Job Discussion Forums

FoxandMe · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 62

Ok, I'm in a bit of a rut and would appreciate advice so much!

I'm 23, male, currently live in Boston. I left my job about a month ago and haven't had any job offers. I don't want to settle for something I'm not passionate about. I haven't been crazy about my living situation and roomates, and am planning to move out end of March. For the past year (after graduating from college), I have had a very hard time socially and know no one in the area. So no work, no apartment, no friends. Well, there's my immediate background.

I have wanted to live in a Spanish-speaking country, probably teaching English (I do have some credentials- director of a non-profit after school program, other experience working with students, a few months experience tutoring esl, intermediate Spanish skills). Now, I also have a small dog. After doing some research, I have found that getting into Mexico with a dog is far easier than getting into countries outside the continent.

So.... that's pretty much all I know, and that's my story. It's overwhelming to try to find an area, let alone a city or town, in Mexico just by looking on the internet. I'd be going by myself and my dog, with about $2,000. Is this feasible? I'm very confused. Will it be a terribly difficult time socially? I've read that the most effective way to find work is to just go there and look, apply, interview. That's a bit overhelming for me. Are there reputable programs, say similar to the peace corps or teach for america, that could provide me with more structure? Should I really just take off and make it happen some way, somehow?

Thank you very much for reading this long, self-absorbed posting. Again, appreciate your time.

leslie · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 235

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

Leaving your personal situation aside, here are a couple of points that might help you out.

First, getting into Mexico with a pet is really easy. You have to get a certificate showing that Rover's vaccinnated, as well as an international health certificate. I got both papers for two cats from my vet in Florida for less than $100. I drove into Mexico and nobody ever asked to see the papers or the cats but I'm glad I got the paperwork taken care of anyway.

Second, with $2,000, you should be able to get here and live comfortably while you find work. As an alternative, you could invest that money in an ESL training program like ITTO in Guadalajara. You'd get to spend a month in Mexico to find out if you like it, and get a piece of paper that would help you significantly with jobs and Mexican immigration. Finally, ITTO and other programs have job placement, which could be a big benefit for someone who doesn't know the battlefield.

Third, living in Mexico as a teacher is tough economically, much tougher than you may be thinking. You have to be ready to rough it. I'm not implying that you're not (really, just admitting that I wasn't when I came here Smile

) You might live in a house with no phone and no internet. You might have to get used to washing in bleach really, really well before you eat it. You might have to deal with stomach bugs that you never imagined before, whatever -- all manageable difficulties but things to consider before making the jump nonetheless. Most people overcome all of the little stuff and end up being happy here, but some don't.

Finally, don't let personal frustrations push you into a situation that may (or may not) end up being worse, if you know what I mean. When I was about your age, I had a similar crisis and I decided to move to the Texas-Mexico border to work for a small newspaper. It was a fantastic decision, but at other moments of stress, depression, and personal pressure, I've made some stupid decisions, too. So think through it. And remember, everything is temporary.

Drop me a line if I can help you in any way.

John

FoxandMe · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 62

Thanks, Leslie and John. Leslie, I'm going to heed your very sensible advice and go to the library (where I've been spending a good deal of time applying for jobs in Boston) and read up on Mexico in general. Funny as it sounds, it didn't really cross my mind to read books on the subject, when there's such an abundance of info on the internet. But the internet can be a vacuum, and being at the library will help ground me and be conducive to making some headway.

John, I appreciate the support. I do have a tendency to be impulsive, so I'm doing my best to be careful and think through this. I wouldn't want to go to Mexico for lack of anything else... and don't get me wrong, that's not the issue. I was thinking that maybe I'd go a year from now, but I really don't have much reason to got go sooner. I don't live extravagantly, but I wouldn't say I rough it easier.

Could you say more about what conditions could be like?

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

Hey just wanted to post my support. I'm probably in a similar situation. I'm 24, have moved home after working somewhere else, sort of stuck in a limbo / purgatory state teaching kids.

Anyway, so I relate. And yes, I too, am looking at Mexico. These boards can give you a lot of information I don't think you can get elsewhere. I trust personal accounts, diary like experience, much more than anything else.

The internet is daunting to research and ... well, I think you might want to get a TEFL or something before you go. It'd probably help. But I'm not sure if its absolutely necessary.

Only important thing, I think, is never to think that leaving the country, living in another country, is a solution to combating boredom, depression, or unhappiness. Everyplace is different but you know, life is the same, everywhere, if you don't enjoy it where you are, no guarantee you will in Mexico.

Just my advice.

ALL my friends are going through personal crisis' of their own. Think it's just the twenties.

- Chris

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

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

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I have to agree with the above. Moving to another country is hard. Your personality and problems follow you and in fact become magnified by the change in culture. The excitement and uncertainty is an attraction for some but remember that it is up to you to be happy or otherwise here. If that's hard in your home country, it may be harder here.

That said, I sympathize with the OP. My first year out of university wasn't easy. I had a decent but largely unfulfilling job which one day became too much. So I grabbed a backpack and headed to Europe for four months. A year working in England and now another in Mexico...best decision I ever made. Smile

But it wasn't (and isn't) easy.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:18 pm Post subject:

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

Cdaniels · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:24 am Post subject: Barnes and Nobles

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

We have toilet seats everywhere in Cuidad del Carmen. We are that Americanized. Most of the houses in my neighborhood have bathtubs. Central air is standard. The Sam�s hops 24 hours a day. Must be a money thing.

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

Mexico City has 'em too. I found it odd when I first arrived that when renting an apartment, you usually provide your own toilet seat. At first, I thought it must amount to an 'if it ain't bolted down' thing (yes I know they are bolted down) but I've come to think that a toilet seat is seen as a very personal item in Mexico.

Now bath tubs...those I miss.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

MELEE · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2006 3:23 pm Post subject:

You used to work with someone huh? Wink

I think the toilet seat thing is a higene thing. After years of living here seat on public toilets have become gross to me. They are definately a personal thing. Kind of like sharing toothbrushes, or if there was a public hand towel in the public bathroom instead of paper towels! (where the yuck! emoticon!)