Job Discussion Forums

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

SLOW DOWN! There are NO kids on the way. The wedding is in July and currently the fabulous Sindy and I plan on heading to Asia for a year or two to teach and put some money in the bank (that's the idea). What we want to do is come back to Mexico or the States... but the US is becoming less of an option as the economy gets deeper and deeper into the crapper.

We've talked about it before (she and I) and if we're not in the US in some little suburb in Texas or Florida, we have to pick somewhere in Mexico because Torreon just won't do it. Between the horrible air quality, slowly increasing presence of narcos, the ridiculously hot weather and urban sprawl... it just isn't a city well suited for raising children(although many many people do).

Given that I studied "World Languages and Cultures" (appears to have been a poor choice in terms of earning potential) and have made a point of choosing the path of a teacher in life, we need to be in a place with a fairly substantial population (correct me if I'm wrong) for there to be opportunities for the two of us, because she is an anthropologist by trade. That considered, I want to live (relatively) close to the ocean or the mountains (the kind with trees!) and reasonable pricing on land and building materials wouldn't be so bad either.

So... is anyone out there currently raising pups in Mexico or has anyone done so? Our plan is to start in about 5 years... but plans change. Since I can't find a list of the best cities in Mexico for kids or families... I'm looking for input from someone who isn't from Torreon... they all seem to think it's a great city... or just aren't willing to admit that it's a lead-polluted furnace with no style, no character and no X factor.

notamiss · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:34 pm Post subject: Re: Raising children in Mexico?

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

We're raising one in SLP. It's relatively very safe for Mexico and there's plenty of jobs here as it's also relatively boring but it has parks and isn't too polluted. Not a bad place to raise kids in my opinion. The climate is good too.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

I have twins in a small city in Oaxaca. The air quality is excellent. It's very safe. We live in an area with very little traffic which is great for them to learn to ride their bikes. We also live on the very last street on the edge of town--not the most convinient, but we walk in the mountains on a daily basis, see animals, wild and herds of goats, cows, donkeys on a daily basis. It's the hottest time of year, right now but nothing compared to my native Iowa. My house is positioned in such a way that it stays cool and I never wish I had air conditioning. (And there is potentional work for Anthropologists in the state.)

About you degree, I really see BAs in the libreal arts areas as human development, not vocational, so don't get discouraged. You're degree as made you a better person, and you can work on an MA in TEFL or a related field that will open up more jobs to you in Mexico. Mexico is still the type of place where an MA is a ticket to the upper middle class.

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

Mrs L · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: Rainy England

Since we're on the subject of kids in Mexico, we're looking to start a family in the next couple of years. Did any of you parents have your kids in Mexico or did you make the move with them in tow? It's a dilema we're trying to decide on at the moment.
My (Mexican) husband is keen to get back to Mexico asap but his sister-in-law is currently pregnant and the financial burden on his brother is making him consider that a few more years in rainy England might not be so bad. Here the healthcare is free and you get excellent maternity benefits, but I feel making the move back will be harder if we have to consider housing for the pups as soon as we arrive. We can rely on the in-laws to help us out but they live in Zamora, Michoacan which isn't great for jobs.
On the other hand if we move to Mexico then have kids I worry how we'd survive while I took time off to have them. I know how much we can both potentially earn in Mexico (he's unskilled, I'm looking to do my MA) and I'll most likely be the main earner. Any suggestions?

TheLongWayHome · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

Funny. the limeys look at Mexico and go "haha, that's not free??? and it's not the nicest hospital???"

Those of us from the States say, "wow that's almost free... but the hospital is kind of smelly."

Unfortunately not everyone has the ability to just go home and have free healthcare. To get it for free in England don't you have to be working?

Note: I just talked to a woman here in the states who squeezed every last drop out of the the State of California and got her 4 months (four weeks before she gave birth), and AFTER the insurance stepped in and paid up, it cost her about 12,000 dollars to give birth to her child and stay in the hospital two days.

I don't know about this whole "big family" thing.