BOB, TASIS '76, used to be a
partner in a company, Data Entry Products, which made switches for cellular
phones. What makes someone change from VP of Operations to "jungle
guide"? He and his wife, Camille, before they left their more
conventional life in Virginia, wrote a "Mission Statement" to use
as a blueprint for their life together: "Team together to avoid
negative influences and create a life of challenge and fulfillment by
following our hearts." Read their joint recounting of where their
hearts led them.
What makes an educated pair of successful
wage earners from the United States quit their jobs, sell their home, leave
the country and move to Belize? In our case, it was a quest for a different
perspective. We had looked at the world through a consumerist haze for 20
years and it was time to shake up our value system. Bob's family had trotted
him off to Africa as a child and Camille was fascinated by his stories of a
totally different culture. Like everyone else in the States, we had been
hearing about the plight in the rain forests. We were eager to experience
life in this beautiful country and learn more about the ecotourism industry.
We decided it was time to step off the treadmill and venture forth.
To accomplish this goal, Bob gave his resignation at work and Camille gave
notice to the horse owners who were boarding their animals at "Trout's
Farm" in Williamsburg, Virginia. For the next three months, we got
together for bi-weekly Strategic Planning Meetings. We listed the things we
wanted more of in our lives, like togetherness, fresh air, animals and good
food. Then we listed the things we wanted less of such as pollution, crowds,
winter and commuting. We chose a few scenarios and pursued our favorite with
a letter to the owners of a Belizean jungle lodge specializing in horseback
riding tours. "Hello," we wrote, "we have lots of experience
in business, restaurants and horses. Would you be willing to give us room
and board for a year in exchange for our help?"
We received an enthusiastic reply and flew down to meet the owners of the
lodge. The owners had decided to trade places with us. We would move into
their home and manage the lodge and they would move back to the states. The
following nine days were spent immersing ourselves in all aspects of the
business. They planned to have already left by the time we returned a month
later. Before we knew it, we had sold our little farm in Virginia and
stepped into our new life of facilitating other people's holidays.
Our life in Belize is good and the pace of life is refreshingly slow. The
people here are friendly, mind their own business and have very few
expectations. We rarely hear anyone blame someone or something else for
their position in life. Since nobody owns very much, there is nothing to
insure or buy alarm systems for. People spend a fair amount of time working
with and talking with their families. Most Belizeans don't work outside the
home. They have a simple, easily maintained lifestyle - with lots of time to
enjoy family, friends and nature. Homes are built from material available in
the forest. No one has a mortgage. Few Belizeans own vehicles, which
eliminates the need for car payments, insurance and gasoline. Family milpas
(gardens) are common and therefore the grocery bills are low.
Life in a developing country can be a challenge, but in a good way. Every
day brings it's own agenda. We are not always able to impose our will upon
our environment. Things that work one day, mysteriously refuse to the next,
and then return to their former condition without intervention. We jokingly
blame our technical failures on the "duende," that mischievous elf
of the rain forest. It is sobering to realize that we are not in control;
yet that knowledge liberates us from the burden of responsibility. There's
little reason for anger or despair because tomorrow will bring a totally
different set of circumstances. Getting through the day is cause for
celebration, which we do with coconut rum and mango juice on our verandah
looking out over the rainforest hills and pastures. After sunset, we go to
bed, pleased with our efforts and slip into a long and peaceful sleep.
We wake to the cacophony of birdcalls celebrating another dawn. Every day
brings us more to enjoy in the form of beautiful plants, animals and the
good people we share this earth with. Rain is a joy shared by us all. One of
our greatest pleasures is going for a walk with a plastic bag and coming
back with it full of food. Under every producing tree lie custom-made
sticks, called "seven sticks" because of their shape. They have a
hook at one end perfect for grabbing the branches above and shaking loose
the avocados, breadfruit, mangos or citrus. We grow oranges, grapefruit,
tangerines. Lemons and limes without insecticides or fertilizers. Breadfruit
is indescribably delicious and great when fried and served topped with eggs
and cheese for breakfast. Its flavor reminds us of fresh bread or baked
potatoes. It is of no surprise that the crew of the Bounty resented the fact
that they were not treated with the same respect as the captain's breadfruit
seedlings.
The area we live in is classified as broadleaf rainforest - the canopy is
between 30 and 70 feet tall. The jungle is thick with vines, palms and
various epiphytes (orchids and "airplanes') and bromeliads. We have not
yet seen any of the large cats that are known to be in our area - ocelot,
jaguarondi, margay, jaguar and mountain lion. We have seen their tracks and
smelled their scent.
About a mile away, there is a beautiful jungle valley leased by the lodge
called the Vega. It has a small Mayan ruin, a crystal clear stream and a dry
cave that is quite impressive with its stalactites, Mayan pottery and bats.
The Vega is home to tapirs, mountain lion, ocelots and many species of birds
and butterflies. When they are not working, the horses grow fat on the
Vega's lush grasses. We rotate the herd each week between the lodge and the
Vega so that we can be sure to provide our guests with happy, rested mounts.
Many of the trees and other plants can be used for medicinal purposes. When
we feel ill, we hack up a vine and boil it for a healing, bitter tea.
Headaches respond to a cold poultice of the "sandpaper vine" and
allspice tea soothes a sore throat. Our Mayan guides are happy to share
their rich knowledge of the rain forest medicines with us.
At the end of the day, we often have time to watch the sunset from the
verandah outside our bedroom. We have been busily deciphering the southern
sky on clear nights. The heavens are stunningly bright because there is no
pollution. Bob gives most of our guests a "star tour" after
dinner. Another evening activity is called a "night walk" in which
we take flashlights and walk down the Allspice Trail through the bush in
search of wildlife. Two-thirds of the wildlife is nocturnal.
We take great pleasure in tending this piece of earth with time left over to
sit and appreciate our work. A machete is the best trimming tool and the
locals begin learning how to use it when they are about 5 years old.
Everyone has a file for keeping their machete sharp while they work. We keep
the file sharp by soaking it in limejuice. Keeping back the jungle is a
constant chore. Our co-workers make their double- edged blades sing as they
cut through the bush. Most men have a machete scar with a story behind it.
These tales get better with the telling and help pass the time it takes to
sharpen those blades.
One of Bob's greatest strengths is the ability to create a team. It is
wonderful to see how well everyone works together under his supervision. The
team consists of three families who live on the property and one woman from
a nearby village. With only 8 people, we are able to maintain the grounds,
pastures; riding trails, and rooms; as well as provide meals, tours and
transportation for our guests. But this move wouldn't have been possible
without Camille's willingness to live with less in the way of creature
comforts and the material things most wives come to expect. She happily
added her skills as ground crew to make a comfortable life for us and kept
us connected to our family and friends through her diligent correspondence.
We have received the unexpected bonus of seeing how well our skills
complement each other. This good balance of work and play in a beautiful
setting has given us time to sit back and realign our values. We have found
great satisfaction in pooling our observations and building new theories
about life. We can see that the really important things in life are the
simplest. Fresh air, clean water, a dry roof, good food, hard work and time
to relax are what we intend to strive for from now on.