A QUIET LUNCH

Last week on Monday, Rebe and I went for a quiet birthday lunch at the “Bistro”, one of our favorite restaurants in Apizaco, a small city about 15 minutes from our home.

We’ve been going to this establishment about once a month for more than six years.  It’s located in an old home about a block off the city square.  Although you can only see a small portion of the restaurant here, it can handle over 150 people for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  The service is excellent, the menu has a good variety, and the prices are in the middle range. 

We particularly like the Bistro because of its beautiful and comfortable environment, one in which we can take our time, bring our guests, and find the owners quite pleasant and responsive.  Also, if one chooses to linger on to read and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea after dining, he or she can feel contented to do so.

I’m sure that we’ll continue to appreciate this wonderful eating place for years to come.  It’s been particularly good for us.  We also go there to take a load off our feet and enjoy a pastry with something to drink during shopping trips in Apizaco.  We’re sure that others will have a pleasant experience there too.

CREATING A SPACE FOR MEDITATION

When we begin to practice meditation, we are often told that it’s important to dedicate an area in our home for that purpose.  The instructions also say it should be quiet and not used for other activities.  At first, the significance of these guidelines may not be readily apparent, but that changes over time, especially with practice.  My wife and I have had that in mind ever since we began to construct our home in the countryside of Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, Mexico eight years ago.

Although we’d always had rooms and spaces for meditation in the homes we rented in this country (San Miguel de Allende, Tacambaro, Puebla, and Santa Cruz Tlaxcala), there’s nothing like having one in your own home.  Ours is especially suited for us, and we’ve been enjoying it for a little over five years now.  Instead of hearing the sound of the traffic in a town or city, we listen to the birds and domestic animals from the upstairs windows of our meditation room.  Also, in the distance we hear the church bells from the small towns around us as well as the train passing by on its way to Veracruz or Puebla.  None of these sounds disrupt our practice nor do any of the aromas of the country air.  Moreover, after living in this community for more than 11 years, we feel very secure and happy. 

LIVING IN CITIES OR SMALL TOWNS IN CENTRAL MEXICO

When our professions have no influence on where we can live, the freedom we feel is quite exhilarating.  It’s an opportunity to let our personal goals and objectives guide us to a place where we can comfortably experience our dreams.  Thousands talk of such a prospect.  And here in Central Mexico, we find that cities and small towns offer a lot to make that a reality.

For example, rentals in many cases are much less expensive than in the U.S.   In our small town of Santa Cruz Tlaxcala, the going monthly rate for a nice one bedroom, unfurnished apartment is from $2,000 to $2,500 pesos.  If it’s furnished, then the price is about 40% to 50% more.  Also, add another $1000 or so monthly for cities like Tlaxcala or Puebla. When you’ve found what you want and are satisfied with the cost, then one month’s rent in advance as well as the first month’s rent is expected.  Certainly, it’s possible to find rentals for less money, but they might not be what you want.  More expensive apartments are available as well.  Make sure the landlord provides you with a written contract and get a receipt each time you pay.  Also, it’s good to know that a landlord cannot evict you as easily as in the U.S.  The rental laws even protect the foreigners living here. 

Security should be one of your highest priorities when finding a rental.  For that reason, as well as negotiating the price, it’s to your benefit if you have a Mexican acquaintance or friend who can accompany you.  He or she will generally know how secure a particular neighborhood is and what a fair price is.  Moreover, your apartment, should have secure locks on the doors and bars over the windows, including the window on the door.  If it’s possible to have a sliding bolt or pin running from the door into the wall, that’s preferable too.

Another thing you should know about Mexican cities and small towns is that they generally have more activity during the day. There are particular sounds for the garbage men, the knife sharpener, tamale salesman, ice cream truck, and other vendors.  Hearing bells ringing from the churches during celebrations and the occasional neighbor having a fiesta are common.  When you become accustomed to these activities, you notice they give the community a personality. 

While I’ve discovered living in Mexican cities and towns to be an interesting change, I’ve also recognized that it’s good to make acquaintances and friends with the local citizens and other international inhabitants.  It you’re outgoing, it’s easier, but even if that’s not the case, in small communities you can start with the people from whom you’ve rented a place to live.  Secondly, those you meet in the shops, restaurants, and market where you get your groceries and other necessities.  Among those workers, owners, and customers, you might find a few with experiences similar to yours.  If you like to attend church, it’s possible to go to the local Catholic mass even if you aren’t Catholic.  It’ll acquaint you with the general population.    Getting to know people in the cities is much the same as in towns, but you might find it preferable to look for some of the groups or associations with whom you can find a professional or non-professional interest.  Many of them are listed in internet. 

The main thing, however, with the people you meet, whether it be individuals or groups, is to be friendly, patient, and curious.  The citizens here watch the foreigners with particular interest, and it’s even more so in small towns.  They want to know what kind of people they are.  Usually, all they know about outsiders is what they’ve read, seen on television, heard about from friends and acquaintances, or have occasioned to meet in the past.  Sometimes the locals are predisposed to believe they can’t understand the way you speak Spanish, but if you take your time and speak as clearly as you can, they’ll appreciate your effort and try harder to understand you.  After you’ve made several acquaintances, they’ll introduce you to others, which makes life much easier.

Once you begin to meet a number of people, you’ll notice the differences in the way they speak.  If it’s a professional conversation, the language will be more formal and spoken more clearly.  If it’s a social get together, they might begin talking somewhat formally with you, but as the dialogue continues, it becomes more informal.  You’ll quickly see there is a way that acquaintances speak with each other as compared to how family members and close friends relate.  Moreover, it’s normal to meet people from all over Mexico in social and professional settings.  The pace at which they speak, their accents, and their regional dialects are often challenging.  It’s your task to accustom yourself to such variations just as it is for them to understand you.  And don’t worry, you’ll find a lot of them are more than willing to help you out.  Frequently, many of the more highly educated Mexicans will speak and understand English quite fluently, whereas in the small towns that won’t be quite so common, but even that is changing.  After all, a lot of people here have worked in the U.S. or Canada or have travelled internationally.

Aside from the above settings, other activities such as shopping can be quite interesting.  In a city such as Puebla, which has a population of more than three million, you’ll find shopping centers similar to what you would expect to see in the U.S., Canada, or Europe.  Besides the shops you find in these malls, there are hundreds scattered throughout the city.  When it comes to buying fruits and vegetables, by far the best place to go is one of the markets.  The prices are better, and the produce is often fresher.  Usually, the prices are posted but if they aren’t, then watch and listen to see what other people are paying if you’re not sure of a reasonable charge for what you want.  In the small towns, such as Santa Cruz Tlaxcala where my wife and I live, there are a number of shops and a market.  Frequently, there’s an open air market during the week called a “Tiangus”.  Wherever you choose to shop, in the beginning it’s preferable to go with a Mexican acquaintance who can orient you to this new experience.

Also, as you go about your shopping, you’ll find a need for public transportation.  There are plenty of taxi cabs where a short ride will cost between 25 and 35 pesos.  You’ll need to know what a reasonable fare is and negotiate it with the driver.  If you’re not sure, then ask your landlord or another acquaintance before you go anywhere.   Most people use the combis (vans) or small city buses unless they’re in a hurry.  They have fixed routes and the tariff is around five or six pesos.  Stopping on corners, they usually pass by every three to five minutes. 

In conclusion, if you have a positive frame of mind, you’ll find a lot to your liking wherever you prefer to live, the small towns or the cities.  While I’ve covered rentals, security, meeting people, shopping, and public transportation, there are numerous other affirmative aspects to living here in Central Mexico.  For example, I particularly like nice restaurants, excellent coffee shops, thermal and steam baths, and weekend breakfasts, brunches, and lunches with friends.  I also enjoy the activity of our little town, where I always see locals who stop to chat.  This country has so much more to offer than people generally realize.

CULTURAL ORIENTATION

Whether you’re a person who is accustomed to living in other countries or not, you should definitely consider the fact that staying for the winter or more in Mexico is best done if you acquaint yourself with the culture.  After all, human lives are based so heavily on expectations.  If you have no idea of what to expect in a new country, you’ll arrive less than prepared, and the culture shock could be significant.   Because of all my years of living in places outside of the U.S., I knew the value of cultural orientation and began educating myself with classes and meeting Mexican people in San Antonio a year before I ever came to this country.  The benefits were enormous!  I learned that if you’re contemplating living in Mexico, one of the best ways to transition into life here is to attend a language school before moving on to the community where you plan on spending the majority of your time.

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve already had training in Spanish before coming to Mexico or not.  For example, when I came to live here permanently, I’d already had three years of studying and speaking the language, but going to the school while staying with a Mexican family helped me a lot.  I and three other male students stayed in the home of two instructors, Mari Carmen and her daughter, in a nice section of Cuernavaca.  We went to school with them, ate with them, met their friends, and learned how to socialize with the citizens.  Not only did the school help us with the language and the customs, but also how to comport ourselves while showing respect for the positive values of the people.  We learned that Mexicans were just like many other citizens of the world—they want a decent home, gainful employment, a happy family life, and to live in peace.  Who wouldn’t find that inviting?

When you understand these aspects of Mexican life and have finished school with at least a basic level of fluency in Spanish (of course, I recommend more), then moving on to another Mexican community is a lot smoother.  You’ve got a pretty good idea of what to expect, have grown accustomed to speaking to the citizens of this country, and appreciated hearing their jokes and stories.  You should also be capable of carrying on a conversation and have learned that people here are curious about foreign visitors, especially those who begin to live here for more than a couple of weeks! 

As for me, I moved on to San Miguel de Allende because I wanted to live in an international community.  Although I’d lived about four months several years before in Saltillo, a city with only a few foreign inhabitants, the school in Cuernavaca still helped me to more openly meet and make friends here in Central Mexico.  That’s key to developing a circle of people who give you a level of security and make living here easier and more enjoyable.  Since this was something that I’d done wherever I’d lived, it was comfortable for me to do again. 

By involving myself with local groups, I met my wife Rebe, who is Mexican, and lived in San Miguel a little more than four years before deciding to move on to completely integrate myself into Mexican society.  Between leaving that small city and coming to Tlaxcala, we lived in the mountains of Michoacan and the city of Puebla, where we had a successful English school.  Throughout this experience, I learned to work, teach, and associate with various levels of Mexican society.

In conclusion, what I’ve described here is a way to more easily acculturate oneself into Mexican living.  It doesn’t matter whether you arrive here able to speak a little Spanish or much more.  A language school is still a good option, where nobody is above a little help.  After all, I saw my teachers correct fellow Mexicans accompanying group tours of the institution where I was studying!  Also, it’s really important to understand that it’s the Mexican acquaintances and friends you make that will help you most, so people who are reasonably outgoing and friendly do very well.  For example, the local citizens who became my friends in Saltillo were of immeasurable assistance.  So, if you’re a meditator or anyone else who wants to participate in life here:  be happy, reach out!  You’ll be welcomed.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN MEXICO

Normally, in the United States, Canada, and other developed countries we don’t often think of using public transportation unless we live in a large city or we’re taking a trip.  Let’s face it, we’re so attached to our cars that we have a dearth of other types of ground transport.  Consequently, when we have a breakdown, we suffer, depend on our friends and relatives for rides, or rent something to use temporarily.  So in Mexico, many of the ex-patriots, myself included, think that owning a car is really unnecessary unless you’re working odd hours, have difficulty walking more than a few blocks, or live in some really isolated place.  After all, there’s an abundance of available transportation from various types of carriers. 

 Combis (Colectivios

The vans we see above are what are normally called “combis” or “colectivos”.  You can find them on most of the main traffic arteries in the states of Tlaxcala and Puebla.  They seat up to 17 people although during rush hour periods, they manage to carry around 22 passengers if some remain standing.  The basic cost is around $5.50 pesos, and they pass by rather frequently—every three to five minutes on a normal route.  For example, when my wife and I go to Apizaco (a small city about 15 minutes away) or to Tlaxcala (a larger city about 30 minutes), the cost is between $6.50 and $7.50.  I’ve ridden combis for more than 18 years and have never been in an accident; however, there have been a few times when I’ve gotten off after a couple of blocks to take another one when I’ve perceived the driver to be less than efficient.

City Buses

You can find city buses in the majority of the cities here in Mexico.  They range from the small ones (micros) to the larger ones which hold over 30 passengers.  And just like the combis, it would be abnormal to wait for more than 10 minutes to get one.  The cost is about the same as the colectivos.  For example, when my wife and I go to Puebla, a city of between three and four million, we sometimes take one of the buses out to a suburb called Amozoc (about an hour from the central bus station).  The fare is generally around $10 pesos.

Anecdotally, when I first came to Mexico in December 1991, I was living in Saltillo, a city in the northern part of the country, and trading my English for Spanish with the graduate engineering students at the Technical Institute of Cuahuila.  Living near the center of the city, I would take a bus (at that time something that looked like a repainted U.S. school bus) to the Tech.  At seven o’clock in the morning the vehicle would be so packed that some students would be hanging out the door.  Of course, this blocked the side mirror, so the bus driver would have to depend on the passenger hanging outside to say “Sale” (Let’s go!).  There were several times when I had that privilege, and it was a lot of fun!  From this experience, I learned that Mexico certainly did have a spirited, togetherness personality which caused me to like living here even more.

Second Class Buses

Although a second class bus looks much like what we have in the United States, seating about 42 passengers, the difference is that it doesn’t have a bathroom.  In other words, it’s not something you take for the long haul; rather, people use it for traveling shorter distances between towns, suburbs, and cities.  Of course, since they are cheaper than the first or luxury class buses, a lot of travelers do use them for longer trips, taking time to go to the bathroom when they arrive at a large station (central de autobuses). 

What I like about this class of service is that if you live in the city and want to go to the country to take a walk, you can get off in a rural area, do your short or long excursion, then go back to the nearest highway and wave one of these vehicles down to return home.

First Class Buses

This vehicle seats around 42-48 passengers, has a bathroom, and also includes screens for showing movies in Spanish.  Some of the newer buses have seat belts.  The drivers are generally more professional than those in the combis or second class buses.  Normally, you have to go to the bus station to get this level of ground transportation because it takes you from one town or city to another without stopping.  Sometimes, water or soft beverages and a snack are included on the longer trips.  Also, we’re finding a security scan of passengers being conducted just before boarding.  The cost is very reasonable.  For example, the last time we went to Mexico City from Apizaco (about two hours), the fare was $130 pesos.  And since we are card carrying senior citizens, we were allowed a 50% discount.  In fact, students and teachers are also afforded that privilege in all parts of the country.

Luxury Class Buses

This is a type of transportation not normally available in developed countries; however, it’s common here in Mexico at the main bus stations.  Luxury class is for non-stop travel between cities.  A security scan or pat-down of passengers before boarding is customary, and the agents hand out beverages and snacks.  The buses are the regular size (sometimes a little larger) that have half the seats (24), and you get to choose your location when you buy your tickets.  While on one side of the aisle there are two seats together, on the other there is only one.  Having almost double the space for your legs, there’s a small partition on the back of the seat in front of you that you can pull back and use to stretch out as if you were in the comfort of a reclining chair.  Next to the arm of your seat, you’ll find a jack where you can plug in your audio phones to enjoy music or the movie from a screen closely overhead or on the back of the seat in front of you.  Sometimes, wifi service is available.  There’s also self-service for coffee and tea at the back of the bus.  Believe me, the ride with these amenities is comfortable, quiet, and enjoyable.

My wife and I particularly like to take luxury class when we’re traveling for two or more hours.  The drivers are quite professional.  For the really long hauls, like from Mexico City to the border, there are two chauffeurs.  They have a small compartment under the bus where one can sleep while the other is driving

Taxi Cabs

Another form of plentiful ground transportation is taxi cabs.  For example, our little town of Santa Cruz Tlaxcala has two of them.  In fact, many of the small towns around our area have at least one.

While the fare is usually economical, it’s necessary in most cases, with the exception of Mexico City where they have taxi meters, to negotiate the price.  Similar to the vendors in many countries, the one offering the service will try to get the best price he can, so that means you need to know what the average fare is; otherwise, you’ll end up paying from 5 to 25 pesos more.  Since we know our local cab drivers and use their service all the time, we have a good relationship with them.  The average local ride of five minutes costs $35 pesos while a 15 minute trip to Apizaco is $100.  If we’re going to Tlaxcala (20-25 minutes), it’s $120.  A one hour trip to Puebla would be $350.

As far as security goes, if you’re in a large metropolitan area like Mexico City or Puebla, it’s a good idea to check the taxi’s license posted on the back door window to see if the picture matches the driver’s face.  If it doesn’t, then wait for the next cab where you find a match between the two.  Also, at the bus stations, airports, and certain taxi pickup points, there will be controlled service that is secure.  You’ll pay more but it’s worth it.  When you’re in a rural or small town area like we are, taxis are usually quite secure.  But never get in a taxi where there is another person who is a stranger to you, nor permit a taxi driver to pick up another rider.  If that happens, get out immediately.

My last piece of advice on taxi service is to form a good client relationship with two or three taxi drivers.  When they know that you’re a regular customer, they give you a very reasonable fare as well as security and a lot of information.  Also, they like customers who talk to them and are always friendly.  Don’t be surprised if you get to know members of their families.

Conclusion

The above information is what I’ve gleaned from using public transportation in Mexico since 1991.  I’ve always found the drivers of combis, taxis, and buses to be quite helpful.  Generally, if you’re friendly, they’re amicable as well.  When you’re in bus stations or airports, sit with the families in order not to isolate yourself.  Talk with them, and they’ll help you if you need assistance.  I haven’t mentioned train service because it’s unusual to find it now.  Finally, I really like not having a car because that means not paying for insurance, traffic fines, regular maintenance or unexpected repairs, dealing with the police, washing and waxing, having accidents or anything else. Moreover, the older I become, the more I enjoy the walks to where my wife and I find public transportation.

TLAXCALA'S BOTANICAL GARDEN (JARDIN BOTANICO)

My wife, Rebe, and I love going to the botanical garden which is located in the picturesque capital city of our state, Tlaxcala.  This beautiful and tranquil place is situated on about 22 acres of property which is covered with all kinds of trees and plants.  The park shows the public what is possible if we sincerely care for what nature has to offer.  Pecople come to this garden to walk, jog, run, meditate, read, write, picnic, and learn.

Oftentimes as we travel through Mexico, we may get the idea that Mexicans care very little for nature since more than 50% of this country's natural resources have been uprooted in the last 100 years.  However, 

when we experience places such as Tlaxcala's botanical garden, we learn that the educated citizens have convinced the government to put aside land to demonstrate what the country can do.  This is shown the very moment Rebe takes the first few steps into this beautiful place.

As you can see, the garden begins with an excellent layout of paths for walking, jogging or running.  On our right side are trees that have been in the area for a long time, whereas those directly behind us were planted in the last 10 to 20 years.  They consist of trees from various parts of the world.  Although we are here in the middle of the day on a Sunday, it is most conducive to come here in the early morning to sit or walk in meditation.

Walking along the trail in the park, we see numerous benches where it's possible to sit and just soak in this lovely environment.  Whereas the busy world drowns out the sounds of nature, the garden is full of the songs of birds, both large and small.  I've noticed that the people who use this natural sanctuary usually keep their voices down and just enjoy where they are.  Also, conveniently located along the paths are a series of waste receptacles which encourage visitors to keep the place clean.  In many ways, the garden serves as a refuge from a preoccupied world.

Further along in this beautiful area of nature, we find people strolling quietly and enjoying their time together.  Mexican families are quite united, and the more one lives or spends time in this country, the more he or she begins to realize why this is so.  Trust and security lie in family, even the one with whom we may spend so little time here.  It's not unusual to see each one of the family members put close attention and care into getting along with their sisters, brothers, parents, uncles and aunts, nieces and nephews, grandparents, and cousins.

At one end of the garden, we see a biking and running trail that goes along a river.  Between six and ten in the morning, there's a gate where, with the exception of cyclists, walkers and runners can come into the park and enjoy a lap or two.

 

Old growth is not limited to other parts of the world, Rebe has also found it in Tlaxcala's botanical paradise! Tree hugging is a wonderful experience.  There's something about embracing a tree that brings us so much closer to nature--it's like listening to and feeling living energy flow through the veins of a living being .  Poets find it inspiring and let its words run thoughtout their prose.  Its wisdom is profound.

Located near the garden's theater and main entrance, we find a map.  It gives us an image of the first part of  the "Jardin".  With the experience of this wonderful place and the information about its operating hours, we're encouraged to come again and again.

And we might even be curious about some of the other things the city of Tlaxcala has to offer.  For example, there's a wonderful park (zocolo) in the middle of the downtown area.  Surrounding it are numerous restaurants, a couple of coffee shops, several museums, a five star hotel, and many other commercial activities.  Sundays are a good time to go there if you enjoy the arts, crafts, and dancing.  There's also a tour bus of the city.  During the week, the early morning is the time to enjoy the quiet and see the squirrels running about the park--they're multiracial for they've crossed between the black, the grey, the brown, and the red breeds of these animals.  Whatever your taste, you'll find something in this city for you, especially, the botanical garden.

THERMAL WATERS (AGUAS TERMALES)

There’s nothing more enjoyable for my wife and I than relaxing in the sumptuous thermal baths of Mexico.  When we lived in San Miguel de Allende, we went as often as possible to “La Gruta”, a place located in the middle of the country in the direction of the small city called Dolores Hidalgo.  The waters there reminded me of what I’d enjoyed in a mountain forest near Seattle, WA back in the 80s.  There were three levels—warm, warmer, and almost hot.  And just above these baths were a couple of ponds with lotus flowers. 

Here in our area of Tlaxcala, we don’t have far to go to enjoy another set of thermal waters—a place called Chignahuapan located in the state of Puebla.

Last Friday, we got up early, ate breakfast, packed our backpack, and walked from our house to the nearby highway to catch a “combi” (a passenger van) for the small city of Apizaco, about 15 minutes away, where we planned to take the bus to Chignahuapan.  (Just in case you’re wondering why we walked…well, it’s because we like to keep in shape and use the plentiful public transportation!  We had a car years ago in San Miguel de Allende for a few months, but we found that it made us lazy.)  Above you can see the first class bus we took to our destination.  It comes with air conditioning and movies, and the price for the one hour trip was quite reasonable--$53 pesos for the both of us which is around $4.25 U.S.  Of course, this is because seniors get a 50% discount on bus trips here in Mexico.  And most of the drivers are quite professional.

When we arrived in Chignahuapan, we took a taxi ($50 pesos) to the place you see above which is called Aguas Termales de Chignahuapan.  We could have taken a combi which would have cost us $6.00 pesos each, but we chose to take the faster mode of transport due to the time of day.

Of course, you can see that the resort has pools outside and inside.  What you cannot view, however, are the small rooms that contain rectangular concrete bathtubs, about 3.5 feet deep that allow you to adjust the temperature of the water according to how much you let flow into and out of the tub.  Since Fridays are half price day, two hours of this luxury cost us $150 pesos (about $13 U.S.).  The thermal waters not only detoxify you but allow you to meditate or daydream—just plain relax.

Certainly, one can also go to the spa to enjoy the meditation room, yoga, or 20 minute massages.  There’s also a really nice dining room where you can order from the menu or at selected times choose the buffet.  In fact, this place reminds me of the spa I used to go to in Frankfurt, Germany called “El Pueblo”.

If you wish to stay for the weekend, there are junior suites and master suites.  The junior costs $2,599 pesos while the master (with a Jacuzzi) runs $3,145 pesos for two people, which includes three meals per day including additional amenities.

Since this resort is primarily for Mexican people on holiday or taking time off like ourselves, there’s only one person there who speaks a little bit of English.  This means that whoever plans to use this resort needs to either speak basic Spanish with fluency or have someone with them who does.  It’s a place where you do not often see international tourists.

The Town Of Chignahuapan

While the town of Chignahuapan has a population of about 30,000, there are an additional 50,000 or more in the surrounding villages.  Numerous hotels and cabins can be found at reasonable prices.  There are several restaurants which have really good food.  Obviously, instead of staying at the spa, it’s more economical to find housing and food close by.  We’ve been coming here several times a year for more than seven years, and we’ve found the people to be quite friendly.  Also, the weather can be a little cool at night because the altitude is close to 8,000 feet.

As for ourselves, we took a combi back to Chignahuapan from the resort, and had lunch at a very nice restaurant—the one to which we’re partial and the waiters are great.  Then we walked a few blocks, got on the bus, and went home.  We’d had a wonderful day of relaxation.  Thank you Mexico!

USING THE LANGUAGE OF MEXICO

Coming into an organization or a country that is completely new to us is a change that frequently sends people into culture shock.  Not only do we have to learn how things are organized, but we also need to assimilate ourselves to what we hear being said and function within that setting—even if it’s only temporary.  So when we’re speaking of learning to use a level of fluency in a foreign language, it can be challenging but also highly rewarding and a lot of fun.  That’s why we need to investigate the payoffs for learning to read, write, speak, and understand Spanish effectively (the principal idiom of the Mexican people), before taking it on:

      

      Short visits.  If you’re coming to Mexico for only a week or so, then it’s a good idea to learn a few basics.  For example, this includes greeting people, reading menus, asking directions (like, “Where’s the bathroom?”), and understanding signs and numbers, i.e., prices.  It’s also a good idea to find a native speaker to teach you these things in person or over the internet so you can pronounce the words correctly.  You won’t really need any more than this if you stick to places where there are a lot of international visitors because many of the Mexicans working and living there will speak and understand English.  But if you plan to go anywhere else with this level of Spanish, take someone with you who is at least fluent at the basic level.  The benefit of these few words is fundamental for respect and courteous responses such as smiles, appreciation, and getting what you want in shops, hotels, and restaurants.

      

      Seasonal living.  If you’re coming to live in this country for six months or less, such as in the late fall and winter, then it’s quite rewarding to develop fluency at the basic level. This will allow you to not only live where there are numerous international visitors but also in some of the areas away from these touristy places.  You’ll be able to search for and find a place to rent with limited assistance.  Moreover, you can go to the open air markets to buy consumables instead of sending your housekeeper or going with a friend.  If you’re a person who likes good conversation and meeting new people, you’ll soon find yourself making friends with the natives and improving your Spanish.  In short, life will become very enjoyable and culture shock will soon become a thing of the past.

      

      Permanent living.  If you’re a person who would like to live here permanently, whereby you can come and go as you please, or stay here without ever leaving the country, especially as a retiree, then an intermediate to advanced level of fluency is highly recommendable.  It takes a considerable amount of dedication and determination, but the benefits are immense.  For example, you can read everything except for the very technical jargon.  Listening to the radio or watching television in Spanish is not a problem.  Talking on the phone to make reservations or do anything else is fairly easy.  Conversing with neighbors or attending classes and seminars is enjoyable.  And this is only the beginning.

For example, when I knew that I was coming here to live, I began to study and practice Spanish in San Antonio, TX day and night, something I kept up for more than three years.  Although I had lived in Germany for almost 11 years before coming to Mexico, I had only developed an intermediate level of speaking that country’s language, but I experienced the immense benefit of functioning in an all German speaking environment.  So I knew that dedicating the time to becoming fluent in Spanish would be well worth the effort.  I’ve never regretted that decision because I’ve been able to attend classes and meditation retreats, teach, converse with whomever I’ve met, help negotiate rental contracts, read fictional and non fictional literature, explain English grammar, function in an intercultural marriage, tell and understand jokes, and so much more.  Likewise, other Americans have made it pay off for them.  My friend Bob has been here for more than 40 years, and frequently works as a translator for the group called “Doctors Without Borders” helping people in indigenous communities in Tlaxcala and Puebla.

I would also like to say that in Central Mexico, there are thousands of local citizens who speak from basic to very advanced English.  There are multitudes of students enrolled in private English schools as well as technicians and professionals who travel all over the world.  Mexicans are very friendly and curious people who are quite ready to help travelers with the language.  Even here in our rural towns of Santa Cruz Tlaxcala and Amaxac, there are people like that.

In conclusion, investigating the value of learning to speak Spanish in Mexico and other countries (even the U.S.) before attending a class is worthwhile.  It’ll help you to develop the motivation and drive to learn what you need for short visits, seasonal living, or permanently living in this country, and it will keep you from wasting your time.  Ex-patriots who are meditators and use Spanish fluently really enjoy their lives here, participating with groups in Puebla or other areas as well as associating with the local citizenry.  I’m sure that most of them would speak happily of their decision to learn the language.  After all, this skill is of immense value to them and those with whom they associate.