Guadalajara
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I only speak English. At 72, I have no illusions about being able to retain anything beyond the names of those I meet for the first time in my memory... And even that is proving to be a tad too ambitious.
I was aware of the phenomenon, yet I never dreamed it would charm me, baffle me and then hit me with a brick, almost literally, all in a single day.
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Get FREE quotes from up to 6 international movers from The Relocator. Save up to 50% on your move to Mexico! The Relocator offers an easy and free service to receive quotes from renowned and certified movers worldwide. They only work with qualified moving companies. Over 500 movers worldwide have already joined their service to help you get the best price and service for your international move. Get your moving quotes.
Mexico is quite a pleasant place, after a fashion. For some, it can only be taken in small doses. Others will find it as exhilarating as to never consider departing from it in anything but a body-bag. For me, born and bred in the NYC area; it can be the gentle caress of the cool breeze in the afternoon, or the nearly perfect temperature, or the ubiquitous flowers of kinds I didn't even know existed. The laissez-faire attitude and laid-back demeanor of the locals, their strange fascination with ANYTHING (and anyone) foreign, the sing-song of a language I very well know I never will be able to comprehend. And in addition, it can also be the broken sidewalks, the falling bricks of ancient, beautiful but decrepit houses, the protruding live electric wires, tree branches and glass cases of electric meters, that all do their damn best to discourage you from indulging in reveries while walking...
Accurate enough: After two years, I still am continuously in a love and hate relation with a nation and its culture that can get you violently ill, charm the pants off of you, confuse you with the most astounding ease and delight you with something as simple as a smell or its profusion of color.
It goes without saying that Manhattan was never perfect, and that the same culture shock exists for old folks like me all across the US: Without leaving our own country, we the survivors of lost eras bemoan the demise of a world as we knew it, only to begrudgingly face the modern, "digital" one...
I always have had bipolar disorder. Lately, it became exacerbated by the Northeast winters. Here, there are so many things that can test my patience, no place is long enough for me to catalogue my pet peeves, but I have noticed that Mexico, with its surrealistic approach to life, with its non-morbid acceptance of death, with its childish, innocent view of well, everything (where else do they have people who believe that there are sandals who make you loose weight by merely wearing them, or that you could not possibly annoy your neighbor by parking your car outside and blast music from it at 3AM?), has provided me with a completely different outlook.
Too many to remember them all. But nearly all can be glimpsed above.
The utter lack of punctuality. The casual approach and the scandalous leeway business and professionalism are given. The poverty, perhaps, is the most jarring of them all. Be prepared to be galvanized by it.
In my clumsy attempts to learn Spanish, I crammed on a few words, so when I went to McDonald's (which, believe it or not, here is the epitome of a swanky hang-out) to buy an ice cream, I said to the girl at the counter "Un coño de vainilla, por favor" (A vanilla cone, please), without knowing that "cono", which is the right word, is NOWHERE similar to the word "coño", which means something quite off-color... I'm no longer allowed at that McDonald's.
The same I would give to those about to dive off into the ocean, or ready to cross the great beyond: Don't be afraid. It is never the way you think it is.
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Expats, digital nomads & retirees talk about what it's like living in Guadalajara.
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Talk with other digital nomads and expats in Mexico on our Mexico forum - meet people, get advice and help others.
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Help others in Mexico by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Mexico.
Expats in Mexico offer advice about healthcare, hospital visits, emergency rooms visits, finding a doctor and buying health insurance in Mexico.
Mexico is increasing in popularity among expats, snowbirds, digital nomads and retirees in 2022. Learn about the 12 Best Places to Live in Mexico in 2022 according to people already living there.
If you're moving to Mexico or an expat living in Mexico, understanding the Mexican healthcare system is essential. We offer an overview of the public and private healthcare systems in Mexico, health insurance for expats.in Mexico, hospitals and prescription drugs.
Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
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Get a quote for health insurance from our partner, Allianz Care.
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Expats, digital nomads & retirees talk about what it's like living in Guadalajara.
Guadalajara Index
An index of all of our site's Guadalajara information.
Mexico Forum
Talk with other digital nomads and expats in Mexico on our Mexico forum - meet people, get advice and help others.
Contribute
Help others in Mexico by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Mexico.
Expats in Mexico offer advice about healthcare, hospital visits, emergency rooms visits, finding a doctor and buying health insurance in Mexico.
Mexico is increasing in popularity among expats, snowbirds, digital nomads and retirees in 2022. Learn about the 12 Best Places to Live in Mexico in 2022 according to people already living there.
Expats in Mexico share important tips for people preparing to move to Mexico. From banking in Mexico to finding a safe city, read these 8 tips before moving to Mexico.
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