Job Discussion Forums

ejh263 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 23

Hi,
wondered if anyone can offer any insight on what it's like living in Mexico and generally the overall safeness of the place.... on the streets etc.
I have to do a year in a spanish speaking country for my degree. I am already a CELTA teacher and have been teaching in Europe for over 4 years.
My partner and Iwould like to try Latin America rather than Spain but we have our baby daughter to consider.... who is 4 months at the mo. I'm trying to suss out which would be the best situation for her and where out of all the latin american countries is the safest...if any.This is not for the immediate future, just doing some research.
Also could you give me an idea of what type of slary is needed to make ends meet?! We'd probably want to rent a two bedroomed place but we would just have my salary and the rent we would receive from our house in UK.
Look forward to reading any advice anyone can offer?
Thanks, Liz.

MELEE · Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

My babies, like millions of others, were born here. Nothing bad has happened to them yet.

We recently hashed out the cost of living, it was decided that you need anywhere from 6,000 to 35,000 a month to live comfortably Laughing

ejh263 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 23

Thanks for the info

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

Is your question seriously whether Mexico is a safe country for babies? The Mexicans, don't, for example, eat babies like the witches in a Francisco Goya painting, do they?

Scanning the US State Department Web page, I didn't see any warnings like that.

Seriously, if you're considering moving someplace that you even suspect might not be safe for children, wouldn't you be better off visiting first?

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

It's a hell of a lot safer for babies here than in Iraq.

ejh263 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 23

I guess my question was more along the lines of is it a safe country to travel around with a very small child considering a lot of the 'hype' about Latin America, as opposed to will they eat my baby? - think it's pretty safe to say they will not. I realise there are millions of babies in mexico, but the majority of these are natives where as I am choosing to go to a country, so therefore i would like to choose one that it is in my daughter's best interests. I wanted the opinion of foreigners living there how they are treated and if they could give me any advice on some areas that are best to stay away from, or whether they have encountered any problems, or totally the opposite. I have taught many students from Mexico in the UK, and although they are all very proud of their country many of them have warned me that it is not always safe, so I was trying to do some research. I don't have the means to just jump on a plane and do some investigating before we go so I thought posting in this forum might be helpful. I guess not!

reddevil79 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

Are there any parts of Mexico you are looking at in particular? This is a big country, and places vary, so tell us where you're looking at and I am sure you will get some informative posts.

There are a few members here who have settled in Mexico and had children. My immediate concern here would be healthcare, but that's more to do with living in a small town...

ejh263 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 23

Hi, thanks for yor reply.
As i'll be going as part of my uni course there are only certain areas in which they have posts. These are in Mexico City (Distrito Federal), Campeche, Guadalajara, Yucatan, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Puebla, Cancun, Jiquilipan, Texcoco, Aguascalientes, Veracruz and Monterrey.
I don't really know much about any of the areas! But I've heard Oaxaca is one of the nicer areas.
We'd rather be in a town than a city, but think the majority of posts ar ebased in cities, so couldn't be too far away.

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

reddevil79 · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

That's all!? Laughing

Hmm, that's still quite a long list and all those places are different in their own way. I think you have to decide on what kind of place you want to live in really. Do you want to live in a big place, like DF, Gdl or Monterrey? Smaller place like Aguascalientes or Jiquilpan? Maybe get a guide book out and start reading that, or read some of the threads here about different places of Mexico we live in.

I know Guadalajara well, and it would be fine for children.

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

Maybe it would help to know what would be not fine for children and whittle the list down? I'm tempted to say everywhere is fine, since there are millions upon millions of kids doing just fine everywhere. Maybe cost-of-living and access to services is most important? Depends on the OP...for example, DF, GDL, and MTY would probably offer the greatest range and depth on both services and job packages. But, they are big cities and while I'd call them safe enough, maybe the OP is thinking something smaller?

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

El Gallo · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318

This question is like asking "is it OK to bring my baby to London?" Of course it is if you use common sense and stay away from high risk places and situations. Are there parts of London to which I would not bring a baby?
There sure are. I have lived in Southern Mexico for over three years, mostly in Chiapas. I feel much safer her for myself and my family than I do in parts of Chicago, Philadelphia, Paris and London. I have never been assaulted here because I am careful where I go and I try not to call attention to myself.

ejh263 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 23

The most important things to us are personal safety and decent healthcare. We don't want to live in a massive city though. I understand my question might be quite vague but at the end of the day I don't know anything about Mexico! That's why I'm asking!! I'm reading up what I can but appreciate the comments that some of you who live there/have experiences have made. Thanks.

ejh263 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 23

Ps... and I agree about London! There are loads of places there I wouldn't go myself. Let alone with my kids!