Hardest years of my life (Mexico)
I'm British and have been living in Salamanca in Mexico for over four years now. Before the move I thought it would all be a big adventure. I moved to Mexico with my husband who is from Salamanca and our little boy of three months. These have been the hardest four years of my life. Don't get me wrong - I'm now very happy here. I have some great friends, my husband has a good job with lots of prospects, my little boy is on the way to being bilingual and I have a good part time job that pays well. Of course I miss all my family and friends in England, and the food, and all the benefits of a first world country, but my destiny brought me here and I truly believe that my life is here in Mexico. I have learned a lot from my experiences (both good and bad) and that's what life is all about. If you're thinking of moving abroad to live in another country, think very carefully about it. If you decide it's what you really want, then go for it. It won't be easy but you'll survive and one day you'll wake up and think 'It doesn't seem so hard anymore'.
Sent by: Shiani
Comments
I have lived in Oaxaca for 9 months now and plan to stay at least another year. Oaxaca is without a doubt the most magical city I have ever known. It's extremely safe here. I too dislike that the only press you will find in Britain and the US is of drug cartels and influenza. I think to settle in you have to put yourself out there. It's tempting to eat in popular restaurants with other expats but you won't fit in that way. Find a good family restaurant to visit regularly. Make small talk with locals, tell them about your family, what you enjoy about Mexico. Ask advice even if you think the guide book tells you all you need to know. It doesn't.
Don’t berate your own country too much. We’re privileged to have the money, passports and time to move to a foreign country. Alot of people here know that. Also, try not to compare everything to the service and standards you have back home. we may be more efficient at some tasks, but mexico has a beauty and tradition that we lost somewhere.
I am about to move to Queretaro in Mexico from the UK, with my partner and 1 year old daughter. Although I welcome the challenge, I am worried that we will not be able to settle. I am taking intensive Spanish and hope to have some understanding of the language and culture by the time we arrive.
I'm Mexican and my husband and I have been teaching for the last 15 years. We met in Mexico and then we moved to South America, then to USA, after that to the Middle East. We have travelled to Europe, Asia and Africa. We have always taught in international schools and what I have learnt over the years is no matter where you are, you always must take advantage of the situation and the place where you live. It is a waste of energy to compare your country and the advantages that you used to have in your counttry to your new home. Instead enjoy what you have, every culture is different, complicated and interesting. It is normal to always have a hard time to addapt yourself to a new country but my husband and I have learnt to simply enjoy what we have, travel around the culture to understand and learn the language...it helps a lot!!
Wherever you move you will miss your home and family. I was born and lived for the first twenty years of my life in Britain (Jersey), then in Iowa and Texas in the USA, now I live with my US-born son and husband on the beach just south of Playa del Carmen in Mexico. The hardest years of my life were becoming accustomed to life in Texas, and I never felt like I truly belonged. Here on the Caribbean coast of Mexico the population is so multi-cultural that I feel more at home than I ever did in the USA. But whenever you move to a new culture you have to expect to feel an outsider, and to have all your beliefs and cultural norms challenged. That's part of the excitement of living in a foreign country, but it is extremely hard. And yes, you will fit in eventually. After 15 years in Texas I felt at home there. But the first question I was ALWAYS asked when I met someone new was "Where do you come from?"
I recently came into a fair amount of money through inheritance. I am thinking of moving to Mexico to take acvantage of the exchange rate. I am somewhat concerned about the crime situation in Mexico. I've heard stories of wealthy Americans having their loved ones kidnapped and held for ransom by Cartels. Are the Cartels really as rampant as they are potrayed in the American media? I speak decent conversational Spanish and am familiar enough with the customs to get by, is it really worth the danger to escape the tanking American economy?
Hi I am from Stoke born and am thinking of moving to Mexico, as this is where my new wife is from. I keep reading about many British people being unable to settle in. Any tips?
John Proudmore, 49.
I consider Mexico as a paradise. Great food, great traditions, great people, nice weather and a land of opportunities.
I also cinsider Mexico to be much safer than the US. I deeply dislike how media blow things out of proportion when it comes to talk about security and violence.
Personally I have never been victimized by crime in Mexico after spending more than 30 years here.
Hi, im from Mexico and after reading all this comments I found out that there's not just one opinion about this country. I have travelled to some other countries, I actually have never lived there for a while and I can tell that I really love this country, not only because I was born here, but because it has got so many things that I haven't found in any other place, people here really care about foreigners, they try to help you, they explain to you as much as they can, (something I just haven't seen much in the US for example, not because they're not gentle in general, but because it is just normal for them that you need to know, if you're travelling there) Mexico has got a lot of culture, warm people, extremely beautiful places, also a lot of problems but just like any other country has.
Living in Mexico is the best. You can't compare anything to living in Mexico. Mexico is like freedom.
I have lived in many different countries and Mexico has been the hardest to adapt to. However after 3 years it now feels like home. There is definately more violent crime here than in the UK and sadly I am now used to Police carrying guns and the army wearing balaclavas etc. The people here are more conservative than I had believed and they are polite and proud. I need to travel more within Mexico before I leave, I need to master Spanish completely. Therefore we will be staying longer.
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