-Where were you born? 

North Bay, Ontario, Canada

-In which country and city are you living now?

6 months in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico & 6 months back in Canada

-Are you living alone or with your family?

With my wife

-How long have you been living in Mexico?

We purchased our first property back in 2001.

-What is your age?

46 years old

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?

My wife and I have been travelling to Mexico since 1999. We instantly felt connected upon our very first visit. It was the pace of life, the weather and most of all the people. We were successful in business which enabled us to travel abroad and consider a second home. I had always felt that there were many golden opportunities to start a business in Mexico as a developing country.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, not at all. We needed to prove to the Mexican governement that we had the financial means to support ourselves while living in Mexico. I was fortunate enough to form two companies with my Mexican attorney. He did all the paperwork for me and continues to renew my FM-3 visa each year.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No, not at all. I have benefits from my company in Canada which cover me outside of Canada, and my partner in Mexico was able to also obtain affordable insurance coverage. I am only 46 years of age, so obtaining insurance is still very affordable.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

Well, I have known for a long time that I wanted to spend a minimum 6 months each year in Mexico. I was tired of the Canadian winters. I knew I was too young to retire full time and I quickly realized that lounging around the pool every day was boring so I had to research Mexico and apply my skills.

Through research I realized that first of all that Mexico has the 11th largest economy in the world and recently surpassed Canada. Mexico has one of the fastest growing middle classes in the world. My research also showed that it is estimated that 20 million baby boomers would retire to Mexico in the next 35 years. This presented a huge opportunity for me.

In Canada I had a business where I assisted individuals facing financial hardship facing bankruptcy. I was the master franchisee and our company had assisted over 8,000 Canadians. I had a strong financial background. I recently sold the company.

To make a long story short, I formed two corporations with my Mexican partner who is an attorney and closest friend. His specialty was contract law. Our primary business is an investment company that lends money to Mexicans at reduced interest rates. We currently have more demand than capital available. I realized that there were many Baby Boomers retiring to the Yucatan because of the lower cost of living but they were on fixed incomes. This is who our investors are.

We pay our investors an annual return of 12%. Much higher than they would get back in North America. They need to make every dollar count and if possible see their investment grow. Our investment model is safe and secure. We lend money to Mexicans at reduced rates versus the banks but all our loans are secured with little or no risk to our investors. We attract and lend to the best clients. If they do not meet our criteria we simply do not qualify them for the loan.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

Well, I am certainly not fluent but I make every effort to continue my education and feel it is important to know Spanish. I do have to say that I find that many Yucatecos want to learn English also. I have also found with current software on the web and on my I-Phone that there are instant translators available, which assist a great deal.

I truly believe that you must respect local customs and values, should you choose to reside in a new country. If you are not prepared to adopt their customs and culture, my advice would be stay home. There are many challeges when you are not fluent in the language but over time you learn. I find learning about the Yucatecan culture very interesting. There are some things that I do not agree with but there are many that we could all benefit from in North America. I find I am a better person because of it. I have less stress and more patience. There is definitely more emphasis on family.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Well, we routinely travel back and forth between Canada and Mexico. We have two grown children both in University and we do miss them very much but the reality is they are away at school and we would not see them in any event. Once they finish school they will be starting their careers and most likely in other cities. 

The fact that we have a large home in Merida and all our family are all located in Canada, which has brutal cold winters, well, let me say we have no shortage of family wanting to come and visit. We have also been very fortunate to meet many great people in Merida who have adopted us as their family. I feel that I have family in both Canada and Mexico. 

-Do you have other plans for the future?

No, I have a lot on my plate now!

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I currently own and we have bought and sold several times in Mexico. Real estate has been a very good investment for us. I would recommend renting for 6 months to get comfortable with the city you plan to retire in. Get to know the city first.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?

Well, as mentioned above, it's much lower. That is why they estimate 20 million baby boomers will retire to Mexico in the next 35 years. I find gasoline, food, taxes & housing lower than in Canada.

-What do you think about the Mexicans?

Great, that is why we picked Merida in the first place, because of the people, and low crime rate. Merida is very European feeling but located in Mexico. It is the best of both worlds. There is so much history there. 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?

That is a tough question and I could go on forever. I will just highlight a few.

Positives:

Family values, culture, their love for life itself, low cost of living, weather

Negatives:

Garbage -- in particular no respect for littering, no respect for animals, poverty

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?

Embrace the culture and don't try to force your values and beliefs on them. Remember you are a visitor to their country. Most important please do not believe all the negative press in North America about how dangerous Mexico is. Yes, Mexico has a drug war happening. It is the narcos killing narcos. It is mostly around the US border where the drugs are destined to go to in the first place.

I was a RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) for 12 years. I can tell you that you have a 4 times greater chance being murdered in the US than in Mexico. Use common sense, there are bad places in Canada and the US, if you go to those kind of places you risk a violent crime happening. Mexico is no different.

-Where were you born?

Ellen was born in Woodstock, New York, and Jim in San Luis Obispo, California, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

We are living in Merida, the capital of the state of Yucatan in Mexico.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

We live with our two adopted dogs, our two California cats and each other. Our four grown children still live in California.

-How long have you been living in Mexico?

Seven years now.

-What is your age?

We are 53 years old.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?

After losing our jobs in the dot-com bust, we realized we would have to leave Central California to get a job... instead of moving to an obvious place like San Jose, we decided to make an adventure out of it. We wanted to move somewhere tropical, somewhere that had a European influence (colonial architecture...), we wanted to learn a useful new language, we wanted to be close to scuba-diving and we wanted to be somewhere where housing was relatively inexpensive but opportunities abounded. Merida had it all... and we had never heard of it before we started looking! 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

No, not at all. We just had to prove that we had some money in the bank.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

At first we didn't know how to do it. Now we're hooked up and it's easy... there are companies now that specialize in insurance for expats.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

We create websites for both local businesses and companies back in the USA. We started our own business seven years ago and have never looked back. 

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

We had very little Spanish when we got here, but we have learned. We are learning every day. We think it is very important to understand and appreciate local customs... it's one reason why we created our website.... to help other English-speaking people appreciate the Yucatan.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Absolutely, our kids. And I miss the mountains of California. But we have so much here... it's a tradeoff. 

Our favorite thing to do is set out early in the morning and explore the countryside around Merida. We have beaches, Mayan ruins, Maya villages, colonial towns... there's so much to see and do. And we're photographers... it's a photographer's paradise here. 

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought a renovated home when we first moved here for a little over $100K. We sold it to build a larger house in another, less popular part of town. The price doubled in five years. 

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?

We just wrote an article about that:

http://www.yucatanliving.com/yucatan-survivor/the-cost-of-living-in-merida-yucatan.htm 

-What do you think about the Mexicans? How are foreigners treated?

Foreigners are treated extremely well by the Mexican people. Everyone we've talked to feels very welcome here. 

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?

Positives: the culture, the people, the weather, the cost of living, the close proximity to home, the history

Negatives: the garbage and the way dogs are treated here 

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?

Read our website... it's full of tips! Far too many to mention...

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

Our site is Yucatan Living (www.yucatanliving.com) and is written to help people understand and appreciate living in the Yucatan. We've gotten many compliments about how useful and informative and entertaining it is. We love doing it and put our heart into it, and it is a good overview of what it is like to live here.

Another useful website, if you are traveling here, is www.travelyucatan.com.

-Where were you born?

I was born in Maine but I spent my entire childhood in Loudonville, New York, a small suburb outside of Albany.

-In which country and city are you living now?

We are living in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I am here with my husband, Rob, and our three children, Connor (15), Catherine (7) and Cole (5).

-How long have you been living in Mexico?

We moved here in December of 2004, so we are just past our 4^th anniversary.

-What is your age?

I am 41….aaargh! How did that happen??

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?

Rob and I brought the children here on a vacation in February of 2004 and initiated the move almost immediately. As the fastest growing city in Latin America, we saw the huge opportunities here for developers and investors like ourselves. Our portfolio in New York was becoming difficult to manage and the economically distressed areas we were often working in brought some risk to life and limb. We realized that we could take our experience as investors and easily translate it into development.

It wasn't until a few years later that we decided to expand our services and personally broker the deals we were putting together for other foreign investors. Now, with financing becoming a viable option for American and Canadian buyers, we are finding our previous professional experiences to be quite valuable.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Because we opened our own corporations our FM3's are attached to our company and our daily activities. If you own your own business, it is not difficult to obtain the proper visas. Our three children also hold FM3's as economic dependents. In general, it is not easy to acquire a visa to work legally in this area of Mexico.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Major medical insurance is easy to obtain and considerably less expensive than coverage in the United States. A policy for a family of 5, through IMG Global Medical costs about $3600 usd per year and includes coverage worldwide including the United States and Canada. Less expensive policies are available if you do not require coverage in the US.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

Currently, we are finishing up the sales of our own condominium complex in Puerto Aventuras. Once that is completed, we have plans for a large storage facility just outside of Playa del Carmen and further condominium projects. We continue as Brokers for Bric International working mainly with residential buyers and major commercial investors from the US and Canada.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

My husband, Rob, like many, studied Spanish in High School, so he had that to fall back on when we moved here. I studied French in my school years and while they are both Romance languages, that's about where the similarity ends. I started studying at home while our oldest was being tutored in preparation for our move. Once we were settled in Playa, I started attending language school, six weeks on, six weeks off, for the next two years. I don't know if I will ever consider myself fluent but I am able to converse freely about anything I choose and no longer feel uncomfortable or awkward about my language skills. I know my Spanish isn't perfect and I'm "OK" with that. I make the effort and that is always appreciated by the locals.

My children picked up the language naturally as their schooling is conducted in Spanish. They are now 100% fluent. I still don't understand everything my kids say, so I know they are getting over on me somehow!

I know quite a few people who have lived in Playa del Carmen for years and never bothered to learn the language. That is, of course, their choice but I think that it's a mistake and they are missing out on so much of the cultural experience.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

When we first moved, some of our family and friends came to visit. Now, if we want to see them, we have to return to the States. Mexico is NOT for everyone. It's not a vacation 24/7 and I think that is disappointing to some.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

It's a great big world and we would like to see as much of it as we can. I think we will most likely move on in a few years. We will wait until our oldest graduates high school but not so long that the two little ones will have a terrible time adjusting to a new culture and language.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are currently renting a home in an area called the Campestre on the jungle side of carratera 307, the highway that runs from Cancun south to Chetumal. We pay $1700 usd for a three-bedroom home on a double lot with a pool. We are planning to purchase a lot in this same neighborhood and build our own home soon. Rents and real estate prices are considerably less expensive than on the east side of 307, which is closer to the beach.

A similar three-bedroom home in Playacar would rent for about $3000 usd monthly. Singles and couples can find a decent one-bedroom for about $600 usd per month. A building lot of this size in an area popular with foreigners would cost about $500,000 usd.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?

Real estate prices and rents are very expensive here as the Riviera Maya is a highly desirable tourist destination and very popular with investors, both foreign and national. Utility rates vary by location and increase based on usage. Tuition will run about $350 usd per month per student with extracurricular activities generally costing about $45 usd per month. Food is quite inexpensive especially if you have a good, healthy diet of fruits, veggies, chicken, fish and grains. You can feed a family on a shoestring budget. Prepackaged foods, naturally, cost more.

-What do you think about the locals?

Keeping in mind that 25 years ago there were only about 15 families living in Playa del Carmen, "locals" can be defined as two distinct groups, "nationals" and "expats". There is almost no one "from" Playa del Carmen. We have all migrated here from either another city in Mexico or from another country over the past two decades. For this reason, there is very little sense of tradition and community here. We have all come to make a better life for ourselves and our families. While you would think that common thread would bring people together, there is still a huge division between the Mexicans who have settled here and the foreigners who now call Playa home. There is a considerable amount of discrimination and we do not work on a level playing field.

I have met many lovely people in my four years here. I have met just as many who would just as soon see me pack my bags and go back from whence I came. Being from the United States makes us even more of a target for derision. I am hoping that changes in the years to come.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?

I could go on and on about the positive and negative aspects to life as an expat in Playa del Carmen but I will pick some of the most important, the most significant to me.

On the positive side, this is a nice, simple place to raise children. They can run around in the neighborhood and get into all kinds of trouble just like my husband and I did when we were young. There is more of an emphasis on playing recreational sports, music, dance and outdoor games and just being kids. They do not play video games or sit for hours watching TV or DVDs. There is not so much competition and stress in their little lives. They are just allowed to be kids rather than little adults in training.

On the flip side, the standard of education here is pretty awful for the most part. We have chosen Waldorf Schools and that methodology of education for our brood and this seems to work well for them and be in keeping with our personal ideals and lifestyle. Families will need to be prepared to augment their children's class work with homeschooling if they ever plan to reenter their kids into a mainstream classroom in the US or Europe. One of the local guidance counselors I spoke with awhile back had never even heard of the SATs. 'Nuf said.

The most positive aspect for me is that I can make my own decisions about my life and how I want to raise my children in a non-judgmental atmosphere. Because we are all so different, nothing is "normal" or "expected", our decisions are truly our own and not based on what everyone else is doing. There are no "Jones" to keep up with. You are free to live your life in any manner you see fit.

On the negative, many people do not know what to do with all this freedom. It's a party every night in Playa del Carmen! In a world with no social boundaries, many people stray from their own path and get caught up in the very open, very inexpensive drug culture. With no one to steer you right or tell you are doing the wrong thing, many people self-destruct and are forced to go home, broke and broken. We see this happen every day. Savings gone, marriages torn apart, lives ruined all for a taste of the good life in paradise. A happy successful life here takes hard work and fortitude and the ability to stay your course, regardless of temptation. It is NOT for everyone.

We have beautiful beaches, lots of places to gather, fun bands, numerous ways to contribute to the community, fresh air and lots of sunshine. We have a very nice, tight-knit community of expats from which to draw strenghth and support in our daily lives and it has been very easy to make friends here. Unfortunately the transiency of this area means those friends may go as quickly as they come.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?

I would highly recommend to anyone who is thinking about making a move to Mexico, or any foreign country, that you plan a "test run". Don't just sell the farm, pack your bags and show up. Take a trial run of your new home for a few months. If you have children, this is particularly important. See what it is really like when the honeymoon phase is over. You may be pleasantly surprised and find a great fit. If it turns out not to be for you, no irreparable harm has been done.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

There are innumerable resources about Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. I would, of course, recommend reading my blog, www.LifesaBeachBlog.com, to get a taste for daily family life and regional events and activities.

Other excellent resources on the web include www.playa.info, www.intheroo.com, www.playamayanews.com, and www.yucatanliving.com. I am always happy to answer any specific questions you may have via email or a contact form on my blog.

-Where were you born?

Nova Scotia, Canada

-In which country and city are you living now?

Lake Chapala, Mexico

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my husband and two dogs.

-How long have you been living in Mexico?

We have lived here 13 years.

-What is your age?

From my birth certificate it shows I am 59, but last February I celebrated my 36^th birthday (again).

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?

Attracted to Lake Chapala, Mexico because it has the 2^nd best climate in the world, has a lower cost of living, excellent health care and mostly because the Mexican people are so welcoming and friendly.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

No, it is easy to get a visa and working permits in most fields are not difficult.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

There are a number of options for medical insurance and we currently have international private insurance, which is affordable because we live in Mexico and outside our passport country for more than 6 months a year.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

We have a company called FocusOnMexico.com. We offer 8-Day Educational Tours to Lake Chapala, Mexico to see if this is a place to live. This generates our income. We created Focus on Mexico after we moved here and saw how difficult it was to get accurate and up-to-date information. Through our 8-day program, people get a crash course on Mexico and all the information, knowledge and experience in one fell swoop, and have a lot of fun in the process. There are a number of job opportunities in Lake Chapala and we cover Working and Doing Business as part of our program.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Sadly, you can get away with not speaking Spanish here as so many of the locals speak English and we have a large expat community living here. I learned enough to get by (and get myself into trouble sometimes), but very recently I made the commitment to learn to properly speak Spanish and fully integrate. I do think it is important to try and learn the language as your experience will be so much more enjoyable. As part of our Focus on Mexico program we speak about the importance of not only respecting and observing the local customs, but embracing the customs, the culture and the people.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

Our kids are grown up and have lives of their own and we visit back and forth so see them and friends frequently - and now with Vonage we can talk back and forth on a regular basis.

For recreation I like to read (non-fiction), meditate, exercise, dance and brainstorm, not to mention work as this is also a passion. In Lake Chapala, there is an unlimited number of activities available: Every type of dancing, wonderful restaurants, tennis, golf, basketball, soccer, swimming, water sports, bridge, card games, nightclubs, over 50 English speaking organizations to belong to, many charities to get involved in and much, much more. The list is endless.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We like to travel and see different places, especially in Mexico. Each region of Mexico is like going to a different country; very diverse and fascinating. We have driven our Motor home throughout Mexico and never had a bad experience.

We are growing our business through Internet Marketing and really enjoying the learning experience.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We bought our home. This is our third one in this area, since we moved here 13 years ago from Calgary, Alberta. We don't believe in renting as it is money down the sewer and if you get out of the housing market and it takes off, you have a hard time catching up. Our retirement revenue is accumulating from buying a home in a newer community before all the amenities are in, waiting a few years for the appreciation to cap, then we sell and go on to the next. We don’t mind moving and usually double our money in the process each time.

In Lake Chapala to get a good quality nice home in a good location would range in price from $180,000 to $300,000.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?

The cost of living in our area is at least 30% less than north of the border, depending on where you are from. During our Focus on Mexico program, one of our Expert Speakers gives a seminar about Cost of Living and does a comparison between her lifestyle here and cost of living compared to where she came from – Denver, Colorado. Here it costs here $1800 US a month (plus she adds another $400 for travel per year) and in Denver the same lifestyle would cost her $5000 MORE per month. Cost of Living is one of the major attractions for moving to the Ajijic and Lake Chapala area of Mexico.

-What do you think about the Mexicans?

The local people are the nicest and friendliest in the world. They welcome us with open arms and treat us with love and respect and kindness. We learn many lessons from them as they have a great value system, aren't near as materialistic as we are and they are really into family and friends. The foreign population living in this area do a lot of great charity work, create jobs by living here and the locals live a better lifestyle because of us. There are people here from 31 different nations and the multi-cultural experience is part of the attraction.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?

The positive aspects of living in Mexico and Lake Chapala in particular are:

• Climate – Rated by National Geographic as having the 2^nd Best Climate in World.
• Sunshine more than 300 days a year, no humidity, Land of Eternal Spring.
• Mexico Rated two years running (2007 and 2008) by International Living as best place to retire in the world.
• Excellent and affordable health care.
• Lower cost of living.
• Can reinvent yourself.
• Indoor – outdoor living.
• No air conditioning or heating and property taxes under $150US a year.
• Friendliest people in the world.
• Real Estate - Well built and interesting, affordable housing with lots of amenities. Gated communities with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, Fully equipped Fitness Club, Spa services, Health services, Cinema, Concierge services, Club house with billiards, lounge rooms, fully equipped kitchen.
• Over 50 English speaking organizations to belong to.
• Color everywhere – flowering plants and trees every season, colorful housing and shops, colorful clothing. Color is very therapeutic.
• Working and business opportunities.
• Incredible sense of Community.
• Large single population.
• Very easy to get to know people.
• Can get by without speaking Spanish (unfortunately).
• Wonderful charities to get involved in.
• Great infrastructure with excellent restaurants, many with live entertainment.
• Great shopping, including foreign imports. They are more expensive, but here if you must have them.
• Live theatre in English, Opera, and many high quality musical entertainment is brought into the area. We had the Russian ballet a few months ago. One of the charities hosted a New York Supper Club dinner and dancing with world renowned entertainers who live in the area.
• Lots of art, Writers Club, poets, Computer Club, Bridge Club, Red Hat Ladies clubs (4), French Club, German Club, American Legion, Canadian Club, Navy League and the list goes on and on and on…. Really an unbelievable number of things to do.
• Airport only 30 minutes away.
• Guadalajara (2^nd largest city in Mexico) is only 50 minutes away.
• Great returns on investments.

Negative aspects

• Things don't always happen in the time you expect.
• Streets in villages are mostly cobblestone, although personally I don't consider this a negative. It is great for the ankles.
• Operating a business in Mexico can have its challenges, especially with accounting and taxes. Not for the faint of heart.
• Driving in Guadalajara (2^nd largest city in Mexico, 50 minutes from Lake Chapala) can be a challenge. The Mexican people are wonderful mild, passive people – until they get behind the wheel of a car. They tend to toot their horns a lot if you are slow to go through the light, etc.
• Shortage of rentals, especially in the high season – Oct to April

To be honest, we have lived here for 13 years and I struggle to find the negatives. We most sincerely feel like we are living in one of the best kept secrets in the world, in our very own little pocket of paradise. We consider it a pleasure to offer our 8-Day Focus on Mexico Education Programs and share what we have discovered to others that may be looking for that special place.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?

Mexico is not for everyone, to be sure.

• If you decide to live here, don't bring your rules and regulations with you. Come without judgments.
• Things are different, not wrong – just different.
• Embrace the people and culture.
• Don't try to change everything to the way it's done back home. And don’t say "Why doesn’t everyone speak English?"
• If you are a Type A personality, drop it at the border on the way through, and reinvent yourself when you arrive in Lake Chapala.
• When something happens that tweeks you a little, like the electrician didn't show up on Monday morning like he said he would, just say "Oh Well, it’s Mexico."
• Bring patience and a great sense of humor.
• Remember, life isn't a dress rehearsal. Enjoy the moment.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

• This site is filled with an abundance of information about Mexico in general and Lake Chapala in particular. You can sign up for a free newsletter by clicking here: http://www.focusonmexico.com/newsreg.php
• Focus On Mexico offers 8-Day Educational Tours to Lake Chapala Mexico – a crash course in Mexico for people who are trying to decide if they want to live or retire there. Everyone in one fell swoop.

Focusing on Real Estate in Lake Chapala: http://realestatelakechapala-mexico.blogspot.com

• Includes stories about real estate.

Focusing on Lake Chapala: http://focusonlakechapala.blogspot.com

• Includes human interest stories about living in Lake Chapala, Mexico.

If you have interest in Lake Chapala, Mexico, please feel free to contact marie[at]focusonmexico[dot]com. You can also call our Vonage numbers which ring in our home here in Lake Chapala:

From the U.S.: 210-745-1404

From Canada: 416-619-9310

-Where were you born?  

Stonewall, Oklahoma, USA

-In which country and city are you living now? 

Tepoztlán, México

-Are you living alone or with your family? 

I live with two friends.

-How long have you been living in Mexico? 

Two years

-What is your age? 

63

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico? 

I started visiting Mexico in the '60's and have loved it since, a few years ago I decided I would move there. 

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

No

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

No

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

I receive SS from the US, I do manage to work some here, privately.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Please add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

Of course it is important to respect the local customs.  I speak Spanish.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I communicate with my siblings via email and telephone, they visit when they can.  I am helping run a spa for men and that keeps us all busy. 

-Do you have other plans for the future?

To continue helping run the spa, perhaps build more apartments to rent and rooms to rent by the night.  There are a lot of tourists in this area on the weekends.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We built a four unit apartment building and live in two of the units.  The other two are available for guests or to rent. 

-What is the cost of living in Mexico? 

Less than in the US.  Mexico requires $1500 per month to get a visa, you can live on that. 

-What do you think about the Mexicans?

I really like the locals, they are used to foreigners from various countries and treat them well.  

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico? 

The weather is near perfect, it is cheaper to live here than in the US, there is a lot of corruption in the government and police. 

 -Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico? 

Visit before you move, rent before you buy, be prepared for it to be somewhat different than in the US. 

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

www.tepozspa.blogspot.com 

-Where were you born?

Both of us started as mid-westerners, then moved elsewhere.

In which country and city are you living now?

Mexico, in Ajijic on the North Shore of Lake Chapala in Jalisco State about 30 miles south of Guadalajara.

-Are you living alone or with your family?

Carole and I share an apartment.

-How long have you been living in Mexico?

We arrived in Ajijic on July 1, 2007 from Salem, Oregon.

-What is your age?

I am 60, Carole is 56.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?

Carole has dreamed about living in other countries for years, and has read extensively about others' experiences. When I decided to retire about two years ago, we came to the conclusion that, largely due to health care costs, we couldn't afford to retire early in the US. In a sense, we are health care refugees. We picked Mexico because quality health care is available here for about 10% of what it would cost us in the U.S. But our decision was also based on proximity to the U.S., and the large English-speaking expat community in Mexico, especially in the Lake Chapala area. We are actively studying Spanish, but until we are more fluent, Lake Chapala can act as "Mexico on training wheels". Finally, we picked Mexico because of its fascinating history, architecture, and culture.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

No, Mexico has relatively easy visa procedures, certainly much easier for us than for a Mexican to get a US visa. You can get a six-month tourist visa (FMT) at the border crossing and simply renew it by recrossing the border every six months. You can also get a Non-Immigrant Resident visa (FM3), either from a Mexican consulate while still in the US, or after you arrive. It is somewhat easier to get after you arrive, so we went that way. We utilized one of the many private expediters available to assist Gringos in getting an FM3 and it was relatively painless, although it took about five weeks and cost several hundred dollars. The FM3 is good for five years, although it has to be updated every year. After five years, you have to go through the whole process again. We weren't concerned about work permits because we are retired, but I hear from my working expat friends that it can be somewhat difficult, I suspect because of the anti-immigrant actions of various government bodies in the U.S.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

You need to have an FM3 to get on the Mexican National Health Plan, called the IMSS, but the process is fairly simple particularly if you use a local expediter. Since routine health care is so inexpensive ($15.00 US for a doctor visit, $45.00 for a dental hygiene visit) and appointments are so easy to get (same day or at least same week usually), we pay out of pocket and keep the IMSS for catastrophic coverage.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

We are retired. Jobs for expats are not easy to get, and if they are jobs where expats may be competing with Mexicans--waitress, auto mechanic, real estate agent, etc.--it may be tough to get a work permit and working illegally can get you deported. On the other hand, many expats have web-based businesses which don't compete and would be hard to track in any case. Other jobs expats hold here are house-sitting, professional artist/photographer, dog-groomer, and other kinds of personal services.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

My wife had studied Spanish for a couple of years before we came, but I had no training. I believe it is extremely important to learn the local language, if only what we call "survival Spanish". I can't speak for other countries which may have more difficult-to-learn languages, particularly with a written script not based on the Roman alphabet. Spanish is not as difficult to learn as those. Many Spanish words have been incorporated into English, and some English words are easy to recognize in the Spanish form. Knowing simple greetings, please, thank you, etc. will get you a long way with the local Mexicans who are very forgiving of our mistakes and poor accent if we just try to communicate. If you know phrases like where is, do you have, how much, etc., you can get around quite well. Many Mexicans have lived in the US or have relatives who do and thus are able to speak some English. A surprising number have learned pretty fair English from watching US movies with Spanish subtitles, not bad strategy for expats too.

In terms of local customs, one must maintain an active sense of humor and curiosity. A good rule of thumb is: "assume nothing". The locals in any culture have gotten along just fine, sometimes for centuries before the U.S. even was founded, without advice/criticism from foreigners. Remember you are a GUEST, and act like one.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

Don't miss the U.S. and feel less and less like ever returning to live there. Here I can travel, engage in photography and journalism through my blog, hike and mountain-climb, meet interesting people, and do all the things I did in the States for less money, with less stress.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

We plan to use our home in Ajijic as a base to explore Mexico and Latin America and later on the rest of the world. Once we have mastered enough Spanish, we may consider living in Central or South America for a while (I have relatives--also expats--in Chile).

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

We are currently renting and will probably continue to do so. We have leased a two-bedroom, two-bath condo in excellent condition with access to a pool and deck with great views of lake and mountains for $600/month with a maid ($550 without). One can spend $250-350/month for a smaller place in areas with less Gringos (and the need for much better Spanish), or up to about $1500/month for a ridge-top palace with drop-dead views. We like living closer to the Mexican community with storefront groceries and shops and the ability to connect with local Mexicans as neighbors.

In our opinion, real estate is grossly overpriced in most of the North Shore area of Lake Chapala, largely due to Americans and Canadians dropping in for a few days and snapping up houses at the asking price, thinking they are getting a great deal in comparison to their home country but not realizing they are usually overpaying by 40% or more. Also, with no disclosure laws, no real mortgage system, and the not-unusual experience of houses sitting on the market for several years, real estate purchases are unattractive to us. In addition, we don't know if we will be staying in Ajijic for many years, or moving on to another part of Mexico or the world.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?

Once again, it depends on how you want to live. If you want a lifestyle similar to your hometown, including to access to familiar U.S. products, be prepared to spend a lot of money. We live a very comfortable life for about $2000/month, not including expenses for travel. I have met expats here living on less than $1000/month, and others I would guess who are spending $5000/month and up. If you find and use Mexican equivalents of U.S. products, limit or dispense with the use of a car (good for the waistline as well as the pocketbook), shop in the local storefronts and street markets for staples instead of the U.S.-style supermarkets, exercise care with energy use, etc., you can live on 1/2 or less of your U.S. cost of living. In other words, live sensibly.

-What do you think about the Mexicans?

Our experiences with the local Mexicans has been almost universally positive. They are friendly, helpful, and are as eager to try out their English as we are to try out our Spanish. Our one negative experience was with a man who was not even from Ajijic, and carried a snotty big-city attitude I guess he picked up in Guadalajara. Not much different from what I have encountered from big city people in the U.S. The Mexicans in Ajijic are small-town and country people who are open and relaxed and generally laid-back in their attitudes. As with anywhere, one must exercise due caution, count one's change, look before crossing the street. But that's just life.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?

Beautiful country, much bigger than norteamericanos usually imagine. We love the old colonial cities and the fiestas and parades and the friendly people. Living around lots of expats allows meeting folks from Canada and Europe and elsewhere with different ideas and experiences and is lots of fun.

Driving can be scary. Widespread ownership if autos is relatively new to Mexico, and traffic laws seem to be viewed more as guidelines than as requirements. The roads seem lined with small crosses marking where someone met an untimely end. There is a sometimes annoying tendency of Mexicans to park anywhere that seems convenient at the moment, despite No Parking signs, and often they will block the street for a casual errand or a social interaction. But then, who is in a hurry, and why?

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?

Read up on it as much as possible before coming. I read several books on Mexican history and politics, including Distant Neighbors by Alan Riding, and Opening Mexico by Preston & Dillon. Another good book is People's Guide to Mexico, but make sure you get the latest possible edition.

There are innumerable good websites and internet forums on traveling/moving to Mexico including Living at Lake Chapala, and Mexico Connect. These have detailed and practical advice on every aspect you could imagine. Keep an open mind, remember that the U.S./Canadian way is not necessarily the best way, and Mexicans have a lot to teach us. Be flexible and patient. Things can take longer for often mysterious reasons. Remember that the U.S. media often distorts our view of the world, sometimes grossly so. Mexico turned out to be far less poor, violent and trash-filled as it is portrayed. It is a modern country in many ways, with products and services sometimes superior to anything I found in the U.S.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

I have been keeping a photojournal blog at www.cookjmex.blogspot.com. I have focused on local life in the North Shore area including the amazing fiestas, visits to colonial cities, ruins, wildlife, and hiking opportunies. Enjoy!

-Where were you born?

Colorado, U.S.A.

-In which country and city are you living now?

Cancun, Mexico

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I live with my Mexican husband, 10 cats and 1 dog (all our animals were rescues).

-How long have you been living in Mexico?

4½ years

-What is your age?

I just turned 40.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?

Because my husband is Mexican we always thought we would live in Mexico for a while.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?

Getting permission to live here was easy because I'm married to a Mexican and because Mexico has no visa requirements for Americans. Getting permission to work was more difficult. If I wanted to work in timeshare or for a large company here it would have been easier. But I have my own small business and getting permission to work for myself was difficult.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Getting health insurance here is not hard, but many insurance companies are not very good, so you need to shop around. My husband works for the Mexican government which gives both of us access to the government's workers health insurance system called ISSSTE.

I am not happy with the medical service I've gotten in Mexico so far. It is much easier to become a doctor here than it is back in the U.S.; here they require far less training of doctors before they let them practice medicine than in the U.S. And I've see many incompetent doctors here.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?

I work for myself in my own business, which is a web design business that I started back in the U.S. My clients are primarily Americans, and about half of them have their own business interests in Mexico. So I kind of have a niche market working with Americans who work in Mexico. I also just started working part time selling real estate.

In addition my husband and I own a condo here, in town (not on the beach) that we rent out, so we have rental income. If you know how and where to buy here your return on investment for rental properties can be very high. We are getting a 15% return each year on what we paid for that condo.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

I speak some Spanish, but am by no means fluent. My Mexican husband and I speak English at home. I read somewhere that relationships generally stay in the language that they start in; ours started in English and has certainly stayed in English. Each time he says he going to only speak to me in Spanish it lasts less than one hour.

I do think it's important to know enough Spanish to get things done and to be polite. Learning a second language has been very hard for me, I'm not sure why. I've had 7 years of lessons, and I have a bookshelf full of Spanish text books, and I still have trouble watching the Simpsons in Spanish.

Mexico has many customs which are interesting but because Cancun is a tourist destination I think traditions and customs are not observed as strongly as in other parts of Mexico.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?

I miss my 13-year-old daughter every day. She lives with her dad back in Colorado now. Originally my daughter lived with us here in Cancun, but the school we had here in here didn't meet her needs, so her dad and I decided she would be better off back in Colorado. She's doing well there and is happier, but I still miss her.

As for recreation I'm an avid runner, and running in Cancun is not great. I can run in one lovely large park, the Parque Kabah, but they won't let me take my dog there. So the dog and I end up running in the streets, which is no fun in any city. Running on the beach is fun, but I live several miles inland, in the center of the city, so it's a more of a trek to get to the beach than I want to do first thing each morning. Also dogs are only allowed on a small number of beaches here.

One of my favorite things to do in this area is to visit the many ancient Mayan ruins here. Ek Balam and Coba are favorites of mine, and of course Chichen Itza is incredible. I also enjoy finding out-of-the-way beaches where not many people go (and where dogs are welcome). These get harder and harder to find, due to all the real estate development here, but I've still got a couple of secret beaches left.

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I'm working on a couple of big projects here which will take me about a year or so to finish, after that I would like to move closer to my daughter for a few years, until she goes off to college. And later we might move back to Mexico and build a house.

I have many places I would like to travel to. The first and closest is Campeche, it's an historic, beautiful city and there's no excuse for my not having already been there. Beyond that I have a lot of Mexico left to see, and I'm very interested in visiting Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Italy and Spain. And of course I need to take another pilgrimage back to New York City, it's been several years since I've been to the museums there.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

When I came to Mexico the economy here scared me, I preferred to leave most of my money in my U.S. investments. And so my husband, who is an architect (and is very handy), and I bought a fixer-upper. We paid $35k USD for our 3-bedroom house, we completely gutted it, did much of the work ourselves and now the house is worth 3 times what we paid. There are bargains here, if you are willing to fix up a house. But if you don't want to do the work you can buy a 3-bedroom house in good shape, in the downtown area, for between $150k and $300k USD.

The real estate market in Cancun has properties at all price levels and location determines everything. You can spend $1 million USD for a 3-bedroom condo on the beach or you can buy a shack in a crummy neighborhood for $10k USD, we've got it all here. But if you have between $100k USD and $500k USD you will have a lot of good choices, including some on the beach.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?

Not including travel and extraordinary expenses my husband and I can live comfortably here on $1800 USD per month. Restaurants here are as expensive as in the U.S., but food is generally cheaper. Clothing here is expensive and of poor quality, so I buy clothes when I travel to the U.S.. Electricity here is expensive, so it pays to learn to live without air conditioning. My friends who use a/c regularly pay up to $200 USD per month for electricity, those who do not pay one quarter of that or less. We don't have heaters here, so there are no heating bills. Property taxes, if you own property here, are very low, I pay less than $100 USD per year for my home's taxes. Telecommunications here are very expensive, but Skype and Vonage have helped me bring down my long distance telephone bills; if you are creative you can get around the TelMex telecommunications monopoly.

-What do you think about the Mexicans?

Mexicans are very nice people in general. So nice, in fact, that they don't like to tell you what you don't want to hear. So if you need directions they will never tell you that they don't know how to get there, instead they will make something up. It can be frustrating, but you have to understand that it's a polite culture and they aim to please.

Generally people here are very accepting of foreigners here. Being in a mixed-nationality marriage is normal here, while back in Colorado it was not. One problem here is that many local Mexicans will raise the price for things when they see and American, so my husband has to be the one to contract services or negotiate deals. If they see me before the deal is done the price goes up.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?

Mexico is largely a lawless country. This often just means that that society here runs on a kind of natural sense of manners, which can be both good and bad. People don't expect to be able call the cops here and they don't expect laws to be followed, especially not traffic laws. There is widespread corruption at all levels of government and the Mexican people often accept this as normal and don't fight it very well. Because of Cancun's location, close to Cuba and the US, it is a gateway for both drug and immigrant smuggling, which means we have organized crime operating here as well.

We also have huge problems here with the treatment of animals. There is an attitude among Mexicans that their pets should have the right to reproduce, and so we end up with a lot of unwanted animals here. One of the most rewarding things I've been involved with here has been working with charities to combat this problem. I've also become the proud momma of a whole mess of street cats and one street dog (who thinks he's a cat).

I've also enjoyed working with charities here to combat other types of problems. If you are someone who is altruistic and likes to make a difference then I highly recommend charity work in Mexico, it's very satisfying.

Two of the very best things about living in Cancun are that it has warm tropical weather and it has clean air. You don't have to heat your home or your body here. Arthritis and asthma all but disappear when people move here. I have severe endometriosis and it caused me pain on a daily basis when I lived in Colorado, but here I have pain only about twice a year. I also have significant lung damage, from having pneumonia 3 times as a child, but it almost never bothers me here. Cancun's clean air comes from its isolation and its location between the Caribbean Sea and the huge Yucatan jungle.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?

Investigate the immigration laws carefully before coming here. Immigration laws in Mexico are more restrictive than those in the U.S. Also just because it's cheap to live here doesn't make it easy. If you want to live here I strongly recommend having a nice big bank account back home that you can tap into. If you need to work here it's best to get a job before you make the move if you can (and get that job contract in writing).

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

My own blog, Rivergirl:

http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl

CancunCare great info about this area, it also has a busy message board:

http://www.cancuncare.com

Yucatan Living has info about living in this area and about nearby Merida:

http://www.yucatanliving.com

Playa.info has a lot of info about living in nearby Playa del Carmen, it has an active message board also:

http://www.playa.info

-Where were you born?
Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States

-In which country and city are you living now?
Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my wife, who is Mexican.

-How long have you been living in Mexico?
Almost eight years.

-What is your age?
I am 63.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?
The Latino world has interested me for decades. I majored in Latin American history in the university. I lived in Puerto Rico for almost two years in the early 1970s, working for an English-language newspaper. However, the two prime factors that led to my moving to Mexico were:

1. Lovely Latinas. (I was single.)

2. I was tired of working for a living. I could not have afforded to retire in the United States at the tender age of 55, seven years before my federal pension kicked in.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Getting a visa to simply reside in Mexico is easy. I have since become a Mexican citizen, which was easy too. However, the requirements, oddly, vary in different areas of Mexico.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
I believe medical insurance is a waste of money in Mexico. I have none. It concerned me the first year because not having medical insurance in the United States is foolhardy, and I was brainwashed. However, with time, I noticed that the Mexican healthcare system is affordable out of pocket. Even major problems cost a miniscule fraction of what they would run in the United States.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?
I am retired, and receive both government and corporate pensions. Plus, I have investments. Money, no problem.

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Do you think it's important to observe the local customs?
When I moved to Mexico, I spoke no Spanish. I spent my first six months in a language school in nearby Morelia, the state capital. I believed when I arrived, and believe even more so now, that learning the language is essential. Without speaking Spanish in Latin America, you remain clueless about your true environment. The culture will forever remain obscure to you.

After six months in the language school, I moved to a smaller city nearby and made a point of putting myself in situations in which Spanish was required. Slowly, I got better. I married one of the lovely Latinas two years later. My wife does not speak English, so my Spanish has improved remarkably. Talking to your wife is a good thing.

Local customs? Like trying to cut you off in traffic, or elbow you out of the way as you wait in line? Or saying they will show up at the appointed hour when they have absolutely no intention of doing so? Or charging you four times the normal price for something because, as a foreigner, you are known to be very rich? And foolish to boot? Those customs I can do without, and do not recommend that you copy them.

And there is the custom of igniting fireworks at dawn in odd religious festivals, turning an otherwise peaceful morning into a war-zone atmosphere. Mexico is very noisy. I recommend you stay in bed in the pre-dawn darkness. The locals prefer noise.

Air kissing and hand-shaking all around, both coming and going, when you run into someone on the sidewalk? Yes, it's best to do that so you won't get the reputation of being a snot.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? What are your favorite recreational activities in Mexico?
After living here for nearly eight years, I would prefer moving back to the United States. My wife would prefer living there too. She loves it. We could do that, but it would require considerable financial belt-tightening. And we have a fantastic home, entirely paid for, in Mexico that we could not hope to equal in the United States due to far higher prices. We will remain here forever. I have virtually no family in the United States, so that's no issue.

Recreational activities? We go to a very snazzy health club here. They have tennis, racquetball, semi-Olympic pool, soccer field, etc. Though I do not do them, I imagine most of your normal recreational activities are available in these parts except winter sports like snow skiing, etc. And beach sports like surfing and sailing. We are almost four hours from the nearest beach.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
We intend to travel more, particularly in South America. We also would like to get into real estate on a small scale, buying land and building houses for other Americans moving south. We will do what Mexicans do: overcharge them outrageously. Really. I am not making this up. Since so few Americans moving to Mexico can verbally communicate with the locals, it is easy to make fat profits off them. That and the fact they are accustomed to far-higher U.S. prices makes them very juicy customers indeed. I have no qualms. I support capitalism.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
I lived with a family connected to a language school for my first eight months in nearby Morelia. Then I moved to this town and rented a nice, furnished, two-bedroom, two-story home with a gardener for $350 U.S. a month for my first three years here. That price was too high, I now know.

However, I moved south with the specific intention of marrying a local, one of the lovely Latinas and (with her help) buy property and (with her help) build a home. That was all accomplished in a little over three years from when I crossed the border with my two suitcases and the clothes on my back.

We bought a double lot. We hired no architect. We hired no general contractor. My wife is a civil engineer. We designed the home ourselves on graph paper. We hired an old man who was highly recommended to us by a Mexican brother-in-law. The old man was an albañil who couldn't get work easily due to his age (He was almost 70 and very talented), so we got a very good price from him.

The word albañil has no good English equivalent. The dictionary says bricklayer or stonemason, but a good albañil can do about anything connected with homebuilding. Our old guy came with two other albañiles, younger versions, and a helper. They worked ten hours a day, five days a week, and half days on Saturdays without fail for nine months straight.

When the dust cleared, we had a 3,500-square-foot, very Mexican-style, beautiful, two-story home with a view of the mountains for about $100,000 U.S. We could not duplicate that today because concrete and steel prices have gone up significantly in the past four years. A similar home in the U.S. would probably cost ten times more.

It would be difficult to provide a ballpark figure on a home with X number of rooms in this area because it would depend a lot on the details of the home, and it would also depend a lot on whether the buyer speaks Spanish. Most Americans, and Mexico is a growing spot for U.S. retirees, use English-language real estate companies and websites, often guaranteeing themselves a good financial reaming. We Mexicans (for I am one now) take them to the cleaners. I would venture a guess that many Americans moving here are paying in the vicinity of $200,000 for homes far less snazzy than ours. Cheaper ones are available, but they would be nothing like our house.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?
We live on about $20,000 U.S. a year, and we lack nothing that matters to us. You can live cheaper, of course. Most Mexicans live on far less. The main areas in which prices are generally far lower here than in the United States and Canada are:

1. Real estate, both buying and renting.
2. Utilities.
3. Property taxes.
4. Healthcare.

-What do you think about the Mexicans?
The locals can be trying. The culture is very, very different from what expats are used to back home. Mexico has had a difficult and violent past, and that has led to a mindset that can be challenging at best. The people are suspicious, and their primary focus is on their families, the only thing they can rely on.

Mexicans love "Mexico," but they really don't much like other Mexicans. It amuses me to hear, as is often the case, Americans who move here crowing about the "warm and friendly folks." If they would take a moment and pay attention to how Mexicans interact with other Mexicans who are neither friends nor relatives, they would see that “warm and friendly” are not the appropriate terms. Suspicious and glum are more accurate.

Mexicans appear oh-so-friendly to foreigners, primarily Americans, because of two things:

1. Most Mexicans never run directly into a foreigner, and when they do, they find it highly entertaining.
2. If the foreigner is an American, whom most all Mexicans regard as incredibly rich and foolish with money, the Mexican thinks some money may be made. Thus, the "friendliness."

Generally, foreigners are treated very well in Mexico.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?
The positive aspects are almost exclusively financial. It´s cheap to live here. Even cheaper if you speak Spanish.

The negatives include bad infrastructure, potholes, pollution, corruption, rude drivers, often unreliable people who say "yes" to virtually all questions, regardless of its connection to reality. That type of thing.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?
If you can live comfortably where you are, stay put. Most foreigners in Mexico are Americans or Canadians, and life is far more convenient in Canada and the United States than it is in Mexico. But if finances are an issue, Mexico has your name on it. Learn Spanish and be patient. It's always interesting. Though often one thinks of the ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times."

And if you are a single guy, reasonably presentable and looking for a mate, this is Happy Hunting Grounds.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?

My photo site:

www.dickson.smugmug.com

A good commercial website full of valuable information about moving to and living in Mexico is:

www.mexconnect.com

-Where were you born?
Shoreham-by-Sea, England

-In which country and city are you living now?
Mexico, Mexico City

-Are you living alone or with your family?
I'm living with my Mexican girlfriend. My family all live in England at the moment.

-How long have you been living in Mexico?
I've been living in Mexico for nine years now.

-What is your age?
I'm 34.

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?
It happened by sheer chance. I happened to be living in a shared student house in Sheffield (England). One of my housemates was Mexican, and she asked me if I wanted to teach in Mexico. I think it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made - I said yes within half an hour!

Mexico City Cathedral in the Zócalo (Central Plaza)

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
It was hard at first. The first school didn't want to pay for my papers, and later on I had to pay lawyer's fees. These days it's quite easy, as all the information is publicly available via Internet and I do the paperwork myself.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
It was difficult, as medical care is quite expensive here. My school now gives us the basic medical insurance, but it took a long time to happen.

-How do you make your living in Mexico? Do you have any type of income generated?
I teach English to executives and do translations.

I got the teaching job at the school I'm with now through friends who were living here at the time. I think living in a guest house with other teachers really helped there. It also helped that I'd studied English at university and had taken a teaching training course while I was in my first job here. These days, I'm doing quite well in the school, and recently volunteered to set up their website.

The translation came about because I'd bought my girlfriend an art magazine and she noticed that it had English translations at the back. I wrote off to the editor, and they gave me a trial. I'd never done translations before, so I must have done something right, because they kept giving me work! I think I was lucky to start off with an editor, because most of the translations I do now, which are contracts, don't get checked until they reach the customer, so I have to know exactly what I'm doing.

A former monastery in Desierto de los Leones

-Do you speak Spanish and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I speak Spanish fluently now, but when I arrived I knew almost nothing of the language. I think I started taking classes within about a week of arriving here, just to understand what the other teachers were gossiping about in the staff room! Seriously though, I think it's very important to speak the language of the country you're living in. It shows respect to your host country, and the locals are so much friendlier if you make the effort to speak their language.

It's important to observe local customs too, but they take time to learn. I remember it took me a while to get used to the more "tactile" greetings they have here. A Mexican friend had to explain to me that women would get quite offended if I didn't kiss them on the cheek when saying hello or goodbye. Men also have to shake hands with other men for greetings and farewells, or give them a brief hug if they're friends. Those weren't really typical customs for me.

A trajinera (punt) in Xochimilco

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Of course I miss them! I see them once a year, but not for very long. We keep in touch via e-mail and I have an account which lets me call them over the Internet. The telephone service here is very expensive, so the Internet has been a real boon in that sense.

I like going out with friends to bars or restaurants, but if people start dancing I get worried! I have trouble dancing salsa or cumbia, things that involve learning steps, so my girlfriend insists that her friends teach me every time we go out. I think I'm a lost cause for dancing!

-Do you have other plans for the future?
At the moment, I'm trying to help my school grow so that we can get some more clients. I'm also working on a novel, which has been put to one side for the moment. Hopefully, I'll have time to do some writing soon.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
My girlfriend and I are renting a three-bedroom flat at the moment. It costs about MX$5000 a month. In my area, to buy a home of the same size would probably cost around MX$1,000,000.

-What is the cost of living in Mexico?
For things like food, I think it's fairly cheap. Certainly, going out for a meal doesn't cost as much as it would back home. However, electronic equipment costs about the same here as in England, and when I compare things prices on the Internet, they're much cheaper in the States.

-What do you think about the Mexicans?
I think Mexican people are very friendly on the whole, and they tend to treat foreigners very well. The friendliness can be surprising at first, if you've just met someone and they're already inviting you to their home. This is just exuberance, however, and they probably don't actually expect you to show up on their doorstep! I think it takes time to get to know people in any country and that's just as true here.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?
The positive aspects are that life in Mexico is never dull! However, in my case I have to travel quite far for some of my classes, so there never seems to be enough time in the day. Other negative aspects are corruption, and the slow pace of bureaucracy. The weather is much better than back home, though, and I really enjoy taking trips outside the city, as there are some great places to visit nearby. Mexican food is superb, and I don’t think I’ve tasted even half of the typical dishes you could find here. Finally, as I said before, the people are great.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?
Be patient! Most things don't happen overnight in Mexico and you can't expect people to hurry up just because you're in a hurry. You also have to be flexible, and prepared to try doing things you're not used to.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?
I have to mention my school's site first, as I set it up for them! The school's name is Gardner English and they’re at www.gardnerenglish.com. Finally, I've found Mexico Connect (www.mexconnect.com) to give quite helpful advice on subjects such as visas and living in Mexico.