permanent resident, and I haven't found any work-from-home opportunities online that I qualify for because I'm not in a "participating country." I'm also currently married, so sweet-talking rich men isn't going to work out for me, unfortunately. I thought about

Sex sells, eh?

Published on 2012-07-04 13:41:00

Quick Kriol Lesson

Published on 2012-07-01 15:26:00

You can still talk about me in Spanish and I might not understand what you're saying - but I'm onto the Kriol! Words Backra - White person - as in: white people in tropical climates get raw backs (sun burn) Chinchi - a little bit da - Is, am, are deh - There noh - Don't Gyal - girl Bwai - boy teef - Steal Ju/Jurs - You/yours Wi or Wii - We or us Alawii - us, 3 or more - (all of us) Wai? -

Quick Kriol Lesson

Published on 2012-07-01 15:26:00

Back Online!

Published on 2012-07-01 14:15:00

I don't really have anything specific to post about today - but I'm so stoked to be back online! Five days without internet access at home was too much.... I now know that I can live without TV, but getting online is an absolute necessity in my life. At least for now, anyway. I did go ahead and get my hair dreaded on Thursday - but you don't get any pictures yet. Sorry. After 6 months (December)

Back Online!

Published on 2012-07-01 14:15:00

Loss of Internet, Postcards, Suicidal Toucan and Permanent Residency

Published on 2012-06-27 12:03:00

I have one of those USB wireless internet modem things, and I pay $70bz per month for 5gbs of useage (or something). This month though.... I used 11gbs because I watched so many movies online... so I don't get to have internet at home again until Sunday :( I don't know how I'll survive. I'm "working" here today, at the Pelican Beach Resort in Dangriga Perfect day by the Sea I got three

Loss of Internet, Postcards, Suicidal Toucan and Permanent Residency

Published on 2012-06-27 12:03:00

Postcards, Puppies and Farming... things that make me happy

Published on 2012-06-23 13:09:00

I got my first postcard!!! What makes it extra cool is that it's from one of my blog readers - Sandy in Arkansas - and not even from the Postcrossing site! Thank you, Sandy!! I never realized how pretty Arkansas is! Come them coming, people! The boys here were supposed to take the truck into town yesterday to run errands and stuff - but the truck wouldn't start... so I somehow got

Postcards, Puppies and Farming... things that make me happy

Published on 2012-06-23 13:09:00

What I did today

Published on 2012-06-21 16:57:00

I took some pictures of this guy Aaahhhh!!! I also heard back from Lilly from the Belmopan Humane Society and she asked me if I was ready for puppies today! Some heartless jerk dropped off this sweet dog and her two puppies to die somewhere in San Ignacio and a nice Australian dude and two Canadians started taking care of them about two weeks ago. The Australian guy, Leon, took them

Postcard Exchange!

Published on 2012-06-19 12:26:00

Update to Postcards, Please! I found a postcard exchange website called Postcrossing.com!! I've already sent cards to The U.K, Japan, Taiwan, China, Belgium and Russia, and I have a few heading my way! The same offer applies to you guys - if you want a postcard from Belize, just let me know and we'll swap! Here's my profile on Postcrossing.com - sign up - people are super nice and excited to

The Bus in the Orchard

Published on 2012-06-18 11:53:00

Update to A terrifying walk through the orchard No one has been back to the bus to check on things yet - but Robert told me that there is a family living back there - a Guatemalan man with his Salvadorian wife and their 3 kids. They have a little concrete house back there somewhere that I guess I didn't walk far enough to see, but they use the bus, too. He said I shouldn't go back there anymore

A terrifying walk through the orchard

Published on 2012-06-16 16:07:00

Clive So, this damn dog, Clive ( I think her real name is Sheba) won't go home. She only used to follow Lobo up here once in a while, and she'd always go home when it got dark out... but now she won't leave. It's been, like, four days. I wouldn't care that she spends so much time here if she didn't mess with my cats, but she does, and now they're afraid to go outside to do their

Experimenting with Alcohol. Attempt 1.

Published on 2012-06-14 21:55:00

Produce from the Dangriga Market What better way to spend a Thursday afternoon than attempting to make some homemade apple wine and a pitcher of Bloody Marys made from fresh tomatoes? We've started emptying out boxes as the house gets closer and closer to being finished and unpacked the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer last week. Power Juicer! We tested it out yesterday with some

Creepy creatures in my backyard

Published on 2012-06-10 14:07:00

I was recently introduced to the biggest beetle I've ever seen. Julio and Fernando found it on their way up here on Saturday morning and decided to catch it for me and Trip to check out. it's, like, the size of my thumb Again, I don't have a fancy camera so this picture doesn't do the thing justice - it's SO shiny! Julio and Fernando, trying to find the beetle in the Smithsonian

Postcards, Please!

Published on 2012-06-09 14:58:00

I've decided that I want to start collecting post cards from all over the world - can you help me out? I have readers from the US, Canada, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Australia, Ireland, Israel, Croatia (hi Marijana!) Russia, Spain, Germany, France, Japan, UK, Norway, Brazil, Panama..... A boy from the Czech Republic found me somehow and asked me for a post card from Belize, so I sent

Another test code

Published on 2012-06-08 18:36:00

F6DH4XZF64D4 After 6 months, I'm STILL trying to figure out the best way to generate more traffic to my blog. If you know about this stuff and feel like helpin a girl out.... please do!

Updates - The Chicken and the house

Published on 2012-06-08 15:54:00

Camilla is just about 9 weeks old now, and yes, she is a female. I'm certain of this because the other chick that hatched the same day as her totally looks like a mini rooster he already has a tiny comb on his head and a waddle Camilla is still managing to gimp around even though she looks a little overweight to me and her legs seems to be getting worse my big, fat, broken hen She

Immigration Interview

Published on 2012-06-07 19:16:00

Today I finally went for my interview with immigration. (see Permanent Residence in Belize part 1 and News Breakdown updates, pictures and Permanent Residence part 2 to see how I got to this step.) Other than my file not being in the interview room when it was my turn to go in and having to go downstairs to ask someone to find it for me, everything went surprisingly smooth. *** quick change of

6 hours of travel time to get to San Pedro for the weekend

Published on 2012-06-06 17:29:00

I went to San Pedro for the weekend to see some friends and try to make a few work contacts for when my residency goes through and I'm allowed to get a job again. (My interview is tomorrow!) Ahhh, San Pedro I headed out of my house at 9:25am on Friday morning and got to the end of the driveway at 10:05, just seconds before the bus showed up. I paid $9bz to get from my stop in Alta Vista all

Letters to My Friends new page

Published on 2012-06-05 19:37:00

Come like me on Facebook! Tonight (if I can stay awake) I'll post about my 6 hour trip to and 9 hour trip home from San Pedro. My peek-a-boo buddy on the water taxi Cheers!

Belizean Stewed Chicken

Published on 2012-05-31 17:26:00

In just about every restaurant, cafe or roadside food stand in Belize, Stewed Chicken is sure to be an option on the menu. Sometimes, it’s the only option on the menu! Generally served with rice and beans or coconut rice and cole slaw, this staple food of Belize is simple enough to make at home. What you will need: 1 package – chicken parts (breast, thigh, wings whatever you prefer) Fresh

More FAQ's I get about Belize

Published on 2012-05-31 15:08:00

After being back in the States for a week and getting more questions about Belize, I decided to create a follow-up post to FAQ's I get about moving to Belize Your house has no running water?? Where do you.... go to the bathroom? Apparently people have missed my mentioning of the outhouse we have, about 50 yards away from the house. It was built before anything else so that the workers had

Crime in Belize... not so new

Published on 2012-05-29 12:57:00

Here are the front page headlines from The Reporter on Sunday, May 27, 2012 Eleven year old dies in gang war Two charged for Maturas' murders Belize City woman charged for BDF corporal's murder Chang's Election Petition falls flat I heard on the radio that there have already been 54 murders in Belize since January, and that a few days ago so I'm sure the number is higher now. I know so many

New additions to the Farm and a Circus in Dangriga

Published on 2012-05-27 13:57:00

I was hoping to come home to a house with running water. I did not. I did find finished counter tops in the kitchen, a finished bathroom floor, a fancy new grill to cook on.... and 6 new baby chickens!! 2 yellows and 4 blacks babies!!! I can't name these ones because I'm not allowed to get attached... When they're old enough we'll have to sell them and everyone here knows that I'll

Ready to go home

Published on 2012-05-22 22:48:00

This trip back to Pennsylvania has completely exhausted me. Maybe it has something to do with drinking more liquor in 3 nights than I have in the past year, or maybe it's because I didn't go to bed until around 4am almost every night that I've been here, or maybe it's from trying to catch up with 20 different people in 7 days, but I'm BEAT! If you know me in real life, then you probably know

5:12am, Tuesday morning

Published on 2012-05-15 06:28:00

My first flight out of Dangriga is at 9:20 this morning... and I've been awake since 3:30, so I'm just trolling the Internet and looking for interesting stories... Did you hear about the 24 year old girl in Georgia who was on a homemade zip line that broke? This poor girl - the line ripped her leg open and she needed 27 staples to close it back up. That's horrible enough - but it gets much, much

A lazy, rainy Sunday

Published on 2012-05-13 18:25:00

Mother nature is giving us a little taste of what to expect when the rainy season comes by sending a nice storm our way for a few hours this morning, so it's been a nice day to just stay in and mess with my blog. (If you've been reading as religiously as you should be, you'll notice that I adopted a new template and background image - and you can now leave a comment without signing up for a

News Breakdown Updates, Pictures & Permanent Residence part 2

Published on 2012-05-11 16:45:00

I haven't read anything else about the GOB paying gang members, but I did see somewhere online that the dentist story was a lie. Total bummer. my breakdown of the news Everyone's all over the John McAfee story, though, and I've found this article by the San Pedro Sun has the most information: McAfee vs GSU. Will the GSU apologize to McAfee, or will he get the US State Department to issue a

test number 2

Published on 2012-05-09 15:00:00

Add blog to our blog directory.

just testing seo's again.

Published on 2012-05-09 14:59:00

Sports & Recreation Directory

My breakdown of the News in Belize

Published on 2012-05-09 13:25:00

I've decided that, since American news channels never mention Belize unless a US fugitive is captured down here or there's a hurricane heading our way, I'll recap some of our news articles for my friends back home. The biggest story this week is about John McAfee, the antivirus software pioneer, investor and philanthropist. I knew that he has a mansion somewhere on Ambergris Caye, but apparently

Permanent Residence in Belize - the beginning

Published on 2012-05-08 10:27:00

The first step to getting your permanent residency in Belize to come here and stay for one full year, without leaving for more than 14 days during that year. In order to stay for that long, you'll either need to go to immigration every 30 days and pay for an extension, (the cost of an extension is $50bz ($25us) every month for the first 6 months, and $100bz ($50us) for the last 6 months) or do

Consultation Services

Published on 2012-05-08 10:15:00

If you want to live, retire, invest, get married, or travel in Belize and are finding the process a bit time consuming and overwhelming, I can help you with all of your needs. I've been traveling all around Belize for 4 years now, I got married here, and have gone through the process of getting a work permit, buying land, and most recently, applying for Permanent Residence. Email me at CatCoCS

Baby Chicken - Updates and Travels

Published on 2012-05-02 15:41:00

I still don't know if this chicken is a hen or a rooster, and I don't want to do this: Sexing Chickens, to find out. I've met some people who say that, because she/he has longer tail feathers (butt fluff, as I call it) it means it's a boy. Other people say that the longer butt fluff means it's a girl. I guess I have to just keep waiting so I know if it's name should be Camilla or Gonzo....

Progress on the house (Part 3)

Published on 2012-04-28 16:56:00

A lot of things that we're working on here have nothing to do with the house itself, and everything to do with getting ready for the rainy season. The car port we decided to build has a little to do with both - it's attached to the house, and in the rainy season we'll have a dry spot to work on the trucks. (Clearly when I say "we," I really mean, "the boys.") Its made with leaves from the

My solo trip to Belmopan, lessons learned. (Long post!)

Published on 2012-04-28 13:39:00

It's almost time for me to apply for my Belizean residency, so I bussed it to Belmopan yesterday to pick up my paperwork. I had run into *Bolo's mom the day before and told her my plan, so she offered to go with me and was down there waiting when I got to the bus stop at 7:30. There were kids from the village waiting for their bus to school, and a woman named Consuela who was waiting for the

Snowflakes in Belize

Published on 2012-04-24 10:12:00

No no no, you crazy kids, it isn't snowing in Belize. I just think it's funny how many things you can buy here that have a snowflake pattern on it... and even funnier that none of the Belizeans that I've asked about it know what they are. Like this plastic cup that Robert bought, for example: Snowflake cup When I asked him if he knew what these little white things on the cup are, he

Quick Sugar Fix - Fried Coconut

Published on 2012-04-21 16:00:00

Quickest post ever- All you need to do is grind up some coconut meat and fry it up with a little bit of coconut oil and some sugar until it gets brown and slightly crunchy looking. Fried Coconut It tastes like coconut cotton candy. SO good.

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