Personally, my wife and I made the decision that we wanted our kids to be bilingual and bi-cultural. We’ve raised them in a primary school in Ajijic and we are generally pretty happy with that decision.
Children are very much adored in Mexico and the family unit is extremely well intact. They still have the communal two hour lunch or comida when everybody gets together. It’s a bonding time with the family.
Besides...
Personally, my wife and I made the decision that we wanted our kids to be bilingual and bi-cultural. We’ve raised them in a primary school in Ajijic and we are generally pretty happy with that decision.
Children are very much adored in Mexico and the family unit is extremely well intact. They still have the communal two hour lunch or comida when everybody gets together. It’s a bonding time with the family.
Besides the fact of just learning another language, children can benefit from learning another culture, In the little communities, people look out for each other. Private schools are very inexpensive compared to US and many have bilingual programs. You have to kind of check to see which public schools are better than others, like you do in the States. More importantly, the teachers just adore the kids. They hug the kids. They treat them the way they’re really not allowed to treat them in the United States anymore because of issues of the relationships between teachers and students. In Mexico, these teachers really treat these kids like their own. And so, Mexico is a wonderful place to raise kids.
Mexico has a lot to offer to children. Sometimes for the parents too, it can be a wonderful experience. It can sometimes be a little more difficult for the parents than it is for the kids just getting the language skills, but for the kids, it’s a great gift and they see a different culture. I just noticed that with my children.
(David Truly with family and friend's kids, Manzanillo, Mexico, pictured.)
What's retirement in the Pedasi, Azuero, Panama area like?
Lourdes Townshend
Why Pedasí, in the Republic of Panamá?
Because, as any village or town in this small, but beautiful green country, Pedasí is charming. Not to mention, that Pedasi is very accessible from any place in Panamá.
There is a new international airport, (Río Hato) where many charters are arriving, mainly from Canada and Spain, that makes Pedasi an ideal town in which to vacation or...
Why Pedasí, in the Republic of Panamá?
Because, as any village or town in this small, but beautiful green country, Pedasí is charming. Not to mention, that Pedasi is very accessible from any place in Panamá.
There is a new international airport, (Río Hato) where many charters are arriving, mainly from Canada and Spain, that makes Pedasi an ideal town in which to vacation or retire. And the airport is only less than 2 hours from Pedasí. On your way there, you go through villages, now converted in small towns, like Chitré, la Villa de los Santos, Monagrillo, Pocrí, among others, making a delightful view to visitors. You can also experience this area as a traditional cultural and folkloric center in Panamá, especially if you come in the carnival time, around February. The area around Pedasi has beautiful weather, sunshine everywhere in which these towns totally shine with joy, music and folklore, and where the "Pollera" (the Panamanian national dress) is admired by everyone who visits.
In addition, in Pedasi, residents, whether locals, visitors or retirees, enjoy fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, as the the soil is very rich in agricultural products. The weather brings a nice breeze, especially at nights. The Pedasi area has an abundance of fish, birds, butterflies, plants and flowers, as well as friendly communities and warm people who await you to share special moments, day or night. There is also an upscale community of houses owned by celebrities who have chosen Pedasi for their privacy, peace, quiet and relaxing life.
If you like outdoors adventures, or just take your daily nap in one beautiful hammock, this is your place. Pedasi offers a simple and quality life.
What are the most popular, typical or famous foods of Belize?
Tamrah Lozano
The most popular, typical or famous foods of Belize are rice and beans and stewed chicken served with potato salad, which a typical Sunday meal in Belizean homes.
Another typical meal is the boil up (pictured), which is considered the cultural dish of the Belizean Creoles. It is combination boiled eggs, fish and/or pig tail, with a number of ground foods such as cassava, green plantains, yams, sweet potatoes, cocoa, and tomato sauce.
The most popular, typical or famous foods of Belize are rice and beans and stewed chicken served with potato salad, which a typical Sunday meal in Belizean homes.
Another typical meal is the boil up (pictured), which is considered the cultural dish of the Belizean Creoles. It is combination boiled eggs, fish and/or pig tail, with a number of ground foods such as cassava, green plantains, yams, sweet potatoes, cocoa, and tomato sauce.
Are there islands in Portugal? If so, where, and what are they like?
Ana Ferraz
There are some absolutely beautiful islands in the Algarve near the border of Spain. To go there, you have to take a 40-minute boat ride. There are about six islands there. Only one of those six is deserted.
Up the coast towards the north, there is another island that is inhabited called Berlengas. It is a small island off the coast of Peniche. They have little summer cottages there, a lighthouse, a couple of restaurants, and a ferry that takes people over.
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There are some absolutely beautiful islands in the Algarve near the border of Spain. To go there, you have to take a 40-minute boat ride. There are about six islands there. Only one of those six is deserted.
Up the coast towards the north, there is another island that is inhabited called Berlengas. It is a small island off the coast of Peniche. They have little summer cottages there, a lighthouse, a couple of restaurants, and a ferry that takes people over.
Because we are so surrounded by sea, on the far coast of Lisbon, we have a river, the Tagus, which separates Lisbon from the south. It is a large river that starts in Spain, crosses Portugal, and finishes in the mouth of Lisbon, at the Atlantic Ocean. So to go to the other side, you have to take bridges. There are three to four bridges. All of the land south of Lisbon, after these bridges, have a vast area of land very sandy, which are called the peninsulas. This is a natural reserve for dolphins. When you are on a boat or a ferry in these areas, you will see a lot of dolphins. Here, you will find an area called Tróia, which is a peninsula. Some of these areas become islands when it is high tide, which only happens at certain times of the year. It is a beautiful area of Portugal because this is where the river meets the sea. This is also a paradise for birdwatchers. They are now developing this area for tourism. A complex of condominiums were just built around this area with villas and timeshares. It is a vast area.
There is another development down in the Algarve, which is also in the peninsulas. This whole area is very stunning. It has lots of wildlife and they are very well preserved.
What are the least-expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?
Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America
There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:
The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)
Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica,...
There are only six (6) countries in the world which currently offer "economic citizenship" programs, which are:
The Commonwealth of Dominica ($100,000+)
The Dominican Republic ($200,000+)
St Kitts and Nevis ($250,000+)
New Zealand ($1,300,000+)
Ireland ($1,500,000+)
Austria ($3,000,000+)
Numerous countries offer citizenship by "naturalization" including, but not limited to, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Panama and Paraguay.
So, to best answer the question "What are the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship?" the answer would rely heavily on whether you have the financial means to afford an 'economic citizenship' program or the time to wait for a 'naturalization' program to come to fruition. Generally speaking, economic citizenship programs make second passports available within 3 to 12 months while naturalization programs can take 5 to 7 years.
If the case is the former, then the Commonwealth of Dominica offers visa-free access to 76 countries with a charitable contribution starting at $100,000 for individuals and $175,000 for married couples.
The Dominican Republic offers visa-free access to 40 countries with a $200,000 business investment which "furthers the overall economic value of the Dominican Republic".
And St Kitts and Nevis offers access to over 125 countries through either a charitable contribution to the SIDF (Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation) which runs $250,000 for an individual and begins at $300,000 for married couples, or through the purchase of real property (the minimum investment is $400,000) with government fees running $50,000 for the head of household, $25,000 for the spouse, and an additional $25,000 or $50,000 per child depending on their age.
If the case is the latter, then prices and residency or visitation requirements can vary dramatically. Although your options are more abundant for 'naturalization' programs so too is the demand for you to thoroughly do your research before making a decision. Unfortunately the length of this article will not permit for a comprehensive answer to the least expensive countries in which to obtain dual citizenship by way of naturalization. I would suggest speaking at length to someone qualified to get more details if interested.
Regardless of which jurisdiction best meets your needs, you must be pointed to the specific underlying legal foundation upon which the dual citizenship program is being made available to the public. Meaning, if you are not provided with a section from the constitution, a constitutional amendment or piece of current legislation validating the program then you are likely to become involved in a scam.
Be leery of anyone who tries to sell you a second passport based on adoption, the death of a citizen, or 'special activities' such as an involvement in the film industry, etc. The use of a fraudulent passport is a serious international crime and punishable with long prison sentences in most every participating country.
Lastly, whomever you choose to provide your dual citizenship services, the actual work should be performed by legal counsel on-the-ground in the country wherein you are seeking your second citizenship. Under no circumstances whatsoever should you consider attempting to procure a second passport without competent and reliable legal counsel.
Making friends in Nicaragua is easy. Who your neighbors are depends on where you live. Peers are a critical part of making friends and finding a peer group is the first step. Some people want to stay away from people from their home country and focus on Nicaraguan friends. We’ve simply not allowed nationality to influence our friend selection and we have Nicaraguan friends, US friends, and friends from all over the world. Other expats from around the world...
Making friends in Nicaragua is easy. Who your neighbors are depends on where you live. Peers are a critical part of making friends and finding a peer group is the first step. Some people want to stay away from people from their home country and focus on Nicaraguan friends. We’ve simply not allowed nationality to influence our friend selection and we have Nicaraguan friends, US friends, and friends from all over the world. Other expats from around the world are a great peer group that most folks don’t think of right away.
After we bought our property in Belize we were getting excited about building something where we could go and hang out
Initially it started as a cabin with enough room for us and the occasional visitors/family.
We began researching costs and wanted to pay cash for everything. After looking around the country at different types of construction, we realized our budget was not going to let us build a U.S. style home.
In Part Two of their interview, Anne Gordon de Barrigón of Panama Whale Watching Panama/ Emberá Village Tours reveals to Jet Metier the highly tactile and social qualities of dolphins and whales, and when it comes to forgiveness, how their hearts maybe bigger than their legendary brains.
The Divisa to the south of the Panamanian Highway is not a scenic ocean drive, except when you get near the terminus, in the Azuero Peninsula, where there is a ledge only big enough for two lanes, between the mountains and the coast with its tiny little coves. The road turns, and with each bend the ocean is glimpsed where the density of trees have become sparse. The water, unlike others parts of Panama, can finally be seen at the speed of a cruising car, in that uncommon...
Personally, my wife and I made the decision that we wanted our kids to be bilingual and bi-cultural. We’ve raised them in a primary school in Ajijic and we are generally pretty happy with that decision. .jpg)
The most popular, typical or famous foods of Belize are rice and beans and stewed chicken served with potato salad, which a typical Sunday meal in Belizean homes.
There are some absolutely beautiful islands in the Algarve near the border of Spain. To go there, you have to take a 40-minute boat ride. There are about six islands there. Only one of those six is deserted. .jpg)
If the case is the former, then the Commonwealth of Dominica offers visa-free access to 76 countries with a charitable contribution starting at $100,000 for individuals and $175,000 for married couples. 
And St Kitts and Nevis offers access to over 125 countries through either a charitable contribution to the SIDF (Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation) which runs $250,000 for an individual and begins at $300,000 for married couples, or through the purchase of real property (the minimum investment is $400,000) with government fees running $50,000 for the head of household, $25,000 for the spouse, and an additional $25,000 or $50,000 per child depending on their age. 
After we bought our property in Belize we were getting excited about building something where we could go and hang out 
