Job Discussion Forums

[chula]

Wow, this is so exciting to watch the implosion of the Mexican info job board!
I know, I gotta choose a side. I think I'm gonna have to go with Moonraven on a lot of the things. I tried to complain, but it did no good. I watched people complain, for very valid reasons, and they got totally screwed. And no, my boss REALLY didn't care if any new teacher (or non-new teacher) had enough food to eat.
That said, try going with the indirect route to the director about vales and things. They don't like confrontation and like to seem as though they're giving gifts to their employees even when it's something they should have given in the first place.

[some waygug-in]

Not that anyone cares what I think. but I believe it takes a few months of living in a place before a person can find how to save money.
It took me 6 months till I discovered that there were cheaper places to buy food, clothes etc.

Depending on where you live, that 'cheapness" factor is quite relative. There were certainly no restaurants in Comitan that served comida for 25 pesos, closer to 40.

And regarding whether or not employers care if their teachers can eat, in my experience (limited though it is) many employers assume that gringos are rich beyond their wildest dreams and have hoards of cash back home, and thus do not require an adeqate salary.

If you only get 500 pesos a week, then your concepts of what is 'cheap' become slightly altered.

[MELEE]

[MixtecaMike]

Start up costs can be a real killer, I just paid $250 pesos to wash my clothes here in Korea, what happened was I couldn't get the lady at the motel to understand what I was saying and got all my clothes dry cleaned, including my UTM tee shirts that cost less than that new.

Needless to say I will be working on that expense, I've started washing stuff in the bath tub each evening.

Back to the OP, you can have a great time in Mexico even if you weren't called to the land by some mystic looney-bird, it just takes time to get settled into things.

[some waygug-in]

Welcome to Korea. Been here almost 3 years now, and I still miss Mexico. But being able to pay my bills and save money is nice here though.
Cheers

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Just a few comments on this topic.

I receive 2,000 pesos in vales monthly in addition to my wages. Mine can be used in most major stores in this city, not just in supermarkets, so in my case they aren't exactly "food coupons."

Perhaps the OP is confusing vales in Mexico with the type of "food coupons" associated with government-funded financial assistance programs for low-income families in countries like the U.S. They are not the same thing.

As for not having enough money to afford to eat adequately (both quality and quantity,) I could see that as a possibility associated with some EFL teaching jobs in this city. There are some schools here that pay as little as 15 pesos per hour. Someone living completely on his/her own would be extremely hard-pressed to be able to afford a healthy, well balanced, sufficient diet on those wages.

I've noticed that the "not having enough to eat" line is pretty standard for locals whenever they want to hit their employer up for a raise, so maybe the OP's boss doesn't see it as a legitimate/real complaint.

[ls650]

[magpie]

Hmmm, somehow I am wondering if some new teachers, or teachers new to an area or country have, perhaps, not done enough homework prior to accepting their positions. OR, that they have become wrapped in the romanticism of "teaching abroad" they have forgotten that even in the states (or wherever you are from) when you move there are "start-up costs--deposits for utilities, first month's rent--or in the case of large cities like Chicago first and last month's rent, etc.

I accepted my job in April. I was in constant contact with my supervisor ( he is Canadian) all summer and scouted the internet for information about the town, area, cost of living. Thanks to all of you on Dave's I learned soooo much that I when I arrived here there were few surprises. When I asked my supervisor how much money to bring for start-up costs he suggested $200 US. I've traveled a lot and doubled that just to be on the safe side--I have not regretted that! I received my first pay last week and yup it's gone. Did I expect that? Yes. Rent, parking space for my car, food, etc. I get paid today and some of that will be gone, too, since I have decided to get an internet connection in my apartment. However, I knew this up front. I also made sure of exactly what the school would cover--my FM3 costs, and part of my utilities, etc. I also was guaranteed 28 hours a week and willingly accepted another 4 hours--will help defray the internet costs. And, OK, since I drove down here I loaded up my car with necessities (computer, printer, etc., and enough nonperishible food to last at least 2 weeks--soup is good, and 2 cats.) Interestingly, on the trip to Veracruz to get my FM3 he was telling me how much many of his previous young teachers complained about things: the apartment, the town, the people, the pay, on and on. Later last week the staff at the school said the same thing.

The bottom-line is try to get as much info as possible BEFORE you commit to anything. If the offer reeks of not enough to survive on (you know no one is going to get rich teaching here) or conditions under which you cannot live then keep looking. Cushion your move with extra cash--and if you still get burned, make sure you take what you learned on this experience and apply it to your next move. Lastly, do what you are doing and share the information to help others. Do not whine--it won't help, it doesn't feed you and turns employers anywhere off and honestly, probably encourages them to hold back a bit. Yes, people think foreigners are rich and at lest have some support system (parents, friends) to help them out. Some employers will play that card out to the max against us. Just know next time to be as prepared as possible and if life happens, ya' just gotta roll with it. It will ever be thus.

[MELEE]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

ls650, I don't know how much you are paid. I get paid 57 pesos per hour after taxes and teach 31 hours per week. However, I also get the previously mentioned vales in addition to paid vacation days, private medical insurance, aguinaldo, discounts at some stores with my university employee's ID, free continuing education courses -- actually, better than free, because I get partial pay to attend them -- and some other benefits. For these reasons I consider my job one of the better TEFL jobs in this city . . . along with the fact that I enjoy working where I work, of course. There are TEFL jobs in this city that pay more per hour (and many that pay a lot less,) but few if any can match the benefits I have.