Spain vs. Mexico (high crime, vacation home, to buy)
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My wife and I are considering a handful of opportunities between Mexico and Spain. We currently live in the western U.S. and are working on fluency for our fledgling Spanish skills. We're young--in our 20s--are just starting a family. Our opportunity would likely be for just a few years or so, therefore it isn't a permanent sort of thing. But we're trying to figure out which would place would be better given our likes, wants, etc. We're primarily looking at Guanajuato, Guadalajara, and D.F. in Mexico, and Pamplona and maybe Madrid in Spain. Here are some of the things we love and don't love about each place vs. the other:
Why Mexico over Spain:
- Closer to home/family; cheaper to travel
- Cheaper
- More intensely Catholic; church-going is more frequent
- More conservative
- More mountainous (we love to hike)
- Richer culture
- Less pretentious
- More family-centered way of life (good for families with lots of kids)
- Economy seems to be growing, unlike in Spain.
Why Spain over Mexico:
- Nicer
- Cleaner
- Safer
- Wealthier (although that's probably a plus and a minus)
- Better access to European destinations
- We like the whole cafe culture and the European way of life, more generally
- We're not Latino, so we'd likely "blend in" in Spain better, although it doesn't matter to us, of course, what our neighbor's skin color is.
- Better public transportation
- A more modern feel and look
I've been to Mexico several times (although not Guanajuato or Guadalajara), and I've been to Europe several times (although not Spain). So I have a marginally good idea what I'm up against. I'm a rather devout (and politically conservative) Catholic, so Mexico has always had some appeal. And that's why I"m hesitant about Spain, although I've heard that Pamplona is pretty conservative, too. Yet I'm really afraid about the grunginess and safety issues of Mexico that you don't have in Spain. The same kind of humble, earthiness about Mexico seems missing in super-modernistic Spain, so that's another thing to consider.
I appreciate any thoughts and/or advice.
i'd say you should wait till the inevitable spanish riots and protests finish and the economy is back on track before moving over there.
Well, is hard to tell. I'm mexican and I've traveled to Madrid twice.
PROS SPAIN:
Quality of life
Better preserved architecture.
Nice people.
Cleaner.
Safer.
More Unites Citizens.
Human development.
CONS SPAIN:
People is pretentious, racist and unfriendly.
Economy
Spain is very, very small.
PROS MEXICO.
Mexico is BIG, like four times Spain.
Mexico has a lot natural beauty. Hot deserts, snowy cold forests and hills, white sands paradise beaches, tropical jungles...
Culture. Spanish culture is great. But in Mexio is mexed with the native american culture, so, Mexico wins.
Family and friens. Everybody loves their family and friends, is the most important thing in our lives.
Economy is growing. Middle class is rising.
CONS MEXICO
Well, let me think... Yes, for mexicans, family and friends are EVERYTHING. What happens with those who aren't your friends?
Mexicans actually hate mexicans. We do. People is rude in the streets with ALL strangers. If they had to kill you they would. People can be very, very racist. Also, mexicans are VERY conservative. True, Mexico City is deeply liberal and so is the rest of the southern Mexico. But outside any city in the country everybody is so damned conservative. Politics and government are just a joke. Our government is so corroupt, and citizens are so stupid and ignorant that they don't do anything. Northern Mexico is like the murder and crime mecca of the world. And those pretentious cowboys are so annoying...
as far as safety is concerned.. spain is becoming a dangerous place as well , my sister was in Toledo not so long ago and was a victim of robbery.. Spain has many gypsies that are experts in pick pocketing ,,,
spain is also a very mixed country.. they are all not mostly european.. many are of arab descent
You have said a stupidity. The Spanish do not have Arab blood, only immigrants. The Spanish have the R1b typical of Western European, the genetic testing show it. In all countries can produce theft but Spain is generally very safe.
It is very easy to talk without knowing and without evidence. This link easily clear the doubts about the genetics of Europe. Spain have less arab blood that the Mohammedan Austria or Switzerland. The same level as France. Please end up with the topics, we are in the XXI century
as far as safety is concerned.. spain is becoming a dangerous place as well , my sister was in Toledo not so long ago and was a victim of robbery.. Spain has many gypsies that are experts in pick pocketing ,,,
Anyone that says Spain is becoming dangerous in a topic concerning Mexico, is just being silly. Sorry. Spain is never going to have even a fraction of the amount of crime Mexico experiences
as far as safety is concerned.. spain is becoming a dangerous place as well , my sister was in Toledo not so long ago and was a victim of robbery.. Spain has many gypsies that are experts in pick pocketing ,,,
I agree crime of just about any kind is bad but pickpocketing is pretty precious compared to narco gang violence.
This is a pretty interesting matchup though. Mexico is economically booming and trying with its crime issues. This could be a very different argument a decade from now even if Spain recovers. Meanwhile, Mexico seems to be benefiting from the current conditions in Spain as an educated and young workforce continues to emigrate from Spain to Mexico.
Spain is the country that more invests in Ibero-America, and of course Mexico. Not the other way around. Spain is a developed country and Mexico is on track to development.
Last edited by ESPAÑOL; 08-06-2013 at 07:11 PM..
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