Hi! I’m Megan, a new Belizean who made the exciting transition from the US to this small, beautiful, interesting, and unique Central American country. With its relatively relaxed immigration requirements, low population density, stable economy and political climate, tropical weather and stunning natural beauty, Belize is a very attractive country for contemplative expats. With its close proximity to the US and English as the official national language, moving here was an easy choice for my family and many others from North America. As someone who’s observed and personally made plenty of missteps along my immigration journey, here are a few common mistakes that new Belize residents make and how to avoid them.
Mistake: Only eating out at sit-down restaurants.
Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
If you are only dining out in established restaurants you are missing out on half the culinary scene of Belize. Food stands and takeaways are where it’s at! Sure, Belize has loads of lovely restaurants, but the street food scene is so exciting. Cozy up to the counter of a roadside taco stand for breakfast, snag a tamale from the man on the motorbike selling his wife’s specialty door-to-door, or stop for a bag of sliced mangoes and chamoy from the vendor set up next to the speed hump.
Similar: Sample the Flavors of Central America and the Caribbean with Belize’s Street Food Culture
I’ve had some of the best meals, snacks, and baked goods from seemingly questionable sources like the back of someone’s broken-down pick-up truck or directly from their home kitchen window. Venture off the laminated menu and check out some chalkboard signs instead. You’ll spend far less and experience much more. Bon Appetit!
Mistake: Not asking questions.
Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
There is no such thing as a stupid question. We’ve all heard this before but so many of us remain pridefully silent and pretend to know something rather than appear naïve and simply ask. Of course, Google has answers to many of life’s questions but not all of them. For new Belize residents, there should be no shame in asking questions and you’ll probably find that Belizeans are happy and proud to provide you the answers.
Don’t recognize an exotic fruit or mysterious vegetable at the market? Ask what it is! Not sure how to navigate the process of obtaining a driver’s license? Ask someone what you’ll need. Your son came home with some new Kriol vocabulary and Urban Dictionary doesn’t have a definition? Ask your neighbor what it means (and if your pikney should be using this word in polite conversation or not). How will you know, grow, and adapt to your new home if you don’t seek answers to the things you’re unfamiliar with?
Mistake: Having strict timeframes and to-do goals.
Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
Often joked about, being on “Belize Time” is a real thing. New Belize residents may have to adjust to this. “Right now” could mean now, or it could mean in a few minutes, or hours, or days. A wise person once said: if you come to Belize with patience, you’ll lose it, and if you come to Belize without, you’ll learn it.
It might take all day to complete your banking or several trips to an office to submit your paperwork correctly. Maybe you’re in a rush to complete a home improvement project and need to grab something from the local hardware store but they’re closed for the lunch hour. Let go of the schedule you have in your mind. Learn to go with the flow- it’s so much better for your blood pressure!
Make no mistake, life in paradise isn’t perfect but by gosh, is it worth it!
Featured Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
