In Washington we have many words to
describe rain, since it is such a significant part of our daily
lives. Whether it's pouring, misting, sprinkling, raining, showering,
drizzling, coming down like cats and dogs or in sheets we take note
of how Mother Nature drops water upon us. As a product of this
culture, rain is a part of who I am. I will always appreciate the
smell and sound of precipitation.
In Belize the rainy season has begun.
These jungle rains are a far cry from the rains I know so well. When
a storm breaks the temperature drops to a more comfortable heat, but
only momentarily. They are accompanied by exciting bursts of loud
clapping thunder and bright flashes of light. The rains soak
everything quickly which makes working in the field all the more
exciting. As if that's not enough fun, the rain brings friends,
clouds of giant mosquitoes! Nothing can stop these guys, they're the
Arnold Schwarzenegger version of the mosquitoes that I had become
accustomed to.
The locals seem to embrace the rainy
season. Multiple times when I have asked someone “Como esta?” the
response I receive is “Mucha lluvia.” Apparently, a lot of rain
is a state of being in Belize! I find this almost comical, but love
the energy and optimism that I have seen in the people here.
The rainy season is also the slow
season for turistas. This means that activity at the lodge has slowed
greatly, leaving it a much quieter, relaxing place. In ways it is
also easier to get work done, with less distractions and less people
on the wifi connection (that fades in and out with the weather). In
heavy down pours I can even be caught with an umbrella, and in the
field my “Rite in the Rain” notebooks are my best friends!
Hopefully this early bit of the rainy
season will prepare me for my return to the states! Who knows what
the weather will be like in the Pacific Northwest upon my arrival. In
just two weeks I will be flying home! This concept doesn't quite seem
real yet and there is still much to do here in Belize!
