I.II.III.III – Caye Caulker (Again): Day Three
CAYE CAULKER (AGAIN)
I.II.III.III – DAY THREE
20/09/22
My time in Caye Caulker was running short. Judy, having given her blessing to Roy about taking my hand in marriage (?!?!), had also bid us adieu. Next up, would be me. It was so sad that none of us wanted to think about it.
In wanting to change the subject as we sat day-drinking at Tipsea, Becca suggested we do something a bit odd. We’d take it in turns to mention our favourite memory on the island and then say something about each other. This was something my closest friends and I used to do. To get to that stage of friendship, it had taken us years. And now I found myself doing the same thing with a group of people I had practically just met! I loved the juxtaposition of Caye Caulker’s ‘go slow’ attitude with how fast everything seemed to progress there. First it was my fling with Roy, then it was this new-found bond with the Bloodclaat Gang. So, so weird!
After the round was over, everyone was in tears. We had shared some of our deepest, darkest secrets over the few days we had spent in each other’s companies. Becca had confided in us about her miscarriage and how she’s on this trip to do some soul searching. Oliver told us all about his struggles at work and with his sexuality. It might’ve just been a few days, but the bond we created seemed timeless. And so, it wasn’t just a trivial exercise. We bore our hearts out to each other, listing each other’s apparent strengths and flaws amongst other things. As heartwarming as it all was, I still felt a bit weirded out when all of them pointed out to Roy and I that we look like an old, married couple. I could feel my commitmentophobia acting up there and then!
Independence Day
Before I’d leave, there was one last thing to look forward to. Whilst my birthday was the previous week, it was finally time to celebrate another one. This time round, the candle would be lit for Belize! On the 21st of September, Belize celebrates its Independence Day – and I’d be lucky enough to attend its 41st birthday!
Belize, much like my own country Malta – which coincidentally celebrates its own independence on the same day, was a British colony until they relinquished their control in 1964. Also coincidentally and on a darker note, Queen Elizabeth II had passed away a few days previously. Being so fond of her, it was a blow to most Belizeans – though that didn’t quite stop them from celebrating their independence. And celebrate it they do. Belizeans are sure to go all out on this special day, way more than us Maltese ever do. Whilst for us it’s just a public holiday, which means nothing more than a day off work (unless you’re a healthcare professional, of course), celebrations in Belize are more akin to grand festival.
Festivities would start from the eve of the holiday in the form of a concert that took place close to Sports Bar. From Soca to reggae, we danced the night away, even more so when the rain started pouring! By that time, Becca and I had grown to actually enjoy the music ourselves. And, this time round, it’d be my turn to get up on stage. All I could think of as I was being dragged there was “I don’t wanna be the obnoxious, culturally-appropriating white guy pissing all over their celebrations”. Despite my internal monologue and many objections, I found myself up there along some other fifteen people. With the crowd cheering, my pathetic albeit enthusiastic dancing turned out to be not the worst thing Caye Caulker had seen in all its history. That only reaffirmed the feelings I felt for that island and its people. A sense of inclusivity unlike any other…
The concert was followed by what they call the ‘juve’; a full-on parade along the perimeter of the island with floats and costumes, with singing and dancing all the way. This, unfortunately, I missed out on. After two weeks of partying almost every day, my body had had enough, and I literally couldn’t bear any more drinking and partying. I decided I’d rather go rest and recover in preparation for the following day.