Episodes
Sunday Jun 29, 2014
Expat Files - 06/29/14
Sunday Jun 29, 2014
Sunday Jun 29, 2014
-First, on the lighter side: many gringos and expats find watching a bit of Latin TV every day helps them improve their conversational Spanish skills (sure it’s mind-numbing, but that what gods invented tequila for). Do note that as your Spanish improves you will notice strange gaps and odd discrepancies in the way most familiar English programs(ones you have up grown with) have been dubbed. True to form the Latins in charge of TV production often can’t even get the storyline or translations right. Thy even screw up simple childish cartoons like the “Flintstones”. In fact, gringos who know their Spanish well swear the morons doing the translating/dubbing don’t know enough English to get it right so they just invent storylines as they go along.
Sunday Jun 29, 2014
Expat Files - 06/27/14
Sunday Jun 29, 2014
Sunday Jun 29, 2014
-First, on the lighter side: many gringos and expats find watching a bit of Latin TV every day helps them improve their conversational Spanish skills (sure it’s mind-numbing, but that what gods invented tequila for). Do note that as your Spanish improves you will notice strange gaps and odd discrepancies in the way most familiar English programs(ones you have up grown with) have been dubbed. True to form the Latins in charge of TV production often can’t even get the storyline or translations right. Thy even screw up simple childish cartoons like the “Flintstones”. In fact, gringos who know their Spanish well swear the morons doing the translating/dubbing don’t know enough English to get it right so they just invent storylines as they go along.
Friday Jun 27, 2014
Expat Files - 06/27/14
Friday Jun 27, 2014
Friday Jun 27, 2014
Sunday Jun 22, 2014
Expat Files - 06/22/14
Sunday Jun 22, 2014
Sunday Jun 22, 2014
-Ever wonder about those nasty chemtrails that people seem to be arguing about? Do they show up in Latin American skies too? Here’s a Latin sky-watcher’s eyewitness report.
Friday Jun 20, 2014
Expat Files - 06/20/14
Friday Jun 20, 2014
Friday Jun 20, 2014
Sunday Jun 15, 2014
Expat Files - 06/15/14
Sunday Jun 15, 2014
Sunday Jun 15, 2014
-Do to popular demand we're back on that popular subject of buying land and property in Latin America: Long time “Expat Files” listeners know by now that there is a big real estate bubble throughout Latin America that's soon to pop. But if you folks are so well informed, then why do I still get so many emails asking about how to get cheap real estate deals in certain popular Latin American hot spots (fashionable with gringos that is). Seems expat wannabees and gonnabees are itching to get in on a piece of some Latin American ground floor action- wherever it's fashionable- despite of the bubble warning. For example, the latest place that’s been getting a lot of press is Nicaragua. Now get this straight- in a bubble there are no ground floor real estate opportunities. So why do people keep thinking there are? Well for two reasons; (#1) certain popular expat sites and newsletters are way behind the curve, They have no substantial “boots on the ground” experience or ears to the ground at the street level can’t get a grip on what’s unfolding...not to mention they need constant upbeat news items and stories…#2- these expat news and info sites must continuously pump gringo development projects and such because that’s where the commissions are and some do have a piece of the action either directly or indirectly. Bottom line – Don’t believe real estate brokers, even gringo brokers… especially gringo brokers!!! Selling is how they make their dough.
-More on buying or renting land and property out in the boonies.. far from the maddening crowds -My upcoming JULY, 2014 “Expat Wisdom” seminar is set to go so. The dates will be Saturday, July 12 thru Thursday, July 17. The agenda and complete signup details are on the www.ExpatWisdom.com website main page. Just click the Latin American Seminar link on the top of the main page and check it out.
-Do follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private phone, Skype or Mumble consult with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one.
Friday Jun 13, 2014
The Expat Files - 06/13/14
Friday Jun 13, 2014
Friday Jun 13, 2014
Sunday Jun 08, 2014
Expat Files - 06/08/14
Sunday Jun 08, 2014
Sunday Jun 08, 2014
As predicted, the predatory FATCA banking laws that force foreign banks to reveal complete details of US citizen bank accounts to the IRS will be phasing in starting July 1, 2014. And just now we have learned that the 2nd largest bank in Mexico is sending letters to US clients announcing that they will drop or close out all of their existing US client accounts in 30 days, that's June 30th. Remember, there are 1 million US citizens living at least part time in Mexico. Meaning tens of thousands of these unlucky folks must scramble to find other foreign banks to transfer their accounts. But guess what? Other foreign banks won’t open new accounts for US clients either! What to do? Well here are some immediate and long term solutions; no joke, it's really a conundrum for Expats and gonnabees.
- Oddly enough, down here in Latin America about 95 percent of retail businesses do not accept checks. You see signs to that effect everywhere. Though nearly all establishments that are “on the books” (registered and pay taxes) do take VISA, MasterCard and American Express and credit cards issued from foreign banks. Still everyone prefers cash. So then, if most retail businesses do not accept checks at all, why do Latin banks offer them? Why not go skip it altogether and save the rainforest? Here’s the scoop on that.
-My upcoming JULY, 2014 “Expat Wisdom” seminar is set to go so. The dates will be Saturday, July 12 thru Thursday, July 17. The agenda and complete signup details are on the www.ExpatWisdom.com website main page. Just click the Latin American Seminar link on the top of the main page and check it out.
-Do follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one.
Friday Jun 06, 2014
Expat Files - 06/06/14
Friday Jun 06, 2014
Friday Jun 06, 2014
Sunday Jun 01, 2014
Expat Files - 06/01/14
Sunday Jun 01, 2014
Sunday Jun 01, 2014
-When stateside folks hear about $300 a month live-in maids, cleaning ladies, full time gardeners, even nurses and LPN’s at first they don’t believe it’s possible. Most gringos have to see it for themselves. But even after you land down here, suppose you are looking for a maid or an extend-care live-in nurse. How do you go about it? And what if your Spanish sucks?