Tag Archives: Mexico

April 23, 2025 · 11:50 am

Getting Stuff Done Before the End of the World

I’ve been watching the ups and downs of the US economy, trying to figure out how it will affect me in Mexico. From what I can tell, Mexicans dependent on their jobs at US factories located in Mexico might be in for a bumpy ride. In April, several Mexican production plants closed or paused operations.

However, we have a strong local economy and are not dependent on imported items. So, food and shelter seem stable enough. Clothing not so much—even though I live in a textile-centered area, I’m never very happy with local apparel options. Fortunately, there were end-of-season sales at Surbubia and Coppel in the next town over that I stumbled upon, and I was able to stock up on some long-overdue wardrobe necessities. That ought to keep me for a while.

Amazon purchases are on hold for me. The import increase Amazon implemented in January has diminished my desire for any online shopping. Unfortunately, all of my books are printed in the US, so when I want a copy of my own writing, I’ll have to suck it up and pay more.

I have also been concerned about my job. I teach English to students around the world. With the fear that international students are feeling about forced ICE disappearances, English may not be in such high demand, which will impact my hours and, of course, pay.

Then there are some banking worries. I currently have a Capital One 360 online account that I set up some time ago. When Skype announced they were shutting down, I was a bit panicked. Changes in policies meant that I could not use another VOIP number for verification purposes, like I did when I set up the account. After considerable research, I signed up with OpenPhone, which is still a VOIP, but I could port my existing Skype phone number, which meant I didn’t have to change my phone number on record for my bank account.

I’m sure this is a temporary fix, so I also inquired at my job about switching my paycheck deposits to a Mexican bank (which I could do since they pay via a third-party payment platform).

Only, to open a new Mexican bank account, I need to have a valid US passport since my permanent residency card, CURP, and RFC are not enough. My passport expired in October of last year, and I had been putting off renewing because of the cost and hassle. After some extensive research, I determined I could renew by mail. Hot dog!

I had my son take my picture and ran it through an online passport picture checker to ensure it was okay. Then I went to a local photo place and had them print it out. I paid online and received an email confirmation. Next stop was to print out and sign the application and the payment confirmation email, which I did at a ciber in town. Then I attached my photo and headed to DHL. There, I paid for two waybills, one to send everything to the consulate in Guadalajara and one to receive it at the DHL office.

A few days later, I received a confirmation email that said everything looked good. Then a few days after that, I received an email that said they were printing my passport and would send it out shortly. Of course, Semana Santa messed with the shipping schedule, but I received an email the following week confirming it was on its way. Then I just had to wait for it to arrive at the DHL office before going and picking it up.

My banking worries aren’t over yet. I’m due for a new bank card this month. The card is sent to my friend’s house in the US, who then sends it to me. Last time, it ended up in Guatemala on its round-the-world trek. Hopefully, this time, there will be no issues. If I must, I will set up a Mexican bank account, but you know how much I love banking, and I’ll delay as long as I can.

I’m also a bit anxious about the latest student loan repayment process set to begin next month. When there was a chance for forgiveness or forbearance, I applied. But now that those options have been taken off the table, and wage garnishment is being threatened, well, I’ll need to reconsider pretty much everything.

Overall, though, these are stressful annoyances in comparison to other issues happening in the horror that has become the US. Come what may, I’ll find a way to make it work here in Mexico, come hell or high water.

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Filed under Economics, Employment, Politics

Tagged as economic crisis, expat in Mexico, finance, financial decisions, Mexico, money, technology, travel, us crisis

May 16, 2024 · 7:11 am

Insurrection in La Yacata — Letter to the Governor Part 2

I had my son handwrite the letter, as suggested by FE Guanajuato, and leave room for signatures at the end. Then I asked the neighbor down the road, a teacher with a great big booming voice if he would read the letter at the next community meeting. I’m glad I took that precaution because the guy who usually brings a sound system (speaker and microphone) couldn’t make it to the junta.

And so the reading began. As he read, the Profe edited a few things that he felt were inappropriate (not reiterating Chuchi’s name but using the phrase “dicho persona” which means ‘aforementioned person’). The colonos were quiet and attentive. After it was concluded, the feeling among the assembled was much lighter than it had been, as if their concerns and issues were finally heard. I took the opportunity to ask everyone to gather together for a community photo, and most everyone was happy to oblige.

I also asked property owners, especially those with houses or fincas (buildings), to send me pictures of themselves in front of their homes. The aim was to personalize these stories and La Yacata, so that we are seen and heard. I took pictures of La Yacata as well, the bola de agua (water tower) that was rusted and abandoned, the rough conditions of the roads, and the pozo (well), or rather the well cover as the infrastructure to pump the water is not in place yet.

The next week, I went to the photo place and printed out the pictures I had taken and those that I had sent to me to include with the letter. I also made copies of the Actas de Defunción (death certificates) of the property owners who have died without realizing their dreams of a home in La Yacata. Other documents that went in the pile included the results of the three lawsuits that Chuchi enacted against La Yacata, which were decided in our favor, and the water, electric, and sewer projects that were not accepted by the presidency over the years.

Palacio de Gobierno del Estado de Guanajuato

This large stack of evidence was then to be taken to the governor of Guanajuato’s office in person. Super Prez and I made a trip to Guanajuato the Friday before Semana Santa, only to arrive and find out there was a flower festival (El Día de las Flores) and the offices had closed early. The governor and his immediate staff would return en 15 días (2 weeks) after Easter break.

We didn’t make it back until the Thursday before the next junta. The trip was rather uneventful. We arrived, parked, and entered the governor’s palace. We spoke with the sub-secretary, the secretary of the governor’s secretary. Neither the secretary nor the governor were present. Election campaigning had started, and although the current governor can not be reelected, the idea was that the same partido (political party) stay in power and the secretary remain at her post for the next six years.

The sub-secretary read through the letter. She said that programs were available for situations like ours. She stamped the copy of the document we brought for that very purpose, and that was that. She said that typically, petitioners are contacted within 5 days of petition presentation.

Then we walked half a block to the DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia) main office. The sidewalks were in deplorable condition (I tripped and nearly fell twice), and the whole area smelled like sewers. Super Prez commented that we had little chance of funding when there weren’t even functional utilities where the governor lived and worked. Valid point. But undeterred, we marched into the DIF office and talked to the receptionist who took our papers, stamped the copy, and sent us on our way, promising to deliver it to the appropriate person. We asked the security guard outside the building to take our picture as evidence of our trip. And then we headed home.

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So you have big dreams of buying a few acres in Mexico and living the good life? There’s more to living in Mexico than you might imagine. In a land where everybody’s finger is in the pie, it’s hard to find the proper channels to get basic services like water, sewage, and electricity installed. When one community has had enough, they staged a coup and launched La Yacata Revolution. Follow along with their attempts to restructure the Mexican political system in microcosm. Viva!

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Filed under La Yacata Revolution

Tagged as basic utilities in mexico, homesteading in Mexico, living in rural Mexico, Mexico

March 3, 2024 · 12:01 pm

Construction Update 2024

Funds have been low, so we haven’t done much work on my son’s house in the last few months. There’s been some wall patching, one bulto (bag) of cement at a time. It’s coming along, but SLOWLY.

The one project that did get finished in February was the fireplace, and it’s gorgeous! As we did for the other two fireplaces, we used stones gathered from La Yacata, which kept the cost down. The idea is that the second floor of my son’s house will serve as a sitting room/bedroom. I’m so impatient for things to be done.

My son being silly with the pile of tile behind him.

Other projects are underway. The shower tile has been put up and the bathroom fixtures purchased, but not installed. The flooring for the first floor has been purchased. It was too good of a deal to miss. The tile was 40% off until February 29. So, although I couldn’t afford the pegazulejo (tile mortar), I did buy 52 square meters of tile. We’ll see when that gets laid.

My son with the Puppers helping fill the pool.

The pool was also cleaned and filled this week. I have been in there floating about every day since. I would say that the pool was a great investment overall. It’s been unseasonably hot so far this year, with no end in sight.

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