Job Discussion Forums

business2300 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60

Ok... need some advice or to hear some experiences

Some schools are offering paid housing in a teachers' apartment and in the home of a local Mexican family.

Which would be the best way to go?

Anyone have experience living with a local Mexican family?

Is this option better if you are a certain age?

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

If you are near retirement age, this arrangement rarely works out - at least for any length of time. It is better suited to college age graduates and those that love noise and activity at any given hour of the day (or night). And the fact that you will be expected to participate in family activities, sit and have meals with them, etc. The mature teachers I know all have their own places since they are long past the community living and sharing thing. How did the interview go with the school in Zamora?

business2300 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60

Unfortunately, it never materialized.... They gave me the run around
It didn't feel right at that point.

business2300 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60

Being totally immersed in the Mexican culture, by co-habitating with a Mexican family seems appealing..... alot to think about I guess

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

I live with a local Mexican family, but something tells me my case is not quite the same. Laughing

But contrary to what Sam said. Around here a lot of families rent out rooms in their home, but see it as a money making situation. They probably do not expect you to participate in family activities. Often they have extra rooms because their children have grown and gone far away. Or they built an extra room or two at the back with the specific idea of renting them out as a form of income. There may be rules about how late you can come home and restricting visitors. I've known some to not even give boarders a key to the front gate so if you come home later than 10pm you find you're locked out for the night.
On the other hand, sometimes it can be a nice experience. The family can help you with a lot of questions you have about culture and the way things work.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I live in a combination guest house/family home. I rent a room in a separate building on the property and have access to a seperate kitchen so I can cook for myself. The family does their own thing but I often have coffee with them or maybe go with one of them to the market. When I was bitten by a scorpion recently, one of them drove me to the hospital and they checked on me often the next day. The problem here is not the family but rather some of the other guests who are a bit loud at times, or the overnight guests who treat it like their playground. There aren't many rules and the owners don't seem to like enforcing them.

For me, this is a good compromise-there are plenty of people around to speak Spanish with, plus the occassional foreigner to exchange English books with, but it is more independent than being with a family. The pool and garden don't hurt either!

business2300 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60

My first thought is that it would be a fantastic experience living with a Mexican family, maybe a single individual. Maybe for a semester. I like to pick up some more Spanish as quickly as possilbe.

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

Yeah I highly recommend living with a Mexican family. Come February I'll be leaving my family after a full eight months, and in terms of Spanish I've learned a lot faster. However I've NEVER ever brought anyone over (I have to walk through the living room & kitchen to get to my room). I'm hoping once I go to DF to find a place like the above poster mentioned, with a guest house outside, so I could be a little bit more independent. Or a Mexican roommate.
I'd live with a foreigner too, but only if we agreed to try and speak Spanish in the house. Problem is I know this wouldn't work, and we'd lapse into English always. So I've decided to just avoid this situation unless I have to.
At the school I teach at there are many foreign teachers who end up sticking together all the time. As a result, they speak a lot of English, and they learn slower. Also they never get comfortable. I was uncomfortable for a long time, especially cause I didn't understand what anyone was saying, but I was always alone. As a result I met a lot of Mexicans and now have Mexican friends.
Also once you understand the Mexican culture, which for me, is a really untangible thing. I couldn't and wouldn't want to summarize what it is; but once you understand it, EVERYTHING is easier. I wouldn't understand it if I had kept myself immersed in my safety bubble of English. And that's what happens, you hang out with your foreigner friend and together you encounter the world, on YOUR terms, cause you can chat about what's happening and what's weird. But when you are alone, don't have anyone to bounce ideas off of or talk about how that weird guy without a hand kept trying to grab your shoulder. You just deal with it, and you are better off for it.

Anyway that was tangental. Live with a Mexican family!

Chris

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

The majority of my time living in this country, I've shared accommodation with Mexicans and occasionally with other foreigners. However, I've never lived in someone else's house. We either rented a place together, or it was my house that we lived in. Currently, I'm not sharing my house with anyone, and I really do prefer it that way.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I prefer to live alone too, but have found it easier to live with others when moving to new places, because it is a good way to meet people. The longer I stay in a place, the more I want my own place...

coporatehuman mentioned the different experiences of being with other foreigners vs. locals. I noticed that a lot at Christmas when I travelled with my parents in Michoacan. They don't speak Spanish, so I spent a fair amount of time translating and also explaining things to them, but it was all from the Canadian perspective. When I travel alone people explain things to me from a Mexican perspective and I learn a lot more that way.

mapache · Joined: 12 Oct 2006 Posts: 202 Location: Villahermosa

I guess it depends on the individual but I have has a very positive experience living with a Mexican family for the past three years. The downside is having less privacy.
Before I bought a padlock for my quarters, they showed up anytime, all the time. They are very curious about my things and my life (cuanto questa, cuanto ganas, etc.) and it's easy to get caught up in the chisme and even be a target of it.

All this is offset by the beautiful family culture in Mexico where relatives of all ages share their joys, sorrows and predicaments. Every day I get handshakes or kisses from at least 6 of my family members from 2 years old to 80 (sometimes I come or go the back way when I don't have time for the custom). I crashed my little truck once and the family made the accident scene look like a taxista convention (they all showed up to see if I was OK) If I ever need anything in Mexico, I have 30 dear friends earger to help me. I also help them in the same way. They taught me Spanish and I am helping them learn English. My only advice about this arrangement is never loan money to someone you know can't or suspect won't pay it back. I learned the hard way and am totally responsible for the family strife that resulted.

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

Cultural Lesson 101 - If you lend money, don't expect it to be paid back. I am biting my tongue on most of your comments after being married to a Mexican family for over 5 years but I just can't help but ask what part of people snooping in your stuff (to the point of locking your stuff and yourself up with a padlock) and asking how much money your things cost or what you earn is acceptable in this culture any more than the culture you came from? People with any class or education do not behave that way here either. People here are much more open, but there are certainly lines that won't be crossed. That is red flag stuff. Someone I tutor English to says he and his brother have this saying "Every Mexican deserves at least one gringo". Speaks for itself.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Roommates suck. 'Nuf said.

business2300 · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 60

The more opinions present here, the more I think living with a mexican family may not be the best option for me. I was only thinking that it may be fun to experiment with this option.. I could manage an apartment on my own, so maybe I should go that route first, and reevaluate things at some other point.

Maybe staying in Mexico and not teaching is even better!