Prelude

January 22, 2023

Here we are, descending into Belize City, our customs forms completed. The pilot has told us that it is 90 degrees on the ground. What a change from the snowy, wet weather we had in Portland yesterday. Anicka will have to shed her jean jacket and me my thick sweat pants. We will join our friends Zoe and Skip tomorrow on the island of Tobacco Caye. This tiny island has a beach hut and beach side seats waiting for us: a tiny airplane, “puddle jumper” ride away from Belize City. After a few days there, we will hopefully have caught up on sleep and then head to Hopkins and finally San Ignacio. After 11 days of vacationing in Belize, we head to Oaxaca where we plan to live for three or four months-attending language school and Anicka arranged telework.

The past few months and weeks have been rich: highs of sweet gatherings, births, holidays, as well as tears of overwhelm and heavy hearts- already missing our beloved community. We both quit our healthcare jobs, packed up our lives with lots of help from friends and family, and said farewell to the people who bring light into our lives. We deconstructed Anicka’s loom and then set it up in a basement, some of our boxes are being stored in a non functioning sauna, and Anicka’s sister did the brave work of helping us dispose of all condiments who called our fridge home. We are off on an adventure.

How did it start? I recall riding my bicycle home from work about 2 years ago, and thinking about learning Spanish, immersion, travel. What about Anicka, I wondered as I watched the orange horizon of sunset. She had another year after me to complete her scholarship commitment. Would she want to go on such an adventure? Yes, she said. And Anicka is as genuine as they come and together we have made it happen.

Our home is rented to a sweet little family, Gracie will be joining us in May, and now we get to enjoy this time together. We will do our best to share our adventures with you all. Love to the web of connections who have brought us so far.