The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

The Expat Files 5.25.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun and mark off August 15th through 22nd on your calender. Get some serious “boots on the ground” in both Guatemala and El Salvador by going to www.expatplanb.com and clicking on the

seminar link. Sign up by June 1^st to get in on the early-bird discounts.

 

#2- Pure versus so-so versus contaminated H2O in Latin America:

What you absolutely need to know about the water if you are going to live south of the border.

 

#3- Today we have another stark boots-on-the-ground example of why the phrase “no good deed goes unpunished” is alive and well in Latin America:

 

#4- An update on the plastic pollution problem in Latin America:

 

#5- Why and how gringos consistently waste money in Latin American appliance and hardware stores: 

#6- Does the Latin American media have Trump derangement syndrome too? 

#7- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

The new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#8- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

 

 

 

 

 

The Expat Files 5.23.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun and mark off August 15th through 22nd on your calender. For some serious boots on the ground in both Guatemala and El Salvador go to www.expatplanb.com click on the seminar link and get in on the early bird discount.   

#2- Bullshit jobs and just plain shit jobs in Latin America:

 

#3- Books and the lost art of reading in Latin America:

 

#4- Do Latinos care about current events?

 

#5- Remissas and a cool thought experiment:

 

#6- TEN good reasons why Panama is not a good Plan-B destination: 

#7- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#8- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 5.16.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun and mark off August 15th through 22nd on your calender. For some serious boots on the ground in both Guatemala and El Salvador go to www.expatplanb.com click on the seminar link and get in on the early bird discount.   

#2- Why so many disagreeable gringos and expats in Latin America?

 

#3- Costa Rica is in decline;

It has priced itself out of the middle class tourist market while continuing to lie about the large crime increases perpetrated on tourists: 

#4- About those upscale Latin American houses that look great from the street but inside aren’t fit for man nor beast:

 

#5- The sorry state of aquariums in Latin America:

Those poor fish… 

 

#6- Ceilling fans in Latin American homes:

Great idea, poor execution … 

#7- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#8- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 5.11.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun and mark off August 15th through 22nd on your calender. Get your boots on the ground and drink from the fire hose in Guatemala and El Salvador. Just go to www.expatplanb.com click on the seminar link and get in on the early bird discount. 

 

#2- Does Uber have a future in Latin America?

No not much… 

 

#3- More proof most Latinos only think about the present:

 

#4- Being anonymous in Latin America:

Is it still possible?

 

#5- The singing dentist Round #2:

Getting dental implants in Latin America…

 

#6- When a Latin American CIRCUS is in town should you check it out?

Don’t laugh, most Circuses travelling through Latin America are lots of fun and here’s why… 

#7- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#8- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 5.9.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun. Mark August 15th through 22nd on your calendar and join me for a week as we drink from the fire hose in both Guatemala and El Salvador. To get in on the early bird discounts just go to www.expatplanb.com and click on the seminar link.     

 

#2- "SIN VERGUENZA” is a phrase you will hear a lot here in Latin America:

It means whne a person is without shame or one who is shameless.

Time to elaborate…. 

#3- Does it surprise you that Latinos are NOT very good at keeping secrets? 

 

#4- I'm not complaining but......since when have both fat, skinny and normal Latinas universally decided to strut at will in yoga pants that are two sizes too small? 

 

#5- If you hear your Latino or Latina significant other use the word “disimula”… its a sign you might soon be in the dog house: 

#6- Unstable and chaotic romantic relationships seem to be the norm in Latin America: 

 

#7- A word about the millions of Latino deadbeat dads who leach off of their exes:

They’re everywhere… just swing a dead cat and you’re bound to hit one.

 

#8- Now for a most embarrassing moment…

 #9- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#10- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 5.4.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun. Mark August 15th through 22nd on your calendar and join me in spending the week drinking from the fire hose in both Guatemala and El Salvador…  

 

#2- Expats living the “beach house” life:

Is it what it’s cracked up to be? Today we discuss the pros and cons of living the Expat beach house retirement dream…

 

#3- A listener proposes a totally un-PC Latin American IQ test:

Un-PC yes…but somehow it makes sense… 

#4- Social media addicts in Latin America: 

#5- The extraordinary privileges of upscale bicycle clubs in Latin America:

#6- Garage sales, estate sales and rummage sales in Latin America:

 

#7- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

 

#8- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

 

The Expat Files 5.2.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun and mark August 15th through 22nd on your calender. We’ll be spending that week drinking from the fire hose in both Guatemala and El Salvador…   

 

#2- Scammed in Latin America:

It’s happened to me a few times, but you live and learn. Don’t think you’re so smart that it can’t happen to you…

 

#3- Latin America is ripe for pyramid schemes and multi-level marketing scams:

Scammers continue to target millions of gullible Latinos who don’t really have the money to spare…

#4- A listener who has traveled to Mexico many times says, “Johnny, you’re all wrong about Mexico and here’s why”:

 

#5- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 4.27.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”:

Join in the fun and mark August 15^th through 22^nd on your calender because we’ll be spending the week drinking from the fire hose in both Guatemala and El Salvador…  

#2- A world travelling Expat listener tells us about his worst Air B&B experiences in Colombia: 

 

#3- Huelgas, protests and roadblocks:

Get use to it…their just the facts of life in Latin America…

#4- What you need to know about using WAZE in Latin America: 

#5- The pitfalls of caller ID: 

#6- Mexican Narco Music- Part 2: 

#7- Cancelling US travel visas …the US government’s best revenge against scumbag Latino narcos, bureaucrats and politicians:

 

#8- There’s a new breed of Airport thieves:

How tired, worn out, travelers get scammed by astute airport bad guys...

#9- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#10- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 4.25.25

#1- Announcing Johnny’s August 2025 “Expat Insider Seminar”: 

#2- A world travelling listener chimes in by saying the occasionally disgusting Latin American bathrooms are nothing compared to the crap bathrooms she’s seen in certain parts of Europe

#3- More very odd latin American personal names that will make you either laugh or cry:  

#4- More bad news for all you tattooed folks :

 

#5- Our man in Oaxaca Mexico finally throws in the towel:

After 8 years his paradise has turned sour..

#6- three trips to Mexico with the wife and robbed three times:A very unlucky listener chimes in…

 

 #7- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#-8 Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com 

The Expat Files 4.20.25

#1- The annoying “one upmanship” problem that certain expats and gringos seem to want to bring to the table: 

 

#2- Expats and their tired old “war stories”:

Why do certain Expats blather on about what they used to own and what they lost in the divorce? Why do they still carry around old photos of that lost beach house and Range Rover?

 

#3- Expats and gringos, be advised that no one wants to see photos of your kids or grandkids

or hear about their spectacular brilliance:

Its dead boring to hear about any of that since no one gives a shit

about them except you… 

#4- A word about Chapi’s and Chapiadores (aka, gold-digging Latinas): 

 

#5- In defense of those Latinas who prefer much older gringo men:

You probably think its all about the money. Mostly true, but you may change your mind a bit after hearing a 28 year old Latina tell her story… 

#6- Be sure to pick up my newly updated, "LATIN AMERICAN HEALTHCARE REPORT":

the new edition for 2025 (and beyond) is available now, including the latest "Stem Cell Clinic" info and data and my top picks for the best treatment centers for expats and gringos. Just go to www.ExpatPlanB.com     

#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

bewarecaptainmango@gmail.com