American Families Living in Mexico

[@bajaboy29]

Our kids are thriving here. Both of our kids have top marks in school (public). Both have lots of opportunities to explore their academic interests. In fact, our son goes to Tamaulipas in a few weeks to compete at the national level for short story. Both of our kids also have lots of opportunities in sports, too. Last year, our daughter made the BCS all-star softball team and went to Acapulco for a national competition. She also competed and placed 3rd at the state Olympics in heptathlon. I forgot to mention all of the travel expenses are covered by the government. Both of our kids are bilingual, too. Our kids are 14 and 16. Cheers 🎉

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Wow - thanks for sharing. And congrats on having such great kids!

[@lunamoments]

Love LOVE this video! This is what I have been waiting for. I appreciate your hard work and doing the research that you do. Especially for this video. I have a 14 and 9 year old who are so excited for when our transition to Mexico comes. They also enjoyed the video!!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Wonderful! I knew I had a few subscribers with kids and I really wanted to make this video. It was just more work to coordinate with 3 families so I procrastinated. Glad to hear it's appreciated. Best of luck on your move south!

[@Mongoose-ct6us]

I can't wait to see your Oaxaca videos. Saludos

[@cindyk3076]

Good information for those moving with kids!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Absolutely!

[@Wilfredos_]

We started middle school in Queretaro. 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

That's awesome. What are your kids up to now?

[@MexPatLife]

Very good information and view points!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Thank you!

[@nick06202009]

I’m moving in nov- December to La Paz with my 13 yr old son

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

That's awesome. Have you chosen a school? Or homeschooling?

[@caifasmana]

Hello there, this is Fernando. My family would love to extend our friendship and experience we gathered during our move here from AZ. From schools, our 13 yr old experience in his school, to immigration process for my wife to become a permanent resident, cost of living, etc. Feel free to reach out anytime.

[@nick06202009]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I was thinking Homeschooling but now that I seen your videos of parents putting their children in private schools I might have to look more into that. I have an 8th grader.

[@mwiebe2663]

Canadian family doctor here. Just one comment about the birth being “cost effective compared to the US or Canada”. If someone is a resident or citizen of Canada, the cost of having a baby is all part of the publicly funded universal healthcare system. There is no extra cost or co-pay for the actual medical care. At some hospitals there might be an extra cost if you want a private room (vs. semiprivate).

[@davebaker489]

Or maybe a midwife. But that's about it here in the civilized Americas.

[@mwiebe2663]

@@davebaker489 At least in Ontario, midwives are also part of the public system. Midwives are very popular with moms to be, as they do tend to spend more time with their patients. Honestly, it can be harder to get in with a midwife than an OB. Training in midwifery is quite rigorous.

[@GreggGordon]

Yes, that's the exact same thought I had when she said that. And it was specifically that a caesarean was much more cost effective than in Canada, which made no sense.

[@davebaker489]

@@mwiebe2663 Yes I know. A very good friend of mine ... Well actually his wife had all 5 kids at home via a midwife. Although she actually taught mid wives she had not attained her "papers" yet. And that was at a $$$ cost. A cost they felt was very worthwhile. But that was over 25 yrs ago in Ontario.

[@mwiebe2663]

@@davebaker489 Yes, back in the day midwives were not formally accredited and not covered under OHIP. That changed in 1994, when they were integrated into our healthcare system. I was very happy to see that happen!

[@cl2385]

Being born in Acapulco with one parent being an American I did attend a public school in the Naval Base. Most of the Naval officer kids attended and the other local kids. It was a good school by Mexican standards. But, uniforms do not stop the bullying. Some of my worst memories are from the years at that school. If you were a "blend" Mex/American it was a bull's eye on you. My dad went to the school and met up with those bullies and told them to stop or else they would get a whipping from him and showed them the leather belt. That stopped them but my dad had enough and took us to California and have lived here ever since. Everyone has different experiences, so hopefully these schools have a bullying policy in place.

[@davebaker489]

I'm a "white" kid from Toronto. App. 65 yrs ago I travelled with my Grandmother to England. We were there about 6 months (shipping strike and she would NOT fly). Since my Aunt, we were visiting ,was also, a school principal it was decided I should attend 1 of her 2 schools. It did not go well. Once they understood I was a foreigner I became a target. A group of about 30 kids decided to "kill" me. I "took out" 3 or 4 of them before the teachers noticed and came running. Needless to say I did not return to school in London. You don't need to be mixed race kid or "blended". You only need to be different, and I was. I was Canadian and sounded funny with my Canadian accent. We all survived and happily (on both sides) I have Never returned. It made me stronger and likely , you too.

[@cl2385]

@@davebaker489 You poor thing! I did have something similar happen to me at that school but not the physical beating that you were facing. I just got locked out of the classroom until the teacher arrived.

[@Mongoose-ct6us]

Do you know if flights to La Paz starting in December will be Permanent or just seasonal? Thanks in advance. Gracias por adelantado. Saludos

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

I think they will be seasonal. And I believe they are still "pending government approval."

[@mwiebe2663]

Even though I’m past my child-rearing years (which I spread over 3 decades 🥹) and I’m now an abuela, I found the video interesting and very enjoyable. I especially liked hearing Serat’s perspective. I am curious as to why in the 3rd interview there was very fast-paced background music? I found it very distracting and for me it actually made it harder to concentrate on what was being said in the interview. Maybe it’s just me. But the first 2 interviews didn’t have background music, so I’m wondering why it was added to the last interview.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Congrats on completing your 30 years of child rearing! Sorry about the music. Do you listen to these videos with headphones on by any chance? Some folks say they can hardly hear the music, others think it's too loud. I'm trying to find out the pattern. As to why it's in the last interview and not the others, it's actually a simple reason: my editor thought that the final interview was the entire video. I like to start with some background music and then have a bit later in the video. But he did it for this entire "video" then he added the other two interviews and neither of us noticed the music was still in for interview #3. So a simple oversight. Thanks for mentioning it as it helps me hone in on my ideal style.

[@mwiebe2663]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Thanks - from first child being born to last child turning 18 were actually nearly 35 yrs! But well worth it. They’ve all grown into lovely, well adjusted and responsible adults.

[@mwiebe2663]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico In terms of the music, I was listening on my phone. Music is “value added” when there’s no dialogue, but I find it distracting when listening to an interview (IMHO). And the particular music was really energetic and felt out of step with the pace of the interview. I was interested in the interview, otherwise I would have actually stopped watching/listening (because of the music). And I’m a definite music lover! My preferred genre is mostly Spanish/Latin music.

[@mwiebe2663]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Some day you and Cat will have to come visit us in Tepoztlan, Morelos and I will make sure you practice speaking Spanish during your visit. I’m fluent. (I’ve been speaking Spanish even longer than child rearing!)

[@TerriSchrager]

Could you give me Blanca’s contact info? I would like her help with buying a vehicle, and lots of other things. Thanks! My husband and I really enjoy your videos. Keep em coming!

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Thanks! The best way to reach Blanca is through WhatsApp (if you don't have this app yet, you'll need it when living in Mexico as it's the most common communication tool.) Here's her number: [phone] But don't message on Sunday ;-) It can be considered rude in Mexico to talk business on Sunday.

[@Tbaz-u4r]

When buying a home in Mexico, should I make the offer in pesos or in dollars? 🤔🤔🤔

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

It depends on the house. If it’s listed in pesos, offer pesos. Most likely if you are buying from a Mexican, offer pesos. If buying from a foreigner, then dollars.

[@Tbaz-u4r]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico thank you!

[@davebaker489]

Good to know but not a problem for us. We might need doggie daycare but that's were it ends. Well until we need our diapers changed. I'm hoping to put that off for a "few more years" .

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

Maybe I need to make the exact same video: 3 families and their dogs moving to Mexico. Then we’ll see which is more popular :-)

[@davebaker489]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico We'd watch.😁😁

[@ralphhanson2194]

I want to come too! Veteran....stroke......help me please...72 Years...good shape...just can't communicate well.....

[@Bety_kits]

SERAS BIENVENIDO A MI PAIS....GUERRERO...❤

[@ralphhanson2194]

@@Bety_kits in English please????

[@davebaker489]

I believe if you are willing to try, if you will put in the effort they will try to help you.

[@ralphhanson2194]

Just need a bed and a microwave .....please help

[@ralphhanson2194]

I have trying 1 year....

[@wolensen]

Stop calling yourselves "expat" YOU ARE IMMIGRANTS and you are welcome.

[@davebaker489]

Agreed

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

@@wolensen why is “expat” wrong? I usually use a combination of expat, foreigner, immigrant and extranjero.

[@davebaker489]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico My thoughts are if you come to a new country , you are either a Tourist, On Business or an Immigrant. The term expat is just used to soften the fact that you left your "Home" and exchanged it for another .

[@davebaker489]

@@AlmostRetiredinMexico You can call a rest breasted bird a bird or you can call it a Robin. Neither is wrong. 1 is more specific I suppose.

[@AlmostRetiredinMexico]

@@davebaker489 One may imply certain things in some people's minds (the robin reminds me of spring more than just "bird." In some minds, expat implies colonizer. To others it does not imply that.) So I try to use many different words. But from an SEO perspective, people use Expat to describe moving to Mexico from the US and Canada, so I use that in my titles.