How are Americans in San Miguel de Allende treated? How are expats in San Miguel de Allende treated generally?
Lane Simmons - RE/MAX Colonial San Miguel de Allende
I think a lot of how foreigners are treated anywhere has to do with their foreign predecessors. The enchanting sort of frozen-in-time character of San Miguel in the late 30s and 40s started attracting many iconic Mexican and foreign artists, writers and actors, joined by World War II veterans who got GI Bill money for education and either could live like paupers, barely surviving in the United States off of what the GI Bill would give them, or they could come to San Miguel, attend an...
I think a lot of how foreigners are treated anywhere has to do with their foreign predecessors. The enchanting sort of frozen-in-time character of San Miguel in the late 30s and 40s started attracting many iconic Mexican and foreign artists, writers and actors, joined by World War II veterans who got GI Bill money for education and either could live like paupers, barely surviving in the United States off of what the GI Bill would give them, or they could come to San Miguel, attend an international credited college studying art or Spanish, and afford to have a maid. Not entirely unlike like what’s economically attractive to many of today’s retirees here.
Fortunately for us here today as well as those of us yet to arrive, the assimilation and community involvement of the overwhelming majority of foreigners who’ve chosen to live in San Miguel during the past century, has and continues to result in the extent to which we are warmly welcomed and well treated here. There’s even a street that the city named after a gringo author who moved here in the mid 30s, who worked tirelessly to help the local community, and did a lot to popularize San Miguel.
San Miguel de Allende has more non-profit organizations per capita than any city in Mexico, providing food, shelter, education, and an ever-growing number of other community services. The public library started here by foreigners as well as locals back in the 50s now has more than 60,000 volumes in Spanish, English, German and French, offers many lecture, film and theater events, in addition to granting scholarships to young students and sponsoring numerous cultural activities.
Like any place where the local economy is primarily dependent on tourism, you have opportunists here from Mexico and elsewhere who might unscrupulously participate in the related financial harvest. And it could be alleged that some professionals, shopkeepers, service providers, etc. might quote a higher price to gringos than to Mexicans. But I think you could find comparable price differentiation in any similar marketplace.
After the 9-11-2001 attacks occurred in the US, having been further shocked by TV images I saw showing the specter of celebrations appearing in some parts of the world, I can’t describe how comforting it was here to be blessed with participating in what today I suppose would be called a flash-crowd event in San Miguel’s main plaza, predominately attended by indigenous members of the community manifesting their solidarity with the Americans here.
They had taken some white material like Styrofoam cups, and cut out little doves they tied on string to create necklaces, which were distributed along with candles we lit one with another.
Whatever’s going on in the world today, looking back at the history of the relationship between the United States of America and Mexico, I could imagine an argument for shooting us gringos on sight. But, instead, it’s been my observation that most people here tend to give others a chance to show who we are as fellow human beings before deciding how to treat us.
Right now, I am getting to do some explanatory work with my close Mexican friends regarding the Donald Trump phenomenon, what with his likeness having recently become a popular piñata that I haven’t seen being filled with sweets, but like I’ve said, for the most part here we’re not held responsible for transgressions not our own.
Specifically with regard to retiring and aging here, the culturally inherent respect and admiration with which older folks here are treated is something I wouldn’t know where to find in such abundance elsewhere.
Pictures:
Crowd in San Miguel de Allende after 9-11
Peace candle in San Miguel de Allende Jardin after 9-11
How are the roads in Volcan and Cerro Punta, Chiriqui Province, Panama? Do I need a four wheel drive in Volcan and Cerro Punta, Chiriqui Province, Panama?
John Gilbert - PanamaKeys
For most of the roads in Volcán, especially inside the town of Volcán, a four-wheel drive is not necessary, but to get to my house here in Volcán, you absolutely need a four-wheel drive because I live in an atypical road approximately 10 minutes outside of Volcán. Some of the outlying streets in Volcán feature a rock road, or even a dirt road, like the street where my home is.
(Home and coffee farm, Boquete, Panama,...
For most of the roads in Volcán, especially inside the town of Volcán, a four-wheel drive is not necessary, but to get to my house here in Volcán, you absolutely need a four-wheel drive because I live in an atypical road approximately 10 minutes outside of Volcán. Some of the outlying streets in Volcán feature a rock road, or even a dirt road, like the street where my home is.
(Home and coffee farm, Boquete, Panama, pictured.)
How are the roads in Portugal? Do I need a four-wheel drive in Portugal?
Duncan MacGregor - Duncan MacGregor Accounting
The main highways in Portugal are very good and you pay for them because they have tolls. The secondary roads and the country roads are not as good and that’s where you will definitely need a 4 x 4. Generally, you can drive on regularly paved roads around Lisbon. It’s only when you get to the villages that the roads may be unpaved.
(The single track dirt road to the lighthouse of Ponta dos Rosais, Portugal, pictured.)
The main highways in Portugal are very good and you pay for them because they have tolls. The secondary roads and the country roads are not as good and that’s where you will definitely need a 4 x 4. Generally, you can drive on regularly paved roads around Lisbon. It’s only when you get to the villages that the roads may be unpaved.
(The single track dirt road to the lighthouse of Ponta dos Rosais, Portugal, pictured.)
You have to wait 5 years before you can apply for citizenship in Belize. You have to have a work permit and a residency prior to that and you have to be a functioning person. Once you meet all those requirements, you just have to process the paperwork.
You have to have all your health issues addressed here by having an x-ray, and a physical exam including an aids test. You also have to have a police report from where you lived here for 5 years.
...
You have to wait 5 years before you can apply for citizenship in Belize. You have to have a work permit and a residency prior to that and you have to be a functioning person. Once you meet all those requirements, you just have to process the paperwork.
You have to have all your health issues addressed here by having an x-ray, and a physical exam including an aids test. You also have to have a police report from where you lived here for 5 years.
The process could take a couple of years or if it is an election year they could be looking for new votes so they swear in a bunch of new citizens. There are lots of Guatemalans, Hondurans, and other Central Americans who come to Belize and gain citizenship by the promise of a vote.
What is the cost for health insurance in Nicaragua and how does it work?
Maria Acosta
If you are a Nicaraguan who works here and you are associated with something that is our own version of social security, that social security system provides a certain level of health care for you. If you want to have an exam or laboratory test, they’ going to give you an appointment for 3 weeks later, but you don’t have to pay for it. Usually, you don’t get to choose your doctor.
If you are an expat, US Medicare doesn’t cover your...
If you are a Nicaraguan who works here and you are associated with something that is our own version of social security, that social security system provides a certain level of health care for you. If you want to have an exam or laboratory test, they’ going to give you an appointment for 3 weeks later, but you don’t have to pay for it. Usually, you don’t get to choose your doctor.
If you are an expat, US Medicare doesn’t cover your medical expenses here in Nicaragua. We do, however, have many very good health insurance options. One of the most popular is through the Vivian Pellas Hospital (a world class hospital with international standards of excellence), which has a plan you can join. The monthly cost to you will depend on how old you are, your gender and whether or not you have pre-existing health conditions. In general, I don’t think the monthly fee is more than US $60. This will get you 30% - 70% discounts on the total cost of the hospital services (which, by US standards are already extremely low), including the doctor’s fee. Of course, in order to use this plan, you have to use the Vivian Pellas Hospital. If you need hip replacement surgery, for example, you can have it done there.
If you want an annual physical check-up, Vivian Pellas Hospital also has a package for that. It costs about $450, which includes all doctor-ordered tests.
Many expats do not like to drive in Mexico, so I constantly answer questions about public transportation.
Tijuana has more expats than anywhere else in Mexico and it is a big city, so understandably, many people wonder about the buses and taxis.
The public transportation in Tijuana is very good and is inexpensive. I am familiar with public transportation in the United States, Europe, and Africa. The quality and prices are better in Tijuana than...
Below is the second article I wrote for Next Avenue, a website whose media partners include PBS, Huffington Post, etc., and run by very talented and accomplished public television people and journalists.
As always, this article represents the distilled wisdom of the contributors to our site, who I humbly thank. I would know nothing without them.
Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared on Next Avenue and Forbes on April 27,...
Public transportation in Panamá made history last April 5, 2014 with the inauguration of the first metro (subway) in Central América.
Above and beyond all expectations, the construction of the modern metro was made in 38 months. It has 20 trains of 3 wagons each, accommodating 600 people per train.
But the most amazing thing is that the President of Panamá, Mr. Ricardo Martinelli, a nice and simple fellow,...