We had our first island glitch today. Sheila flies out tomorrow at 1:00 pm from Cancun. So today she needs to take the midnight bus from Corozol (on the mainland) to the Cancun airport which takes about 6 hours. The boat from San Pedro to Corozol leaves at 3:00 pm every day. It all works! Except there is no boat when there is engine trouble – as in today! Soooo…plan B. Take a different boat down to Belize City. Unfortunately it’s the wrong direction and an additional 4 hours on the bus, costs more money, and involves braving the lean, mean streets of Belize City again.  Jim is escorting his mom and will see her safely settled on the right bus. He will catch a boat back tomorrow.

Max and I are staying here and preparing for him to start school tomorrow.

We have bought his school uniform of long white pants, white shirt, black belt and shoes. I am sewing the school crest on the left pocket (that says San Pedro High, anchored in success) of his shirt as required. We have purchased his books (at a whopping $400.00).

Max feels a combination of nervous, excited, and wondering how “they will accept the gringo”. I feel like I did when he started kindergarten. I am sure that he will be fine and am gratified that he is giving it a go. Adults can appreciate the experience of attending school in a Central American country but for a 15 year old there is nothing fun about leaving the life you love and your friends. Even living by the sea and having the option to home school using Ontario distance online learning, he is constantly trying to negotiate a return home. We will see what the next week brings.