The purpose of this interview is for you to get to know the person you welcome into your home. We ask you to approach the interview with an open mind and understand that the views expressed are those of the interviewee. Please avoid forming judgments based solely on this interview, as it offers only a snapshot of their perspective and experiences. Thank you for your consideration
- Who are you?
My name is Alberto Moreno, but you can call me Beto. That is the nickname my family, friends, and acquaintances usually use to refer to me. I am 37 years old and I am from Chetumal, a very small Caribbean city in the south of Mexico, very close to Cancun but also right next to Belize.
- What are your hobbies and interests?
I have many hobbies and interests, but the most notable are:- I really enjoy traveling. I do not do it as often as I would like since it is a rather expensive hobby, but I would say it is a great motivator for my day-to-day life. I am always thinking about my next trip.
- Another thing I enjoy is taking advantage of nature for exercising or simply walking or appreciating it. I love the sea and the beach itself because I have been very connected to it since I was a child. I used to be more disciplined in fitness before, and lately, I have the urge to get back into it and dedicate more time to it.
- And last but not least, I am passionate about video games. I always make time during the week to enjoy a good session on the Nintendo Switch or PS5.
- What brought you to Vancouver?
I decided to come to Vancouver because I consider myself a person who likes to set challenges and overcome them. My life in Mexico became somewhat monotonous, and I needed that interesting touch, something that made me nervous and expectant, and of course, something that would add to my profile, like learning a new language. After much consideration, since it is not an easy step, I decided and began working on it. It took me about a year from coming up with the idea to actually getting here.
- What would make you stay here?
This is an interesting question to answer. I could tell you that breaking out of my bubble was the most important factor that made me stay here. This is very curious because, as I mentioned before, I try to travel as often as possible since I find it very interesting to experience new cultures, try new foods, see landscapes different from what I am used to, and everything that traveling entails. But despite all those experiences, nothing compares to starting from scratch in a new country and discovering everything that this implies, in addition to taking advantage of that opportunity to reinvent myself, which is what made me stay here.
- What is the best advice you have ever received?
“You have to try Indian food.” If I regret anything in this life, it is not having tried “Chicken Tikka Masala” earlier. It is the most delicious thing in this world, and if you have not tried it yet, I truly recommend it… DO IT!
- What are the top three places to visit or meals to try in Chetumal?
If you ever visit the area, a must-see is the Bacalar Lagoon. I promise you will not regret it, and while you are there, the best thing to do is have a good shrimp ceviche accompanied by a michelada. The perfect trio!