Job Discussion Forums

[Samantha]

You didn't say where in you live, but stumbling into a "shoot-out" could happen anywhere. Here in Mexico, the shootings seem to have specific targets, unlike drive-by gang style shootings up north.

[Isla Guapa]

[jaimem-g]

Thanks for all of your information on this thread. Hopefully the hundreds who have read it will be encouraged to go to on to Mexico and get a job there if that's what they want.

I found out that I am definitely going to Oaxaca in July to work a month on a semi-volunteer teaching job with three other ESL teachers from the US. Weatherwise I know it be great to to get out of the blazing heat where I live, about 20 miles from Palm Springs.

I'll have to see if I'm too old to get something more long term while I'm there. For all of you who have posted on this thread and really like being in Mexico, thanks so much for your helpful comments

[Phil_K]

Hey, you're never too old in this game! I'm 47, and some of the posters here are dinosaurs!

[jaimem-g]

That's the way I feel, exactly, not too old! I know Isla Guapa would be a "contemporary" for one, since she and a couple of others have put some information about the years when they have done certain things. I got a BA in Spanish in '68 and started out doing ESL using the reverse of everything I learned for teaching Spanish, just as she mentioned. I'll have to post on one of the other threads to say more about that.

Isla Guapa, notice that I referred to you as a "contemporary", not a fellow dinosaur!

[Phil_K]

I happily count myself among the dinosaurs, as Mexico is so young! As long as those years have increased your wisdom, fine! Not always the case, though!

[Isla Guapa]

[Spector]

Safety is obviously a question of degree, and I'm not sure what level of danger there is here when compared to my own situation. I live in just outside Glasgow, Escocia (which is nicknamed' the murder capital of Europe' ) and every week at least once, I'm stopped by people on drugs asking me for money. In one job I did, I would finish the shift at 10pm and then do "the run", which was basically to get out of the area as quickly as possible! Once, I got stopped by the police because of this: "why are you running?" They thought I was the junkie! I'm wondering with that track record whether Mexico City would be a step down...

[notamiss]

Yes, I think so. If you are accosted by people on the street, they are most likely trying to sell you candy or chewing gum, or vegetables, or press an advertising flyer into your hand. I would indeed call that a step down.

[Guy Courchesne]

There are parts of town where you wouldn't want to be after dark, and you'll find prostitutes, drugs, etc. Police would be likely to stop you there and ask what you're doing, especially foreigners. I've had this happen to me once late one night in a less than stellar part of town.

[Spector]

[TeresaLopez]

Yeah, it's not too bad if you are in Polanco, hehe. I haven't gotten lost, but I once had a man following me, and saying stuff, I actually went to a police officer who told the guy to back off, and I took off, but a little later he showed up again. That was probably the most scared I have ever been. Luckily, I have a friend who is a taxi driver and I ducked into a store and called him and he came and got me. I think everyone should have the phone number of at least a couple of reliable taxi driver, in my case this guy has his own business, also with his brother, father and an uncle, all of whom I have known for years, so if anyone needs a reliable taxi driver, PM me. I suppose this would apply more to women than men, I saw an article a few months ago that said that something like 25% of taxi drivers have criminal records for serious violent crimes. I do take a taxi a couple of times a week to get to one of my jobs, but I take it from a Sitio, and I know a couple of the drivers there, but feel more comfortable taking one there than just hailing a random cab. Only costs about 5 pesos more, so is well worth it. I guess this post veered off topic a bit, but then maybe not, since it's also about safety. I actually prefer taking the Metro to any other form of transport, I read that it was one of the safest places in Mexico City to be, though I suspect crime is probably under-reported. But in 10+ years of almost daily use I have only been pickpocketed once, and they only got about 50 pesos.

[Isla Guapa]

There was a time in Mexico City when taking a random taxi on the street could be dangerous, so I stuck to taking them from a sitio near my apartment or calling a very reliable radio-taxi service. Nowadays, when I need a taxi, which isn't that often, I just take the first one that comes along whose driver seems to know where my destination is located, since I'm not very good at giving driving directions. I am lucky to live in a central part of the city (though not in Polanco ), so most days I can walk to wherever I'm going or take one of the nice new comfortable buses that go along Reforma. I'm not fond of the Metro in hot weather (no AC), and the nearest station is a good 20-minute walk from my neighborhood, so I only take it (or the Metrobus) when necessary and never during rush hour, which is when, I would imagine, that pickpockets do most of their business . For me, the best way to be safe is to avoid the seedier parts of town after dark and the really seedy ones at all hours!

[Dragonlady]

Thought I'd share something a long-time Mexican friend living in Chiapas said to me in an email this past week. I don't think they were referring to the weather

Are you going to be in Veracruz next year again? Is it not getting a little too rough?

Best regards,
Dragonlady

[donato]

Awesome. Us people about to move down there love reading this