The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

The Expat Files - 03/23/12

-Johnny reports on his upcoming Latin American insider’s seminar with more details about it.  For more information on the seminar send email to theexpatfiles@gmail.com and put the word “seminar” in the subject line.

-The continuing saga of Expat Eddie, and his growing aversion to surveillance cameras- and how he’s found a few ways to foil them.

-Eddie shares his pearls of wisdom in regards to expats just like him who have successful Latin American businesses and he explains some of the best and worst things about owning and doing business in Latin America

-Some thoughts on that sinking feeling first world folks often get when they see all those steel bars on windows and the razor wire down here. (The truth regarding negative first impressions)

-Many Latin businesses have a night watchman or guard. Will your new (or prospective) business need a night watchman too?

The Expat Files - 03/16/12

-A word about “part time” expats that straddle both worlds- with one foot in the US and one somewhere in Latin America

-The continuing problems gringos seem to have with Windows operating systems in Spanish, and the trouble we have with those damn Spanish keyboards too. Although ninety-nine percent of every computer bought in Latin America is sold that way, and it’s a big pain at first, trying to conquer a computer configured in Spanish does eventually help you a great deal with the language

-Some tips when you use other people’s computers in Latin America

- The truth about Latin American café internets. Although they are unbelievably cheap on an hourly basis and do come highly recommended, there are some serious caveats and some definite dos and donts when you use them.

The Expat Files - 03/12/12

SHOW #135 - Mon, Mar 12, 2012

-When “lag-time” phenomena (the thing that gives us a nice measure of our “gringo advantage” especially in business) has its unfortunate downside. We can predict that sooner or later everything bad, distasteful, trendy or faddish in the US will also eventually land down here and take root… things like diet foods, energy drinks, multiple piercings, cute tattoos and brain-dead reality shows.

-In all big Latin cities obesity is rearing its ugly head (and belly) but surprisingly, not much fat in the countryside- some disturbing news about Latin eating and dieting habits (but hey....yours probably suck too!)

-Depending on the dish, all local Latins cook with three bad types of oil- corn oil, margarine and lard. Yes I said lard! And those three artery-clogging fats are in most all bakery products too. So next time you get invited to someone’s house for dinner, don't forget to complement the cook while you wolf down that lard.

-Some basic truths about those funny Latin American currencies with all those smiling colonial conquerors and genocidal dictators on them.

-Latin Millionaires: how Latin cultures view the definition of “rich” much differently than we do up north

-Email me on questions about Latin America at theexpatfiles@gmail.com

The Expat Files - 03/09/12

- The real dirt on Uruguay. It’s touted by some to be the next Costa Rica (but so is every other Latin American country, including Costa Rica itself!) -In Uruguay, be prepared for super high import taxes that often double, even triple, the price of cars, appliances and all electronic stuff (almost everything but food is imported!)

-As you go further south into Latin America the fewer English speakers you’ll find. In South America for example, the locals have little need to speak English since their countries do much less commerce with the USA than northern countries like Mexico do.

-Keen observations on both expats and locals who do business in Uruguay (the “gringo advantage” rides again!)

-Banking in Uruguay; under international pressure they’ve just eliminated their formerly very strict bank secrecy laws, which means you can forget having a low-profile life down there (if that’s what you were looking for)

-Security and safety issues in Uruguay

-Email me on questions about Latin America at theexpatfiles@gmail.com

The Expat Files

- The real dirt on the recent prison fire in Honduras that set a new hundred-year prisoner death-toll world record -How people can and do buy their way out of jail -Because in a macho society crimes of passion are endemic, often times the perpetrator gets the court’s sympathy and simply walks -How and why high level Latin politicians almost never go to jail no matter how crooked they are ( or much they steal). They just disappear for a few years, come back, and get re-elected. -Why third world countries sign extradition treaties with the USA, but often don’t make similar treaties with other countries -Why common Latins clamor for the death penalty while their politicians keep hammering against it -A few examples of what can happen when Expats get busted for drugs -Email me on questions about Latin America at theexpatfiles@gmail.com

The Expat Files

-The sad, hard truth about the oligarchs that subtly milk each Latin country (called Criollos). Here’s the scoop on the ten to twenty ultra-rich families that have historically owned and operated traditional industries like coffee, tobacco, sugar as well as owning monopolies on basic products like beer, liquor, steel cement, etc. They, not the politicians, have held the real power since Spanish colonial times and remain a somewhat hidden force behind all high elected officials. And despite lip service to the contrary, they pull the strings that keep the majority indigenous poor population barely educated and as unorganized as possible. Criollos have become rich on dirt cheap indigenous labor and intend to keep it that way. -Here's one easy way that rich Latin families keep score on who they grant (and withhold) their favors -You thought bowling was a lower-middle class, somewhat borderline white-trash pastime? Not in Latin America! Just check out all those bodyguards and late model SUV’s in the parking lot and you’ll see what I mean. -Here’s a good question: if most Latin countries have an indigenous underclass of up to 50% of the total population, and they hate being treated as second and third-class citizens by the rich upper classes in power- then how come they just don’t just organize and vote out the old corrupt regimes and put in their own indigenous leaders? These are democratic countries after all and the Indians certainly have the numbers to pull it off. Answer: it’s complicated! -More reasons why I don’t recommend living or doing business in Mexico (except if you want a nice, cheap vacation) -Some thoughts about driving a car from the states down through Mexico and then on through Central America

The Expat Files

-The truth about those famous “pensionado” programs for first worlder’s in places like Costa Rica, Panama and Chile. And why you should think twice about applying for that dubious status yourself -10 reasons why its not a great idea to move to Panama these days no matter what you’ve read on the internet.  In fact, it can be dangerous to your (financial) health -To bank in Panama or not- an IRS trap meant for you to fall into -The many, many untold advantages of sending your kids to a very high-end Latin American Private University (besides the fact that tuition is only $5000 a year compared $30k in the states) -Email me on questions about Latin America at theexpatfiles@gmail.com

The Expat Files

-Some surprising things you never knew about Latin American sweatshops, and why most Latin countries have a two-tier minimum wage structure.

-You’ll never guess the #1 complaint with sweatshop workers. And it’s not the pay or the heat (why do you think they call them sweatshops?) or the bathrooms!

-Discussing the standard Latin American 44 hour work week

-Every Latin country levies a personal income tax. Even so, nearly everyone pays zero in taxes... and its absolutely legal

-How Latin governments fund their toxic buerocracies

-The truth about Latin American social security (and you thought ours sucked!)

-Latin workers get guaranteed job benefits by law from their employers. Sounds great for workers but its more a gift to employers

The Expat Files

-Some disturbing facts for anyone thinking about moving to Brazil

-Why Brazil is NOT on the US state department’s traveler’s warning list but definitely should be

-DYK three out of four Latin countries make their police officers buy their own bullets? (which is probably a good thing)

- DYK that Brazil is the only major country that does not allow derivatives trading or the holding of derivatives in their bank portfolios? (an undoubtedly great thing!)

-The truth about trying to live off your savings in Latin America

-How to land a good job (in your chosen career) with a first world trans-national company even before you land in Latin America

-A bit about the IRS foreign earned income tax exemption

-Email me on questions about Latin America at theexpatfiles@gmail.com

The Expat Files

-Johnny describes more of his upcoming very special Latin American Insider’s seminar

-Some pertinent email questions from a non-Spanish speaker who’s about to make his/her first trip down to Latin America -How to find an honest cab driver and a safe, cheap hotel when you first step off a plane in an unknown Latin country

-Some very short and easy phrases for non-Spanish speakers that will get you through the first few bumpy days

-How to accurately determine the good, bad and the ugly parts of any Latin town when you first arrive (even a night!)

-Taxi tricksters and what you need to watch out for

-More tips for finding and hooking up with a Latin lawyer on your first time down

-Due to the First World “lag time” effect, paper telephone books are NOT dead in the water like they are in Cleveland, not by a long shot

-Email me on questions about Latin America at theexpatfiles@gmail.com