Disenchantment

Reasons some others didn't like Belize

Lots of street people.  Belize City is full of panhandlers, clever people, who will actually stalk you, invent stories which intertwine with your life, convince you to "loan" them money.  Up here in the north, Corozal has a few crack-heads, identifiable by the 5-gallon plastic bucket they carry.  They will try to wash your car, get a loan or a handout, until they find out that you are merciless, as we all are, faced with an individual who has chosen to wreck their life on the shoals of drugs. (As a counterpoint, NYC and SFO have the same derelicts littering their streets.) 

Thievery.  You may not think you're rich, but a poor Belizean does and he believes that you should share.  He will pick up anything you have lying around.  If you buy/rent a house and go off to the States for six months, there's a good chance some boys will break into the house unless it's impregnable.  (Many hire a house-sitter, or a guard.)  We have had no trouble whatsoever on our little street in Corozal, but a) it's very well lit, b) a chorus of dogs greets every stranger and c) Corozal is probably the most crime-free town in Belize. It's definitely better than Houston, Wichita, or <gasp> Miami.  

Newer:  (Apr 05) I now live here, on a street on the other side of town.  Altho I live a block from "skeleton town"  (one of the worst areas in Corozal) my street is very safe.  All of the neighbors watch out for each other, and call the police if anyone questionable is hanging around.  

Newest (Dec 05)  An account of the burglary that triggered my escape from Belize. 

Hot & Buggy.  It is hot here, especially in the sun.  It is worst when the wind is not blowing.  There are bugs, and they are the worst when the wind is not blowing.  There is a stretch in August, called "the mauger" by some, when the wind stops.  Most affluent Belizeans go to visit their kids in the States.  <grin>  As a counterpoint, it's actually about like Florida, Louisiana or <gasp> south Texas.  

Small-town.  The population of the whole country is less than Savannah, GA, or comparable small cities in the US.  Corozal is 15K max, and that means that everyone knows everything you do. If you want to fool around, you will be "the gossip of the town" as the song goes.   Like small towns everywhere, gossiping is a favorite recreation.  Some people came here to get lost, and the only way you can do that here is to not talk to anyone.  <grin>

No Beach!!  Except for a few (mostly manmade) stretches, the Belize mainland doesn't have miles of "white silver sands" as the song goes.  Add to the lack of beach the fact that some of a town's draining water goes right into the the surf, . . .well, you get the idea.  So much for that dream you had before you got here. 

Boring.  What kind of life are you living now?

  - Busy, stress-filled, full of excitement?

or

  - Bored.  Tired of living the same old grind.  Looking for more out of life?

Some people were bored in their previous life, and they came to Belize for excitement.  MISTAKE!!   Cancún is exciting, Cozomel is exciting, Belize is boring!  There are lots of things to do, but none of them are "thrill a minute."   Diving on the reef is only exciting if you're drowning!  Most of the time, it's just swimming around, looking at the beautiful sights.   Fishing is exciting, but depends on the weather and your luck.  My friends came down here last March to fish and it was so windy they couldn't cast!  I'm pretty sure they were bored, but I don't know for sure, since they haven't spoken to me since!  Exploring the Mayan ruins is exhausting -- all those stairs -- but not exciting.  If you want to be entertained, go to Las Vegas and take in the shows.  If you want excitement, join the Marines.

Adventure.  On the other hand, almost everything we have done since we left the US has been an adventure!  We are busy by choice, loved and needed by a host of new friends. 

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