Retire in Mexico: Immersing Yourself In Mexican Culture

By: Charles Sipe

If you have considered retiring in Mexico, you should prepare yourself to become accustomed to a very different culture and way of life. There are several things about living in Mexico that may come as a culture shock. Author Rosanne Knorr encourages those who are interested in retiring to a foreign land to give it a test run. She advocates that retirees spend time in the area of interest, immersing themselves in the local culture while they research things that will impact their future such as Mexican tax laws, the quality of health care and cost of living expenses. I wholeheartedly agree with this advice, as you never know whether you will like something until you try it. Even the little things you may not have considered can have a great impact on your quality of life. Here are just a few things to consider when preparing to move to a brand new world.
Cultural Differences in Mexico
There are significant differences in Mexico as it relates to social norms. The author of the Mexico or Bust blog told us “[An] adjustment I had to make was understanding that sometimes people will make plans with you and just not show up”. When we asked the author of the blog Rivergirl what her biggest adjustment was she pointed to the slower pace of doing things. “I think that for me, as a motivated and maybe uptight American, the hardest adjustment has been adapting to “Mexican Time.” I don’t do well with inefficiency or bureaucracy or being made to wait. But in Mexico there are lots of situations where rules make no sense or things are so inefficient that something I would expect to take five minutes will instead take two days, or two weeks, to resolve.”
How to Learn Spanish Fast
A good grasp of Spanish can come in quite handy when living in Mexico and comprehending a new language is not easy. A Spanish immersion program that is hosted abroad in Mexico can accelerate your Spanish learning while also helping you acclimate to life in a new country. There are also several learning resources available for free on iTunes (see Top 10 Free Spanish Lesson Podcasts). Check out this article by time management guru Tim Ferriss that is titled How to Learn (But Not Master) Any Language in 1 Hour.
Join a Community of Fellow Snowbirds
As the retirement of baby boomers accelerates and results in a mass exodus to Mexico, there will be growing communities of expatriates in most resort destinations. You can find support for the challenges of adjusting to Mexico by meeting fellow expats, many who will be more than willing to help. There is a thriving community of bloggers who discuss issues of living in Mexico (see Resources). Check out their blogs for advice on how they have made the most of their living in Mexico. You can start a conversation with them by commenting on their blog or you can even contact them directly if they post their email.