Job Discussion Forums

[nomad girl]

Ola! I am thinking of moving to Mexico to teach English. I have taught in Japan, Cambodia, and Taiwan previously. I have a university degree but no toefl or other teaching certificates. Would it be worthwhile to get one of these before Mexico? Would I be able to get a higher paying job or does it make any difference?
Also, I rescued my dog (a Siberian Husky) in Taiwan and want to take him with me. Is that a problem? Crossing the border seems easy but what about conditions living there with a dog? Problems with the street dogs? We had plenty of those in Taiwan!
I am from Canada and was thinking of driving down to Mexico. As a female alone, do you think this is very dangerous? How is driving in Mexico? Liscencing? Theft?
Last question... Can anyone recommend a nice place in Central Mexico?
Somewhere cooler? I am not interested in big cities.

Thanks for your help in advance! I've been back in Canada over a year now and am getting really itchy feet! Also wanted to explore Mexico.
Happy travels.

[dixie]

If you want to bring your dog down and you drive, then the only issue is to make sure the vaccinations are up to date and and that you have a health certificate from your vet, along with your dog's records.

If you end up flying, then make sure the health certificate is withing FIVE days for landing in Mexico. Any more than that, and you will have problems at the airport, and they quite likely will bring in their own vet to give your dog a check up and the cost will be on you.

As for renting places with a dog, I have not had any trouble yet although sometimes there are issues. It really depends on the landlord and the type of place that you rent. All in all though, I would have to say that you will be able to find something, it might just take a little more looking. But, the rewards of having your pooch with you will make it all worth while!!

I have no idea about driving alone as a single female, but I think it certainly would be a cool trip to do, especially with your dog!

Good luck!!

...dixie (now owned by TWO mutts!)

[Phil_K]

Regarding the car licensing, you need a Mexican drivers license if you are staying any length of time, but it's a piece of cake, at least here in D.F. All you need is official ID (passport or FM2/3), proof of address (Telmex bill not necessarily in your own name and around $450 (mx). I'd advise not leaving your car on the street if possible at night. The drivers don't have a clue how to drive but you will soon be driving like them!

[nomad girl]

Cheers for the info! It sounds like taking my dog and my car to Mexico is not at all a problem. Can you suggest good places to live/work in Central Mexico? Somewhere where the weather is not too hot. I am a mountain girl at heart! But love the beach too... thanks! Happy travels.

[nomad girl]

Phil K ~ after driving in Taiwan I am sure I can drive anywhere! It was totally mad! No one knows how to drive and there is no such thing as a red or green light. The roads are full of cars, motorcycles, scooters and bicycles (right-of-way in that order!). Lots of theft as well.

[cangringo]

nomad girl,

We drove to Monterrey from Vancouver and we didn�t have any problems with regard to safety. It was my husband and myself but I think having your dog will help a lot. Are you planning to drive for long hours or stay in hotels or camp or what?? We did the trip camping but as I said there were two of us and we camped in our van. It�s a very cool trip and I�m sure you�ll enjoy it. You dog will provide protection in Mexico because most of them are terrified of big dogs - your siberian husky will be considered a big dog. Kudos for rescuing it btw... We have now rescued two in Mexico and yes you will see many street dogs but they are usually afraid of people and won�t bother your dog too much.

As for theft, it depends where you are, we lived in Monterrey for a while and are now in La Paz and knock on wood but we haven�t had any problems. Just take the usual precautions. I don�t know about other areas.

Sorry I can�t help you with where to go though.

[nomad girl]

Thanks cangringo! I feel safer already! My dog is the gentlest dog ever but he looks like a wolf and most people are cautious of him at first. I hadn't thought about how I will travel. Are there many campgrounds or places to camp in Mexico? I would like to take my time and see some of Mexico before I settle. I've only been to the more touristy places, and not the real Mexico.

[cangringo]

Depends where you go in Mexico for camping. You can look up campgrounds in Mexico online...the BCAA website is a good source. I think that most of the camping is over here in Baja and possibly down further on the Pacific coast. There are tons of campgrounds through the US though and they are usually fairly busy so you have the security of other campers around.

[Elise9]

I am in Celaya, GTO. Not a big city, not very many native English speakers, and in my short time here I've come across quite a few job opportunities in both private and public schools. The nice thing here though is that you are within a couple of hours to other exciting places, so it doesn't get too boring!

As for dogs, can't say about getting him here as I got mine here in Mexico, but I haven't had any problems with street dogs or anything. The biggest worry is that someone will steal her from me if she's ever out of my sight! I've been offered stolen dogs for sale a number of times..

[gypsygirl1475]

Reposting this link http://www.pettravel.com/immigration/Mexico.cfm

[danielita]

[Phil_K]

Yeah sorry, I guess I didn't read the post right! I bought my car here in DF, so all the normal regulations apply as for Mexican nationals.

[ls650]

Perhaps things are different in Oaxaca... At the university where I taught, many (say about 10) of the foreign teachers had vehicles they drove regularly on a foreign drivers licence. (About half had scooters or motorbikes, and the others had cars - both bought in Mexico or driven down from the north.)

When I bought a small motorcycle I asked the others about licencing requirements. Not one of the foreign teachers had a Mexican drivers licence, and had never had any problems, despite some of them having years of driving experience in Mexico.

When I registered my motorcycle, I was never even asked to show my licence - only my FM3 and a proof of address (I used a TelMex bill).

[MELEE]

It is interesting to note that in Mexico, if you want a Mexican drivers license you must have an FM3 (or possibly a friend in Transito!) or FM2. But the Mexicans in the US had a fit when the state of California starting asking people for proof that they were in the country legally in order to get a drivers license. Yet Mexico has always asked it's immigrants to prove they are here legally for the same privledges.

[geaaronson]

Danielita

Good news. Mexico recently changed its law so that if you bring a car in from out of the country, yes you get a temporary sticker that you pay about 330 pesos for at the border and you get to place in the center of your windshield, but guess what...this is a one time deal. The temporary sticker has become permanent one.

I got stopped in DF last July and ended up paying a big bite to a fuzzball. It turns out that once you get a temporary sticker it has now been declared a permanent one. Most police probably do not know this and will be hell bent on getting you to pay a fine you should not be paying. I had a friend in Merida point this out to me and even cited the bill as it was posted on the internet. Should you want it, I will give you the website page on which it is listed. It will be helpful to anyone to download it and include it in their glove compartment