Ten Things You Should Know Before You Move To Central or South America.....

Mexico and Central America are but a few days drive or bus ride from much of US/Canada..some retires are now driving down in RVs or 4WDs to explore or settle. It is now also possible, with RORO on container from Panama to drive to South America for the more adventurous, with lots of information on teh net how to from those who have been there and done that...

I have received many emails over the years from readers of my Bloqs who are interested in
moving to Central or South America from the US or other 'developed' countries'. The majority of people who requested
information are involved in cross-cultural relationships. I have
first-hand experience with a cross-cultural marriage, however, for Women I recommend
that you investigate lagringasblogicito and hondurassprouts. These are
blogs written by excellent women writers who are married to Honduran Citizens.

Here are some tips that I picked up from years of actual cross cultural
communications as well as first-hand experience, a grand total of 24 years residence in Mexico and Central America.

1. Be informed (Know) before you go. Read! Read! Read! Surf the Internet and purchase up to date print Guidebooks, country specific to where you wish to relocate. Talk to as many people
that you can who have lived in Central & South America. I spoke to, worked with and knew personally, counting some as friends, many
Latin Americans living in the USA long before I moved here.
Always travel in person at least 2-3 weeks to your target country, city or region before deciding on making the move. Seeing is beleiving. Never rely on Internet Ex Pat sites, user groups, forums or bloqs as your primary source of information, never arrange to purchase Real Estate abroad from any Internet website nor contract expensive Real Estate & Relocation tours online, one Woman I know spent $200 USD a day in Costa Rica on 'Real Estate Tours', returned home broke and bitter after a week. Always go and see for yourself, if you do not have a friend or relative in your target country you are able to stay with (never stay in a Resort or Luxury Hotel unless on a genuine vacation) take this advice: "I would recommend couchsurfing.com for meeting locals. You don't have to couchsurf (Stay) with them you can meet for a coffee / drink, local tour or whatever. They'll show you around and you'll get to do things most tourists don't do. Insider information as
well on their area. Also try out www.bewelcome.org/ Both organizations are non profit hospitality portals boasting thousands of local, some ex pat, bi or multi lingual, Latin American members. Save hassles, avoid pitfalls floundering around on your own.
Start taking some Spanish or Portuguese lessons online and also in frontal classes or with a native speaking tutor at home well before departure. Build a language 'basic' foundation then stepping up to intermediate and advanced is easy once in a Spanish speaking country, in all Latin American countries, excepting Belize and Guyana, former British Colonies and parts of the Caribbean coasts, only a small percentage of your local neighbors will speak English. Also understanding avoids often costly, in time, money or hurt feelings, misunderstandings! 'Malentendidos'

2. Find a cultural mentor. Long term resident or trusted bi lingual local. I befriended a couple of younger, less experienced ex pats during my
first years living in Guatemala. Upon arrival to Central America many years ago I was lucky enough to have a relative and was introduced into a small social network of both ex pats and locals..invaluable.
These people were very gracious in helping me with many
day-to-day tasks in the beginning, teaching me to be independent step by step and not to rely on locals to 'hold my hand'. A good mentor can and often will point out errors in judgement
Social contacts and personal relationships are very important throughout Latin America.

3. Choose your home and neighborhood carefully. Look for one that will
accept you, and where you will feel comfortable. Cheap rent in a poor
neighborhood may sound great, but in the long run, you may be robbed
or worse.
Keep a low profile and never divulge your personal or work information or give out your address to overly friendly strangers.

4. Go slow at first. Don't expect to work at the same pace as you did
in the US/Canada/UK, etc.. Things are just simply harder to get done in Latin America. And slower. Always. Often people show up late, very late, for appointments.Never reprimand locals for this, unless they are in your employ and have business commitment with you. 'Life in The Tropics' amigo mio!
Don't take yourself too seriously and keep a sense of humor.

5. Try not to make general assumptions about Latin Americans. Just as you
would not want those in the country you are relocating in to assume that every US or Canadian citizen is rich,
white, and arrogant, you should not assume that all Latin Americans are alike. Listen to locals and ask questions.

6. Expect a testing period. Friends, contacts and co-workers need time before
you are accepted into their trust. Once you are deemed trustworthy, the doors will fly open.

7. Expect life to be a bit annoying in the beginning. Cold showers are the
norm in many areas. Air conditioning is most often a luxury. Water and electricity
sometimes fail on a daily basis. In some areas Internet Connections are slower than at home.

8. Try not to complain. Accept that Central or South America is different than the US/Canada/UK.

9. Look for the good things in your adopted new country, such as the beautiful mountains,
rustic rural national parks or beaches.

10. Be humble. One of my favorite phrases in Spanish, " I don't
understand." "Yo no lo comprendo" A humble attitude goes a long way in getting along with
co-workers and friends. Even if you feel you 'know', always get a second opinion from a native or long term ex pat resident friend. Never try and 'one up' or be arrogant with newer relocating arrivals, I know a woman in my country, from US, who will break into and dominate any conversation in Spanish, even though her Spanish is lacking, she tells new arrivals she is 100% 'fluent'.
So, if you choose to live in a gated community or 'condos' with other ex pats from your country, be advised that gossiping and one upping (what a person who feels inferior does to make themselves feel superior) is a fairly common pastime in any and all ex pat communties, far better to 'go native' and live among locals, if at all possible for you. The phrase 'the good, the bad and the ugly' has been used in ex pat lore for generations. Recommend against instant friendships or trust on sight simply because a person is from your home country. Proceed with caution, as you would at home.

I hope these tips help some of you who are contemplating relocation and/or retirement to
Central or South America.

The writer has assisted dozens to relocate in his region in the past, however I answer only common sense questions and urge wannabes to travel first to their target area and do their own research..sadly, no free lunches..if you have a spouse or partner native to teh country you plan to relocate in, by all means try and stay with his/her family there, even if humble or so called 'poor' people, you shall learn more in a short time than taking the 'upscale' ex pat route, where you just may be another 'blank white face' looking for real estate, spending Dollars, Euro or Sterling. Again proceed with caution, the Internet is virtual, guidebooks are in black and white.
Buena suerte.

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