It's official: I'm going to Belize! I've been saving up money for years, for the Next Big Trip, and I finally bought the tickets. I'm headed to Belize City in mid-January, and will be traveling around the country for the next three weeks, after which I'll catch a plane to San Jose, Costa Rica and do the same there. "Excited" doesn't even begin to cover it.
But, as you may have guessed, one of the reasons I'm going to Belize specifically is to finally see the country that was so dear to my mother's heart. She spent a year there, in 1962, as a Papal Volunteer. And now that I'm going, I realize how little I know about her time there. Does anyone know what city she was in? What school she taught at? Where she lived? I'm not planning on a maudlin pilgrimage, but I'm certainly curious, and if I have names and places, thought I might just investigate a little before I head out into the countryside. So any information you can dig up (I'm looking at you, Tietjen aunts!) would be most welcome. :) --MCB
I was in Belize with Mary Ann from 1963-1964; we both taught at Pallotti High School, which was/is out near the airport. We lived at the Papal Volunteer House on Gabourel Lane; I don't know the address, but it was next door to the other Catholic Girls' High School (I think it was St. Catherine's)...near the prison, and across the street from the Peace Corps house. We also lived together in Milwaukee the following year when Mary Ann began grad school at Marquette and I began teaching. She was in my wedding, and my husband and I were blessed to be at hers. She and Don were godparents for our first child, Anne.
Contact me for any more information you may want.
Posted by: Carol (Wolkerstorfer) Loomis | October 24, 2011 at 08:50 PM
Carol, that is unbelievably helpful. Thank you so much. I'll definitely get in touch before I go.
Posted by: Monica | October 25, 2011 at 10:35 PM