Comparing Cultures

2.5 weeks in, 3 weeks to go...

Can't believe we're halfway through! We are spending the next week inland, touring the Toledo and Cayo Districts. We will be visiting a chocolate farm, the zoo, ATM, and Maya ruins. Several of us also plan to do a day trip to Guatemala. I'm sure I'll post more information when we get back (or throughout the week, if I can get a strong enough Internet connection).

Why are we going inland?

Easter is huge in Belize, so all the schools enjoy a two-week break. When we come back from our week on the mainland, we will spend the second week completing service projects around the island.

While I'm still here in San Pedro, I just wanted to jot down a few cultural differences before I forget them. It's actually fairly easy to adopt another culture's way of life. For example, when you go out to eat, you begin eating as soon as you receive your food, instead of waiting for the whole table to get their meals. This is because a lot of the food is freshly made, so it takes a while to prepare each dish. We've accepted this very quickly, I think; you get your food and eat. However, it will be really awkward when I get back to North Carolina and start shoving my face before everyone has gotten their food, right?

As far as food goes, pricing works pretty similarly to Wilmington... Everything on the beach is more expensive! On the street furthest from the beach (known as Back Street), you can get very cheap food. Last night, a group of us went to a place on Back Street called Neri's. I got an empanade and two tostadas for $1.25 US. On the otherhand, a plate of chicken nachos at our favorite beach-front Mexican restaurant costs $9 US (which doesn't sound too bad, really, but it's the cheapest dish on the menu).

Something else about Belize that is common in many countries is that you can't flush the toilet paper. It all goes in the trash can. This was difficult to remember at first, because it's just muscle memory to toss the TP in the toilet. Now it's just the way it is, and I can't help but try to estimate how much toilet paper I'll accidentally put in my trash at home. Eek!

I've been hand-washing all my clothes here, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I miss my washer and dryer! Like most of the girls, I wash my clothes in the sink, transport them to the shower to rinse them off, then carry them behind the restaurant to the clotheslines. I'd imagined line drying being fun and magical, but it's not.

In general, everything is informal and relaxed here. It's definitely not as structured or fast-paced as it is in the States. While I do love structure, this place seems to take away all your worries and ill-feelings. See you in a week!