The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

The Expat Files

- A widespread growing problem; changing and using US paper money. - Shopping tips on how to beat the dollar vs local currency exchange rate. - The truth about counterfeit bills (both US dollars and the local currencies). - Expats and vacationers; you can leave all your $50’s and $100’s back in Cleveland since most banks and retail shops that do take dollars are now accepting only 20 dollar bills (and only when in excellent condition by the way). - Tips on how Expats can beat the next big leg down in the continuing saga of the worldwide financial crisis, and why you shouldn’t believe all that “economic miracle” hype about Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

The Expat Files

- The low low cost of (nearly 1st World) medical care and some typical medical procedure costs. - Latin HMO private medical insurance plans- vs - going raw. And why for some Expats, going raw is NOT such a bad gamble. - National health care 3rd World style. It’s everywhere down here, nothing to brag about, downright dangerous and positively medieval. - Why your pre-existing medical conditions aren’t automatic health insurance disqualifiers. - What you don’t know about street food and the venders who sell it (or, how to ruin a nice vacation in one delicious bite). - Expat tip for the day; Try to read a Spanish language newspaper (at least slog through the headlines). - Question: what’s the fastest way for an Expat to get to know the locals? - Answer: Quit hanging around with other Expats!

The Expat Files

- How high gas prices and the financial crisis are affecting wealthy Latins- the shame of it all! They’re actually being reduced to laying off bodyguards (how demeaning) - The early warning signs of a great shopping mall and retail crash. - Who owns a disproportionate number of retail businesses and sweatshops? You’ll never guess (hint, if you speak a Chinese dialect or Korean, you can write your own ticket down here). - How to make an honest to goodness 1st World salary working for someone else (but it ain’t easy). A word about those high-paying executive and hi-tech 3rd World jobs listed in the back of the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, etc. - Poor but fat; a sad Latin American irony. Probably the two worst 1st World exports to LA - obesity and diabetes. - Why mayonnaise is the national Latin salsa, and margarine the national spread. Very unhealthy, yet they slather them on practically everything (like Americans and their ketchup). - How and why the Latins switched from healthy natural coconut oil to cheap (and unhealthy) refined palm and corn oil (and now down here everything is infused with it).

The Expat Files

- How cell phone companies slyly rip you off on practically every call you make, and nobody cares (or notices). - Trickle down class action 3rd World lawsuits via 1st World lawyers and how they happen. - Phone wars; the proliferation of mind-numbing phone ringback songs Expats have to put up with (another bad 1st World habit that took wings down here). - Who would actually withdraw only $5 (or pesos) from an ATM machine? Why, Latins of course, they do it all the time! - Flex fuel, flex fuel vehicles, and explosive rear-end collisions.

The Expat Files

The Expat Files

The Expat Files

- The underground (informal) economy, and how Latin governments lie about their employment figures (just like the USA does). - More miserable Latin Public school system facts, and why you NEVER want to teach English there (or send your kids there for that matter). - Comparing Latin universities with 1st World universities. - A wide open market; A million English teaching jobs for Expats, some formal, some not. How every day want ads read something like this… “English Teachers Wanted for Exclusive Private School”, No experience necessary, Spanish language skills a plus, but not necessary. Bachelor’s degree required (but don’t worry, even a throw-away one will do; like political science, drama, or sociology). - Whats a TOEFL exam?... And why every upwardly mobile Latin person dreams of passing it (but few do).

The Expat Files

- A warning against using carpets and rugs. - The grossness of hotel rooms (i.e., be wary of hotel beds). - Expats working, it’s mostly illegal, but most everyone does it! Work permits, and what to do if you get caught working without one. - Typical, easy to get jobs that are always available to Expats. - Bar and restaurant tricks, and why, as the night goes on, clients don't get what they pay for. - The national sport - tax evasion. - Why Latin governments prefer Expat business owners over local ones.

The Expat Files

The Lost Art Of Politeness, Manners, And Good Samaritanism (and is samaritanism a real word?): - A genuine politeness gene is alive and well and living in Latin America. - Where kids in public places are actually under control (just like the good old days in your country). How and why Latin kid’s respect for elders differs so much from their 1st World counterparts. - Ritalin and other kiddie behavioral management drugs? Kid management drugs haven’t landed down here… yet! (thank Buddha). - Why Latins on the street, so eager to please, will often give you very bad directions. - Good Samaritans, car trouble, dialing 911, and the value of basic liability auto insurance. - 10 reasons why Latin America is NOT at all a good place to raise your kids (even though they have some excellent private grade schools, K-12).

The Expat Files

A Visit To A Latin American Pharmacy: - Get every medicine you can get up north, plus, a thousand teas, brews, roots, animal parts and herbal concoctions you’ve never heard of. Need some powdered rattlesnake rattle? … ask and you shall receive. - Why generic drugs down here are always 50% cheaper (or even more) than generics in the 1st world (but can you trust them?). - Need a powerful drug or refill? No prescription necessary (no kidding). If so, then why isn’t everyone and his brother walking around like a lifeless zombie? - Where pharmacists aren’t really pharmacists and doctors don’t play golf. - Spanish vs English drug names. What are druggists selling and how do you know what to ask for?