TomG
Jul 21, 2004, 6:20 PM
Post #4 of 12
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Airfares are cheap in October/November and January/Febuary, David. Southwest goes to Harlingen, TX on specials in the fall (about $200 RT). $20 will get you from the airport to the Central de Autobus in either Matamoros or Reynosa - then you are off. An 8 PM bus will get you to Irapuato about 7 AM. Or you could fly to el DF and bus back from del Norte station. You feel a lot smarter getting away in January than other months.
Home is home (GTO), but you could try some adventure. Knowing you, I know that you would like Patzcuaro, Michoacan (cooler); San Cristobal de las Casa, Chiapas (cooler); and Oaxaca (warmer). Both have classes you could latch into to get established. But you can greatly lower you cost by skipping the classes and taking a grammar book down on your own. Then get out and talk as much as you can everyday. Renting a little place with cooking facilities will give you a much better feel for daily life. With the extra saved money you can stay longer. I'm confident you could have a decent stay in any one of these places for about $600/month excluding transportation. People on these boards get mad as hell when someone talks about living cheaply in Mexico; but you could do it, David. A frugal couple could do it for $800/month in a bit more style. The real trick to Mexico is not to want anything beyond your needs, stay our of restaurants & bars, and use the city buses when you can't walk.
You ought to go a place there for 2 months or more, renting and cooking, living daily life away from tourism and professional expats. That will give you the kind of information you need to continue your thinking. It answers questions like, "What would I do?" and "What could it really cost?" "Would I like it?" "What would the regular people treat me like if they were not plucking me for fees?" Go to the dentist and get your teeth cleaned - you save a few bucks that can be applied to your trip, and you can compare. Do you like the level of dental service? After 2+ months when you go home you will have plenty to digest and remember. You can compare to home life much better. It would not be sufficient for a life's move, but it would give you more memories and info to live with.
Mexico for all it wacky costumes and exotic landscape is enchanting and dangerous, especially for Mexicans. I know poor people who throw a $1500 dollar 15th birthday party, then don't let the girl go to high school (Prepa) because it costs too much. (Three years of Prepa would be less than the party). I know other equally poor people who paid that much for a band for a wedding - then add on more for the meal, clothes, etc.
In contrast, here is a list of costs for a university education at the Univ. Guad., Colotlan that a cute student gave me 2 days ago (all expressed in US dollars).
$ 17 - tuition per semester
$600 - Semester costs at $6 dailyto eat in Colotlan (there are women who cook meals for students)
$ 60 - a semester of daily bus fare from town to the nice modern campus.
$400 - a semester for a student room rent in town at $80/mo.
____________
$1077 dollars a semester for an student from out of town.
Someone living at home in Colotlan could scratch all but the $77 for tuition and bus fare, as these two girls do. Their father said he had no 15th birthday party for either of his daughters - but both will graduate from university.
When you meet people and have good friends who are shooting themselves in the foot with fiestas, it might start to grate on you if you want the best for them. Other people who just use this class of people for servants are not bothered by this, as it insures a steady supply. The world of fiestas is one of the big cultural attractions of Mexico for tourists and expats. If the poor didn't pay for the fireworks, they took off work to set up the stands and do the cooking for the church fiesta. The better off of the barrio don't pitch in as much, as they have too many other obligations with their own interests. They show up at night like the tourists, throwing compliments around like candy, and babbling about the importance of maintaining the customs. If you think about this too much you will find yourself hanging around with an interesting class of people who discuss culture and politics.
You will certainly have enough to be involved in once you make some good friends.
Drop me a line;
tom
(This post was edited by TomG on Jul 21, 2004, 6:21 PM)
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