People & Places
Miami magic
Forensic toxicologist Liz Barton emigrated to Miami and loves the city’s cosmopolitan vibe. Here’s why she thinks other Brits should follow in her footsteps
I think Miami is distinctive in that it is more like a South American or European city than a typical American city. It is really diverse, and there are people living here from all over the world. It is very hot and the culture, people and food all reflect that. It is quite an iconic city from South Beach to the Everglades with something for everyone. You have no excuse to be bored here!
I love to swim and go to the beach; I can swim year round in an unheated outdoor pool here in Miami. My 18-month-old daughter Kaia gets so much outdoors time due to the great weather. Kaia is also constantly exposed to Spanish as well as English, which is great for her development as she will be bilingual from birth!
I would definitely recommend Miami to other British migrants. You never feel like a foreigner here since everyone is from somewhere different and it really is a melting pot. I didn't like it when I lived in a smaller US city since I was regarded as somewhat of a curiosity. In Miami no one bats an eyelid at your accent - you just blend right in to the diverse mix.
There are also a lot of cultural things to do, from theatre to the opera, to foreign movies, lots of museums and things for kids to do. World class restaurants, awesome beaches, lots of parks and more outdoor activities than you can count.
You do have to have an open mind, though, since things can be a little crazy. People drive like maniacs and traffic can be quite bad depending on where you live. You also have to be prepared to hear a lot of Spanish, although I have always got by fine without having to speak a word of it. As I said before, it all depends on which part of the city you live in.
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