A Letter to the
Folks Up There

Dear Chipper and Buffy,

Glad to get word that you're finally able to get away to come down for a vacation.  Chip, you must be going up the corporate ladder at lashup and kludge construction, else they wouldn't have put a freeze on your plans last spring.  And Buffy, I know you'll enjoy a short escape from your cubicle at grabmore and kiepit insuance...

Too bad they've put you on the night shift... I'm sure that honks up your togetherness.  Oh well, you'll be able to visit each other while you're here.

  • This being your first visit to the tropics I'll offer some tips that I hope will make your stay more enjoyable, for you and the native populace.
  • Folks here don't share your love affair with your wristwatch and clock.  This is an entire nation on flextime... An hour one way or the other is generally close enough.  Don't expect instant service, you'll be disappointed and frustrated.
  • Some of the people here smoke.  They are allowed to and are not social outcasts.  This is not the U.S. of A. where everything is either mandatory or forbidden.
  • The sight of a dog, cat, parrot or goose strolling about a restaurant is quite natural here.  Don't let it upset you.
  • In this area of the country every settlement, village and town has been carved out of the jungle.  Nature's tendency is for it all to return to its original state.  Hence the occasional bat, lizard or scorpion you might encounter in the house regards you as an intruder in his bailiwick, and is generally confused at findng himself in your house.  We'll talk about snakes when you get here.
  • I know you like to "Toke" a bit.  No sense bringing any with you as it might be "Discovered" by customs when you enter.  It is inexpensive and easy to obtain here.  However, be appraised that it is unlawful and you could find yourself locked up in a basic, no frills third world jail or prison for an indefinite stay.  And, no, the U.S. Embassy won't get you out.

So, we're looking forward to your visit.  We'll meet you at the airport.  We'll be the couple that doesn't look like turistas.  You can't miss us.

Best Wishes,
Hooter & Precious

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A Jaunt In The Jungle
by Thom VanDeusen

To be here now, I feel so blessed
The jungle and the rainforest
The river and the waterfall
The pristine beauty of it all
I'm so enthralled, I fail to see
A jaguar closing in on me!

Then suddenly I spot that cat
And wish I had a baseball bat
But no, that weapon wouldn't be good
Not in this jungle neighborhood
No place to run, no place to hide
I should have hired a tour guide!

Now jag is perched in nearby tree
His gaze intense, and fixed on me
Into each other's eyes we stare
The smell of danger's in the air
His fangs are long and dripping drool
Of course I'm feeling none-too-cool.

The fear in me, you have no hunch
For him, this is just "dong lunch"
I need someone to rescue me
Schwarzenegger, could he be free?
Then suddenly, who's at my side"
A brave Belizean tour guide!

He claps his hands, begins to yell
And walks right toward that cat-from-hell
The jag backs off, then runs away
"You saved my life, you saved the day"
He just smiled, "think nothing of it"
He looked a bit, like Lyle Lovett.

"This happens often, you're no freak
I rescue twelve gringos a week
You're lucky that I happened by
Just as you were 'bout to die'
Without a guide, it's just not wise
To get on out and "jungle-ize."






A Lesson In Observation
Under
The Belmoral

There is a little inn at the center of one Belizean town called the New Belmoral. Under it is a covered area that faces the very center of town at an intersection with roads dispersing in five directions.

At any given time, this covered space under the Belmoral might contain a number of children, women, and especially men, each with their own reason for being there. Some stay for hours and appear to be too lazy to do anything more than stand leaning against a pole. Others sit and wait. Others hold conversations with whoever happens by.

Observing this crowd of people brings a certain curiosity. How could grown men just stand in one place for literally hours on end? Don't they have something to do?

But should you try hanging out in one of these very popular observation points you will discover the quiet inner action that takes place. You will discover that it is not idle laziness ruling the space under the Belmoral. There is purpose to stillness. For those who practice meditation, there will be a relative understanding.

One Eastern term that has been used, at least in the Western world, to describe a similar understanding is Wu Wei. The easiest way to explain this might be "the art of not doing". In Christian terms it might be described best in this popular phrase, "Be still and know God."

The bottom line is that in stillness the universe around you can be better understood. All the commotion and action in one's view can be better understood if observed quietly for a period of time.

Time is an important ingredient. Although some men have been known for standing relatively still for four or even six hours straight, a period of two hours is sufficient to obtain a clear understanding of what can be gained from this action.

Getting over the self-conscious feeling of being judged for standing still must pass first. Once this happens, an absorbed feeling can occur, a feeling as though you are a grain of sand on a beach. Then the fullness of your surroundings is felt.

The more you observe the people and cars and actions going on around you, the more you come to understand about the meaning and purpose of those actions. You begin to know why people are moving as they are, how they are connected, where the tensions exist, who is seeking companionship, when an employer might have a need to hire someone, who needs emotional support, and the list goes on and on.

This is not a new concept and it can be achieved almost anywhere. It is a life skill that can help you at home and at work. And it is something that many Belizeans practice often. So enjoy this beautiful country of Belize and resolve to taste a tiny bit of the wisdom of its people.