Monthly Archives: July 2012

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Guest Post: Do’s and Don’ts in Freight Forwarding” 7/31/12

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In freight forwarding, you are entrusting your products to be delivered by a shipper. Question is: Freight Forwarding“Do you know this shipping company so well that you won’t be worrying much about the consignment?” Take note that you need a good guarantee that the packages will be in safe hands. In this article, we will enlighten you and hopefully ease your burdens about freight forwarding by showing you the do’s and don’ts of this service.

1. Don’t rush. Do get to know the shipping vendor well.

Don’t be content in just checking out the company’s website, as they more than likely will only post information beneficial to their business. However, one good source of information you can get from there is the number of years they have been operating. One year of experience is never enough to earn your confidence in them; three would be more acceptable.

Start researching for customer reviews posted on the Internet in online community forums, Facebook pages, and other sites where comments can be examined. These are real and actual testimonies which have value.

Then ask your acquaintances, friends, and relatives if this company can be trusted or not, and how good or bad their experience with it was to get a good grasp and understanding about the performance of the freight-forwarding company.

Also, call the company and study the customer service you receive on the phone. Listen intently how the personnel sound: inviting or nonchalant. If the person sounds knowledgeable and courteous, this is a positive sign that the company provides good customer service. The initial impression is most of the time right. If the telephone rings ten times and the call is not attended, don’t proceed in contacting them any further. You know their silence means: “We are not worthy of your trust.”

2. Don’t be ignorant. Do check the services they offer.

Ask whether they have tracking, logistics, and commanding systems to dispatch their vehicles and monitor the consignments. A good freight forwarder will offer services equipped with highly efficient technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning System), automated systems to record all the statuses and locations of the shipments and the profiles of their customers, and a good customer support group who can accommodate the questions of customers as necessary, or almost 24/7.

3. Don’t be apathetic. Do know your rights as a customer.

In shipping services, often there’s a term of agreement sheet that you need to sign before the transaction will be settled. Read the policies as these will be the basis of your rights. When this paper is not provided, ask them to enumerate the privileges and returns you will get in case there are anticipated slip-ups in their service. Common examples are refunds and freebies. Make sure you get them to be committed and responsible in writing for possible damages.

4. Do worry less about the pricing and more about the quality of service.

If your belongings are at stake, you will be better off dealing with a more expensive but safe company. You have already spent a considerable amount of money purchasing your goods, and now you should be equally considerate in sending them assuredly to the right people, either for personal or business reasons. Cost of quality and your conscience will come knocking at your door when you find out later that the items have incurred damages, spoilages, etc. or that the delivery did not come on time when you made a deal with a cheap freight forwarder.

5. Don’t take the the freight forwarder’s word for it that your shipment has arrived. Do call or contact your business partner, family, friend, client, etc. and ask whether or not they received the package in good condition, if you aren’t there to receive it yourself.

After checking the status of delivery with the company, also check the items’ condition with the recipient. They can best tell this as they are the ones who will open the boxes. For any problems, call the service company immediately and let them know so you can get the rightful compensation.

Freight forwarding is a complex task, and you are your best advocate, so don’t be afraid to take charge. As companies should take accountability for sending your packages, on your end, you should also be dutiful in ensuring they are following good service practices on theirs, before turning your possessions over to them.

 

 

Author bio:

Natalie Montes is an alumna from San Beda College of Alabang, a former marketing assistant and a 23 year old freelance writer. She is into almost all types of Music, especially the Ballad and Old Love songs. She also has a passion in Singing and Scrap Booking. Follow her escapades on her Twitter.

Annual Visit to the States

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Hi everyone! Just so no one wondered what the heck happened to me, I am off to the States for my annual visit.  As I told you in my recent homesick post, this is how I combat missing my family and friends. I must take a vacation and visit at least once a year.

This year I will be staying in Houston, TX, with my step-daughter and two grandsons, 9 and 6.  We have a full agenda planned. Lots of pool  time (it’s 90+ degrees there, so I definitely won’t be escaping the heat), a water park outing, and a visit to 6 Flags Amusement Park – haven’t rode on a roller coaster in a while.

In addition, I will be eating lots of sushi and doing some clothes shopping.  Nige will be here holding down the fort (the business can’t run itself).  I’ll be returning on August 12, so don’t go anywhere – I’ll be back soon enough. Ciao!

LIVING IN BELIZE – “The New Burns Avenue, Office Space for Rent & Cenedia’s “ 7/27/12

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Yesterday we had an appointment in town, and the meeting place was on the “new” part of Burns Avenue.  For those of you who aren’t aware, earlier this year the decision was made to close off part of Burns Avenue to through traffic.  In doing so, they paved it with cute little cobblestone like pavers.

It has now become a completely pedestrian area.  I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not for the businesses there, as since they did that, I have yet to go visit any establishment on that part of the street. Fact of the matter is, we are always in our car and prefer to drive, especially in this heat.  Trying to find parking now, with that section closed down, is harder. So we tend to frequent places that we can easily drive to and park at.

However, I’m sure they do get a fair amount of business from tourists, or locals without cars, of which there are plenty.  One thing I noticed occurring is that many of the businesses on that section are now putting their tables, chairs, wares, etc. right in the street.  Now the street that used to be just for walking has become cluttered with more stuff. I thought the intent was to keep it open and clear. Maybe I’m mistaken, since it doesn’t appear as if the Town Council is doing anything to rectify the situation.

The purpose of our visit was to meet with a new client.  She has a small office space she wants to rent. Normally, we don’t handle commercial rentals, but she’s a friend and the rental is pretty straightforward, so I told her I would try to help her.

It’s a one room, half bath office, about a block up from the Town Council and a block over from the City Hall/Police Station offices.  The location is ideal for someone who doesn’t need foot traffic for their business to be successful, but rather a space to work quietly in. It is a nice area, away from the noise and traffic of town, but a quick two minute walk will take you there if you have banking to do or want to have lunch.

You can see more information on it here:

http://belizehouserentals.redroofpropertymanagement.com/available-san-ignacio-belize-office-for-rent/

After our meeting, we went to Ceneida’s for lunch. I must confess, I’d never been there, but what a cute spot.  From the street, you can’t even see the fairly large dining room they have.  The food was very good. I had Coconut Shrimp (not fried) and Rice, and Nige had Deer, of all things! Each of our meals were $10 bze ($ USD) – excellent prices!

Because I was at a business meeting, I didn’t want to whip out my camera and start taking photos. Next time we’re there, because there will be a next time, I’ll do that and post them for you. In the meantime, if you want to eat at Ceneida’s, it’s located on West Street, one block over from Burns Avenue.

Do you think pedestrian streets should allow businesses to move their belongings to the street?

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Updates on Dog Euthanization, FACTA, Produce Genie & Skype” 7/26/12

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Today, I thought it would be good to follow up on some posts I have written in the last couple of weeks, so I can provide you with some updates or additional information.

First up is the one I did on the inhumane killing of stray dogs on the island of Ambergris Caye:

http://www.wealthships.com/2012/07/13/living-in-belize-dogs-in-belize-71312/:

Good news, as it turns out.  After a meeting with the local humane society, the town council has agreed to start euthanizing dogs.  I’m really happy to hear this and think it’s a step in the right direction! You can read more about how this happened here:

http://www.sanpedrosun.com/community-and-society/2012/07/20/sptc-saga-and-spah-to-work-together-to-humanely-euthanize-dogs/

Next, I want to address the blog I wrote on the new FACTA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) that will be going into full effect January 1, 2014. Here’s that blog:

http://www.wealthships.com/2012/07/11/living-in-belize-the-foreign-account-tax-compliance-act-fatca-71112/:

Boy has this issue got people confused!  After that blog, I got so many emails from people still not believing that their Social Security payments were completely off limits from that onerous 30% tax.  One person , in particular, wanted me to provide an absolute guarantee of this fact.

Well, I’m not a CPA, nor do I pretend to be, so I told him he should either talk to his CPA, or his congressman, if he didn’t believe me.  Well, he did just that, and was nice enough to send me his CPA’s reply:

“Re: Social Security, HIRE and FATCA do not really apply. Hire is a credit to EMPLOYERS, FATCA is for US INCOME deposited in foreign bank accounts and 30% withholding is for earnings over $50,000.  Social security is a retirement generally nontaxable anyway, so don’t worry about it.”

I love it when I’m right, giggle giggle! In any case, for those of you who STILL don’t believe me, or this guy’s CPA, please do go talk to your own CPA – I’m sure they’ll confirm this.

Another interesting misconception about the 30% withholding that’s out there is that it will apply to ATM transactions. I actually saw this on a very well-known “relocation expert’s” husband’s newsletter, and was floored.  Again, the 30% tax only applies to transactions over $50K. If someone can show me an ATM that allows $50K withdrawals, I’d love to see it. It’s really disappointing to see my competitors using this law to create fear and possibly make some sales. Not very ethical in my opinion at all.

On a lighter note, I have been using my Produce Genie product for a little over a week now – remember the blog:

http://www.wealthships.com/2012/07/10/living-in-belize-belize-businesses-produce-genie-71012/:

So far, it’s working great! I don’t even have to keep my produce in plastic bags any more. I just put all my produce in the bin, and things are staying much fresher.  I think I’m a fan.

Lastly, I had blogged about Skype being blocked in Belize here:

http://www.wealthships.com/2012/07/06/living-in-belize-skyping-in-belize-7612/:

A couple of you locals wrote to tell me that you’re getting Skype via Central Cable Vision, our local cable company provider.  This has always been true, with people living in Corozal and Placencia getting Skype via their cable companies.  So if Skype is really important to you, consider getting your internet through the local cable company instead.

Does it turn you off when you see someone using fear-based marketing?

 

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Spanish Admirer & Verano Belikin Beer“ 7/25/12

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Every morning on my walk, I pass the home of a lovely Spanish family.  I’m not sure who all the members are, but it appears to me as if the abuela (grandmother) and abuelo (grandfather) are raising their two small nietos (grandsons).  In any case, they are quite friendly and go out of their way to wave at me as I am leaving and coming back from my walk.

They only speak Spanish, so we communicate the best we can. Of course, I know how to say “Buenas Dias,” but when the grandmother, who is by far the friendliest, really starts talking, my four years of high school Spanish are put to the test!  One day, however, she had one of her two grandsons by her side, and she said to me, “Me dice que son muy bonitos (he tells me you are very pretty)” Now that I understood!

I’ll definitely take the compliment, but obviously children are far less picky than adults. After all, I’m not looking my best in the mornings – no makeup, hair pushed up under a hat, sweaty. But hey, who am I to argue with the child.

In any case, I said “Gracias,” and kept walking, but ever since then, when this little tiny boy sees me, he comes running out yelling, “Chiquita, Chiquita!” It is so adorable! But at the same time, a tad bit confusing. I had always thought Chiquita meant a small girl. Turns out, after doing some research, that it is also used as an endearing or protective term. Wow, I’m so honored! I better not tell Nige, though, that I have a three year old suitor trying to break in on his turf !

Yesterday we decided to try the latest “seasonal” beer that Belikin has released.  This one is called “Verano,” which means “summer” in Spanish.  Earlier this year, they had released a limited time only Chocolate beer, which I never did get to taste – a major bummer since I am a chocolate freak!  So I was eager to taste something new.

 

Much to my disappointment, I could not discern any difference in this beer. It tasted exactly like the regular Belikin (or maybe my taste buds are failing me). The only thing that was different was the color of the cap!  That’s another funny story about Belikin. Any kind of beer they sell comes in the same bottle. The way you tell the difference is the color of the cap. Green for regular, blue for stout, etc. I guess that saves on production costs.

Oh well, so much for trying something different. Hopefully their next release will be more of a change!

Have you tried Verano? Did you think it tasted much different? 

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Toucan Visit, The New Pancake House & Succotz Rental Price Reduction“ 7/24/12

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We had an unexpected visit from a flock of toucans on our property the other day.  Nige immediately ran and got his camera and started snapping photos. Most people don’t realize that seeing toucans in Belize is not as common as you might think. They tend to prefer water and/or trees, so seeing them in town is quite rare. I didn’t see one the whole time I lived in Belize until I moved here to our river side house.

There’s two of them in this photo – can you see them?

Of course, they didn’t line up nicely on a branch so we could get a single shot of all five together, but he did get a couple good photos.

Nice close up shot, Nige!

We noticed how talkative they are when they’re in a group. Normally, a single toucan doesn’t make a sound. But when together, they’re noisy little suckers! Nige says it reminds him of how a cricket sounds, only I don’t think it’s as high-pitched.

A Belize Toucan, sitting in a tree, s-i-n-g-i-n-g!

I wanted to review a new restaurant we tried out this weekend called the Great Mayan Prince Bar & Grill.  As it turns out, this is the new location of the former Pancake House (I know, confusing). Let me back up.

The Pancake House opened about six months ago, over by the Galvez Stadium off of the Benque Highway.  We thought they did an ok business, even though their location was remote and their menu very specific. But soon enough, we noticed that it had closed down. It turns out, the former owner sold it to a new owner who completely relocated it to a new hotel being built.

The new former Pancake House

The hotel should be finished in a couple of months, but the restaurant is up and running. They are located on Benque Viejo Road, just a couple doors up from Codd’s Drug Store. I met the owner, Yoli, and told her she should put a little sign under the new one saying, “Formerly the Pancake House.” That way people would know she was there, and old customers could come visit. She thought that was a great idea and thanked me profusely.

Some of the best hash browns I’ve had in Belize, and the chocolate chip pancake was pretty tasty too!

She didn’t keep the name of the Pancake House, however, because she said just serving pancakes is too limiting. Instead, they have a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu (including past favorites like chocolate chip pancakes) and will stay open all day.

The location is quite convenient (just a short walk from town), on the second story of the hotel, so you get a cooling breeze. And the furniture is hand carved by a local wood maker. Some of the nicest looking chairs I’ve seen here in Belize.

The detail on this chair are simply amazing

Our Succotz Apartment rental has had a price reduction from$600 USD to $500 USD. If you are looking for an unfurnished property, you really can’t beat this one in terms of Location, Location, Location. It is situated right in front of the Mopan River, and the complex has a pool – something that is very hard to find in Cayo. Here’s more details:

http://belizehouserentals.redroofpropertymanagement.com/1-available-succotz-village-belize-apartment-for-rent-unfurnished/

Have you ever heard a Toucan talk?

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Website Facelift & Movie Night in Cayo!“ 7/23/12

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Does anything look different? Over the weekend, I gave my website a whole new look!  It was high time.  There were so many little things about it bothering me.  Up until recently, however, I didn’t feel comfortable working on Word Press themes and making changes.  But after all the training I went through creating the new Red Roof website, this stuff is now a piece of cake!

So I now have an easy to find and use search button in the upper right corner so you can access old posts quick.  I condensed the side bar down to one column, and it only contains relevant information.  I also got rid of the annoying background my posts displayed on – it’s so much easier to read with just a plain white background.  And my links are much easier to see with the turquoise color, as well as the bold post titles.

In addition, I renamed the site to Wealth Ships Belize Relocation Services.  Technically, I can help anyone through the Research and Preparation phases, no matter what country they are moving to, since the steps are the same.  But practically speaking, no one but people moving to Belize hire me, so I might as well more prominently promote the fact that I am an expert on Belize relocation when visitors first arrive to the site.

I also added a new site background too.  I took that picture in Hopkins recently, and it really gives the site a more Belizean feel, which I was definitely after. In any case, I hope you all enjoy the new look and feel. Change is always a good thing.

This weekend we had a lot of excitement in San Ignacio Town.  As I mentioned last week, we had the premiere of a movie made right here in Cayo. The movie is called “2012 Kurse a di Xtabai,” and the cast and crew are a multi-ethnic group of Belizeans.  The producers are Matthiew Klinck, Sabine Linz, Daniel Velazquez, Shelley Glionna.  Shelly is a friend of ours, and she has been talking about how excited she was for this movie to be released, so of course we had to go.

This was the only sign I could find in the hotel announcing the movie – pretty tiny!

The movie actually was the opening film at the Belize International Film Festival in Belize City the weekend before last (the first time ever a Belizean made film opened for the festival), so that was a very proud moment for the film makers too.  These were the first showings here in Cayo, though, and they started Friday night at 7 p.m., which is the show Nige and I went to with a friend of ours.

We watched the movie on a huge inflatable screen!

The movie was shown in the huge meeting room, Bedran Hall, at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel.  Just like a theater in the States, there was a concession stand serving popcorn and nachos, and they had the a/c cranked up so you froze the whole movie, lol!  The turnout was great.  

Concession stand

These are Belize dollar prices (divide by 2 for USD)

  The movie is a super-natural thriller revolving around the ancient Maya legend of the Xtabai and 2012 prophecy (the Xtabai is a female witch of sorts).  She puts a curse on the local village of San Antonio, and people start dying left and right.  One girl can actually see the future happening, and along with a group of friends, her school teacher, and a burned out expat tour guide, go looking for the one place that will stop the curse – a secret and very creepy cave.

The Xtabai

The pretty blond played Xtabai iin the movie – she looks a lot better without the mask! She’s also one of the producers, Shelly Gionna.

Along the way, much of the expedition party ends up getting killed by the Xtabai.  I’ve already revealed way too much, but suffice it to say, the movie is extremely entertaining, and not too, too scary.  There are a few “f” bombs, so I wouldn’t recommend taking real young children.  The best part of the movie was the English subtitles, since it was entirely in Kriol (I’m proud to say I didn’t need the subtitles to understand).

Here’s a link to a Facebook Event page so you can see where more showings will be: https://www.facebook.com/events/298211616944348/

Would you like to see a Kriol movie?


 

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Guest Post: International Movers’ Review Site “ 7/20/12

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From time to time, I like to let others guest post if I think their service or product is of value to my readers.  Adam Vagley fits the bill to a “T!”  I hope you enjoy hearing about his odyssey, and eventual solution, for dealing with how to ship your belongings to another country.  If any of you can help him out with a review, I encourage you to do so.

My wife and I always knew we wanted to live in another country, so when the opportunity to move to Australia came we thought about it for a couple days and decided it was too good to pass up. While it can initially be overwhelming, living abroad is an exciting and rewarding experience – and whether you stay temporarily or permanently, I think it really helps broaden your perspective on the world.

Unfortunately, living abroad requires moving abroad, and all the logistical challenges that entails: visas, healthcare, taxes, housing, and – let’s not forget – movers. Many people pack up what they own into some suitcases, hop on a flight, and go from there. But many others, my wife and me included, decide it’s more cost effective to ship our possessions to our new destination. This can easily be one of the most expensive parts of moving abroad. Given the cost, this is something you want to get right – the internet is littered with horror stories of moves gone wrong. How much justice can you get from an entirely different country? Not much, in many cases.

Because of the stakes involved, it boggles the mind that you can find more about the track record of a restaurant, where a meal might cost you $30, than you can for an international mover, whose service might cost you thousands of dollars.

To make sure we didn’t get scammed I spent hours doing research and eventually hired a company that made me feel comfortable. The price ended up being the same as the quote, there wasn’t any damage to our stuff, and the customer service was responsive and helpful. On the downside, our shipment arrived 4 weeks late. We’d signed a lease for an unfurnished apartment based on the date it was scheduled to arrive, so we spent a long month living with only an air mattress and some cheap dishware.

Based on our own struggle finding a reputable company, we started GoodMigrations, which is like the Yelp of international movers. People can search for international movers in their area and read customer reviews of how the mover performed. These reviews focus on three metrics: Cost, Time, and Condition. Ultimately, I believe people care about three things: did the move cost what it was supposed to, did my stuff arrive when it was supposed to, and was it damage free. The site also has a moving guide so people can learn what to look for and how to protect themselves.

The biggest challenge for us has been spreading the word and building up customer reviews. After all, it’s hard to get a clear picture of a company from just one review. So we need your help: if you used an international mover to relocate to Belize (or anywhere, really) and could take just a minute to rate the company’s service on GoodMigrations, it would go a long way towards helping everyone following in your footsteps to make an informed decision about who to hire.

 

Adam Vagley is co-founder of GoodMigrations (http://GoodMigrationsHelps.com), where anyone moving abroad can find international movers, read customer reviews, and get tips from the comprehensive  moving guide. Adam and his wife were inspired to launch GoodMigrations after their experience moving from New York City to Sydney, Australia. They can be reached on Twitter @GoodMigrations.Their personal expat blog ishttp://theviewdownunder.blogspot.com.

 

LIVING IN BELIZE – “New Belmopan Belize House Rental & Paying Bills Online “ 7/19/12

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I had mentioned on Monday that we were going to have a new Belize house rental to announce, and today’s the day!  The home is located in Belmopan, the nation’s capital, amidst other Embassy homes, such as Costa Rica and Venezuela.  The area is called Orchid Garden, and it is a very nice and desirable neighborhood.  You don’t need a car to live here – you are close to everything!  Market, shops, restaurants, banks, hospital, and all of the capital offices.

Exterior of house and parking areas

If you do have a car, however, there is plenty of parking inside the completely gated and fenced property, some of which is under a carport.  The yard is huge, with the backyard portion gated off on both sides in case you have outdoor pets you would like to secure.

Front Yard and Walkway

The home is a furnished 4 bedroom, 2 bath residence.  One of the bedrooms is actually an office with several bookshelves.  The kitchen is quite large, and comes equipped with two double stainless steel sinks, a dishwasher (practically unheard of), stove, oven, and refrigerator.  Recently, the countertops and cabinets were replaced, not only in the kitchen, but the two bathrooms as well.

Brand new kitchen cabinets and countertops

Two-double sinks & a dishwasher! Dream kitchen!

The home has a unique entertainment room in the center of the home, with soaring ceilings, recessed lighting, air conditioning, and a big screen TV. The living and dining room area itself has vaulted mahogany ceilings.  The master bedroom has an a/c unit and a private sitting area that leads to the back patio.

Large entertainment room with big screen TV

Vaulted mahogany ceilings

Living and dining rooms

The home is perfect for a family, or a couple who loves to entertain, or working professionals who need to be close to the capital offices.  It is being offered for long-term rental only (one year or more).  You can get more details on it here:

http://belizehouserentals.redroofpropertymanagement.com/available-belmopan-belize-house-rental-furnished-in-orchid-garden/

Yesterday Nige and I ran a bunch of errands. We went to BWS so his mom could pay her water bill. We pay ours online, along with all of our other utility bills. I would hate to have to run around to the four service providers (water, electrical, internet, and cable) to pay my bills every month. Too much work for me!

We also did our grocery shopping, took Nige’s 4 Runner in for an oil change (his cost less than mine did which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago – only $83.25 bze or $41.63 usd), went to the San Ignacio Resort Hotel to pick up movie tickets for Friday night (can’t wait to blog all about that-stay tuned), and I ran a Research errand for one of my Wealth Ship clients.  All in all, a busy and productive day.

Do you try to pay most of your bills online?

LIVING IN BELIZE – “Do You Ever Get Homesick? “ 7/18/12

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People ask me this question all the time.  Mostly it’s the tourists or guests that we check into our vacation rentals that want to know.  Some of them can’t imagine up and moving to a foreign country and leaving their family and friends behind. Others may be a tad bit envious and wish they could do something like that one day.

So when I get asked the question, I first explain that I now consider Belize my home. But I understand what they are asking, so I try not to split hairs. Instead, I answer honestly and say, “Yes, I do.”  The degree to which I get homesick varies, however, with how long it has been since my last visit back to the States.

Immediately after a visit (I try to go at least once a year), I’m so happy to be back home in Belize and leave behind the traffic, constant media noise, and box store madness.  I’m also fresh off of having gotten a lot of hugs and kisses from my grandsons – at least enough to tide me over for a while.

Slowly though, as time passes, I start missing them more and more.  Same with my sister and my grandsons’ mom.  Even though I chat frequently on G-mail or Facebook with them, and I make a monthly call just so I can hear their voices, there’s no replacement for the real thing.

Besides getting homesick for my family, I also get homesick for the oddest things. Like sushi, or a great martini.  Finding sushi like it’s made in the States is next to impossible here. Even if you can, they don’t serve it the same way with the fabulous wasabi I like.  And while there are some bars that serve a martini, they really don’t understand the correct way to make one, so I’ve given up ordering them anymore.

I also miss going to the movies. I’ve only been to one movie since moving here, and that was in Chetumal, Mexico. There are two theaters in the country – one in Belize City and another one on the island of Ambergris Caye – but I’ve yet to go. Even when I lived on the island, they mostly played kids films there, only one movie played at a time, and it certainly wasn’t a seven day a week thing – more like once or twice a month.

I’m sure there are a few other things I miss that I’m not remembering now.  I don’t miss anything so much that I would consider going back and living in the States.  Lucky for me, I’ll be heading to Houston, TX, at the end of this month for my annual “fix.” But if you are considering moving to a foreign country, just be prepared. Homesickness is inevitable – you just have to find the tricks that work for you to make it manageable.

Do you think you’d get homesick if you lived in a foreign country? For my present expats, how do you deal with homesickness?