“Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience. He that traveleth into a country before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel.”
Francis Bacon 1561-1626

If you are living here in Mexico for several months or longer, you will most likely experience at some point a degree of culture shock.

Some experience, many times a very simple one, can throw you into alienation, confusion, or surprise from encountering unfamiliar surroundings. This is a normal reaction. You can overcome the feeling by practicing patience and keeping a sense of humor. You may find that getting enough rest and physically adjusting to the climate goes a long way in your mental attitude in adapting to a different culture.

For example, adjusting to the climate is important in your being able to cope.

The raining season is beginning in the Bay. Typically, more rainfall is experienced in Puerto Vallarta and the south shore from late May or the beginning of June, through October or early November. Energy levels are lower by early afternoon or evening. One of the symptoms of dehydration is tiredness or sleepiness too early in the day even after a good night's rest. A good rule to follow is to carry and drink bottled water throughout the day, beginning when you wake up until you go to sleep. If you are traveling with people, bring along extra water, or stop and load up on supplies before you continue with your errands or appointments.

Living in a new community is quite different from vacationing once or several times a year. Events will happen that you are not prepared for, that will surprise you. Know that this is a normal experience, which happens to everyone, everywhere. This same experience happens to people from other countries moving to the USA or Canada. After you experience living abroad, you will find that you can more easily relate and empathize with this universal experience. Previous to your own experience abroad, you may not have been able to fully appreciate the experience others were going through. Had any one of us been more aware of the other person's situation, we could have been more understanding and more helpful.

You can follow some steps to ameliorate your adjustment into a different culture.

First, compile a list of names of recommended doctors, dentists hospitals. Ask other expatriates or locals whom you know for references. One good source can lead to others. If you have special health issues, find and meet the doctors who can help you, before you need them. You don't want to be calling for help in an emergency without prior research.

Get a map of the city and walk, take the bus, or drive around to find the stores and services that you will need on a regular basis. Find the grocery, post office, hardware store, and gas station. Find stores that carry products or services that you want or need.

Compile a list of phone numbers. Who do you call to report the telephone or electric out of service? You will want to learn the telephone numbers or addresses of the electrician, plumber, and carpenter. If you have pets, you will want to research the name of vetenarians and pet supply shops. Where do you buy the pet food your “best friend” needs?

If you want to attend church or religious services, you need to research what is available and ask for recommendations.

This process of sourcing continues during the time you live in your new environment. One name is replaced by another, one source is replaced by another as you become better at choosing help or services to meet your own needs and taste.

There will be many opportunities to find fellow Americans or Canadians or English speaking natives. The temptation will be to follow into a pattern of only speaking your native tongue. This common language can make your adventure easier in the beginning. It can make it more difficult in the long term. You can develop a barrier to meeting and learning from other people who don't speak English. If you only socialize with English speakers, you will limit your experiences. You will not be living an adventure, but living in an expatriate outpost.

We have to face the inevitable: learning the language. Here in the Bay, there are many opportunities to take private lessons or attend a language school. You need to find out, and experiment with what best works for you. When you become discouraged while struggling with understanding, speaking, reading and writing a new language, remember that it take most people at least 3-5 years to feel at home in a foreign language. It will take you longer to learn the language if you don't start learning and practicing sooner.

Become involved in the community. Attend church, take a class, and participate in a sport, volunteer for community service. All of these opportunities can enlarge your circle of friends and knowledge. One relationship leads to another. The circle widens.

Invariably, if you are living here, friends and friends of friends will want to visit you. Be forewarned.

You need to set up the ground rules for your guests. If you take control of this situation in the beginning, you and your guests will both have a much more satisfying visit.

Prepare your guests with a map of the area and information on public transportation or a rental car. Encourage or require that they take responsibility for some of their own free time.

If you are the only tour guide, you run the risk of taking your visitors to places you like which are very different from their likes or taste. Let your guests explore some on their own. If they need advice, give it. Acquire good books and magazines with information on your area, and be sure these are in the guest bedroom.

While your guests are here, be in control of how expenses are shared. If you don't find that your guests are contributing to their stay in a financial way, it is ok to suggest that they go to the grocery store for you or plan and prepare a meal.

You can also instruct your guest as to how to wash the linens, towels and their own clothes or how to organize their laundry for your or the maid. Your guests need to know the routine of your home and what you expect from them while they are visiting.

If your visitors don't catch on to the routine or their responsibility, think again about having them return. Many people find that having their guests stay elsewhere in a hotel or guesthouse, if better for everyone concerned.

Take charge of your life and your experiences. Organize social, charity or business events if you find you want them and no one else is doing them.

If your rent your home while you are living here, learn about the law and customs related to being a tenant. Are you on a written lease or a verbal one? A verbal lease doesn't mean that you and the landlord can make up your own rules about your tenancy. What is the law regarding your obligations as a tenant and the owner's? You know when you are in the USA or Canada, that there are laws to follow. You and the landlord can't make up the law between yourselves and ignore the legal obligations both of you are required to follow.

Are the utilities included in your lease? Are you responsible for paying them? If you are responsible, do you know when the bills are due? Do you understand how to read the bill?Do you know where to go to pay the bill?

Is there a telephone to make local calls only? How do you handle long distance or cell phone calls? What channels do you really get on the television? Will you really need air conditioning to be comfortable? Have you adjusted to the climate well enough so that you can be comfortable with natural breezes and fans?

Who will you call and who will be responsible for repairs? Who takes out the garbage? Will the front desk really take and report messages for you? How do you receive mail?

Are you paying your rent in dollars or pesos? What are the rules about your being able to pay in the local currency? Do you understand the differences buying and selling dollars? Do you understand the spread in the rate?

If you have purchased a home here, you will need to understand more details related to ownership.

If you are within the restricted zone, you or someone you delegate will need to pay your yearly administration fee to the bank, for your fidecomiso. Your yearly property taxes should be paid the first of the year. Your electric service is billed two months at a time. You may receive the bill two days before it is due, or you may not receive it at all. You still have to pay the bill to not lose your service. Know the account number of your utilities, when they are due and where to go to pay them.

You need to keep your legal papers of ownership where you can find them. You will have an escritura, which in most cases will be a fidecomiso, trust. You should know where the bank is that handles your trust and how you pay their annual fee. Some banks allow you to pay locally; some require payments in another city.

An important rule: Always get receipts; always get correct receipts, save them. Remember: In almost all cases, you are going to need your ORIGINAL RECEIPT in order to have ANY rights to your claim of payment. Know the difference between a temporary receipt, a factura and a nota. Be sure you put the utilities in the name of the owner as shown in the deed. Keep all the original receipts, whether or not you personally pay them.

Learn the differences between being a resident in Mexico on a tourist visa and an FM3. Know what is an FM2 and if you want to plan for having one later.

If you have a Mexican plated car, know when the property tax is due and where to pay it. Know about the cost and timing to pay the renewal of your license plates.

If you are driving a foreign plated car, learn as much about your legal responsibilities as you can before bringing the vehicle into the country.

“Locate yourself.” Customs and laws here are not the same as the USA or Canada. You are in a country where Roman law is the law of the land. Find a competent source of information. The American or Canadian consulate is a source of information.

Find and meet expatriates that have more experience than you and who have lived here longer. Decide who gives you good advice, and who gives you bad advice.

Harriet Cochran Murray

This article is based upon legal opinions, current practices and my personal experiences in the Puerto Vallarta-Bahia de Banderas areas. I recommend that each potential buyer or seller conduct his own due diligence and review.