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"THE MELTING POT OF RACES." This water is sourced and bottled locally. Its quoted tag-line makes me smile. When I am asked why I chose Belize, the FUNCTIONAL CO-EXISTENCE OF MANY CULTURES is one of my top two reasons.

Nature shows that 'diversity' is not "political correctness." Diversity is requisite to systemic health. Period. Mono-crops are a Frankenstein miscreation of a cubic-minded, life-negating mindset that costumes as sophisticated, industrial thought. True sophistication -- the ability to withstand time -- is found in the outrageous and uncountable displays of life in jungles, forests, and ocean floors.

Those living nets and webs are sustained by the INTERPLAY BETWEEN + AMONG various life-forms. Emphasis on 'various,' as displayed in Belize's (in alpha order): ---> Chinese, Creole, Garifuna, German-Mennonites, Mayans, Mestizos, and Taiwanese. As well as Americans, Canadians, Germans, and other imports. In a country the size of a U.S. state, we are for the most part, peacefully living together, while the world splits, divides, and hates itself.

Q: What's the difference between an expat, and an immigrant??

A: PERCEPTION. Based on observed common use, an expat is a white person living outside their country of birth... and an immigrant is a brown person living outside their country of birth.

I've no idea why public and private discourse -- including my own -- uses this distinction! Do you??

'Expat' suggests exotic travel, and tends to be associated with wealth, a cosmopolitan life, and a warm reception by locals. (It does not imply a long-term/permanent stay, though very often results in one.)

'Immigrant' suggests tragic escape, and tends to be associated with welfare, cultural decay, and resistance and objection by locals. (It does imply a long-term/permanent stay.)

Based on observed common use, I am an immigrant, not an expat.

I really don't care about the term.

The thing I'm finding interesting is the globally-adopted habit to use two different words, to describe two different groups of people, DOING THE SAME THING. I'm just gently asking, what is the cause of that??

The weird linguistic distinction between a penthouse expat, and a basement immigrant -- and my living straddle of those two realities -- has made me more aware of whatever we decide to call this dichotomous talk we have, and the nurtured unwantedness of 'immigrants.' Of brown travelers.

As a black woman from the U.S. living abroad, I have noticed racial tension feeling like a shrinking pair of jeans. It does not give much stretch or latitude, while hate's inflammation continues to swell and puff.

::Gif Source::

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THE JEANS DON'T FIT.

So why do we keep trying to stuff ourselves -- our conversations and opinions -- inside of them, like sausage?

We are not sausage-heads, with farting mouths.

But sometimes we do fart out of our mouth (don't know what else to call collective hostility)
and in those instances, we just can't breathe deeply enough...

...because our geographic and political jeans are too tight.

If they are too tight to talk in...

(Do we ever even meaningfully engage with people who are not like us?)

...then you KNOW they are too tight to walk in.

(Contrary to eugenic thought, in-breeding does not make the best gene-pool!)

Good thing we can take them off...

...and wear something entirely different, if we want. 🖤

I am interested in creating new conversations, and new realities.

Maybe you are, too?

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WRITE YOUR WILL Weekend Workshop. (Please share your input.)