Job Discussion Forums

madtrix · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 4:41 pm Post subject: Racism in Mexico?

Hi there! This is my first post so be nice...
And before anyone says anything, I am completely aware that racism exists all over the world. My issue is this:

My boyfriend and I plan to move to Playa del Carmen in about 2 months. He and I are both professional divers, which is what he will pursue there. I, on the other hand, have been strongly considering taking the CELTA course at IH in October.

My ethnicity, however, is not of caucasian origin. I've been confused for being Thai, Cambodian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese (just name a SE Asian country), Indian, Nepali, Bahrainian, Tibetan, Latin American, and of all things West Indian. But in all honesty, I'm American (New Yorker, to be exact). With a tan, I get mistaken for Hispanic/Latin American all the time. Thankfully, I have the Spanish skills to back it up.

The biggest factor in deciding if I should take this course or not is my appearance. I'm 26 years old, occasionally get confused for 16, and only 5'-1"!

I do have a Bachelors Degree and have done a semester's worth of teaching a computer course in college. We also plan on staying in Playa del Carmen for 1 - 1.5 years.

What does anyone think my chances are of landing a good job after the course?

Any comments or suggestions are very much appreciated.

Cheers.
.tricia.

MELEE · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:18 pm Post subject:

More than your appearance, I think you should be worried about demand in Playa del Carmen. See another thread for the population numbers, but it is not by any means a thriving metropolis. And neither are any of the other cities in that region of Mexico. You could probably find a job at a language school somewhere in Mexico without much problem, but it may be very very far away from your man in Playa. Sad

thelmadatter · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject: newyorkina

Ditto MELEE ... Ive been confused for a number of ethnicities (but to be fair, not as many as you!) but I think native English pronunciation trumps how you look.

Good luck to you anyway from a fellow New Yorker (OKOK, Im from NJ) Can you bring me some bagels and some REAL pizza when you come here? Laughing

Just toss them off the plane as you fly over Toluca Wink

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

I wouldn't worry about any racism in Playa. This place is way too eclectic to even notice.

Your chances at finding a job as a teacher would depend on how much footwork you did before you got here. I would not mention your time frame, even though that is a good amount of time. Drop me a PM if you want more specifics.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Mexico's dominant culture is extremely racist. They good news is that the target of that racism are the indigneous people--and since you didn't mention being mistaken for an indigenous person, the prevailing racism will not affect you.

I also believe that your chances of landing a job in Playa del Carmen after finishing the CELTA are not good. I know a few people who are teaching in some fairly remote communities inland or farther down the QR coast--but they are either volunteers or being paid very little.

madtrix · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:28 pm Post subject:

thanks everyone... you've helped a lot.
we chose playa del carmen so that we would have a back-up plan in case english teaching didn't work out. that back-up is the tourist industry, in which we've been working for a few years now.

so now i'm in the process of looking for a job as a reservation agent/manager at a resort in the area. and i figure that if it's the right thing to do, i will go for that CELTA course after all.

thanks again!
tricia.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

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

madtrix · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:06 am Post subject:

i've been in the tourism industry for some years now, and never at the front desk! it's not my bag, baby. i've been a reservation manager for the past year, and have pretty damn good spanish skills (thanks to being from New York!). working visas anywhere in the world are not usually easy to get; i'm completely aware of this as i have not lived in the US for almost 4 years now.

i've been looking online at available jobs in mexico, and lots, if not most, are quite open to taking someone foreign. all hope is not lost!!

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

Well jeez, good luck to you. You have spunk, like so many we have seen come and go. I might warn you though that a coc ky attitude will not endear you to employers OR co-workers. Pecking order is, well, the order of the day...and a foreigner with a 'tude just won't cut it. There are some pitfalls that you won't read about online, not even close. It becomes a level playing field once in Mexico, a cultural thing, and one gets humbled pretty darn fast. Welcome to our world and do keep us posted.
P.S. I had to put a space in coc ky because it got bleeped without the space! Interesting swear-checker.

madtrix · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:02 am Post subject:

sorry, i certainly didn't mean to come across as being "coc ky " and if you met me, i really doubt you'd think i had a 'tude.

in any case, many thanks to everyone for their feedback and insight; i't's definitely been helpful.

cheers.
tricia.

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: newyorkina