Expat Advice: Culture Shock in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Puerto Vallarta

Did you receive any cross-cultural training for your move abroad? If yes, was it before or after the move?

I grew up overseas, so felt comfortable living in another culture.

Welcome Home Mexico
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Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.

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Welcome Home Mexico

Welcome Home Mexico occupies a niche in the market as a successful relocation and real estate firm helping expats moving to Mexico! As seen on CBS news, PBS, in the L.A. Times and more, we are one of the leading companies in this field. Welcome Home Mexico offers a wide range of services, multi-lingual knowledgeable brokers with experience, efficient and professional service.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

If they speak another language in your new country, do you speak the language? If yes, did you learn the language before you moved or while abroad? If no, are you planning to learn the language?

They speak Spanish in Mexico. I was born in a French speaking country, so speak French. In High School and College I took Spanish classes, and moved to Mexico to perfect my Spanish. I perfected my Spanish while living there.

Were you worried or concerned about culture shock before you moved abroad?

I took my young son with me and worried about his inability to speak Spanish. I shouldn't have, he learned it really quickly. I had visited Mexico before, and had no culture shock. I knew what to expect.

How significant was the culture shock you experienced when you moved abroad?

I suffered practically no culture shock and my son took things in stride, as the young often do.

Expats often talk about going through the "stages of culture shock." Examples include the honeymoon phase, the irritation-to-anger stage, the rejection of the culture stage, and the cultural adjustment phase. Do you feel like you went through these or any other stages as you settled into the new culture?

No, I don't think I went through the stages of culture shock because I knew what to expect. That's not to say that I didn't feel sad about the way animals are treated there, I did. But I was expecting it.

What, if any, were some of the changes you noticed in yourself that might have been caused by culture shock? These might include things such as anger, depression, anxiety, increased eating or drinking, frustration, homesickness, etc.

None really because of my prior experiences.

What are some things you appreciate most about the new culture?

I loved seeing how immaterial material things were. I became friends with a woman who lived in a 2 room dirt floored house. She and her family were happy and content. She had 4 children with her and they all slept in one room. It made me realize that in the US we have so much materially but it really doesn't help us be happier. I felt sorry for her in the beginning and yet ended up a little envious after getting to know her and her family.

What are the most challenging aspects of the new culture?

The way there is nothing set when dealing with police. Or at least, what I experienced a few times. I got pulled over over something but there was an unsaid dictum that all I had to do was give the policeman some money and drive away.

Did you "commit" any embarrassing or humorous cultural blunders? If you did and you'd like to share them, please do tell!

Not really.

Do you have any advice or thoughts about culture shock you would like to share?

Try not to be judgmental. Just because it's different doesn't mean it's worse, or better. It's just different, as the story about the local woman I got to know.