Job Discussion Forums

[ls650]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Guy Courchesne]

I'd have to agree with those that think you earn too little Tim. But, you can't put a price on the intangibles. If you are fine with what you make and what you have, then more power to you.

Choosing Mexico is never about the money anyway, wherever you go in this fine country. I'm sure posters over there in the middle east and parts of Asia would guffaw if they read us quibbling over the small amounts everyone makes here. But...I'd still stack up the lifestyle here against money in other places, any day of the week and every inch of the guey.

[ls650]

[Dragonlady]

deleted...


out of date

[ls650]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Here's an old story. I'm sure many of you are already familiar with it.

[samizinha]

I don�t know about anybody else, but any tiny illusions that I had about siestas, sleeping late and strolling into a village have not happened yet. Being at the Tec in Mexico City probably contributes to this. I work at 7am, which means that I get up at 5:30 for work. I have to work at least 9 hours a day, but because of the workload, often put in more hours than that- a lot of weekeneds as well. This is common with my co-workers too.
I don�t want this to come off as whining, because I completely love Mexico. I could see myself here for quite a while, but it would be because of the people and my interest in art and culture here- definately not money or working conditions...

[M@tt]

[bootsy]

I know quite a few places like this on the coast of Chiapas.

I'd like to add my two cents to this topic by backing up the statements made by Ben. I earn, in my current uni position, around the same amount as Ben and I have to say that I make it just fine. I earn enough to live in a lovely colonial house which is actually too big for my small family, eat out in restaurants at least once a week and travel on my frequent holidays. I make enough to put in the bank each month. Of course, I am in one of the poorest state (maybe the poorest in Mexico), life is cheap. I only work 25 hours a week, teaching hours. A normal schedule is 10-12 and then 4-7. I have lots of free time to play with my daughter and have an active social life. I could make more (and I have, taking classes at other schools) but for me it wasnt worth it.

I have also worked at the uni on the Oaxacan coast (only one semester)and earned my 10,000 pesos a month but at a great cost. An awful schedule (8-1 and 4-7) and a not so great work environment (sorry Is650). When I was there there was a punch clock as well as two uneducated guys that gave us teachers "tickets" for being late to class or whatever (even if I was late due to students in my office with a question or problem, and when I say late I'm talking no more than five-ten minutes maybe once every two months.) I found the environment to be less than desired. While at my much lower paying job my quality of life is much better and my creative freedom as a teacher much more expansive. I currently teach British/American Literature, History of English, Sociolinguistics and two advanced conversation classes. I enjoy Mexico and my current position (although at this moment I'm on a break for family reasons but I will be returning for the next semester).

I think its great that Ben has found his happiness at a mere 6000 pesos a month job. It sounds like he is an older fellow with some experience and I say more power to him. I'm 31 and when I started this career I was only concerned about traveling and finding the best beach with the cheapest beer, now I'm older, wiser (more stuff on my CV , and raising a young daughter. I'm trying to find the best life to give her. After seeing all of the problems with kids in the States, I am much more concerned with giving her more of my time than money.

I apologize for going so off topic, but I don't think it will be the first time its happened here on the Mexico forum.

Happy Teachers Day!

[Samantha]

That was a nice post. Actually, in my area $6000.00 is not that off-the-wall either. It's a rather respectable local wage. I not so long ago had classes of 35 students each, full time and I was making only a shade above that, perhaps $6200.00. I was the only foreign teacher in the Elementary school, and I took a que from my Mexican co-workers that this was a prestigeous job and they felt very well paid. I also took issue with the time clock. My feet were impaled by heels more times than I can count as everyone arrived a little late at the same time and converged on the dreaded time clock. Being Canadian I hadn't learned yet to be quite as pushy. After my pay was docked for tardiness I learned to use my heels as weapons too!

Incidentally, I don't know many Mexican men, nevermind fisherman who sip WINE! Somewhere along the way, that story got changed. Maybe in the Yukon or Alaska, wine is being drunk by the fisherman, but not in Mexico. Beer is the name of the game here. That's funny to picture.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[cwc]

[ls650]