I definitely get this. The decision to stay in Mexico was part economic, part gut instinct. I love the pace of life here, the general politeness of people. Learning Spanish is quite challenging but absolutely necessary if you want to really be part of things (and I just think it's rude to go to another country and expect them to speak and act like you). I did yell "Go back to Texas!" more than once at some of those insular idiots on House Hunters International...
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Yes, being a tourist and living somewhere are two completely different things and each person is going to have their own unique experience for the exact same place.
I drove into Mexico City one time from Queretaro (where we lived almost 3yrs). We made it to the outskirts of Mexico City and that was as far as we cared to go at that time. My wife and I saw the pyramids and said it was just too hard to drive there and vowed ¨never again¨. That said, her cousin who has a good job and lives in Polanco, says she just loves it there so maybe we didn´t give it enough chance.
Yes, learning a new language is a bit of a challenge at our age. Just the other day one of my neighbors asked me how much of the conversation I understood and I just laughed and said about half of it. I told but I told her I stopped worrying about that a long time ago. Someday I´ll get there, maybe ¨mañana?¨ My wife also fills me in on important things if needed to be more part of the conversation.
I used to love Rappi in Colombia, made it to their highest-level membership in just a few months, LOL. We finally quit them after numerous missing food items and got too tired of complaining to them all the time.
Ya, I felt the same way I was back in the states.....unsafe and I could not wait to get back home to Bogota, Colombia.
This is so insightful and gives me an interesting perspective on what it’s really like to move abroad! Thank you for your honesty! I truly loved reading this. I’ve been to Mexico … to Guadalajara and Guanajuato City… the latter where I spent six weeks living with a local family and teaching English. I absolutely loved the culture there… so family oriented and they stay up late and actually hang out! The language! The bright colors!
I’ve thought of moving our family abroad … to Europe (so vague I know lol) and actually thought of Mexico also.
I would love to visit Mexico City! Gonna hit the subscribe button so I can follow along your journey!
Thanks, Lindsey! I also love Guanajuato. Such a beautiful city. I’m always torn between Europe and Mexico too. Please let me know if you’re ever in Mexico City.
Agree with much of what you describe. We are fom USA and have been here for 7..almost 8 yrs. Built our house while hubbie was having 3 different strokes (but Gracias Diós..did not affect his brain!) If you ever want to exit DF for a vacation in Tequisquiapan, let me know. We have a separate casita and an upstairs apt suite.
Thanks so much for the message, and I’m so glad you’re husband is well. I’m going to have to look up Tequisquiapan. I don’t know it. What made you pick that part of Mexico?
My husband has an older brother who married a Mexican national and lives up in Sonora on the beach in Huatabampito. We first looked at buying in the Yucatan and made an offer on a property in Chelem. When that fell through, a Mexican friend recommended we look at Teuisquiapan. We would have NEVER known about it otherwise! It is only about 2 hrs north of DF. MAJOR destination for Mexicans from DF and Santiago de Queretaro who own 2nd homes. Very traditional with beautiful architecture as well as being on the national Wine and Cheese route. For big city people..not the place! DEAD, DEAD during the week with major influxes on weekends. All depends on what what moves you!
As long as we breathe, like-minded spiritual travelers are always welcome. We are blessed here, though as you have stated, leaving oneś country of birth always has challenges!
I can say "yes, yes, yes" to so many of your points! I have lived abroad multiple times in my life with the longest and most permanent move being in Canada. The one thing I learned was that everything you thought was true about the world gets shaken up when you move abroad. You became aware of your biases, your country's unique customs and quirks. You become aware of who you are and also who you can become! There is nothing that stretches your mind more than living abroad. It is so vastly different from traveling. Everyday tasks become impossible hurdles. Every day is an adventure, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.
And lastly, you will never feel like you belong anywhere again except within yourself. Your horizons gets stretched so far that it's almost impossible to into one place again. And I actually love that. I get to appreciate so many things about my own country and all the countries I've lived in.
Thanks for sharing this newsletter, I just subscribed to you so I can keep following your journey :)
Katharina! Nice to meet you on here, and I so agree about you comments about being stretched and learning so much about yourself. I feel at home in so many places—I live that, too.
I definitely get this. The decision to stay in Mexico was part economic, part gut instinct. I love the pace of life here, the general politeness of people. Learning Spanish is quite challenging but absolutely necessary if you want to really be part of things (and I just think it's rude to go to another country and expect them to speak and act like you). I did yell "Go back to Texas!" more than once at some of those insular idiots on House Hunters International...
Yes, Mexico is a wonderful place to be for the reasons you mentioned. 😊
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Yes, being a tourist and living somewhere are two completely different things and each person is going to have their own unique experience for the exact same place.
I drove into Mexico City one time from Queretaro (where we lived almost 3yrs). We made it to the outskirts of Mexico City and that was as far as we cared to go at that time. My wife and I saw the pyramids and said it was just too hard to drive there and vowed ¨never again¨. That said, her cousin who has a good job and lives in Polanco, says she just loves it there so maybe we didn´t give it enough chance.
Yes, learning a new language is a bit of a challenge at our age. Just the other day one of my neighbors asked me how much of the conversation I understood and I just laughed and said about half of it. I told but I told her I stopped worrying about that a long time ago. Someday I´ll get there, maybe ¨mañana?¨ My wife also fills me in on important things if needed to be more part of the conversation.
I used to love Rappi in Colombia, made it to their highest-level membership in just a few months, LOL. We finally quit them after numerous missing food items and got too tired of complaining to them all the time.
Ya, I felt the same way I was back in the states.....unsafe and I could not wait to get back home to Bogota, Colombia.
I didn’t know there were levels of membership on Rappi! That’s amazing! Thanks for the comment.
Thank you for sharing, it gives perspective and some ideas, now I wanna quit my job and travel to see where I want to live 😂
You live in the place where I want to live. :)
This is so insightful and gives me an interesting perspective on what it’s really like to move abroad! Thank you for your honesty! I truly loved reading this. I’ve been to Mexico … to Guadalajara and Guanajuato City… the latter where I spent six weeks living with a local family and teaching English. I absolutely loved the culture there… so family oriented and they stay up late and actually hang out! The language! The bright colors!
I’ve thought of moving our family abroad … to Europe (so vague I know lol) and actually thought of Mexico also.
I would love to visit Mexico City! Gonna hit the subscribe button so I can follow along your journey!
Thanks, Lindsey! I also love Guanajuato. Such a beautiful city. I’m always torn between Europe and Mexico too. Please let me know if you’re ever in Mexico City.
Will do for sure! Would love to connect! I’ve never been - so I would need a local tour guide for sure! ☺️🤍
My son would agree wholeheartedly that moving to a favored vacation spot is not always ideal: Oahu ;)
I knew exactly what you were referring to when I read that.
I love that you write about my life so I don't have to! ;)
ha!! Happy to do so, Doug!
Agree with much of what you describe. We are fom USA and have been here for 7..almost 8 yrs. Built our house while hubbie was having 3 different strokes (but Gracias Diós..did not affect his brain!) If you ever want to exit DF for a vacation in Tequisquiapan, let me know. We have a separate casita and an upstairs apt suite.
Robbie, mucho gusto.
Thanks so much for the message, and I’m so glad you’re husband is well. I’m going to have to look up Tequisquiapan. I don’t know it. What made you pick that part of Mexico?
My husband has an older brother who married a Mexican national and lives up in Sonora on the beach in Huatabampito. We first looked at buying in the Yucatan and made an offer on a property in Chelem. When that fell through, a Mexican friend recommended we look at Teuisquiapan. We would have NEVER known about it otherwise! It is only about 2 hrs north of DF. MAJOR destination for Mexicans from DF and Santiago de Queretaro who own 2nd homes. Very traditional with beautiful architecture as well as being on the national Wine and Cheese route. For big city people..not the place! DEAD, DEAD during the week with major influxes on weekends. All depends on what what moves you!
Amazing, good to know. You had me with architecture, cheese, and wine. 😂 I’ll have to come up there some time.
As long as we breathe, like-minded spiritual travelers are always welcome. We are blessed here, though as you have stated, leaving oneś country of birth always has challenges!
Yes, my wife and I really were impressed with Tequisquiapan when we lived in Queretaro and enjoyed weekend trips there often.
I can say "yes, yes, yes" to so many of your points! I have lived abroad multiple times in my life with the longest and most permanent move being in Canada. The one thing I learned was that everything you thought was true about the world gets shaken up when you move abroad. You became aware of your biases, your country's unique customs and quirks. You become aware of who you are and also who you can become! There is nothing that stretches your mind more than living abroad. It is so vastly different from traveling. Everyday tasks become impossible hurdles. Every day is an adventure, sometimes in a good way, sometimes in a bad way.
And lastly, you will never feel like you belong anywhere again except within yourself. Your horizons gets stretched so far that it's almost impossible to into one place again. And I actually love that. I get to appreciate so many things about my own country and all the countries I've lived in.
Thanks for sharing this newsletter, I just subscribed to you so I can keep following your journey :)
Katharina! Nice to meet you on here, and I so agree about you comments about being stretched and learning so much about yourself. I feel at home in so many places—I live that, too.
I love that you embrace that and live it!