How are Americans in Belize treated? How are expats in Belize treated generally?
Boris Mannsfeld - Boris Mannsfeld & Associates
Americans and expats in general are treated well here in Belize. Everybody gets along here and there's not a lot of separation. You would not hear people say, "Oh you're a foreigner.” Rather, they would look at you and say "Hey, you're just a person". The expats who move here look at the locals that way, too. Foreigners come to Belize and they spend money, they create jobs, they build homes, they start businesses, they help, and they volunteer, soI think...
Americans and expats in general are treated well here in Belize. Everybody gets along here and there's not a lot of separation. You would not hear people say, "Oh you're a foreigner.” Rather, they would look at you and say "Hey, you're just a person". The expats who move here look at the locals that way, too. Foreigners come to Belize and they spend money, they create jobs, they build homes, they start businesses, they help, and they volunteer, soI think all of the Belizean people appreciate the expats being here
There is very little resentment against expats here in Belize. I am sure that there is some resentment, but very little. I think it is because everybody gets along and everybody speaks English. Everybody still has the same wavelength, and it is the tropics, it is the islands, so people have a relaxed mentality. You do not have that "have and have nots," the "rich and the poor" mentality here in Belize. There are places in the States where you meet someone, and almost one of the first things that comes of their mouth is "where do your kids go to school?", which is basically hinting at "oh, they're going to an expensive private school" or “what kind of car do you drive?” or “what does your husband do?” It is as if they want to know the socio-economic status of the person. People in Belize do not ask those kinds of questions. They could care less.
There is very little resentment against expats here in Belize. I am sure that there is some resentment, but very little. I think it is because everybody gets along and everybody speaks English. Everybody still has the same wavelength, and it is the tropics, it is the islands, so people have a relaxed mentality. You do not have that "have and have nots," the "rich and the poor" mentality here in Belize. There are places in the States where you meet someone, and almost one of the first things that comes of their mouth is "where do your kids go to school?", which is basically hinting at "oh, they're going to an expensive private school" or “what kind of car do you drive?” or “what does your husband do?” It is as if they want to know the socio-economic status of the person. People in Belize do not ask those kinds of questions. They could care less.
Posted December 1, 2014
Christian Burn
Something like "gringo pricing" exists in Belize. I walk up and buy x number of tomatoes for US $5 a pound and one of my team who is Belizean walks up and pays for the same tomatoes for $3 a pound. Unfortunately, this is a small place. In the whole country, there are only 300,000 people. It really boils down to who you know. Half the time, the lady selling the produce is a cousin of one of my team members, so there is a family relation there and in turn family takes care of...
Something like "gringo pricing" exists in Belize. I walk up and buy x number of tomatoes for US $5 a pound and one of my team who is Belizean walks up and pays for the same tomatoes for $3 a pound. Unfortunately, this is a small place. In the whole country, there are only 300,000 people. It really boils down to who you know. Half the time, the lady selling the produce is a cousin of one of my team members, so there is a family relation there and in turn family takes care of family. So maybe it is not the gringo pricing; maybe it is the fact that they are taking care of each other because that is just the fact of life.
However, the Belizean people by nature are incredibly warm and welcoming. That may be because of the colonialism, but the way I see it is that you just have to somewhat extend yourself and then they go over the top. There is a psychology there, that perhaps trusting of foreigners to a certain extent, and that culture has not gone away. Belizeans appreciate that expats are here, and expats open new job opportunities and growth opportunities.
Belizeans are very endearing, even to expats. In comparison, I have girlfriends in Canada, who if a foreigner looks at their babies, they start to get uppity and defensive. In Belize, if a mom holds her baby in her arms and you smile at the baby, she would like that and might even ask if you want to hold her baby. It is a totally different approach here in Belize. I do not know what happened to my girlfriends in Canada. They just started to get paranoid and that may be because of watching too much negative news on TV about people taking other people’s kids.
Posted December 2, 2014
Macarena Rose - Rainforerst Realty
For the most part, expats in Belize are treated by the people in Belize the way they also treat the locals. Here's an example of what not to do. We had some people who we helped relocate to Belize and they were very Type A personalities; very out there, pushy and aggressive. They wanted everything to be done now.
I wanted to tell them, “Take a deep breath.”
They went to...
For the most part, expats in Belize are treated by the people in Belize the way they also treat the locals. Here's an example of what not to do. We had some people who we helped relocate to Belize and they were very Type A personalities; very out there, pushy and aggressive. They wanted everything to be done now.
I wanted to tell them, “Take a deep breath.”
They went to Immigration to get a stamp on their passport and they were frustrated that there was a line, and they were outspoken about it. They weren’t nice. So when they got up to the counter, a little sign went up at the window that said, “Gone for 15 minutes.”
They were really mad because they took all this time in line. The guy behind the counter was essentially communicating, “I don’t want to deal with them,” so he left for 15 minutes.
If you go to Belize and you are nice to people, you acknowledge them, and treat them with respect, they will treat you the same way. So remember, wherever you move to, you bring yourself with you… so bring the right person with you!
Posted January 30, 2015
Chris Leonard - Paradise Found Belize Real Estate and Development
Americans and expats in Belize are treated very well. There are already lots of expats in Belize, so you have people you can relate to on the level that they are already there. Pretty much anywhere you go, you will run into somebody who is an expat, whether it is walking into the Chinese market or going into a bar. There are expat communities throughout Corozal and the rest of the country, so there are lots of expat activities, such as dart leagues and...
Americans and expats in Belize are treated very well. There are already lots of expats in Belize, so you have people you can relate to on the level that they are already there. Pretty much anywhere you go, you will run into somebody who is an expat, whether it is walking into the Chinese market or going into a bar. There are expat communities throughout Corozal and the rest of the country, so there are lots of expat activities, such as dart leagues and pool leagues. People are respectful and expats are always treated just like another person on the street. In addition, there are no issues relative to skin color.
Posted March 2, 2015
Shannon Davies - El Rey Hotel / Belize Travel Services
Everybody in Belize is treated great. It is very common to hear people say that Belizeans are very friendly. The expats love being here because Belizeans are such friendly people and the expats feel at home. Everybody in Belize is treated great. It is very common to hear people say that Belizeans are very friendly. The expats love being here because Belizeans are such friendly people and the expats feel at home. Posted March 31, 2015
Jamaal Young
My friends and I treat Americans like everyone else. There is no Anti-American feeling in Belize. We are big on tourism. Americans do not have to worry about not being treated well by locals in general. Belizeans view Americans and expats like anyone else. The Belizeans don’t have any views about Americans or any other expats than they would have about anyone else, even a native Belizean. My friends and I treat Americans like everyone else. There is no Anti-American feeling in Belize. We are big on tourism. Americans do not have to worry about not being treated well by locals in general. Belizeans view Americans and expats like anyone else. The Belizeans don’t have any views about Americans or any other expats than they would have about anyone else, even a native Belizean. Posted April 2, 2015
Phil Hahn - Carmelita Gardens
Belizean people have a very high standard and pride and respect. How you will be treated is if you give respect, you are going to get respect. That goes for all ranks of society in all economic levels and across all genders. If you treat people with respect and you don’t come down as the “Ugly American”, people are going to treat you with respect and they are going to embrace you as one of their own. I can’t tell you how many...
Belizean people have a very high standard and pride and respect. How you will be treated is if you give respect, you are going to get respect. That goes for all ranks of society in all economic levels and across all genders. If you treat people with respect and you don’t come down as the “Ugly American”, people are going to treat you with respect and they are going to embrace you as one of their own. I can’t tell you how many times people have told me that I’m Belizean. They mean it as a compliment. They mean it as embracing me for who I am with respect. That’s a good feeling. They know I am not Belizean; I don’t’ speak Creole or Spanish. I speak English with a vernacular and a vocabulary that is different than the majority of Belizeans and other folks that have come to Belize.
I am an individual and they know and respect that. My development, Carmelita Gardens, came up with a motto, “Independent Together.” That was my interpretation of what Belize is and how the Belizean people are. They are very independent and very proud, but there is a sense of community. It’s an entire country that feels like a small town. They love their independence, but they embrace outsiders. There is no xenophobia. The welcome people from all walks of life from all over the world.
A lot of Belizeans have families in the States. They have been to the States so they have seen all sorts of images of the States and have been exposed to so much of the US. The US is the biggest trading partner of Belize, so we are not foreigners to them. We are just some other folks who have landed on their shores. If you’re a good person and you treat them with respect, then you’re going to get that back tenfold.
(Phil Hahn with the Governor General of Belize promoting tourism in Belize at trade show, pictured.)
Posted May 13, 2015
John Acott
Americans and other expats are treated very well in Belize. Tourism is a big thing here in Belize. I have been living here for a while and I was here before tourism was a big industry, and not once have I been told to go home or “Blimey, we don’t want you here!” Not ever. With Americans, it’s the same. Americans don’t have problems here. They are treated well. Belizeans are happy, friendly people, so we...Americans and other expats are treated very well in Belize. Tourism is a big thing here in Belize. I have been living here for a while and I was here before tourism was a big industry, and not once have I been told to go home or “Blimey, we don’t want you here!” Not ever. With Americans, it’s the same. Americans don’t have problems here. They are treated well. Belizeans are happy, friendly people, so we have no problems at all. We do occasionally get the “ugly American” who is loud-mouthed and boastful and would say, “In America, we do it this way…”, which upsets a few people. But generally, there are no troubles with Americans or other expats.
(Pictured: Canadians in Belize.)
Posted June 18, 2015
Bentley Wildman - Consejo Shores
Americans and other expats are treated very well in Belize. It's interesting because somebody else asked me the same question the other day. I've never heard of any problems at all. I haven't heard of anything bad or any bad news from anywhere else in the country. I know in Corozal that Americans and other expats are always welcome, and there's never a problem. A lot of the people in the area, for example, in the local villages, understand that...
Americans and other expats are treated very well in Belize. It's interesting because somebody else asked me the same question the other day. I've never heard of any problems at all. I haven't heard of anything bad or any bad news from anywhere else in the country. I know in Corozal that Americans and other expats are always welcome, and there's never a problem. A lot of the people in the area, for example, in the local villages, understand that when an expat comes in there's the possibility of work. There are a lot of people hired in Consejo Shores who come from all sorts of different villages in Corozal area. So it's all good. For the most part, everything has been really good and really pleasant.
In my experience and from what I have heard from others, there is no resentment. I know that there have been some problems with the local contractors and builders with people who are building houses for other people but those always gets worked out fine. I don't think that there's anywhere in Corozal Town that an expat or North American walking down the street will not be greeted by a Belizean, even more so than in the States or in Canada. Over here in Belize, there is always a good morning, good afternoon, and good evening. It’s always very pleasant.
(Pictured: Expats Birthday party at a local Bar in Corozal, Jam Rock)
Posted July 13, 2015
Kendra Nicholson
Expats (including Americans) who come to Belize are treated well. One reason is because of the language (we both speak English), and another reason is because of tourism.We have been working on tourism for the last 30 years and the Belizean people know that we need tourism deep down, so they will work with foreigners, talk to them, and be friends with them. We treat expats very well and we love tourists because they bring a lot of money and they bring...
Expats (including Americans) who come to Belize are treated well. One reason is because of the language (we both speak English), and another reason is because of tourism.We have been working on tourism for the last 30 years and the Belizean people know that we need tourism deep down, so they will work with foreigners, talk to them, and be friends with them. We treat expats very well and we love tourists because they bring a lot of money and they bring their expertise.
Posted August 12, 2015
Rubi Young - Altamira Residences
Expats in general, are treated extremely well in Belize. Belizeans are very friendly. Depending on where you go in Belize, people will give you a tour of the place. We love tourists because tourists are also very friendly with the locals. We know the fact that tourists bring money into our country. I have never heard of any story where an expat or a tourist was treated badly, by the Garifuna or anyone else. Belizeans, in general, are very friendly.
...
Expats in general, are treated extremely well in Belize. Belizeans are very friendly. Depending on where you go in Belize, people will give you a tour of the place. We love tourists because tourists are also very friendly with the locals. We know the fact that tourists bring money into our country. I have never heard of any story where an expat or a tourist was treated badly, by the Garifuna or anyone else. Belizeans, in general, are very friendly.
(Belize signpost of distances to international cities, pictured.)
Posted December 14, 2015
Franklin Syrowatka - Better Homes Belize
Expats are treated very nicely here in Belize. Belizeans are usually open minded and tolerant. Of course they know that foreigners bring money into the country so they are welcomed anyway. But in general, as long as you behave here in Belize, you are welcome to the Belizeans.There are some things you should not do. Don’t come here and tell people what they do wrong and that you and your mother country are the greatest in the world. If you want them to treat you nice, be...
Expats are treated very nicely here in Belize. Belizeans are usually open minded and tolerant. Of course they know that foreigners bring money into the country so they are welcomed anyway. But in general, as long as you behave here in Belize, you are welcome to the Belizeans.There are some things you should not do. Don’t come here and tell people what they do wrong and that you and your mother country are the greatest in the world. If you want them to treat you nice, be friendly and don’t speak down on them. Unfortunately, I see these things happen frequently. It is all about respect. If you give Belizeans the feeling that you respect their ways and their lifestyle, then you are welcome.
(Pictured: Belizeans working on foundation of villa in Cayo.)
Posted January 17, 2016
David Berger - Tradewinds Hospitality at Orchid Bay
Expats are mostly treated well here in Belize. Everyone pretty much respects each other here. There are certainly some people who are not as nice to other people but it is just fine.In general, people who treat others with a lot of respect also get a lot of respect in return in Belize. Belizeans are very nice, sweet people who want to learn and are eager to work. They are learning now that expats usually provide more jobs. The government lets the expats come here and if they...
Expats are mostly treated well here in Belize. Everyone pretty much respects each other here. There are certainly some people who are not as nice to other people but it is just fine.In general, people who treat others with a lot of respect also get a lot of respect in return in Belize. Belizeans are very nice, sweet people who want to learn and are eager to work. They are learning now that expats usually provide more jobs. The government lets the expats come here and if they start a business and hire Belizeans they pretty much let you do whatever you want.
I haven’t really found any resentment towards expats here in Belize between the haves and the have nots. My wife is Belizean and I met her here. I am accepted into her family without a problem. They are great people and we have a lot of fun together.
(Attendees at a home builders workshop, Orchid Bay, near Corozal, Belize, pictured.)
Posted March 14, 2017