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johncjmd

Dec 23, 2003, 1:43 AM

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Part time or seasonal work in San Miguel

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I'm looking forward to being jubilado in 6 months to a year from now. My wife and I would like to spend some time in San Miguel each year, but would need to return home to California for Medical care (included in my pension plan), family visits and the like. This would be easier if I were to use any of my skills, medical- psychotherapy and psychopharmacology, some computer skills, some Spanish, among other things. I know It would be nearly impossible to be licensed professionally, but I would like to continue some of my work, even if only as a volunteer. But as most know, it's always better to receive some compensation than not. Any suggestions? Please post on the forum if you have any encouraging (or even discouraging) ideals for me.

Carol Schmidt

Dec 23, 2003, 11:45 AM

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Re: [johncjmd] Part time or seasonal work in San Miguel

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Volunteer? For sure--several gringo-organized service organizations in San Miguel deal with health care for indigenous people. Getting paid? Several issues, first being getting your FM3 plus a work permit, not an automatic thing. Easier if you already have a job waiting so your employer can help in the process.

Basic guideline: you're not supposed to take any job that can be done by a Mexican. Basic warning: minimum wage in Mexico is around $4 US a DAY, and 15% of the working population gets less than that, and the average wage paid is about $10 US a day.

There are some excellent physicians in SMA and overall the two hospitals do a good job though in some areas it is like the U.S. in the '50s. Health care overall has some very high points and some very low points. The field of mental illness in particular seems particularly deficient to me but I have no firsthand knowledge, this is just an impression I get. If you're hungry and cold you're not worrying about your mental health, Maslow's hierarchy of needs and all that.

There are a couple of psychotherapists who have gringo names who advertise in Atencion so it must be possible, the reassurance you want after all this. Wish I had more reassurance--if you are a persistent sort you will probably find some way to do your job here, but it may take awhile to make those contacts and find the way.

Carol Schmidt