| So what happens in life? How is it that one day | | | | This is a wonderful opportunity for our locals to |
| you find yourself living in one country and the | | | | get their wisdom and history of Belize known and |
| next? Well, you've packed up, moved on and | | | | into the record books. While hosting this TV show, |
| you're living in another country altogether. | | | | I was then asked to be "the voice" on the Smart |
| Do such things really happen to people? | | | | cell phones for automated replies. |
| Let me assure you, they do! My name is | | | | I was also asked to be the fitness coach and |
| Macarena Rose and this is my true story of how | | | | team medic for the Cayo Avengers semi pro |
| I came to leave the United States and take up | | | | men's football (soccer) team. This is an interesting |
| residence in Belize. | | | | aspect of Belize, as "football" is the life blood of |
| I had been living in St. Petersburg, Florida for most | | | | locals here. |
| of my adult life, raising my children both biological | | | | Through this experience, I have had the |
| and adopted, and the world was beautiful. | | | | opportunity to travel and visit all over Belize. It |
| Then came the day in April 2003 when I traveled | | | | was interesting to see folks' reactions to a |
| with the Sentient Temple of Florida to San | | | | woman on the field! I am very appreciative for all |
| Ignacio, Belize to do healing work. We settled | | | | the support given to me in this role. In addition -- |
| ourselves into Cahal Pech Village Resort, and the | | | | and lucky for me -- it was like I got to be Mom |
| journey began. | | | | to a whole team of great guys and also be their |
| I was astounded by the breathtaking mountains | | | | number one cheerleader! This has been a greatly |
| and the ever so hospitable Belizeans. It also | | | | rewarding experience. |
| amazed me to be in Central America and the | | | | Shortly after settling in, we began our search for |
| primary language was English!! | | | | a home to buy. This was an eye opener as we |
| When I got back to Florida, I could not take my | | | | were surprised and disappointed with the |
| mind off the trip. The very positive energy | | | | lackluster quality of salesmanship amongst most |
| generated from the journey continued to | | | | of the real estate agencies. In addition, we |
| resonate in my heart and mind. But, as I came to | | | | discovered the agents here were neither licensed |
| understand, that energy didn't come from the | | | | nor trained. |
| workshop. It was the energy generated by being | | | | That's when I decided to open up my business, |
| in Belize itself! | | | | Rainforest Realty. I came to Belize as a Director |
| There is no other way to put it -- Belize just kept | | | | of my church -- but the opportunity presented |
| calling me back. The feel of it and the memory of | | | | itself, the timing was right, and I decided to offer |
| it were in everything I did. So I decided to return | | | | my vast experience in real estate to the public. |
| with a friend in October 2003. We traveled | | | | My emphasis was to be total integrity, service |
| throughout the country but seemed to find a | | | | and southern charm! |
| special call to San Ignacio, so we ended our stay | | | | Recognizing I had an uphill battle in this endeavor |
| there. The whole trip was wonderful and excited | | | | -- not only as a newcomer but a female in a Latin |
| me. My feelings about Belize did not change, only | | | | American culture, I knew I needed to approach |
| increased ----- so I took a chance on life. It was | | | | the "right people" for help and training. I give |
| one of those transcending moments that you | | | | thanks daily to the (Lands Dept? who did you go |
| look back on. I knew it was Belize for me! | | | | to?) for their excellent training and support. |
| When I returned home to Florida, I told my | | | | Then I was up and running. To this day, I assist |
| children that when the last one graduated, I was | | | | the Lands Department in clearing up title work |
| moving to Belize! To my amazement, my | | | | and work with others to help with offshore |
| daughter, Chiara, who was 15 at the time, said, "I | | | | banking, financing, incorporations. I help just about |
| have a feeling we are supposed to be there now." | | | | anyone who walks through the office door with a |
| Well, being ever the practical mother, I asked her | | | | legitimate issue. |
| to please do research on Belize, to see if anything | | | | My agency, Rainforest Realty, now has a colorful |
| she uncovered might change her feelings. She did | | | | office on Benque Viejo Road in San Ignacio. Locals |
| this and remained steadfast in her resolve to go | | | | and tourists are most welcome and come and go |
| to Belize. So I didn't wait. I sold our family home, | | | | all day with questions, homes, businesses and land |
| packed up our containers and took them to the | | | | to sale, and properties to buy. |
| shipping yard in Florida. With our 2 dogs in tow, | | | | I have three young Belizeans training and working |
| we boarded the plane to Belize and have never | | | | as Realtors (R) who have either come from |
| looked back. | | | | another firm or from another occupation to work |
| We, the mother and daughter, lived at the Cahal | | | | for Rainforest Realty. They know they'll get the |
| Pech Resort for awhile, becoming familiar with our | | | | best experience and have the best reputation in |
| new town and the community that would become | | | | the marketplace here. |
| home. Chiara immediately started school here - | | | | Now fast forward to four years later in |
| and was amazed that her uniform went down | | | | November 2007. Those years reflect a |
| past her knees. Ah, the changes she went | | | | tremendous amount of work by many dedicated |
| through! | | | | people. The outcome is I had the honor to |
| Her big thing was that she had to find Dr. Pepper | | | | become the President of the Belize National |
| to drink. (!) So, while I was out getting her lunch | | | | Association of RealtorsR (BNAR). |
| at one point, I actually found it. I was then able to | | | | This was followed by the National Association of |
| work out a deal for the vendor to bring a supply | | | | Realtors(R) recognizing our Belizean delegation's |
| into Belize, special for her. That was it --- she was | | | | efforts to create a professional organization |
| solidly sold on Belize! Never underestimate the | | | | across the country of Belize. This is a great |
| determination of a mother! | | | | historic event for Belize. It brings to our country a |
| Indeed, we were here less than 10 days and | | | | whole new level of confidence in investing by |
| Chiara decided, like me, that Belize was home. | | | | locals and foreigners. |
| I've been very fortunate in how I quickly became | | | | I take great pride in saying that Belize is a truly |
| very involved in my new community here. Since | | | | amazing country where one can move, live your |
| coming to Belize, I've had the privilege of hosting | | | | life, and become one with the community with a |
| a weekly TV show which provides biographies of | | | | lateral move (not sure what this means i.e. lateral |
| Belizeans' lives. | | | | move, what are you saying here). |