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Showing content with the highest reputation on 10/24/2019 in all areas

  1. I am married to a Mexican citizen and we have an extended family in Mexico. What you have missed is the people may be poor but they enjoy a degree of freedom which is worth more than money or gold to most people. I have traveled all over the world and there are many, many countries where the people live in poverty and have no freedom of choice. Here I see the children laughing and playing in school and when I smile and say "hola" to someone my greeting is answered with a smile. When I shop, people try to be helpful and give me good advise. I see people trying to get ahead and here in Mexico they have a chance. More and more educational opportunities are being offered the students. My stepson has graduated with a Masters from the University of Mexico which has over 150,000 students. He has received a fellowship from Germany to work on his Doctorate in Chemical Biology. He is working on a project on aging which will hopefully help all of us live longer. Mexico is an up in coming country which education and modernization which will help it get past its drug related past.
    10 points
  2. Mrs. Rupert, not all of us expats are here to take advantage of living in the cheap and poor country of México. In fact, what makes you think México is so cheap, the houses here cost about what they cost in North Carolina, from where I´m from, and with a lot more maintenance required yearly and far less acreage or property included. A decent home there will cost you around 100,000 dollars with a good size yard, you can even find older homes selling for 50 to 60 thousand in the country with a real good sized yard. A nice home will cost you 200 thousand and up. Kind of sounds like here almost but with far smaller yards. Gas here is more expensive, electricity is far more expensive. Fruit and veggies and day to day living is much cheaper although. All and all we live cheaper here, I must admit. But México ain't that much cheaper than rural America. If you want cheap, expats should move to Guatemala or Nicaragua. I, along with many other expats live here in Lago de Chapala because we love the weather, the people are awesome, the scenery is gorgeous, and life is more exotic, stimulating and adventurous. And I love living in a relatively small town (Chapala) where I can walk everywhere and shop at small mom and pop stores and get to really know my neighbors and the people on the street. Something, that is becoming more ever so difficult to do in the US of A. I speak fluent Spanish since I was 18, I speak to the locals and I travel all over the country. I don´t get this negative vibe that you do that Mexicans are all living in fear and they are all being neglected and abused by their government. Sure, life in a developing country (note, I said developing, not 3rd world like perhaps Central American countries) is more challenging in some ways and not always as picture perfect and wonderful as American suburban life. Paradises do not exist, life in México is certainly not perfect but for me, I love it here as do so many other people. There are certainly places in México that may add up to what you are describing for the whole country, but they are a small minority of places. Even in the terrible, frightful , horrible city of Culiacán, if you were living there, it would not seem so terrible and dangerous once you get adjusted, it would seem like any normal city, with bouts of violence flaring up every now and then, but on the whole, just a normal city with just normal happy people going about their daily life. And of course, like always, there will be some people that were touched by violence that may be living in fear, but they would certainly not be the majority and certainly not the majority of Mexicans feel that way. If they did, Mexican immigration to the USA would be up, but as we all know, it is down down down. México is slowly turning into a middle class society and most Mexicans have lost the need to sneak across the border. Most Spanish speaking immigrants to the US now are not Mexicans but Salvadoreños, Nicaraguenses, Hondureños and Guatemaltecos. Oh my gosh, Mrs. Rupert, you aren't describing México at all, I think you were describing Honduras, now that is a country that would come closer to your description of a dangerous country with much of its population hovering in fear and feeling abandoned by their government and living lives surrounded by poverty and horrendous daily bouts of violence.
    9 points
  3. No they don´t and you didn´t specify that in your diatribe of how awful it is, but generalized La Raza y La Republica. Now you are back pedaling to exempt foreigners and "rich" Mexicans. I can only assume that you must be in some form of incarceration to have this extremely negative perception of this country and the people or something even worse? affecting your thinking. I live here because I love my family and the country, not because I live "cheap". All I need is food, clothing, and shelter, and it can be minimal. Aire es gratis. You seem to be hung up on cheap so maybe that´s "your problem".
    4 points
  4. Come on, Mrs. R. If you know that this country is not for the faint of heart you must know at least one country that is. I do not know why you seem to be obsessed with Mexico not being a paradise. Did you think it was one when you moved here? I came here with my eyes (and heart) wide open. It is unfortunate that you can not afford to live in a place more suited to you, one where you are not blinded to its beauty, rich culture, wonderful people, and everyday joy. Everyday must be difficult and painful for you. I hope one day you can afford to leave here and move on to a place that does not create such fear and depression in you.
    4 points
  5. The mental picture of hoards of retired gringos rushing out the door in their slippers when they hear the jingle of the marguerita truck is priceless.
    3 points
  6. Mrs. R should direct here anger at her home country. If they had provided for her she wouldn’t have had to flee to another country.
    3 points
  7. Update: We found a couple of American Banjercito offices online, with telephone numbers, and a very nice woman in Sacramento was able to contact somebody in Mexico who, through our Passport Number, was able to access our file. The TIP was cancelled for some reason (probably a typo), our deposit is being returned, and we will just get the TIP at the border. Thanks for the responses.
    2 points
  8. Immigration law is when you loose a resident card abroad you have to go to a Mexican Embassy or Consulate in that country to report it lost or stolen and get a form to re-enter Mexico. Failing to do this when re-entering INM will force you to enter as a tourist with a FMM tourist card which invalidates your INM legal status. The card is the property of the INM and not your property. If it beyond your comprehension you need to learn to read Spanish and study the different systems in Mexico to understand what is required to live here fully assimilated to become aware of your responsibilities of living here. IMO
    2 points
  9. Mexico has not been a third world country for a long time. It is a NIC. Sorry if that causes any expats some cognitive dissonance. Mexicans are resilient, they will survive and thrive.
    2 points
  10. You are delusional beyond what I would consider safe to be associated with. Don't leave your house is my advice. Call someone to bring you your groceries. 😁
    2 points
  11. I believe everyone is looking for the negative in other's post, it is so much fun to pull the lives and postings apart. However, you all miss the first sentence, "It has been one of those rare day's when everything has gone like clockwork, ". This is not something one appreciates only in Mexico, it is anywhere we happen to be when all works well. How we do appreciate it when we are able to finish our "to do" list, it is an accomplishment which gives us a feeling of well being. Stop looking for people who are knocking Mexico and start seeing the positive. The person is happy he as able to get everything done so easily. Be kind, be happy.
    2 points
  12. So sad that many of you berated Lakeside 7 for a good post. You blast into him without thinking. He had a good day. Mexico is not PARADISE for all. The citizens are poorly treated and poorly looked after, and the crime is much worse than the States. Lakeside 7 was commenting on a good day for him, and many of you successfully changed it into a lecture on how he should feel about living here- shameful.
    2 points
  13. DST varies by Mexican state. https://www.timeanddate.com/time/change/mexico DST in States and Federal Districts in Mexico (32 in total, 30 where all observe DST, 2 which don't observe DST) Aguascalientes Apr 7 - Oct 27 Guanajuato Apr 7 - Oct 27 Querétaro Apr 7 - Oct 27 Baja California Mar 10 - Nov 3 Guerrero Apr 7 - Oct 27 Quintana Roo No DST Baja California Sur Apr 7 - Oct 27 Hidalgo Apr 7 - Oct 27 San Luis Potosí Apr 7 - Oct 27 Campeche Apr 7 - Oct 27 Jalisco Apr 7 - Oct 27 Sinaloa Apr 7 - Oct 27 Chiapas Apr 7 - Oct 27 Michoacán Apr 7 - Oct 27 Sonora No DST Chihuahua (north) Mar 10 - Nov 3 Morelos Apr 7 - Oct 27 Tabasco Apr 7 - Oct 27 Chihuahua Apr 7 - Oct 27 México Apr 7 - Oct 27 Tamaulipas (north) Mar 10 - Nov 3 Ciudad de México Apr 7 - Oct 27 Nayarit Apr 7 - Oct 27 Tamaulipas Apr 7 - Oct 27 Coahuila de Zaragoza (north) Mar 10 - Nov 3 Nuevo León (north) Mar 10 - Nov 3 Tlaxcala Apr 7 - Oct 27 Coahuila de Zaragoza Apr 7 - Oct 27 Nuevo León Apr 7 - Oct 27 Veracruz Apr 7 - Oct 27 Colima Apr 7 - Oct 27 Oaxaca Apr 7 - Oct 27 Yucatán Apr 7 - Oct 27 Durango Apr 7 - Oct 27 Puebla Apr 7 - Oct 27 Zacatecas Apr 7 - Oct 27
    1 point
  14. Come on you guys. Don't you get it? We are having Global cooling, Yes GLOBAL COOLING. Start writing down the high temperature each day. You will see that it has been getting cooler every day. Rumor has it that sometime after Christmas we may have Global Warming. It is just so confusing.
    1 point
  15. ……………...and so am I. I never said celery sticks were junk food
    1 point
  16. My neighbor lost his permanente card. He went to INM in PV and they issued him a new one. It cost him a couple thousand pesos, but he wasn't told he had to apply for a new one outside the country.
    1 point
  17. Very sad to hear you feel that way . Obviously you are very unhappy living in Mexico .
    1 point
  18. Xena, I have no idea, but this is not a paradise. It is a third world country that offers the citizens very little, very little. We are here because of the very low cost of living. We live in a Mexican neighborhood. It is not an ideal environment- but, it is the real Mexico. Ajijic itself is filthy- how disgusting. Why?
    1 point
  19. Oh, Alan Mexicali- you do not understand what I am talking about. Mexico is not a safe nation for the nationals. Why do the expats and well-off Mexican citizens continue to wear blinders. We are not in danger, but the Mexicans are. You are not aware of what is happening in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and all of Mexico? Start reading the newspapers. The living conditions for the public are very bad. They have no retirement plan. This country is worse than the United States. Most of us are here to take advantage of the much lower cost of living. The taxes are minimal, and the citizens Of Mexico get very little. You must tell me what you think is so great about Mexico. Happy people, cheap cost of living, murders daily, the plight of the peasants, horrible health care, starving children, abused animals, corrupt politicians, bribery beyond our understanding, etc. You probably live here because the cost of living is so low, or you a Mexican citizen. This is no paradise. Open your eyes
    1 point
  20. I say we rotate the driver the mixer and the drinker
    1 point
  21. 72 billion, 538 million pesos equaling over 50% of the federal health system budget was just allotted to Seguro Popular for the 2020 budget. Doubt it will be going away anytime soon. Mexico, like most countries, has a difficult time downsizing any federal program. Way too many bureaucrats have to receive their piece of the pie. In truth even AMLO has said the Seguro Popular system is neither Seguro (safe) or Popular (popular). At the same time AMLO is proposing yet another health system in addition to Seguro Popular, IMSS, and ISSSTE. Yes more bureaucracy, but what else would be expected from a socialist president?
    1 point
  22. I am curious, Mrs. R, which countries do you recommend for the faint of heart?
    1 point
  23. Do you ever read the number of homicides every week in Chicago? The thousands of homeless in Los Angeles would love to enjoy your lifestyle here in mexico
    1 point
  24. I can most definitely think of other nations that don't take care of their poor either. It doesn't matter where you live in this world, there is a seedy side to every community. If you are unfortunate enough to live in those areas, then crime and its consequences are a way of life.
    1 point
  25. Had to add this, maybe those who are jumping down on OP should actually read what was written. It wasn't that today was a rare positive day, it was that today was one of those rare days when everything seemed to go right...and then he gave some examples. He didn't say up north was better or life was better there or (fill in the blank). Hmmmm...I've had many of those type of days where I'm generally surprised that the day went without any hitches.. OP didn't say anything negative about living here, simply that today went well. So, what did he say that was so evil/against life here that he deserved all of the vitriol?
    1 point
  26. Please don't beat up poster too badly. As someone whose spouse lives with chronic pain, you learn to appreciate the days when things go well. It's not that living here is a negative experience, because it's not, but simply that you learn to appreciate ANYTHING that goes well. As has already been said, any day above ground is one that should be celebrated!
    1 point
  27. I don't know about the rest of you but my income is half what it use to be. Saving money as lakeside7 did is a bright thing to me. In the states my medical is free but here I have to pay for it. Saving money on medicine, food, transportation, etc should make any one happy. As they say in Australia, Good on you, lakeside7.
    1 point
  28. I agree, Having a good day is an individual experience . So this is was his good day. Just be happy for him and have your own good days.
    1 point
  29. Wow I am completely blind sided........I thought a shared a story of places and people who provided great service and reasonable prices and quick service.... Perhaps you folks who are so quick to jump down my throat should be looking in the mirror when you get up in the morning a see the ugly reflection
    1 point
  30. If you don't recognize and accept that whatever you expect to happen likely won't, here, then Mexico isn't for you. Enjoying the uncertainty is the key. Nothing goes exactly as you planned. Live with it. We are very lucky here that the authorities have always maintained an understanding with the underworld of protecting the elderly. Therefore, much going on doesn't affect us.
    0 points
  31. Although I am not doubting your word, it seems preposterous that if one looses a piece of paper (visa) that one has to vacate the country and reapply for the visa all over again. Surely there must be some other avenue available.
    0 points
  32. They don't live where el chapo's son was. And there is killing in Guadalajara as well. This is not a nation that takes care of its' peoples' problems. There are crimes, murders, bribery and more that are common every day. It may be paradise for expats and Mexican citizens who have the where-with-all to stay out of harm's way, but this is no country for the faint of heart, slainte39. The poor people are passed over, and their faces show their plight.
    0 points
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