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A guide to moving to Latin America, finding work, and settling in.
Episodes
Friday Jul 25, 2014
Friday Jul 25, 2014
Sunday Jul 20, 2014
Sunday Jul 20, 2014
-Now for a small report on the latest Expat Wisdom seminar. Since this show was recorded on Saturday, the day after the official last day “boots on the ground” experience- it’s still very fresh in in the minds of the attendees.
-Locals are complaining about Venezuela’s new $20 Airport “air quality” travel tax levied at Caracas International airport. Its ostensibly to pay for the new ozone air purifiers installed in the terminal- never mind that the airport bathrooms have no water or TP, the escalators have long since ceased to function, there are packs of stray dogs actually living inside the terminal and there are 70 plus broken windows all over the place. Duh? The only good thing is that most gringos and expats will never ever venture near the place. (Unfortunately I recently did)
From the “be careful what you wish for department”: First world people believe many Latin countries are socialist or have a heavy socialist bent. In fact, most halfway intelligent first-world folks know the names of a certain few standouts: Cuba, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador (and maybe Nicaragua). Then what about the other 15 Latin countries? Where do they stand politically? Well, sorry to say, they are all socialist leaning countries to varying degrees (yeah, like yours isn’t?) Here’s the scoop on that…
-Cameras are starting to pop up in all Latin American big cities. Many busy street corners now have them. Are we being tracked and cataloged? Should expats worry? Here’s the real story.
-When gringos and expats pass through Latin airports they’re almost always pleasantly surprised- find out why.
-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.
Sunday Jul 13, 2014
Sunday Jul 13, 2014
-Down here in Latin America there are little hole-in-the-wall upholstery shops everywhere. The fact is that many of the little guys operating these business are true artists that can repair or re-cover any piece of furniture or auto seat like new. Don't judge them by the condition of their shops, cloths or amount of scattered debris. Most can expertly re-upholster even a very common, cheap, chair or sofa, etc., in fine leather if you like. So, if it isn’t against your sensibilities to sit on dead cow parts- amazingly enough the cost of the leatherwork will certainly be less expensive than having the equivalent job done in cheap vinyl up in the states. Meaning, if leather furniture was always a bit extravagant or out of your price range in Cleveland- down here you can shoot the works and not feel guilty(except maybe about the dead cow).
-Did you know that most Latin families have a vacuum cleaner in the closet somewhere but almost no one in the family (including the cleaning lady) ever uses it? Why? Most all of them get terribly abused right out of the box and simply break down fast. And as for the rest? They're often too clogged to work efficiently. Again, it’s about the maintenance(surprised?). The fact is, most cleaning ladies and maids are afraid to use anything mechanical anyhow, lest the item break down and they get blamed for it(they do take the heat for broken stuff all of the time and often get docked for it).
From the “be careful what you wish for department”: If you play the piano, or have the desire to own a “real” acoustic model… we’re not talking about an electric keyboard model here… then there are some important things you need to know about having delicate instruments like that down here in Latin America. In fact any instrument that has a lot of real wood incorporated in it, be it a violin, guitar, viola, double bass, cello, etc., all need a certain amount of special care, attention and maintenance. As you know, these concepts that are foreign to most Latin folks.. even the educated ones (why do you think its called the 3rd world bub?)
-INSECT INVASIONS PART 2, Rule #1: Never attempt to swat an insect that’s bigger than your head.
-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 Jul 11, 2014
Friday Jul 11, 2014
Sunday Jul 06, 2014
Sunday Jul 06, 2014
-From the “be careful what you wish for" department: More stories from the trenches- as well as a sad tale from wealthy expat gringo whose Latina wife’s “putting’ on the Ritz” act and first-world spending habits have caused him to seriously consider moving to another Latin city or country to regain his formerly simple, un-entangled life. Why? Because in the Colombian city where he lives now his family has such a high profile it’s like living in a fishbowl. So now, he’s had an epiphany and is talking about ditching it all (most of it anyway) and getting anonymous again. He much preferred his life 15 years ago when he first arrived- when he was a relative gringo nobody and was much less stressed. Our successful gringo is one of the many expats who’ve found out the hard way that once you lose your low-profile it’s almost impossible to crawl back under the radar. Bottom line: don’t let anyone suck you into the classist, uber-materialistic Latin lifestyle.
-Part 4 of Crime and Safety in Latin America Tips on protecting you and your property if you decide to live the gentleman farmer/homesteader's life out in the boonies
-In various parts of the Latin American boonies, squatters do infrequently set down roots on what they perceive to be abandoned or untended land. If so, what can a gringo/expat agricultural landowner do to evict such intruders? There many ways to handle the problem though it can be a very delicate situation. Even when you’re entirely in the right, the last thing you want to do is make enemies or upset a local family clan.
-Some tips on how smart expat ladies stay very safe on the streets of Latin America
-Last call for my upcoming JULY, 2014 “Expat Wisdom” seminar. There’ still time to sign on. 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.
-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 Jul 04, 2014
Friday Jul 04, 2014
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
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
Friday Jun 27, 2014
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.