Have yourself a Merry Christmas
It’s five days before Christmas Day so we headed downtown to get a feel for the holiday buzz. Belizeans were out doing their last minute shopping and getting ready for the holidays. It has not been an easy year due to the economic hard times, but many are making do and looking forward to spreading the cheer with their families.
Andrea Polanco
“Sir, tell us, how is this Christmas looking for you?”
Resident #1
“Looking good, looking good, can’t complain everything going smooth for right now, can’t complain.”
Andrea Polanco
“Awrite. So I see you out shopping today. What is one thing that you must take back home, today?”
Resident #1
“Well you know the thing that we come here for today is the marlie first and then the paint. So we start paint up and afta that we get on to the ham and turkey for the Christmas time.”
Andrea Polanco
“So Christmas 2011 will definitely be better than 2010?”
Resident #1
“With me, of course I can’t complain, definitely will be fabulous with me and my family.”
Resident #2
“Well, it looks pretty bright.”
Andrea Polanco
“Awrite suh, I si wah several bags, you di get the shopping done, though?”
Resident #2
“Yes, everything I di find dah the city.”
Andrea Polanco
“Okay, so come Christmas Day, of course you wah got the ham, the turkey, everything?”
Resident #2
“Everything, yes.”
Andrea Polanco
“How the plans di come along fi Christmas 2011?”
Resident #3
“Well, Christmas 2011 seems to be rough fi we but we di try mek it easier fi the kids. I dah the Chairman ah Hattieville suh I di spend most ah my days right now di hustle fi my pickney deh. Wi di have wah bazaar on the twenty-second for the kids, all are invited, no invitation, just come out, we have limited amount ah toys so first come, first serve, free food, right by the boulevard by the police station so show up. Christmas dah fi deh dah nuh fi we.”
Resident #4
“Well, we di try duh wah thing yuh nuh, but everything nuh easy suh, at least ah wah si it fi dis year again suh it might shine.”
Andrea Polanco
“Any plans, you have any plans to do anything this Christmas?”
Resident #4
“Well, I still yet have to go dah church Christmas morning and me and mi baby wah spend the rest ah di day with mi family.”
Andrea Polanco
“So the baby wah definitely have toys this year?”
Resident #4
“Yes ma’am ih done get already.”
Resident #5
“The Christmas is good, a lot of people shopping, that’s nice. The weather is very good, we have rain. We have cold, we have heat. What we gotta learn in Belize is that the black people gotta learn to live together and love each other.”
Andrea Polanco
“Tell wi how your Christmas di look dis year?”
Resident #6
“Well ah wah enjoy it more better cause last year ah mi kinda got it wah lee hard but this year ah almost see it already.”
Andrea Polanco
“Awrite, so how the shopping di come along?”
Resident #6
“Well, nuh too bad but like how ah got lotta kids I need wah lee help with deh gifts but anyways ah wah get it somehow.”
Resident #7
“Right now I want wah lee money fi buy some lee medicine and I can’t get help no way.”
Andrea Polanco
“So, this Christmas nuh di look too bright fi you at all?”
Resident #7
“I only hear deh say ih di come but I nuh think so. First thing, the Prime Minister deh cripple the country so no circulation ah cash. The poor wah dead cause deh cyaa get weh deh want.”
Resident #8
“It’s looking good; well we’re shopping getting ready for it and suh, getting the house ready and suh and yeah we are looking forward to a lovely Christmas with the family and friends.”
Andrea Polanco
“What are your plans for this year’s Christmas?”
Resident #9
“Okay, I intend to finish do some last minute shopping, basically for the kids, I think Christmas is for the children, basically.”
Andrea Polanco
“But how is it looking though, compared to last year, is it looking better this year?”
Resident #9
“So far it’s not that bad, it’s going good so far, yeah.”
The most important issue for many was spending time with family.
