re: Ask an American living in Mexico City anything.

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Fascinating thread.

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Thank you. If there were any other expats around the world I'd like to hear from them as well. It's difficult to get the perspective of a person who is immersed in a different culture.

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Solid read so far. Makes me want to do domething similar - my wife would never go for it so I'll have to settle for reading threads like this.

How is the availability and reliability of medical care? Would you trust a primary care physician? A hospital?

Are pets valuable enough to people there for a vet to make a decent living? I imagine dogs and cats aren't members of the family like they are here

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I've lived in a few countries aside from Mexico but always with my parents. This is my first adventure away from my ma'.

Medical care: I received a pretty bad gash on my wrist from a flight of stairs and ended up needing five or six (how can one remember?) and went to the emergency room. I was treated immediately within an hour with no form of identification. I paid about 30 pesos (2.50 dollars) to be seen and about 40 dollars to be treated. The medication came to be about 10 dollars and my girlfriend's sister who is a college student got to take my stitches out for me.

Similarly, my girlfriend's sister was in a motorcycle accident where she shattered her kneecap and I think they accepted blood as payment (which sounds more Draconian than it is) along with insurance. Overall I think a week cost her family a total of 100 pesos (ten dollars).

With the pets: I own two cats, not because I'm a woman but because my adoptive daughter adores them. There are quite a few vets and they actually have a subsidized program wherein they will vaccinate for free in some cases. We still need to get our cats spayed and neutered, so I will let you know how they handle that.

A vet would make a real good living here, though. There are 20 million people living in this city (I dare say more that just aren't declaring themselves or the government can't keep an accurate census) so as long as you have a business that has a commodity that replenishes and requires multiple uses you'll more than likely be successful. (Food, electronic repair, veterinarian, etc. etc..)

My mother has 3 dogs with a spacious backyard for them to romp in, but here there isn't a lot of room. You'll see tons of tiny dogs and the occasional big one but usually they spend all day on A. The roof, or B. a very tight space in the backyard. I don't think they're animal lovers like we Americans, but you could say that.

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Where do you see the Mexican economy in twenty years?

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I see it on the incline but I also see the disparity between rich and poor rising as well. Mexico is actually one of the richest countries over here but a very, very small minority dominates it. But, I've seen pictures and even expansion as soon as I got here.

Mexico is going to be a gigantic part of the economy in the future.

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Mexico is going to be a gigantic part of the economy in the future.

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I 100% agree. Tons of coastline. Plenty of resources. Right next door to the world's biggest economy. The ceiling is really high for Mexico.

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I see it on the incline but I also see the disparity between rich and poor rising as well.

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That's going to limit some growth, but I think will work it's self out as the economy expands. If America and Mexico could really start working together, I think you see Mexico start to have a quickly growing middle class. At least that's how I like to imagine it.

A strong Mexico is good for America. I'm excited at the prospect of Mexico becoming a more advanced economy.

Is it hard to buy drugs without getting robbed raped and murdered

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If America and Mexico could really start working together,

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This is something I've told every one of my students in the past at least once. If Mexico could clean itself up and have a stronger bond with America the rest of South America would be in big trouble.

The middle class is growing steadily and most of the time they pay for things monthly so lower-classes can consume at a better rate. I neglected learning about Mexico before coming here and I am deeply ashamed of being ignorant on just what kind of monster this country is growing up to be while we sleep.

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Is it hard to buy drugs without getting robbed raped and murdered

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I could get drugs for anyone without any problem if I was into that kind of stuff.

But since I'm totally clean...

I think if you were a foreigner and had no ties here, you would need to find someone to purchase it for you. Otherwise you could definitely get into some serious trouble.

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If America won't, China will.

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America is stupid and thinks the world works like it did in the 1970s.

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I'd like to take a visit south of the border, once the beheadings and cartels get under control

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A lot of my students from Bimbo are actually having problems with these fricking self-defense groups. They're basically ''standing up to cartels'', meanwhile they set up checkpoints and demand money. fricking ingrates.

Mexico City is safe, but I'd stay the hell away from the border. Won't even take a chance up there.

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but I'd stay the hell away from the border. Won't even take a chance up there.

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This and if uou go to a border town go in the daytime and do not under any circumstances leave the tourist areas.