Sunday, 4-10-11 San Pedro and Sailing!

First full day in San Pedro. Beatiful place, beautiful people. Folks here, natives, make do with whatever they can. Most live very simple lives. I'm not sure how they all survive here. On our snorkeling trip today, I had an interesting conversation with the boat captain. He is 29 years old, and has lived in San Pedro for 12 years. He came here from the mainland of Belize with his parents. His father died shortly after that, and his mother remarried. His mother and stepfather kicked him out of the house and told him to go to work to support himself. Obviously, school wasn't a concern. He worked many different jobs before finding his current one. On the surface "boat captain/snorkeling guide" may sound like a fun and glamorous job, but it's hard work and pays $50 US per day, but they don't work every day. Currently, he works about every other day. The business is seasonal. The best months are November and December, so he has steady work really only two months out of the year. He's pretty busy during that time. Then there's the rainy season during the summer. He said they might get to work a few days a month during that time. If you really think about it, he has very little income. He shares an apartment with his brother and has a three year old daughter to support. Again, I really don't know how he makes ends meet, and he probably makes more money than most of the natives here. The real money is made by outsiders who come here to take advantage of the tourist trade and own the businesses.

Here are questions I need to answer: What role can education really play in these peoples' lives? To what extent is it possible for them to become successful here (in American terms) even with an education? Are they trapped in their culture and social status anyway? What opportunities exist for them in San Pedro when most businesses (from what I've seen and heard so far) are owned and controlled by outsiders? I may be totally off base here. Again, I have questions.

The "Escape" waiting for passengers.

Under sail and on the way to Hol Chan (Mayan for little channel) and Shark-Ray Alley for some snorkeling on the reef.

Map with Hol Chan and Shark-Ray Alley.

A live conch.

Nurse shark

Ray

Ray

Moray eel coming out to see what's up.

Coral

Coral and fish

Headed to Caye Caulker.

Sailing in to Caye Caulker.

Here is where we had lunch. Delicious food!

Yes, I could get used to this!

Dirt streets and bare feet.

A local hangout next to a great swimming area, "The Split." The Split was created by a category 4 Hurricane named Hattie in 1961. The hurricane literally split the island and created a waterway through which huge tarpon and snapper now travel. The water is crystal clear.

Leaving Caye Caulker. I will be back again.