The first week of May, I had my very first vacation! Now
what was the occasion, you may ask? I think I would be well within my rights to
say, "because I deserve it," but I actually had an even better reason: my sister
came to visit me! It was an 8 day whirlwind trip, starting the trip inland in
San Ignacio and my village, then making our way to the islands of Caye Caulker
and San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
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| Vacation here? I'll take it |
My host brother was kind enough to pick my sister up from
the airport, so we headed over, me with my sign in tow, and awaited her
arrival. I can’t really describe how it felt to see my sister in person after a
year apart.
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| The arrival |
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| First selfie of the trip |
I had overbooked my poor sister because I was so excited
about her actually seeing and experiencing everything from my daily life here.
Saturday had us meeting my friends at a local favorite, Guava Limb Café, and
then exploring San Ignacio’s nightlife.
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| View from the hotel |
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| selection of Guava Limb's best |
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| Red Velvet Cheesecake, a must-have |
Sunday we ventured into Cahal Pech, and then proceeded to
relax and enjoy our hotel’s pool and amenities.
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| Leading the way |
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| I see you! |
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| Breakfast at Pop's, one of my fave places |
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| Pool with a pterodactyl...? |
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| Teva tan strong |
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| That beautiful Belizean sunset |
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| Sunset, poolside |
Monday, I took my sister to my village. This was such an
emotional moment for me. For my sister to meet my host family, to see firsthand
where I live and work, where I walk and buy groceries and exercise and bathe in
the river, was more than I could ever hope for. We had always talked about her visiting my village, but I know that people can be (understandably) hesitant about venturing off the beaten path and experiencing rural life in a foreign country. My sister took the bus, walked around the village, chatted with my host family, and even enjoyed a Fanta from our local store. She did it! I was so proud.
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| sweaty bus ride full of excitement |
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| me, blood sister, host sister sippin on soda: a beautiful moment |
Early Tuesday morning, we were off to Caye Caulker. We went
snorkeling, and I got to introduce my sister to the joys of the Split.
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| Captivated by the water |
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| Landed at paradise |
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| Hammock life for me |
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| yes to mini-donuts always |
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| there I am, snorkeling w the sharks! |
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| Welcome to The Split |
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| The best spot |
Our last leg of the trip was in San Pedro. Here, we enjoyed beach time, a sunset cruise, and some amazing shrimp tacos that were not
photographed because I could not wait that long before consuming them.
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| The turtle we could photograph |
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| :) |
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| Sunset cruise smiles |
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| Sunset in progress |
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| Did I feel seaduced? Maybe a bit |
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| Not sure what's happening |
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| Hearty breakfasts |
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| Repping my country in my new home |
Then of course, the day of her departure came around incredibly
quickly, and I suddenly found myself on a bus back inland, sobbing while the
lady next to me pointedly looked away and out the window. I regained my composure halfway between Belize City and Belmopan, but I still felt burdened by sadness; having my sister here reawakened the part of me I try not to think about while living in Belize: how I miss my family, friends, and American life.
Having my sister visit me and taking a “real” vacation meant
that I could be completely myself. Village life can be a tremendous balancing act that I continue to learn how to perfect. It's stressful, truly a 24/7 job as I must present myself at work and at home with my host family in a way that best represents the professional and representative of the United States I am. My life is at times rewarding, challenging, lonely, and frustrating, often all in the same day, so having the time with my sister was a way to mentally recharge and relax. Who better to do that with than the person whom I grew up with, shared my secrets with, who knows the most about me and still loves me anyway?
It took a few weeks for me to write this blog post because it was so hard for me to relive our trip while going back to daily life here. I needed time to pick up the momentum and attend to my work here. It was the worst case of post-vacation blues I've ever experienced. I had to regain my motivation, remember my purpose, put in the time in my village, go back to work with my CHW and school to relearn the daily routine, and remember the joy I feel when I have small victories in my everyday life. Now, I can look back and smile and not completely dissolve into tears when I think about our trip, while continuing my quiet life in my village.
I’m eternally grateful to my sister for being my first
visitor here and providing me with a dream vacation. She set the bar high, so anyone else planning on visiting,
beware! But if you buy me shrimp tacos, that will help your ranking…
- 11:48 AM
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