Lebawit Girma

Born in Ethiopia, Lebawit Lily Girma was nine months old when her parents moved to the West African country of Cote d'Ivoire. She has loved travel ever since: exploring cultures, learning languages, and studying on several continents, including Europe and the Americas. After settling in the United States and practicing law for seven years, Lily took a leap of faith and went on sabbatical to pursue her true passions: travel, writing, and photography. After her first visit to Belize in 2010, she was determined to return. A year later, Lily was commissioned as an in-house writer and photographer for the Belize Tourism Board. She explored Belize extensively, sharing her adventures through a collection of over 100 online articles, blog posts, and photo essays. Belize's diverse cultures and people struck a chord with Lily and she eventually returned to Belize for long-term stays while researching freelance articles on the country. Lily's writing and photography have been published by CNN Travel, BBC Travel, MorningCalm magazine, Every Day With Rachael Ray, The Travel Channel, AFAR, New York magazine, The Latin Kitchen, and American Way, among others. When not in the United States, Lily spends her time in Belize and other parts of the Caribbean.