Thanks For Replying Thanks for the replies; I'm interested because although I'm married, this seems like something I'll probably have to do alone... Knowing I am not open to Dubai, India etc., my husband is, in his pursuit of making some good money, but not Mexico. Moving to a tropical climate has been my dream since before we met (and the reason we did). I just got it wrong the first time. I've wanted to move to Cancun for years now, and after finally going there for the first time last month, I know I'll regret not attempting to do anything about this one. After moving around with my husband for almost 9 years, this one seems quite overwhelming to do alone. "This" being the ? years it takes before I can live comfortably. (I am not Mexican, only a high school graduate [after I graduated, I saved my 10K, moved away, and never went back], and am just doing Rosetta Stone's Spanish [and French] now.) I am 30 years old and want to get it right, so I can stop moving, and start a new time in my life...
Starting over I wish you well Sheden but what about staying in Canada for now and getting a good education in a field that's in demand abroad then making your move Probably there are many institutions in the Toronto area which could offer you an education that could prove rewarding in the long run There are many more tropical places in the world than Cancun and in many of them there is a lot more job opportunity for people with the right background than there is here Cancun is not the best place for a fresh start IMHO: this from someone who made the move alone- 18 years ago and has been abroad ever since
Thanks, V. I am trying to remain open to everything and am interested in knowing which fields, are in demand in Mexico, and specifically Cancun, if any. I know that times are worse everywhere, making it bad there. If I was 20, even 25, I would go back to school, but now that I've entered my 30's, I want to settle down before it's too late. Pursuing a professional career through a university education is something I want to achieve someday, but it is a little less time restrictive. That is what is overwhelming me; that I probably will struggle for years. But it's also difficult living somewhere you feel you don't belong, constantly thinking about "escaping"... Mexico is the closest place in the climate to my family, better (poverty wise) than most of the other (tropical) countries, it's immigration policies are liberal, and unlike many other countries, it has a culture/language I am very interested in and am actually eager to fully adapt to. There are many reasons for Mexico/Cancun, and it has withstood being my choice for years; which only makes it more irresistible... I will never regret doing this even if I fall on my face and have to return "home" after a few months, as my husband predicts. I will however, regret not even trying. I don't want to live with that one.
You could reasonably expect to spend around 1000 Canadian per month if you live a very frugal life here: you would also need to come with a round trip air ticket valid for the period of time you wished to apply to this experiment If you were going to try to make it for six months you should probably have enough money to last seven: ideally you would also have some provision for health care should the need arise while you're here Not everyone who tries is able to find work which they can tolerate and which pays enough to keep body and soul together: you should not count on doing so either- no matter how hard you try- that's why you'd better have the fund of money I mentioned You will face the challenge of learning Spanish: you should do this before you come here- it will improve your chances of success and make living here less stressful Your willingness to do this and make the effort required will be a good test of your determination to succeed at this generally and it will be important to know you've got the patience and persistence to tackle a project that will take many months of sustained effort You may find that there are programs of adult education offered in your area which will give you the opportunity to make a serious study of Spanish _________________ Don't underestimate the stress you will experience in trying to make a go of it here and adapt to a new place: the relaxation people experience on vacation vanishes when they start trying to live here Somethings can be done: this is such a thing- but just how successful you will be only time will tell To some degree it will be in your hands but not entirely: good fortune will also have played a role if you find that you've reached a point where you're satisfied with what you've accomplished- a few years hence _________________
Omg you kids kill me. I started working at 17, went abroad at 27, started having kids at 34 (stopped at 41) and am now changing careers at 50. You are YOUNG!!! It isn't too late until you're headed for the big fire or the deep hole. If it were me, I'd get the degree. you can change paths multiple times in your life. You'd think that with 4 kids and a haus we were pretty settled and "stuck" but we sold it all and hit the road just before the youngest turned 3. Haven't looked back. You're only as "stuck" as you allow yourself to be.
Thank You And Likewise; We're Both Young:] I didn't intend to imply I'm not young (I know how annoying it can be to hear "kids" saying they are "starting to get old"; it's all relative!) just that I want to put having a family before school, since it's something I can only do in my 30's, (Since I want 1-3, and at least a couple years apart, I can't expect to be able to do it in my 40's. My mother started menopause in her early 40's.) I agree with everything though, you are usually (aside from uncontrollable things like menopause) only as limited as you allow yourself to be. After kids, if financially able, I'd love to go all the way to PhD. in the field I'm passionate about, I want to do this so I can do something I love enough that I can avoid retiring, if able. And a dream of mine would be to do a 3 month trek through SA and the Amazon with my adult child; if I do die of old age, most of my life is still ahead of me, and indeed most of my living will be, too. Is the move you're referring to, the one to Cancun?
Thanks For The Advice Yes, 1,000/month has been my number, 12K / enough for a year / a ticket back. I wouldn't buy return (unless not doing so would risk my entry / immigration issues), because I don't know whether I'd realize "I'm not going to 'make it'" in 2 months, 4, 7, or never at all. My first move out of my parents home was @21, from a small place to one of the world's largest cities; one of the furthest places I could go without leaving North America, somewhere I'd never been, where I had no connections to anyone. Nothing about moving is ever vacation-like, but that move was the best experience I've ever given myself. I am not leaving here until I'm confident in everything I can learn from Rosetta Stone's complete Spanish program; should be enough for a start. Also, do you know which fields, are (most) in demand in Mexico, and specifically Cancun?
Shedon, not sure if V meant it was a requirement. Rather just a way to get home in a bad case scenario. I once had to go from Orlando to Tampa to rescue a buddy who went to Vegas, lost his wad, max'ed out his cards, and could not get his car out of airport parking or get gas needed to fill the tank. Kathy - What are you going to be when you grow up? Jaja