Job Discussion Forums

julie_girl_ · Joined: 18 Jun 2010 Posts: 5 Location: Washington, DC

IH Mexico City has been in touch, and the next step is to set up an interview. My parents are really resistant to the idea of me moving to Mexico City - drugs, kidnappings, muggings, etc.

For those of you who work/live there, can you provide some reassurance?

I live near Washington DC now and am in the city 3-5 times a week. I spent a month living in Manhattan while I was pursuing my CELTA. Is Mexico City comparable to either of those cities?

I know people are living and working there successfully every day, and I know that the media focuses on all the bad things that happen. I don't want to stay at home out of fear.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

For reassurance...Mexico City is not experiencing what you see in the news on the drug war.

A mugging is possible here but you can minimize that by exercising some street smarts. What you do in DC - a far more dangerous city - like staying out of certain neighborhoods is what you can do here too.

notamiss · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 12:53 am Post subject:

Using statistics from the PGJDF (Federal Police) website for 2009, I get a rate of 784 violent crimes per 100,000 population for Mexico City (counting only Mexico City proper, not the entire metropolitan area). (Based on 69,278 crimes; 8,836,045 total population.)

Wikipedia gives the rate of violent crimes in 2009 for Washington DC as 1374 per 100,000 population.

It�s common knowledge that many crimes go unreported in Mexico City. So the rate of unreported crimes in Mexico City would only have to be 43%* for the true crime rate in 2009 to actually be as high as the rate in DC.

Clearly DC is much safer. Or something.
__ __ __ __ __ __
*Where the 43% comes from: If there were actually 1374 crimes per 100,000, just as in DC (if we assume all crimes in DC are reported), but in Mexico City only 784 of them were reported, this would leave 590 unreported; 590 out of a total of 1374 = 43%.

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

It's like any large city. It depends to a large extent on you, where you go, and when. I have lived in Mexico City for 20+ years and have never been the victim of a violent crime. A few petty things though the years. When I lived in Chicago, I was pickpocketed, had a car stolen, and had my apartment broken into. This was over a 5 year span. What does than mean? Nothing really. No one can assure you of anything, as Guy said, use some common sense and you will most likely be fine. Random things can happen anywhere, but are more likely to happen in some places than others, something that is true everywhere. IH is in a very nice area. If you choose to live there, chances are that you will be fine.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Regarding crime in Mexico, this U.S. Gov't inter-agency Website managed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State, doesn't agree with the idea that Washington, DC (or NYC, or Greater LA) is more dangerous than Mexico City. Sad

https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=117205

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Strange to have such a difference in stats between various US, UN, and Mexican agencies reporting, especially on murders that go almost 100% reported (bodies drop). 30 in DC vs 8 in DF (per 100,000)? Where are the missing bodies? That is a large difference.

Googling up "Mexico City murder rate" brings up numerous links to the 8 number above. The OSAC site is the only one that gives that triple or quadruple stat...has to be an error on their part.

notamiss · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 5:11 am Post subject:

I wonder whose statistics the OSAC are using. They are claiming high rates for reported crime, which is at odds with the statistics published by the PGJDF. I searched quite a bit before I found the PGJDF statistics, and in the course of the search I found lots of speculation, but no other hard statistics specifically for a recent year.

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

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Indeed. Sorry to the OP...as you can see, we can get prickly in here over the issue over security. Long running battle.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I did a Cambridge examiners course for IH and MOD EDIT was the trainer.

I found her very friendly and helpful!

She came from DF to GDL to take the training course and it was very interesting. She's the type of person who knows what she wants and means business.

all the above are quotes from a previous poster concerning the IH academic coordinator MOD EDIT.

Yes, she knows what she wants and she means business and she will take your head off for no other reason than mean glee at it. I found her manner nasty and downright sadistic.

I was on the way to her training session and bumped into her for the first time ever. Had never met the woman before. I told her I was on the way to her talk and her response was, that was good as it would be best for me to go or she would have cut my tongue out! She thought she was amusing. I can do without people like that.

I recall another conversation similar to that and her behaviour was similar. She enjoys thinking the worst of people as it enables her to exercise her special brand of cruelty.

You can have MOD EDIT. I relinquish her most willingly. Sadists are my least favorite people.

PlayadelSoul · Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Posts: 346 Location: Playa del Carmen

I lived in the DC area before I moved to Mexico. I travel to DF three or four times a year and have always felt safer than I did when I lived in DC. Far fewer crackheads. No 9:30 Club, though.

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

superrgirl · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 2

HAH. This thread is hilarious. I've worked at IH Mexico since September, and whilst from what I've heard they seem to be the best language school to work for, pay and benefits wise (feel free to correct me and tell me where else to apply), MOD EDIT drives me mad. She was soooo friendly before I started work but now trying to get her to answer a question is like getting blood out of a stone.

Erm, hope no one high up at IH reads this :S

Anyway, I've been here two months and haven't had any problems, touch wood. I feel REALLY safe on public transport, especially the Metro and Metrobus - the female-only carriages is such a good idea.

Saying the accommodation is $2500 a month is a lie, at least if you want to live near the school in la Condesa, which isn't really important as the majority of your teaching will be off site. The profile also says you only get paid $9000 a month and it's actually $10000 (think it's a bit out of date).

I go to Santa Fe a lot but I don't mind it. I haven't had any morning classes there yet so I'm sure I'll say something different when I inevitably have to leave at 5.45am to get to Santa Fe on time.

My rent is kind of expensive, $4500 a month, but I get by on my salary. I work six days a week anyway so social life isn't a huge expense, hah. I organised the accommodation myself because the school said they could only offer me a host family at the time. I couldn't live in a better location however so it's worth it. Six day weeks and travelling can be a drag but apparently you only work six months of Saturdays a year. We'll see.

Anyway, I'd recommend working here. I don't know what other language schools are like but from what I've read on this forum and others, IH Mexico seem to offer better salary and conditions than other places. They pay on time and it's a fixed salary, not hourly, if you're full time, and as hours can vary month to month, I think this is a good thing.

This thread is two months old now however so I guess you've already made your decision!