So one of the most common questions that I have been asked since getting accepted onto World Race and telling people about as part of my fundraising pitch is “Where will I be going?” So to answer that I have decided to do a monthly geography blog about each one of the eleven countries that I’ll be serving in later this year/next year. I must admit that while I am very knowledgeable in geography, I had to look up where exactly I was going since my mind was blanking on just where in the world was these 11 countries. So first up is Belize
Flag of Belize
So here are some fun facts about Belize-the 1st stop on my World Race adventure:
Gained independence from Great Britain on Sept 21st, 1981
Roman Catholicism is still the largest religion in Belize as it is practiced by 40% of the population followed by Pentecostalism at 8.5% practiced by the population.
GDP: $26 billion world rank:121
GDP per capita:$8,000 world rank: 128
Major exports:Sugar, Bananas, Oranges and Wood
Life Expectancy: Avg. 73 years Male:71 years Female 75 years
Government: Parliamentary Representive Democratic Monarchy (Huh?)
Belize is the smallest of the Central American countries as far a population size
Home to the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world
Belize’s Black Howler Monkeys, locally known as “Baboons” are one of the top 10 loudest animals in the world. (Great…….*rolls eyes* hahahahahaha)
Close to 1 million tourists visit Belize annually, 70% of who are North Americans.
The Belizean seawater temperature averages between 79 to 83 degrees F.
Whale sharks are harmless to humans – they eat plankton and fish eggs.
Approximately 1,000 Mayan ruins are scattered throughout Belize. Most are unexplored and sadly some like the famous Noh Mul have been destroyed and used for road fill.
Belize’s mainland is about 180 miles long and up to 68 miles wide.
If you select Gibnut from a menu, you’re about to dine on a rainforest rodent (Paca Cuniculus) which is a popular game meat in Belize also known as the Royal Rat. (The Queen of England ate it during a visit to Belize and gave it the Royal Thumbs Up).
Belize’s wetlands are home for two of the 23 species of Crocodilians, the fresh water Morelet’s Crocodile and the saltwater American Crocodile.
Some of Belize’s most interesting place names include Baking Pot, Double Head Cabbage, Laughing Bird Caye, Cattle Landing, Monkey River, Gallon Jug, Bullet Tree Falls, Teakettle, More Tomorrow, Never Delay, Crooked Tree, Hummingbird Highway, Raspaculo (scrape your bottom), Sal Si Puedes (come out if you can) and Labouring Creek
A typical Belizean breakfast consists of creole bread, corn or flour tortilla, cheese, fried beans, eggs, bacon and coffee, tea or milk.
Like in many deeply religious countries, many Belizeans avoid swimming in the sea or rivers on Good Friday with the belief that it can bring misfortune.
The least visited destination in Belize is Toledo, sometimes referred to as “the forgotten district” (1,669 square miles of rainforests, mountains, rivers and Maya Villages).
Belize is the only Central American country with English as its official language. However, you will hear a variety of Spanish, Creole, and Maya in some greetings
(which is good for people like me who don’t remember a whole lot from high school Spanish class haha)
So I feel like I’m back in 7th grade when doing all this, but hey it’s cool since I enjoy doing things like this. (not to mention give me some good prep work in case I do have to do some school teaching as part of a month’s ministry.
Keep on donating!!!!! I want to be fully funded before I leave in Oct!!!!!
Til next time your fellow sister in Christ,
Gumshoe Bakewell
Psalm 18:2
YOLO
