Job Discussion Forums

[TeresaLopez]

[Phil_K]

You should define what you mean by "live like a Mexican". If you mean be satisfied like around 50% of the population with second-best, either through necessity or lack of education, that's one thing. However, that Mexican could be living in Lomas de Chapultepec in a mansion with three cars, regular travel and eating great food. I chose to live in Mexico because it was the only way to be with the woman I love. Nonetheless, I've always taken the view that as I was raised and educated with first-world standards and expectations, I shouldn't lower those expectations just because I'm living in a country that is economically-speaking lesser. It is up to me to find the means to live in the way I choose. After all, there are Mexicans living a lifestyle superior to that of many affluent Britons of my acquaintance!

[Guy Courchesne]

When Teresa says 'live like a Mexican', I take it to mean living as if Mexico were your home, and not as a tourist. After all, there is no one specific Mexican or Mexican lifestyle to follow. Live like a Canadian instead of a tourist in Montreal, live as a Brit instead of a tourist in London, etc.

[ElJuero]

[Phil_K]

[Tretyakovskii]

We all think we're in control of our life but sometimes plain dumb luck- good or bad- comes into play

I will probably always be teaching and teaching English: now it appears it's going to be Mexico for the foreseeable future

We chose Mexico for a variety of reasons but we couldn't have dictated what's happened to us here

I was offered a professorship at a university after about a year of effort to get some work going; then my wife was recently offered work here in her field as a consultant in international public health; so it seems the gods are conspiring to keep us here but we couldn't have planned any of this

Sometimes the things you can control and the things you can't come together in just the right way but you never know how it will turn out going in

Is it worth it- sometimes yes and sometimes no but it's the only work that's ever really "worked" for me

[TeresaLopez]

If you mean be satisfied like around 50% of the population with second-best... >>>>>>

Well, probably most people don't have much of a choice, really. For someone who has lived in Mexico for a while, you don't seem to have a very good understanding of, well, Mexico, and the problems involved for most people in "advancing" or whatever your idea is of how people should aspire to live.

[Phil_K]

That's unfair. I've lived in Mexico a long time, but I've lived in the world a lot longer. Long enough to know that each has to make his way in that world. From those people you say have no choice, emerge now and again successful people, and by successful I don't necessarily mean rich. Figure out for yourself what successful means to you. Unfortunately, I understand Mexico all too well. Well enough to know that even some people who do have a choice settle for second-best. I was in a chaotic CFE centre of attention the other day, trying to reason with a supervisor of this self-named Empresa de Clase Mundial that it was no such thing. Trying to drum up support from other exasperated customers, I just got a few wry smiles. The problems of Mexico don't stem from the politicians, the police, the justice system, etc. It stems from the people who tolerate these things.

If you want an intelligent discussion about how much I understand Mexico, I'd be happy to oblige! However we must refrain from personal attacks - it's against the forum rules.

[Professor]

Sometimes the people here DO have an opportunity to improve their lives and they don't take it. An example of this is the company where I used to teach conversation classes.
This company made it VERY clear that in order for the employees to keep their jobs they would have to learn to SPEAK in English. The company paid me and asked everyone who needed help with English to sign up for the class.
Well, most didn't even go to the class even though they weren't paying. And no it wasn't because of me. The same thing happened to a previous teacher. But these same people would pay out of their own pockets for French classes.
Keep in mind that they were informed that if they didn't increase their English SPEAKING abilities they would be out of a job, yet they studied French instead.
There are MANY people in this country who do have opportunities to advance, improve but they don't take them. MANY here just DON'T CARE. Especially about English. Even when it could protect their jobs.

[Mrs L]

[Professor]

[Professor]

[/quote]

And aren't you lucky ones with well paid jobs and motivated students the exception rather than the rule? Given that I don't want to live in Mexico City those types of jobs appear to be exceptionally rare.[/quote]

Yes, they are the exception to the rule but you probably won't hear that being admitted here. There are TONS of examples of teachers here in Mexico who don't get paid anything and have terrible students.
That won't be discussed often because only the positive is usually allowed to be spoken here.
Those jobs are rare indeed. If I were you I would stay where you are. As I have said before, EFL isn't a STABLE source of income and the retirement is laughable, especially when compared to what one could save in the States or asia.
Now watch how I will get slammed for speaking a truth about Mexico.

[Spector]

[Guy Courchesne]

[TeresaLopez]