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MTD

Feb 14, 2003, 1:29 PM

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Trial runs?

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My wife and I are teachers in the NW of the United States. Many of our students are from Nayarit originally (60% of our school is Spanish speaking). One day we would like to live in Mexico (read 30 years from now), but for now we are entertaining the idea of spending our summers for the next 3,4 or 5 years in Mexico -- returning to teach during the school year.

Not only would this improve our very poor Spanish, but increase our understanding of our students' culture. I should also state that most of our closest friends are from Mexico and have only lived in the US for less than 10 years, so we would have some ties to specific areas of Nayarit. Most of our friends have suggestions for areas, but these are suggestions from their point of view. We are curious to hear what "gringos" with some experience would suggest.

My question for this forum . . . knowing our goals for our time spent in Mexico -- where should we start looking for a rental property? Western Nayarit being our starting place (but miles from any large resort areas). A small fishing or agricultural village would be ideal. Close to the beach would even be better, but anything within driving distance would suffice.

Finally, we are teachers -- young teachers at that -- so we are looking for the bare minimums in living luxury.

Any links to areas, rental properties, contacts - anything at all would be helpful. At this point we are just gathering information.

-- Also, I volunteer teach ESL at the CC at night, so if I could find a place small enough to get to know people where I could teach every summer that would be icing on the cake.

keith

Feb 14, 2003, 1:52 PM

Post #2 of 9 (1506 views)

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Re: [MTD] Trial runs?

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This seems kind of obvious: ask the parents of some of your Nayarit students about this.

MTD

Feb 14, 2003, 2:06 PM

Post #3 of 9 (1482 views)

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Re: [keith] Trial runs?

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Quote

"Most of our (Mexican) friends have suggestions for areas, but these are suggestions from their point of view. We are curious to hear what "gringos" with some experience would suggest."

But where is that picture from? Gorgeous.

Rolly

Feb 14, 2003, 2:51 PM

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Re: [MTD] Trial runs?

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I think I qualify as a gringo with some experience in Mexico. My advice -- listen to your Mexican friends. After all, your goal is to learn about Mexico and get a better perspective on where your students come from and their cultural backgrounds. Since you plan to make is trip several times, why not start their way, then you can find your own way later.

Click on my website to see what I found in Mexico by accepting my Mexican friend's invitation to come live in Mexico.

Have a good visit.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Feb 14, 2003, 5:42 PM

Post #5 of 9 (1416 views)

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Re: [MTD] Trial runs?

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One of the best ways to get the interaction which you are seeking with local can be to work part time in a community, either teaching or with an advocation you possess, this make you no longer just another tourist, to some degree. A source that you might look at is www.transitionsabroad.com which covers the whole world but has some good information. :)

machi

Feb 14, 2003, 8:56 PM

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Re: [MTD] That picture

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Check out the whole website -that will give you an idea of where I (or Keith) would recommend. If you want to do a trial summer there, we could arrange a special deal. (caveat - it's warm there in the summer)

http://home.attbi.com/~ramsay52/home.html

Carole

Feb 15, 2003, 7:19 AM

Post #7 of 9 (1391 views)

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Rincon de Guayabitos and La Penita

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A good website for Western Nayarit is Jaltemba Bay Folk. Do a Google search and you'll find it. Lots of local ex-pat contacts on it.

T0M

Feb 25, 2003, 3:17 PM

Post #8 of 9 (1288 views)

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Re: [Carole] Rincon de Guayabitos and La Penita

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Carole.... how nice of you!

Tom

http://members5.boardhost.com/CasaLibertad/

T0M

Feb 25, 2003, 5:04 PM

Post #9 of 9 (1257 views)

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Re: [MTD] Trial runs?

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Dear Young Teachers....

You do seem like good candidates for residency in our neck of the woods. I think it is never too early to nail down a place to retire. If, in the passing years, you decide it is not The Place, you should be able to sell out with a profit.

If you do your homework, likely you will find that you will not get hurt in real estate. Your friendship with so many Nayarit people is a huge advantage that most people would love to have.

If you know of someone who is returning to visit in Nayarit, you should arrange to be there at the same time and let him or her show you around. They could get word sent ahead of them that they will be having a friend come down who is interested in buying a house.

I think you might have a lot to gain by hanging out at my bulletin board.
It is a very friendly place. It is possible to make friendships that can
lead to you finding that "inside deal" on a rental or purchase property.

http://members5.boardhost.com/CasaLibertad/

Our house is on the beach in La Peñita. It is a nice big house, much improved since Hurricane Kenna. If you find your way to our site, the pictures you see will be outdated.

Our house is booked up pretty solid for the winter seasons but in the summer we do have some availability at greatly reduced rates. For this summer, our rates will be $180 for 7 days, $30 for additional days.

Our domestic person, Gloria, loves to give impromptu Spanish lessons.

The issue that you raise about teaching English is surprisingly, a touchy one. Please allow me to paraphrase you in a devil's advocate kind of way...

You are proposing to do a teaching job for free that others are already doing in a pay status, i.e. it is their job.

Not to worry. There are lots of volunteer opportunities that do not supplant people's jobs. As you read through posts on my board, you will see that Jaltemba Bay Folks are "lots of things" among them; we are very civic-minded people.

See you there?

Tom