re: Ask an American living in Mexico City anything.

I have heard that large parts of rural central mexico are virtually uninhabited as entire villages and towns have picked up and moved to the US since the mid 90s. Is this accurate? Is there evidence of de-population in and around Mexico City?

Also, what's the firearm situation like? I seem to recall mexico having some of the strictest laws about person ownership, are a lot of regular people packing anyway?

quote:

---

I have heard that large parts of rural central mexico are virtually uninhabited as entire villages and towns have picked up and moved to the US since the mid 90s. Is this accurate? Is there evidence of de-population in and around Mexico City?

Also, what's the firearm situation like? I seem to recall mexico having some of the strictest laws about person ownership, are a lot of regular people packing anyway?

---

I'm certain there was a large migration in the 90's but it's been increasingly difficult especially with American opposition to moving. The rural areas are virtually like the Wild West. People there can purchase and trade firearms without much of a problem unless they are anything other than bolt-action rifles or shotguns.

In the cities, barring illegal trading it is nearly impossible to get a firearm in spite of the Mexican Constitution declaring that the populace has the right to own and handle them. There is a ton of red tape and I do not know a single person who has owned a firearm let alone fired one (and I've talked to quite a few, being a teacher).

They say you can own one in your home, but self-defense is also a really, really tricky subject.

There was a doctor here who was being robbed (did not own a firearm) and managed to wrestle a weapon away from his assailants and killed one. He was put in prison and only after public outcry was he released. They say it's better to just get beaten up than it is to defend yourself, but I'll go to jail before I get smacked around.

Do they have Colleges or Universities down there that are worth a look?

quote:

---

Do they have Colleges or Universities down there that are worth a look?

---

Most of their education is government subsidized but they do have pretty solid international programs. Ironically enough, two West Point candidates were studying abroad and lived right across the street.

Apparently it's very true that officers are borderline stupid.

BUT, if you wanted to be a doctor, their program is much shorter than America. You can be a licensed physician after 4 years of studying medicine, then necessitate your specialty.

In the States I don't think you can even take the exam to enter med school until after your B.A.

quote:

---

Nothing that's specifically ''American'', with the flag and all the like but of course there are McDonald's and such. I'll have to take a look around but at one point I had actually considered making a restaurant like that.

---

When I was in Quito, Ecuador, in '85 they had what everyone considered to be the 'American' restaurant of the city.

It was called Mr. Sandwich and was kind of a Subway style thing. Was not impressed but, yeah, I ate there a time or two and it was a popular place.

quote:

---

Is English becoming more prevalent, or do the locals resent it?

---

I said earlier that there are two camps of Mexicans. In one, they despise America, in the other it's a sort of worship. BUT, they still like English and yes, it's becoming more and more ubiquitous around these areas. You don't get a good job without English and that's a fact.

The problem is: Most of them feel as if Cambridge (British) English is better than American English. For me, it's a matter of proximity. The Brits have a different cadence, collocations, idioms, expressions, slang and dialect than Americans have. It'd be just as stupid to learn Spain Spanish over Mexican Spanish in the states.

I usually tell my students: Unless you plan to move to England, there is zero reason to learn Cambridge English other than a false sense of achievement.

StrawsDrawnAtRandom

quote:

---

Ask an American living in Mexico City anything.

---

Do you take a different route to work each morning?

Ever thought about starting up your own mailorder bride service?

Or do you pimp those daughters offered up for english lessons?? Really?

People really need to learn english that bad that they would offer their daughters?

quote:

---

What do you miss most about the homeland?

What do you like most about Mexico City?

What do you dislike the most about Mexico City?

Do you take a different route to work every morning?

---

What do I miss most? For sure being able to openly converse with anyone. I'm a very polite, friendly guy and I love just striking up random conversations.

What do I like most about Mexico City: The lack of rules. If you want to start up your own business? No problem, grease a few palms and you're there, although that is getting changed slowly but surely. You can also find anything you want in the black market from authentic goods well below retail (most of them stolen) to ersatz, which are just as good in some cases.

What do I dislike the most: The perspective that Americans are ubiquitously racist. In spite of my Mexican girlfriend, I get questioned if I'm racist or dislike Mexicans.

Do I take a different route: I generally don't as I've (shamelessly) bribed the bus drivers which can be a kind of mafia. They all know each other and let's just say we've worked on some deals to make my ride a little safer.

Do they have anything resembling chile Colorado?