Hello! I’m Megan, a brand new Belizean who made the thrilling transition from the US to this small, stunning, fascinating, and distinctive Central American nation. With its comparatively relaxed immigration necessities, low inhabitants density, steady economic system and political local weather, tropical climate and gorgeous pure magnificence, Belize is a really enticing nation for contemplative expats. With its shut proximity to the US and English because the official nationwide language, transferring right here was a simple selection for my household and plenty of others from North America. As somebody who’s noticed and personally made loads of missteps alongside my immigration journey, listed below are a number of frequent errors that new Belize residents make and the right way to keep away from them.
Mistake: Solely consuming out at sit-down eating places.
Picture by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
If you’re solely eating out in established eating places you’re lacking out on half the culinary scene of Belize. Meals stands and takeaways are the place it’s at! Positive, Belize has a great deal of pretty eating places, however the avenue meals scene is so thrilling. Cozy as much as the counter of a roadside taco stand for breakfast, snag a tamale from the person on the motorcycle promoting his spouse’s specialty door-to-door, or cease for a bag of sliced mangoes and chamoy from the seller arrange subsequent to the pace hump.
Comparable: Pattern the Flavors of Central America and the Caribbean with Belize’s Avenue Meals Tradition
I’ve had a number of the greatest meals, snacks, and baked items from seemingly questionable sources just like the again of somebody’s broken-down pick-up truck or instantly from their house kitchen window. Enterprise off the laminated menu and take a look at some chalkboard indicators as a substitute. You’ll spend far much less and expertise rather more. Bon Appetit!
Mistake: Not asking questions.
Picture by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
There is no such thing as a such factor as a silly query. We’ve all heard this earlier than however so many people stay pridefully silent and faux to know one thing quite than seem naïve and easily ask. After all, Google has solutions to lots of life’s questions however not all of them. For brand spanking new Belize residents, there needs to be no disgrace in asking questions and also you’ll most likely discover that Belizeans are joyful and proud to offer you the solutions.
Don’t acknowledge an unique fruit or mysterious vegetable on the market? Ask what it’s! Undecided the right way to navigate the method of acquiring a driver’s license? Ask somebody what you’ll want. Your son got here house with some new Kriol vocabulary and City Dictionary doesn’t have a definition? Ask your neighbor what it means (and in case your pikney needs to be utilizing this phrase in well mannered dialog or not). How will , develop, and adapt to your new house in the event you don’t search solutions to the belongings you’re unfamiliar with?
Mistake: Having strict timeframes and to-do targets.
Picture by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
Typically joked about, being on “Belize Time” is an actual factor. New Belize residents could have to regulate to this. “Proper now” might imply now, or it might imply in a couple of minutes, or hours, or days. A clever individual as soon as mentioned: in the event you come to Belize with endurance, you’ll lose it, and in the event you come to Belize with out, you’ll study it.
It’d take all day to finish your banking or a number of journeys to an workplace to submit your paperwork accurately. Perhaps you’re in a rush to finish a house enchancment venture and have to seize one thing from the native ironmongery store however they’re closed for the lunch hour. Let go of the schedule you’ve in your thoughts. Study to go along with the flow- it’s so a lot better to your blood strain!
Make no mistake, life in paradise isn’t excellent however by gosh, is it price it!
