And it was a bit of an ordeal.
Then I signed up for a trip through this program called EF Ultimate Break.
One of the best decisions I've ever made.
It was not an ordeal at all.
I paid it off with the payment plan they had and that was basically all I had to do.
Prepping was a bit stressful because I had no idea what I needed to bring. I asked everyone everything I could think of and repacked at least four times before leaving (although once was shifting to a larger suitcase).
I met two people at the airport in the EF group (after awkwardly thinking a random person was one of them and talking to her for awhile -- I didn't get the title Queen of Awkward for nothing). Sara and KJ are absolute delights.
The flight wasn't bad at all, only 2.5 hours.
When we arrived and managed through customs, Ezy, the tour director, met us and added us the rest of the group. From there we waited a little while.
Some people went and ate food, but most of us just stood around making small talk.
My heart pounded as I stood there. Forcing myself into a new situation where I knew no one is so far out of my comfort zone, I'm glad I didn't just stand there silently.
For a few moments there, I wondered if I should have ever signed up for a trip like that.
What was I doing there? A shy, introverted, relatively naive-to-the-world girl thrown into the middle of a group where I knew no one? There was no turning around. No turning back. I'd spent too much money as it was. What had I gotten myself into?
We waited there for a while.
Then we got on a charter bus and I began having major marching band flashbacks. It wasn't the last time either. I mean, large groups of people dealing in very hot areas with an ever-changing amount of clothing (there's little difference between stripping out of a marching uniform into normal clothing and normal clothing into swimwear).
Despite different groups forming, a type of camaraderie began to appear between all of us. Especially after the Mixer on night 2. That was an intense night which involved blue lemon drop shots, learning a lot about the love life of a few people, breaking the hotel, and having someone have to go to the hospital.
That day had us hanging out at the Lamanai ruins.
I was one of the people racing to the top of every temple. It was so cool seeing the temples before everyone else got up there. It didn't matter how shaky my legs grew because hey were unaccustomed to racing up hundreds of steep stairs.
At the first hotel, we also did a crocodile safari and we wandered around a nearby village. I did drink out of a coconut here, but I was not one of those that sought his or her own from trees near the hotel.
The second hotel we went to was beachfront and there was a pier that had a slide and zipline into the water, along with a few other water toys. There were some Royal Army guys there from places like Ireland and Scotland and the stories those guys had. Man. Even just the folklore and legends. I spent quite a bit of time interrogating a couple of them about different legends (including but not limited to: selkies, fairies, leprechauns, and giants).
Things might have gotten a tad bit fuzzy around this hotel. I do remember karaoke (with free shots), the owner having dogs, meeting multiple people from Austin of which one of them's name was Ramen like the noodles, and snorkling for the first time. This was where I decided I had to see a sunrise in Belize at some point.
Fun story, apparently on our last night at this hotel, someone was attacked in a hotel nearby and police came by our hotel to make sure everyone was okay.
I... drank way too much at this hotel. I willingly admit to that. Did I cut back? It was in my intentions. But so was sleeping more.
The next hotel, we moved inland again and much closer to the Guatemala border. It was nice. The pools glowed, the bar tender was nice, and a super flirt. I thought I got a picture with him and a drink he made me, but apparently I didn't.
At that hotel, after a party in the pool and a room, when I couldn't sleep, one of the guys in the group and I got a ghost tour by a not-security guard who was friends with Ezy. By the end of it, I was definitely dozing off.
I only got a full night sleep once during this trip and it was either the night before or the night after the ghost tour.... I don't remember which. We did go to the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala but I left my phone and everything except my wallet and passport on the bus. It was a way to accidentally force myself to buy souvenirs.
When I go back to Belize, there is no doubt in my mind, I will go to Jaguar Reef. That had to be the best hotel by far. Even if we didn't do anything while we were there, I'd say the same thing. It was gorgeous. Absolutely no comparison to any of our other places.
The bartender here, Captain Jack Sparrow, was wonderful. Like seriously. It's partially his fault that I drank too much here too. (I am well aware it was actually my own fault.)
It was here that I went repelling for the first time, and to make it more difficult, I went waterfall repelling. It was a blast. I had three elbow pads and a knee pad.
It seemed like a good idea to stick to the back of the group because I'd never done it before and I thought watching a few people would be great. Then we get to where we are repelling and the line turns backwards.
I had to go first.
I had no earthly idea what I was doing.
I fell at least three times.
I can't wait to do it again.
At this hotel, we also did a cooking class and went to a chocolate factory thing. All were wonderful. One night we did go to an area that had glowing algae. I don't remember exactly what it was called, all I know was we were calling it the bioluminecent thing. It was cool. I felt like fairies were waterfalling out of my hair when I spun in the water.
We were only in the last hotel for one night. But it was still fun. The farewell dinner was a blast. Some girls jumped into the pool in their dresses. Dancing and eating and drinking all happened. Two guys crashed our karaoke.
When the bar closed we went to a casino. Well, some of us went to a casino. Others forgot our IDs and had to go back to the hotel. I forgot my ID. And when we got back, most of the group was moving from the casino to the club. Which is where the rest of the night took place.
At least until Ezy picked us up and took us back to the hotel. This was the night I finally managed to see the sunrise. Which was epic.
I entered this trip anxious and concerned. The idea that in just ten short days so many strangers could turn into friends is just incredible.
Would I do an EF trip again? In a heartbeat. In fact, I'm already working on signing up for one over New Years. Hopefully my boss will be okay with it, especially with my new promotion. But that's months away so hopefully all will work out.
If you are between the ages of 18 and 29 and are looking into signing up for a trip, I highly recommend EF Ultimate Break trips. And if you hit me up, I can get you a referaal that can get you $100 off!
Until next time,
Shelby
