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| The Plain Truth About Living in Mexico: The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or Just Hanging Out |  | Authors: Doug Bower, Cynthia M. Bower Publisher: Universal Publishers Category: Book
List Price: $17.95 Buy Used: $4.39 as of 9/6/2010 08:29 CDT details You Save: $13.56 (76%)
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Seller: Going Once...Going Twice... Rating: 40 reviews Sales Rank: 105,397
Media: Paperback Pages: 244 Number Of Items: 1 Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7 Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 1581124570 Dewey Decimal Number: 917 EAN: 9781581124576 ASIN: 1581124570
Publication Date: July 1, 2005 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description From Shelter Offshore Investment Publishing: This is a fantastically comprehensive resource for anyone considering taking an extended holiday in Mexico or indeed relocating lock, stock and barrel and expatriating to live in Mexico. 'The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico' covers every single conceivable question a traveller, expatriate or retiree could possibly have about Mexico, Mexicans and what it's really like establishing a brand new life in this fascinating middle American country. The subtitle for 'The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico' is 'The Expatriate's Guide to Moving, Retiring, or Just Hanging Out' which gives the reader the immediate impression that this is both an easy to read title but also one which covers every element of Mexico - and that is exactly what this book does! Written by American expatriates Cindi and Doug Bower, 'The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico' charts their five year journey from the inception of the idea of moving to live in Mexico right through to them making their dream a reality and establishing and settling into a brand new life abroad. The book is well written, beautifully laid out and can serve as a great read, an invaluable reference book or even a how to manual for the organisation of and arrangement of the transition to becoming an expatriate living and even working in Mexico. The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico begins by assisting the reader determine whether or not Mexico is actually a country they could settle into, feel safe and at home in. Questions such as the safety of Mexico and also the main differences between Mexicans and us are answered quite plainly which makes it that much easier for anyone in two minds about whether or not a move to Mexico is right for them to make a definitive decision. Once a decision has been taken to relocate to Mexico, all aspects of sorting out the old life at the same time as establishing a new life are covered. There are chapters about finding the right part of Mexico in which to! live depending on the requirements of the individual, finding suitable property to match a specific budget, affording health care and the day to day living expenses in Mexico as well as information about how to master Spanish and prepare oneself for the culture shock that does ensue whenever and wherever one moves abroad. This is as comprehensive a resource that has ever been written about moving abroad, and the fact that it has been written about moving to Mexico is fantastic as it is relatively difficult to source well written and factual information about the whole process otherwise.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
Highly Recommend September 8, 2006 Bruce Drake (Washington, DC) 36 out of 40 found this review helpful
As someone who has visited Mexico several times as I struggle with my study of Spanish, and who is thinking of moving there, I found this book to be far superior to the general run of guides on the expatriate life or retiring in Mexico. Some of the others of this genre just lack the ring of authenticity, or seemed to be aimed at people with a lot of bucks who are headed for a gated community or an expensive house in Cabo San Lucas. But the Bowers' book has that ring of authenticity and is squarely aimed at the (for lack of a better cliche) "average Joe" who is looking for a life that is different and/or better and needs down-to-earth practical advice on how an American can make this transition.
To date myself, the Bowers' reporting reminds me of the usefulness of a Travel Forum I used to frequent on one of the pioneer online services, CompuServe, where I got the best travel ideas and advice ever from the many participants who gave their firsthand reports, and to whom you could pose the kinds of questions that you don't see answered in newspaper travel sections or guidebooks.
The Bowers live in Guanjauato which is not far from where I always visit, which is a too-Americanized well known town that they don't quite approve of, San Miguel de Allende. [...]
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So, if this is the kind of information you are looking for, buy this book as well as the Bowers' book on Guanajuato.
OMG - just what the doctor ordered! May 28, 2006 Mex Pat 13 out of 16 found this review helpful
After coming to the conclusion that I need to make some serious changes in my life, and after reading other books on expatriating, I have finally found THE book that made sense to me. Although I want to move to another country, I was hesitant to set up house in areas with large American communities due to the shame and embarrassment I have experienced when confronted with the behavior of fellow Americans in other countries where I have lived. I agree wholeheartedly with Doug and Cindi's suggestions about preparing for the move to Mexico by developing language skills IN SPANISH and making every effort to befriend the locals and honor their culture. I will be planning a trip to Guanajuato to attend a Spanish language school and investigate this seemingly charming city in the near future. Thank you Doug and Cindi for an inspiring book!
A Expat Reviews March 7, 2006 DH 18 out of 23 found this review helpful
I moved to Mexico some years ago based largely on what I read in the most popular "how-to" guides. "Choose Mexico" and Luboff's "Adapter Kit" were really the only books on the market when I came to this country.
On a lark, I ran across "The Plain Truth About Living in Mexico" and decided to buy it. First, I want to say that I wish I had this book when I moved to Mexico. "Choose Mexico" and Luboff's book are really clones of one another. But, that's ok. Just how many ways can the mechanics of expatriation be disseminated?
What is different about The Plain Truth About Living in Mexico is that the mechanics of expatriation is not the theme of this book. The story that these authors attempt to tell is how different life is in this country, why learning the language is crucial, and how that if you are going to survive here, you have got to get it into your head that "Mexico is not America"...I love that!
The shock I received in coming to live in Mexico was along the same lines as the authors of this book. It was not how different Mexico was that shocked me but how American tourists, and what I have to say, in my expat experience how the vast majority of American and Canadian expatriates, act in Mexico.
I was not prepared for this shocker. And I agree with the authors that perhaps if most planning on coming to this country to visit or live, knew what to expect that maybe they would not act out like they do when they arrive.
The chapter on "The Ugly American Syndrome" is an eye opener that every American and Canadian should read. Perhaps the authors should have put Canadian in the title of that chapter.
I do have to agree with one of the critics of the book that this is not a "stand alone" guide. But I must stress, with all due diligence, that this book is a NECESSARY supplement to "Choose Mexico" and Ken Luboff's book.
It is the content and not the copy editing errors (something so fixable in the next edition that it is not worthy of even mentioning) in this book that makes it such a good buy!
LOTS OF HELPFUL INFORMATION! August 5, 2006 RETIREMENT COUNTDOWN (Los Angeles, CA USA) 14 out of 18 found this review helpful
This book was packed with important information. We will take the Bower's advice and make several, short trips in order to pinpoint our new home. We want to live among the Mexican population and plan to brush up our rusty Spanish. I was glad to see that we possess the traits necessary to become "successful expatriates."
Were the Bowers "preachy?" No, I don't think so - they were simply taking the opportunity to remind us that things will indeed be different and that Mexico is neither America nor Canada! Some parts were funny (especially his section on noise) and I really appreciated the reprinted sections in the back by other authors.
We feel as if we are on the right path.
Not bad! February 27, 2006 Spade 13 out of 18 found this review helpful
Good things about this book that others do not offer:
1. Has a chapter about how-to learn Spanish.
2. Has a chapter on customs and culture.
3. Makes you think about your motives for moving to Mexico.
4. Makes you think twice about what you will encounter.
Bad things about this book:
NOTHING!
It was a good book. It was different from all the other "other there"!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
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