El Salvador Forum

pato23
Joined 2002
Posts: 765

16 years ago

Relocating el Salvador & Central America?

16 years ago

Anyone wishing to relocate to El Salvador or any other Central American country for that matter remember that moving, even in your home country, is the most stressful thing next to a death in family or of close friend, relocting to a foreign country, especially if you are not familiar with the local language AND slang, cultural differences and history of the country/region is doubly stressful. El Salvador is densly populated, with pockets of marginalized areas in city and poverty in some rural areas, there are security issues, and those persons wishing to locate in upscale city neighborhoods who speak or understand little Spanish, expect high prices. Driving in San Salvador is also very very stressful. El Salvador is not a place for the faint at heart. If your spouse or family is not Salvadorian you shall often have to depend on services of bilingual persons, most usually more expensive. One should visit the country and region well before considering a move. Best resource to start for citizens of USA is the Embassy Website with several web links in English and or Spanish 'El Salvador Websites' http://sansalvador.usembassy.gov/eng/irc/svlinks.html
UK no longer maintains a consulate in El Salvador, Canada..maís oui...http://geo.international.gc.ca/latin-america/elsalvador/ also most EU countries are represented here, after arrival, join a church or organization, volunteer if you have time, make contacts and friends and always remember Spanish is the offical language spoken, not English. These days if someone e mails me especially with a "handle" or no name and town for assitance relocating, I usually delete that e mail or ignore that post. After arrival if you should like to meet for coffee and ask advices, no hay problema, advice is cheap.
PS El Salvador uses the USD legal tender, prices of bsics, food, rent, propane, services rising as USD falls factor this in... Use your head, not your "insticts", if you are qualified (and hopefully bi lingual) and do land a job here, salaries are low in El Salvador compared to US/Can/EU standards. Rents are generally lower, but high in "upscale" San Salvador areas..I live in a nice middle/working "class" Colonia, by the way there is very lttle racism in El Salvador but you shall have to deal with classism in this society, much of Latin America as well. And one last piece of advice...there is a big difference between "friendly" persons and friends. Be aware. Keep a low profile, keep smiling and if you are an attractive female, expect local males to gawk and whistle at you. Cultural. Not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy. 'Fijese que...'

William Russell

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William Russell

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