I'm from the US, am 66 years old, and live in Morelia, Michoacan. Have been for three years. I've never felt unsafe. As in every large city in the US, you can find trouble if you look for it. As far as medical, I had brain surgery for an aneurysm in Mexico. The Dr's were great, the staff was professional, and the facilities were clean and modern. It's been a wonderful experience, and maybe the best move I've ever made...
God Bless you Russell.... I hope you are feeling Tip Top now after your surgery... So happy you took the plunge toward your BEST LIFE!!! I'm still on the fence with my move..... Your story has made me a little closer though as I have a blood disorder.....
I’m in Cabo now. Have been here and all over Mexico many times. The people are so kind. So gracious. I’ve never had one bad or negative experience. I’ve felt and have been far less safe countless times in the US. Ignorance breeds ignorance. I love Mexico and cannot wait to come back!!!
I would like to clarify that Espero café fresco means I expect fresh coffee. It sounds demanding. (Yo) Puedo esperar por café fresco is what you want to say. Saludos!
Keeping a low profile in Mexico is good advice. I was a temporary expat from 1980-83 when I studied at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. We used to say that survival is dependent upon “remaining anonymous at the Autonomous”. Saludos !
My wife is from Guadalajara and we lived there 3+ years. I'm not Mexican. Some observations for what it's worth. 1) Learn spanish. I got semi-fluent, but it is hard going without it. If you live in an expat area(we didn't) you can get by w/much less spanish. 2) If you're from the US, the amount of garbage in the streets will bother you. Most videos you see of Mexico are the lovely downtown tourist areas. A lot of the side streets will shock you. 3) Do NOT underestimate the amount of noise that is acceptable in Mexico by your neighbors. Usually it was around holidays but any random night you can hear music blaring at 4am. I'm sure, again, it's much less of an issue in expat areas. 4) If you have mobility issues in the US, Mexican sidewalks will be your nightmare...cracks, missing manhole covers, uneven, missing chunks, etc...I'm not bashing Mexico. There's things about that culture I loved and things I hated, just like US culture. Overall, very good experience. Mexicans are much more service oriented. The thing about Nomad Dad's doctor giving him cell phone# is true. My wife is a doctor and it's normal for her patients to have called her directly all the time, and the nicest hospital I ever seen was a private one in Guadalajara. The govt hospitals in Mexico...stay away from them. Ajijic was a great place to spend a day. Great restaurants, walking the malecon(boardwalk) but, again, many streets are cobblestone so take that into consideration. I think you can get by there w/minimal spanish, as with other expat zones. Also, don't drive in larger Mexican cities if you can avoid it. I was in some situations that scared me to death, and I grew up driving in NYC. Be forewarned! Viva Mexico!!
Bob. Exactly! I like Mexico as does my wife. Same for Colombia. Same for Argentina...same for India, Vietnam, Cambodia, and many more. I like Greece as does my wife. My father back in Illinois thinks I am nuts.. except for India...the land of our ancestors...my father and I. My wife is Vietnamese. My father called Mexico dangerous. Same for Colombia. He recently changed his tune about Colombia, having traveled there himself. He actually liked Colombia. He is currently in Mexico, and while I don't expect a full reversal, I think he may learn and see what I see there. BTW, my father used to call me nuts about Vietnam, but he has changed his tune about there also... having been there a number of times. So...yeah! Get out of your bubble in the USA. There is more to see. It helps me that I speak Argentine Spanish in Latin America, as I can communicate with people. I was a foreign exchange student to Argentina in the 1990s in high school. I have nurtured my Spanish language skills since then.
77 here and I live in a small city where I've met no other native English speakers in 2.5 years. It is hard not to stand out as a 6'2" blonde with pale skin, but I drive a Hyundai, don't wear a watch and buy my clothes and phone at local stores. 45 years ago I was going to Brasil for the first time and a friend warned me not to. He was robbed of a 2 ct diamond pinky ring on Copacabana beach. Who in the hell wears a 2 ct diamond ring to a beach, especially in a country where the average wage at that time was $30 / month. So don't drive a BMW, leave that to Mexicans who should be able to evaluate their risk. I also don't hang out in bars, do drugs, stay out after midnight, or practice road rage. In fact, I don't do those things in the US either.
Living in Mexico can be a rewarding experience with its affordability, cultural richness, and diverse environments. However, it also requires an awareness of safety issues, bureaucratic challenges, and cultural differences. Many expatriates and locals alike find that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, making Mexico a popular choice for those seeking a vibrant and cost-effective place to live. Great video, Nomad Dad!
It’s nice to hear someone besides myself stressing the importance of respecting the culture and people where you go. I’ve had similar stories of disrespect & entitlement when I’ve traveled to Europe. It’s embarrassing! Thanks for sharing about Mexico. I’m inspired to check it out!
I'm in Mexico City in one of the "best" neighborhoods. But I'm moving out mainly because of all the entitled Americans coming here. They are a total embarrassment. They block the grocery aisles and the sidewalks like they own them and won't move. They have no regard for the locals. Really pisses me off.
Thanks for starting this channel. Please keep posting. So refreshing and helpful to hear your viewpoint. I've been following Andrew for a few years now and I saw you speak in CDMX a few years ago. Ajijic is a wonderful area.
I'm almost 60 and been healthy my whole life, despite being overweight. Never even been injured and I played 6 years of American football. Only time I see a doctor is for my annual exam! so grateful.
Good points all! On the subject of coffee, look for a cafe that serves specialty coffee if you haven't already. Mexico grows some of the best. Get a pour over. It's a bit more spendy, maybe 40-50 pesos, but so good.
It's normal. My brother in law and My Sister have been living in the US for 28 years and have more mexican friends than american. Even my nieces who were born american, one has a mexican boyfriend and the other an american husband. People tend to make friends with people of their own culture & language. That doesnt mean either they lack of american friends.
Great content. The correct phrase is "Voy a esperar por el café fresco". I'm going to wait for the fresh coffee. This is what you should say. Hope that helps!
Also wrong. No Mexican would say this. You'd just say "prefiero café recién hecho" or "me espero a que se haga el café"...probably dozens of possibilities except the one you stated--unless of course, you want people to know you're a tourist and they should treat you like one. Cheers!
Informative. Thank you. Do you leave your house there vacant during the several months you are gone, and just have the property manager check on it? Thanks again.
Check out the requirements from the different consulates. I did some research on an upcoming video and was amazed at the difference by looking at a few different consulates. As an example, for a permanent residency from the Dallas consulate it's $3,576 per month vs McAllen is $2,590 per month. If you don't have a monthly income, lump sum is $103K in McAllen, $143K in Dallas and a shocking $251K in Denver.
Great to meet you, sir. Andrew's the spitting image of you! Anyway, these issues you touched on are not new--on either side of the border. At any rate, it is the privileged few who get to truly have a worldly life experience and have their eyes open to the reality of our world. Ingrates and idiots will always exist everywhere but thankfully, most of these people are inconsequential, so keep enjoying life in Mexico and don't mind the nuisances.
I avoid major cities in the US, therefore I will continue to avoid Mexico as well. My stance on Mexico has evolved into a lack of appreciation for a country that cannot protect its own citizens from the cartels. One could argue that we are facing similar risks in the US with the lack of prosecution of criminals and the increased illegal immigration . But that does not incentivize me to visit Mexico. I do wish that the US had annexed Mexico 150 years ago.
Thanks and spot on. Some of what you verbalize is American exceptionalism. Its a problem here and getting worse. Walking around with rose colored glasses and zero experience outside the country. A fool's opinion. I'm retiring next year and have my eyes on a spot in Central America. Beautiful people living tranquilo. Good day.
A good friend of mine from here got diagnosed with the "C" and she went downthere for treatment. A few was. Seemed l😂ike they got it all but it came back with vengeance. Sadly she died last yr.
If you can’t enjoy your money by buying things like expensive cars, jewelry, or whatever luxuries you enjoy and can afford because of your wealth, is Mexico worth it?
NNNOOOOO - IT IS NOT WORTH IT ------ when you have enough money you goo somewhere else -----I WOULD NOT IF I AM A MILLIONAIRE --- safetiness be able to trust people around you is what and why you live for ---- friends around you NOT CRIMINALS ----
Sorry, but have to call BS on your opinion of a "double standard" when it comes to speaking different languages. My great grandparents, grandparents and parents including myself, were all born in the US and I lived in the US, S. FL while in school through college and then in the LA/Ventura area of CA. for 63 years before moving to Mexico a few years ago. While living, working and socializing with and around all types of foreigners, I have never had anyone of them get perturbed or angry at me for not speaking their language or while trying to speak theirs. Just never happened and I have never heard of it happening. While traveling into Mexico since the early eighties to surf and camp on remote beaches throughout mostly Baja with never any problems that I couldn't talk or smile my way out of, I fell in love with the warmth and the friendliness of the people I've met along the way. I decided a long time ago to retire early and move here. The Mexicans have never given me a hard time while further learning my Espanol. If anything they are more than helpful while correcting me with a smile or a shared laugh as I gently butcher their language. Best move I've ever made for myself and my quality of life. Don't get me started on the delicious and healthy food that is available here along with the quality and easily affordable health care. I financially qualified for my Residency Visa and am able to live like a Rey a mile from the beach on less than $1500us per month. That figure includes private health care that I haven't used because everything easily affordable out of pocket. I surfed this morning for a couple of hours and just had two freshly caught fish tacos con todo for lunch with a liter of freshly squeezed orange, pineapple and coconut juice that cost me less than $4.00us. Now I am going to take a short siesta in my hammock on my palm frond covered rooftop patio as I watch the ocean and surf while dozing off to the muffled sound of a Saturday afternoon concert on the harbor malecon... Buena suerte!
@@davidsebastianelli1326 sorry David, but I'm going to have to call BS right back at you. What's going on today in the United States is not the same as what went on back in your day. I can go into almost any McDonald's, or any (insert restaurant), and the fact that I don't speak Spanish, or whatever language of the day is, they get annoyed. Probably wondering why this one gringo is in here, and not speaking their language. Just today at the supermarket I had someone who didn't speak English (don't worry, it wasn't Spanish) get annoyed and blow me off because I asked them a question. So I have to bend the knee in the United States? I don't mind going to a foreign speaking country and having to bend the knee to their language and culture, and if the Nomad Dad is saying just that, then the foreigners in the US need to do just that as well. If it's "rules for thee, but not for me," then my point stands.
@@NomadCapitalistDad Your Spanish is not good but you are not alone and at least you try. The natives have heard the same bad pronunciations that they know much of what you want to say. Just like the tipping tip, don’t believe anyone who says your Spanish is good or great for heavens sake ❤ If you don’t spend time learning from a native you will never sound well, that is just the way it is! Yesterday here in Mexico a man said my Spanish was great and I responded in Spanish that I am still learning. Some people would call me fluent but I avoid that term. 😊
Canadians wear blackface, at least if Trudeau is any indication of the way you think, hardly an improvement over the behavior of your neighbors southward.
