| American expat Larry helps operate a spa in Mexico, where he moved to two years ago. Here he shares some of his business plans and gives some tips on moving to and living in Mexico. |
 Larry Prater |
-Where were you born?
Stonewall, Oklahoma, USA
Tepoztlán, México
I live with two friends.
-How long have you been living in Mexico?Two years
-What is your age?
63
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Mexico?
I started visiting Mexico in the '60's and have loved it since, a few years ago I decided I would move there.
No
No
I receive SS from the US, I do manage to work some here, privately.
Of course it is important to respect the local customs. I speak Spanish.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?I communicate with my siblings via email and telephone, they visit when they can. I am helping run a spa for men and that keeps us all busy.
To continue helping run the spa, perhaps build more apartments to rent and rooms to rent by the night. There are a lot of tourists in this area on the weekends.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?We built a four unit apartment building and live in two of the units. The other two are available for guests or to rent.
-What is the cost of living in Mexico?Less than in the US. Mexico requires $1500 per month to get a visa, you can live on that.
-What do you think about the Mexicans?I really like the locals, they are used to foreigners from various countries and treat them well.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Mexico?
The weather is near perfect, it is cheaper to live here than in the US, there is a lot of corruption in the government and police.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Mexico?
Visit before you move, rent before you buy, be prepared for it to be somewhat different than in the US.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Mexico?
LIFE OUT SIDE FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRY
I am a Ghanaian who wants to make contribution to this site about the travelings I have made and the experience.I left Ghana here 0n the 25th May,1990 for Lagos in Nigeria and left Lagos for Deutschland on sunday,June 25th,1990.My short stay in Lagos was a hectic because I was just around the house where I lodging with the fear of police because when you are in lagos police can just pick to station and finally your family or host have to come bribe the police before they release you.It was a place where I begin to think of home because i am always very when i am here,i move freely without any harrassement or whatever.
When I was in Germany it was the same thing because you cannot move from anywhere without the police contrlling you and asking of AUSWEIS and it was just a crazy life and that makes me think too much of home.I couldnt cope up with horrible life there in Deutschland so i went to Switzerland and there I was very happy with the swiss because there was no too much discrimination and racism.I was given some job after staying there for three months,I could speak a little bit of the Swiss -deustch and some french.Infact the people were so nice and loving to meand therefore i was very happy and go travl to places like Geneva,Zurich,Bern ,Lausanne and you name it.But all the same I could feel that I have missed my family and good relations here.I could remit my family ok but yet I was feeling at home.I returned home in June 1993 and since then travelled again to Ngeria in the year 2003 and returned 2005.Life wasnt easy at all in Nigeria because I was there only to see my brother in-law briefly but all of the sudden I spent almost two years so I had to force my way back home.We were arrested in Ibadan on our to Ondo state that the driver ignored to stop when the police stopped him,we were in Ibadan police headquarters for 11 days without a bail.
It was the 11th day that father of the trailer owner issued a warning to the police from Abuja that the trailer and the driver and his boys be released as soon as possible.It is some times nonsense when you leave your country to go to other country because you will see many things,but it is good to travel out of your country so that you will see many things,all walks of people and different cultures.