Job Discussion Forums

tagastelum · Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:30 am Post subject: New Chilango

Greetings all.

I've been a member of Dave's for a couple of years, but I'm more of a lurker than a poster. In any case, after nearly 5 years teaching/living in Monterrey, I've finally decided to ditch the city I've never liked and move to the one place in the country I love more than any other: Mexico City.

I have a few questions:

1. I was offered a job today. In your opinion, is $20k + $5k housing allowance (non-taxed) + benefits (savings plan, gastos mayores, life insurance, etc.) a fair monthly wage in the local economy for a full-time private school teaching position?

2. I'm apartment shopping in Alamos, Sta Mar�a la Ribera, San Rafael, Escandon and San Miguel Chapultepec. Does anyone have information on safety & security in these neighborhoods. (I'm pretty street smart and have visited all places during the day...but what about at night? Are there any horror stories I should know about?)

3. Are there any decent bakeries that make European style artisan bread?

4. I know the locations of Italian, Korean and Japanese grocery stores in the DF, but are there any other ethnic food stores you know of that you could share with this foodie?

Okay, so questions 3 and 4 aren't matters of life and death, but 5 years eating awful "baguettes" (that turn stale in 2 hours) and having no ethnic grocery options (save 1 meter of shelf space at HEB), I'm desperate for real bread and grocery options!

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer. I truly appreciate it!

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

I can answer the first two!

That salary package is excellent

I would avoid Santa Mar�a La Ribera at all costs...
San Rafael is not much better...
The other two are fine. I used to live in Escand�n.

lennon146 · Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Latin America

Dunno much about bread or specific ethnic grocery stores, though Korean stores are extremely popular in Zona Rosa.

The pay you've been offered is excellent - most teachers in DF would kill for an offer like that. And it means you could really weigh your options as far as living arrangements. Santa Maria la Ribera and San Rafael are nothing special and even a little bit ugly in places. Escandon is nice. I would recommend checking out Colonia Cuauhtemoc which is very nice, very central (just a little west of those other places) and not even that much more expensive if you look around. Zona Rosa, too, which is very lively, although perhaps a little more expensive. Other nice places that are just a little less central: Roma, Napoles.

Bear in mind where the school is located. Crossing Mexico City in rush hour is not a lot of fun.

Paul

Milenka · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 113 Location: Mexico City

You may want to check out the following thread:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=65345&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

There's some comments on bakeries and food in page 2.

Welcome to my hometown!

tagastelum · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:37 am Post subject:

Thanks for your responses! I guess I'll be accepting the job I've been offered and I'll try to find a place in Escand�n or San Miguel Chapultepec.

I can't wait to move to the big city!

Milenka · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Posts: 113 Location: Mexico City

There's a Lebanese restaurant and ingredients shop on Av. Cuauhtemoc, on the end where this avenue divides Colonia Roma and Colonia Doctores.

JakeJakeJake · Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 135

roma sur is the place to be

soyjulia · Joined: 27 Mar 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Mexico City

El Tandoor restaurant, Cop�rnico 156, Colonia Anzures serves pretty decent Indian food (and is also completley Halal). They also sell rice, spices, incense and a few other Indian knick knacks... I was there last night and the Palak Paneer is delicious!