Soft-Launching Expat Life In Belize

Forget me, forget me not…

I played that game as a child as I plucked petals from flowers.

That was a game… Forgetting Belize and all that reminds me of it is not. It was but a few years ago when my marching orders to myself were “Belize or bust!”

Actually, it was “Return to Belize… no matter what!” I spent just one week in the tiny village of Succotz in the Cayo District on a missionary trip, helping build a church.

What I found there was much different from what I expected.

The events I participated in changed the course of my life—and I was a senior citizen.

I got a new lease on life, even though I didn’t know I needed one.

Living among the kind-spirited, welcoming people and visiting them in their homes (even the houses on stilts), I was made to feel like family… and it was a memorable feeling. That feeling was the catalyst for my change of direction.

After that one week… I just had to return to Belize. I ended up staying on the Belize path for three years, and though I’ve since moved again, Belize was perhaps the perfect stepping stone for my new life overseas—and living there was one of the best years of my life. Upon my return to the States after my mission, I took stock of my life.

My parents were no longer with me, and my children were grown, with families and busy lives of their own. Even my one and only grandchild was an adult with his own life and responsibilities.

When I realized that no one was really depending on me, I decided that the time was right to branch out on my own and make some new memories.

So I cut the reins, took off the blinders, and set my sights on Belize. It may have been the lush, plush greenery of the abundant nature… the quiet and slow, stress-free lifestyle I experienced… or the villagers’ warm hospitality… I don’t know exactly what it was… I just knew that I wanted more of it. So a year later, I arrived at my local airport in the United States, with marching orders in my mind and two suitcases and a one-way ticket to Belize in my hands.

This time, I was not headed to Cayo but to Punta Gorda in southern Belize. During my year of due diligence, I had been invited to board with a lady whom I had spoken with but never met.

She allowed me to stay with her while I decided where to settle in Belize.

The expansive mountains and natural resources in that area took my breath away and left scenes of magnificence forever in my mind and heart.

For the next three years, I visited and enjoyed experiences in all six districts of Belize.

I learned about the different cultures and the different languages used (along with Belize’s official language, English).

Over the course of my stay, I continued to expand my horizons, both figuratively and literally, in this small country of less than 400,000 people.

Expat Life In Belize

I became an active part of Belize with my daily activities and met new and different people from all over the world who came to visit or relocate.

When newcomers arrived, I did what I could to make them feel welcome and helped them settle in if they were relocating.

Belize had opened a door for me—the door of opportunity, which I then held open for others.

Because I knew how it felt to be a stranger alone in a new land, I tried to make their transitions as seamless as possible.

English being the official language in Belize was a great help.

But although the language spoken was the same, the way things were run was far from it. Life was still an adjustment—new foods, new ways of shopping, and so much more.

Those interested in volunteering often joined the Rotary Club. Others interested in becoming part of the many activities offered, especially in Corozal, were encouraged to attend the monthly Art in the Park event, directed by the House of Culture.

It brought artists from far and wide to exhibit and sell their wares. One could get jewelry or a fashion outfit made on the spot. And, those fun times will live with me forever. Belize allowed me to do what the country itself did in 1981: break away from the known and venture out on my own.

It was in that year that Belize, formerly British Honduras, secured its full independence from the U.K.

Like any country starting out, Belize has some bumps in the road that it will smooth out. While living in Belize, I discovered so much about myself, including that I liked change so much that I was eager for more… and that I was ready for more challenging new adventures.

I wanted to learn a new language, be immersed in it, and use it every day. I wanted to experience new cultures again and see what other countries had to offer.

In short, I was ready to relocate again… this time, I headed north to Mexico.

Belize turned out to be the bridge I needed to launch myself out of the United States and into the great unknown… it was the perfect “halfway house.” And the friendships I made in Belize will last forever. It’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder… I cannot forget Belize!

Marie Peay

Belize Insider