Job Discussion Forums

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

The sad story of John Addis (aka Charlie Petterson) in Chiapas makes me wonder why gringos (as well as the rest of us) are in Mexico. A gringo friend told me that most gringos in Mexico have a story to tell and are there for a reason like avoiding alimony, fleeing from income taxes, misdemeanours or the like. He said he had a high salary in the US and when his company downsized and laid him off, the courts there would not relieve him from paying his ex-wife $1,500 per month alimony even though he had no job and she had a $80,000 per year salary there. His solution was to simply go to Mexico where his salary could not be garnished. It there anyway to do a confidential poll on this site listing the reasons we are in Mexico?:
- avoiding alimony / child support?
- owing back taxes?
- hiding from mad relatives?
- avoiding debts?
- fleeing from oppressive political environments (like the religious-right theocracy in the USA)?
- high crimes or misdemeanours?
- murders? - probably not a lot of takers on this one :-]

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

For anonymity, you could rewrite the post but making use of the poll option at the bottom, and add whichever poll choices you like.

For me, Mexico was simply the next country I ran into headed south. I wanted to go to Peru, but ended up here. I suppose in a way I was feeling a certain ennui in Canada. I think I left an unpaid parking ticket behind as well.

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

For me the allure of living next to a nude beach and the supply of cheap pure heroin was irresistable.

thelmadatter · Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:08 am Post subject: why

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

thelmadatter · Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 1:16 am Post subject: hee hee

Keep it up Guy... Im sure you'll figure out something! Laughing

M@tt · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 473 Location: here and there

i had to laugh at that line too. the OP should sample reality in some other countries.

i doubt that very many, if any, of the people on this board are in mexico for legal reasons. a bigger motivator might be that people who are otherwise unimportant, inept, or considered losers in their native country have de facto higher social status in mexico. (not suggesting that anyone here fits the description!) i worked with someone like this who liked to remind everyone about his degrees and former jobs in the US, and used those as bargaining chips to get a higher salary than he should have in mexico. back in the US he's more or less unemployed.

ontoit · Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 99

I would of figured the big bucks, convenient schedules and no-nonsense visa rules were the big draw.

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

Great replies! Any other ideas for poll questions?

MELEE · Posted: Fri Nov 10, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject:

20 pesos DVDS!
Laughing

My student's don't believe me when I say I wouldn't even know where to look to buy a pirated CD in the US.

Oh yeah, and as far as I know the Sierra Madre Sur is the only safe haven for Chihuahua's who like to dress as bees. Embarassed

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

Unfortunately, there are a few US citizens who come to Mexico only to avoid problems at home. That said, it's incorrect and a little rude to suggest that the majority, or all of us, are here for that reason. Perhaps the original poster wants to identify others like him-herself?

Anyway, here's my no nonsense, no venom answer to your question.

Where I work, many teachers are here to spend a few months or a year in a foreign country, learn Spanish and move on.

Others are here for the long haul, simply because we like Mexico, we like Mexicans, and we like teaching.

I imagine that there are as many reasons for being here as there are foreigners in Mexico.

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

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

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

Here's a newsflash for the OP's friend. If you ditch child support (and probably other stuff as well) you won't be able to get or renew your passport. Without a passport an FM3 can't be obtained. I guess if dead-beats wanted to work illegally watching over their shoulders for years on end it could be done but I suspect it isn't the best solution.

A new teacher here found out the hard way when her husband tried to get work selling time-shares only to discover that he would need his passport to get an FM3 for this job. It got denied because of child support arrears owing to wife #1. They had to pack up and head north to face the music (err the courts). Not a well thought out plan...You can run but you can't hide (at least not forever).

Apparently the Mexican government communicates with the IRS these days as far as banking interest, capital gains and things like that. The foreigners in this area were moaning about it though I didn't pay attention too closely. All this stuff adds up to it not being easy to start a new life and vanish from unfinished business.

And P.S. many foreigners have great tales of what they used to do in the USA - they certainly do feel more important here. I call it a "border promotion"....cross that border and be anybody you want to be! Some border promotions are WAY better than others Rolling Eyes

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

wow! the question was raised in jest and brought out some grouchy, parental replies. It's been a while since I was in primary school and I forgot this is a trait of some teachers who teach because it gives them an opportunity to be bossy. I am glad I am not in some of these posters' English classes!