We arrived at our island home expecting to be greeted by our lady Ms. Sunshine but instead were welcomed by one solid week of the dreaded 'North'. To us Minnesotans, the 'North' is simply a cold front - a cool weather pattern tunneling down from the North. Daytime temps drop 10 degrees and a blanket is needed to sleep comfortably at night. But to the local Belizeans, the 'North' takes on a persona of her own. She is like an evil witch from the crippling cold, sweeping down to the Tropics to deliver sickness and despair. There are long lines at the pharmacy as mothers buy cough syrup in preparation for the inevitable colds and flus. Grown men wear stocking hats and layers of long-sleeve shirts and army jackets. All the bare feet disappear and the islanders start to resemble football fans at Lambeau Field. Everyone hopes and prays that the witch doesn't deliver her basket of sickness to their doorstep.
Now I only hold a Bachelor's Degree - and in Psychology none-the-less - but doesn't sickness come from germs, viruses and bacteria? Can a cool wind really do anything to a human body? I would think that leaving a pot of stewed beans on the counter to re-warm and eat all week long would bring more sickness than simple weather changes. But this is Central America - a place where firm beliefs in cultural lore outweighs any biology course. A place where listening to your grandmother's advice (no matter WHAT that might be) is the only way to ensure longevity and strength. A place where saying "good morning" to the villagers with a polite smile is the best way to secure social good-standing. And a place where us know-it-all gringos, if we can manage to slow down for a minute, just might actually learn a thing or two.
Now if you will excuse me, I think it is time to put on my socks.
Posts
