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jkeh

Mar 25, 2004, 3:59 PM

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Anyone with children under 6 raising them in Mexico?

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Greetings from Portland, OR!

My husband, a Java software engineer and myself a Elem.teacher and our 3 children, all under 6 are investigating moving to Mexico, specifically the yucatan. I would love to get feedback from anyone with kids about their opinion on raising kids in Mexico. Also, any education issues. Lastly, we are reading everywhere that it is very hard to get jobs after you are there. How are you all surviving down there? Do you work illegally? What's the real scoop? Thanks so much- Jessica

Esteban

Mar 25, 2004, 6:35 PM

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Re: [jkeh] Anyone with children under 6 raising them in Mexico?

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First of all, I'd guess that you'd have to prove an income of around $3000 a month to be able to stay in the country(fm-3 criteria for a family of 5). You'll also need that fm-3 to be able to work legally. As far as working illegally, I would seriously doubt you could survive on what you would make. Don't get me wrong. If you've already lived in a cave, in the woods, raised goats, chickens, homeschooled, you are fairly fluent in Spanish and can grow a good garden you may survive.

TomG

Mar 25, 2004, 6:35 PM

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Re: [jkeh] Anyone with children under 6 raising them in Mexico?

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I met a family from Chicago last year standing on the highway 2 kilometers from Teotitlan de Valle, Oaxaca. They had at least 3, maybe 4 kids - some self propelled and some to carry. They were on somewhat low budget 2 week vacation, public transportation, and it was not their first time. A lot of effort, but they were doing well. One or two had diarrhea at the time, but they were trudging on. I admired them for spunk.

I’d sure try something like that before I went off looking for a job and the whole ball of wax.

Amazon a copy of "The People's Guide to Mexico" before you do to anything to drastic. You will feel like you are in Mexico while you read it.

Marlene

Mar 25, 2004, 7:07 PM

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Re: [jkeh] Anyone with children under 6 raising them in Mexico?

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Jessica, as an elementary school teacher you will be able to find work legally. Bring apostilled copies of your degrees or credentials. (If your husband can work via the internet - bonus!) Your children are at the age where they will not only blend into the culture easily, but enjoy it very much without vast amounts of culture shock. Good idea to have savings on hand, however if you are prepared to live on what you earn, you certainly won't be alone in doing that here in Mexico. Good luck and enjoy!

Don Moore

Mar 25, 2004, 8:39 PM

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Re: [jkeh] Anyone with children under 6 raising them in Mexico?

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JKEH,

In response to how folks are surviving down there,

I am not raising children of any age any place, and I live in Memphis, not in Mexico. But after following these posts, travelling to Mexico numerous times, visiting expats down there and corresponding with many, it seems to me that a great majority of Canadians and Americans living in Mexico have retirement incomes and/or investment incomes of at least $1,000 per month for a single person. There are some working in Mexico, some legally and some illegally. It is legal to own a business. It is generally illegal to hold a job that a Mexican could hold. The laws around this are more complex than I can explain. Explore the website and read the posts and you will learn a lot more. But make several explatory visits and get some advice from very knowledgeable people before you jump into anything.
Don Moore

roni_smith

Mar 26, 2004, 5:47 AM

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Re: [jkeh] Anyone with children under 6 raising them in Mexico?

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Jessica,
I am not sure about Mexico, but my father and mother moved their 4 sons under the age of 9 to Brasil in 1960. I was 8 at the time. We lived there for 7 years. I have nothing but gratitude for that. We went to school in Brasilian schools, our friends were Brasilian etc... It was wonderful.

Ron
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