Belize is a very macho country and women are treated in a different way compared to the US, Austria, or in other places. I have a feeling that if I ask certain persons here in Belize to do something for me, they would say, “yes” but they won’t do it, but if my husband asks them to do it, they would respond in a different way.
A female friend of mine who owns a small place also has some workers, and quite often her workers do not do what she asks them to do. So in the beginning, just to establish my position properly, I paid all our workers. Also, I did some typical men's work, like cutting a tree with a chainsaw. I am sure our workers thought I was crazy because women don't do things like that down here. However, by acting like that, I was able to mark my position.
In a nutshell, if you are in Belize and you are a woman, you have to be tough when you want things done. But overall, women are treated with respect and personally, I never had a problem being treated poorly.
Mothers have a very high status in the family so Belizeans treat women with high respect. On the other hand, there is also domestic violence just like in other countries. The only difference is that for example, in Austria, there are lots of shelters for women and children, whereas here in Belize, there are not that many. Also, there is social stigma in going to a shelter, so women tend to be hesitant to ask for help. It resembles to Europe 40 or 50 years ago.
(Belizean woman, pictured.)
The majority of the doctors in Chapala and Ajijic have been educated in the United States and speak perfect English. Frequently you'll see advertisements that show where these doctors had medical training. 
Yes, it is safe to drink the water in Boquete. You have to take into account that the water in Boquete comes from natural springs.
If you move your residency to Portugal, under Portuguese law you are liable to pay taxes in Portugal. Portugal has signed treaties to prevent double taxation with 71 countries (including most European Countries, United States and Canada) that assure its citizens and residents the protection against being taxed in more than one country.
You can kayak in the San Juan del Sur bay, or venture off in the different estuary that surrounds San Juan del Sur. 
In the period of less than half a day, our senses and emotions had experienced quite a workout. In the morning, we were on a ferry in the Sea of Cortez, headed towards Mazatlan. In Mazatlan, we were treated to an entirely new concept: jungle in an urban setting. From there, we had found the toll road, breezed through green and wooded highland farmland, and then gradually descended into a profusion of jungle, not only on the sides of the road, but overhead, as we glided...
Would you like to reduce your stress? 
This little bird is a baby Panama Flycatcher. Mum and dad moved in above the light fitting in my kitchen in April 2012. I live on a little Caribbean island just off the coast of Panama in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. This short tale is taken from my new book "Paradise Delayed", which is sub-titled "The pitfalls and pleasures (mainly the pitfalls) of Caribbean island life in the beautiful archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama". Life can be challenging and frustrating at times here,...