Job Discussion Forums

[TeresaLopez]

I have worked for a number of smaller institutes and have always been paid on time. I have some classes I got on my own too, and they are good about paying on time as well. I even have once student who has two classes a week at a set time, but often has to cancel because of last minute meetings or other business obligations. He has me come anyway and give his secretary a class, saying it's not my fault he has a crazy schedule. Just a decent human being. Sadly, he is probably going to retire in December. I wish I could clone him! The only real problem I had with an institute was one where the student canceled a lot at the last minute then didn't want to sign for the class, the owner expected me to confront him all the time with her rules, and if I couldn't get him to sign for the classes wouldn't really do anything. The ones he did sign for she paid for on time though. I eventually left the class, after working a total of 8 hours one month, and the student was flabbergasted, he just could understand WHY. But as someone pointed out, pick your employer carefully, it can make a huge difference in your quality of life.

[sarafate]

Dear Championthewonderhorse,

I appreciate your honesty, and in my experience a view is never complete until you have many different opinions. Thank you for pointing out that a financial reserve is important, and it makes complete sense coming into a new place. Has your experience of being paid late just been with one company?

Also, very interesting information about some of the local language schools. I will definitely follow your advice and get the perspectives of other foreigners working in both the language schools and in private school. I look forward to reading up on the debate you suggested.

I am very interested in university teaching, but as you pointed out I may not have enough experience. Still, thank you for the words of encouragement. Your post has far from dampened my spirits, on the contrary I you have given me some wonderful advice! One last question: What do you consider as living frugally? Could you give me an estimate of how much you might spend on living expenses in Guadalajara in a month?

I look forward to your reply. Have a great weekend!

Best,

Sira

[sarafate]

Dear Teresa,

Thank you for sharing your experiences, it is nice that you have reinforced the need to choose you employers carefully. Other than getting a feel for the place, getting the opinions of other staff members, and seeking out various employment opportunities how does one choose an employer carefully? Also, are you living, or have you lived, in Guadalajara?

Best,

Sira

[TeresaLopez]

I currently live in Mexico City, but lived in Guadalajara at one time. Though it has grown a LOT since I lived there, it is still a beautiful place, and I wouldn't hesitate to live there again. Once you are working you will meet other teachers who can share their experiences with you about which schools are good about paying on time as well as any that have problems. They might also know about which language institutes have been around a while. One of the ones I currently work for has been in business for 18 years, and the other for 6 years. Some of them have websites that might give you clues about their viability. As far as living frugally, to a great extent is it up to you, and what you consider frugal. I have a co-worker from the US who thinks that sharing an apartment in a trendy neighborhood, only eating out twice a week, buying coffee at Oxxo instead of Starbucks, and taking taxis instead of buying a car is frugal. She doesn't feel the need to learn Spanish because "almost everyone speaks some English", so she routinely gets overcharged for things. Maybe for her is frugal, I'm sure it is compared to how she would have lived in the US. I think there will be a great deal of difference in what you pay for everything if you learn to speak even basic Spanish, look for an apartment in a neighborhood where "normal" Mexicans live, shop in traditional markets instead of chains, that sort of thing. If you live in a real neighborhood you will probably be safer anyway, as you will get to know the guy who sells tamales on the corner, the people in the little stores in the neighborhood, and usually most of the people on your block, and you will fairly quickly become part of a community. My experience has been that trendy neighborhoods are more transient and more anonymous. Even though Mexico City is the largest city in the world, in my neighborhood I feel like I live in a small town. I know, either by name, or by face, everyone on my block, the owner of the bakery, the woman who sells fresh OJ in the morning, the man who sells bakery good s from a basket, and I have regular vendors for everything in the market -meat, dairy, veggies, fruit, eggs, chicken, etc. I can't walk from my house to the bus stop without encountering someone I know. Along with that comes the prices that Mexicans pay - for rent, for services and for food, not tourist prices, which you will often pay in a trendy area, even if you have lived there for a long time. If you "live like a Mexican" you can easily live on 6000 or 7000 pesos a month for your basic expenses. But as someone else pointed out, you MUST have some savings - for medical care, unemployment or another emergency. Once you make friends and build a support system this won't be as critical, but going in, yes, you should have at least a couple or three thousand dollars.

[championthewonderhorse]

yes.. I agree with the previous post. $6000 a month is possible if you go to local markets, eat out once or twice a week and if you rent a room (not an apartment). I suppose an advantage of working in a language school is that other teachers might be looking for someone to share a place.
You can find out information about apartments in "el informador" (informador.com.mx) , a local newspaper.

One piece of advice, if you get married to a Mexican you'll need about 4 times that amount (only joking, just talking about my own experience)

[kayt3k]

I would like to thank all of you who replied to this post, the information that has been provided here has been very helpful to me as I plan for my trip to Mexico. Theresa, I love how you described how life is like in your neighborhood in Mexico City, I can't wait to experience something similair!

Gracias a todos

[sarafate]

Dear championthewonderhorse,

Thanks again for your input: When in Rome, do as the Romans .

All the best,

Sira

[sarafate]

Hi Teresa, I really appreciate your sharing all this information! So true, that we each define "frugal" in a different manner, but thanks for the ballpark estimate of monthly expenses. Your description of your neighborhood in Mexico city is vivid, and I hope I to live in such a nice community once I arrive in Mexico.

All the best,

Sira

[sarafate]

Hello everyone! Out of curiosity once you start working are you required to have Mexican health insurance, or is international health insurance sufficient? Thanks a ton!

Best,

Sira

[notamiss]

Required by whom? No authority requires you to have any health insurance at all, but Life or Fate might require it. Many Mexicans have none. An international carrier will be sufficient if they will cover major expenses in Mexico, and that will depend on the carrier.

[TeresaLopez]

If you work for a school they will often include government health care services as part of your package. I had had it in the past and it can vary widely in quality, especially in Mexico City, or any of the larger cities. I was pretty happy with it for preventive care, but I don't think I would use it in an emergency. Luckily, private health care is not at all expensive, there are many clinics run by orders of nuns or monks where the care is quite good, and quite inexpensive. I currently go to a small neighborhood hospital for routine things - physicals, allergy meds, that kind of thing - doctor visits cost 65 pesos - yes, you read that right - and that includes specialized care like gynecologists, optometrists, etc. Routine tests like cholesterol cost 50 pesos or so. So paying out of pocket is not unfeasible if you are in good health. A really, really good doctor might cost you 300 pesos - that that would be a 45 minute to hour long visit. If you prefer herbal medicine, or a combination of herbal and conventional, I have found doctors here are much more open to that than many doctors in the US.

[sarafate]

Dear notamiss,

I was not sure if one is required to have health insurance in order to get a work visa in Mexico. I was also curious if one is required to have health insurance, than is Mexican insurance the only option? From your message I take it that in Mexico a work visa does not necessiate health insurance. As I would like to keep my international health insurance while in Mexico, this is an important point for me. Thank you very much for sharing your experience. Have a great day.

Best,

Sira

[sarafate]

Hi Teresa,

It seems like you have been in Mexico for quite some time, thanks again for offering up your experience. I want to maintain my international health insurance while in Mexico, and would like to know whether or not, i your expereience, you are required to accept Mexican government/private health insurance in order to obtain a visa/job? Thanks again.

Enjoy your day,

Sira

[notamiss]

[Guy Courchesne]

...but you may be obliged to pay into the government insurance system, even if you don't use it. It's not a large amount taken off your paychecks though.