Job Discussion Forums

[peterskipper]

Hi there!

I'm moving down to Mexico in early September, and I wondered if anyone on the site here had advice on what to bring with me. I'm from the US, and I don't know what might be difficult to find when I arrive in Guadalajara. For instance: is clothing expensive? As an EFL teacher, will I be expected to wear a suit and/or tie to work? Should I try to bring a portable boombox down, or can I find an inexpensive stereo in Guadalajara? Is there anything that people wish they had brought with them when they first arrived in Mexico (or any time later)?

Thanks!

[guera]

Guadalajara is a large modern city you should be able to find anything that you would want to buy.

That being said, if you are really particular about brands for personal care items you might want to bring those with you, although many of the popular ones can easily be found and brands geared to Mexicans are inexpensive.

If you have big feet it might be harder to find shoes. I don't know if that holds true for clothes. You might find clothes a bit more more expensive, -again- for the department store brands that you like, but you will find lots of familiar names at Liverpool, Fabricas de Francia or in other stores at the many U.S style malls. Styles are a bit more "Euro" or trendy than in the U.S and you will also find Spanish giant Zara everywhere. Really cheap clothes can be bought at a Tianguis but that might not be your style ! (Then again it might !? )

As for prices electronics are a bit more expensive but I'm not sure that it is worth the extra effort to bring a boombox down, you can buy one at your local Gigante, Carrefour, Walmart or Costco or again at a tianguis (but try it out first - no returns !)

You might want to bring teaching aids or books. You can buy teaching materias at the English language bookstore - Sandi - in Chapalita but books are expensive.

I don't think that you will be expected to wear a suit. Maybe bring a couple of ties and a sports jacket or two just in case. Nice button down with slacks should be fine. Just a tip- if you like to go out to bars/restaurants/ clubs you will find that the men ( and women !) tend to dress up more. You won't be let in to some places with sneakers and ratty jeans.


Don't worry you'll be fine Good Luck and have fun !

[cybercutie]

Hi! I just came to Guadalajara last week, and although I thought I had covered all my bases, I don' think I brought enough.

It is really rainy here right now, so you may want a rainjacket, and from what my students tell me it gets cold in the winter (I am Canadian, so I think our views on cold differ), so a light jacket would be a good idea.

As for radios, I didn't bring one either, but you can get a cheap cd player/radio in Gigante or Walmart for about $40, just a radio would be even less.

You should ask your school what the dress code is, the one here is really relaxed, but some can be strict, so it depends.

Hope this helps!

Becky:)

[isabel]

I'm a tall, size ten woman (clothes and shoes, U.S. size) and could not find either in Guadalajara. I did find a pair ( a single pair) of shoes in my size at one shoe store (I can't remember the name). The few clothes that I found that were even in the size range were either very expensive or poorly made of bad fabric.

I love Mexico. I plan to come back to Mexico at some time in the future, maybe permanently, but I'll be buying my clothes in the States.

[MELEE]

Isabel,

In the case of clothes, not shoes unfortunately, a really good option in Mexico--even for those of us who are closer to Mexican sized, is to find a good seamstress. In the area where I live you can have quality clothes made cheaply. Its particulary good if you have a favorite item that is close to being worn out. Find a fabric that you like and take it and your favorite blouse, dress, etc. to the seamstress and she will make an identical dupliclate off the original! This is also good when you have something you almost love. For example, I like this dress a lot, but I'd like it more if it had long sleeves. A good seamstress will have no problem making you another dress in the style of the first, but with long sleeves!

[moonraven]

If you want clothes and shoes from the US, most Mexican towns of any size have several thrift shops--all their (contraband) merchandise is trucked in from the States after being purchased at the big thrift stores there (Goodwill, Value Village and Salvation Army). I buy most of my clothes at what are called "bazares" here because I don't want to pay a lot for ill-fitting, poorly made clothes from low quality fabrics (the Mexican government subsidizes the garment industry here, and that means The Big C: CORRUPTION).

I have even found my size in shoes (8AAA)--Charles Jourdan from Paris, for 10 pesos.

[Ben Round de Bloc]