I've spoken before about my distaste for the word “expat.” Technically speaking an expat is someone who intends to return to their home country. That's not me. I'm an immigrant. I'm never going back permanently. I'll go back to care for my parents when I need to, but I won't stay. This is my home now. In my opinion, people refer to themselves as expats because they have a negative association with the word immigrant.
I have recently come upon a slightly different conundrum in that referring to myself as an immigrant sort of minimizes the privilege I have. Anyway, we are here for a different conversation.
Whatever you want to call them, people from the US, Canada, and the U.K. mostly come here to visit, fall in love with the country, and then completely lose their minds. Now, no one gets falling in love with Belize more than I do. I notice a difference in the smell in the air and the feeling in my body when I cross the border. I was back and forth for 20 years, crying every time I left before I moved here.
Still, living here is different. It's an adjustment to live in a different culture. Sometimes it is devastatingly hard. I know I am home, but it took a while for me to feel that way, even though I love it so much.
So when I see people come here for a week or even a month and then go home to sell everything they own to buy land or a house here, I am sure they have lost their minds. Sometimes it works out, but often it doesn't. I encourage travel wholeheartedly. I even encourage emigration/immigration, but rent your house. Put your stuff in storage and then rent a place in the country you want to move to for at least six months before selling your house and things and buying land in a place you know little about.
It is not all this!
For starters, you will get a better price. People selling will take advantage of you when you don't know what the hell you're doing and know nothing of the culture you've moved to. They look at you and see dollar signs, and for people living in poverty, who can blame them? So if you buy high and then decide six months down the road this is not for you, you're stuck with a house you can't sell and nothing to go back to in your country of origin.
So, word to the wise. Go slow. Have an exit strategy and be sure this is what you really want. You wouldn't marry someone after a week, right? Slow and steady wins the race.
Much love, y’all!
As always, all pics are mine or pixabay unless otherwise noted.
)](https://discord.gg/qfu4yRE)
I liked this article, I often call myself an Expat but I have no intention of returning home, neither the intention of staying here. Hence, Nomad, travel and the experiences from spending a long time outside the confines of your own country can definitely be a harrowing experience. I like to think it's helped me grow personally. But you're right it's not for everyone. 7 years now outside of my native country and there's things I miss and every now and then I get the urge to return, thankfully all I have to do is turn on the news and see why not too, lol. Definitely gonna read a lot more of your posts! keep it yup, and thank you. Wisdom is always appreciated.
Thank you so much!! I have often called myself an expat too. I just can't find a label that fits me. Ah well. Traveling is such an incredibly growing experience. I so highly recommend it, but for sure some people have a hard time rolling with it. Just the other day my oldest son told me he wished I would come back after a local murder here, but there's just no way. I can barely handle the news from there, much less actual living!
Congratulations @solarsupermama! You have completed the following achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on the badge to view your Board of Honor.
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP