Interview with Simone Angel from “Simone’s Belize Blog”

Go Back to Our Readers Blogs

“Simone’s Belize Blog”

http://simonesbelizeblog.blogspot.com/

I decided to move away from sending those annoying group emails, but still wanted to let my friends and family know what we were up to here in Belize. With group emails you’re never sure who really is interested. At least with a blog, only those who want to know will read it. That seemed like a much better option to me.How and why did you decide to start a business in Belize?My husband was a professional soccer player in the UK. His career was cut short when he was struck down with Chronic Fatigue or ME at age 30. (Chronic Fatigue Syndrom is also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME). I asked him what he really wanted to do in life and he said ‘travel or live somewhere tropical’.I had never considered doing anything like this. All I had ever wanted was to make music and work in television & I had done so since the age of 12 (first in commercials, later as a host on several channels, including MTV. I also released a number of records in the nineties) .Still, I’m always up for a challenge and seeing as I had been offered a part-time broadcasting job in the States, I agreed to move to Andy’s tropical dream location as long as it wasn’t too far from the US. Anyway, the company I was going to work for collapsed after 9/11, so that job never materialized. But that’s how we ended up in the jungles of Belize.The fact that we now have a lodge there is something that simply evolved over time. Our property was too big for just the two of us, so a neighboring resort asked if we would house their ‘overflow’ occasionally. We ended up enjoying the process so much (especially Andy, who had taken tourism courses whilst still playing soccer), that we decided to really go for it & start our own jungle lodge and adventure travel agency. What is a vacation at your travel resort like?
We call it ‘luxury jungle living’ (AC, satellite TV, wireless internet, large swimming pool and amazing food) so people can enjoy the jungle, without it being too scary or uncomfortable. The lodge is small (5 rental units), so it has a real family feel to it. And we are surrounded by wild monkeys, toucans, parrots and iguanas, so there’s lots of wildlife to enjoy.Can you describe the clientele at your resort? Are they adventurous young people? Wealthy business people? Retired couples? Young families? Moms needing a break from their kids?You know, we get all of those. In the school vacations we get lots of families, but we really get all kinds of people coming to our resort. The only clients we don’t attract are the ’spring-break’ groups of teenagers (they are more at home in Cancun) and/or those without an adventurous spirit.What is the best part about running a jungle resort?The fact that it’s a great lifestyle for a family. Our kids have an amazing life here. They always have mum & dad around, they have huge grounds to play in, a large swimming pool in their back garden & lots of other children around (our 3-year-old plays with the local Mayan children, plus all the guests that come to the resort) .Andy and I both had real ‘outdoor’ childhoods and wanted to give our children the same thing. Here in Belize we are able to do that.What was the biggest obstacle in starting your business?Our own commitment. Whilst we were still unsure as to what direction to take with our lives (return to Europe? Find jobs in our old professions? Stay in Belize?) nothing would really progress. I see the same problem in my friends’ lives. People are so scared to really commit, to really say ‘for the next few years, this is what we will do, regardless of any other opportunities that may present themselves’. Of course, the moment we made that commitment, we got tested and other opportunities did present themselves. Still, as tempting as it was, we stuck to our word and from that moment on, things have totally fallen into place. Everything just started ‘to flow’ and our business is now more successful than we ever could have dreamed of.Aren’t you scared of the crocodiles? That photo on your site looks pretty scary.I wouldn’t keep them as pets, that’s for sure. But from a short distance I don’t mind observing them (holding on tight to my little ones)Was giving birth in a foreign country more scary than giving birth in the USA?I wanted natural births and for that, you could be anywhere really. Women have large families in this part of the world, so I was sure that people knew how to deliver babies here. The hospital I delivered my oldest in was very basic, but my gynecologist was amazing. He later started his own little clinic and that’s where I just delivered my second one (Valentines day 2006). What aspect of raising children in a foreign country is the most difficult?Being so far away from the rest of our families (grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) And what is the most rewarding?Not being influenced by ‘modern day society’ and how everyone thinks you should be raising your children. Also, a lot of the things that I wanted to do (like sleep-sharing with our infant, carrying him in a sling and breastfeeding), are viewed as totally natural here. It’s the norm in this part of the world. So our lifestyle was not viewed as controversial (anyway, which parent would put a defenseless infant in a separate bedroom, when there is always a slight chance of scorpions and/or snakes around?)Being an MTV-VeeJay sounds like fun. Was that the most fun job you ever had?Being an MTV veejay! I started when I was 18 and did the job for 8 years. It was a blast! I always compared it to being on a school trip with all your best friends & without any teachers (I traveled almost constantly for my job). People gave me free designer clothes, I was invited to all the cool parties, I got to hang out backstage with bands, got paid to go snowboarding with the pros, deep sea diving with dolphins, I ran with the Olympic torch, saw much of the world and got to host peace rallies in places like Tell Aviv and Beirut. And that’s just a few of the cool things I got to do. Which 18-year-old wouldn’t love that?Still, I’m glad I did all that back then. That lifestyle would never have mixed with being a mum.What celebrity were you the most excited to meet?Hmmm…I really enjoyed hanging out with Bono on several occasions (U2 featured me in their ‘even better than the real thing’ video, which was a nice surprise). They are lovely guys. I always had been looking forward to meeting Madonna, but she turned out to be a total weirdo. I met her twice and both times she caused a scene, shouting at people, being hysterical…. Apparently she can’t deal with any of ‘her men’ (including the ones she works with) giving attention to any other woman. When they do, she starts acting up. Shame though, as I do admire her work.Meeting James Brown was fun. He looks like a waxwork statue.And beating Snoop Doggie Dog at a game of pool will always be ‘my claim to fame’ (funny, for some reason I suddenly played really well…I’m not normally that good at pool)Still, overall I have to say that meeting celebrities has been no more memorable than meeting ‘everyday people’. I have forgotten most the people I interviewed, only the odd ones leave an impression.

Since August of 2004.

My family, what it’s like living in Belize, MTV (occasionally) and what all the other ex-veejays are up to these days.

I love my husband’s blog (http://escribbler.blogspot.com) as he often writes stuff that he has never told me before, like the story of how he got to be a professional soccer player & I love my old MTV producer/director James Hyman’s blog/website (www.jameshyman.com)

Sing like you mean it, dance as if no one was watching…

No more…this freak was ruining it all by leaving bitter and twisted messages. Plus people were trying to advertise themselves and their sites with their messages (it was getting too spammy).

Yep. That’s how they stay up-to-date on our life.

Not really. Apart from the occasional BBC news forum (whenever I feel so strongly about a subject that I just have to blurt something out).

An old friend of mine (Moby) started many years ago. He must have been one of the first artists to do so & he is still going strong today: http://www.moby.com