Home Sweet Homes

New Apartment!

As I mentioned in my Christmas newsletter, I got to move into the apartment! I said “finally,” because what Nancy and I had originally envisioned did not come to pass. Instead of the apartment being finished in August before the interpreters arrived, the project shifted to Belize time (but slow and steady wins the race, right?). We got to learn about the patience required in construction projects. All in all it is so beautiful, that I know it was worth the wait. Thank you, Nancy for persevering when everything seemed to turn against the project!

The Toledano's House!

From there, I moved in with the Toledano Family upon returning from Christmas break. Why did I move? The reasoning was simple: Kathy needs the space away from Sulmi. Though that may sound strange, it’s true. Think of it this way: would you want to walk in on your middle school teacher brushing their teeth in your house? Absence makes the heart grow fonder. At the same time, Kathy renting another apartment in town seemed isolating. The happy medium placed her in the apartment. That was the thought, but God had bigger plans than that. Renting from the Toledano family was the answer to a mutual need. On my end, it is a blessing because I am still close to Nancy, Kathy and Sulmi (three houses a part). Yet, I have my own space to recharge. On top of that, I cannot tell you how honored I am to be welcomed into another Belizean home. For the Toledano family there are blessings too. I am living with an elderly couple, Mr. Brigido Toledano (BT or “the old man” as called by his wife) and Mrs. Egudelia Toledano (which can be shortened to Ms. “Goody”). Their children are immensely relieved to have someone nearby to look in on their parents. God definitely works in ways, I don’t understand, but His plans are always good.

I used this quote before. Even still I think it is true, though I have been living far above the ground.

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Doctor Visit

See? I'm smiling. It wasn't so bad.

After witnessing what Edgar suffered in the hospital, I am apprehensive about doctors. Alas, God gave me a chance to conquer that fear. I got an ear infection. At least, that is what my self-diagnosis on Web MD led me to believe. My ear was sensitive to the touch, mildly painful, red, hot and itchy on the inside. The question was: what to do? Nancy gave me my choices. I could go to the pharmacy and get ear drops or double-check with the doctor. It seemed safer to get a second opinion. So, off to the doctor I went! Surprisingly, the office visit was nothing I hadn’t experienced before. Since we dropped in, we had to wait about an hour for our turn. I filled out paperwork. They wanted to know my religion which I thought was interesting. Do they ask for that in the states? I can’t remember…The waiting room was filled with your run-of-the-mill Belizeans (just like a doctor's office in the US would be filled with run-of-the-mill Americans). When it was my turn, Nancy and I went back with the doctor. He was very friendly. Upon looking in my ears, he said they were blocked and needed to be flushed. That caused us both Nancy and I some worry, but the doctor was very skilled at his job. I have had nurses before who were not as kind. Then he prescribed some ear drops and off we went. The entire visit did not amount to the wait we had. Apparently, that is typical of any doctor, regardless of country. My conclusion is this: I like and trust Belizean doctor offices, but I am in no way ready to try out the hospitals here! As of right now, my ear feels fine. The ear drops worked!

“May the hair on your toes never fall out!”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Ode to My Work Permit

A pile of papers you were to me

Full of strife and misery.

Your requirements were strange

And led me all over Orange…Walk.

To doctors, Immigration and the Treasury

From Income Tax, Belmopan and much more did I see.

Patiently, did I bear this burden

Making friends along the way, I am certain.

Yet despite it all,

Red tape was ready to cause my fall.  

Months of waiting and paying

Lasted longer than is worth saying.

And God was faithful the whole time,

Keeping me from a life of crime :-) 

In the end, a lesson did I learn:

Humility is cross-cultural and not to be spurned.

Still now that you, work permit, are done

I can celebrate in the sun.

Instead of a Hobbit quote, here is a video which is a humorous way to look at my experiences. My apologies for the captioning; it is lousy! 

The place that sends you mad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtEkUmYecnk