Unbelizable

 As my first draft, I shall tell my story as it is—just as it would come out of my mouth, in the rare event that I have had just enough to drink and not only I but the people around me are ready for such a story.

My beautiful aunt brought A wonderful man into our family about 15 years ago. It all begins with a fairytale, "I met him at a bar." My tia has always been a very cool influence in my life. She always pushed me to lead by my drive and follow my heart. But only if that meant being the very best at what I was doing. Her now partner invited me and my sister to join them on a trip to Belize and sail on a boat. I have never been out of the country. I expedite my passport and sign on for this excellent opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. I buy a waterproof camera, designer swimsuits, and Prada glasses. You know, because I wanted to fit in with my aunt's new bougie lifestyle. All of the designer crap didn't help me navigate an airport for the first time. 

I met up with my aunt and my new uncle's daughter and her boyfriend and friend. I am headed to our gate and into my assigned seat. There was nobody in the seat next to me. But I started recognizing the other "groups" who were traveling with us. I tried to get comfortable in my seat next to the window when I heard a complaint that an Arctic cooler was being taken to another aircraft. Two ladies hung over the window insisting that their coolers were being loaded on the wrong plane. About 30 minutes later, they relax after seeing their arctic coolers load on our aircraft. If this being my first flight was not enough, the strange woman causing a fit made it worse. As far as I knew, this is procedure. 

It was a 'smooth' flight? Our small aircraft landed and we walked down a flight of stairs onto the pavement. This felt strange. We grabbed our things from a pile of luggage by the exiting doors and headed outside. This is when I realized we were a part of a 40+ group. Everyone else in the group was wearing matching shirts. 

I surpress my anxiety and stand in the blistering heat in my sweats I was told would be best for a long flight. I did not know those were the only clothes I had the option of wearing for the next couple hours. 

Two school buses without airconditioning pulled up to the school pick up zone and we all loaded up on it. My aunt and uncle and his daughter her boyfriend and her friend make our way to the back of the bus. I sat my LuLu Lemon leggings on the busted booths. The kind you would find at a mediocre Mexican restaurant. Soon we are on our way to I have no idea where. I don't ask questions. I just sit in my damp leggings on the prickly seat. There is a bus driver who is a "local" who tries to give any information to us. His partner starts to hand out these small bags of water to us on the bus. 

It is not a smooth ride, we spend most of it holding onto the seat in front of us. looking out the half shield window. I could've stretched my hand out of the window and touched the other buses that passed us by. we went faster and faster and the island music started blasting, the driver held onto the wheel while he purposefully bounced up and down on his seat smiling to his partner who was stabilising himself with the front seat and the top of the bus. 

We pull of to the side of the road next to what seems like a restaurant. We are instructed to get off of the bus and make our way through a buffet line. I have no appetite with how confused I am. I just sit down with who I know and drink another bag of water. 

Thankfully 2 more busses arrive to take us away. an hour later we arrive at what seems like a hotel. It is on the beach. Everyone unloads their things and we try to find our rooms. This is when I find out I do not have a sleeping arrangement. Not only do I need help from a maintenance worker to haul my very heavy suitcase up 3 flights of stairs,... I find out Sarah and her friend Karla have the room. My aunt tried to make arrangements to get me a cot to put up in the room. 

That evening the 40 of us sit by the pool and are once again escorted to a terrible dinner experience. 

I end up sitting at the kids table. but luckily sarah and Karla are sitting with me. We climb the stairs and get into bed. 

The next morning I understand why we are all here. we all walk to a fleet of 5 yachts.... I realize I am grouped with my aunt and uncle of course but along with us is another couple, My uncles daughter and boyfriend, Kate, Ericas friend, Sarah and Karla and me. there are only 4 rooms on this catamaran. so that leaves me and kate to fend for ourselves. I am put in the skippers sleeping beg. which is a coffin shaped hole where the boat skip can crawl in from the deck.... the only way I can get to the coffin is by climbing over Erica and Charle's bed. Forget having to go to the restroom. 

We Load our things on the boat and take a trip into the "city"