My name is Kristi, I’m 28 years old and currently getting a divorce from my husband – this is the story of my journey to Belize from Oregon. 7 months ago I sold everything to blindly move to Belize and try to open a bar and grill with my husband and mother. Along the way I’ve learned so much and feel the need to share it with whomever will listen so let’s start from the beginning…
There I was sitting at work – bored – when a new email pops up in my Gmail account that I check way too often there because my job is so mundane. It’s not that I don’t like my job or the people I work with but it’s just one of those non-challenging – I can do this with my eyes closed – kind of jobs. The email is from my Dad which isn’t too out of the ordinary; we both work at computers all day long and email each other constantly. Mostly the topics are current events and the Economist is my main source. This was not a current event though, it was a simple link with the message attached, “if you’re interested in helping me run this I’m serious about buying it.” Interesting – so I clicked on the link and up pops a Caribbean Real Estate website. At first I didn’t think too much of it because my dad has always been interested in buying Caribbean property, but I still looked through it. It was a house and restaurant on lots next to one another in Corozal, Belize. My immediate reaction was “Hell Yes!” so I emailed my dad back and asked him if he was serious. He responded that he is very serious but he wouldn’t be able to move there immediately to set the bar & grill up and run it which is why he would need me and my (now ex) husband to move there and get things going. Okay, now I had to sit back and really think about this. I really didn’t even know where Belize was located. I was 27, and had gone through a lot of major stressors in my life during the last three years so I was ready for a change, but was this a little too much?
I immediately started doing some online research about this place. I quickly found out that it was in Central America bordering Mexico and Guatemala. It was the only English speaking country in that area and it was very small. The population of the entire country is just over 300,000. Specifically the town where this property is located is called Corozal and it is in the northern region of Belize. It is one of the largest towns in Belize but is more like the small town of Banks, Oregon where I grew up. There is a large ex-pat population in Corozal and that concerned me slightly since I am young I wasn’t sure if I was ready to move to a retirement town. Being married at the time I thought it would be fine since my husband and I would go together and that way we had each other to lean on. This was a huge decision– it would totally uproot my entire life. The deal would be that my husband, Will, and I would go to Belize with my mother, help set up the restaurant since it wasn’t running currently and then run it for at least one year. After a year the situation would be re-evaluated. I didn’t have any experience with setting up, operating or running a restaurant so this would be totally strange for me. My degree was in Economics so I would be the natural choice to run the books and finances for the business. I knew I could do it so I wasn’t too horribly concerned about the industry. Will had been working in a small tavern for the past year as an assistant manager and had been learning the ins and outs of the business so he would be the main contributor to actually putting the food together.
That day after work I rushed home to talk to Will about this whole thing. He was completely excited about it. He had always talked about wanting to leave the states and go somewhere just like Belize to start a little bar and just be away from everything. He didn’t really even give it a second thought – he wanted to do it. So I called up my Dad and we arranged a meeting with him and my mom to go over details and figure out who would go check the place out. After that it all started happening so fast. My mom and dad flew to Belize to look at the property, get an idea of the atmosphere and meet the current owner. Their first night there they absolutely hated it, but that quickly changed after they started meeting people and seeing the town. They decided that it was a place they could live and eventually retire. When they got back from their trip the four of us met again to talk about the whole experience. The town is right on the Corozal Bay and they said it was beautiful – of course there were pictures too. They said the people were incredibly friendly, helpful and inviting. The down sides were the fact that the place was dirtier than we were used to at home, there were a million dogs who barked all night at everything and we would just have to get used to a third world country. The idea was like a dream – Will and I would contribute 50% of the costs to get the business started but the house would be purchased and maintained by my parents. In return for dropping everything and moving to Belize to run the place we would get a 50% stake in the business. We had to act fast though; the place was priced for quick movement because the previous owner had been in a very bad auto accident and needed to sell everything. I did a lot more internet research because we would be going in to this blind. Over the next couple of days we talked about the logistics and decided that we could sell our cars, put our student loans on deferment and sell everything – we decided to go for it. I just kept thinking that if I didn’t do this I would regret it for the rest of my life. The worst that could happen was that the business fails and we ended up back home in a year. If I didn’t go I don’t think I would be able to forgive myself for not taking the chance to have this totally crazy experience. It was like everything in my life was rushing by me and I was just standing still wondering what was actually happening. We were set to move in October 2008. We essentially had six months to get everything together. Then we started telling people…
I was a little nervous about breaking this crazy news to people – I really thought that they would give me an earful about how crazy and irresponsible I was being. It had to be done though, so I started with my current boss – I would have to eventually give my notice. She freaked…in a good way. She was so excited for me and basically told me that this was the only possible reason she would accept to lose me at the office. I don’t know why but every time I told a new person I would get so nervous, but with each new person I told I would gain a little more confidence about what I was doing. In the end telling friends was no big deal – they were all very excited for us and thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that should not be passed up. Telling family was a little different. Some of them were immediately supportive but the major trend was, “what the hell are you thinking? Are you crazy? Where is Belize?” It was difficult to convince everyone that we hadn’t totally lost our heads – or if we have then it really was just a big adventure. Eventually my side of the family came around and were all supportive and actually became excited for us. Will’s family was a different story, his parents were completely against the whole thing which did cause some stress in our lives before we went, but we were not about to bend our lives to appease someone else. The decision was made – we were moving to Belize in October, 6 months from then.
Travels to Belize | admin | May 8, 2009 
Hi Kristi:
I love this blog and the page itself. I can’t wait to see what else you decide to do with it. I enjoyed reading your premier entry. You have a real gnat for writing so I suspect this blog is just the start of what will become a great novel. The past year must have felt like a whirlwind journey for you guys and so much has happened in that short time. I can’t wait to read more of your blogs so keep it up, and all the best to you as you continue this incredible journey!
Best Regards,
Korvell Pyfrom
I am so glad you have started this blog. Great job and I am looking forward to reading what you write next.
Kristi-
We miss you lots, but what an adventure and growing experience you have had the past year! We think of you often and can tell you are one strong individual. Things aren’t always what we think and at times they become opportunities – I agree that regardless of the outcome, you would have kicked yourself by always wondering what could have been if you hadn’t gone to Belize. Although you have been met with challenges, I will imagine that there have been wonderful triumphs along the way. I enjoy hearing of your experiences and living in Central America (vicariously through you, of course!). Thanks and keep posting! ~ Vickie Raines
looks good i like the push up picture you need to blast those triceps again, time to get cut no more sweet bread! nice writting as well when do we get the new stuff? -Chuck