Job Discussion Forums

Michael1710 · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Mentally in Mexico

Hello Everyone,

Can anyone provide information on violence in Mexico. I live in Texas and hear alot about the gang violence along the border. What about the rest of the country? What about violence towards Americans, foreigners, in general....?

I'm about to begin CELTA training in March. I'd like to work in Mexico upon completion but don't want to walk around with a bullseye on me.

Cheers,

Michael

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

My experience has shown me that Canadians and Americans are far more violent than Mexicans, generally speaking. Drugs and gangs make it a little tougher to say that. I think the northern border region is a dnagerous place, but you are unlikely to experience anything like that farther south. The key is to stay out of the drug trade...

Most crimes committed against foreigners in other parts of Mexico are economic...theft and muggings perhaps.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Michael1710 · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Mentally in Mexico

Thanks for the information. I'm glad to hear the violence is with the gangs. I had heard that Americans had to be careful moving around Mexico, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Michael

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

Let's just say that all things Texan aren't that popular anywhere in the world right now. Why would anyone want to leave Texas? It's paradise on earth I hear. Friendly, peaceful people, clean air, great schools, culturally rich, enlightened politics...
Mexico: bad place for Texans!

Michael1710 · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Mentally in Mexico

Yes, Texas does have a lot going for it but its time for a change.

Delacosta: What do you mean that all things Texas aren't poplular in the rest of the world?

Michael

bryan_s · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 10

Ya'll (Texas bloodline) left out some information. There have been HUNDREDS of young women murdered in Juarez, which is a city of a little over 1 million people. These murders have been going on for many years.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I don't think many teachers think of working in Juarez (or any other border cities for that matter).

grahamcito · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Guadalajara

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Don't listen to anyone and what they say about Mexico if they've never been there. A lot of people in Texas don't realize that there's a world outside of the Lone Star State.

You'll be fine. I've taken a bus at night through New Laredo and I lived.

John

MikeyG · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 44 Location: Oaxaca

3 things which can get you killed if you meddle with them ( or so I've heard ): drugs, ( married ) women and politics

Michael1710 · Joined: 30 May 2005 Posts: 16 Location: Mentally in Mexico

Can't ya' just feel the love! Thanks for all the information. Some folks here definitely have a Lone Star state of mind. This is partly why I'm looking for a change.

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

I'm also looking for a change Michael and so is my wife which is why we're trying to get the house sold and back to DF. I'm originally from Kentucky where EVERYONE is nice.

People in Texas have been nice as well but they do seem to have an image of Mexicans that's not to good. I say this because of some of the comments I've heard over the years that I've been in your State.

I never had any problems while I lived in DF and every time I go for a visit, and I stand out in Mexico with my blonde hair and white skin. You'll be fine.

snorklequeen · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:26 am Post subject: Texas and DF

hi,

i've lived in Houston, Texas for 31 years

the people in Houston are very nice and friendly on the whole, imho, and there are tons of cultural things to do here; there are wonderful outdoor things to do all over in Texas; the winters are very mild and pleasant; summer is quite hot and humid [think Puerto Vallarta]

it is no surprise to me that the city of Houston opened up its doors to 250,000 Katrina survivors last year; i would have been shocked if they had not, because the people here have hearts as big as Alaska

but here's my bias: i grew up in the Bay Area in California [near Berkeley/San Francisco], high school class of 1964

when i moved to Houston in 1974, the women's restrooms in downtown were locked, and you had to find a security guard to unlock the door for you; i inquired as to the reason and was told that i was likely to get raped in the restroom by a black man; well, that's never happened, and they no longer lock the women's restroom doors downtown; in California in the 50's my vet was black, and no one thought anything of it; i did not learn that some people hated other people because of the color of their skin until i saw the musical movie, "South Pacific", which has a song called "Carefully Taught" [about hating other people solely because of their race -- the song was not promoting that, for those not old enuf to remember the movie]

i went to college in Huntsville, Texas, in the mid- to late 70sand was appalled to discover that the local branch of the Ku Klux Klan rode through Huntsville on horseback with their white sheets on as late as 1968; so there are some issues in Texas, imho; my roommate's fiancee was a redneck from a small town nearby, and he bragged to me about killing a black man in another small town and getting away with it

i've felt safe very time i visited DF; as in Costa Rica, imho, you are most in danger of being a victime of theft in DF. i know various missionaries who live in DF and have for years, and the worst that has happened to them is the pickpockets

however, to be totally fair, some missionary friends of mine [a young couple in their late 20s] were abducted in DF about two years ago in the afternoon in the Lomas y Bosques area, a wealthy neighborhood; they were visiting some friends who lived there; they fought back and were able to escape within 10 minutes; so it does pay to be careful

bottom line, i feel safe when i'm there; i walk with confidence and pay attention to my surroundings

i think you'll like it there

Queenie

samizinha · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 174 Location: Vacalandia

I have taken a lot of precautions in Est. de Mexico and Mexico City, and have felt relatively safe. However, I had a small scare this weekend. I guess I got a little overconfident.
It was 9:30 and I was going to meet some friends at the sitio, a 3 minute ride down the street. I knew it would be too dangerious to walk in this area but I didn't want to call and wait for a cab when I could just catch a micro and meet them.
The micros were a little slow coming down the street. In the few minutes that I was waiting, a car pulled up and a man got out and started coming towards me. He had no reason, as nothing was open and there were no people around- and he wasn't asking for anything. I flagged down a bus with no lights and got on- the man who had come up to me stopped, watched me get on and then turned around. I don't know what his intentions were, nor do I want to.
To top everything off, the bus driver was too interested in having me on his bus, and fully grabbed by behind as I got off!
So, I'm smartening up again. I'm taking the taxi instead of waiting by myself like that. I'm going to the back of busses that are in service, not engaging in any type of conversation with the drivers and giving them an even bigger blast then the last guy got if they try to get fresh again.
It seems strange even writing that because I've gone so long being cautious and safe... all things I'm reverting back to immediately.