belize

I had the chance to go to Belize this month and have an adventure. I really didn't know much about the country until I went, but it's a culturally fascinating place. Although it is in Central America, it has a wide array of people living within its borders...Mestizos, Creoles, Mayans, Chinese, and most surprisingly to me, Mennonites (who apparently provide most of the dairy for the country from their farms). We stayed in a pretty incredible tree house in the middle of the jungle and got to explore some fascinating caves, as well as check out the jungle wildlife.

Outdoor shower which was awesome...

One of the things I may have liked the most about the trip is that pretty much no one was attached to any phone/computer/or device of any kind the whole time we were there. Everyone just spends time actually interacting with one another - how novel! This emphasis on community was so refreshing, it was like a drink for my soul. And, I have to say, made it all the harder to come back to the Western world that is often so less community oriented and focused on interacting through a device. Those of us in first world countries are duped into thinking we have so much, but, the reality is we are poor in many ways. Travel is always good for bringing fresh and broader perspective!