From inmates in Belize to the blind in Panama, American expat Vernon shares his passion for jewelry

Nineteen years of teaching jewelry to offer the less fortunate a better life [Click here to view the online version.](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0TxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL3dlYmxpbmsucGhwP2lkZW50PUkyLXd5MS1rLXRKa2MmaWRlPTdjYWRhYWEyYzRiMWViMWI5ODI4MDAwYTg3OTgxZjk0Jm50PTE2MDc4NDgwMzImYWx2PVoyVjJabWRsYm5wdmJubHhhblpoT1RGQWRIcHVkbmt1Y0dKNk9qRTRNalkzT1RJPSZrbmlsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmV4cGF0LmNvbSUyRnZpZXdOZXdzbGV0dGVyT25MaW5lJTJGNTY2OV8zOTMwOTY5XzE4MjY3OTIuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgoAMoHc0V9kn9s_Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Logo](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0TFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL3dlYmxpbmsucGhwP2lkZW50PUkyLXd5MS10My10SmtjJmlkZT03Y2FkYWFhMmM0YjFlYjFiOTgyODAwMGE4Nzk4MWY5NCZudD0xNjA3ODQ4MDMyJmFsdj1aMlYyWm1kbGJucHZibmx4YW5aaE9URkFkSHB1ZG5rdWNHSjZPakU0TWpZM09UST0ma25pbD13d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tJTJGZW4lMkZleHBhdC1tYWclMkZXA3NwY0IKADKB3NFfZJ_bP1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTFAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Your weekly update from the Expat Mag](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0QiaHR0cDovL3d3dy5leHBhdC5jb20vZW4vZXhwYXQtbWFnL1cDc3BjQgoAMoHc0V9kn9s_Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Everyday life Vernon, 19 years of helping others abroad](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTQ3LWZyb20taW5tYXRlcy10by10aGUtYmxpbmQtdmVybm9uLTE5LXllYXJzLW9mLWhlbHBpbmctb3RoZXJzLWFicm9hZC5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Vernon, 19 years of helping others abroad](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTQ3LWZyb20taW5tYXRlcy10by10aGUtYmxpbmQtdmVybm9uLTE5LXllYXJzLW9mLWhlbHBpbmctb3RoZXJzLWFicm9hZC5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [It was a rather unfortunate turn of events that pushed Vernon and his wife, both American citizens, to move to Belize in 2001. But it was never a decision that they regretted. In fact, the couple put their time, knowledge and resources into helping others build a better life for themselves. First with inmates at the Belize Central prison and today with blind, unemployed young people in Panama. Here is his story. Read more](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTQ3LWZyb20taW5tYXRlcy10by10aGUtYmxpbmQtdmVybm9uLTE5LXllYXJzLW9mLWhlbHBpbmctb3RoZXJzLWFicm9hZC5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Everyday life Life in Wuhan a year after the COVID-19 outbreak](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTUwLWV4cGF0cy10ZWxsLXVzLWFib3V0LWxpZmUtaW4td3VoYW4tYS15ZWFyLWFmdGVyLXRoZS1jb3ZpZC0xOS1vdXRicmVhay5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Life in Wuhan a year after the COVID-19 outbreak](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTUwLWV4cGF0cy10ZWxsLXVzLWFib3V0LWxpZmUtaW4td3VoYW4tYS15ZWFyLWFmdGVyLXRoZS1jb3ZpZC0xOS1vdXRicmVhay5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [At this very time last year, the whole world was waking up to a new disease and had no idea that we would need to come to terms with a whole new way of life because of it. The first few cases of COVID-19 were first detected in Wuhan, China. A year later, are things back to normal in this town? Looking back on 2020, what do expats living in China have to say? 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[Get my free quote](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0ShaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL3Nwb25zb3JzL2V4cGF0cmlhdGUtaGVhbHRoLWluc3VyYW5jZS5odG1sP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9bmV3c2xldHRlciZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1leHBhdF9tYWdfY292aWRfMTlfZW4mdXRtX2NvbnRlbnQ9aW50ZXJuYWxXA3NwY0IKADKB3NFfZJ_bP1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTFAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Everyday life Getting into the festive spirit amidst the pandemic](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTM1LXRpcHMtZm9yLWdldHRpbmctaW50by1hLWZlc3RpdmUtbW9vZC1hbWlkLXRoZS1jb3ZpZC0xOS1wYW5kZW1pYy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Getting into the festive spirit amidst the pandemic](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTM1LXRpcHMtZm9yLWdldHRpbmctaW50by1hLWZlc3RpdmUtbW9vZC1hbWlkLXRoZS1jb3ZpZC0xOS1wYW5kZW1pYy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Closed borders, social distancing and other health restrictions… The festive season is definitely going to feel different this year (just like most other things have!). And while it can be difficult to come around to this idea, here are a few suggestions on how to get into the festive spirit amidst the crisis. 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Your free investment review from one of Holborn's qualified advisers will show you how to get higher interest rates, reduce charges and access a range of expat-only investment options: - A free personalised financial health check and summary - The best interest rates for expatriates - Understand your tax breaks when investing - Fully regulated and independent advice - Tax efficient savings and investments - Ensuring you have the correct plans in place for you and your family [Get a free review](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly9leHBhdC5wb3N0YWZmaWxpYXRlcHJvLmNvbS9zY3JpcHRzL2NsaWNrLnBocD9hX2FpZD1leHBhdC1ibG9nJmFfYmlkPTRjNTRmYmNjVwNzcGNCCgAygdzRX2Sf2z9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkxQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) [Health system United Nation vote: The use and legalisation of medical cannabis around the world](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTQyLXdoaWNoLWNvdW50cmllcy1hbGxvdy10aGUtdXNlLW9mLW1lZGljYWwtY2FubmFiaXMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgoAMoHc0V9kn9s_Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [United Nation vote: The use and legalisation of medical cannabis around the world](~/AAGzbgA~/RgRhtGGBP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZXhwYXQuY29tL2VuL2V4cGF0LW1hZy8zOTQyLXdoaWNoLWNvdW50cmllcy1hbGxvdy10aGUtdXNlLW9mLW1lZGljYWwtY2FubmFiaXMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgoAMoHc0V9kn9s_Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) [Last week, the United Nations Commission voted to classify cannabis as a less dangerous drug. 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