DISCovering My New Friend, Tino

by Kerry Brennan (United States of America)

Making a local connection Belize

Two things I never thought I’d be writing about: disc golf and a trip to Belize. I am, and always have been, a “yes” person, so it was a no-brainer to take a course that would allow me to fly to a country I would never otherwise experience for a week. Driving past beaches then down bumpy roads then finally through a jungle, I had little to no clue what I had gotten myself into. Stepping out of the van into the humid air and seeing The Trek Stop, my eco-friendly jungle hut that I would call home for the next three nights, had me equal parts excited and petrified. However, it was the smiling face of a small man greeting our van that caught my eye more than the lush plants or the butterfly garden. “Welcome!” he gestured grandly to our jungle huts, smile brighter than the almost-at-the-equator sunshine. He was sure to walk us through the disc golf course and emphasized to us that it was the only one in Belize at that time. In fact, my first interaction with Tino was him teaching me how to play disc golf. (Let me tell you, that man makes it look easy). Showing us around the premises, I could tell this was one of those funny, hospitable hosts that I would have stories about for years to come. Little did I know just what stories I would be leaving there with. Long days of tours and beautiful sights left my group and I exhausted and sitting around lazily at the outdoor dining area each night. This nightly ritual inspired us to invite our gracious host, Tino along one night. Sitting on the porch, Belikin beers in hand, we spoke of our favorite spots so far, his food recommendations and of course comparisons to home. As the conversation grew, so did my amazement with this little man who I had thought of simply as Tino from the Trek Stop. The conversation slowly turned around onto Tino’s life, and we enquired on how it was to grow up in Belize, how he had ended up sitting at his eco-friendly lodge in the jungle surrounded by American travelers. Tino told us his life of being a Belizean soldier, the pain of being forced to kill another human and the years of hard work he had put in just to get to where he was sitting at that very moment. This man, this smiling host with the best recommendations, was so much more than any picture could paint him to be. His life story was more colorful and full of twists and turns than the jungle trees which we were surrounded by. The pain he had endured through childhood, yet the smile he wore to ensure us a nice stay. Hearing the depth and emotions of his life story put me in more awe than any Mayan ruin or coral reef I saw that week. Sure, I have met locals traveling before. Each has been memorable in one way or another and has taught me immense amounts about their culture and life. Tino, however, struck a different chord. His unwavering smile, dedication to his country and overall love of life truly encompassed everything that I feel when I think back to my week in Belize. To Tino, I may just have been another student passing through the Trek Stop. However, Tino will always be so much more than just another host to me.