I still have to get into the rhythm for my sleep pattern. I couldn’t go to sleep until after 1 am, then didn’t wake up until nearly 9. I got to the dining room at 10:03 and they had closed the service down. So, no breakfast today.
I decided to go down tow to see if I could find a way to exchange the Amex cards to travelers checks. No one accepts the Amex gift/prepaid cards here even though it’s what I was told to get specifically for Belize.
The cab driver, Kareem, who brought me into town had an interesting idea. He thought the government should pay youth to play sports. It wouldn’t be that hard to organize a league and get sponsors.
So people have great ideas and they just need someone to organize them for them.
At least I was able to get my nails done. Kareen took me to a hair & nail saloon on the east side of town. It was run by a young girl, about 25, Shanet. She had gone to school and then got her business license and runs the saloon about 50 sq ft at the front of her hone, She has two children, a five year old daughter and a year old son.
She isn’t married, but the an I assumed to be the father of her children was filling out a job application. She told me that as a trained electrician, he’s not able to get a job. Only those who know someone are able to get jobs.
We, Kareem & I tried to call the Foreign Trade office again but no one answered the phone again.
When I get an appointment at the Minister’s I’ll hire Kareem to drive me there. It’s about an hour away. He’s a sweet young man who is full of enthusiasm. He lives with his girlfriend and his 3 year old son.
My entrepreneurial antennae went to full tilt with Kareem. I asked him what business he would do and he said he’d like to have an upgraded radio where people could call and he’d be there in 5 minutes.
Later he told me he had always wanted a retail store. Even in the laid back atmosphere of Belize, I am against retail because of the hours it requires.
I gave Kareem an idea and a small stake that might turn into an alternative business but might reap much greater returns for him.It will be interesting to see if he has what it takes to follow through with it. I know I’ll follow up with Kareem to find out.
Belize is a country waiting to be inspired. It is in the throws of change and it’s citizens have no idea they are to play such in important role in that change.