Mexico: The Trick Is Living Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (Page 6)
DISCLAIMER (Page 6)
INTRODUCTION (Page 7)
- INTRODUCTION: MEET THE AUTHOR (Page 7)
- INTRODUCTION: THE AUTHOR'S TRAVELS THROUGHOUT MEXICO (Page 9)
- INTRODUCTION: LIFE IN MEXICO (Page 10)
- THE KEY TO IT ALL: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS (Page 11)
CLIMATE AND HOUSING (CUERNAVACA AS AN EXAMPLE) (Page 11)
- TRANSPORTATION: TAXIS (Page 14)
- TRANSPORTATION: TAXI PRICES (Page 15)
- TRANSPORTATION: BUSSES (Page 15) Click here to read an excerpt
- TRANSPORTATION: CITY BUSSES (Page 15)
- TRANSPORTATION: INTER-CITY BUSSES (Page 18)
- TRANSPORTATION: GOING TO THE BATHROOM (Page 20)
- TRANSPORTATION: YOU BEHIND THE WHEEL (DRIVING) (Page 21)
- JULIA'S RULES FOR DRIVING IN MEXICO (Page 23)
EATING IN MEXICO (Page 25)
- EATING IN MEXICO: DRINKING WATER (Page 25)
- EATING IN MEXICO: GROCERY SHOPPING AND THE ART OF THE MARKET (Page 26)
- EATING IN MEXICO: GETTING SOME FIBER (Page 31)
HEALTH CARE IN MEXICO (Page 32)
- HEALTH: PRIVATE VS. PUBLIC HEALTH CARE (Page 32)
- PUBLIC (Page 32)
- PRIVATE DOCTORS (Page 33)
- HEALTH: WATCH OUT FOR IMSS (Page 34)
- HEALTH: FINDING A DOCTOR YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH IN ENGLISH (Page 36)
- HEALTH: HONESTY AND PROFESSIONALISM AMONG DOCTORS (Page 37)
- HEALTH: PRIVATE HOSPITALS (Page 38)
- HEALTH: THE COST OF PRIVATE DOCTORS IN MEXICO (Page 40)
- HEALTH: FORMAL HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE (Page 40)
- GASTOS MEDICOS MAYORES (Page 41)
- GASTOS MEDICOS MENORES (Page 41)
- HEALTH: PHARMACIES (Page 41)
- HEALTH: ANTIBIOTICS (Page 42)
- HEALTH: HOW TO GET SICK (LUCKILY, I'M NOT REALLY AN EXPERT IN THIS) (Page 44)
THE "BENNIES:" SOME WAYS TO LIVE IT UP IN MEXICO (Page 45)
- BENEFIT 1: ICE-CREAM (Page 45)
- BENEFIT 2: LEMONADE (Page 46)
- BENEFIT 3: ITALIAN FOOD THAT WILL FIT INTO YOUR BUDGET (Page 46)
- BENEFIT 4: FRESH FRUIT (Page 46)
- BENEFIT 6: TACOS (Page 49)
- BENEFIT 7: SUN (Page 50)
- BENEFIT 8: WALKING LIFESTYLE 50)
- BENEFIT 9: YOUR POSITION OF PRESTIGE (IF YOU ARE WHITE) (Page 51)
WORKING: YES, IT'S A THIRD-WORLD COUNTRY (Page 51)
- WORKING: TEACHING ENGLISH (Page 52)
- WORKING: UH-OH, I HATE TEACHING (Page 53)
- WORKING: A THIRD WORLD INCOME (Page 53)
- WORKING: GETTING DOCUMENTATION (Page 55)
- WORKING: PAYING TAXES (Page 56)
DOCUMENTS: HOW TO DO PAPERWORK IN MEXICO (Page 56)
- DOCUMENTS: THE BASICS (Page 56)
- DOCUMENTS: GETTING YOUR IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS (FM3) (Page 57)
- APOSTILLES: (Page 59)
- SPECIAL INFORMATION ON APPLYING FOR FM3S WITHIN MEXICO: (Page 60)
- PERMISSION TO BRING YOUR HOUSEHOLD ITEMS: (Page 61)
- TIPS FOR THE FM3 PROCESS: (Page 61)
- DOCUMENTS: GIVING UP OR RETAINING RESIDENCY FOR CANADIAN CITIZENS (Page 62)
- 7 FACTORS UNIQUE TO CANADIANS LIVING IN MEXICO: (Page 63)
- INFORMATION ON RESIDENCY IN CANADA AND TAX RESPONSIBILITIES: (Page 65)
- DOUGLAS GRAY'S POINTERS ON TAXATION: (Page 66)
- DOCUMENTS: GETTING YOUR MEXICAN DRIVER'S LICENSE (Page 67)
- PERMANENT DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR MEXICO CITY RESIDENTS: (Page 68)
- DOCUMENTS: LICENSING YOUR CAR FROM THE UNITED STATES OR CANADA (Page 68)
- REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO GET PERMISSION TO BRING YOUR CAR INTO THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO: (Page 70)
- NOTES ABOUT THE PERMISSION TO BRING YOUR CAR INTO THE INTERIOR OF MEXICO: (Page 71)
- DOCUMENTS: LICENSING YOUR CAR PURCHASED IN MEXICO (Page 73)
- LICENSING (TENENCIAS): (Page 73)
- EMISSIONS TESTING: (Page 75)
- DOCUMENTS: PURCHASING YOUR CAR IN MEXICO (Page 76)
- DOCUMENTS: WHY YOU MUST INSURE YOUR CAR-THERE IS NO TRUTH (Page 76)
- TIPS FROM AN INSURANCE AGENT: (Page 79)
- WHEN NOT TO USE YOUR INSURANCE: (Page 80)
- DOCUMENTS: INSURING YOUR CAR FROM THE UNITED STATES (Page 80)
- DOCUMENTS: BANKING (Page 81)
- A "SHORT" LIST TO GET STRAIGHT ANSWERS ABOUT FEES: (Page 82)
- THE IF-YOU-DON'T-ASK-I-WON'T-TELL SYSTEM: (Page 83)
- DOCUMENTS: PAYING BILLS (Page 84)
- DOCUMENTS: CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN BORN IN MEXICO TO CANADIAN CITIZENS (Page 85)
- YOUR NEW-BORN CANADIAN'S CCC AND PASSPORT IN 8 STEPS: (Page 86)
- DOCUMENTS: CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN BORN IN MEXICO TO U.S. CITIZENS (Page 87)
- YOUR NEW-BORN U.S. CITIZEN'S CRBA AND PASSPORT IN 11 STEPS: (Page 90)
- DOCUMENTS: GETTING MEXICAN BIRTH CERTIFICATES (Page 91)
- YOUR NEW-BORN'S MEXICAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE IN 9 STEPS: (Page 92)
- DOCUMENTS: GETTING MEXICAN PASSPORTS FOR CHILDREN BORN IN MEXICO (Page 93)
- DOCUMENTS: RECEIVING YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS IN MEXICO (Page 94)
CULTURAL INFORMATION: IMPORTANT ETIQUETTE AND WHAT NOT TO DO (Page 95)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: GREETINGS AND LEAVE TAKINGS (Page 96)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: GETTING HELP AT STORES (Page 97)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: LIES THAT PROTECT SOMEONE'S EGO (Page 98)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: NEVER SAY NO, JUST TELL AN UNTRUTH (Page 100)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: GESTURES (Page 101)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: TALK SOFTLY (Page 102)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: BEING ALONE AND CULTURE SHOCK (Page 102)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: HEY LADIES, TUMMIES ARE ALLOWED (Page 103)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: CHINELOS (Page 104)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: NEIGHBORHOOD PARTIES (Page 105)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS (Page 108)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: QUANTITY SCHMANTITY (Page 112)
- CULTURAL INFORMATION: SOUNDS THAT COMMUNICATE (Page 112)
HOUSING (Page 113)
- HOUSING: FINDING A PLACE TO RENT (Page 113)
- HOUSING: TYPICAL RENTALS (Page 114)
- HOUSING: FURNISHING YOUR PLACE (Page 116)
- HOUSING: RENTING A ROOM (Page 118)
- HOUSING: COST OF LIVING (Page 118)
- LOW: (Page 119)
- MEDIUM: (Page 120)
- HIGH: (Page 121)
- HOUSING: IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR NEW HOUSE A HOME (Page 122)
- HOUSING: PROTECTING YOUR HOME (Page 123)
- PHYSICAL PRECAUTIONS: (Page 123)
- COMMUNITY PRECAUTIONS: (Page 124)
LAUNDRY: NO, YOU DON'T GET TO OPERATE THE MACHINE YOURSELF (Page 124) Click here to read an excerpt
COMMUNICATION (Page 126)
- TELEPHONES: THE TELMEX TORTURE (Page 126) Click here to read an excerpt
- TELEPHONES: PAY PHONES (Page 128)
- TELEPHONES: PHONE CARDS (Page 129)
- E-MAIL: STAYING IN TOUCH (Page 130)
- E-MAIL: THE @ KEY (Page 131)
- MAIL: RECEIVING IT AT YOUR HOUSE (Page 131) Click here to read an excerpt
- MAIL: SENDING INTERNATIONAL MAIL (Page 132)
PARTING ADVICE (Page 132)
- WHERE'S WALDO-LIKE STREET SCENES (Page 132)
- ADVICE: DR. JULIA IS IN (Page 133)
- THE JOY OF DISCOVERY (Page 136)
APPENDIX: A DAY OF THE DEAD PHOTO GALLERY (Page 137)
Click here to learn how to purchase Mexico: The Trick is Living Here.