Teaching English in Mexico? (live, climate, near)

[sweethearttx]

Originally Posted by Steve Bagu

To start with a person can get a 90 day or 180 day Visa to visit Mexico.

During this time you are NOT allowed to work "period" as your a tourist. I was told this more then once on my many trips back and forth from LAX to Mexico City.

Inorder to do any work ( LEGALLY ) you would need a paper called FM3 or FM2 that needs to be filled.

Other then that a lot of stuff can be done under the table...I saw it in MC.

Do wish you well tho. Steve

Thanks for the info Steve. Much appreciated. Still looking into teaching as I may be able to supplement the small salary with what I have in savings, and what I can do freelancing on the side. :-)

[Travelling fella]

I have friends in Mexico that are from France, the USA, Germany that don't have papers to work in Mexico, generally Immigration laws in Mexico are lax, if you are in this country keeping a low profile authorities generally won't mess with you, the only person I know that was deported was a guy from Spain who kept badmouthing Mexico and Mexicans in the place where he worked, someone decided that it was enough, called the authorities and he was deported.

Those friends who live here do varied activities, my friend from france is a freelance designer, he does websites, editorial design, etc my friend from germany is an audio engineer, he is hired by professional studios to do installations, etc and my friends from the USA live in San Luis and teach english at a local school.

If you have skills that could be put to good use, you can make a good wage working freelance.

[sweethearttx]

I think I would still be nervous, as a single female, working without proper papers...I wouldn't want to be deported, especially if I have cats in tow! Do you know anything about this school: University English Teachers Institute? It's located in Puerto Vallarta, and is a 4 week program leading up to a TEFL certificate. It would be a good way to get the proper FM3 papers so that I could work legally, even if I couldn't find a teaching job. But it costs a bit of money. Am I better off taking an online TESOL/TEFL program before I leave, or working with a school that can help me find work and secure the FM3 visa?

[Travelling fella]

The best and easiest way to get an FM3 is to be hired by a multinational enterprise and let them do the paperwork for you, or to get in touch with the mexican embassy and ask them what are the requirements to get an investor visa, if you have money saved perhaps you could consider starting a business in Mexico, retirees can usually get an FM3 with no sweat.

I suggest you to go to this site and study all the different kinds of visas and requirements and choose the one that better suits you.

Instituto nacional de inmigración (english)

[sweethearttx]

I went ahead and enrolled in a TESOL program, and I think it will be a good investment regardless. But I decided probably my best bet is to try to build up a freelance clientele in the states, or find a writing job I can do remotely, to assure I have enough income. I can then teach or tutor on the side perhaps. I have begun marketing my skills on some Mexican job sites...we'll see what comes of it.

[golgi1]

Originally Posted by Steve Bagu

The American mentality is different then those of Mexico. I found this out way early during my initial three yrs in Mexico City with a Mexican wife and friends. Now it's been all of 16 yrs and things are still the same in their thinking.

Steve

Perhaps you could continue and explain how the thinking is different?

I have found this to be a critical piece of information when living abroad, and the most elusive in discovering. Highly disparate, yet fundamental, thought processes and world views are why I find much of Asia to be less than desirable for the long term.

I cannot imagine Mexican thinking as being as different from our own, as that of Asians, due to the heavy European cultural influence in Mexico, but any insight would be appreciated.

I would venture that it is more social/socialistic, but that is just a guess.

[Steve Bagu]

Living abroad....Hmmmm what is meant by that.

Sure...a person can spend time in a foreign country....be it at a Resort/Vacation spot/Hotel with different tours?. Thats NOT knowing the people and/or their culture. You have to be submerged with them 24/7...months at a time or years for that matter to understand why I say the mentality is different. They all think differently without digging into specifics.

I was born and grew up in Canada (served in Military)...came to US (served in Military) finished college and also raised a family...now retired in Mexico for 16 yrs.

All three countries have a different way of thinking. There is a definite train of thought. I saw this on returning for a visit to family back in Ont. Canada. There is a difference in Values and needs and outlook on life compared to many in the US.

Steve

[golgi1]

Originally Posted by Steve Bagu

Living abroad....Hmmmm what is meant by that.

Sure...a person can spend time in a foreign country....be it at a Resort/Vacation spot/Hotel with different tours?. Thats NOT knowing the people and/or their culture. You have to be submerged with them 24/7...months at a time or years for that matter to understand why I say the mentality is different. They all think differently without digging into specifics.

I was born and grew up in Canada (served in Military)...came to US (served in Military) finished college and also raised a family...now retired in Mexico for 16 yrs.

All three countries have a different way of thinking. There is a definite train of thought. I saw this on returning for a visit to family back in Ont. Canada. There is a difference in Values and needs and outlook on life compared to many in the US.

Steve

Living abroad means just that, living abroad for an extended stay. Months or years. However, that isn't pertinent to the question, beyond that we both understand that it takes months or years to get to know the differently working minds of people from foreign cultures.

I was asking what you could tell me about the mind of the average Mexican that is so different from the mind of the average American?

To say that they are all different implies that there is no over-arching difference, but just unique personalities that you may have trouble deciphering due to their being from a different culture than you. To say that there is a cultural difference in thinking, implies that you could qualify and articulate that difference, especially after 16 years.

I realize that there are variances in values between the three countries mentioned, but when I think about what it means to think differently, it means the fundamental worldview and decision making process is different in a way that goes beyond just superficial value systems. For instance, in north Asia they form their thoughts and make their decisions from a Confucian worldview. That perspective is so fundamentally different form how our minds work in the west, so as to make the way that they view the world almost alien to us. They interpret things so differently, that a westerner could be there for many many years and still be confounded by the culture, unless they undertook serious study into the confucian mind.

Now, Mexico was settled by Europeans and is largely Catholic, and many of its values arise from those two aspects of the culture. However, how different is their thought process from ours? I cant imagine that it is too different, given their recent cultural past, and certainly not as different as that of asians, but I was asking as to what the little cultural differences in thinking that you may have noticed over the years.

Please dont take this message that "I'm coming at you", Steve, cause I'm not. I'm just trying to clarify my question so that you can answer it, if you have an answer, as I think I may have miscommunicated in the last post.

[Steve Bagu]

Do believe my last sentence is your answer without getting into specifics.

In Mexico City I had friends who were Lawyers...Judge...Dentist(s)...Cardiologist and many who were just avg people trying to make a living. None were living a high life but social/economic thinking did vary.

Education does have a bearing that many people do not have...thus their economic down fall and thought process. They only think of today...having a meal and being able to drink tonight. The ones that I talked too generally were not interested in politics as I did not wish to discuss that not being a citizen and a guest in their country. One time did make a mistake in expressing my opinion and received a counter attack...never approached the subject again...always stayed neutral...less headache.\

I would say that regardless of what country a person is in...Education and Class level play a major part in their overall thinking.

I would refer to the time when I was in business and speaking with a millonaire chain store owner on the salesfloor and when leaving spoke to a janitor who was mopping the floor and I said "how's it going man?". I in essence brought him up to my level of importance and at the same time lowered myself to his staus as a working janitor. He was just as IMPORTANT to me as was the millionaire store owner. They both have a different level of mentality and thinking process.

Steve

[golgi1]

Gotcha.

Class and education difference is an important distinction for North Americans abroad, when socializing, because generally the type of American that relocates abroad will at least have a higher median education level than the average local. This does not mean the average American is more educated, but only that educated Americans tend to travel/live abroad more than less educated Americans, statistically.

As an American guy, I found this most important when considering love interests, as in many countries a North American guy will attract more attention than he would at home, merely because he is a bit exotic. This varies with country and the specific person. But generally, a guy has to consider the education level of the beautiful exotic lady who now is pursuing him, as there could be some serious "thought pattern" differences once he gets into the relationship. Sometimes, and in some countries, this woman could be the equivalent of an eighth grade educated villager. The long term viability between a college educated person, and this less educated person, would be in question to say the least.

People are generally happiest when pursuing people of similar education levels. I know this is a bit off topic, but relevant just the same. And of course, there are many successful exceptions.