Job Discussion Forums

periodista-masajista · Joined: 13 Jun 2005 Posts: 54 Location: Texas, USA

Hello...

I've been looking for work in the DF but have been offered a job in Toluca. A quick look in a travel guide made Toluca sound nice but boring. Does anyone out there have an opinion about Toluca?

I'm wondering if I'd enjoy living there. I'm 36, single and have a personality that's generally left-leaning or "progressive." My favorite things in life include bicycling, reading and writing. I'm no nightclub hound but do enjoy having a couple of beers, particularly in places that are stylish without being pretentious or trendy. My Spanish is horrendous, so wherever I go, I'll basically be relying on English-speakers for my social life.

Basically I'm afraid that the only English speakers in Toluca would be too rich/right-wing to enjoy the company of such as myself, an educated but financially challenged gavacho who likes tofu and hates cell phones. If anyone could offer thoughts as to whether my fears are grounded, I'd be very interested.

thelmadatter · Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:14 pm Post subject: boring

If I understand your meaning of "boring" correctly from your post... then the answer is "yes." Toluca is a small industrial city - no frills. Not a whole lot of English speakers here (even of the snooty type you describe, except maybe in Metepec) It is possible to survive here with no or terrible Spanish (I knew a Canadian and a Scottish person who did... how, Ill never know) - but far from easy.

I think you will be difficult to find many people of like mind. The good thing is that Mexico City is a day-trip away so if you accept the job... you'll have a place to escape to.

Out of curiousity... where did you get a job?

periodista-masajista · Joined: 13 Jun 2005 Posts: 54 Location: Texas, USA

Still looking...will have a job somewhere within 2 weeks.

The job in Toluca is a tentative offer only. Thanks for your interest!

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

I lived in Metepec for 9 months in 2001-02. I think the only times that I went into Toluca were to the bus station and the immigration office. I went to Mexico City or home to Morelos as often as possible. It's a pretty uninspiring place.

Metepec is charming, but there is nothing to do. I prefer to read in Spanish, so I read my way through the public library's collection. There are several relatively acceptable places to eat around the main plaza--but they are not health food spots. There used to be a fabulous vegetarian restaurant a block off the plaza where I ate lunch every day for 40 pesos and listened to the owner's CD collection (excellent) until it closed--unfortunately I was one of their few steady clients, and that will give you an idea about Metepec.

Galerias Metepec is the mall between the two towns. It does have movie theaters--and they even show non-US films from time to time--I saw Ghost Dog, Himalaya and a few other worthwhile films there. The mall itself has little to offer. I only went there for movies and to buy Klorane hair products at the Liverpool department store.

Housing is expensive there--from what I have heard (I didn't pay for housing)--unless you live with a family (worth considering if you would like to learn Spanish.)