Job Discussion Forums

[SmallBigWorld]

Hey there,

I recently posted a question about the best places to live in Mexico. A hearty thanks for all of your replies. Many of you were quite keen on Queretaro, which certainly sounds nice. However, my wife and I find ourselves more interested in a bigger, more dynamically cultural city.

A bit of research seems to indicate that Guadalajara is great place to find a lot of the benefits of the big city life (arts scene, cafes/restaurants, international airport, larger job market, etc.) with fewer of the drawbacks (pollution, extreme poverty, overcrowding, general chaos, etc.). Is this a fair view of the place?

Also, we're assuming the ESL scene must be active in such a big and still-growing city. True?

[SmallBigWorld]

Sometimes people ask questions here before finding out if the answers have already been posted. I'm guilty! I realize that there was a recent post asking almost exactly the same question as above.

So allow me to get a little more specific:

In GDL, how possible is it to find work for only 20 hrs/wk? We are writers and need time to work at home. What might we expect to make? (we have TEFL cert and experience).

Which are the nicer neighborhoods, and what might we pay for a (furnished?) one bedroom apt?

[chola]

You can check this out to get an idea of prices for furnished apartments.

http://guadalajara.vivastreet.com.mx/rentar-departamento+guadalajara

Some of the "nice" areas are really pricey, especially if you are working 20 hours a week. You did not say at what kind of a school/institution you'd like to work...but with 2 people sharing it'll be easier.

I lived in Col. Americana, which is in Sector Juarez. I lived near the Expiatorio, a beautiful Gothic style cathedral. It was safe, beautiful old Mansions, markets etc. I rented a room in a house for 1600 pesos a month. it was not ideal. little privacy, lots of noise but, really close to my work so i sucked it up. I also lived awhile in Santa Tere. Not as nice but I loved it because there was access to everything and all within walking distance. I had an unfurnished apartment for 2000 pesos a month plus utilities. (Water, Gas, Electricity). More privacy.

I'd chose the place I was going to live based on the location of my work because I HATED the buses. The system is a mystery, even to locals and the drivers are insane...you'll hear all the stories when you get there.

Pollution is a big problem in Guadalajara. I lived there for a year and suffered a lung infection, The year I was there 2005-2006, the pollution was higher than Mex. City for over a week, I think it was in January...not sure. It was palpable. Alot of people burn tires to stay warm in the winter and inversions trap the contaminants. A soupy broth of poision to be sure.

Thre is alot to see/do there. Quite a few galleries, museums, music etc. if you have the time, money and inclination there are classes for all kinds of things....and the weather is great, except for the rainy season...good luck. I'd love to be there again despite all the negatives.

[J Sevigny]

I find Guadalajara, where I live and work, to be too modern, in a 1970s kind of way, to be colonial, too culturally divided and isolated to be cosmopolitan, and too expensive, and as you mentioned, chaotic and polluted. I have been here a long time because I have a good job here but I know it's not the place for me.

That said, there are many, many people here who love this city, Americans, Canadians, Brazilians (teachers, mostly, of course) because it offers a big-city alternative to Mexico City.

My advice is to visit Guadalajara before deciding to move here and then make a decision based on your own wants, needs.