To Alteno

[Canadian]

I’ve been reading the many threads concerning Mexican ladies. I am VERY interested in Mexico. I say VERY interested!!!! If you have been on this board for a while, you may recognize my “handle”. I have been on the board for a few years. I am not registered and I don’t post all that often. When something interests me I do post my opinions/concerns, although I stay from the flame wars that sometimes go on.

I think Mexico is a good choice for someone on a limited budget (me). It is relatively close, both for initial contact and for future visits with the new wife. The talk about Mexican ladies not wanting to leave Mexico really doesn’t bother me. I believe that if 2 people really love each other, they will do almost anything to be together.

On that note, is there much work down there for a computer technician / network administrator type of guy? If I could find decent work down there, I’d go in a minute for the right lady. Maybe even setup an agency or something. If the women are that “hot” then who knows what could happen. It’s something to think about.

I’m serious about this; please let me know about work/ladies down there. I’m 45, educated but basically a country/nature type of guy…………………Canadian

[Alteno]

... in response to To Alteno, posted by Canadian on Feb 23, 2002

You bring up two interesting topics for discussion:

1) Is there work for a Computer Technician/Network
Admin.?

Unfortunately, I don't believe so, unless you can secure employment through your USA based company. Mexico is in a slowdown as is the USA. They say, when the USA sneezes, Mexico catches a cold, economically speaking. There are plenty of bright young college graduates here in Mexico looking for work as Computer Engineers, willing to work for less. I have a 26 year old friend, a Computer Engineer for Hewlett Packard in GDL, who makes $1400 per month. He knows he could make four or five times that in the USA.

2) Being the country type of man:

I too, am from rural eastern Oregon. Here in the small towns, there are many Rancheros, some filthy rich. The girls don't look down on a guy who dresses in pressed Wranglers, pressed shirt and nicely shaped Resistol straw hat. In fact, I wore my hat to Leon one day, and a photographer spotted me and offered me a shot at an ad for Tombstone Hats, one of his clients. We are working on the details now. But in Guadalajara and the big cities and even in the smaller cities, you can get much farther if you dress like the locals. Black dress shoes, nice slacks, etc. Nothing sticks out in Mexico worse than a Gringo college student dressed like he dresses back home in the USA. I can spot Gringa college students a mile away when we are at places like the mall or Walmart. They usually are mad about something or complaining, and are dressed in that unflattering manner which they are accustomed too.

[Canadian]

... in response to Interesting topics..., posted by Alteno on Feb 26, 2002

Maybe it's not really an option for me to live down there if there is no real way to make a decent living.
Plan "B" would be to find a woman down there that is willing to move. Do you have any insight on this?
Any and all help is very welcome.

[Patrick]

... in response to To Alteno, posted by Canadian on Feb 23, 2002

I'd suggest studying Spanish intensely if you want to work in Mexico.  Be prepared for some pretty low salaries also.  I have an aquaintence who's an electrical engineer (originally from Mexico) who was offered a vice president of engineering position in a Tijuana maquiladora.  The salary was about 40% of what he was making as an engineer here in San Diego.  Of course, the cost of living will also be significantly less in Mexico, but in his case, he wished to stay in San Diego, so he declined it because of the low salary.  I've heard that some companies offer signicant non-cash incentives, such as company cars and maid services, etc. to intice qualified workers in needed areas.

Spanish skills should be your highest priority if you're serious about working there.  Just as immigrants here need to develop good language skills in English if they wish to work, gringos in a Latin country will have to be able communicate effectively in the language of their co-workers.  Becoming fluent in Spanish takes a lot of effort for an extended period of time.