Job Discussion Forums

[tholla1]

Would I just be tempting fate by bringing my most valuable posession - my still-under-warranty laptop? I don't know where I'll be living when I get to Mexico City in late July. But I'll lose a lot more than the money invested if that as-of-yet undetermined residence gets robbed. Lately, I've considered buying a really cheap used laptop to bring along. But I don't exactly have money to burn. Actually, the money-burning will take place throughout June and July via teacher training and spanish lessons.
I figure a pc would be awfully useful for a beginning teacher. So either I'm being silly and should just bring my nice laptop that has lots of neat stuff to amuse me (including my entire music collection), or my idea to bring a less valuable laptop is sensible, or maybe no laptop at all would be a load off my mind. Any advice would gladen my heart and help put a swift end to the hand wringing.

[ls650]

[Flo]

I am in Peru, not Mexico, but I brought my old Dell Pentium 2 with me. Like the above post, I have found it invaluable to have a computer here. In my office I share two old Pentium I PCs with 30 or more other teachers. My laptop is by far faster and superior to the equipment in the office, which has allowed me to use my time more efficiently. Other people at my school have had laptops stolen, but I have not had any problems. I don't advertise to anyone that I have it, and I keep it locked up when I am not using it. Another note, you can sell old laptops for 2 to 3 times their worth in Latin America! I bought mine for $300 a year ago and I am selling it before I leave for $600.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

With too many teachers having to share too few computers at school, I also find it almost necessary to have my own computer. I'm on my fourth computer since moving to Mexico. The first two (both laptops) were stolen from me. Burglaries are not uncommon where I live. Then I bought a Compaq PC. When it became outdated and in need of frequent repairs, I sold it and bought a new custom-built PC.

[MELEE]

So far the overall opinion seems to be "it would come in real handy". But the is it safe or not, is up in the air.

You don't say where you are from or how long you are planning on staying in Mexico. Computer prices vary around the world. If you are from the US, planning on staying a while, and planning on going home to visit sometime in the not to distant future. You might want to skip bringing the laptop until you get settled in somewhere and get a feel for the safety/computer facilities where you are.

I've had four laptops while I've been here, but I didn't bring the first one down at first. I brought it from the US six months after I first arrived in the Mexico. I've never had one stolen, but I live in a REALLY safe part of Mexico. I also used to always keep it at work, locked in my desk drawer, locked in my office, locked in the English building, on a campus patroled by armed guards!!!! Of course, you might not be in that situation. My current laptop lives at home, because my husband pretty much took over its use last year and I started using my much slower desktop at work.

I sold each of my previous laptops for the cost of next one. So I didn't make a profit, but I was always getting a better and better computer. The price of desktops has come down somewhat, but in Mexico laptops remain really expensive.

So, maybe like others suggested you'll want to buy a used less expensive laptop, then if you get settled in in Mexico and feel like you are in a safe place, sell that one, and bring down the nice one. Of course this is only really practical if you are North American, I don't imagine Aussies visit home every six months! And computers seem to still be more expensive in the UK.

[tholla1]

Thanks for your responses. I'm in Chicago, and I plan to return when my 180 day tourist visa runs out. It sounds like everyone's saying that you would be better off with a laptop, but, since it may eventually be stolen, don't bring the nice one. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and look for a used one online.

[moonraven]

I think it's wise to have a "beater" laptop--if you really feel it's necessary. I am a writer, and I have never had a laptop here;brought a regular PC when I first came (I drove from the US), and have always been given my own computer in my office everywhere where I have worked. When not at work I use an Internet cafe. Laptops make you a target in Latin America--and not all workplaces provide adequate security. In Ecuador at one university profs were leaving the laptops in my office at night so as to not be a focus of attention in the street on their way home--but they were still tampered with and one was stolen....

[Guy Courchesne]

You're probably good to bring the laptop. If you plan to use the metro a lot, don't carry it in an obvious laptop case. It would be best left at home and out of sight of prying eyes...anyone's.

If you come down without it, you'll probably wish you had brought it. Buying one here would be quite expensive.

[tholla1]

Thanks everyone. I think I may do alright finding one on Ebay. Still, more questions.........a couple of bussers at this restaurant where I work hail from Toluca. They told me I could get a pretty nice business suit for around US$100 in DF. I know at some point I'll need a suit for interviews. So if what they say is accurate, I'll definitely put off suit-shopping until my arrival. What do you think?

[moonraven]

Bring a suit from home! Let's put it this way--I buy almost all my clothes at bazars (thrift shops) here--they are filled with clothes from the US--from US thrift shop chains, actually (many still have the Value Village or Goodwill tags on them!) Decent clothes, shoes, etc. here in Mexico cost 2 to 3 times what they cost in the US. People who live within striking distance of the Texas border do their clothes shopping in Laredo, McAllen and San Antonio....

[thelmadatter]

Ditto Moonraven,

Clothes here are not cheap but look cheap. Once your down here and you happen to find a good tailor, then great. But dont count on that. Bring a suit from home for job interviews. Also, if youre big, like me, clothes shopping can be difficult. I have seen other 'gorditas' here in Toluca but little in the way of 'talleres extras' that I would consider buying. I brought down my sewing machine in part for this reason. Was happy to find a good fabric shop in Toluca.