Job Discussion Forums

[Guy Courchesne]

I'm going to start marking how long I've been in Mexico by the number of presidents.

3 for me, starting today. The last days of Zedillo, all of Fox, and now Calderon. Maybe I'll put a little asterisk on the record for AMLO.

I hope things can get back to normal soon. I didn't get to see the atmosphere in Mexico during summer 2000 when Fox was elected. I'm told it was festive and full of promise....but that went south pretty quickly. This past summer was nothing festive at all. It almost feels like Fox's election was a mini-revolution - coming out of the long dark PRI period, and this last election marks the maturing of Mexico's young democracy - still very much a long-haired pimply teenager, given to middle-finger salutes, and a lot of rock-throwing.

Oh, look who's coming to wish Calderon well. GHW Bush (the elder), Canadian PM Harper, Uribe from Colombia, Schwarzenegger, Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos, and Spanish Prince Felipe Asturias. In PRI times, Fidel Castro used to come.

I don't think I've heard more helicopters buzzing about the city than there are today.

[srtab]

Sort of along this note... I'm not in Mexico yet, planning on moving next summer after finishing my 2nd year of Spanish teaching here in Arizona.

And well, my family is a bit concerned... 1) because I'm a 25 year old woman who will be alone, but 2) because of this last election, what they see in the news about Oaxaca...

For you guys there, what do you think?

[Guy Courchesne]

None of the violence seems targeted at foreigners. DF protests were always peaceful - even with the pushing and shoving in Congress. Oaxaca is a much larger, more involved affair though. If you don't get involved in the politics, and try not to wander between opposing forces, you'd be fine. Anywhere else in the country and I don't think there'd be a problem for you at all, aside from the usual precautions a woman traveling solo in Mexico should take that is.

[hlamb]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Stay away from obvious trouble spots and you should be just fine. I've seen a few protests here in Cuernavaca and just watch from a distance or go around, rather than through. Just use your common sense when out alone, especially at night, and yuo shouldn't give your family any cause for concern.

I speak as a 27, almost 28 year old single female.

[geaaronson]

But can you remember Stevenson`s failed bid against Ike in `56?

[thelmadatter]

geaaronson... I dont, but the warrior-princess I channel does! (yes, its a weird morning)

More seriously, I ditto everyone else here srtab. Im also female, a "little" over 25

[Ben Round de Bloc]