Adventures in Belize
Traveling out of the country has been a goal of mine since I was in high school. There was a point where I had a whole 3-week trip planned out to backpack through Europe at the age of 17, not really considering that the reality of doing something like that, much less on my own, was slim to none. I try to plan at least one big trip throughout the year and this time, it just so happened to be Belize! This trip was filled with a lot of firsts. First trip out of the country by myself (excluding Mexico), first time going to Central America, I got my first stamp in my passport, and it was my first time staying at a whole resort, just to name a few. Going to Belize was a trip that held so many genuine experiences and one that I will never forget.
I flew through United, which was a really interesting experience. It was my first time paying for a first class ticket so I was able to have a fun experience on the flight in! Going through customs was genuinely worrisome because I had never done it before. I wasnt really sure what to expect, and even though I had nothing in my bags, I was still scared that I was going to get pulled over to the side! Customs ended up flying through, though, and was a lot smoother than I had originally imagined. Once I got into Belize, I got experience the “Island Time” that everyone was talking about and let me tell you, its a real thing!
Everything just moved more slowly while being on the Island. There wasnt anyone in a rush, traffic was pretty much non-existent, and the food service was super friendly! With that being said, it was a bit of a culture shock when I would go out to eat and it felt like it would take a long time for food or service to get there. Once you embrace it though, the vibe of the whole trip changes! I got to catch up on reading while waiting, or in some cases even meet new people and made some friends for future travels. I even got invited out to a “Snorkel and Chill” excursion that led to a full day on a boat snorkeling one of the reefs around the island, and even getting to swim with stingrays and sharks! Even with all of that though, the best part of that whole experience was being able to party with everyone on the boat. The food was awesome, the drinks were solid, and the vibes were immaculate!
Belize was an experience that I will never forget, and one I want to add onto at some point and visit again. From the food and adventures, to the people and new culture, I can honestly say the trip was one for the books. Meeting new people and making new friends, while being able to venture out of my own comfort zone has shaped the urge for travelling more down the road!
