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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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 Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject: Safety and Security |
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I am starting this topic to help each other and to inform new teachers in Mexico.
What are some basic precautions in regards to safety and security? What works for you? This is not a thread about paranoia or how bad the crime is/isn't.
Thanks for your response and feedback ahead of time.
Currency/Money
I believe that the safest way to carry cash, even safer then a credit/debit card is in the form of American Express travelers checks. Yes, they are a little harder to use, but they are much safer and more secure then cards. If you lose your card its going to take a while to get a new one, and that is going to be much more difficult or impossible in Mexico from a foreign bank. Don't leave home without it.
Never leave the house/apartment/hotel with more than you are willing to lose. Because of robberies, pick-pockets, and other assorted problems like corrupt cops, don't take more than you are willing to lose with you. I always leave my important ID's and take only a Mexican drivers license and enough cash for the day.
If you are in the Metro system, stay alert, don't let people shove and push you. Keep your wallet in your front pants pocket and keep your hand on it. Thieves will move on to an easier victim.
Kidnapping
Mexico is said to be the kidnapping capital of the world. This seems to rarely happen to foreign teachers here. Still, basic safety precautions should be taken. Don't carry a lot of credit/bank cards which can make you a target of an express kidnapping. Always use ATM's in a place where you feel safe, inside of a mall or store is often best. Beware of people lurking and watching for targets near ATM's.
Rip-offs
Always ask for the price before buying, trying or doing anything, especially in tourist areas. If you are in doubt, just put it back or say NO! There are many scams where locals try to rip-off tourists by charging an inflated price or even saying one thing and then changing the price after you have made a commitment. Be especially careful of an establishment that offers to allow you to run a tab. Refuse and pay for all items as they are ordered. Padding the bill in a bar or night club is a common way of getting ripped off. Better yet, don't drink and save yourself money and problems.
Taxis
Most taxis are safe and operated by people just trying to make an honest living. That being said, there have been untold numbers of crimes committed by taxi drivers and by others against people that got into the wrong cab. Be safe. Check the cab for the proper license, numbers, drivers taxi license/ID card (displayed in the window), and other signs of a legit cab. If a taxi has a meter ask the driver to turn it on as soon as you start to get into the cab. If he says it doesn't work, immediately exit the taxi. "Sitio" taxis are safer, because they are dispatched by a taxi stand and they record the taxi info. Public transit is usually the safest means of transportation because of the public nature of it.
Corruption
Paying a "mordida" or a bribe is a way of life in Mexico. Never offer to pay a bribe outright to a cop or public official. Always ask if there is "some other way" or if you can "pay an on the spot fine". You don't have to pay a bribe. You can refuse. Depending on the situation and if a crime was really committed, the police may just let you go, write you a ticket or take you to jail. Paying a mordida is often the best way to go.
Dress
Mexicans tend to dress conservative. If you want to blend in and avoid standing out so much dress like the locals do.
For men: a shirt with a collar, with a pair of pants (NOT shorts) and leather shoes will do the trick.
For women: Either a dress or skirt below the knee or pants (preferred if you don't want extra attention) and a blouse/shirt with sleeves of some kind.
Food
Most of the places you might choose to eat are just fine. Do be aware that sanitation and hygiene standards are usually not on a par with back home. Use common sense and wash your hands. Remember, if the place you choose to eat doesn't have a place for you to wash your hands, the employees don't either!
Public Bathrooms
Finding a clean, decent bathroom can be a challenge. Sanborn's has the best ones. They are free, although it's expected to give a tip to the attendant (it's worth it). |
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El Gallo
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:07 am Post subject: |
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My advice is not to let strangers into you house or apartment unless you absolutely have to. I have had my house robbed twice by people I let in (neighbors) who got to know my dog. Once was in the middle of a Saturday afternoon while they knew I was at work. The police caught a suspect but his family intimidated all the neighbors not to testify against him.
Carry you wallet in your front pocket and don't flash bills. I like an ATM debit card but, as the OP suggested, be careful at the machines.
The ingredients of robbery are need and opportunity. My neighbors were crack addicts so they had the need and I gave them the opportunity to case my place including how the doors locked. Don't tempt people by leaving you wallet or money out in your house even with friends and relatives.
When you walk down the street, don't look scared. If you feel insecure in a situation, it is sometimes better to look like you will beat the hell out of anyone who comes near you. Watch out for purse and backpack snatchers when you get on and off buses.
Use the same common sense you would use in a bad part of town at home. |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:35 am Post subject: |
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| El Gallo wrote: |
Use the same common sense you would use in a bad part of town at home. |
Wow, maybe I'm na�ve, but I must say that I feel safer in my neighborhood here in Mexico City than I ever did in even fair-to-middling parts of Philadelphia and New York City. |
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El Gallo
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:01 am Post subject: |
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MO, good point. It didn't mean it like it sounded.  |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:12 am Post subject: |
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| El Gallo wrote: |
The ingredients of robbery are need and opportunity. My neighbors were crack addicts
When you walk down the street, don't look scared. If you feel insecure in a situation, it is sometimes better to look like you will beat the hell out of anyone who comes near you.
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It sounds like I have a better class of neighbors than you do!
I agree that you should look confident when walking down the street. This has helped keep me safe over the years and, believe me, I don't look like a tough customer and couldn't beat the hell out of anyone, though I can scream if I have to! Maybe the fact that I always wear sensible low-heeled shoes has helped too. If something feels not right, I can always walk (or run) away quickly! |
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Oreen Scott
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 179
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:29 am Post subject: |
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I'd like Guy's input, and anyone elses for that matter, regarding kitchen cleanliness.
You see I have a minor form of colitis and bacteria can cause problems. I guess bacteria causes us all problems, but I suffer a little more and have greater sensitivity.
For example, I can't eat in the cafeteria at my current workplace because our short order cook doesn't keep his grill clean enough. I've been very ill from time to time.
I also cannot under any circumstances have MSG.
So, in an earlier post when I mentioned these difficulties I was glad to read Guy's comment on how the kitchens in Mexico City are immaculate.
Does anyone care to comment on restaurant cleanliness? I suppose Mexico is no different than anywhere else.
It seems by the OP's writing that the law in Mexico does not require a restaurant to have a washroom?
How common is it for a restaurant not to have a washroom?
Good post Professor Gringo |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:50 am Post subject: |
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| I don't have colitis, but I do have a pretty sensitive stomach. I've found that little restaurants are usually fine here, especially the ones in my middle-class neighborhood, though I'm very selective about eating from sidewalk taco stands and the like. I remember getting sick years ago from eating the lettuce in a iffy restaurant in a not-so-great neighborhood, but I often enjoy great salads at my favorite place around the corner, sin problemas. I like to get my morning OJ from a nice lady who has a juice stand a couple of blocks from my house, with no adverse effects to report. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| El Gallo wrote: |
My advice is not to let strangers into you house or apartment unless you absolutely have to. I have had my house robbed twice by people I let in (neighbors) who got to know my dog. Once was in the middle of a Saturday afternoon while they knew I was at work. The police caught a suspect but his family intimidated all the neighbors not to testify against him.
Carry you wallet in your front pocket and don't flash bills. I like an ATM debit card but, as the OP suggested, be careful at the machines.
The ingredients of robbery are need and opportunity. My neighbors were crack addicts so they had the need and I gave them the opportunity to case my place including how the doors locked. Don't tempt people by leaving you wallet or money out in your house even with friends and relatives.
When you walk down the street, don't look scared. If you feel insecure in a situation, it is sometimes better to look like you will beat the hell out of anyone who comes near you. Watch out for purse and backpack snatchers when you get on and off buses.
Use the same common sense you would use in a bad part of town at home. |
Thanks for the reply. That's all very good advice. Yes, be especially careful about where you live and who you let in to your house. My wife and I live where we do in part because of the safe area, and we know both our neighbor and landlord who also lives next door. Keep your place secure, if it doesn't have a good lock (or two or three) get another one installed. In fact, it's a good idea to have the locks re-keyed when you move into a new place. For extra security get each lock done by a different locksmith. Also remember that any lock can be picked or broken, the idea is to make to too difficult, noisy, and above all too much time for a burglar to try, so they skip your place.
Always walk with a sense of purpose and direction. Look and act tough. Looking scared or out of place will only invite trouble. Never open a map in public and for the newbies, PLEASE stop carrying copies of Lonely Planet, they stand out a block away and just invite robbery and trouble. Just copy the pages you are going to need for the day and carry them with you (also saves some weight).
I have never paid a bribe in DF and I've found the cops here to be a little better than in other areas. Estado de Mexico is another story. They are pretty corrupt. Also along the border areas the police tend to be very corrupt and adapt at hitting up tourists for uhh hmmm "donations". I once saw a friend of mine pay a $200USD bribe in Tijuana after we were stopped by the police and they found a very small Swiss army knife on him. The threat of jail was enough to get him to pay. If he hadn't had $300 dollars on him they could never have gotten a $200 bribe. Once again, only take with you what you are willing to LOSE. That is not a joke.
While in more rural areas, especially in the south of Mexico the police generally seem to believe that Americans can just call the US embassy and make a lot of trouble for them. So the police tend to threaten less with jail and just want to work out a bribe. For example: $50 or $100 pesos would be a good bribe in Chiapas. $200 pesos will make you a new friend on the police force.
Never loan money to anyone in Mexico unless you DON'T want to get it back. Most Mexicans seem to think that a loan is a permanent kind of thing and once asked for (and given) can be increased at any time.
When shopping in the markets or on the street, never pay the first price offered. Many people know that foreigners don't know how to bargain and will often pay the first price offered (often way-over inflated). Always bargain and try to get a better deal. If they won't, just walk away. There's no obligation and you may very well find that as you leave a much better price is offered. If you have Mexican friend, ask them to price something for you (while you hang-back out of sight) and you might get a real surprise when you ask the price of the same item. Use common sense and don't get ripped off!
Mexican banks have stricter rules inside than say US banks. No hats, cell phones or sunglasses inside are usually the norm. IXE Banc and Banorte both tend to be better banks, with much shorter lines. Banamex, Bancomer and HSBC are the worst for customer service.
When you are going to ride the Metro, keep your tickets or card in a pocket, not in your wallet, that way you don't have to take it out and let people know what you have and where. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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I knew a Canadian teacher who worked in Mexico City some time back who also had some form of colitis (sorry, I'm not very familiar with this). She left after 5 or 6 weeks complaining that she felt ill all the time.
| Quote: |
| I was glad to read Guy's comment on how the kitchens in Mexico City are immaculate. |
Don't let this comment leave you with the impression that every kitchen in Mexico is immaculate. Sure enough, there are crappy little dives all over the country and this city.
In my youth, I worked in distribution and got to see how nasty some restaurant kitchens are, in Canada anyway. What I've seen here surprised me in that much more attention to kitchen cleanliness seems the norm.
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| It seems by the OP's writing that the law in Mexico does not require a restaurant to have a washroom? |
Unfortunately, this is Mexico, where the law is often a suggestion only. Most places do have a washroom, especially in the city. Out in the country, you might have to go round back to a makeshift bucket and hose set up.
Now, washroom cleanliness...that is a whole other thread and not related to kitchen cleanliness at all. I keep a small list, for some kind of strange fun, on the worst washrooms I've ever seen in the country. One little dive of a cantina in Puebla tops the list so far. I'll spare you all the description.
Last edited by Guy Courchesne on Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Oreen Scott wrote: |
I'd like Guy's input, and anyone elses for that matter, regarding kitchen cleanliness.
You see I have a minor form of colitis and bacteria can cause problems. I guess bacteria causes us all problems, but I suffer a little more and have greater sensitivity.
For example, I can't eat in the cafeteria at my current workplace because our short order cook doesn't keep his grill clean enough. I've been very ill from time to time.
I also cannot under any circumstances have MSG.
So, in an earlier post when I mentioned these difficulties I was glad to read Guy's comment on how the kitchens in Mexico City are immaculate.
Does anyone care to comment on restaurant cleanliness? I suppose Mexico is no different than anywhere else.
It seems by the OP's writing that the law in Mexico does not require a restaurant to have a washroom?
How common is it for a restaurant not to have a washroom?
Good post Professor Gringo |
Mostly I was talking about corner food stands and carts. One time with an American and a Mexican friend we went to a Chinese restaurant. The bathroom didn't have soap and my Mexican friend got really upset at the management and we left eventhough the food was ready.
Remember that this is Mexico, not Canada, USA etc. Just because the law says something doesn't mean it's going to be obeyed or followed.
Just use common sense and hope for the best.
Thanks for the thanks  |
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El Gallo
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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I like Prof. Gringo's advice about loans. If you loan money to someone here you know can't pay it back, it is your fault when there is trouble later.
I lent a member of my Mexican family $1,000 a year ago and their are still feuds and resentments among the family over this. It's my fault and I wish I would have told him I didn't have the money to lend.
Also, watch the word "invitar". Here, it means the person who does the inviting pays. A group in San Cristobal once asked me to "invite" them to join me for beers. You can imagine my astonishment when they left with me holding the tab.  |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| El Gallo wrote: |
Also, watch the word "invitar". Here, it means the person who does the inviting pays. A group in San Cristobal once asked me to "invite" them to join me for beers. You can imagine my astonishment when they left with me holding the tab. |
This is a great example of the need to "learn" the culture along with the language, though they're really inseparable. I love the meaning of "invitar" in Mexico because, being a woman, I'm usually the one to be "invited"  . |
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MELEE
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2583
Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| MO39 wrote: |
| El Gallo wrote: |
Also, watch the word "invitar". Here, it means the person who does the inviting pays. A group in San Cristobal once asked me to "invite" them to join me for beers. You can imagine my astonishment when they left with me holding the tab. |
This is a great example of the need to "learn" the culture along with the language, though they're really inseparable. I love the meaning of "invitar" in Mexico because, being a woman, I'm usually the one to be "invited" . |
Come join the conversation on this topic in the GD I need a nother voice on my side!!! |
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leslie
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Posts: 235
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Bye
Last edited by leslie on Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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leslie
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Posts: 235
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| Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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Bye
Last edited by leslie on Tue Feb 16, 2010 10:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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